《Pretending To Be A Boss》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Temporary Workers Become Permanent (New Book, Please Collect and Recommend)

    (Written at the beginning, the story takes place in an unfathomably distant future and a fantasy world, with no connection to the real world.)[Detested things: Women who cling after the fact.]


    [Feared things: Wife at home.]


    Tang Xian didn''t want to meddle too much, and the scumbag in his sight was also a familiar face.


    The man currently hitting on a girl was a permanent worker named Song Zhe, a F-grade permanent worker in the 669th mining area of the Huaxia region, and also Tang Xian''s foreman.


    Song Zhe was imitating the 21st-century ancients'' popular wall-pin maneuver, flirting with a girl from the third small team who had a decent appearance.


    Tang Xian vaguely remembered that this temporary worker girl''s name was Xiao Rong, and in his view, her fate was not much different from that of Xiao Hua, Xiao Hui, and Xiao Fang before her. In the end, she too would become one of those women who cling afterwards.


    When his gaze landed on Song Zhe, the data that appeared to Tang Xian were as follows:


    Gender: Male.


    Good-Evil Value: 35.


    Greed and Lust Index: 65.


    Favorability: 1 (Acquaintances)


    Wealth Assessment: 1 (Dirt Poor).


    Feared things: Wife at home.


    Current Honesty Level: 7 (Speaks his mind).


    Charm Value: 15 (Unnoticed).


    Current Luck Value: 25 (Proceed with caution).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Mating with a subordinate (48%)]


    [Fulfilling the superior''s demands (7%)]


    [Leaving the mining area (29%)]


    [Making life difficult for a few temporary workers (11%)]


    [Other (5%)].


    Song Zhe''s wealth assessment being "Dirt Poor" was relatively rich compared to "Buried in Debt," which applied to the vast majority of temporary workers.


    The girl''s Greed and Lust Index was also at 54. Naturally, she was hesitant yet receptive when propositioned by a permanent worker. This was nothing new.


    Tang Xian withdrew his gaze and continued busying himself with his own work.


    Having spent six leisurely years in "Newbie Village," he was about to be promoted from a temporary worker to a permanent worker that very night. He still had to deal with an audit by the mining team''s administrative staff, so he had no interest in meddling in other people''s affairs.


    At six o''clock, Song Zhe flashed the girl a smile that said they had come to an understanding, then proceeded to make life difficult for a few unlucky newcomers, scolding them harshly.


    Everything unfolded just as Tang Xian had seen in the data, without exception.


    Unlike the ancient 21st century, the hierarchy of this era was clearly defined. Bosses physically punishing their subordinates was a legitimate right.


    Seeing the sky darken, the old temporary workers all showed expressions of fear.


    Monsters in the mining area often preyed on humans at night. Travel between the mine and reality was made possible through teleportation fissures, and to reduce casualties, "Newbie Village" had more teleportation points than other areas.


    So, when the time came, Song Zhe and other permanent workers quickly left the mining area.


    Latter, Tang Xian and many old temporary workers also left the mining area.


    ...


    ...


    Unlike other temporary workers, Tang Xian had been worldly-wise and content with his lot for six years.


    Furthermore, once when a female leader happened to pass by, he helped her just at the right moment.


    Thus, Tang Xian was assigned a private room.


    In this era, all of humanity lived in huge mechanical Pyramids, with people of higher status living on higher levels.


    Tang Xian didn''t have to use the communal dining areas or toilets on the ground level like the other temporary workers, nor did he have to sleep with hundreds of others in places resembling the assembly line factories of ancient times.


    His room wasn''t big, a ten-square-meter space with a separate two-square-meter bathroom, complete with a flushing toilet and a showerhead. It was a luxury that could be flaunted on the ground level.


    But what Tang Xian truly treasured was his stove.


    This type of stove hadn''t been produced for hundreds of years. Today''s stoves were used to make nutrient meals.


    Only these antiques, coming from the option to convert organic minerals, could transform organic minerals into various ingredients for cuisines that only existed in ancient times.


    Tang Xian''s stove was an antique that he had exchanged for a high price and it could cook a lot of Sichuan dishes, originating from Lianqing, a city known among locals for their love of hot pot.


    He often talked to the old temporary workers about ancient food, though most of the time he was talking to himself.


    "For Mapo Tofu, it''s best to use light soy sauce, combined with Pixian bean paste, and though the authentic meat choice is beef, mixed with shrimp the taste is even better..." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian believed this was a cultural regression.


    Thirty minutes later, after finishing the freshly-made Mapo Tofu, Tang Xian cleaned the dishes and stove and then a voice came from outside the door.


    "Temporary worker number 560205278, name Tang Xian. Please follow me to the second level."


    Tang Xian opened the door. Standing outside was a soldier, armed.


    Given the gear, it seemed to be equipment transformed from blue-armored minerals, the firearms resembled the ancient artifact AK47 in shape, but were powerful enough to leave wounds on the shells of strengthened creatures.


    Data about this soldier popped up before his eyes.


    [Current Honesty Level: 68 (Keeps his word)]


    [Current Needs Analysis: Taking Tang Xian to the second level for promotion audit (74%)]


    Tang Xian dropped his guard.


    "Please bring your temporary worker records and follow me to the second level."


    "Thank you."


    Tang Xian lived in Pyramid Fortress No. 39. There were a total of fifty-six such fortresses in Huaxia.


    How many levels each Pyramid Fortress had, Tang Xian didn''t know; living at the bottom, he had only been up to the third level at most.


    That was during his student days.


    In this world, humans were divided by rank, but from the age of twelve to eighteen, even children from the lowest social strata had the right to be educated.


    Unconditional education.


    The policy was from ancient times, one of the few systems that hadn''t been abolished yet.

 Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Genius and Cheater (Please Collect)

    Thud.Tang Xian''s resume was placed on the desk by Bai Ling, one of the auditors in charge of promotion for official workers.


    "Not a bad resume. Not many survive the mining district, congratulations to you."


    Bai Ling knew Tang Xian; a few years ago, when she went to inspect the first layer, she encountered some trouble, and Tang Xian cleverly resolved it for her.


    As a result, Tang Xian got his own house.


    Seeing that the auditor was Bai Ling didn''t make Tang Xian feel any relief. Bai Ling wasn''t the decisive factor.


    Next to Bai Ling was a young man who, judging by his attire, was at least a big shot on the fourth layer, and even there, he wielded significant influence. He had a handsome appearance and the firmness of a soldier.


    "In this life, there is essentially only one opportunity to become an official worker, which is to pass the ''Heaven''s Chosen'' exam. If you don''t do well on this path, the road ahead will be much tougher. My name is Jiang Ming, and you might not remember me since among your peers, hardly anyone was noteworthy enough to catch your eye, Tang Xian."


    This was a very bad situation.


    Tang Xian truly didn''t remember this man, only that he was from the same cohort and had the power to decide his promotion.


    "You''ve chosen a second path, and your luck has been pretty good as well. You kept to your work dutifully. By the third year, you could have been promoted, but you traded rare mining resources for an antique boiler. Many called you a fool, but this exactly shows that you''re far from foolish. You knew that your name hadn''t been forgotten, that you had to endure a few more years."


    "What a shame, for I loathe cheaters the most, and you''ve crossed paths with me."


    Jiang Ming looked at Tang Xian with a mocking smile.


    Miss Bai was slightly surprised, not expecting Jiang Ming to know Tang Xian.


    "Jiang Ming, there are no issues with his resume, and the state also provides opportunities for promotion to those without inherent talents. His efforts have earned this. I believe you should handle this impartially."


    Although Bai Ling had long repaid Tang Xian''s favor, she still spoke up for him.


    "Do I, Jiang Ming, take personal vendettas into official matters? Miss Bai, you don''t know this Tang Xian because you weren''t originally from District 669. But let me tell you, this Tang Xian got a perfect score on the ''Heaven''s Chosen'' exam, the likes of which humans have never seen before. Do you believe that?"


    Bai Ling wore an expression of shock.


    A perfect score on the ''Heaven''s Chosen'' exam?


    Indeed, such a feat had never occurred in history, though there were a few geniuses who came extremely close.


    But those individuals had long gone to the fifth layer of the Pyramid or even higher areas.


    "Take another look at Tang Xian''s resume. A temp worker looking to become an official worker also has a series of exams. He scored perfectly on the cultural exam before the ''Heaven''s Chosen'' exam, yet such a person, in the subsequent years of testing, every subject, every exam, scored only around sixty points, fluctuating slightly.


    I happen to have education department statistics on every cohort''s exam scores in the lower levels, and Tang Xian''s scores have consistently been the average of everyone''s."


    Contempt filled Jiang Ming''s eyes:


    "I abhor cheaters above all else. Tang Xian, you may need to explain your scores."


    Tang Xian indeed hadn''t expected to encounter a former classmate, let alone one firmly convinced he had cheated.


    The survival education, the ''Heaven''s Chosen'' exam, ultimately tested knowledge from the mining district, which to him was as if it was innately stored in his brain. A single read-through would suffice for him to remember everything and even integrate it seamlessly. While his peers struggled with just one discipline, he reigned supreme across all areas, naturally breeding arrogance.


    However, Tang Xian later realized that a prideful person, in making mistakes, attracts even more schadenfreude. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He still retained his pride today, but he had adopted a way of expressing it that was less abrasive to others.


    No one knew what he was thinking, but everything assigned to Tang Xian was always handled impeccably well by him.


    To avoid drawing attention, he delivered decidedly mediocre results on various tests, just barely passing, without any highlights.


    If a hundred people were tested, Tang Xian was always the fifty-first. And it was always the same every time.


    He understood everyone in his mining district like the back of his hand: intellectual levels, moral hazards, financial resources, honesty, thinking patterns when making decisions. With the data before his eyes, Tang Xian easily fathomed them.


    So he precisely estimated everyone''s score levels, and hence he always achieved an average score.


    It was a precaution to keep a low profile, but this habitual average-scoring behavior seemed a bit forced and drew attention regardless.


    Jiang Ming had noticed it.


    Even the instructors didn''t dare claim to predict every test''s average score, as student performance varied. Some good scorers might decline, while some poor ones might worsen.


    Firstly, one would have to know all the answers. Secondly, be aware of each individual''s level of knowledge of the mining district. And then calculate the scores they might achieve.


    Only by meeting these conditions could one produce the score they needed. Achieving an average score was much harder than a perfect score.


    Such a feat was simply impossible.


    Jiang Ming took out a stamp, ready to imprint the mark "Never to be Promoted" on Tang Xian''s resume.


    He indeed had the power to do this.


    But just at that moment, Tang Xian suddenly spoke up:


    "Next, you''ll leave a remark on my resume of another instance of cheating, completing this audit. Although you can''t produce any evidence, and haven''t figured out how I could cheat without getting caught, you still haven''t come to a conclusion. Everything is just your subjective judgment."

 Chapter 4: Chapter 2: The Genius and the Cheater (Please Bookmark)_2

    ```"After this, you will go to the third level''s Floating Restaurant for dinner with your wife. However, you have not made up your mind about this yet because you are hesitating about whether to visit your old instructor, who has retired and been demoted to the second level. But it''s getting late; you are probably planning to visit him tomorrow."


    "After these two matters are finished, then will you consider going to the bottom level to summon two temporary workers, especially since you received a target from the higher-ups today."


    Tang Xian''s gaze remained calm as he lifted his head to look at Jiang Ming, making it seem like a glance without purpose.


    But Jiang Ming felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been completely seen through by this person.


    "Why would he know my upcoming arrangements?"


    Jiang Ming wondered internally.


    Of course, Tang Xian could not explain the data he saw in his eyes.


    Gender: Male.


    Good-Evil Value: 52.


    Greed and Lust Index: 20.


    Fondness Rating: -14 (slight aversion).


    Financial Assessment: 12 (barely making ends meet).


    Liked Things: Mining area good news.


    Disliked Things: Cheaters.


    Fears: Elite-level boss three-headed hellhound.


    Current Honesty Rating: 41 (sticking to facts).


    Charm Value: 44 (quite ordinary).


    Current Luck Value: 24 (needs to be cautious).


    Current Needs Analysis: [Complete the current work (35%)][Visit the old instructor who was demoted to the second level after retirement (25%)][Dine with wife at the Floating Restaurant on the third level (25%)][Summon and promote one temporary worker (10%)][Other (5%)]


    In Tang Xian''s view, Jiang Ming was a decent man.


    All the data also indicated that this man was not greedy for money and had principles in his conduct, a good-evil value over fifty suggesting a person with a fairly strong sense of justice.


    Indeed, when it comes to critical junctures in life, many things can become melodramatic.


    Jiang Ming was silent for a long time before talking again, and his tone finally changed, he said:


    "Did you investigate me?"


    How would he know his own schedule?


    Even guess if he was hesitating whether to dine with his wife first or to visit his old instructor first?


    In Jiang Ming''s eyes, Tang Xian hadn''t so much as lifted an eyelid during his entire speech.


    The calmness in Tang Xian''s eyes showed no emotion, as if everything Jiang Ming had said today was about a stranger unrelated to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian did not answer the question and was not worried about revealing his secret.


    The selection test of the Chosen Ones from those days had taught him how stubborn the human definition of a talented individual could be.


    "You doubt my abilities, and I can understand that, but I have a few things I hope you will listen to," he said.


    "Go ahead."


    Those "guesses" from Tang Xian were still unsettling him.


    "You should be careful with the power at your disposal, as your life is unlike mine, without any blemishes. This is something to be proud of in today''s Pyramid, no matter the level." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your abilities are pretty impressive, although I don''t have a deep impression of you, I know you have principles when you work."


    "Jiang Ming, please think carefully, if I hadn''t cheated and yet you were to stamp an innocent man''s record with a seal of ''never to be promoted,'' could you remain as clean as before in this lifetime?"


    Tang Xian''s tone was indifferent, as if he was talking about the weather being nice today.


    From beginning to end, Tang Xian gave Jiang Ming the feeling of being composed.


    This man was so composed that his words instinctively made Jiang Ming reflect.


    "Please arrange a test for me."


    "What?"


    "If you think I am a cheater, then please arrange a test for me. A test with only me as the examinee. The examination room, the content of the exam can involve any subject, entirely up to you to decide."


    "Are you serious?"


    "I am serious, unless I get promoted right now."


    ```


    Jiang Ming froze again.


    He couldn''t possibly arrange a test for a temp worker. He still doubted Tang Xian, yet Tang Xian''s words also made sense. With a lifetime free of blemishes, the more cautious he had to be in his words and actions. He had indeed been somewhat impulsive just now.


    After a moment of silence, Jiang Ming slowly spoke:


    "Your resume indeed has no issues, and according to the rules, you can be promoted. But I will investigate all the surveillance footage of your previous exams, and if I find evidence, you will be dealt with immediately. However, for now, I will let you pass the test. Congratulations on becoming a formal employee. Your residence will be upgraded to the second level..."


    "No need."


    "What?" This time it was Bai Ling who spoke.


    "I mean, I''ll just stay in that room on the first level."


    "Why?"


    "I''ve lived there a long time, bad habits are hard to change."


    "..."


    "Just give me the official employee number and open up all the access and task permissions that come with it. As for the second level, it doesn''t really mean anything to me."


    The words of Tang Xian puzzled both of them.


    However, Tang Xian''s request was indeed feasible. It was not an excessive demand.


    "Right now, there are clean accommodations on the second level. Think it over. If you regret it later, there might not be any spots available."


    Once Jiang Ming no longer regarded Tang Xian as a cheater, he stopped making things difficult for Tang Xian and even reminded him not to give up the rights he had.


    Tang Xian said calmly:


    "The pinnacle of the second level is just a more refined ceiling. It bears no difference from the first level. By the way, I didn''t choose to be promoted three years ago, and it''s not for the reason you think. You might not believe my explanation, but if you ever get the chance, you might want to try eating hot pot. Of course, first you need to have a boiler like mine."


    ...


    ...


    After Tang Xian left, Bai Ling and Jiang Ming were organizing various documents and procedures related to Tang Xian.


    Just as Jiang Ming was about to leave, he suddenly spoke:


    "Miss Bai, has Tang Xian not caused any trouble in the lower levels over these years?"


    "What?"


    Jiang Ming didn''t elaborate further.


    He remembered that during the Selection Test years ago, Tang Xian had filled in some ludicrous data.


    The data appeared absurd and humorous, and no one before him had ever filled in such data. It seemed as if he was mocking the integrity of the Selection Test.


    People concluded that Tang Xian was a fraud who had no talent but pretended to have some.


    Jiang Ming thought the same.


    Even now, his opinion hadn''t changed, but recalling the recent events, he started to believe that Tang Xian truly had some kind of ability.


    "Miss Bai, you know Tang Xian, don''t you?"


    "Yes, I specifically applied to be the promotion officer for Sector 669 after hearing that Tang Xian was going to be promoted. The Bai family values gratitude the most. Tang Xian has done me a favor."


    "Could you disclose how Tang Xian helped you?"


    "It''s rare for an elite like you to be curious about such matters. Actually, it''s not complicated. You know, there are many underground forces at the bottom level. When I went for an inspection, I was targeted by one of those forces. Coincidentally, the guards were lured away at that time..."


    "At that moment, I truly thought I might die on the first level, as things are really chaotic there. But then, Tang Xian appeared..."


    Bai Ling suddenly wore a puzzled expression.


    "Come to think of it, at that time, Tang Xian was just like he was today. He said a bunch of things, as if he hit on some concerns those people had, and the ones surrounding me quickly dispersed."


    Jiang Ming fell silent.


    This silence made Bai Ling somewhat concerned.


    "Is something the matter?"


    "Only someone who can completely see through others can avoid the vortex of disputes. The bottom level is chaotic, with unrest every day, and people dying every day. For someone like Tang Xian to silently avoid any trouble and steadily survive six years to earn the qualifications for promotion is very rare. Most people''s records have some blemish, but Tang Xian''s doesn''t."


    "This..."


    After Jiang Ming said that, Bai Ling too felt something was off.


    Jiang Ming''s words made sense, the bottom level was a place where even if you didn''t want to court trouble, it would find you.


    After pondering for a while, Jiang Ming found it somewhat incredible.

 Chapter 5: Chapter 3: Hot Pot and the Girl

    Jiang Ming did not believe that Tang Xian possessed a superpower similar to the Mind Reading Technique.No matter how powerful the gifted ones were in the mining area, once they left, they would be no different from ordinary people.


    Items from the mining zone could be brought into reality, but the abilities from there could not be taken out.


    He could only be certain that Tang Xian had likely made ample preparations for himself and Bai Ling.


    He did not need to know how Tang Xian did it. But if Tang Xian didn''t cheat, if someone capable of scoring full marks had prepared for an action for six years, then that action was bound to go smoothly.


    ...


    ...


    Sichuan peppercorns bobbed, and tripe tumbled; the boiling chili oil broth was also steeped with ingredients known as oyster mushrooms and fried tofu puff.


    These were ingredients that were now hard to come by.


    While reviewing the task handbook, Tang Xian swished ingredients in the hot pot.


    Unlike the temps, the formal workers'' tasks in the mining area were not limited to mining at the fringes.


    Rather than mining, taking on the task of hunting the creatures of the mining area to obtain their core minerals was a far more effective way to get rich.


    If one could explore an unknown region and discover new mining sources, their fame would spread to the upper echelons of every fortress.


    Tang Xian did not care about fame or wealth, but he did plan to take on a few tasks to improve his living conditions¡ªmainly his diet.


    He had recently seen ChaoShan Fish Balls and salt and pepper slipper lobster in an old book on gourmet food, which suddenly piqued his interest in Cantonese cuisine.


    Fortuitously, the antique shop had received new stock recently, and a local heavy from the lower level gave Tang Xian a tip about several Cantonese-style stoves, all from the ruins of Yangcheng.


    This immediately sparked Tang Xian''s interest in hunting the creatures of the mining area.


    Besides that, he also wanted to buy a set of the Twenty-Four Histories and some Western history.


    Human civilization had undergone a great purge. Only one in ten of the surviving people remained.


    Coupled with many historical documents located in the ruins of ancient cities filled with nuclear radiation, humanity''s understanding of the past had become unclear.


    This was perhaps the most peculiar aspect: people mastered technologies similar to the Pyramid and quantum transition, yet many existing civilized technologies had been forgotten.


    It seemed that the upper stratum of power holders was also disinclined to trace these civilizations, shifting all strategic goals to the mining area itself, seeking a chosen one capable of defeating the creatures of the mining area, wanting to crack the rules of the seven-day survival limit in the mining area.


    Tang Xian did not understand but was grateful that the art of cooking and culinary skills were still preserved in the earliest models of stoves.


    After leaving the mining area, no matter how much time had passed, one would need ten hours before they could re-enter the mining area through the rift.


    While waiting rather bored, Tang Xian started thinking about how to handle the upcoming task.


    At that moment, the door was knocked on.


    He furrowed his brow but still opened the door.


    "Sir... Do you need service?"


    It was a young girl, whose figure was enchanting, mature beyond her years with curves in all the right places.


    "Don''t look for me to do things that go against the socialist core values," Tang Xian decided and closed the door promptly.


    Such women were numerous, their ability to mine and exchange for goods limited compared to the more robust men, and they were even "taxed" by some old temps.


    Most women chose to turn themselves into commodities.


    Tang Xian had not encountered this before. Commodities also pick their buyers. This was also why Song Zhe was often successful.


    Most women could not wait a lifetime for the opportunity to showcase their figures to those in the second layer or even higher.


    The girl before him was very young, looking a couple of years younger than himself. She also had a cute face.


    If she had changed into clean clothes and done her hair at a nicer salon on the second level, she would have been a stunningly beautiful young lady.


    "Please, just let me stay for one night..."


    As Tang Xian went to close the door, the girl became anxious.


    "I decline."


    Tang Xian was resolute and applied a little force with his hand. Everyone had their own choices and lives to live.


    Having spent time on the first level, he had seen too many tragedies, which had hardened his heart. Moreover, the data in his sight indicated that this girl was not being honest.


    But suddenly, he paused.


    He saw the girl swallow, her cute little nose twitching faintly as she inhaled.


    The aroma of duck intestines and beef tripe steeped in the chili oil broth wafted out.


    At the opportune time, the girl''s stomach let out a growl.


    "Fine, come in," Tang Xian abruptly opened the door.


    The girl instantly looked up, grateful, then noticed that his face was surprisingly good-looking.


    "Sit on the floor. The room is small and doesn''t have much furniture. At least there are enough bowls and chopsticks," he said.


    "Thank you," she replied. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After washing the dishes, Tang Xian handed them to the girl.


    She was somewhat befuddled when she received them.


    She had eaten nutrient meals that were akin to porridge and usually consumed with a spoon. Hence, she had never used chopsticks her entire life.


    Too embarrassed to ask, she watched Tang Xian eat, trying to mimic the way he used chopsticks.


    But she wasn''t quite successful at it.


    Tang Xian ate his food in silence, enjoying duck intestines, blood curd, tripe, and tofu puff.


    He wasn''t planning to keep the girl around to fulfill humanity''s highest mission; he just simply... wanted someone to appreciate the deliciousness of hot pot.


    Tang Xian looked up: "Why aren''t you eating?"


    "I... I don''t know how to use these..."


    The girl was just clutching the chopsticks in her hand.


    Tang Xian had indeed forgotten about this; he had learned from a booklet that the ancient people of Huaxia always ate with chopsticks.


    They were cumbersome to use but looked rather aesthetically pleasing.


    So he endured the inconvenience and learned how to use them.

 Chapter 6: Chapter 3: Hot Pot and the Girl_2

    "Hold it gently with your middle finger, thumb, and index finger, placing the thumb next to the nail of the index finger..."Tang Xian began teaching the girl how to use chopsticks.


    The girl also studied seriously. When people are in a hurry, they often exhibit extraordinary wisdom. Of course, mathematics is an exception; if you can''t do math, you just can''t.


    With her stomach growling and smelling the tempting hot pot, the girl learned very quickly.


    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised.


    "Good, eat up. This is beef tripe, and this is duck intestine; they just need a quick swish and can be eaten. Don''t cook them too long; they''ll lose their tenderness if overdone."


    ...


    ...


    Initially somewhat reserved and conscious of her manners, the girl soon gave that up. She seemed to have a talent for learning; she quickly became proficient with her chopsticks,


    then smacked her lips while devouring the oily tofu and gently biting into the crispy tripe, occasionally showing an embarrassed smile, tinged with a bit of shyness.


    But her mouth never stopped moving.


    Tang Xian liked that kind of expression; he was indifferent about many things, but when it came to food, he was very particular.


    Today''s nutritional meals offer a taste sensation that aligns with human aesthetics, but like the internet-famous faces of over a thousand years ago, they represent monotonous sameness.


    The sensation of deliciousness shouldn''t be singular.


    Since Tang Xian seldom had guests, he didn''t prepare much for hot pot, so the two of them finished eating rather quickly.


    Tang Xian then reverted to his initial demeanor, saying,


    "You should go now."


    "Ah?"


    The girl clearly did not expect that this man only wanted someone to appreciate his cooking, not interested in romantic pursuits.


    Tang Xian, digging at his ear, wore a smile that wasn''t quite a smile.


    Arriving neither early nor late, a woman had come to serve him on the very night he was confirmed for his position; of course, he didn''t believe in coincidences.


    .


    The data on his interface amused him.


    The arrival of this girl was very likely arranged by someone, though not with malicious intent.


    "For the next few days, I''ll be staying in the mining area. You have a good figure and looks; in the lower levels, you''d be considered high-quality. If you''re just looking for a place to be taken in, there are plenty of options."


    The girl lowered her head and said,


    "Do you find me unattractive?"


    "How could I? We''re both scum living at the bottom; neither of us is in a position to disdain the other. It''s just that I have a woman I love, and I''m not interested in you."


    After the introduction of a class system, Tang Xian''s antique notions began to be slowly replaced by a different set of ideas.


    In fact, it was common within the upper echelons of the Pyramid for women to have multiple men and for men to have multiple women.


    The strong had the right to mate and to dominate their peers.


    This saying was a jest in the ancient 21st century, but it has since become a reality.


    The girl was surprised by Tang Xian''s thoughts.


    Who among those who could secure a house for themselves in the lower levels was still an unadulterated good person?


    She stared at Tang Xian with wide eyes; he looked down to check the time.


    "You''re going to the mining area?"


    "Yes. So you should leave; I''ll be there for quite a few days."


    "But it''s nighttime now... The mining area is dangerous at night, isn''t it?"


    "That''s right, at night."


    The girl looked incredulously at Tang Xian, her large eyes blinking.


    Indeed, in such matters, one would choose based on quality, not correctness. Perhaps it was the lingering aroma of red oil on her lips or perhaps it was Tang Xian''s calm demeanor.


    The girl didn''t really want to leave; she hesitated for a long time before speaking:


    "Are you a regular worker? Why not go to the second layer?"


    "Barbarians do barbaric things, which I am used to seeing. But it''s uncomfortable to watch civilized people do the same."


    The girl didn''t understand the meaning of Tang Xian''s words.


    Tang Xian continued to urge, "You really should leave now."


    "Take me with you, I can help you! I can be your eyes!"


    Tang Xian raised his eyebrows.


    The term "eyes" was slang used within the exploration teams of the regular workers.


    A team would typically consist of six people, with one healer and one intelligence officer. Generally, the intelligence officer would be referred to as the "eyes."


    "Have you been to the mining area?"


    "I... I have learned the knowledge."


    "What''s your name?"


    "I''m Dong Ran. I''m not lying to you, please take me with you, I actually have four talents!"


    There was still a little while before they could enter the mining area again.


    A girl selling herself for lodging had come to find him, and she was a quadruple-talent bearer no less.


    Tang Xian felt that no matter who sent her, though they were not smart, they certainly did not skimp on the means.


    "If you can see four talents, you''ll have to explain how you ended up in a position to sell yourself for a place to stay. Logically, a genius with four talents should at least live on the third layer."


    After Tang Xian finished talking, the girl lowered her head and said nothing, as if recalling something sad.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry. He really didn''t dislike this girl named Dong Ran. If she truly could see four kinds of data, no matter who arranged for her to come to him, it would be of some help to him.


    His eyebrows slightly raised, he said:


    "I''m not interested in your body, but I will have to stay in the mining area for a while. Eating hotpot is fine occasionally, but I need to diversify the menu, change a new pot. The area I will be going to in the mining area is infested with fierce beasts. If you are to follow me, you at least have to make me trust you.


    Even if you make up a story, you still have to complete the process, with a justification that puts us both at ease."


    Tang Xian''s gaze wasn''t sharp, yet the girl felt as if she was seen through.


    "I didn''t participate in the Talent Selection Trial."


    "Why?"


    "Someone harmed me at the time. When I got there... the exam was already over."


    "That''s not uncommon."


    "That day, my physical condition was very bad and I didn''t reach the examination site on time. And there''s no such thing as a make-up test for the Talent Selection Trial..."


    "So, you fell to the first layer?"


    "Even if I tell people I have four talents, nobody would believe me. The first layer is full of outcasts. You know, as the teachers would say in school, those without talents are ultimately the eliminated under evolutionary laws. I didn''t expect you to be a regular worker, let alone that you would be entering the... mining area now."


    Dong Ran''s eyes widened with a hint of defiance:


    "I want to live a better life; I can be useful! Please take me with you! You must be going to do something big, right?"


    Temporary workers could only go to the relatively safe newbie villages. The mining area creatures attacked the newbie villages the least, mostly at night.


    From what Dong Ran implied, Tang Xian understood that she probably wanted to hunt down mining area creatures to complete a mission on the task board and then get a regular worker to vouch for her, to earn an opportunity to prove herself and ascend to a higher level for a more comfortable life. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Reasonable enough, I will tentatively believe you." To Tang Xian, this reason was full of holes, but the girl was somewhat useful, like having a bodyguard sent to your doorstep just as you were about to leave. But to guess who sent her would take some more time.


    "What mission do you plan to take in the mining area?"


    Tang Xian looked at the time and said, "It''s about time. I''m planning to hunt a Cerberus from hell."


    Dong Ran was startled, thinking she had heard wrong.


    "What?"


    Tang Xian repeated.


    "An elite-level boss creature, the Cerberus from hell."

 Chapter 7: Chapter 4: Scholar Survival Skills

    Elite-level boss.Anyone who did reasonably well in school would understand the danger they represent.


    Every creature branded as a boss within the mining area is an extremely dangerous entity. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hunting bosses, even the lowest-tier elite-level bosses, requires the cooperation of several teams.


    Of course, this excludes teams made up of those chosen ones who possess various talents.


    On the map of the Rift teleporter, one can see many areas marked in four different colors.


    The colors indicate the level of danger.


    Yellow zones contain bosses that humanity currently needs to expend a great deal of manpower and sacrifice many elites to deal with.


    Blue zones are relatively weaker and are where teams earn their merits, but the death rate is not low. The beginner''s village is a green zone, which is generally not too dangerous.


    As for the red zones, they hide creatures more powerful than the calamity-level bosses and are areas that are absolutely off-limits.


    There are not many blue and green zones; yellow and red zones occupy the majority of the map, which is to say, human civilization is still in the pioneering phase within the mining area.


    Tang Xian pointed at a certain place in the blue zone and said,


    "The hellhound is a subtropical canine species. The temperature nearby ranges between twenty-three and thirty-one degrees, which is extremely suitable for its survival, and the red soil forest here has quite a number of rabbit-eared mice, which are the favorite food of hellhounds and bone hyenas. Get ready, I''m going to go dog-slaughtering."


    It was as if the hellhound was just some small creature. Dong Ran wondered if Tang Xian had any assistance. After all, how would one person go up against a hellhound?


    The two of them fell into silence. Tang Xian quietly flipped through the mission handbook, whiling away the time.


    ...


    ...


    Mining area, the land of red soil.


    Dong Ran was very nervous, after all, in the mining area, the vast majority of items would lose their function. A fully-equipped team naturally needed weapons; in the mining area, weapons used, whether knives, spears, staves, or firearms and grenades, were all converted from armed mines.


    To slaughter an elite-level boss, aside from preparing weapons, one had to gather team members.


    Team members who were good at wielding weapons, those skilled in healing, and those proficient in observation.


    The more talent data one has, the greater the derived combat ability.


    These abilities are indispensable in confronting bosses.


    Tang Xian had nothing.


    Inside the tent at night, after he turned off the light, he lay quietly like a still sculpture.


    Dong Ran asked Tang Xian what data he could see, and his response shocked Dong Ran.


    "I''m not a talent. I have no talents."


    "Then... you must have some very powerful weapons, right?"


    "Do you think I look like someone who can afford high-end gear based on where I live?"


    "Are you, perhaps... backed by some very powerful teammates?"


    "I don''t know, there should be in the future. It might be worth considering cultivating a few, and we''ll see when I meet them."


    ...


    Dong Ran stiffened, suddenly wondering if she had encountered a madman.


    Such beings were common in the lower levels, after six years of survival education they return to the first level, longing for the quality life of the third level, and back to the first level where food was scarce, some crazy ideas were born.


    "You must have some kind of preparation, right?"


    "Of course, I definitely can''t tear apart a boss with bare hands. The night in the red soil forest is very dangerous, but there are almost no poisonous insects, snakes, and ants in this area, mostly herbivorous mammals and carnivorous creatures. The food chain here is also quite simple."


    Dong Ran didn''t quite understand.


    "Nature has its own balance, such as the plant that can neutralize poison may be next to the poisonous weed. Hellhounds are not bad at breeding, but the number of hellhounds visible on this land is still not many. It can even be said to be rare."


    Tang Xian looked at the girl''s befuddled expression, reminding him of the time when he was seventeen and had written an academic report "On the Potential for Domesticating Mining Area''s Biosphere," only to be dismissed by his teacher as fanciful. He felt the teacher was just like the girl before him now.


    People who are not on the same level simply cannot exchange ideas.


    "It means that the natural predator capable of killing hellhounds is also in this region. Beasts, after all, are just beasts. The biggest difference between them and humans is that humans can rely on rationality to suppress instinctive impulses, while beasts only follow their instincts."


    After Tang Xian finished speaking, he chose a comfortable position to lie down, as if he was confident that there would be no surprises tonight.


    The nights in the mining area are indeed dangerous. Tang Xian had deduced some patterns of nighttime activities of the mining area''s creatures based on three incidents of attacks in the beginner''s village at night.


    Everything in this world has its patterns. It''s just that not many are willing to observe.


    ...


    ...


    The day broke quickly.


    When Dong Ran woke up, Tang Xian was squatting at the center of the tent with some fruits on the ground.


    "What are these?"


    Smelling a fragrance she had never encountered before, Dong Ran''s appetite was stirred.


    "They''re red-tailed tree fruits and blue bananas, the favorites of the black-spotted monkeys. There are quite a few of them living around here. Naturally, there''s what they like."


    Initially, she did not think it would be edible, as the mining area gave the impression that the animals were wild, and the plants even more so.


    But seeing Tang Xian eating with relish, she stopped hesitating, peeled a blue banana, and started eating.


    The instant she bit into the pulp, a sweet, smooth, and juicy texture combined with a vanilla-like flavor made Dong Ran''s eyes widen.


    Oh my, how delicious is this?


    Nutritional meals could replicate the taste experience of many fruits, but compared to actual natural fruits, they still fell short in texture.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 4: Survival Skills for Academic Masters_2

    Dong Ran looked at Tang Xian with surprise again. How could this man... seem to know everything?After finishing the fruit, Tang Xian said, "I''m going to look for the Hellhound''s location. Will you stay in the tent by yourself?"


    "I''ll go with you!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you sure? Well, that''s okay. There won''t be any danger, but you might not be able to handle it."


    "What do you mean?"


    ...


    ...


    Dong Ran soon understood what he meant.


    The preparation work before looking for the Hellhound seemed even more difficult than hunting the creature itself, at least to this beautiful girl.


    Tang Xian first cut a lot of red, needle-like plants, which he also took the opportunity to explain to Dong Ran¡ªcalled Redline Grass.


    It was a type of grass whose leaves could emit a strange odor. This odor is harmless to the human body, and also not very toxic to animals.


    But the smell would make all animals steer clear.


    Tang Xian said, "To survive in the mining area, it''s best to crush Redline Grass and apply it on oneself. That way, carnivorous creatures won''t approach us unless we provoke them too much."


    Dong Ran was reluctant to do so, but Tang Xian was stubborn. If you didn''t do it, you weren''t allowed to follow him. As a result, the sweet, tender girl began to emit an odor that would keep all beasts at bay.


    Dong Ran wasn''t sure if this knowledge was true or not.


    In her student days, she wasn''t bad at survival education, barely considered an excellent student, but even those with better grades than hers seemed to rarely be as knowledgeable as Tang Xian.


    Moreover, he had strong practical abilities. Along the way, she truly hadn''t seen any creatures, even though this was the Blue Zone, which meant that the creatures were generally not strong but didn''t indicate there were absolutely no wild beasts along the way.


    "What''s next?"


    "We need to find the den of the Hellhound."


    ...


    ...


    The Red Soil Forest was extremely vast. Finding a nest of an elite boss creature in such a place would take quite some time.


    Especially since humans can''t stay in the mining area for more than seven days. After seven days, one''s vitality plummets, leading to death.


    That''s why many people set their own safety limit at three days; those who set it at five days were rare. Moreover, finding the Hellhound''s den within a few days was almost impossible.


    Tang Xian didn''t think it was impossible¡ªif things went smoothly, he could finish today. And as for the time spent in the mining area, he personally liked it very much; he felt more comfortable here than in the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian wanted to stay for the full seven days, to test what the so-called rapid loss of vitality felt like. Afterwards, he could even write an article on B¨© h¨± titled "What It''s Like to Spend Seven Days in the Mining Area."


    Dong Ran was very curious about how Tang Xian would look for the Hellhound next.


    In the morning, the air was still a bit moist.


    Tang Xian didn''t search aimlessly like a headless fly. After applying Redline Grass, his actions were decisive in the Red Soil Forest full of many plants, neither too flashy nor overly cautious.


    Dong Ran noticed that Tang Xian seemed to pay extra attention to the trees.


    Beneath trees with particularly thick branches, Tang Xian''s gaze would linger for a long time.


    Under a Parasol Tree, which he had noticed before among the Redtail Trees, Tang Xian had merely observed and thought for a long time, but hadn''t actually done anything.


    It was only after discovering this Parasol Tree that Tang Xian slowly approached the trunk.


    Dong Ran followed not too far behind him.


    The Parasol Tree had no leaves, looking quite bare, with something like moss growing on its branches.


    Dong Ran had not learned about woody plants in her survival education, as she had majored in ornithology. It seemed Tang Xian must specialize in plants.


    Dong Ran felt that Tang Xian seemed very familiar with the ecological environment.


    Tang Xian crouched down and then touched the soil around the tree stump with his index finger. Dong Ran watched, wide-eyed, as Tang Xian carefully sniffed the muddy soil that looked rather nauseating.


    The soil smelled foul but was highly nutritious. It was called Red Soil because of its color; the area''s high vegetation coverage was due to this strong, unpleasant-smelling soil.


    The soil in the mining area was naturally different from the desert sand in the Human World, brimming with the breath of life.


    Tang Xian slightly furrowed his brow¡ªindeed, the soil did not smell good, but he still dug up quite a bit and bagged it in his utility pouch.


    Dong Ran didn''t understand. Tang Xian didn''t speak.


    Once he confirmed that the Parasol Tree had what he needed, he began to search for more Parasol Trees.


    The Parasol Tree could be counted as a towering tree, though it looked somewhat eerie and out of place in the forest of Redtail Trees.


    "Animals all have a sense of territory; even those dogs in the Pyramid, domesticated by humans to the point of losing their wildness, know to mark their territory by urinating on a lamppost or something," Tang Xian suddenly said, probably feeling too quiet. He remembered reading a book titled "Research Collection on Canine Creatures in the Mining Area" at the age of thirteen.


    Then, to verify what he had read, he sought out many similar books, such as "Habits of Canine Creatures in the Mining Area" and "Q&A on Canine Creatures in the Mining Area."


    Compared to other creatures, Tang Xian had researched dogs the most. Because dog meat tasted very good.

 Chapter 9: Chapter 4: Survival Skills for Academic Masters_3

    Of course, he was well versed in all the research on the mining area already known to humanity.Take the parasol tree, for example.


    Tang Xian knew very well the distribution of parasol trees; finding soil with the same smell was just a matter of time.


    Later in the day, he finally found a dry, shady cave that could shelter from the rain.


    It was located nearly ten kilometers in the direction of the last parasol tree.


    Standing behind a large boulder outside the cave, Tang Xian whispered, "Because the hellhounds can breathe fire, they won''t live in a place that''s too damp, apart from consuming the essential amount of water needed for survival, other sources of water are extremely lethal to them.


    Interestingly, the hellhounds'' natural enemy, the bone hyenas, also part of the canine family, are creatures that greatly fear water."


    "What do we do now?" Dong Ran didn''t grasp the intent behind Tang Xian''s explanation.


    Now that the lair was found, the question was how to hunt the hellhounds?


    Could Tang Xian do what several elite squads might not be able to achieve alone?


    Dong Ran really hoped Tang Xian was one of those hidden experts with amazing abilities that could secure a top-tier residence, yet opted to blend in on the first floor.


    It was a common trope in the novels of bottom-level vendors.


    However, Tang Xian didn''t possess combat capabilities, at least not for now. He glanced at the hellhounds'' lair and then turned to walk in another direction.


    Considering he had only one spectator, albeit a foolish one, Tang Xian still explained to kill the boredom:


    "Between animals and plants, those that coexist in a mutualistic or antagonistic relationship often live close to each other. In places where venomous insects, snakes, and ants reside, there are often detoxifying herbs or fruit. But it''s different for animals. The lairs of gazelles are far from cheetahs, and male deer don''t make their home next to lions.


    Although hunting encounters among them are common, it''s because water sources bring them together."


    "However, the biosphere in the mining area is quite unique, especially for creatures like the hellhounds and bone hyenas that are very afraid of water. Even if they occasionally encounter each other, it''s all just fate''s trick."


    "Bone hyenas loathe hellhounds immensely but can''t find their whereabouts. We''re lucky, just ten kilometers north from the last parasol tree where the scent trail ended, we found it. Of course, looking in that direction, the vegetation is obviously more barren. I suspect that area is drier, which suits the hellhounds'' criteria for choosing a lair. No wonder the bone hyenas can''t find them.


    So, they need a little guidance."


    This time, Dong Ran began to understand Tang Xian''s purpose.


    She wasn''t dumb and suddenly thought that since canines mark their territory with the scent of their urine, had Tang Xian been confirming the scent when he smelled the soil earlier?


    Descriptions of such scents occasionally appear in textbooks, but even if described precisely... would it not be very difficult to put into practice?


    Is this man a genius? To be able to put into practice what he read about on paper so easily?


    Was observing parasol trees and red-tailed trees earlier meant to look for distinguishing features?


    If there are many trees, the hellhounds'' bladders certainly don''t have an endless supply of urine, so they can''t mark each tree to show ownership.


    So they choose ones with certain features.


    These specific details are hard for others to know, but Tang Xian could easily find them.


    Similarly, Tang Xian could pick out the preferred type of red-tailed tree from among many for the bone hyenas.


    It''s not so much about the preferred tree as it is about the bone hyenas'' preferred... urine pot.


    The process was the same; he found a specific type of soil, smelled a disgusting odor, but this time, Tang Xian didn''t put this soil into his prop bag. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Instead, he took out the soil with the scent of hellhounds'' urine from the prop bag and slowly covered it up.


    Dong Ran watched all this, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.


    Who would smell a dog''s urine? Who would remember how a book described an animal''s urine? Anyone capable of entering the mining area must be a regular worker, living on the second floor or even higher levels¡ªa person with refined tastes. Who would come in and let themselves get stinky, applying crushed Redline Grass?


    Looking at the sky, Tang Xian frowned and said, "It''s best to finish all this before eleven o''clock tonight. Need to hurry up."


    Dong Ran was confused again.


    Tang Xian could see the expression on Dong Ran''s face from the corner of his eye, but he couldn''t be bothered with her dumbfounded look.


    There wasn''t much time; he had to speed up the pace.

 Chapter 10: Chapter 5: Dog Speak and Dog Meat

    Following the method used to find the Hellhounds, Tang Xian also located the lair of the bone jackals in the afternoon.More averse to water than the Hellhounds, the bone jackals also belong to the canine family, but are completely hostile to the Hellhounds. In the Red Soil Forest, they are at the top of the food chain.


    However, bone jackals are not boss-level creatures. In terms of combat ability, six bone jackals might not be able to take down an adult Hellhound. It''s just that their numbers far exceed the Hellhounds.


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a rush to do anything.


    It was only at dusk that he began to carefully spread the collected red soil, slowly placing it near some of the red-tailed trees.


    Dong Ran seemed to understand a bit.


    She just found the process somewhat disgusting; Tang Xian, to ensure that the scent was covered, even went so far as to sniff closely against the soil. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian caught a glimpse of Dong Ran''s expression and said:


    "Without strong combat abilities, one has to learn various skills¡ªsurvival isn''t a dance. Although humans are smarter than other creatures, there are many things in other creatures worth learning from. Take stink bugs, for example, because they give off a foul smell when they die, people are reluctant to squish them. Similarly, if you don''t want to attract ruffians, don''t wear provocative clothing."


    Dong Ran''s face flushed. How could he... seem to see right through people''s hearts?


    Tang Xian couldn''t really see through people''s hearts, but Dong Ran''s current needs showed signs of nausea, and he could guess the girl''s thoughts at a glance.


    The overall job was almost done; the bone jackals would be leaving their cave in less than an hour, and the red soil tainted with Hellhound urine would take at least two to three days for the smell to dissipate completely, so he wasn''t worried it would lose its effect.


    However, there were some uncertainties waiting to occur, and he had to ensure everything was completed before they arose.


    Tang Xian glanced at the sky. Although he had started trying to observe the sky in the mining district newbie village and had gradually summed up a lot of experience over six years,


    Being accurate to the second still put some pressure on him.


    "It''s going to rain tonight. We need to hurry up."


    "Rain?"


    Dong Ran was somewhat skeptical. Understanding meteorological observations in the mining area, too?


    Tang Xian quickened his pace.


    Their destination for the return was the Hellhound''s den.


    Along the way, Tang Xian was constantly shaking and sprinkling; with every hundred or so meters advanced, he would spread some soil at the base of some red-tailed trees.


    Dong Ran carefully followed Tang Xian, actually looking forward to what was going to happen next.


    Hellhounds or bone jackals, such creatures are insurmountable foes for humans.


    This world has everything humans need, but acquiring these resources always comes at a price.


    However, Tang Xian''s idea seemed somewhat crazy; he appeared to be using the world itself to calculate the world.


    ...


    ...


    As dusk fell, the temperature in the Red Soil Forest began to drop slowly, and the golden sunlight, like a thin layer of mist, evenly coated everything in sight.


    It made Tang Xian think of a cooking method called barbecuing, also involving a heap of seasonings, constantly being applied on the lightly charred food.


    Tang Xian felt hungry, looking forward to dog meat at night.


    The scent of the red line grass made it easy for the beasts attracted by Tang Xian and Dong Ran to detect them, but the pair remained motionless, hidden behind a giant rock, only a hundred meters away from the Hellhound''s den, actually within the olfactory detection radius of both the Hellhounds and the bone jackals.


    Eleven bone jackals had arrived. They didn''t get along with the Hellhounds; one marked territory under the red-tailed trees, the other under the Tuji trees. Although hostile to each other, they rarely met.


    The act of lifting a leg and urinating to proclaim sovereignty is not exclusive to canines; big cats like tigers do the same.


    Tang Xian had read about it in a book once: in ancient zoos from many years past, tigers would also lift their legs to urinate, even occasionally spraying it onto visitors'' faces.


    This was essentially an act of provocation.


    Under Tang Xian''s arrangement, the bone jackals felt provoked. Normally, five or six bone jackals in a den would be enough. But clearly, these bone jackals were somewhat familiar with their old rivals'' scent and began to call for companions.


    Dong Ran''s heart had risen to her throat.


    She remembered Tang Xian''s caution that if they encountered creatures in the mining district after being smeared with red line grass, staying low-key would prevent being attacked, similar to how humans would swat mosquitoes but not stink bugs.


    For beings like the bone jackals and Hellhounds, Tang Xian and Dong Ran were indeed just two little stink bugs.


    The Hellhound was huge, the size of an elephant, differing from the myths that described them as covered with hellfire.


    What Tang Xian saw now from afar, whether the three-headed appearance or their enormous bodies, was not the unapproachable flame, but genuine robust muscles like those of a strong steed.


    Dog meat.


    That was Tang Xian''s target for the evening; as for the bone jackals, he wasn''t concerned.


    The flesh on bone jackal''s bones was like crystal, and Tang Xian had yet to learn any culinary techniques to deal with such materials.


    The battle began.


    The massive adult Hellhound and a dozen or so bone jackals instantly began tearing at each other.


    When both canine species roared, the entire den vicinity trembled slightly.


    This was the greatest obstacle for humanity in the mining area. These magical and powerful creatures possess strength that is completely beyond any Earthly organism!


    Speed, power, destructiveness. All of them on a whole different level.


    Even with the use of weapons, it would still be hard to inflict serious damage on a Hellhound; of course, there are those with talents who could awaken powerful abilities in the mining district, but how rare were such talents?

 Chapter 11: Chapter 5: Dog Talk and Dog Meat_2

    The battle was a sight to behold. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.The tearing and biting force of the Hellhounds and Bone Hyenas, which were beyond human imagination, made Dong Ran''s eyes widen, and her expression was filled with horror.


    As for Tang Xian, he was composed, occasionally glancing up at the sky.


    They stayed over a hundred meters away from the battlefield, so as not to be affected. When Bone Hyenas and Hellhounds fought, it was a fight to the death.


    Therefore, Tang Xian truly felt it was not worth the concern.


    No matter how fiercely the two canine species fought, shaking the earth or tearing the sky apart, in Tang Xian''s view, it was ultimately...


    Just dogs biting dogs.


    The Hellhounds quickly became injured, and the Bone Hyenas didn''t have an easy time either. Some of them were even slapped to death. Of course, one of the Hellhound''s heads also paid a heavy price.


    Dong Ran couldn''t help but think, if it were humans who wanted to inflict such a dramatic wound on one of the Hellhound''s heads, they would surely have to pay a terrible price, right?


    They might even need to use weapons transformed from high-grade armed mines, possibly requiring the awakening of powerful combat skills.


    The Hellhound, to humans, is considered a boss-level creature that was not so unfamiliar and mysterious. But it was precisely because of this familiarity that it was taken seriously.


    Nobody would take on such a creature lightly. Even newcomers looking for merit and to prove themselves would search for weaker creatures.


    Yet there was Tang Xian, so carefree, lying behind a rock, plotting against this creature feared by humans.


    The injuries on both sides continued to deepen.


    Dong Ran wondered how much manpower and resources would normally be needed for such a situation?


    However... whether it was the Bone Hyenas or the Hellhounds, no matter who won, they would likely consume their opponent clean. How would Tang Brother collect the Soul Crystal Mine afterward?


    An outcome where both sides were equally injured and perished together was almost impossible. Whether it was the Hellhounds or the Bone Hyenas, even if injured, they were still dangerous.


    Tang Xian saw Dong Ran''s doubts, but he wouldn''t explain a question he had already answered.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The fierce battle between the Bone Hyenas and Hellhounds continued, and dark clouds had begun to appear in the sky.


    "It''s actually... going to rain?" Dong Ran had heard from Tang Xian not long ago that there would be heavy rain tonight, but she didn''t expect it to really happen.


    In their six-person team, indeed, some could predict the weather, others were experts in analyzing terrain, or some were more knowledgeable about vegetation and animals.


    Everyone receiving survival education would start to specialize at the age of fifteen, because the breadth of knowledge was simply too vast.


    Even Earth, with thousands of years of human civilization, had many unknowns in various fields, let alone a new world that had only appeared for a few hundred years?


    Dong Ran looked at Tang Xian''s profile, which was marked with a maturity that belied his age.


    Upon closer reflection, she realized Tang Xian''s combat strategy actually involved a lot of knowledge.


    Using the scent of plants to disperse wild beasts, achieving a state of not being actively attacked, then utilizing geographical knowledge to find the Hellhound''s lair, and succeeding in luring over its natural enemy by exploiting the animals'' territorial instincts.


    With the added precise prediction of the weather, was he waiting for the heavy rain to reap the benefits of a fisherman?


    This process seemed simple on reflection, but it involved so many areas. How could one person master so many disciplines?


    Tang Xian''s knowledge of the mining area was also too... too comprehensive.


    "Get ready, the Hellhound is critically injured, the rain will continue for a long time, and the Bone Hyenas will soon retreat. The rain will wash away the scent of the Bloodgrass on our bodies, but the Hellhound''s Soul Crystal Mine, being the core of a boss-level creature, will have a certain deterrent effect."


    "You''ve considered this as well?" Dong Ran''s mouth dropped open in surprise.


    Raindrops fell on them; despite the huge rock shielding the rain, it couldn''t completely cover their bodies.


    Tang Xian glanced at Dong Ran, whose clothes had become somewhat transparent after being drenched.


    Dong Ran could see clothes clinging to Tang Xian''s muscular lines, and it took her several seconds to realize something, at which point she yelled and clasped her hands over her chest.


    "Tsk, weren''t you planning to sell yourself to me? What''s there to cover up?"


    "Don''t tease me..."


    Tang Xian turned his head away. The intensity of the rain continued to increase, and the Hellhounds and the Bone Hyenas emitted weak howls.


    Although both creatures were averse to water, it did not mean they couldn''t tolerate it. However, at that moment, they faced their natural enemy and were locked in a life-and-death battle, both heavily damaged. Water, therefore, was even more lethal to these fire-attribute creatures, and the onset of rain could very well drive one party away.


    After several minutes, thunder rumbled in the sky and the rain intensified.


    In the end, five Bone Hyenas barely alive made plans to drag their comrades'' bodies and flee, while the two side heads of the Hellhound had been severely damaged, and the middle head had suffered heavy injuries, even revealing the blue Soul Crystal Mine at the top of its skull.


    Tang Xian stood up.


    Dong Ran followed behind Tang Xian, her arms wrapped protectively around her chest.


    Tang Xian walked slowly; the Bone Hyenas clearly saw Tang Xian but paid him no attention. The heavy rain was too much for them to bear.


    They had wanted to completely devour the Hellhound. If they had not been so severely injured, they would have endured the pouring rain and consumed the Hellhound until no bones were left.


    But these few Bone Hyenas were too weak.


    The Hellhound, too, was on the brink of death. Tang Xian approached within five meters of the massive beast before coming to a stop.


    Watching the elite boss creature''s brown chest heave, he was in no hurry. He let the heavy rain drench him completely, sat down, and waited for the giant dog to take its last breath.

 Chapter 12: Chapter 5: Dog Speak and Dog Meat_3

    Dong Ran had never before seen a creature like the three-headed dog from such close proximity, and even as it was weakened to the brink of death, possibly meeting its fate in the pouring rain, the imposing aura of a boss-level creature still made one''s scalp tingle with apprehension.But observing Tang Xian''s calm demeanor and those tranquil, profound eyes, Dong Ran suddenly felt...


    That this was the attitude humanity ought to possess.


    Once the rulers of Earth, a highly intelligent race that had forged thousands of years of civilization, humans stood at the pinnacle of all life forms by virtue of their wisdom.


    As Tang Xian gazed at the hellhound, his look was no different from usual, yet it carried the authoritative presence of a king facing his subjects.


    The storm raged with thunder and rain.


    The hellhound was finally on its last legs, and the Soul Crystal Mine that flickered with blue light began to dim.


    Tang Xian prepared to stand up, retrieve the Soul Crystal Mine, and complete his mission.


    But at that moment, his eyes widened ever so slightly.


    He glanced around, as if searching for something.


    Dong Ran asked in bewilderment, "Tang, what are you looking for?"


    "Do you hear any voices?"


    "Don''t scare me... What voices?" Dong Ran thought Tang Xian was referring to some kind of wild beast. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian slowly turned his gaze back to the dying hellhound and took a step back.


    "Save me, please save me... don''t kill me..."


    The voice that Tang Xian had just heard, weak, weary, and helpless, echoed again in his mind.


    This was the first time Dong Ran saw Tang Xian, a man who usually had everything under control, reveal such an expression.


    "Save me... You are also a powerful being... Why..."


    "Are you talking to me?" Tang Xian asked.


    There was no one else around, and the sounds of wind and rain battered the eardrums. Even with Dong Ran close by, one had to speak loudly to be heard.


    Yet the voice Tang Xian had heard was clearly and crisply echoing in his mind.


    After ruling out all impossibilities, no matter how absurd the last possibility was, it had to be real.


    With that thought, Tang Xian regained his usual composure.


    He had never heard of boss-level creatures being able to communicate with humans. It was just like how he had never known why the data visible to him differed so greatly from that of ordinary people. But when faced with something unchangeable, Tang Xian chose to accept it.


    "Yes... save me... I am about to die..."


    "Sorry, but I''m a bit hungry."


    The hellhound''s eyes widened, breathing grew rushed, and with Tang Xian suddenly speaking as if to someone, all these elements together gave off a sinister aura, causing Dong Ran to shiver in fear.


    "Why do you, such a powerful being, choose to stay with these weaker creatures?"


    "What''s it to you? Weak or strong, all I know is that I''m hungry and dog meat tastes good."


    "..."


    The hellhound probably never expected that the being capable of communicating with it would help humans, despite looking the same as them.


    It was reluctant to accept this, but it truly had no strength left.


    The rain showed no signs of stopping, and after Dong Ran sneezed, it took another dozen seconds after the hellhound closed its eyes for the last time before Tang Xian, watching the massive beast breathe its last, slowly approached the hellhound.


    But suddenly, the creature opened its eyes, and in a final surge of life, the boss-level creature tried to drag the man who refused to save it down with itself!


    The damaged head let out a roar as its paws, covered in bite marks and blood, swung through the air.


    Tang Xian was quick to react, but his body couldn''t keep up with his thoughts.


    Just as he was about to be torn apart by those terrifying claws, Dong Ran cried out sharply, and a powerful force emanated from her hands, pushing Tang Xian several meters away through the air.


    The hellhound let out a final, frustrated howl, but this time, its immense body finally collapsed completely in the downpour.


    The Soul Crystal Mine also lost all its shine, becoming dull and lifeless.


    "Tang, are you alright!" Dong Ran ran over and helped Tang Xian up.


    Tang Xian nodded, breathing a bit raggedly, but otherwise maintaining a calm demeanor.


    "Thanks just now, I was careless. It seems the standards for determining the definite death of boss creatures need further revision. Even after ordinary creatures die, the Soul Crystal Mine still retains its glow for a while, but boss creatures are different."


    Barely escaping death, yet Tang Xian started to earnestly embark on an academic analysis. Dong Ran didn''t even know how to judge this person.


    "With such heavy rain, what should we do?"


    Taking into account that Dong Ran had indeed saved him, Tang Xian replied with a slightly gentler tone,


    "The heavy rain will wash away our scent, as well as the traces of the fight between the hellhound and the bone hyenas, including the things I left along the way. So we might as well stay in the hellhound''s lair openly and feast on dog meat."


    "You had all this planned out already?"


    Although Dong Ran had an idea of the answer, she couldn''t help but ask.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    A plan should be thorough from start to finish. He had it all worked out before entering the mine.


    But he had indeed overlooked a few things.


    For instance, how to move the massive hellhound into the cave.


    After all, the primary motivation behind hunting the hellhound was his desire to indulge in a dog meat hotpot.

 Chapter 13: Chapter 6: Suspected Battle Ability Awakening

    Just as Tang Xian had thought, the lair of the hellhound was very spacious and dry, albeit with a distinctive musky odor.In the mining zone, many things were unusable due to a natural magnetic field that interfered with a lot of equipment, making human high-tech products virtually scrap metal here.


    Even lighters, devices made on the simplest of principles, happened to be operable.


    What Tang Xian hadn''t expected was that deep in the hellhound''s den there were nests made of dry, flammable whitegrass.


    This saved him a lot of trouble; at least he didn''t have to worry about making a fire.


    In his utility bag, he had pots and spices, and of course oil. Unable to bring something as large as a stove, Tang Xian had to settle for some small cooking utensils. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The corpse of the hellhound was brought in by Dong Ran.


    "You indeed have a talent," he said.


    "Mhm," Dong Ran responded softly.


    "That''s great, I should thank you for saving me, the gust of wind from your push and this superhuman strength to carry a hellhound; those must be part of your abilities?"


    "Yes, the gifted do receive some power enhancement. In the mining zone, we are stronger than we are in the Pyramid," Dong Ran said with some happiness. Although she wouldn''t have been able to hunt a boss-level creature alone, she had still been useful.


    "Is that so? That''s a pity. I''m not a gifted one. I know about this area of knowledge, but I lack the personal experience. Does that mean that even if a gifted one does not awaken combat abilities, they possess a more robust constitution than the average person?"


    "That''s right," Dong Ran said.


    Tang Xian nodded to indicate he understood, but in his hands, he held a knife.


    Once gifted ones enter the mining zone, they can see various data, and the types of data they see determine the strength of their talents.


    Moreover, the more types of data they can see, the more combat abilities they may awaken, such as Dong Ran''s Gust Palm, which is one of those abilities.


    "This doesn''t look like a weapon transformed from mining equipment, does it? It looks like a kitchen knife?" Dong Ran scrutinized the knife in Tang Xian''s hand, finding this man to be quite unbelievable.


    Others went hunting elite creatures with all sorts of weapons, but this man brought utensils used for eating.


    "Mhm, it''s just a regular dining knife inlaid with diamond. I traded three blue minerals for it specifically for chopping meat. The hide of the hellhound is very thick, and generally speaking, the meat of the legs is tastier, but when it comes to hellhounds, you need to eat the belly. For creatures that walk on all fours, the belly is the softest. Still, ordinary knives would hardly scratch it.


    Luckily, it is dead now."


    Tang Xian held the knife and slowly traced over the vast belly of the hellhound.


    "It won''t struggle since it''s dead, which is perfect for me to figure out which part of the hellhound tastes the best, where it is softer, and what the meat quality is like."


    Neurotic¡ªwho would conduct such a meaningless inquiry. Dong Ran really found Tang Xian very odd.


    No one had ever eaten hellhound meat before; in fact, people only treated the mining area as a place to transport resources.


    Who would think of cooking inside it?


    Even if they did eat, they would bring dried food and water supplies from the Pyramid that were easy to store.


    Dong Ran couldn''t help but ask, "That ... Tang, can the creatures here really be eaten?"


    Tang Xian said, "According to Liu Jiang''s ''Record of Mine Area Creatures,'' the creatures in the mining zone prey on each other, and the hellhound is not at the top of the food chain. Above the elite creatures are the perfect ones, and above the perfect ones are the calamity ones, and above the calamity ones are the catastrophe ones that humankind has encountered no more than five times."


    "Be it these creatures or the bosses among them, their means of survival is not as depicted in novels where they live on dew and air. They survive on meat. If beasts can eat it, so can humans. Humans have lived for thousands of years, what haven''t they eaten? To me, the mining zone is like a huge animal husbandry farm."


    This statement sounded somewhat laughable and wildly arrogant, but when Tang Xian said it, it felt very real. There was neither an earnest tone nor a hint of jest.


    "Tang, have you never thought of contributing to humanity, like venturing into the depths of the mining zone to bring back more resources?" Dong Ran asked, her large eyes fixed on Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "Some say the mining zone is a game, and when it''s cleared, the Human World will be redeemed, but people have been striving in vain for hundreds of years. I used to think about it, but I''m not interested anymore."


    "I don''t plan on breaking through the mining zone or clearing the hardest areas. There are plenty of geniuses for that. I just want to make my way through by eating, and my biggest wish is to eat a catastrophe-level boss once, to live a proper life."


    Dong Ran was taken aback.


    His words seemed somewhat domineering yet kind of adorable. She said,


    "Aren''t you afraid of being poisoned ..."


    "Appetite comes first in human desires, even before sex, and the ancients were right to prioritize it. After all, the latter is only a moment of pleasure that also shortens life, whereas the former is a perennial theme that not only brings gustatory satisfaction but also the power to survive. Since I''m not having a sex life, naturally I should indulge myself in eating.


    If people can die beneath peony flowers and be considered romantic, then dying for the sake of eating is dying honorably."


    Dong Ran was choked up again by his peculiar logic, yet it somehow made sense.


    Then her cheeks turned crimson, as if she thought of something, and instantly lowered her head.


    Tang Xian didn''t pay attention and started using the knife.


    Generally speaking, an animal''s abdomen is where fat accumulates, but for a formidable creature like the Hellhound, there isn''t really any fat to speak of.


    Therefore, choosing the abdomen should result in a texture most suitable for humans.


    Clutching the knife, Tang Xian thrust it in fiercely.


    No blood seeped out, which made Tang Xian somewhat happy, because, after all, the dog meat must be prepared before the blood flows out for the best taste.


    This was also the first time Tang Xian had touched a creature he had outwitted.


    Suddenly, not long after the knife pierced the Hellhound''s belly, Tang Xian froze.


    [Successfully hunted elite-level boss creature: Hellhound.]


    [Acquired 10 points of Hellhound resistance.]


    [Damage to Hellhound increased by 10 points.]


    [Canine creature resistance increased by 1 point.]


    [Damage to canine creatures increased by 1 point.]


    [By killing an adult Hellhound, enhanced sense of smell acquired.]


    [Continue to hunt Hellhounds to gain stronger resistance and damage.]


    [Initial favorability with Hellhound-related creatures -10, canine creatures -1.]


    [Initial prestige with Hellhound-related creatures +10, canine creatures +1.]


    What''s going on?


    Where did that voice come from?


    In that instant, Tang Xian saw countless cards floating in an alien space, and then one card lit up; on it was the Hellhound''s image!


    What exactly is happening?


    Each gifted individual awakens combat abilities, but Tang Xian had never awakened before, and not having experienced such things, naturally he couldn''t analyze them. In fact, according to human criteria, he would not even be considered a gifted individual, let alone have awakened combat abilities.


    Tang Xian couldn''t understand it, but he quickly accepted it.


    After staring blankly for a good ten seconds, Dong Ran saw Tang Xian in a daze and called out his name, prompting him to finally snap back to reality.


    "Tang, what''s wrong with you?"


    Tang Xian shook his head, suddenly put down the knife, walked over to Dong Ran, and then gently touched her. This was the first time he had touched her since she pushed him away with a palm strike.


    [Successfully defended against the human skill Gust Palm.]


    [Acquired 1 point of human resistance.]


    [Damage to humans increased by 1 point.]


    [Failure to kill the target, unable to acquire the skill.]


    Tang Xian stiffened and stared at Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran felt somewhat uncomfortable under Tang Xian''s gaze and her face grew even redder.


    During this process, Tang Xian frequently hesitated to speak.


    About a minute later, Tang Xian''s expression quickly became calm, no matter how strange the incident, he could always accept it quickly and did not explain his behavior just now.


    Is this my combat ability awakening? It seems as unreliable as the data I saw, Tang Xian thought. Recalling the words of the Hellhound, "Why would such a powerful creature like you stay with weak humans?" Tang Xian found there were indeed many suspicions about him.


    Tang Xian waved his hand, no longer dwelling on these things, and said:


    "It''s nothing. Let''s have dog meat hot pot together later."

 Chapter 14: Chapter 7: Want to Eat a Fox

    At the beginning, Dong Ran refused to eat dog meat. She couldn''t just eat it because she was told to. However, with a scholarly research mindset, she believed it was necessary to try it herself to prevent others from being deceived. She wanted everyone to know what it felt like for her to eat dog meat, so they would know what it felt like when they tried it.As the aroma of the meat filled the air, Dong Ran started to use her chopsticks.


    She chewed on the tender dog meat, mixing in the aged oil, spicy sauce, and Sichuan peppercorn broth. Especially when the juices burst out from the meat fibers with each bite, Dong Ran felt that eating it this way didn''t really reveal its true nature. It didn''t prove the point that three-headed hellhound meat was unappetizing, so she served herself another bowl.


    Five minutes later, Dong Ran ate another bowl.


    Ten minutes later, Dong Ran added one more bowl to her tally.


    Looking at the remaining dog meat, Dong Ran felt her life was complete.


    It seemed that this dog meat hotpot could well rival the rewards for slaying an elite-level boss creature.


    After Dong Ran had her third bowl, Tang Xian was leisurely eating the hotpot. Just then, he had spread the remaining Red Thread Grass at the entrance of the way.


    "Tang, what were you just doing?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Animals have memories. Even though most of those bone hyenas won''t make it back alive, the heavy rain will stop, and even the faintest scent could attract the enemies of the three-headed hellhound. Laying some Red Thread Grass down, as unappetizing as it is, should at least allow us to sleep a bit more peacefully."


    Tang Xian served himself a bowl of dog meat. Despite Dong Ran finding it very delicious, Tang Xian ate it with a hint of regret.


    After all, he was still missing some tools.


    Having a fully stocked kitchen with all the seasonings would have been nice.


    You could actually buy these things. There are some food shops on the second level, part of the official Pyramid institutions, not much business there.


    People would at most buy some ketchup or hot sauce to add to their nutritional meals. As for salt, MSG, pepper, sesame oil, and other seasonings, hardly anyone buys them.


    Of course, there are also quantum boilers for making these seasonings. Yet oddly enough, despite no one using these antiques, they''re quite expensive.


    Dong Ran nodded. The process of Tang Xian slaughtering the dog seemed simple, the core of it being to draw the natural enemies of the three-headed hellhound to it.


    But while it may sound simple, how to survive in the Blue Zone? How to avoid dangerous creatures? How to find the three-headed hellhound, how to find its natural enemy, and how to escape afterward? Solving this series of problems would require a vast amount of knowledge.


    A complex look flashed through Dong Ran''s eyes.


    "Tang, what do you plan to do after this?"


    "We''ll spend tonight in this cave, wait it out¡ªthe rain should completely stop by the late night, but we''ll have to wait until tomorrow noon to be able to walk on the roads. We''ll leave at noon, head west. I''m planning to visit the Forest Sea. Last season was the breeding season for foxes. A few months have passed since then, and the little foxes should be up and moving around by now.


    Killing and eating them at this time, their gamey taste won''t be strong, and their meat would be tender."


    Dong Ran was shocked. Was it about eating again?


    "The Forest Sea? Isn''t that... a Yellow Zone?" Dong Ran asked incredulously as she looked at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian nodded with a calm face, not seeing anything wrong with it.


    Dong Ran felt it was necessary to remind Tang Xian,


    "Tang, the Yellow Zone is basically a no-go zone, it''s only accessible to top talents and teams, and often they have to group up to enter¡­ Elite-level bosses are considered on the lower end there; that place has disaster-level creatures, oh Tang, going there just like this could be very dangerous. Aren''t there any foxes in the Blue Zone?"


    Unexpectedly, Tang Xian said, "It''s indeed dangerous. The fox I''m hunting is not a regular one¡ªit''s the Three-Tailed Spirit Fox."


    "¡­"


    Watching Tang Xian casually chewing and picking through the dog meat in the pot, Dong Ran found herself at a loss for words.


    "Three-Tailed Spirit Foxes usually live in groups, don''t they¡­"


    "Yes, there was someone collecting fox pelts at the market a while back, and I figured, with a bunch of people going after the ordinary foxes, it''d be too hard to compete. After all, fighting beasts is one thing, but fighting people is a lot more troublesome. Cleaning up the mess is a pain, and you can''t eat human flesh, so there''s no point."


    "..."


    Dong Ran suddenly felt that if this person were to take a psychological test, he would definitely be labeled as a dangerous individual, right?


    "What I mean is, even though a three-tailed fox is an elite-level creature and may not be on par with boss-level beings, dealing with social creatures is... quite difficult, isn''t it?"


    Tang Xian had no combat abilities, which Dong Ran realized when the hellhound lashed out in its dying moments.


    Despite Tang Xian demonstrating strong survival and adaptability skills in the mine area, having a person without any magical talent hunt down a group of elite-level creatures was indeed like a fantasy.


    "Cut some extra Redline Grass for use; it smells foul but it doesn''t harm the skin and can prevent poisonous insects, snakes, and ants. As for the three-tailed spirit foxes, they''re not the Six-Tailed Flame Fox after all. A group is just a group, foxes have weaknesses too."


    Without further explanation, Tang Xian continued eating the dog meat.


    Dong Ran noticed Tang Xian was eating quite slowly, but when she came to her senses, she realized there wasn''t much meat left. With a cry of surprise, she stopped thinking too much and started to fight for the meat as well.


    "For this hellhound, shall we go to the mission department to register, or just go to the lower levels to sell it off the books?"


    "Oh, you know about off the books too?" This time, Tang Xian was somewhat surprised.


    "I also live... on the first level, so of course I know about it." Dong Ran felt nervous under Tang Xian''s gaze.


    "Off the books then. As you said, for two people to kill a hellhound, and both living on the first level, especially since I''m a non-talented person who only got a formal salary by doing grunt work. With this kind of partnership, if we managed to hunt a hellhound, we would probably attract some unnecessary trouble. Off the books isn''t bad; it just doesn''t improve the hunting ranking."


    Hunting ranking refers to the rankings of hunters who kill various creatures in the mine area.


    The number of kills and the strength of the creatures determine the ranking.


    A hunter capable of killing a hell-level boss with just one other person would likely be immediately noticed by high-ranking individuals.


    Dong Ran thought, so Tang Xian has always been aware of how incredible the things she''s doing really are?


    Is his calm demeanor because such matters are indeed very simple for him? Or is he just feigning being seasoned?


    Dong Ran couldn''t figure it out.


    Tang Xian patted his stomach, satisfied, and said:


    "We''ll spend the night in this cave."


    "Why not go back to the Pyramid?"


    "With such fresh air in the mine area, why would we go back to the Pyramid?" Tang Xian looked at Dong Ran with a you''re-really-weird expression.


    "Coming back to reality, re-entering the mine area would take ten hours. I don''t have the time to waste. By the way, it''s a half-day''s journey to the Sea of Trees. If you think it''s too dangerous, you can go back now."


    Dong Ran was actually considering this issue. It was as if Tang Xian had seen right through her thoughts.


    Despite Tang Xian''s calm facade, she was still very afraid inside...


    The yellow zone was indeed an area with a very high mortality rate.


    But then she thought of something else and, biting her lip, she eventually said:


    "I''ll go with you!"


    "Silver Fox Stew is pretty tasty. A bit of danger is no big deal."

 Chapter 15: Chapter 8: Nutritious Fruit

    The heavy rain stopped in the latter half of the night, and as a lone man and a single woman together in a mountain cave with the firewood ablaze, Dong Ran was somewhat uneasy.However, Tang Xian really had no interest in pondering humanity''s highest mission; he was a down-to-earth person. Once he said he would sleep, he could sleep, and the regular rhythm of his breathing indicated that he was sleeping soundly.


    Few dare to spend the night in the Soul Crystal Mine.


    Even in places like newbie villages, few dare to linger at night, as there are too many creatures hunting after dark.


    Tang Xian seemed to have none of these concerns.


    The first night, he pitched a tent in a forest full of redline grass; the second night, he outright slept in the den of the three-headed hellhound, which was somewhat reckless, akin to that of a fugitive.


    But he remained alive and well.


    Without causing any trouble in the lower levels for six years, and after spending a day and two nights in the mine, he took down a boss creature. With such an achievement, Dong Ran could naturally have left if it were just about earning a formal employment qualification.


    But she wanted to see whether Tang Xian could actually capture the three-tailed fox.


    Once could be luck, but a second time would definitely mean there''s a connection.


    However, thinking about how Tang''s strongest offensive equipment was a kitchen knife, and his strongest defensive gear was an iron pot, while others came to the mine fully stocked with ammo and supplies, but he brought soy sauce and salt instead, Dong Ran still felt a bit nervous.


    But if there really was someone capable of effortlessly taking down the creatures of the mine, it naturally had its advantages to be on good terms with such a person.


    For instance... the silver fox hotpot that she had never tasted but sounded delicious.


    ...


    ...


    By noon, the ground slowly dried, and although walking still got one''s shoes covered in mud, Tang Xian didn''t care about maintaining an elegant demeanor.


    Coming to the Soul Crystal Mine was about eating things, consuming various strange creatures; when you''re about to eat them, why care about manners?


    So, he disdainfully watched Dong Ran as she carefully walked, unwilling to let the mud touch her ankles, and couldn''t help but quicken his pace.


    Trying to keep up with Tang Xian, Dong Ran had to accelerate, and as she took a heavier step, mud splashed, staining her skirt¡ªwhich might not be very expensive, but girls tend to like cleanliness after all.


    "The forest sea is a marshland, the favored place of the three-tailed fox; the soil there is even softer. If you can''t stand it, then hurry back, don''t follow me."


    "Tang, you just want to get rid of me."


    "Women are such a hassle," Tang Xian said disdainfully.


    Dong Ran was taken aback. Was she not attractive? Throughout their journey, Tang Xian had looked at her with a gaze that seemed to imply she was an idiot more than once.


    "In ancient times, the 21st century to be precise, there was this mud bath where your entire body would be covered in mud; it''s actually very good for the skin. The red clay from the red soil forests here is even richer in nutrients, better than the skincare products used by wealthy women in the third level, though it does smell a bit."


    Tang Xian knew why Dong Ran was following him, even if it meant facing the three-tailed spirit fox that''s more of a hassle than the three-headed hellhound¡ªthis girl would follow him like she was marching to her death.


    Of course, it wasn''t because she liked him. Everyone has their little secrets, but few could keep them in front of Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian didn''t expose her secrets; to him, it really didn''t matter.


    After all, he was just a gourmet; he was just there to eat. He didn''t mind sharing good food with another person. Deep down, he was not a stingy person.


    Just like during his school days, even though back then he was quite conceited, he still got along with many people.


    Everyone likes the kind of top student who''s willing to let others copy their exam papers.


    Even after it was later proved that he had no talent, and those people never contacted Tang Xian again, he wasn''t lonely.


    The road is long, with knowledge as his companion.


    The six years as a bottom-tier temporary worker weren''t hard for him to endure. If it weren''t for the fact that good food ingredients simply couldn''t be exchanged for in the newbie village, he wouldn''t even have wanted to become a regular.


    After walking for two hours, Tang would occasionally look back.


    Dong Ran noticed Tang''s action and asked, "Tang, did you drop something?"


    Tang shook his head, slightly furrowing his brows, which Dong Ran remembered was the first time she saw Tang frown.


    "It''s the footprints. The soil is soft like snow and leaves footprints. Although most animals won''t track based on footprints, it''s not good if people see them."


    After a heavy rainfall, when the ground was saturated with water, was a good time for hunters to hunt Hellhounds.


    Dong Ran said, "Although this is a blue zone, hunting Hellhounds is ultimately very rare. Not many people dare to provoke boss-level creatures."


    Tang didn''t quite agree with that statement.


    The reason he furrowed his brows was that he sensed someone approaching.


    However, Tang wasn''t overly concerned. He said, "Let''s go. We should continue on our way."


    Tang was confident that his sense of smell had indeed enhanced.


    From the time he woke up, he could sense that the scents in the air had become much stronger. At the moment, walking on the earth after rain, the mixture of odors made the smells in his breath even more diverse.


    But unlike before, a person with extraordinary hearing could differentiate which person said what amidst many talking, and a chef with extraordinary taste could discern what ingredients and their proportions were used in a dish.


    Tang''s sense of smell was now extremely powerful. He didn''t know just how strong it had become, but he could tell where the smells in the air came from, what poisonous insects or snakes lurked nearby, which plants were present, and even that a group of people was rushing towards them from miles away, following their footprints, all just by smell.


    This strong sense of smell did not bring Tang any troubles. On the contrary, he found it quite useful.


    "There''s a stream not too far ahead. It''ll be good for washing our feet, and we can rest there for a while," Tang said. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Ran naturally agreed but was curious as to why Tang suddenly wanted to rest.


    It appeared that Tang was not tired at all.


    It took a little while to reach the stream. Dong Ran was no longer surprised how Tang knew there was a river at such a distance.


    Tang was just like a native who had lived in the Miner''s area for many years.


    Tang didn''t explain. He had gathered some fruits, unlike the blue banana fruits and red-tail tree fruits from before, these were of a different variety, and their shapes looked somewhat shy. Dong Ran initially didn''t dare to eat them, but she saw Tang wash them and eat directly, and before long, she couldn''t help herself either.


    However, this time, she didn''t feel like there was much to eat, and it tasted somewhat astringent.


    "These are Bogen Fruits. According to Zhang Houshi''s ''Miner''s Shennong Record,'' they taste like sour persimmons but can replenish more nutrients than meat. They''re called Bogen because they''re elongated, the skin is smooth and elastic, and they''re moderately long. Honestly, whether it''s the appearance, taste, or even the touch, they''re better than cucumbers."


    Though picky about gourmet food, when it came down to survival, Tang didn''t care about eating unpleasant things. He needed to replenish his energy. His description and explanation, however, really made Dong Ran more reluctant to eat the fruit.


    Dong Ran curiously said, "Don''t we still have dog meat? It''s stored in the bag."


    "In the Hellhound''s den after the rain, with the addition of Redline Grass, we won''t attract other animals. But here, smells spread easily, and riversides are usually where creatures gather. Don''t think there''s nothing now, but the aroma of meat will attract many predators.


    You need to think more when doing things, or you''ll get rusty," Tang said with a calm tone, quite patient with the girl who didn''t like to use her head much.


    Dong Ran couldn''t come up with anything to say.


    Tang took out the Hellhound''s Soul Crystal.


    It looked like a pearl. If graded, it was worth twenty-nine times that of the rarest purple ore he had mined.


    This was a treasure, so that''s why he was frowning.


    "What are you going to do with that?" Dong Ran asked, not knowing why Tang was suddenly playing with the Soul Crystal.


    "Someone will come to rob it soon. I''m taking it out now, so it''s easier for them to take it when the time comes," Tang said, still with that nonchalant demeanor.

 Chapter 16: Chapter 9: Legally Mindless

    Tang Xian''s thoughts were something that Dong Ran had not yet been able to adapt to, and having her convenience snatched away left her somewhat dumbfounded.What concerned her even more was Tang Xian mentioning that someone would come after them soon.


    "What do you mean? Are there other people in these desolate hills?"


    "Mhm, they should be able to catch up to us in a bit," Tang Xian said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at a fish in the river.


    "Then we''ll be robbed!" Dong Ran suddenly realized, a man and a woman, without any equipment, carrying a boss-level creature''s Soul Crystal Mine.


    This was definitely a robbery waiting to happen.


    This time, Tang Xian didn''t look at Dong Ran as if she were an idiot, since he needed to keep his eyes on the fish.


    He simply said, "Didn''t I already tell you we''re about to be robbed? But it doesn''t matter. If you take out your money openly and honestly, rather than sneaking it into your pocket, it gives off a different impression."


    Dong Ran didn''t know how Tang Xian had deduced that someone was coming, and anxiously said, "Shouldn''t we be running now?"


    "Run? If we run, our footsteps will sink deeper. Humans aren''t animals; we have brains and can analyze prey behavior. If we start running after we''ve come this far, it would expose our emotions. Emotions often confirm the other party''s guesses."


    This time, Dong Ran picked up on the fact that Tang Xian was implying she lacked brains.


    Just then, Tang Xian suddenly bent down and accurately grabbed a fish.


    "Nice, we can have grilled fish tonight. This is a red phosphorus fish ¨C its meat isn''t as good as that of a green phosphorus fish, but if you get the grilling right, it can be just as crispy and delicious."


    Dong Ran was not cheered by the prospect of grilled fish, and Tang Xian went on to say,


    "Don''t take my words seriously. You''re not dumb. Even if I say you are, it doesn''t actually mean you are. Besides, in this world, some people are just plain dumb, but you''re different." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Feeling that Tang Xian was about to compliment her, Dong Ran asked expectantly,


    "Different how?"


    "You have big boobs."


    "..."


    "Having big boobs means you can be legally brainless. That''s better than those who are brainless and flat-chested. If you went to the third mining team where I am, and met Song Zhe, at least you''d fare better than those temporary workers with brains."


    Tang Xian really believed he was offering a compliment; having big boobs was definitely a plus in his eyes.


    But Dong Ran was still hung up on the brainless part. As for who Song Zhe was, she didn''t care, figuring he was probably some sleazy guy.


    Seeing that Dong Ran was still somewhat worried, Tang Xian said,


    "The human heart can indeed be sinister, but for most people to actually go against their moral principles, aside from a few real psychopaths, the majority will struggle and resist. It''s not so much about conscience as it is about considering the risks. If you truly can''t grasp it, just listen to me and later just put on a cool and composed face."


    Dong Ran didn''t understand, and Tang Xian didn''t elaborate further.


    He put the red phosphorus fish into his bag. The bag was one of the few items that could be used in the mining area, after all, it was made from blue-quality inorganic mines.


    It could hold quite a lot of stuff, but it wasn''t a magical dimensional pocket. The items put in the bag didn''t shrink; rather, things like food could be preserved from rotting.


    Tang Xian''s bag was filled with various cooking utensils, and it looked like quite a bulky pile.


    After securing his bag, Tang Xian casually found a tree to lean on and soon, four figures appeared in the distance in his line of sight.


    Four people, three men and one woman.


    According to Tang Xian''s knowledge, a squad typically consisted of six members: four combatants, one healer, and a lookout.


    At a distance of only about a hundred meters away, Tang Xian could see their stats. He hadn''t really thought of a set way to deal with robbers before.


    But now, he had an idea.


    The three men and one woman, judging by their gear, were all wearing combat suits transformed from green-level mining armor. Such an outfit was not common in ordinary teams; with such equipment, the group was likely well-equipped and not understaffed.


    Dong Ran was somewhat tense, while Tang Xian retracted his gaze, looking back at the surface of the river.


    He suddenly thought that one fish might not be enough to eat, so he checked to see if there were any other fish.


    The four approached.


    Dong Ran forced herself to stay calm, trying to appear as collected as Tang Xian.


    The leader of the four was tall and burly, wielding an axe which seemed to be of blue quality. Blue weapon, green armor ¨C such a team was usually trouble. But why were there only four of them?


    Behind the leader was a short man with shifty eyes and a mustache, whose green-converted dagger suggested his role.


    The man on his right was tall yet thin, clean-cut and seemingly well-mannered, but his weapon was of the same quality as the leader''s; it was a blue heat gun.


    Warrior, assassin, archer.


    A standard setup. The woman behind the three men, fairly attractive, had breasts that couldn''t compare to Dong Ran''s, but to Tang Xian, they still seemed rather inviting, and the medical kit in her hands clarified her role.


    The team configuration was missing eyes and a combat member, but that wasn''t the core role. A team like this could still operate.


    Tang Xian toyed with the bead in his hand and seemingly glanced unintentionally at the four of them before his gaze continued to fall on the river''s surface.


    The burly man holding the battle-axe wanted to speak, but at that moment, Tang Xian had his back to him and made a shushing gesture first.


    "Shh! Don''t talk right now."


    Tang Xian stared at the river, one hand twirling the Soul Crystal ore, and the other ready to reach into the water at any moment.


    The group looked at Tang Xian with confusion, but each had their own concerns and remained silent.


    A few seconds later, Tang Xian''s hand plunged into the water and once again caught a fat red-scale fish.


    The burly man asked, "What are you doing?"


    "Fishing," Tang Xian replied without looking back, pondering whether there were more fish in the river.


    No need for bait to attract them, the fish swam by the riverbank themselves; either the weather was about to change, or the river was simply teeming with fish.


    Tang Xian was certain it wouldn''t rain tonight.


    The four had arrived with a bold stance and their positioning was strategic, suggesting they knew a fair bit about formation knowledge from survival education.


    He had planned to feign friendliness, then pry into whether the two had visited the lair of the Cerberus and offer that his team was short of people.


    This would have allowed him to further extract the details about the others, to decide whether to steal their Soul Crystal ore.


    But what they hadn''t anticipated was how calm these two seemed. The woman looked as if she had known they would come, and the man completely ignored them.


    Was he seriously fishing?


    And he was brazenly playing with the Soul Crystal ore?


    Perhaps making a bit too much movement, Tang Xian noticed that the red-scale fish were mainly in the center of the river. He couldn''t be bothered to go after them, thinking that two fish would suffice¡ªone large for himself and a smaller one for Dong Ran.


    It was still early, but it was time to find a place to rest.


    Thus, Tang Xian turned around and said indifferently:


    "A bunch of you from Five-One Fortress have been following for a while now, what is it?"


    All four were shocked; how did he know they were from the Five-One Fortress?


    And how did he know they had been following?


    By their expressions, Tang Xian knew he had intimidated them.


    Putting aside the information brought by scents, just the panel of the leader explained much.


    Gender: Male.


    Good-Evil Value: 32.


    Greed and Lust Index: 49.


    Favorability: 1 (strangers).


    Financial Assessment: 6 (destitute).


    Loves: Soul Crystals from various mine creatures.


    Hates: The third-floor mercenary commander of the Five-One Fortress.


    Fears: Perfect-level boss¡¤Elk Bear.


    Current Sincerity Level: 11 (straightforward).


    Charm Value: 17 (unnoticed).


    Current Luck Value: 14 (minor misfortune).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Get close to Tang Xian and Dong Ran (54%)]


    [Rob Tang Xian and Dong Ran (21%)]


    [Leave the mine area (15%)]


    [Flirt with Zhang Yuan (5%)]


    [Other (5%)].


    Their goal in getting close was so obvious to Tang Xian that he didn''t even have to think about it. Next would be to play along with them, acting the part of a ripe sheep ready to be robbed.

 Chapter 17: Chapter 10: The Correct Posture to Face Robbers

    "How did you know we''re from Fortress 51?" the burly man said.Tang Xian didn''t immediately answer, he glanced at the others and was amused.


    The demands in the interface of the other two men were exactly the same as those of the burly man.


    This was quite normal, indeed there were times when everyone''s demands aligned, but even the option to flirt with Zhang Yuan was the same, which was quite interesting.


    Three men flirting with one woman?


    Zhang Yuan was probably the healer carrying the medical kit at the end.


    Tang Xian took a look, and although this woman did have some charms, she probably didn''t possess the formidable strength to make five men willingly pursue her jointly.


    Because in her interface, the one she detested was Wang Tengyu.


    And in her demands, there was also the option to flirt with Wang Tengyu.


    If a person dislikes someone, they certainly wouldn''t flirt with them.


    So, Zhang Yuan probably wasn''t the kind of strong figure who enjoyed the mating rights of several men.


    Tang Xian figured Wang Tengyu must be one of the three men. And these three men, most likely each thought that they alone had won this woman''s heart.


    Thus, Tang Xian thought about it for an extra half second.


    If a person is both despised and yet needed to be pleased, they must be core to the team, and this burly man before him was indeed Wang Tengyu.


    This really was a team that could almost be toppled with just a little bewitchment.


    However, Tang Xian couldn''t be bothered with it, there were too many in this world who could manipulate men at a clap of their hands and women likewise, setting aside the moral aspect, at least in terms of intelligence, Tang Xian thought such people had value in existing.


    "The axe in your hand, its craftsmanship comes from the fifth level''s armory of Fortress 51, a few of the smiths there are acquaintances of mine, and one of them still owes me money."


    Wang Tengyu was startled.


    Not just him, the two men behind him were also surprised.


    The creators of the equipment in the mining area are usually those with deep backgrounds and ties to the military. To recognize these people, one must naturally be no ordinary individual.


    Wang Tengyu and the other two men exchanged glances, the mustached assassin squinted his eyes, giving a very slight shake of his head.


    "Are you also from Fortress 51?" Wang Tengyu asked.


    "Fortress 39. I''ve only been to Fortress 51 a few times for business."


    "What''s in your hand?" Wang Tengyu ultimately couldn''t hold back.


    "You know what it is, didn''t you follow all the way from the den of the three-headed hellhound for this very thing?"


    Dong Ran was a bit nervous, but seeing this moment, the burly man seemed more nervous, and she suddenly felt less anxious.


    "Cough cough... You must be joking."


    "Joking? In this wilderness, what do you think I and my assistant left footprints for? You saw the footprints and deliberately left two team members behind, sending only four people over. Could it be, our meeting here is just a coincidence?"


    Dong Ran didn''t quite understand.


    But Wang Tengyu did. His expression turned somewhat ugly, but his tone became even more amicable.


    "Hahaha... It really is just a coincidence."


    Tang Xian shrugged, with an expression that read ''if you say so.''


    Dong Ran couldn''t help admiring this man''s acting, or perhaps Tang Xian genuinely didn''t care?


    "I''ve already slaughtered the three-headed dog, the meat was nice, but the leg meat is too tough, only the belly meat is edible, look, it''s all packed in the bag. I have another use for this Soul Crystal Mine, planning to exchange it for some better pots.


    If you''re here to rob, feel free to try, but according to the mining area''s survival laws, taking action against military personnel gives soldiers the right to execute immediately."


    Still with a casual tone, lazily smirking, he glanced at Wang Tengyu once more.


    Soldiers?


    Immediate execution?


    Wang Tengyu''s facial expression changed rapidly as he tried to suppress his emotions, yet he couldn''t help but show some surprise.


    Could this man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, be from the military?


    That would make sense; otherwise, how could he have identified his affiliation based merely on a weapon?


    Originally, the few people in the Cerberus''s den didn''t believe that two people could kill a Cerberus on their own.


    But they had only seen the footprints of two people. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Six against two, the odds were certainly in their favor.


    However, the team''s look-out, Zhao, suggested a more cautious plan, so only four of them gave chase.


    Little did they expect that their motives seemed completely transparent to this man; the situation turned out to be the least likely one.


    There indeed existed individuals who could single-handedly kill elite boss creatures, and they were either the strongest hunters on the leaderboard, or the aces hidden within the military''s ranks.


    The young man before them must be the latter. Thinking about it, they hadn''t seen any other bodies nearby.


    What puzzled Wang Tengyu the most was that this man did not have a single wound. His clothes did look quite dirty, with some red traces that seemed like blood.


    What six of them couldn''t accomplish, the two of them did. Now with only four left, the thought of robbing Tang Xian was immediately dismissed.


    Glancing back at his two teammates, it seemed that they had come to the same conclusion.


    At that moment, Tang Xian spoke up:


    "Still want to rob me? If not, I need to get going. I have to travel at night."


    "Hahahaha, brother, you must be joking. We really were just passing by. Our two teammates got separated, and we saw the footprints thinking they might be theirs. It was a misunderstanding¡ªwe''re all hunters from Huaxia. How could we possibly rob anyone?"


    Tang Xian pretended to think for a moment, then slowly nodded and said:


    "What a pity, you should have tried. With more practice, robbery becomes a habit, but you''re sensible, at least. Let me give you a piece of advice, don''t sleep at night."


    "Sorry to have disturbed you. I think they might be to the east," Wang Tengyu didn''t understand the meaning behind Tang Xian''s last sentence, and right now, all he wanted was to get away.


    "I also think they''re to the east," Tang Xian''s eyes gleamed with greater amusement. He waved his hand, signaling for them to go their separate ways.


    Wang Tengyu didn''t say anything more, just waved his hand and quietly withdrew.


    Dong Ran followed Tang Xian with composure, their footsteps steady and unhurried.


    After walking for a long time, Dong Ran finally looked back and, seeing no sign of those people, displayed a somewhat panicked expression and asked:


    "Tang, what was that all about? Did you scare them off? Why send four people when six would have been better?" Dong Ran had noticed that Tang Xian had just performed an Empty Fort Strategy, but she still didn''t understand some of his words.


    Tang Xian had not expected Dong Ran to be slow on the uptake, but he explained patiently:


    "Six people found the footprints of two, and based on their understanding of Cerberus-type creatures, the likelihood of a single person or duo hunting a boss creature is the lowest. So they would think that we''re probably from a squad and that the other four members had died."


    "At that point, they naturally wanted to rob us. But there seems to be a cautious person in their team who thought that three warriors with a healer could definitely take down two people.


    There was no need for all six to move out, and if it really was the worst-case scenario, with the other party being powerful enough to kill boss-level creatures on their own, then these four could fabricate a story about their teammates dying or being lost to lower our guard even more, perhaps even extracting some information."


    After explaining, Tang Xian looked at the distant hills, contemplating that sleeping in a cave tonight would be quite comfortable.


    "We''ve got a place to stay for the night."


    "But what did you mean by telling him not to sleep tonight?"


    "That was just a hint. Like you, he''ll find it strange, coming at such an abrupt time, which will lead him to think it over repeatedly, creating a self-suggestion. He might actually struggle to sleep tonight. And a man with a woman tends to seek her out if he''s awake at night."


    It''s naturally more appropriate for infidelity to be discovered at night.


    Tang Xian didn''t elaborate further; he wouldn''t tell Dong Ran that the female healer had a fling with all five men in a squad.


    Just that today they encountered bandits, and although he wasn''t a bad guy, he was no saint either. He still needed to teach these people a lesson.


    As for what would happen to this squad tonight, he had no idea; he only knew that tonight, he wanted to eat grilled fish.

 Chapter 18: Chapter 11: The Cheaters Grilled Fish

    Grilling fish actually requires a lot of seasonings: ginger, garlic, green onions, pepper, cooking wine, green and red peppers, onions, and so on.Since he didn''t bring many seasonings, Tang Xian couldn''t create an authentic grilled fish. Moreover, grilling fish requires a particular type of oil that needs to be soaked in for two days, but Tang Xian, who couldn''t afford to waste that time, had to simplify the process.


    At the hilltop in his sight, Tang Xian spread out redline grass. Although he didn''t find a cave, he did find a natural overhang that could shelter them from wind and rain.


    Right now, as Dong Ran watched the fish turning constantly on the grill, she swallowed her saliva and couldn''t help urging him, "Tang, is it done yet? The fish looks cooked."


    "What''s the rush, still twenty seconds to perfect the heat."


    Tang Xian looked at the fish with a bit of regret; tonight''s meal could only be referred to as a barbeque, not a true grilled fish, which relies on side dishes for flavor.


    This method of grilling fish on a rack and simply sprinkling on seasonings might be tasty, but at the end of the day, it was nothing more than a common barbeque.


    Giving the small phosphor fish to Dong Ran and keeping the bigger fish for himself, Dong Ran felt somewhat unsatisfied and said:


    "I... my appetite isn''t small either."


    "Next time you see me catch fish, remember to help out willingly. More effort, more gains."


    "Okay, okay, we''ll catch fish tomorrow too."


    "Are you a pig? Even pigs are happy eating the same thing every day. By noon tomorrow, we will have reached the Forest Sea, which should take four to six hours to navigate, and we''ll be able to catch a three-tailed fox. Then we can enjoy silver fox stew.


    People should try to eat something different every day; since we are humans, we should have the right to eat meat and choose what meat to eat, even if we don''t have that option for the moment, we should have that mindset."


    Dong Ran pouted, feeling a bit unhappy after being scolded again.


    Tang Xian simply ignored it.


    "We''ll spend the night here. The abundance of red scaled fish in this area suggests there aren''t many other large land carnivores around. You don''t have to be as vigilant as you were last night."


    "I wasn''t..." Dong Ran started, surprised; she indeed hadn''t slept well the previous night.


    But Tang Xian had gone to bed so early; how did he know she hadn''t slept well?


    Upon further thought, how did Tang Xian know those people were from Fortress 51?


    To go to another fortress, one must ride a dedicated flying vehicle.


    Most known fortresses switch applications, which are mostly for some prison inmates; it''s rare for ordinary people to want to switch fortresses because the cost of switching fortresses is...


    Demotion by two levels. And the person must be at least on the third level.


    Had Tang Xian been to another fortress?


    The Empty Fort Strategy is just that, but how could he be sure the Empty Fort Strategy would work?


    "Tang, when you bluffed those people today, was everything you said true?"


    "Of course, it was true."


    "Ah... you''ve actually been to other fortresses?"


    "That''s false, you''re indeed as idiotic as those people."


    "Why are you insulting me again..."


    Tang Xian decided to correct Dong Ran.


    "Regarding descriptions of your intelligence, that''s not insults, that''s stating facts. You''ll have to get used to it; hoping for me to change my habits is impossible, and hoping for you to increase your intelligence is also a tough task. As for your question, I don''t need to go to another fortress, but I can get to know people from other fortresses." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why? Isn''t changing fortresses only possible if someone from the third level is willing to be demoted two levels?"


    "Yes, but there is another way, which is to demonstrate special skills and pass the exams for certain national positions. Then, whichever fortress needs someone in that position, that person can legitimately transfer to that fortress."


    Dong Ran was shocked.


    Such talents were hard to come by even in an entire school district. They generally served in the military. How outstanding must this talent be?


    She had originally thought Tang Xian was bluffing, as long as he could intimidate the other person, that was enough. She never expected Tang Xian to actually know other fortress''s weapon designers.


    "This..."


    "Are you asking why I haven''t done well for myself if I have such connections?"


    "Um..."


    Dong Ran was still very cautious, feeling she might touch on Tang Xian''s sore spot.


    This was naturally not a sore spot for Tang Xian, who was quite calm.


    "Ke is indeed talented, with a strong sense of spatial dimension, and often shows me some very interesting designs. I occasionally help him improve them. Most of the time, he doesn''t need my guidance."


    "To join the military, you need both ''Digitalization Scores'' and ''Mineral Reaction Studies'' to be at least one hundred and ten or higher. Actually, having inspiration is the most important. Designing weapons is ultimately about the design. The Pyramid can use high-precision tools to make equipment, so Digitalization Scores are relatively less important.


    The military system is still somewhat inflexible."


    Tang Xian felt the fish had gotten cold and frowned¡ªonce the meat cools, the taste can decline a lot.


    "During the final year of the mock exam for the chosen ones, Ke''s Digitalization score was seventy-seven, the best he had ever achieved. He was determined to be an equipment designer, but his score was a barrier. He wasn''t confident about improving by over thirty points in the last two months, so he asked me for help. I taught him for two weeks."


    Tang Xian passed the fish to Dong Ran, who immediately took it, not minding Tang Xian''s saliva on it, and enjoyed the meal greatly before asking,


    "What happened then? Did he pass? How many points did he score?"


    "Since he became an equipment designer, of course, he passed. He scored one hundred and thirty-nine, which was the second highest Digitalization score that year."


    "Who was the first?"


    Tang Xian didn''t speak, giving Dong Ran a look to let her figure it out for herself.


    After thinking for a while, Dong Ran exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be you, Tang?"


    Tang Xian nodded. Although it wasn''t something to boast about, it wasn''t something to be modest about either.


    "It was me."


    "Then why are you... still living at the bottom? Anyone who can score over one hundred and ten in any subject would surely be a talent desperately sought after by every fortress, right?"


    "Do you believe that someone could have a perfect score in all fields?"


    "A perfect score in all fields?"


    Dong Ran was somewhat unable to catch up. Generally, most people chose to specialize in one area, while a minority would specialize in several, like the Ke that Tang Xian mentioned.


    That is to say, specialize in both Digitalization and Mineral Reaction Studies at the same time.


    Such people would have high total scores, but their scores in individual subjects would definitely not be as high as those specializing in one subject.


    Even among those specializing in one subject, perfect scores are rare, aren''t they? After some thought, she realized that she had rarely even heard of near-perfect geniuses.


    The concept of a perfect score in all fields... is almost the limit of humanity, something that is thought to exist in theory but, at this stage, is something no one could achieve.


    "Don''t quite believe it," Dong Ran said truthfully.


    Tang Xian nodded. This time, he didn''t find Dong Ran to be foolish.


    "So I was accused of cheating. That''s about the size of it."

 Chapter 19: Chapter 12: Tang Xian Is Right

    Dong Ran nodded. It made sense now: Tang had been sent to the lower levels because he was accused of cheating.But that wasn''t right.


    Dong Ran frowned, realizing that the matter was not as simple as it seemed.


    Wait, does that mean Tang Xian scored a perfect score?


    A monster with a perfect score in digitalization?


    Dong Ran asked, "Tang, did you score a perfect score in digitalization?"


    Tang Xian nodded.


    It wasn''t just digitalization, but also all the other subjects he had access to, or rather, subjects that humans were still teaching at this stage.


    Dong Ran fell silent for a while, then said, "Actually, you didn''t cheat, did you? If you had cheated, how could you have let your classmate come in second?"


    Tang Xian showed a rare smile of satisfaction, yet said, "Because all this was made up by me."


    Frozen, made up? Had he been toying with me all along?


    She looked at Tang Xian, feeling somewhat aggrieved.


    Tang Xian found a spot to lean against and said,


    "Whether I cheated or not isn''t important. In any case, this conclusion is a reasonable one for everyone. It can even be said to be a joyous one, and that''s enough."


    Dong Ran realized that Tang Xian indeed had been teasing her, but she wasn''t angry, thinking about how a person skilled enough to score full marks in a single subject had fallen so low, she felt somewhat sad for Tang Xian.


    "Was there no one... to speak up for you?"


    "Speak up for what? Ke could have spoken for me at that time, but unfortunately, he was transferred to Fortress Fifty-One too early. As for the others, there were a few who I had taken care of who wanted to speak for me. Although they are now influential figures, at that time they had little influence."


    "They''re busy now. Those who helped me in the past have repaid the favor of my mentorship. They owe me nothing, and I naturally have no reason to seek them out."


    Dong Ran felt inexplicably sad. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian chose a comfortable position and reclined, showing no sign of sadness.


    Perhaps this is why some people still resent me to this day? They expect me to show a mournful face, loudly proclaiming my innocence or ''I didn''t cheat.'' They want to compare me to some broadcaster from over a thousand years ago, or throw out ''So you''re saying you can''t do martial arts?''


    But back then, I was very calm, simply taking it as a misjudgment by them.


    In any case, ascending to a higher level or descending to the lower level didn''t make much of a difference to me.


    So although Tang Xian disliked being branded as a cheater, he truly didn''t care about the punishment or treatment.


    Living in a stratified pyramid, even at the very top, aren''t you still just a monkey locked in a cage?


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The following morning, Tang Xian and Dong Ran started their journey early.


    This time, Dong Ran refused to eat the Bogen Fruit that resembled a human organ, so Tang Xian left her hungry.


    Dong Ran was slowly getting used to Tang Xian''s lack of sympathy and tenderness; as long as there was food in the evening, it was fine.


    Tonight they would eat fox meat, Silver Fox Stew, it sounded delicious. It was a brilliant idea to empty her stomach now to save space for later, anticipating eating more at night.


    "Tang, how much longer until we reach the Tree Sea?"


    "Not long, about two hours'' walk and we''ll be there," he replied.


    "And how are you planning on capturing the three-tailed fox?"


    This was the most pertinent question at the moment. Although Tang Xian seemed to be smart, the idea of capturing a group-dwelling three-tailed fox seemed nearly impossible to Dong Ran.


    The difficulty of the task was like facing a pack of bone hyenas.


    It was much harder than dealing with a single Hellhound.


    Tang Xian said, "Actually, foxes are solitary animals by nature, and six-tailed foxes are no exception. Common foxes in the real world are also solitary creatures, it''s just that three-tailed foxes are outliers."


    "Three-tailed foxes are social animals. If they encounter another group, they will either recruit or plunder. No matter what, such animals will always investigate cautiously."


    "Shi Wenbin''s ''Foxology'' mentions a phenomenon where even when their prey is dying, foxes won''t rashly approach; they observe first. Foxes are known to be cunning, and they truly are. They share at least one thing with clever people, and that''s skepticism."


    "Is skepticism a trait of clever people? How come you''re not skeptical?" Dong Ran asked.


    Tang Xian gave Dong Ran a look.


    "I seldom encounter issues that require doubt. But that doesn''t mean I''m not skeptical."


    "So what if foxes are skeptical... Skeptical three-tailed foxes still come in groups, don''t they?"


    Tang Xian nodded his head and said, "Here, you should be skeptical."


    Dong Ran was stunned for a moment, then had an epiphany. Tang Xian was calling her foolish again!


    "Do you see those blue flowers over there?" Tang Xian pointed ahead.


    "Wow, what beautiful flowers."


    "This flower is called Five-leaf Biphasic Orchid. It has two scents. The first is incredibly fragrant when you smell it, but once you pick it and it''s detached from the root, it changes to a completely different smell. This smell is still within the range of fragrant but less intense, more fresh.


    Many animals, including the three-tailed, six-tailed, and nine-tailed foxes, like to line their dens with Biphasic Orchids."


    "First, it helps in identification, and second, it covers their musky fox scent."


    This time Dong Ran caught on.


    "Does that mean we can find the fox''s den by following this scent?"


    "Yo, you''ve made some progress."


    "But... the scent of the flower isn''t that strong. If the fox den is far away from us, how can we smell it?"


    Tang Xian was very pleased and patted Dong Ran''s head.


    Dong Ran''s face instantly turned red.


    "Not bad, you''ve thought it through. As for how we can smell the scent, that problem has already been solved. As to how it''s been solved, here you can be skeptical."


    Dong Ran stamped her foot.


    Tang Xian paid her no more mind. His sense of smell could now detect scents from a great distance, so naturally, he wasn''t worried about not finding the fox''s den.


    In fact, Dong Ran had completely misunderstood Tang Xian''s point.


    "There will be a lone fox coming later. I didn''t bring any capture tools, and since we''re dealing with elite-level creatures, do you think you can beat one?"


    Tang Xian watched Dong Ran closely.


    Feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, Dong Ran was about to say she couldn''t win but inadvertently ended up telling the truth, "I should be able to beat one."


    If it''s just a lone one, an elite-level creature, as a four-talent individual, Tang Xian thought Dong Ran shouldn''t have any problems.


    Dong Ran was surprised. She should have hidden some things, but she just couldn''t hold up in front of Tang Xian.


    Whenever this man stared at her, she felt somewhat... uncomfortable, as if he could see right through her.


    She quickly thought about other matters to distract from the awkwardness and discomfort.


    For example, if the skin of the three-tailed spiritual fox were sold, it would probably shock the merchants at the Pyramid, wouldn''t it? Adding the elite boss''s Soul Crystal Mine, if Tang Xian took these two items to register as a hunter...


    His initial ranking would definitely be high.


    Tang Xian said, "Good, as long as you can beat it, that''s fine. But unless I say to strike, you''re not allowed to. Understand?"


    "Okay... but why would a fox come here? A lone three-tailed fox at that?"


    "Be skeptical on your own or you can choose to develop a habit of thinking."


    "What habit?"


    "If Tang Xian says something will come, it definitely will come."

 Chapter 20: Chapter 13: Untitled

    Some truths are understood by both humans and animals.Take military reconnaissance, for example¡ªit''s suitable to be carried out by small units, and the most in-depth operations inevitably involve solitary operatives.


    One would not mass-mobilize to scout out the enemy; that would not be reconnaissance, that would be a declaration of war.


    Even three-tailed foxes understand such actions.


    The forest sea is a marshy area that is highly suitable for three-tailed foxes to inhabit, especially since it contains their favorite food, squirrels, as well as their strong prey, pine birds, and lacks natural predators. Therefore, many three-tailed fox dens are located within the forest sea.


    As Tang Xian collected Biphasic Orchids, he chose a location while explaining to Dong Ran:


    "It''s like how ancient people''s buildings were divided into different districts, each with its own boundaries. You can''t just let another district''s supermarket open up in your own, or their cars park in your district''s parking spots. Such acts would be aggression."


    "There''s also a safe distance between the dens of the three-tailed foxes, and if a new den appears within this distance, they will send a scout to investigate."


    Tang Xian believed that by this point, Dong Ran surely understood. Now, all they needed was to find a suitable spot for an ambush.


    Dong Ran indeed got it and suddenly said with a realization:


    "Wow, I get it now! So, you''re saying we don''t actually need to worry about where a three-tailed fox den might be? We just need to create a fake three-tailed fox den, and the nearby foxes will send a scout over?"


    "A teachable student indeed."


    "Then why did you tell me earlier that you could find their dens when I asked?" pouted Dong Ran.


    "That was the truth though, I certainly can find them. But whether or not to look for them is another matter."


    Tang Xian realized that the sight of a woman puffing her cheeks in annoyance was indeed... worth describing with a tone fit for elaboration.


    But he was not in the mood for that now.


    "A fox''s sense of smell may not be as good as a dog''s, but it''s still quite keen. They can also judge and filter complex scents. So, to make a fox den, though not complex, would be troublesome and would require collecting quite a bit of Biphasic Orchid. Plus, some meat with a gamey smell."


    As they moved on, Tang Xian found a low-lying area with dense grass on both sides and large trees overhead. He nodded to himself, thinking the spot was quite good.


    He started by laying out some pieces of unprocessed Cerberus meat, then began setting up the collected Biphasic Orchids. The process was indeed not complex, just time-consuming.


    The Biphasic Orchids had to be evenly spread around the edges, and the meat, which had not spoiled yet, had to be placed in a well-ventilated area.


    Dong Ran helped too.


    No longer caring whether it was clean or not, her movements became more unfettered, and she worked much more efficiently.


    Tang Xian glanced her way on purpose and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.


    He felt that the girl was finally not so foolish.


    Survival is a matter that does not easily accommodate elegance.


    If you want to live with elegance, you need a good father.


    In that moment, Dong Ran also admired Tang Xian, finally understanding why he had kept some of the dog meat without processing it.


    This Cerberus meat, once drained of blood, is left with only a gamey smell, especially the meat from the belly area which has a stronger odor. The utility bag could prevent the meat from rotting, so had Tang Xian actually... planned everything for today while they were dealing with the Cerberus?


    Considering that this was the Yellow Zone of the forest sea, where they could encounter terrifying creatures, Dong Ran still felt a bit nervous.


    Seeing her nervousness, Tang Xian said:


    "There''s no need to be afraid. In the shallow areas of the forest sea, although the strongest creatures are not three-tailed foxes, none would confront them. After all, a solitary creature, no matter how strong, fears being surrounded. Later on, we can even wash off the smell of Red Line Grass from our bodies."


    "Why?"


    "The scent of the Biphasic Orchid separated from its roots and of the dog meat after the blood has been let¡ªit''s a mix that bears a seventy percent resemblance to the den of a three-tailed fox. To other creatures, it''s indistinguishable from a fox''s den. That''s why no other creatures will come near," Tang Xian explained.


    Dong Ran silently committed Tang''s words to memory.


    Pointing to the tall grass above, Tang Xian said, "Once the nest is prepared, we''ll stay hidden there today, waiting for the prey to appear." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How long will we wait?"


    Though somewhat relaxed, the thought of a man and a woman lying in the bush doing nothing, especially considering the crawling insects and ants, made Dong Ran feel uncomfortable.


    All girls are afraid of insects, and there are so many of them in the mine.


    Tang remarked, "It''s hard to say, anything from one to ten hours is possible. If you want to eat fox meat, you must be willing to invest some effort. If you had the ability to charge into a fox den and cause mayhem, that would be another story."


    Dong Ran admitted she did not possess such a talent. Hunters who did either became legends or secrets.


    Thinking about the time, Dong Ran felt a bit weak and could only pray for the three-tailed fox to appear soon.


    But then Dong Ran asked,


    "Tang, how will you know when the three-tailed fox is approaching? They''re very fast!"


    "Many things are hard to explain, so please develop a good habit: control your breathing and stay as quiet as possible starting now."


    Instead of lying prone, Tang Xian chose to lie on his back for comfort.


    As for Dong Ran''s question, Tang Xian wasn''t about to tell her that he had slain a hellhound and, as a result, his sense of smell had been enhanced.


    In fact, Tang Xian was already sensing the den of a particular three-tailed fox through his nose.


    It was just a faint sense of direction, still a long way off, but following it would likely lead them to a three-tailed fox den.


    Thinking that the fox might also catch a vague scent, he felt somewhat reassured.


    One hour later.


    Dong Ran''s hands didn''t feel sore, but catching sight of a praying mantis larger than her hand almost made her scream out loud.


    At that moment, Tang said, "That''s a female mantis, and soon there should be a male. You''re not as protein-rich as her husband, especially with the smell of Red Line Grass still on you. She won''t bite you, but if you open your mouth wide, she might just fly in."


    Dong Ran shut her mouth.


    Two hours later.


    The fox still had not come, and Dong Ran found herself watching two praying mantises up close.


    Dong Ran didn''t consider herself a dirty-minded girl.


    But maybe because Tang Xian was lying right beside her, she inexplicably blushed.


    "You''re blushing."


    "Ah! How can that be! I''m not, I didn''t!"


    "It''s quite normal, really. In a wild place like the mining area, seeing insects driven by instinct, there''s nothing to be concerned about. But to get excited over insects... that''s a new low."


    "Tang Xian, you''re so annoying!" Dong Ran tried to keep her voice down. This man was too vexing¡ªshe definitely did not feel that way!


    Tang Xian didn''t tease Dong Ran any further.


    He moved his nose slightly and said, "The prey is coming, about ten minutes away. Get ready. Listen, don''t make a move until I say so."

 Chapter 21: Chapter 14: Waiting for the Fox in the Den

    The tail of the three-tailed fox had a tuft of blue fur, and the rest of its body was white, save for its ears and paws, which also bore blue fur.Overall, it appeared white, but if one were really to describe it as blue and white, it wouldn''t be entirely incorrect, since the human eye always tends to focus on the exceptions.


    The three-tailed fox could be considered an animal with swift speeds, but unlike the Cerberus and the Bone Hyena, as elite creatures, they relied not on sharp claws or teeth.


    Tang Xian had always been grateful to those pioneers who had laid the groundwork for later generations by braving the Soul Crystal Mine and studying its creatures, such as Shi Wenbin, the author of "Foxology."


    Tang Xian remembered a passage in Foxology about an internal conflict among three-tailed foxes, noting that though elite creatures, they had the capability to utilize Soul Crystals and wield elemental powers.


    Foxfire was an exceedingly powerful type of flame. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The foxfire of the three-tailed fox, although seemingly small when spitting out a fireball, held an orange-red flame nearly three thousand degrees in temperature.


    It was an attack potent enough to heavily wound an opponent.


    The Six-Tailed Flame Fox was even more inconceivable, with its flames already reaching the purple stage; purple flames nearing seven thousand degrees, capable of instantly melting any creature''s core in a deadly assault.


    Perfect-level bosses naturally possessed formidable abilities, presenting a massive obstruction to the progression of human civilization.


    As for the ultimate bosses of cataclysmic tier, the Nine-tailed Fox, scholars such as Shi Wenbin could only theorize through Steven''s "New Mine Area Evolution Theory."


    Gifted individuals had caught sight of the Nine-tailed Fox, possessing life and offensive and defensive stats of a cataclysmic boss, but the specific powers of the Nine-tailed Fox and how it could usher in vast destruction remained unknown.


    Perhaps even the most elite human squadrons were planning to target these apex creatures of the mines.


    But at least... they weren''t capable of it now.


    Tang Xian smelled the scent of a three-tailed fox in the distance.


    He became alert and signaled to Dong Ran. Through the gaps in the bushes, he also spotted a white figure sprinting from afar.


    It was an adult three-tailed fox. To take on such a beast, one must dispatch it before it could spit its foxfire.


    Tang Xian believed that as long as he timed it right, Dong Ran could seize the opportunity to kill the elite creature in one fell swoop.


    Dong Ran was indeed exerting her full effort.


    She had concealed some matters from Tang Xian.


    Or rather, she thought she had.


    But now, with a three-tailed fox, a pot of running Silver Fox soup, and the credit of defeating an elite creature in her sights, she had no intention of hiding her abilities.


    As the three-tailed fox drew closer, Tang Xian felt uneasy for some reason.


    An extremely faint sense of terror seemed to envelop him.


    When the fox arrived, Tang Xian saw that it was actually wearing a Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid around its neck.


    Even as one who usually remained composed, this time he revealed a look of shock.


    At that moment, the three-tailed fox revealed a huge vulnerability as it approached the edge of the bushes; seeing it from her crouched position, Dong Ran didn''t wait for Tang Xian''s command when she saw her chance and unleashed a forceful and mighty Gust Palm!


    "Damn it! Stop!" Tang Xian didn''t expect Dong Ran to act without his order.


    But his words came too late.


    The Gust Palm was incredibly powerful, indeed fulfilling its purpose, striking the unsuspecting three-tailed fox squarely and preventing it from spitting its foxfire; the fox staggered, its speed significantly diminished.


    Dong Ran, thinking to strike while the iron was hot, was too excited to notice the meaning behind Tang Xian''s shout to stop.


    In a flurry of palms, had the three-tailed fox faced Dong Ran in direct combat, she might not have been able to land her hits, but after the successful ambush, the fox''s movements slowed considerably.


    The force of the palms struck the three-tailed fox with full effect.


    The three-tailed fox tried to emit a howling sound; Tang Xian, disregarding his status as a common person, instantly jumped forward and clamped his hands over the fox''s mouth!


    This action startled Dong Ran.


    Fortunately, her palms had succeeded in killing the three-tailed fox.


    It bounced twice, and then it was dead.


    "Tang, what are you doing! If it had had even a bit of strength left, you would have just..."


    Dong Ran felt she had regained her dignity, her mood uplifting, as she had taken the initiative to find the perfect opportunity to kill the Three-tailed Fox; the surprise attack had been flawless!


    She thought that this time Tang Xian certainly wouldn''t scold her.


    Tang Xian didn''t scold Dong Ran.


    He just glared at Dong Ran, too angry to speak.


    Dong Ran was still awaiting praise and had also thought through how to explain her own strength.


    But Tang Xian didn''t seem to care about that at all.


    Tang Xian said:


    "From now on, I have nothing to do with you. I disregarded my own safety just now to prevent the Three-tailed Fox from calling its friends, which repays the debt for when you saved me."


    "We are even now. I''m leaving. You should go back on your own."


    Tang Xian tried to keep his tone as calm as possible.


    Dong Ran was puzzled but felt a bad premonition and an unprecedented sense of grievance.


    "Tang, I... What''s going on? Your expression looks terrifying."


    Although Tang Xian usually appeared quite indifferent, Dong Ran had never seen him this cold before.


    Tang Xian said:


    "If you want to live, leave quickly, or just use a teleportation rift here to return to the Pyramid; don''t enter the mine area again within two months."


    Dong Ran knew that Tang Xian wouldn''t say this without a reason, and her unease intensified.


    "But why, didn''t we just kill the Three-tailed Fox?"


    "You killed it, don''t involve me. Didn''t I tell you to wait for my signal before acting?" Tang Xian''s tone still carried a hint of anger.


    "But, but the Three-tailed Fox was so fast! The opportunity was just for a split second, by the time you would have spoken, it would have been too late, and I didn''t want to miss the chance..."


    Tang Xian interrupted Dong Ran.


    "I will act alone from now on. The biggest fear when cooperating with others is encountering self-righteous people like you who don''t follow the plan. I don''t mind you taking the initiative when you show decision-making stronger than mine, but when there is a plan in place, you should follow it strictly. Are you really so undisciplined as a spy sent by the military to probe my depths?"


    Dong Ran was shocked. When did Tang Xian discover her true identity?


    Tang Xian didn''t care about these things at all, finding it reasonable that a spy would try to get close to him. Considering their acquaintance, he intended to let Dong Ran leave with a clear understanding.


    "This Three-tailed Fox had a Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid around its neck, whereas it''s rare for them to use even a Five-Leaf Biphasic Orchid."


    "Why?"


    Dong Ran realized she might have caused a disaster. Now she remembered that indeed Tang Xian had emphasized twice to wait for his command before acting.


    "Because the Biphasic Orchid is somewhat similar to the fox clan¡ªthe more noble and rare, the more there is at a certain place. The Biphasic Orchid shows it in the leaves, the fox clan in their tails."


    "And a Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid hung around the neck of a Three-tailed Fox signifies that there is an extremely rare fox in the nearby fox den. It intended to use the Seven-Leaf Orchid to warn intruders not to mess with its den."


    "A Six-Tailed Flame Fox?"


    Dong Ran had not expected to provoke a top-notch boss. Knowing that if a fox had her scent, she would have to be extremely cautious in the mine area from now on, her face turned deathly pale.


    But the expression on Tang Xian''s face clearly showed that the situation was even worse.


    "If it were a Six-Tailed Flame Fox, I would be confident in dealing with it, but the one coming this time..."


    Looking into the distance, Tang Xian heightened his sense of smell to the extreme.


    "I''m afraid it might be the strongest creature known at this stage... the Nine-Tailed Fox."

 Chapter 22: Chapter 15: Cataclysmic Creatures and the Lying Woman

    Nine-tailed fox.A catastrophic-level boss creature.


    In the few hundred years since humanity began entering the mining areas, up to the present, there had only been a two-digit number of calamity-level bosses killed.


    There had only been one instance of a catastrophic-level boss creature killed, and even then, they had taken advantage of a severely weakened Titan Beast.


    The Soul Crystals from a catastrophic-level boss could sustain an entire Pyramid fortress for thirty years'' worth of electricity consumption¡ªequivalent to the power of nineteen nuclear explosions.


    But even with such vast amounts of energy, the increasingly powerful human hunters, with their growing talent, still couldn''t oppose a catastrophic-level creature.


    When Dong Ran heard about the nine-tailed fox, she instinctively shook her head, thinking that Tang had gone a bit too far this time.


    Merely on the basis of a seven-leaved flower, they were to deduce that a catastrophic-level creature had emerged in the yellow zone?


    If that were the case, she would need to return to the real world immediately, inform the military, remake the world map of the mining area, and mark the forest area as red.


    But clearly, Dong Ran didn''t quite believe it.


    "Tang... this is a bit too much... The nine-tailed fox is a catastrophic-level boss, how could it possibly appear here?"


    Tang Xian had stopped believing that this foolish woman would ever see reason.


    "You need to understand the logic, it''s not that areas marked red have catastrophic-level creatures, but that areas with catastrophic-level creatures get marked red. Such regression in exploration isn''t unprecedented in history."


    "Regression in exploration? It can''t be that coincidental, right?" Dong Ran, looking at Tang Xian''s expression, finally realized that he wasn''t just trying to scare her.


    Humans once thought they could advance triumphantly into the mining areas, marking countless forests and grasslands as blue because they hadn''t seen any powerful creatures there.


    But later, those areas were all reclassified as red and yellow.


    Every construction that humans had left in those regions had been destroyed. That was the regression of exploration.


    In fact, before humans could truly defeat catastrophic-level creatures, Tang Xian didn''t believe such exploration could progress beyond twenty percent.


    Tang Xian''s nose twitched, he urged, "Hurry up and go, if you don''t leave now, you won''t be able to."


    It wasn''t an excuse to leave her behind.


    This time, even Dong Ran felt a terrifying presence approaching.


    How long had it been?


    In just a few minutes, it seemed a terrible force was spreading rapidly from a distance.


    The only advantage humans had over creatures in the mining area was the ability to return to the real world before the fight began, via a portable teleportation fissure.


    Mining area creatures wouldn''t possess such technology.


    "If I go, what will you do?" Dong Ran was somewhat reluctant to leave.


    Tang Xian''s expression also began to calm down.


    He had been somewhat agitated just a moment ago.


    Now that he thought about it, what had happened couldn''t be changed.


    He could utilize the knowledge he had to hunt perfect-level and even perfect-level boss creatures, but calamity-level and catastrophic-level were still too much for Tang Xian.


    He needed his own team.


    To formulate a long-term plan effective for at least a quarter.


    And a lot of advanced equipment before he could confidently hunt calamity-level creatures.


    As for the catastrophic-level...


    They were apexes of the ecological hierarchy, and Tang Xian believed that unless one day he could become the supreme commander at the peak of the Pyramid, it would be difficult to hunt catastrophic-level creatures with just a squad''s resources.


    But, inspired by those sages, Tang Xian, driven by the spirit of research, was very eager to see a catastrophic-level creature at least once.


    "I''ll stay. I want to see the Cataclysmic creature," Tang Xian said in a very calm tone,


    "What about this fox?" Perhaps it was Tang Xian''s composure that put Dong Ran at ease, so much so that she suddenly thought of the silver fox stew. She even overlooked the terrifying logic that Tang Xian actually wanted to see a Cataclysmic creature up close.


    "Of course it deserves a proper burial."


    Dong Ran was speechless, unable to keep up with Tang Xian''s train of thought. A proper burial for a three-tailed fox?


    Tang Xian even started to dig the ground as he spoke.


    "We¡­ shouldn''t we just take it back with us? We could still eat it."


    Tang Xian glared at Dong Ran, feeling that whoever was trying to test him, sending someone like Dong Ran as a spy was really stupid.


    "How can you eat a fox when they are so cute?"


    His words once again left Dong Ran speechless.


    Dong Ran didn''t bother to figure out his bizarre logic anymore, and she prepared to help Tang Xian, but Tang Xian''s tone turned cold again:


    "I warn you, either kill yourself now or roll back to the Pyramid. Your mission is over. No matter what information you''ve gotten from me, I''m not stopping you now. You can go. Go back and tell your master to stop testing me."


    These words were extremely harsh, and Dong Ran''s face turned pale.


    Indeed, when she first received this mission, she felt some resistance, but she had to obey the command of that person, even if it meant death.


    This was the education she had received from a young age, and so Dong Ran accepted the mission.


    And she also prepared herself¡­ to devote herself to Tang Xian.


    But what she didn''t expect was that although Tang Xian often teased her, he never did anything very indecent to her.


    He even often displayed an air as if considering all women as stupid as pig''s heads, a vibe typical of a straight man with a titanium alloy backbone.


    This surprisingly made Dong Ran develop a bit of a liking for him.


    "Tang¡­ how did you know my identity?"


    "In the middle of the night, a beautiful woman comes to sell herself, and she''s a talented one at that. If I couldn''t be suspicious, I wouldn''t have survived in the mining area for three months."


    "Is it just because of that?"


    Tang Xian said impatiently:


    "Women with big chests and round buttocks are mostly overweight, and those like you with a slender waist and small frame must work out regularly and have precise nutritional control to have such a figure. Many wealthy women on the third or fourth level may not even have a figure like yours. Most bottom-level women, even if thin, don''t have such proportions.


    Secondly, your hair¡ªthere''s a significant visual difference with long-term hair care, or the lack thereof. A malnourished woman with plump breasts, a round behind, and a waist-length mane of hair can only be found in foolish novels that deceive men."


    "You are definitely not a bottom-level person. As for where you''re from, I don''t care. Since my student days, I''ve been used to people approaching me with motives. For me, there''s no difference."


    Dong Ran suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.


    It hurt to be told by Tang Xian that "you''re no different from the others."


    The three-tailed fox wasn''t very large, and Tang Xian dug the hole quickly, which was also due to the soft soil of the forest. He placed the three-tailed fox into the hole and scattered the Biphasic Orchids over its body, trying to make the funeral of a fox as dignified as possible.


    Coming back to his senses, he realized that Dong Ran was still standing there.


    "Why haven''t you left yet? Scram!"


    Tang Xian was getting anxious. Why wouldn''t this woman listen to reason?


    The faint scent was becoming clearer, and so was the terrible sense of oppression. Of course, Tang Xian didn''t want Dong Ran to actually die here. After all, Dong Ran had a certain degree of influence; the military would take her word into account and mark this as a red zone to prevent humans from entering, averting possible losses.


    But as for him, a bottom-level worker, who could he report to?


    Dong Ran nodded sadly without a word, ready to use the portable transporter to leave.


    But at that moment, a massive dark shadow loomed over the two of them.


    Above their heads, a huge fire-red fox fell from the sky. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 23: Chapter 16: Pretending to be a boss

    The fiery red giant fox dropped from the sky without warning; the scent that had still been miles away was suddenly upon them, and Tang Xian hadn''t expected its immediate arrival.The terrifying pressure of the wind swept through the woodland, and all the creatures within the forest let out cries of submission and fear.


    Dong Ran protected Tang Xian in front of her, channeling power in her hands, intending to push Tang Xian away.


    But in the next second, the enormous figure vanished, replaced by a delicately charming figure that came into view, and Tang Xian''s nose was filled with a faint fragrance.


    Health, defensive power, attack strength, speed.


    These were the values Dong Ran could see, and in that moment, she didn''t even have time to process the enormous numbers before her eyes.


    A mesmerizing, yet indifferent chuckle resonated.


    After which, Dong Ran felt no more; she suddenly collapsed to the ground.


    Passed out.


    Tang Xian felt himself being compressed by an immense force, and thanks to Dong Ran''s shove, he managed to narrowly escape disaster.


    Dong Ran was a kind-hearted girl, but not the brightest. He glanced at Dong Ran, confirming her survival.


    Although the disaster began with Dong Ran''s disobedience, anger and fear were the most meaningless emotions once the catastrophe struck.


    Tang Xian quickly calmed down.


    He scrutinized the woman before him, dressed in imperial garb, flawless to the point of appearing almost unreal.


    Excessive beauty can seem unreal, especially the fluffy tail behind the woman, which added to Tang Xian''s sense of discordance.


    Tang Xian truly hadn''t expected such a scenario.


    "So¡­ a nine-tailed fox demon can transform into a human?"


    "Look at you talking, aren''t you the same? A human body has many limitations, but it looks good. By the way, why are you here?"


    The fox demon had a pleasant voice, and as she spoke, the fluffy tail disappeared. Now, she looked no different from a human being.


    Tang Xian said, "Hunting."


    "Hunting my foxes?"


    "Of course not. Foxes are so cute; how could anyone eat a fox?"


    "That''s more like it."


    The noblewoman-like figure glanced at Tang Xian.


    It was just a natural gesture under her coy disapproval, yet her beauty made every move she made seem alluring.


    In a life-or-death situation, Tang Xian naturally wasn''t in the mood for flirtatious glances with a fox.


    But thinking of the term ''fox enchantress,'' it seemed indeed fitting.


    "Do you know this girl?"


    "Yes."


    Looking at the nine-tailed fox demon''s panel. Here is the data displayed to Tang Xian:


    Gender: Female.


    Morality: 60.


    Greed Lust Index: 20.


    Affection: 14 (Feels Familiar).


    Wealth Assessment: 30 (Small Savings).


    Likes: Biphasic Orchid.


    Dislikes: Humans who hunt foxes.


    Fears: None.


    Current Honesty: 66 (Honest Dealing).


    Charm: 99 (Nation''s Grace).


    Current Luck: 39 (Calm Seas).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Revenge for Subordinate (39%)]


    [Test the Man Before Her (27%)]


    [Harvest Flowers (29%)]


    [Other (5%)].


    Tang Xian was actually quite nervous; for some reason, he found himself conversing with the nine-tailed fox demon as if they knew each other. But he knew this was a critical moment.


    The nine-tailed fox demon must have misunderstood something.


    This misunderstanding could be an opportunity for him.


    Upon further reflection, the last words of the hellhound, who had spoken to him in a strange tone, came back to him.


    "You too¡­ are a powerful being. Why stay with such weak creatures?"


    The dying words of the hellhound flashed through Tang Xian''s mind.


    He had pondered over the meaning of those words, but could never discern their significance.


    He felt there might be more to it, but the nine-tailed fox demon''s words interrupted Tang Xian''s thoughts.


    "You actually know humans?"


    "I know quite a few humans. And I don''t know you."


    Tang Xian''s expression was indifferent, as if he were making casual British small talk about the clear, cloudless weather.


    "My name is Qing JiuYu."


    The Qing surname isn''t common, but it indeed belongs to humans.


    Tang Xian nodded. There were many things he still didn''t understand; the fact that a calamity-level boss had a human form and name was a massive shock to him.


    Right now, he needed to stay calm, to pretend¡­to pretend all of this was normal.


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian and said,


    "What''s your name?"


    "I''m Tang Xian. Are you here to pick flowers?"


    Hearing Tang Xian''s words, Qing JiuYu smiled, showing a little less wariness in her eyes, but then she slowly shook her head.


    At this moment, Tang Xian was more baffled than Qing JiuYu.


    But he was sure of one thing: This might be a characteristic common to all boss creatures, or perhaps just calamity-level boss creatures. If he could figure out this characteristic, he might be able to blur the line between friend and foe for these powerful creatures.


    Tang Xian felt it was necessary to probe further.


    "You seem familiar with me?"


    "Not familiar. You don''t know me either, do you? Soul crystals have a certain resonance with beings of equal strength. You have a unique scent, very pleasant," she said and took another sniff, then frowned.


    There was indeed an aura on Tang Xian that she thought belonged to a peer, pleasant to smell, but the guy also reeked.


    "Why do you stink?"


    "It''s the Redline Grass."


    "Are you crazy? Why would you smear that on yourself for no reason?"


    "To repel mosquitoes."


    "Ordinary insects dare to bite you?"


    "Mosquitoes aren''t picky; they see all creatures as equal. From rabbits to lions, monkeys to humans, if there''s blood, they''ll bite."


    "Heh, you''re quite interesting. I indeed came out to pick flowers. Legend has it that this place has the extremely rare Jiuye Biphasic Orchid, about to bloom soon. But something unexpected happened today."


    Qing JiuYu gestured towards Dong Ran, lying on the ground.


    "This human attacked my kin."


    "Yes, she did make a move."


    "You said you know her."


    "I do know her."


    "Is she your servant?"


    "Servant?"


    "I often use this form to attract humans. They even say they would do anything for me."


    "Oh... no, she''s more like an underling."


    Tang Xian found that actually, he didn''t need to lie much.


    His own scent seemed to completely convince the nine-tailed fox; all he needed to do was...simply tell the truth indifferently.


    Whether he was seriously turning lies into truth or sincerely turning truth into lies, he was adept at either.


    "What do you plan to do with her?"


    "Humans love sending out spies and such. Is she loyal to you?"


    "I agree with the first part, it''s human nature to gossip. As for loyalty, when dealing with humans, loyalty is unreliable. You have to learn to negotiate with interests."


    Qing JiuYu nodded.


    "You seem much smarter than other beings of your level."


    "I''m more like a human."


    "There is a bit of that feeling. Your underling killed my scout, and I want to kill her."


    The other party''s tone always seemed somewhat ingratiating, even for asserting a straightforward principle such as avenging a clan member, she used "want to kill" instead of "will kill."


    It was as if she was seeking his approval.


    Tang Xian couldn''t gather any more information yet.


    Although Dong Ran had caused trouble, she ended up trying to save him.


    He didn''t like being indebted. If Qing JiuYu insisted on revenge, he had nothing to say, but if her attitude wasn''t so firm¡ª


    Tang Xian was still willing to try and save Dong Ran.


    "This woman, I still have use for her."


    "What use?" Qing JiuYu''s eyes glimmered with allure.


    As a titanium alloy straight man, Tang Xian refrained from responding to that question and said,


    "If you let her go, there won''t be any more humans to bother your kin in this area in the future. Plus, I will find you three Jiuye Biphasic Orchids. How''s that?"


    "You really are like a human, so this is negotiating with interests?"


    Qing JiuYu pondered a moment. There should only be one Jiuye Biphasic Orchid in this area, so she nodded,


    "We foxes, once dead, are just dead; rarely does anyone bury us and sprinkle Biphasic Orchids over our graves. You give me a gentle vibe, and I like it. I agree to your terms. But I have my conditions, too."


    In his heart, Tang Xian was actually very anxious. Social creatures naturally place great value on their nestmates.


    Luckily for him... it seemed he had quite a bit of face.


    If having face also counts as a superpower, today he might have displayed ¡ª the pinnacle level of superpower humanity has seen thus far.


    At least no one has lived to tell the tale after being in the clutches of a calamity-level boss creature.


    And to snatch food from the jaws of a fox.


    S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 17: Be a Hero for a Second or a Coward for a Lifetime

    Tang Xian understood that the current situation was delicate.Qing JiuYu was convinced that she was not human; at least from her tone, she considered herself to be a boss-level being.


    "What are your conditions?" Tang Xian asked.


    The conditions proposed by a Calamity-level being, Tang Xian didn''t feel confident about being able to fulfill them.


    He now spoke firmly, appearing calm, but if the Nine-Tailed Fox wanted to force him into submission, he would have to take off his pants himself, and with a composed expression, convey: It''s not that you''re forcing me, it''s that I want to be forced.


    This was by no means an equal negotiation.


    Violence could solve all problems in the world, explain all the truths, but right now, Qing JiuYu was the one wielding the violence.


    Luckily, Qing JiuYu hadn''t realized this.


    "The Fox Clan is in turmoil at the moment; we are at war with the Nvwa Snake Clan."


    This was troublesome. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nvwa Snakes were Natural Disaster-level creatures, although far from a match for a Nine-Tailed Fox, they outnumbered the tails, and their strength also surpassed that of the Fox Clan''s backbone forces¡ªthe Three-Tailed and Six-Tailed Foxes.


    Tang Xian''s heart pondered whether Qing JiuYu was trying to take advantage of him, asking him to help deal with the Nvwa Snakes.


    "Yes, Nvwa Snakes are quite troublesome creatures, their scales are like cold ice, and it would take some effort for fox-fire to harm them."


    Tang Xian still looked unperturbed.


    "That''s true, the Fox Clan has lost many elites, some of the children had the chance to evolve into my form, it''s a shame, most of them are dead." Qing JiuYu''s expression seemed very sorrowful.


    Yet, Tang Xian suddenly became interested.


    In his memory, the Nvwa Snake Clan and the Fox Clan weren''t natural enemies. Whether Soul Crystal Mine creatures were hostile to each other for reasons other than resources was a very worthwhile subject of study for this scholar.


    "How did your two clans come to blows?"


    "Personal reasons."


    "Personal reasons?"


    Tang Xian quickly caught on, showing a look of understanding.


    Human history had never involved joint efforts against aliens or wild beasts. The mine area was the first time different national powers united against a common exterior.


    Before that, human history was all about internal slaughter.


    The reasons for slaughter, once the grandiose excuses are stripped away, are mostly personal. For instance, a younger son unsatisfied with his elder brother becoming the emperor, or a beggar believing that it was his family''s turn to be emperor, or when someone''s adopted son kills him over a woman.


    If foxes could transform into human shapes, then maybe a Natural Disaster-level boss like the White Phosphorus Demon Snake could also take on human form.


    Perhaps in the ecological hierarchy of the mine area, there existed a government-like entity composed of various boss-level creatures, similar to that of humans.


    Although a Calamity-level boss like the Nine-Tailed Fox was very powerful, it couldn''t cope with the numerous Nvwa Snakes.


    It was possible that the two could start a war over personal reasons.


    After all... when an animal acquires the intelligence of humans, many habits can be overcome. Former enemies no longer need to be enemies.


    And those who were not enemies can become new adversaries.


    Human history, in a nutshell, isn''t it just a series of forming alliances and enmities?


    Tang Xian nodded, "So what do you expect me to do?"


    "Could you come here again in a week? I''ll tell you then?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "If I agree to come here in a week, will you release the woman and trust that I will keep my promise to come?"


    Tang Xian smiled, though he couldn''t really smile. But he knew which facial expressions and words to combine to produce a composed effect.


    Qing JiuYu said, "According to the laws of the Beast Court, I can kill your pet, oh no, your follower."


    The Beast Court?


    These four words Tang Xian did not say out loud.


    He tried hard to keep his expression from showing surprise. But it was difficult for his heart not to be startled.


    So, the intelligence and civilization of the Soul Crystal Mine creatures had reached the point of having law enforcement institutions?


    For someone more familiar with the mine area than the Human World, this information was rather overwhelming.


    "Yes, you can kill her. I won''t even stop you. But doing so, your fox won''t come back to life either. Her death wouldn''t benefit me. It''s better to keep her alive, and we continue our transaction," Tang Xian said.


    Qing JiuYu said, "You really do speak like a human."


    Although Qing JiuYu didn''t particularly care for humans, comparing one''s own kind to humans, in the context of the Soul Crystal Mine creatures, was considered a compliment.


    Because human hearts are complex. In Qing JiuYu''s eyes, some creatures of the same rank might take on human form but do not possess human intelligence.


    Tang Xian gave her a very different impression.


    Tang Xian nodded slightly and did not deny it.


    "So, do you trust me just like that?"


    "No, I need to establish a connection with your Soul Crystal."


    Damn.


    Where did he have a Soul Crystal? Tang Xian knew that creatures from the Soul Crystal Mine could indeed establish a certain connection through the Soul Crystal Mine, but only if both parties agreed.


    It sounded a bit like a friend request on social media.


    But humans do not have such a connection with creatures from the mine.


    As for his own identity as a human, Tang Xian was absolutely certain.


    Especially before the Trial of the Chosen, there would be an extremely detailed and complicated physical examination.


    At that time, Tang Xian had seen his electrocardiogram, x-ray images. If he had a Soul Crystal in his head, it would have already been transferred to Fortress No. 2 for scientific research.


    Qing JiuYu seemed to be testing as well; this time, she was not as polite, but instead took hold of Tang Xian''s hand directly, her eyes shining with a strange light.


    That was the light emitted by the Soul Crystal deep inside her mind.


    [Catastrophe-level boss Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit requests to share your location, do you agree?]


    What the hell?


    In his twenty-four years of life, Tang Xian has never been as shocked as he was today.


    Qing JiuYu also seemed a bit surprised.


    She could not sense what kind of creature Tang Xian was, but she became even more convinced that he was a powerful existence not weaker than herself.


    The allure in her eyes deepened.


    Initially, she wondered why this male species looked so frail, questioning whether he was a human skilled at reading the room and masquerading.


    But then again, perhaps it was just the human form limiting his strength.


    The response from the Soul Crystal meant that this man was indeed an entity from this world.


    Tang Xian didn''t know what Qing JiuYu was thinking.


    However, in the panel before him, Qing JiuYu''s [Current Needs Analysis] no longer included probing the man before her.


    It had changed to, build a good relationship with this man.


    He didn''t know how he''d managed to get through it.


    But he knew, he could speak with a bit more confidence now.


    Tang Xian showed a slightly displeased expression without speaking, just quietly looking at Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu was full of charm, and when a fox spirit pleased someone, seduction was natural.


    Tang Xian was immune to this kind of seduction.


    "You''d better tell me directly, what are the conditions?"


    "Hehe, don''t be angry, humans are very cunning, I was just testing earlier."


    Tang Xian nodded slightly.


    Humans are indeed very cunning, and he was one of those cunning humans.


    When it came to complaining about one''s own species in front of other creatures, Tang Xian recalled a meme.


    Do you want to be a hero for a second, or a coward for a lifetime?


    Tang Xian chose to be a coward for a lifetime, without hesitation, that is, unless someday there was no food left in the world that could tempt him.


    This beautiful highborn lady in front of him wouldn''t need a second to kill him. But fortunately, it seemed he was not going to be killed.


    "I really can''t tell you now, but I hope you will keep your promise to meet in a week. Otherwise, I will come to find you. The Soul Crystal will guide me."


    "Fine, can I take her away now?"


    "Looking forward to seeing you next time."


    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised; he hadn''t really done anything. But Qing JiuYu''s favorability towards him had increased; the data in her eyes originally was 14, with the assessment [Seems Familiar], now it had become 29.


    The impression now was [Joyful Meeting].


    He was truly bewildered today and needed some time to think carefully about what was different about him.

 Chapter 25: Chapter 18: The Hand Behind the Curtain

    Finding a cave in the Forest of Trees is difficult, as this place is a flat plain, unlike the Red Soil Region.However, the Forest of Trees boasts a wide variety of tree species, among which is a giant tree known as the Hundred-Handed Wood.


    This type of tree is beloved by countless writers and scholars.


    Especially those currently active on the Terminal Chinese Web, many authors wish their upper limbs could multiply like the branches of the Hundred-Handed Wood, evolving into a miraculous species called tentacle monsters, capable of updating their work with tens of thousands of words a day.


    Tang Xian set up his tent on the tough, thick branches of the Hundred-Handed Wood.


    Fortunately, he had brought enough red thread grass, and when Qing JiuYu left, she pinned a Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid on Tang Xian''s chest.


    In the fox tribe, this gesture probably meant "I fancy you."


    Tang Xian didn''t think much of it, merely considering that perhaps it could serve as a deterrent to the creatures of the Forest of Trees?


    The Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid''s fragrance is quite unique, and many creatures in the Forest of Trees recognize that its owner is not to be trifled with.


    He himself had no Soul Crystal.


    And he was one hundred percent human.


    First, it was the hellhounds, and then the nine-tailed foxes, both regarded as mere mine-area creatures.


    Once could be a coincidence, but twice suggested some kind of connection.


    At the moment, however, Tang Xian really couldn''t figure out the reason behind it.


    There were many mysteries about him that remained unsolved,


    such as why others would lose their abilities after leaving the mine area, but his vision remained full of information even after he left.


    The biggest mystery of all was the strange talent data.


    He could see the needs analysis of all living beings, even that of a caterpillar.


    He even frequently passed time by betting with others on which person the mosquitoes in the mine area would bite next.


    Tang always won the bet.


    Most of the time, the root of the problem didn''t matter. In this regard, Tang wasn''t as carefree as the people from the ancient 21st century.


    In that era, many high school students would experience rebirth or reincarnation, often hearing a ''ding'' in their minds.


    Anyway, the saying that heaven subjects those whom it wishes to see great to sufferings for their minds and toils for their bones no longer suited the later eras.


    Having a rebirth or a system was the new standard for those destined for greatness.


    Tang accepted this quite quickly.


    Now, with no clues in hand, he could only wait to unravel the mysteries of his own body later.


    Therefore, his gaze fell upon Dong Ran''s ample bosom.


    Dong Ran was a spy sent by someone, and someone who could make Dong Ran invest heavily at that.


    When he first met Dong Ran, Tang Xian had discerned her identity from the current needs analysis.


    To Tang Xian, a spy was nothing out of the ordinary.


    He just needed to figure out who had sent her.


    He recalled his short yet pleasant six-year study life. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    First, Tang dismissed Jiang Ming.


    Though Dong Ran arrived shortly after he saw Jiang Ming on the day he became an official guardian,


    Jiang Ming wasn''t close to him, at most harboring an obsession with him.


    The values of good and evil showed that Jiang was an upright person, albeit not the most magnanimous. An old instructor who cherished the past was, at the very least, someone with traditional virtues.


    He wouldn''t send a woman to test him by selling her appearance.


    And Jiang Ming didn''t have the time to arrange such a thing so quickly.


    After some thought, Tang Xian considered several other people, dismissing each one in turn.


    None of them necessarily had an advantage over Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran was a person with four unique talents.


    Based on the level of talent selection trials from his own period, Dong Ran would have ranked high in the practical tests.


    The range of people capable of manipulating Dong Ran was significantly narrowed down.


    At last, considering Dong Ran''s behavior in recent days, she had actually been quite decent to him.


    Twice, she had risked her life to save him.


    Perhaps, being a spy was one identity, and a bodyguard was another.


    Tang Xian carefully thought about which family''s son or daughter might have such a mindset during his student life.


    Eventually, he frowned and thought of a woman.


    If it was this woman, she could not be considered the mastermind behind the scenes. At best, she was a minor player. But the problem was, this woman was a lunatic.


    "Her modus operandi and the financial power to ensure its execution could indeed be her doing. But there''s an illogical point. It seems I still have to wait for this busty idiot to wake up."


    Having said that, Tang Xian patted Dong Ran''s face and cut a little piece from the wormwood.


    He had always been a person who valued efficiency.


    The unsolved mysteries regarding himself were not urgent, so he was not in a hurry.


    But waking Dong Ran up was something that did not need to be delayed.


    The strong stench of the wormwood was so unpleasant that even the calamity-level creature Qing JiuYu found it uncomfortable.


    Even though Dong Ran was unconscious, the process of regaining consciousness was accelerated by the smell.


    The girl quickly opened her eyes and looked at Tang Xian somewhat vacantly.


    Then the sleepiness and haze in her eyes immediately dissipated, replaced by dry heaves caused by nausea.


    "Get it away, get it away, it stinks to death."


    Dong Ran became fully alert instantly.


    "Good that you''re awake. We''re even now. Saving you from the hands of a calamity-level creature equals the push you gave me."


    Tang Xian removed the wormwood, looking indifferent.


    "But you have been freeloading these past days and, as a spy, your identity has been discovered. You should at least explain who sent you here."


    Dong Ran shook her head, trying to clear the lingering dizziness.


    The last thing she remembered was the fiery red nine-tailed fox descending from the sky. At that moment, she thought it was all over. The two of them, even if Tang Da was currently the strongest human with ten talents, nicknamed the First Hunter Akasi, couldn''t possibly survive against a calamity-level boss creature.


    So what exactly is going on now?


    Tang had actually driven away the nine-tailed fox?


    How could a person without any talents manage to repel the strongest creature in the mines?


    "Tang, what exactly happened earlier? And the fox?"


    Dong Ran didn''t know about the events that followed, but she remembered that the fox indeed had nine tails.


    And in its eyes¡­ there was an extremely terrifying number.


    Not to mention its attack, defensive power, or speed, just its health points alone were beyond Dong Ran''s imagination; she never thought a fox could have nearly a million health points.


    Even though the nine-tailed fox was not among the calamity-level bosses known for high defense and health.


    Thinking about it now still sent shivers down her spine.


    So how exactly had Tang taken her, unconscious as she was, and escaped from the fox?


    This man was too miraculous, wasn''t he?


    "She seemed to take a liking to me and so left as if nothing had happened," Tang said.


    "¡­"


    "Alright, as to how one survives an encounter with a calamity-level creature, I can''t share my experience with you. This ordeal was a unique case without general applicability or research value."


    Tang Xian looked straight at Dong Ran.


    People''s needs can change.


    With the "Current Honesty Level" and the change in "Current Needs," Tang Xian could occasionally achieve mind-reading-like abilities.


    "Now let''s discuss something meaningful. Put the calamity-level creature aside for the moment. Was it Li Xiaoyu who sent you to spy on me?"


    Dong Ran was stunned.


    She would naturally never admit it; she had a vivid memory of this second young lady''s methods.


    But whether she admitted it or not was one thing; Tang Xian guessing it was another matter entirely.


    Dong Ran gritted her teeth and shook her head.


    Current Honesty Level: 25 (Needs Further Analysis)


    Current Needs: [Divert Tang Xian''s attention (64%)]


    Tang Xian already knew the truth, and it was exactly what he had thought. He frowned and said:


    "So it really was that troublesome girl."

 Chapter 26: Chapter 19: The Smart Idiot

    Dong Ran listened to Tang Xian''s definite and certain tone. Although she straightened her tall chest, she lowered her noble head.She dared not look at Tang Xian.


    Believing in the illusion that if she didn''t look at Tang Xian, she wouldn''t be seen by Tang Xian''s penetrating gaze.


    "You can''t tell me about Li Xiaoyu''s affairs because there''s something wrong with Li Xiaoyu''s personality. If she knew you messed up or betrayed her, she would do something a thousand times more terrifying than losing your virtue to me."


    "Making a man no longer a man, making a woman no longer a woman, she often comes up with such tricks."


    Tang Xian lifted Dong Ran''s chin, not needing to look into Dong Ran''s eyes to see the data on the panel.


    But this time, his look wasn''t one of disdain; instead, it had a hint of encouragement.


    Had Dong Ran been one of Li Xiaoyu''s people, then this poor girl must have been living in fear.


    Dong Ran felt a bit warmer inside as she looked into Tang Xian''s eyes.


    "You don''t have to fear her, nor do you have to fear me. I''m not some devil. Just do as I say, and she won''t be suspicious."


    "Why?"


    Dong Ran was puzzled.


    Tang Xian had clearly discovered that she was a spy, yet he was still helping her?


    "Li Xiaoyu must have just come of age, right? You don''t need to respond, I''m well aware that she''s not all there mentally."


    "When I first met her, I had one more year until I graduated from the Selection Trials, and she, a twelve-year-old child, joined our class."


    "Li Xiaoyu cannot be described as merely intelligent. Speaking of IQ alone, she''s the second smartest girl I''ve ever met. She is strong in computation. But when it comes to her brain, she belongs to those who act without thinking."


    "A twelve-year-old child studying with eighteen-year-olds is either isolated or spoiled. She was an exception; she wasn''t isolated; she isolated everyone else."


    "In Li Xiaoyu''s own words, these people were too stupid. Breathing the same air as them was a defilement to herself."


    Left with no choice, Dong Ran bit off the part of the Bogen Fruit resembling a head. Although it didn''t taste good, she felt invigorated after taking a bite.


    As she listened to Tang Xian''s last sentence, she remembered the Second Miss''s demeanor and involuntarily nodded her head.


    Even she didn''t notice this nod.


    She thought to herself that the Second Miss was indeed the smartest person in the world... Tang was wrong to say she lacked brains; few people had a better mind than the Second Miss.


    But the Second Miss... did indeed think the world was full of idiots.


    She just hadn''t expected that the Second Miss and Tang were classmates.


    "I was somewhat bored at the time, and a few top students in my class had been schooled by Li Xiaoyu at Go, and it just so happened that these few had a good relationship with me."


    "I was still quite hotheaded due to my youth, so I challenged Li Xiaoyu to a match, and that was when the trouble began."


    Seeing Tang Xian frowning, Dong Ran wondered if Tang had lost?


    It made sense, after all, the Second Miss was very strong in areas that required calculation.


    "She had never learned Go, yet she won against the best in our class on her first try. I did the same to her; I hadn''t learned it either, then I beat her."


    His brows were deeply furrowed.


    Tang Xian still remembered the reaction of that imperious little girl after losing, as if she was questioning her entire life, as if the world had collapsed in an instant.


    "Kids just love to whine about nothing¡ªit''s just a game of chess, right?"


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    Dong Ran was stunned.


    Her first impression had been that Tang was bragging, but then she thought about it, Tang was indeed very intelligent.


    "After that, things got tricky; for some reason, she started paying attention to me."


    "In the first half of the sixth school year, I encountered being stalked at least seven times. There were also two instances when my roommates told me someone was inquiring about me through them."


    "What happened next convinced me that Li Xiaoyu was a troubled child, there was something amiss here." Tang Xian pointed at his head.


    "At first, there was a girl who aspired to go into the mining fruit industry. This specialty''s exam was earlier than the others and didn''t include a talent test. Fearing she might fail, she frequently asked me all sorts of questions over a few days."


    "I patiently answered them. But on the third day, the girl no longer dared to come near me. She didn''t ask me any questions and eventually treated me like a stranger. I heard her father gave her a severe scolding, and his business went bankrupt."


    "I didn''t mind it; everybody has their own secrets. Every family has its own hardships, and I was happy to be left in peace."


    "Later, another girl invited me out for a meal, claiming it wasn''t a nutritional meal but an ancient dish she''d learnt from reading historical periodicals, which I couldn''t refuse. We even made plans for next time."


    "But she never sought me out again, although her cooking skills were very average and I wasn''t particularly concerned, I learned later that her family''s small business had been acquired."


    "Bearing in mind that once is a chance, twice is a coincidence, I started to suspect that these incidents might be related to me."


    "When the girl looked at me afterwards, her eyes darted all over, and I was certain it had something to do with me."


    "I began investigating."


    Tang Xian''s eyes grew cold.


    "In gathering intelligence and prying into secrets, I''m quite skilled. It didn''t take long to find a common point in these incidents¡ªthey all stemmed from the powerful Li family on the sixth level, significant in both commerce and politics to the entire Huaxia."


    "So my thoughts turned to a classmate with the surname Li¡ªyour master, Li Xiaoyu."


    "The matter wasn''t difficult. Afterward, I generally refused to interact with girls who approached me. Later on, even the boys almost... ran into trouble."


    "Ke used to follow me around quite closely since he pretty much worshipped me. One day, he told me that three men in black, without a word, pulled down his pants."


    She didn''t understand what this meant.


    "Li Xiaoyu''s mind is twisted. Seeing that I stopped interacting with girls, she wanted to test if I was gay or if Ke, often seen with me, was gay."


    "She thought if Ke really was gay, he would react to the provocative dance of the muscular men in black."


    "Luckily, Ke''s orientation was completely normal; otherwise, he might have become the greatest weapons designer at the Stronghold Fifty-One, while also being a eunuch."


    "I became certain of one thing¡ªyour young miss is obsessed with me, and she would make anyone who''s close to me suffer, regardless of whether they are male or female."


    Dong Ran was shocked; she hadn''t expected the second young miss to have done such ludicrous things.


    "Her background is so significant that those harmed by her received substantial compensations. Some people, for those compensations, would be willing to cut out their tongues, slice off their fingers, and even lose arms and legs."


    "But the fact that she is brain-damaged cannot be changed."


    Tang Xian looked at Dong Ran, confused, and said: S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So I''m very curious, how could she possibly send you to serve me? If she had sent a straight male spy, I would have understood better."

 Chapter 27: Chapter 20: Yuan Longpings Pot

    Tang Xian, though intelligent, was not omniscient and omnipotent.Dong Ran was also unable to explain the Second Miss''s thoughts clearly.


    Seeing Dong Ran''s expression, Tang Xian knew in his heart that Dong Ran was just a pawn and was not privy to Li Xiaoyu''s plans.


    He shook his head and said, "It seems that even after all these years, her brain still has issues. Your mistress, the least likely thing she would do, is to send a woman to serve me."


    Of course, Tang Xian did not think that Dong Ran was serving him; on the contrary, Tang Xian had always been the one in charge of resolving the food issue. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He liked girls who could cook.


    Tang Xian''s favorite era was the ancient times of the twenty-first century.


    Science had not reached the quantum realm at the time, but for this reason, many traditions were preserved.


    Such as cooking.


    However, that era was not perfect.


    Tang Xian couldn''t understand how, subsisting at the bottom of society, without any survival skills, one couldn''t live past a week.


    The rules of the lower echelons were archaic yet fair: survival of the fittest, those who worked more, gained more.


    But in this book, Mister Zhuang Gengzhi gave an elegant explanation.


    It all stemmed from¡ªgreat scientific researchers like Yuan Longping and Xie Hua''an solving the greatest challenge of biological survival¡ªfood, resulting in too many people having nothing to do after filling their bellies.


    So it''s safe to say that rice is very important and worthy of research.


    "Tang, what happened afterward? How did the Second Miss treat you then?"


    "Later, she confessed to me," Tang Xian said calmly.


    Dong Ran was as if struck by a bolt of lightning out of the blue.


    "Confessed? The Second Miss... actually confessed her feelings?"


    "It was then that I found out, she has a special sense of possessiveness towards me. She would only allow people close to me who had no chance of becoming rivals in love."


    "And you?"


    "I''m not a pedophile, and I wouldn''t fancy a twelve-year-old girl. She may be pretty, but she lacks the aura of Natalie Portman."


    Dong Ran''s eyes widened, and her mouth hung open; she had guessed it, but she hadn''t thought that Tang would actually dare to reject the Second Miss.


    The Second Miss was now eighteen, and although Dong Ran didn''t know Natalie Portman, the Second Miss was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.


    "Moreover, a woman who can''t cook, who doesn''t even have the basic means of survival¡ªhow can you talk about love? In the end, it all comes down to being too well-fed."


    Tang Xian''s criteria for choosing a spouse included one ironclad rule: knowing how to cook.


    He himself could cook, and even had some skills in the art, that was one thing; whether the woman could cook was a completely different matter.


    Dong Ran was at a loss for words.


    "Tang, I remember you saying that you have someone you like... wouldn''t that mean the Second Miss..."


    "They''ve never met, during our third academic year she transferred to another stronghold. This topic is not worth continuing. You''re oblivious to Li Xiaoyu''s intentions, and I can''t comprehend the thoughts of a high IQ imbecile."


    Regarding topics that wouldn''t yield results, Tang Xian would quickly conclude the conversation.


    "So, what are we going to do next¡­? What exactly am I supposed to do, and when the time comes... how should I report to the Second Miss?"


    "Did she explicitly say that you must lose your virtue to me?"


    Dong Ran''s face flushed red in an instant, a hint of shyness as she shook her head.


    "Then that''s settled, a virgin with four innate gifts, no one on the lower levels can afford that price. Since she has no hard requirements of you, you can report to her truthfully about what you''ve seen in the mining area."


    "Ah... you don''t mind?"


    "I don''t mind, but about the encounter with the nine-tailed fox, you''ll have to change your story. Say you met it alone, and the nine-tailed fox wasn''t interested in you, so it let you go. You can''t say that I saved you."


    Dong Ran nodded her head, understanding the importance and urgency of the matter.


    "In any case, you need to go back tonight. Have your second miss pull some strings to update the map urgently, the forest is now a red zone, and dissuade anyone looking to take on missions there. At the same time, think of a reason to keep meeting up with me, just to be safe."


    "I have to leave tonight..."


    "Mm."


    "What about you?"


    Her task was to supervise Tang Xian, but although Dong Ran had only spent a short time with Tang Xian, and despite his toxic tongue, she had grown appreciative of him.


    Appreciative of his indifference to feminine charms. Of the delicious food he brought. And for saving her from a calamity-level creature.


    She didn''t want to leave Tang.


    As Dong Ran thought this, she hoped Tang Xian would go back with her.


    "I still have things to do. The Jiuye Biphasic Orchid, it should only exist solitarily within the forest range, and is very rare. I have to find three of them."


    "So you have to go other places?"


    Dong Ran was actually quite curious about what creature Tang Xian would hunt next.


    Foxes are so cute, how could anyone eat a fox, this was something Dong Ran remembered well.


    "No need, I''ll return to the mining area tomorrow, then tomorrow night, if your master still assigns you to watch over me after your report, you can come to my place."


    During the time Dong Ran was unconscious, Tang Xian had already strategized his next moves.


    Initially, he had intended to stay in the mining area for seven days, but now that was no longer possible.


    The Jiuye Biphasic Orchid was too rare; to find three of them required covering too vast an area. Fortunately, he had cheat-like options.


    Eating was Tang Xian''s eternal pleasure, and for his next hunt, he needed Dong Ran''s help as well.


    If Dong Ran was unable to come back, he would have to hire someone at a high price from among the hunters.


    He had only one week, and after that, Tang Xian would fulfill his promise to Qing JiuYu as scheduled.


    Thinking this over, Tang Xian realized his schedule was rather full, and he was quite busy.


    "Okay... I''ll figure out a way. If worse comes to worst... I won''t tell the second miss anything." Dong Ran was now a little uncomfortable and somewhat afraid knowing the second miss liked Tang Xian.


    Having received Tang Xian''s invitation, she felt a mix of anticipation and increased apprehension.


    Tang Xian shook his head and gave Dong Ran a look as if she were an idiot, saying:


    "The best approach is to report truthfully, without exaggeration or revealing personal emotions. Just provide a clear account of my actions. Li Xiaoyu may have issues with her thinking, but she''s very efficient in her work. She''ll continue to use you if she sees your value. If you can''t provide intelligence, it''ll prove you''re a failure and she won''t keep employing you."


    Although Dong Ran was not very smart, she had a high moral compass and was a kind-hearted girl. Tang Xian might disdain her intelligence, but he didn''t dislike her.


    Dong Ran had a moment of clarity; indeed, what Tang said seemed more in line with the second miss''s style.


    "Tomorrow morning, I''ll go in search of the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid. With a bit of luck, I''ll be back in the mining area by the afternoon. You can now open the portal rift and go back."

 Chapter 28: Chapter 21: The Right Way to Interact with Snakes

    After Dong Ran left, Tang Xian didn''t have much of a reaction.He might consider building a team in the future.


    The mining area was like a real-life online game. Offline, everyone was separated by different fortresses. They might never see each other more than a few times in their lives, but they could arrange to meet somewhere in the mining area through mission handbooks.


    Tang Xian disliked group activities.


    Unless the team members were quite obedient.


    Dong Ran was stupid but obedient and easy to train.


    With four talents, he wasn''t a disgrace, and if trained well, he could help Tang Xian with many things.


    Shaking his head, he took out a notebook from his prop bag.


    He began to document the day''s experiences.


    Tang Xian considered his IQ to be above average, and many things didn''t need to be recorded on paper.


    Yet, the legacy of human knowledge for a considerable time relied on predecessor''s notes.


    He would grow old and die.


    He was grateful for the wisdom of those before him and hoped to leave some experience for future generations.


    Regarding techniques for surviving in the mining area, Tang Xian wrote a book that, for anyone, including himself, was nothing but armchair strategies.


    Especially that year when he was only fifteen.


    A fifteen-year-old child talking about survival in the mining area? Ridiculously funny. The reviewing tutor barely glanced at it before rejecting the publication request.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind.


    After all, he was young and not yet in a rush to leave his last words.


    "The existence of mining area creature bosses indicates an intelligence independent of other creatures. Natural disaster-level bosses, or even catastrophe-level bosses, might not only in terms of wisdom and behavior but even in appearance, evolve to resemble humans."


    Tang Xian seriously took notes, then added some of his own arguments.


    "I advise those who want to eat foxes in the future not to set their sights on the Jiuye Demon Fox. Because cannibalism is illegal."


    "Philosophically, there are many definitions about what it means to be human. Historical literature also indicates that whether it hatched from an egg, jumped from a rock, or transformed from a fox, once it possesses human form and intelligence, it is human."


    "Moreover, it''s argued that thought and habits are secondary; appearance is the primary criterion for determining whether something is human."


    "Take Xu Xian, for example, as a brave hero with a ( ) snake. His greatest success was not courage but that the White Snake could transform into a beautiful woman."


    "If the White Snake didn''t even have the ability to take human form, even if Xu Xian could overcome the tactile and visual discomfort of cold snake skin, imagining it as an indescribably warm ( ), he couldn''t fulfill the highest mission symbolizing peace between the two races. Because there was no ( )."


    After recording these insights, Tang Xian closed his diary with satisfaction.


    Actually, Tang Xian felt a bit of regret. He did want to eat the Jiuye Demon Fox''s meat.


    The White Phosphorus Demon Snake was no different.


    As well as some other catastrophe-level creatures he knew of.


    But as long as these creatures could take human form, Tang Xian could only reluctantly remove them from his menu.


    As he said, he didn''t eat human beings.


    Anything that could take human form was considered human.


    Unfortunately for the Hellhound that had exhibited some human intelligence just before its death, it couldn''t change its appearance as a dog.


    Reflecting on his experiences in the mining area for a while, Tang Xian lay down and fell asleep.


    He fell asleep quickly.


    He had no dreams that night, which was indeed a bit tiring considering what he had been through during the day.


    ...


    ...


    When he woke up, the sun''s position indicated it was about ten o''clock in the morning.


    Tang Xian was surprised at how soundly he had slept. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he stepped out of the tent, he found animal paw prints on it.


    They were from some creature that wanted to come close but was ultimately driven away by the smell of Redline Grass and the Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid.


    Tang Xian didn''t care. He packed up his things, folded up the tent materials, put them into the prop bag, and began to hurry on his way.


    There were many Biphasic Orchids in the Forest Sea area, but the Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid was not difficult to find.


    Even in the plant kingdom, there are kings of flowers, grass, and trees.


    The Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid is the king among the Biphasic Orchids.


    For the fox clan, wearing a Biphasic Orchid with more leaves signifies a higher status.


    For the Biphasic Orchid itself, the Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid with the most leaves holds a lofty status as well; it is always located in the center of the flower sea.


    From a great distance, Tang Xian spotted this Biphasic Orchid.


    During this process, he heard the mournful cries of birds.


    The birds dwelling on the trees of the Forest Sea all knew that this flower was the favorite of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and no creature had dared to pick it until now.


    Tang Xian didn''t think too much about it.


    He needed three flowers, and there was only one here.


    He actually knew how to find the others as well.


    But without a mount, he wouldn''t even make it in time to travel within a week.


    Those places are in the red zones, where human teleportation stations would not dare to be constructed.


    If one wants to go to those areas, one can only go on foot.


    Tang Xian could only find another way.


    After finding the Seven-Leaf Dual Phase Orchid, he didn''t pick it directly but took it along with the soil, then secured it with the bag he used for food. He directly put it into the prop bag.


    After completing this task, he reluctantly opened up a portable teleportation rift and returned to the Pyramid from the mining area.


    ...


    ...


    Once back in his room, Tang Xian didn''t linger, though he really wanted to use the quantum boiler to make a dish of authentic Hechuan Sliced Meat.


    But he had to go to the phone booth now.


    As someone with principles, just as he said to Dong Ran, he wouldn''t trouble those who he had once mentored.


    Most of these people now hold positions of significant power.


    Tang Xian never thought of relying on them, after all, everyone has their own life.


    Those who should be in contact will always stay in touch.


    If, after many years, an old classmate he hadn''t contacted appears, it''s mostly to lure him into some pyramid scheme or because they need a gift of money for a wedding.


    Tang Xian thought about it, and although he was about to contact someone he had not stayed in touch with, ultimately it was to contribute to the amicable relations between humans and the fox clan.


    Expecting to conquer the mining area by force is the most foolish plan among all future strategies of humanity.


    If one day, boss-level creatures are willing to show a friendly attitude towards humans, perhaps humans... could openly go to the high ore regions to mine resources.


    Giving himself a lofty reason, Tang Xian felt much better, and he didn''t hesitate anymore when he dialed the number.


    The phone rang several times before it was quickly picked up.


    "Hello? Who is this?" Shang Lu was puzzled, his private number was being called by a number formatted like a phone booth.


    Such an event had never happened before; very few people knew his number, just a handful.


    He hadn''t changed his number over the years.


    Those in the know would not likely leak the number.


    During his years at the Hua Science Academy, he had been engrossed in researching various plants night and day, and had no time for socializing; to this day, despite having an income above the fourth-tier average, he didn''t even have a girlfriend.


    "Little Lu, how have you been lately?"


    The phone almost slipped from his hands.


    The tone coming through the phone was very calm, the sentence only four words long, but the voice immediately made Shang Lu''s nose tingle.


    "Xian... Xian bro?"


    "Hmm. It''s me."

 Chapter 29: Chapter 22: The Path to Wealth

    Tang Xian''s voice was faint.As if these years hadn''t been anything special.


    As someone who had once been guided by Tang Xian, Shang Lu had felt guilty in his heart for the past six years.


    Although he had spoken up for Xian back then, he ultimately couldn''t change the situation.


    Too many teachers thought Tang Xian didn''t respect his elders.


    Too many classmates thought Tang Xian was too full of himself.


    That''s just how these people were, saying humility is a virtue, but if a person''s knowledge and research reached the ultimate realm, they still had to put on airs and say: "Ah, I''m so stupid, ah, my knowledge is shallow."


    That was the real hypocrisy.


    Many people''s humility wasn''t a virtue for self-discipline; they just didn''t want others to be proud, harboring some kind of inferiority complex deep down. So when they met someone who truly had the right to be proud, they reacted with sarcasm and spite.


    Tang Xian guessed it had been about five seconds, and Shang Lu still hadn''t spoken.


    Through the phone, he couldn''t see the panel of Shang Lu on the fourth level.


    But the tone and pause were enough to make Tang Xian smile.


    "Alright, let''s not dwell on the past. You know I''m not someone who likes to reminisce," he said.


    "..." Just as Shang Lu was about to ask why Xian hadn''t contacted him over the years, Tang Xian interrupted with foresight.


    Then, getting straight to the point, Tang Xian said:


    "I need your help with something."


    "Sure! Actually, I have something I want to discuss with you too, Xian!"


    Not long ago, Shang Lu had met a girl.


    Girls change so much at eighteen that if her entourage hadn''t been so sizeable, he wouldn''t have recognized her.


    "If your matter is about helping me clear my name of cheating, we can drop it. Has Li Xiaoyu been looking for you recently?"


    "...You really haven''t changed a bit, Xian." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shang Lu chuckled bitterly. After all these years, Xian was still the same, always knowing what others were thinking during a conversation.


    Tang Xian knew that when he was branded a cheater and demoted to the lower levels, those classmates he''d guided back in the day must have wanted to help once they heard about him.


    And having just been confirmed in his position when Dong Ran came probing, with a bit of thought, Tang Xian easily guessed what Shang Lu wanted to talk about.


    Knowing both what was happening and why it was happening,


    "I can''t go to the fourth level, so come down here to find me. In the residential area of the third mining squad, room number 15342," he directed.


    Shang Lu wanted to chat a bit more, but Tang Xian said, "People on the lower level can''t use the inter-level network, and phone calls are the only way to communicate, but they''re quite expensive. We''ll talk when we see each other."


    Tang Xian then hung up the phone.


    Shang Lu was stunned.


    This was indeed Xian, but he hadn''t expected that the current Xian would be so poor he worried about the cost of phone calls.


    Without overthinking it, Shang Lu was eager to meet Tang Xian.


    That''s when he realized he had been in the lab for many days.


    His hair was greasy and messy, and he had become somewhat emaciated.


    He was an academic researcher, a genuine lover of academia. Once immersed in a topic of interest, he often neglected both sleep and food.


    "Never mind, Xian has seen me like this before, it''s not the first time we''ve talked with me looking disheveled."


    Shang Lu tidied his hair a bit, which was really just patting it down a few times with his hand, and then hurried to the hover window leading to the lower levels.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian returned to his residence.


    Thinking of a guest''s arrival and that treating them to a meal wouldn''t be enough to repay the favor,


    Shang Lu had chosen botany as his field of study at fifteen. He was someone who knew a great deal about the plants in the mining areas.


    He was also one of the few people who could keep up with his own pace of conversation in a single field.


    Ultimately, there was an oversight.


    He should have picked some rare plants in the mining area as a gift for Shang Lu.


    Inside the pot, dog meat and Hechuan Sliced Meat were being prepared.


    This was a genuine Sichuan dish, the spicy sort that Tang Xian liked. He wasn''t sure if Shang Lu enjoyed it, so he prepared a dog meat hotpot as well.


    It was mentioned in "Ancient Humanities," published by the 29th Fortress Publishing House, that for the people of Lianqing and the Shu Capital, there was no problem that couldn''t be solved by a hotpot.


    If it really couldn''t be solved, then settling for a mandarin duck pot was an option.


    A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.


    Tang Xian opened it.


    Six years had gone by, and there stood Shang Lu, just as before, in his white lab coat, hair in a disheveled bird''s nest. His once handsome features were now somewhat scruffy from too much immersion in academia.


    Shang Lu''s eyes were slightly wet.


    Tang Xian calmly said, "You don''t mind sitting on the floor, do you?"


    Shang Lu nodded and said, "I don''t mind. I''ll send some furniture over later."


    Tang Xian just gave him a faint glance, and immediately Shang Lu felt his comment was out of place.


    "There''s no rice, but thankfully there''s plenty of drink. Dog meat hotpot and Hechuan Sliced Meat... You''re a bit early, I was thinking of making a couple more dishes."


    Naturally, Shang Lu didn''t mind, and Tang Xian didn''t say more.


    The two of them sat down on the floor without any awkwardness.


    As Shang Lu was pondering how to steer the conversation toward Xian''s life over the years, Tang Xian said:


    "Since I''ve returned, I won''t be rushing back to the mining area. I have a week to stay, so we can reminisce later. But first, I need to discuss the important matter."


    A single pot of soup and a plate of food were indeed quite simple.


    Tang Xian wasn''t that particular, and started eating right away.


    But Shang Lu didn''t pick up his chopsticks.


    He just watched Tang Xian''s hands.


    Tang Xian realized, the last visitor had done the same.


    He chuckled bitterly.


    "This is called chopsticks. You''re a quick learner; just do as I do," he said.

 Chapter 30: Chapter 22: The Road to Wealth_2

    "Okay, Xian, what''s the real deal?"Shang Lu used his chopsticks swiftly; his talents were few, just two kinds¡ªdata of biological entities in the mine area, where he could only see their attack power and health points.


    But he was smart, with deep expertise in a single field, which is why he made it to the fourth level.


    He picked up a piece of dog meat.


    After popping it into his mouth, Shang Lu suddenly felt somewhat joyful.


    Xian really was Xian, a person who could live luxuriously no matter where he was.


    Such delicacies, in a place like the lower levels, were like finding joy amidst hardship.


    "This."


    Tang Xian opened his item bag and took out the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid.


    Shang Lu''s interest was immediately piqued.


    "The leaves of this Biphasic Orchid... there seem to be quite a few, not something you''d see in a common area. Where did you get it?"


    It was as if he became a different person; he perked up instantly, as thrilled to see a rare plant as if he were seeing a lover.


    In issue 196 of the "Scientific Research Journal," it mentioned that the new genius from Hua Science Academy, Shang Lu, was still unmarried, which Tang Xian didn''t quite believe at the time.


    Now he did.


    There were people in this world who found games more fun than women.


    Those who preferred 2D characters over real people. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Shang Lu''s kind of special fondness for plants must surely be one of a kind.


    "Tree Sea, yellow zone, but it''s going to change to a red zone soon."


    Shang Lu nodded. He didn''t doubt Xian''s words; why a yellow zone would turn red didn''t concern him. As long as it was Tang Xian who said it, it couldn''t be wrong.


    "Jiuye, that''s incredibly rare."


    "It is rare, and very important. I saw the paper you published in issue 175 of the ''Scientific Research Journal,'' in the mining area plant column."


    "Really? That''s great, I''ve always wanted to know if there were any problems with my views." It was like going back six years, when many of his shortcomings were pointed out by the man before him.


    After leaving school and stepping into society, there were few who could guide Shang Lu.


    In the past year or two, when Shang Lu occasionally recalled Tang Xian, he could increasingly appreciate Xian''s vast knowledge.


    There was only one person in the world who could be an expert in so many fields and, in a single field, also guide someone like him.


    "There''s no major problem with your paper; cloning of plants, in fact, was a technology available in the twenty-first century. It''s just that civilization has come close to destruction several times, and much hasn''t been preserved. Moreover, cloning mining area plants, especially rapid cloning, is indeed a new field.


    Your idea is good, but there are improvements to be made in the selection of the nutrient solution''s composition."


    Tang Xian actually felt quite satisfied.


    However, Shang Lu slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Ah! That''s it! I knew something was off! My thinking was always focused on the genetic code, but I ended up overlooking the cultivation environment. Xian, you''re incredible!"


    "It''s human nature. We tend to excessively focus on areas we''re not familiar with, thereby neglecting the more straightforward aspects."


    "I''ll study it as soon as I get back tonight."


    "How many days have you gone without sleep?"


    "Forgot. Not much need to sleep, not feeling tired anyway."


    "You should rest when you need to; if you overuse your brain, you''ll lose your hair."


    "That would be perfect... saves me the hassle of dealing with it."


    Tang Xian smiled again. So many years had passed, and this academic zealot was still the same.


    "I need your help to clone two Jiuye Biphasic Orchids; they don''t have to be identical, slight differences in details are acceptable, cloning will do, so will rapid cultivation. With your current skills, you should be able to manage it."


    "No problem, how soon do you need them?"


    "The sooner the better, I''m giving you five days."


    "Five days is enough."


    Although the man before him was the only one who could guide him, Shang Lu was not overly modest about his own research field.


    Tang nodded.


    He had fulfilled his promise to Qing JiuYu.


    "I have nothing with which to repay you; in the next two days I''ll rush out some articles, all personal insights about the mining area plants. When you give me the Biphasic Orchids, I''ll hand them over to you."


    Shang Lu was stunned.


    Then he shook his head and said, "I believe your personal stuff will certainly be of great help to me, Xian, but I can''t accept it."


    "What''s with the pretenses? I would never choose to go to the fourth level and deal with plants at Huaxia Science Academy every day. Since you''ve chosen this kind of life, don''t give up any opportunity to improve yourself. Those at the top like to resolve mining district issues with brute force, but the biggest problem facing humanity now is that our strength isn''t strong enough."


    "If it weren''t for the fact that the creatures from the mining districts can''t come to Earth through transport cracks, humanity would have been wiped out long ago. However, your research is different; studying plants might solve many difficult issues."


    Shang Lu was stunned.


    He felt touched. When he had made a mistake in the past, Xian had spoken to him in the same blunt manner.


    But now that he had become successful, it turned out that those with greater talents than him had become cheaters. Thinking about it still made him feel choked up.


    "Alright, that''s enough about serious matters."


    The creatures from the mining districts had no idea about human cloning technology. Tang Xian looked forward to seeing the expression on Qing JiuYu''s face when he actually produced three Jiuye Biphasic Orchids.


    However, this matter couldn''t be rushed; right now, he had other things to do.


    "Xian, actually everyone..."


    Tang Xian waved his hand and said:


    "Living on the bottom level is very comfortable. As for the upper levels, if one day in the future, something interesting happens there, I will find a way to join in the excitement. I appreciate your good intentions, but there''s no need to worry about my affairs."


    It wasn''t that he lacked compassion; he simply didn''t need help.


    Knowing Xian''s capabilities, Shang Lu didn''t insist anymore.


    Without that topic to discuss, the two men had little else to talk about.


    After thinking for a bit, Tang Xian figured it was better to find a topic to discuss and went on:


    "In the future, I might bring a lot of strange and rare plants, and there will be a lot of areas where I''ll need your help."


    "Are those plants all very rare?" Shang Lu asked.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    For the mining district creatures, some rare plants were highly valuable.


    But humans could clone plants, and since he could talk to the boss-level beings of the mining districts, he could sell some valuable plants.


    Tang Xian thought of a place.


    The Beast Court.


    If the boss creatures of the mining districts had established a legal system, then they should also have a monetary system.


    "I''ve met a bunch of foolishly wealthy patrons who love all kinds of strange plants, but they have no idea that there''s such a thing as plant cloning. Therefore, they will pay high prices to buy plants."


    Shang Lu wasn''t surprised, since after all, this method was only in his hands.


    But he was curious, as humans nowadays only needed minerals, and any ornamental plants could be synthesized through quantum conversion of organic minerals.


    Who would like odd plants?


    "What do you mean by foolishly wealthy?"


    "They don''t lack minerals. Even Soul Crystal Jade."


    This time, Shang Lu was truly astonished.


    He didn''t know how Xian had come to know such powerful individuals, but there were very few in today''s world who could say they didn''t lack minerals.


    The second son of Da Wan Mining, Wang Cong, and other upper-class people from various Huaxia fortresses all sought to curry favor with him. But even such wealthy scions dared not say they didn''t need minerals.


    And Soul Crystal Jade was an omnipotent mineral that only powerful mining district creatures possessed.


    "There are others who don''t lack minerals? That''s seriously wealthy."


    "Perhaps, to them, having money and having minerals are two different concepts."


    When Tang Xian saw Qing JiuYu''s fondness for Jiuye Biphasic Orchids, he spotted a business opportunity.


    He could collect the plants most favored by the cataclysm-level and disaster-level creatures for them and could even sell them in large quantities. In return, they would need to help him collect Soul Crystal Mines from enemies or creatures he disliked.


    Traversing between two worlds, he would do business with humans as well as the mining district bosses.


    Shang Lu said, "Okay, Xian. If there''s any rare plant that needs cloning, just leave it to me. I''ll definitely deliver on time."


    Tang Xian knew that Shang Lu understood the value of his own technology. He agreed to help unconditionally only because he was Tang Xian. He had helped Shang Lu in the past.


    He didn''t want to take advantage of others and said:


    "I can''t tell you who they are. Only after the initial transaction will I know if it''s truly feasible. If it is, then I hope you can apply for a patent for rapid plant cloning technology, and¡ª"


    Tang Xian paused, then seriously added:


    "Partner up with me."

 Chapter 31: Chapter 23: Decay Street of the Underworld

    Shang Lu was stunned.He didn''t like to apply for patents, and had even planned to include this technology in public reading materials with the lowest reading permissions, for future generations to study.


    In the eyes of this academic enthusiast, up to now, there were still too few people who could discuss and delve into the subject with him.


    This was not conducive to scientific progress.


    However, the one who had made this request was Tang Xian, so he had to consider it.


    "Why apply for a patent?"


    Although he knew that if he applied, it would certainly be approved, Shang Lu was still curious about the reason.


    "To prevent the devaluation of money," Tang Xian said, directly addressing the crux of the issue.


    Shang Lu was puzzled.


    Tang Xian explained,


    "There are many disadvantages to monopolizing the market, but opening the market too early will lead many people to indiscriminately lower the profits of said market. If only we can produce rare plants, the base is at least small, and as long as we are not greedy, the value of the plants won''t decline too rapidly.


    On the other hand, if everyone has access to this technology and each individual discovers they can trade with these people, then the market will be in chaos. In short, the bargaining power in such trades will weaken."


    Although this was what he said, Tang Xian didn''t entirely think this way, because... currently, he was the only one capable of conversing with boss creatures.


    Even if he didn''t want to monopolize the market, he couldn''t.


    Shang Lu was still confused,


    "Xian, ordinary wealth simply isn''t enough to sway you. What kind of wealth could possibly..."


    "The wealth is still that wealth. It''s just that the trading partner is too special, although indeed there are also some types of wealth that only we can use."


    "Such as?"


    "For example, information on creatures from mining areas that are still unknown to humans. Even includes Catastrophic and Apocalypse-level creatures."


    "They have even that?"


    Shang Lu was astonished.


    Despite hundreds of years of human exploration in the mining areas, there were still many unsolved mysteries.


    In the red zone of Magic Dragon Valley, are there truly dragons?


    In the red zone of Red Lotus Hell, are there truly mountain-sized volcanic giants?


    In the Ashen Sea, does a Sea Demon truly exist that''s larger than a city?


    Some of these ancient records had been confirmed, while others remained mysteries.


    Tang Xian nodded his head. If he used a Jiuye Biphasic Orchid to inquire about the weaknesses and habits of the Catastrophic-level boss, the White Phosphorus Demon Snake, Qing JiuYu would likely tell him.


    A being of Apocalypse-level that grew up in a mining area might not know more than Tang Xian, but would inevitably have secrets unknown to him.


    Similarly, as long as one holds the corresponding chips, and gives them to the right person, they could exchange them for knowledge not yet possessed by mankind.


    Although Shang Lu did not know who exactly Tang Xian was referring to as the trading partner, he knew that Xian was not a person to boast aimlessly.


    "Agreed. Xian, then I''ll follow your advice," Shang Lu, after much deliberation, agreed to Tang Xian''s request.


    Feeling some hesitation from Shang Lu, Tang Xian knew the thoughts of someone like him and said,


    "I can assure you that compared to your academic work being generously shared, following my approach will make it much more impactful, and might even change humanity''s standing in the mining areas. In any case, I won''t let your talent go to waste."


    "After my first successful trade with them, I''ll let you know whether this plan is viable. But in the meantime, you can start preparing the materials for the patent application."


    Tang Xian did not like to owe favors. He also valued talent highly.


    Shang Lu had done him a favor, and he intended to repay it.


    Turning Shang Lu into someone on his side was, at present, something Shang Lu still couldn''t comprehend the full benefits Tang Xian had afforded him.


    But in the near future, he would come to truly feel it.


    ...


    ...


    After chatting with Shang Lu for a while and having a drink, Tang Xian still felt somewhat happy.


    It was naturally worth feeling joyous to reconnect with an old friend after so long and still be as close as they had been.


    Their meeting was brief, as Shang Lu was eager to improve his nutrient solutions and perfect his plant replication technology.


    Tang Xian also had some other affairs to attend to.


    Now that he was back at the Pyramid, he wasn''t in a rush to "log in".


    Pulling out the Soul Crystal Mine from the hellhounds, Tang Xian planned to sell the mine.


    He would exchange it for a few antique stoves¡ªhe had a Sichuan cuisine stove, but he also wanted a Cantonese cuisine stove, a Hunan cuisine stove, a seafood stove, and a Fujian cuisine stove.


    As well as a specialized barbecue rack and a multipurpose seasoning stove.


    These items were no longer in production and they were considered impractical by most people today.


    They were expensive and deemed useless. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But to Tang Xian, they were treasures.


    Before Dong Ran''s arrival, he decided to get an appraisal first.


    To handle the Soul Crystal Jade from the hellhounds, there are generally two methods if one wants to sell such rare goods: one is to go to the mission department and accept a national conscription to become a mine hunter.


    This was indeed an option, but it made one an easy target because hunters who performed well had only one path to take, recruitment by the upper echelons.


    The salary was handsome, and many people made it their life goal to be recruited, but Tang Xian didn''t like it.


    The second option was to sell contraband.


    Selling the Soul Crystal Mine to the black market would fetch a lower price, but it offered convenience by avoiding a heap of procedures.


    Tang Xian hated making things complicated and wasn''t too concerned about the profits, as obtaining high-quality mines wasn''t a troublesome issue for him.


    His destination was Decay Street, where there was a black market that Tang Xian found relatively trustworthy.


    At the same time, this place also housed legitimate trading platforms for stringed instruments, which were very regular, without any of those superficial ''head and foot wash'' services. Everything was centered around the highest mission of studying biological reproduction.


    There were also many lending institutions here; as long as you were willing to take a loan, they would definitely give one out. You could try to hide with the attitude of not paying back a loan borrowed through your skills, but the outcome would certainly be dire.


    There was also the absolute no cheating¡ªyeah, right¡ªcasino.


    But that''s gamblers for you. Even if you tell them that you lose nine times out of ten bets, nothing can stop the unfailing business of the Decay Street casinos from being flooded.


    Of course, the most popular among young people were the bars here.


    It didn''t matter if you were ugly or fat, the drunken women didn''t care about looks; as long as you had a piece of green ore in your hand, anything was possible.


    This was Decay Street, and as the name implies, it lived up to its reputation.


    The only thing that was still not considered corrupt was that this place wasn''t lawless; on the contrary, its rules and regulations were very clear.


    After all, many of the business tycoons behind the scenes here were "civilized people" from even higher levels.


    As Tang Xian wandered around Decay Street for a while, he approached Dong Sanbao''s pawnshop and frowned.


    This "private mine" Money Bank had actually been sealed off.


    Tang Xian was puzzled, but soon he thought of the news he had seen before about an official on the fourth level losing his job because he had offended the son of an official from the fifth level.


    The companies under his name had been sealed as well.


    It seemed unrelated, but Tang Xian naturally made the connection. After all, there were few secrets in the lower levels that Tang Xian didn''t know about.


    "Troublesome," he muttered.


    Besides Dong Sanbao''s shop, there were a few other black markets, but the problem was that these places weren''t tight-lipped. Dong Sanbao''s pawnshop had one good point¡ªthey never betrayed customer information.


    Tang Xian didn''t do business with those who couldn''t keep their mouths shut. Doing business with them was not much better than... becoming a hunter.


    After hesitating for five seconds, Tang Xian made up his mind quickly.


    "I''ll become a hunter," he decided.

 Chapter 32: Chapter 24: The Eyes That Launched to Center Stage

    Tang Xian had actually made plans on how to deal with a large amount of Soul Crystal Mines in the future.Now, with a business opportunity in hand, selling contraband in the black market could only solve a temporary need. Sooner or later, he would have to register as a hunter at the mission department.


    Therefore, without much hesitation, after discovering that Dong Sanbao''s shop was sealed off, he immediately made another decision.


    He went to the mission department to register as a mine hunter.


    However, this matter did indeed require careful consideration for Tang Xian. He did not go straight to the mission department, but returned to his residence first.


    Very few things would make Tang Xian ponder for a long time.


    He could often grasp the essence of a problem at once.


    How to keep his reputation from rising too quickly wasn''t a difficult issue, Tang Xian had already thought of a solution.


    If he, as a solitary person, completed the mining area creature: Elite-level boss Cerberus hunting, it would attract a lot of attention.


    But if it was changed to a squad, although it would still be astonishing, it would be a lot more reasonable.


    Tang Xian planned to form a squad.


    There was a bit of striking while the iron was hot in this, as not long ago, he and Shang Lu had established a special trade organization.


    It was the only historical case of humans doing business with mining area creatures.


    Now that the company was set up, forming a team wouldn''t be that strange.


    The real challenge lay in the team members.


    He could conjure things from thin air, but in the future, Tang Xian did plan to recruit a few teammates.


    Choosing teammates turned out to be a difficult problem for Tang Xian.


    His classmates weren''t suitable, most of them now held high positions of authority, with Shang Lu, who was on the fourth layer, being one of the less successful ones.


    These people had access to excellent resources and naturally could not be dragged into the mines to risk their lives.


    "I still need to find someone from the existing hunters."


    Tang Xian opened up the hunter rankings, a list that was updated in real-time.


    Upon opening the list, the first name that caught his eye was the legendary assassin Akasi.


    This Huaxia individual with an un-Huaxia-like name, was currently the strongest among all known Huaxia hunters.


    He was also one of the historically rare ten-talented Chosen Ones.


    Akasi didn''t have his own team and always acted alone.


    His power, it was said, was already capable of facing perfect-level boss creatures alone.


    It could be said that Akasi had the power of an entire army and was a one-man boss.


    The military wanted to recruit him, as did various fortresses, and even foreign fortress governments.


    Unfortunately, this man''s whereabouts were too elusive.


    And he spent most of his time in the mining area.


    After careful thought, Tang Xian realized that recruiting Akasi would be difficult, especially since he had no idea where this top hunter was.


    The information was still too scant.


    He then looked down the list. The second and third ranked hunters already had teams, the fourth was a lone wolf, and those ranked fifth and ninth also had teams.


    The lone wolves at the front end of the list had very little information available.


    Tang Xian believed that as long as he could meet these people, he would be able to see their panel data and come up with corresponding recruitment methods.


    The problem was that he couldn''t bump into these people himself.


    According to the writing of bottom-tier web novels, the people on these lists were all targets for the main character to show off and slap in the face.


    But Tang Xian didn''t agree with that.


    He thought of them as good employees.


    He just needed to figure out a way to meet these employees.


    He dismissed those who were already in teams and decided to observe a few others who were teamless a bit longer.


    "It seems I have to pick some seed players. The well-known ones are hard to meet, and even if I want to release a mission, I couldn''t afford these people."


    In fact, Tang Xian hadn''t intended to recruit teammates directly. He pulled out the hunter rankings just as a warm-up.


    His memory was excellent; he memorized everyone on the ranking from the first to the one thousand seven hundredth after just one glance.


    He took a special look at the other introductions of a few people he was particularly fond of.


    A team should have an eye, or a scout, four combat members, and one healer.


    Tang Xian believed that when it came to being a scout, there was nobody better than him in the world.


    Therefore, the other members obviously had to be of somewhat higher quality and, under his command, would at least be able to deal with Perfect-level creatures, including bosses.


    ...


    ...


    The next morning, Dong Ran arrived.


    Tang Xian was not surprised; as long as she followed his advice, Li Xiaoyu would certainly continue to send Dong Ran to follow him.


    However, Dong Ran had already become a spy within their ranks.


    "You''ve come at the right time. Come with me to the second level."


    "Why are we going to the second level?"


    Dong Ran was used to Tang Xian''s decisive actions.


    Tang Xian took out a Soul Crystal Mine and said, "The black market on the lower level was sealed off, coincidentally the one I trusted, so there''s no helping it, I''m planning to register a hunter team."


    "A team? But Tang, you''re just one person... A team needs six people."


    "Your identity card should have military privileges, right?"


    "Hmm... Everyone in the Li family, even the peripheral personnel, is considered part of the regular military forces."


    "According to the military''s confidentiality agreement, a team formed by military personnel on their own does not need to register their identity information; they only need to leave code names."


    Dong Ran finally understood why Tang had waited for her.


    She then exclaimed,


    "Wait, Tang, you mean... I''m also a member of your team?"


    "You have four gifts, and your combat ability is not bad; at least you react quickly. Although you''re a bit slow-witted, you have a large chest. Research shows that having girls like you as teammates can boost the male team members'' statistics in all aspects."


    Dong Ran''s face turned red. Tang Xian''s words were naturally meant to tease her.


    "Using your military status, you''ll be responsible for creating the team. Just leave my name for the team leader; as for the other four members, let''s conjure them out of thin air."


    Dong Ran nodded; she felt a little excited about being pulled into Tang Xian''s team. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But if the second Miss found out, would she be unhappy?


    It didn''t matter, Tang seemed to be the second Miss''s bane, he was so smart, he must have thought of this as well.


    An elated Dong Ran said,


    "So, what role will I play on the team?"


    "You''ll be the fourth combat member. The other three combat members naturally have to be stronger than you."


    "So, Tang, you''re the scout?"


    "Mhm."


    "Who has ever heard of a scout as team leader?"


    In a team, the scout was usually responsible for gathering intelligence and surveying the terrain, or studying the weather; simply put, they were the clerical staff.


    While this role might seem important, scouts were often not well-regarded; they had the lowest status in a team.


    Because they lacked combat power.


    Tang Xian could understand Dong Ran''s thoughts but did not care in the slightest, saying,


    "There are teams like that now."


    Dong Ran still found it somewhat unbelievable.


    The team leader was generally the strongest on the team. If a scout were the leader, who would accept that?


    Thinking about the peculiar information that flooded his mind after hunting the hellhound, Tang Xian said,


    "Scouts aren''t strong because many teams'' scouts don''t look far enough. I am different."


    "I can see through everything."

 Chapter 33: Chapter 25: Shengtang

    Dong Ran believed that if Tang played the role of the team''s eyes, he would undoubtedly be the most outstanding set of eyes.However, wisdom and combat strength are not the same concept. Ultimately, the mining area relies on individual combat capabilities.


    But regarding Tang Xian''s arrangements, she still chose to follow them.


    The mission department was on the second floor, and temporary workers couldn''t go to the second layer to register unless they used fake IDs.


    In this era, it was very difficult to forge documents. Tang Xian knew two people capable of forging IDs.


    One had been sent to the prison in Fortress Number Nineteen. The other was living quite well, but his identity kept changing, and Tang Xian had lost contact with him.


    He certainly did not need to resort to forgery, but the sudden recollection of such a person sparked some other plans in his mind.


    "Will we be recruiting team members later on?"


    "This question has been answered before."


    "Oh¡­ So, Tang, who do you plan to find?"


    "Let''s skip that question for now."


    Tang Xian hadn''t figured out a reason for recruiting team members.


    A small team consists of six people; he had to recruit four. They needed to be not only exceptional in ability but also obedient, which was somewhat troublesome.


    Moreover, with too many talents, Tang Xian was not content with establishing just a single team. However, there was no need to think too far ahead at the moment.


    The second layer arrived quickly.


    Although it was smaller than the first layer, it took a long time to walk to the mission department. Dong Ran kept asking questions along the way.


    "Tang, what will our team name be?"


    Dong Ran was quite proud to be pulled into Tang Xian''s team, as if it were a recognition of her intellect.


    She had a lot to say on this topic.


    Tang Xian replied occasionally just to ease the boredom.


    "I haven''t thought of one yet."


    "What about team member codes! For military-registered teams, you don''t need names, but you need codes¡­"


    "These things aren''t important; we can think of something on the fly when the time comes."


    "It''s very important! Our codes will be the ones displayed on the Hunter Leaderboards!"


    Tang Xian suddenly stopped, and Dong Ran, who was following behind, nearly bumped into him.


    Looking at Dong Ran''s face, Tang Xian said:


    "Now, answer me truthfully, what are your abilities, I mean combat abilities."


    The more data one could see, the stronger the combat abilities awakened in the mining area.


    Such power was reflected in two aspects: the type of combat ability and the depth of the combat ability.


    Dong Ran thought for a moment and replied:


    "I''m very strong... does that count? And I can attack with palm strikes."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    In other words, apart from the physical enhancement common to all those with natural talent, Dong Ran''s ability in the mining area included an active skill related to palm strikes and a passive state associated with strength augmentation.


    "Not bad. But that is not your most distinct feature."


    A delicate-looking young lady possesses terrifying strength; Dong Ran always felt it didn''t quite match her, but Tang Xian thought that against certain enemies who judged by appearance, it would serve as a kind of smokescreen.


    Tang Xian continued on his way.


    He started planning the position assignments of the team members.


    This was an issue that could be considered immediately, so many of Dong Ran''s later topics, such as whether to look for male or female teammates, those from the same fortress or different ones, famed or unknown, were all brushed off by Tang Xian with "We will discuss it later."


    They soon reached the mission department. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As one of the national institutions, even though this was the second layer, the opulence of the building was completely different from other structures. The expenditure on constructing the mission department could compare with many buildings on the fourth layer.


    Tang Xian saw quite a few people.


    There were tall, short, thin, and fat people, all dressed more formally than Tang Xian; after all, those who could enter were at least official workers.


    Tang Xian didn''t care, these people were actually very ordinary.


    After entering the mining area, some of them could be powerful hunters, warriors, assassins, or healers amongst living and dead flesh and bone.


    But once they left the mining area, they were just ordinary humans.


    The mining area is a network game created by God, and this rule is also related to that saying.


    Once they left the mining area, all those with natural talents reverted to ordinary people.


    Tang Xian was an exception.


    Without further delay, Tang Xian went straight to the place for creating a team.


    The hunter team establishment area had a small window; the reviewer was a middle-aged man going through a midlife crisis, balding, with more than half of his hair already gone, revealing a Central Sea.


    No one else was around; others who came here were mostly to submit missions and collect rewards.


    Tang Xian knocked on the window.


    The middle-aged man glanced at Tang Xian, looked at his attire, and raised an eyebrow, saying:


    "Can I help you?"


    "Yes, I''d like to establish a hunter team."


    "Fifty grams of blue organic ore, the fee for creating the team," the man said bluntly, thumb and middle finger pressing down in a gesture indicating that there was a fee for team creation.


    Tang Xian looked at the middle-aged man''s panel.


    Current Honesty Level: 5 (Talks big, says little)


    Current Needs Analysis: [Extort money from the young man in front (45%)]


    Tang Xian didn''t say much, promptly handing over the money to the middle-aged man, which somewhat surprised him.


    Dong Ran, who was there for the first time to register a team, didn''t know the procedure and would have faced no extortion had she simply shown her identity card with Tang Xian.


    But seeing Tang Xian pay readily, she also assumed that was probably the rule. A necessary expense.


    Tang Xian didn''t explain and watched the bald man open the registration software.


    "Registering a team requires six people, why are there only two of you?"

 Chapter 34: Chapter 25: Shengtang_2

    "The other four are on a mission and aren''t available," Tang Xian said.On a mission?


    How can someone who hasn''t registered as a hunter be on a mission?


    The middle-aged man felt something was off, and that''s when Dong Ran took out her identity card.


    "Just scan it, and you''ll know," Tang Xian said indifferently.


    Looking at the two''s attire, the middle-aged man thought they must be workers who had just moved up from the lower levels, freshly minted full-timers, easy to deceive.


    But the moment he scanned Dong Ran''s identity card, he was dumbfounded.


    He, after all, also worked in a public sector job, with a D-level identity status, which was considered top-tier on the second level.


    Yet the scan revealed¡ªthis woman was actually a C-level soldier.


    At the same level, a soldier''s rank was inherently higher, let alone a C-level one.


    Looking at the identity information''s note, there was a red eagle emblem on the lower left corner, the family crest. Those who could have their family emblems on their identity cards were countable on one hand among Huaxia''s major families.


    With trembling lips, the middle-aged man uttered in a shaky voice:


    "The... Li family''s person?"


    Dong Ran was quite pleased with this effect, but Tang Xian remained calm.


    "Since you recognize it, this makes things a lot easier. In the eyes of the law, attempted bribery is a completely different crime from successful bribery. Of course, your crime is quite special, you''ll also be charged with extortion of a soldier. The Li family is very petty. Not long ago, many shops on the lower level were sealed off, all related to the Li family.


    Those on the fourth level were unlucky, having the lower level folks take the fall for them."


    "But you, you''re just on the second level, not high enough to ignore the rules, but not low enough to slip by unnoticed. Getting into trouble is very inconvenient for you."


    The middle-aged man went pale, feeling his legs turn to jelly, about to apologize.


    Tang Xian made a shushing gesture with his right hand.


    "There are many hunters around here, with many voices that could leak information. If word gets out, we can''t just let this incident slide."


    The man immediately quieted down.


    With his left thumb and middle finger pressing together, Tang Xian made a gesture that the middle-aged man was all too fond of making.


    "You''re in luck today. A hundred grams of blue organic ore, and we''ll pretend nothing happened."


    Dong Ran struggled to suppress her laughter.


    She had been curious as to why registering a hunter team necessitated an additional fee.


    It turned out she and Brother Tang were being extorted.


    Tang Xian, having lived in the most chaotic part of the lower levels for six years, didn''t consider himself a genius, but he did know a thing or two about the various ways to deal with robbery, extortion, and deception. He especially enjoyed being extorted.


    What followed was much simpler.


    The middle-aged man in charge of registration felt terrible but was compelled to put on a smiling face, showing an incredibly high level of work efficiency.


    Tang Xian was very satisfied.


    But Dong Ran wasn''t as pleased.


    "Comm...Comm...Commander, as per regulations, you don''t have to leave real names, just codenames."


    "Hmm, mark this down, the first team member''s codename is ''Tang.'' He''s not here."


    The middle-aged man and Dong Ran were both stunned.


    What kind of codename was this?


    Most military hunter teams had hardcore codenames like Black Hawk or Cheetah. ''Tang'' was what exactly?


    Dong Ran opened her mouth wide, unable to believe Brother Tang would come up with such a codename. Who would want to join a team with such a name? She began to worry about what her own codename would be...


    "The second one, not here, a combat member, Tang Wudi."


    "..." The middle-aged man was speechless and could only register the name in silence.


    "The third one, not here either, also a combat member, Tang the Mage."


    "The fourth, still a combat member, here she is, it''s her, Tang (based on the crackdown, homophony)."


    "Ah!" Dong Ran let out a startled exclaim.


    Her ominous premonition had come true.


    Good heavens, what were these codenames? Tang the Terrible? Was this serious? Was this the work of a devil?


    Incredulous, Dong Ran looked at Tang Xian. She now understood the meaning behind Tang Xian''s words "that''s not your most defining feature."


    Tang Xian remained unconcerned, even feeling that these codenames perfectly fit the image he had in mind.


    Adept at elemental combat, the elite ranged unit could play a significant role in certain battles, as long as it was properly protected by teammates.


    Elites skilled in direct combat must be able to shield their teammates from the fiercest of attacks.


    Assassins, adept at stealth and ambush tactics, are lethal when they gain the upper hand in combat, but speed is essential.


    They were Tang, Tang Da, and Tang the Mage. As for Tang Xian, he felt that having a mascot in a team was a very prudent setup for good Feng Shui. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for what Dong Ran herself thought, Tang Xian didn''t care.


    "The fifth one, who hasn''t arrived, is the healer, Tang Busi."


    The middle-aged man in charge of team registration was getting used to this man''s style. He looked up at Tang Xian, thinking that it must be Tang Xian''s own turn last.


    He figured that Tang Xian could only serve as the "eyes" of the team.


    The team leader was actually the "eyes"?


    He had seen many unusual teams, but it was his first time seeing the weakest in combat power taking on the role of team leader.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about the opinions of the insignificant, and said:


    "The sixth one is myself, the ''eyes,'' and my code name will be Tang Wudi."


    Dong Ran felt like she was about to spit out tender blood, and even the clerk who had been extorted by Tang Xian couldn''t help but want to complain that he had never seen such a shameless person.


    Tang Xian''s expression was as calm and serious as ever.


    He truly thought so.


    Dong Ran was right about one thing; the team leader definitely had to be the strongest in the team.


    Tang Xian was confident he could win people over with his wisdom, but he was lazy, so he planned to try something later.


    "Registration complete... Are you sure about these code names?" Looking at the aggrieved expression of the girl from the Li family, the middle-aged man couldn''t help but ask again.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    These code names helped him categorize and know who he needed as teammates.


    As for Dong Ran''s "Tang", Tang Xian thought it was an absolutely adorable code name.


    A woman identified first and foremost for her "assets," if even her code name made one think of "assets," she was definitely a popular woman.


    Unfortunately, Dong Ran wasn''t wise enough to understand this.


    Seeing that Tang Xian nodded without any thought, the registrar said no more and finally asked:


    "What''s the team name?"


    "Shengtang."


    Perhaps because the earlier names had set low expectations, the formal name "Shengtang" was actually to Dong Ran''s liking.


    But the thought of "Tang" made her lower her noble head and stick out her ample chest.


    The following procedures were handled quickly.


    After completing them, Tang Xian returned to the mission handover department.


    This time, there was no extortion; the person in charge of this task was a middle-aged woman, who seemed listless.


    "Hello, turning in a mission. The team name is Shengtang, number 055428." Tang Xian was just following procedures.


    The middle-aged woman entered the number and frowned, saying:


    "What mission could a team that''s only been formed for a few minutes have completed? Go away."


    This time, Tang Xian wasn''t mischievous but calmly placed the Hellhound''s Soul Crystal into the identification box beside her.


    The woman froze instantly.


    While it wasn''t impossible for a six-person team to hunt a Hellhound, an elite-level boss, there hadn''t been any elite-level boss creatures'' Soul Crystal Mines in Fortress No. 39 for over a month.


    "Did you manage this?"


    Tang Xian nodded.


    A team that had been established for less than ten minutes would naturally be at the bottom of all hunter teams. However, with the achievement of having hunted a Hellhound, the team''s ranking would skyrocket to a very high level.


    The woman''s job was to record accomplishments and issue task rewards, deal with various private task mandates, as well as handling enterprise and even national mission reward disbursements.


    She quickly found that sixteen companies and thirty-four merchants had issued hunting missions for Hellhounds.


    "There are many high bidders. Who do you plan to sell to?" The woman''s tone was much more polite, and she seemed more alert.


    When one creature becomes a target for multiple people, the person completing the mission has the right to choose who to trade with.


    "Choose the highest private bidder."


    The middle-aged woman nodded and immediately started checking for Tang Xian among the non-corporate and national mandates to see who offered the highest bid.


    "Let''s see, oh, here it is. This person''s bid is somewhat outrageous, fifty-two pieces of purple organic ore. His name is Jiang Ming."

 Chapter 35: Chapter 26: I want to get beaten up

    Upon hearing Jiang Ming''s name, Tang Xian let out a rare bitter smile.The world is really small.


    Recalling the last time he saw Jiang Ming, Tang Xian noticed in his data that he feared the hellhound, which suggested Jiang Ming must have had his own hunting team.


    It seemed that his team had encountered the hellhound and the outcome was¡­ not too good.


    "Let''s go with him," Tang Xian nodded.


    Jiang Ming was willing to pay twice the price to buy the hellhound, likely to commemorate his deceased teammates.


    Tang Xian didn''t dislike Jiang Ming.


    "This Mr. Jiang Ming seems to have posted another task as well, also concerning the hellhound. It requires hunting a hellhound in the northern forest, characterized by missing an ear and an eye, and notably stronger than the average hellhound. The reward is... one hundred purple organic crystals, my goodness!" the middle-aged woman exclaimed.


    Having worked in the task department for so long, she couldn''t imagine someone offering a price fit for a top-tier boss creature for an elite-level boss creature.


    But Tang Xian understood and now had a clearer idea of why Jiang Ming''s financial assessment was ''just getting by''.


    Taking his entire fortune to avenge his teammates, it was natural that he wouldn''t have much savings.


    Given the location in the forest, he silently noted down this task.


    While you need to register to submit a task, picking one up doesn''t require registration.


    Whoever completes it first gets the reward.


    This was also why Tang Xian was targeted by the hunting team from Fortress 51 that day.


    The reward for a task would be deposited into one''s account in the form of hunting points.


    In various mining companies, you could exchange points for equivalent minerals.


    After completing all this, Tang Xian went straight to the passage to return to the lower level.


    It was like wanting to shop as soon as you get your paycheck. What he wanted most now was to buy the coveted Cantonese cuisine boiler.


    But before that, Tang Xian still had something he needed to do first.


    ...


    ...


    This was Dong Ran''s first visit to Decay Street. The people on the street were of all shapes and colors.


    Most here had tattoos or ink on their bodies. Their gazes were uninhibited, as there were no seasons in the Pyramid. Basically, apart from the thickest cold-weather gear, any seasonal attire wouldn''t seem out of place.


    Dong Ran dressed quite coolly, and since her role was to seduce Tang Xian, he believed most people''s first impression of her would be: "You''re quite provocative."


    Dong Ran felt somewhat nervous. She was a powerful warrior in the mine, but here in the Pyramid, she was no different from anyone else. She had heard of the chaos at the bottom level, and Decay Street was known to be accident-prone.


    "See that fat guy over there, the one standing in the dark alley with the rooster''s crest, he is greedy, lecherous, and violent. People in the lower levels have many dealings with underground organizations, and their characters are basically like this guy, passionate about money, women, and violence.


    Right now, his biggest need is to find an unlucky sod, like a gambler who''s come out of the casino with a lucky win, and extort a sum of money, so he and the two next to him are squatting in the dark alley, waiting for their prey. I''ll go provoke him."


    "Ah? Why would you want to provoke him?"


    "For the future of humanity."


    "..."


    Dong Ran was speechless; the line "for the future of humanity" was clearly nonsense. However, Tang had his reasons for doing things.


    Dong Ran estimated that even a regular soldier would have to put some effort into dealing with such a big guy. Although Tang was well-proportioned and probably strong, this was like a lightweight challenging a heavyweight.


    Tang Xian didn''t explain much, only saying, "If I call for help, just show your ID card information to assist me. If I don''t call for help, remember, you mustn''t act on your own this time. No matter what happens, do not come to assist me unless I call out."


    Dong Ran nodded, remembering Tang Xian''s eyes the last time they killed a fox, and dared not act impulsively again.


    After giving these instructions, Tang Xian made his way into the dark alley and walked up to the rooster-crested man, staring straight at him.


    Being stared at like this, the rooster-crested man frowned and said in displeasure,


    "Kid, what are you looking at?"


    "Looking at you, what about it?"


    "Keep looking and see what happens?"


    Tang Xian didn''t say "try me" and actually try it.


    He glanced at the rooster-crested man''s two companions: one was a thin man with a sinister gaze, the other was shorter with a crow tattoo on his neck.


    The three were working together, a gang committing crimes.


    "I feel like getting a good beating, preferably by three people," Tang Xian raised three fingers.


    This odd request stunned the rooster-crested man and the tattooed man and the thin man next to him.


    "Don''t understand?" asked Tang Xian, thinking he had made himself very clear.


    With a smack, he slapped him across the face.


    Five finger prints were imprinted on the red-haired cockatoo''s face.


    "Do you understand now?"


    From a distance, Dong Ran watched with her heart pounding. Had Tang gone mad?


    "Looking for death!"


    The cockatoo roared angrily, beckoning with his hand, and the thin tall guy and the tattooed man swung their fists, smashing them directly into Tang Xian''s head.


    What followed was essentially a one-sided beating of Tang Xian. The three of them completely surrounded Tang Xian, venting their anger at will.


    Dong Ran''s eyes widened, wanting to help but recalling Tang Xian''s instructions. She was burning with anxiety, uncertain of what to do.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    As the fists hit his body, Tang Xian felt like his bones were about to break.


    Severe pain spread across his body, and those three didn''t hold back at all, attacking as if they were aiming to kill.


    The cockatoo, in particular, kept violently kicking Tang Xian in the abdomen, as if wanting to break his bones.


    Crouched in the corner, Tang Xian protected his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His expression was hidden by his hands, so no one saw... he was smiling.


    The pain was real, and so was the smile on his lips.


    The messages coming from his sea of consciousness assured Tang Xian that he had bet correctly.


    Although somewhat reckless, asking Dong Ran to do this would have been better, but it was less efficient. Getting beaten by one person was never as fast as by three.


    [Successfully resisted ordinary human attack]


    [Obtained 1 point of human resistance]


    [Successfully resisted ordinary human attack]


    [Obtained 1 point of human resistance]


    [Successfully resisted ordinary human attack]


    [Obtained 1 point of human resistance]


    ¡­


    The continual appearance of these phrases in his sea of consciousness gave Tang Xian the strange illusion that getting hit felt rather good. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    His last trip to the mining area had left Tang Xian with many unanswered questions.


    For instance, in the eyes of the various boss creatures, he seemed like an extremely powerful entity.


    And then there were those odd messages that emerged in his sea of consciousness.


    The mining area could activate a human''s potential, turning them into individuals with special talents.


    But once you left the mining area, those talents would disappear along with it.


    However, that wasn''t the case for Tang Xian. Ever since he had entered the mining area and taken part in the Trial of the Chosen, he had never mentioned this fact to anyone.


    His talent didn''t vanish upon leaving the mining area and returning to reality.


    On the day he fought the hellhound, Tang Xian believed that his combat abilities had awakened. This ability seemed to be of a growth type.


    It required the accumulation of experience points. In short, to increase damage, he needed to keep attacking, and to increase resistance, he needed to keep getting hit.


    Based on his own characteristics, he wanted to know if this combat ability was also effective outside of the mining area.


    Now he had his answer.


    His resistance against humans was continuously increasing. Naturally, his sense of pain was also diminishing.


    Dong Ran looked at Brother Tang, worried because a normal person would be dead or crippled after such a beating. She decided to ignore Tang Xian''s instructions and rushed in.


    But at that moment, Tang Xian suddenly stood up.


    He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the three gasping men with some regret, saying:


    "Please don''t stop."


    Smack! He finished speaking and delivered another slap to the cockatoo''s face.

 Chapter 36: Chapter 27: The Bane of Humanity

    The turn of events unfolded as such, Dong Ran had always thought that Tang was a smart man, just a bit odd. But now it seemed that it was not mere eccentricity, but some sort of bizarre hobby.She couldn''t comprehend the idea of someone actively asking to be beaten.


    It''s true that in the real world there were some with agile skills or robust physiques, but they ultimately couldn''t compare to the gifted ones who entered the mining area.


    Dong Ran was certain that Tang''s body indeed had no talent, at least physically; he was simply a healthy ordinary person.


    An ordinary person, beaten viciously by three strong hooligans for several minutes, should at least be severely injured¡ªthe thought was absurd to Dong Ran. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It appeared... that Tang wasn''t hurt?


    It seemed that these people couldn''t actually harm Tang?


    Perhaps it was Tang Xian''s overly mocking expression. Combined with another slap filled with resentment, the three felt something was off but still kept up their front and resumed kicking and punching Tang Xian.


    One minute later, Tang Xian felt they were running out of steam, so he gave them another slap.


    Three minutes later, Tang Xian was sure their strength was really declining, and with heartfelt sorrow, he told them they should exercise more regularly.


    Five minutes later, the three hooligans began to contemplate life: why was it that the one being beaten wasn''t tired and even seemed to be getting stronger, while they, the beaters, were growing weary?


    After ten minutes, gasping for breath, with eyes wide open and looking at Tang Xian as if he were a monster, they said,


    "Big... Brother, we quit... you... you, huh, find someone else to hit you."


    The leader couldn''t take it anymore.


    He didn''t care about causing death at the bottom rung of society. So every punch and every kick was delivered with lethal intent,


    Although most of the time Tang Xian was a civilized person, when it came to fighting, he understood the feeling.


    "Adrenaline can give a person an endless burst of strength in the first few humiliating minutes, but it will hasten the drain on one''s physical energy. Many times, one doesn''t feel it during the fight, but as soon as they stop, the fatigue hits immediately. It''s like the saying, ''first use all your might, then decline and finally become exhausted.'' Fighting and brawling are the same."


    "So you can''t stop, otherwise, if you want to move again later, you''ll have no strength left."


    Tang Xian encouraged them as he looked on.


    Looking as though they had seen a ghost, the three said nothing further and took to their heels.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    Initially, his resistance grew with every punch, but later it took several punches for a slight increase, making the efficiency much lower. However, today''s harvest was not bad, at least proving that this method was feasible.


    "Let''s go. We''ll head to the antiques dealer. After buying a pot, I''ll make you shrimp and crab-flavored mushroom soup tonight."


    Tang Xian turned around as if nothing had happened.


    Dong Ran was also gradually getting used to Tang''s company. He would usually explain what she didn''t understand, but if he chose not to, she didn''t bother to ask.


    She didn''t know what shrimp and crab-flavored mushroom soup was, but she was sure it would be delicious if Tang was making it.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian was efficient in his work.


    The owner of the antique shop also liked doing business with Tang Xian, because he never haggled.


    The owner''s name was Luo, nicknamed Six Eyes, alluding to the ability to see in all directions.


    Mostly poor people lived at the Pyramid''s bottom layer, and those with money would choose to live on the second layer. Luo was different; he was truly wealthy, but he fancied the murky air of the bottom layer.


    Tang Xian was a customer he liked. Although Tang never haggled, he always could determine the minimum acceptable price, so there was no need for a lot of talk and waste of breath.


    "Cantonese cooking pot, originating from Yangcheng, it''s an early model; noisy and time-consuming, but the flavor is authentic, and it has a variety of uses," said Luo as he eyed Tang Xian.


    "Name your price."


    "Three purple organic ores."


    Tang Xian nodded his head.


    Luo''s current honesty level was 57. After completing a straightforward deal, Tang Xian even gave him an extra piece.


    "Four pieces¡ªI''ll take the pot. And if you come across any pots from Yan Jing, keep an eye out for me too," said Tang Xian.


    "Oh, making big moves, are we? All right, I''ll have someone look into it for you. Next time you''re back at the bottom layer, I''ll let you know the news."


    Six Eyes had good eyesight. He could tell that Tang Xian had improved his position, and the young lady behind him, although delicate in appearance, was definitely not an ordinary girl.


    With such grace, if she were too ordinary, she would only serve as a commodity at the bottom layer.


    He had always thought there was more to Tang Xian, and now he was even more certain.


    "By the way, any news on those books I wanted?"


    "It''s hard to complete the Twenty-Four Histories. ''Book of Liang,'' ''Book of the Later Han,'' and ''Book of Jin'' are indeed hard to find. But we got a new batch of ancient records from the 21st century, the two-hundred-billion tweets preserved electronically in the great library by the state; do you want those?"


    "That works. Just tell me the price."


    "Most of it is empty talk, with little valuable content, five blue ores will do."


    Tang Xian paid promptly.


    Sustenance for the mind couldn''t compare with real gourmet food; he was always pragmatic. But Tang Xian was indeed very interested in the affairs of bygone eras.


    What interested him most was the twenty-first century, followed by the more remote five thousand years of history.


    In the mining district, one fought against beasts, but Tang Xian had a premonition that he would also fight many people in the future.


    Having these historical readings would help him avoid some detours.

 Chapter 37: Chapter 27: The Bane of Humanity_2

    ......


    Having purchased all that he wanted to buy, Tang Xian, accompanied by Dong Ran, returned to his residence and began to make preparations for dinner.


    Dong Ran watched Tang Xian bustling in and out, somewhat lost in thought.


    This man was really strange.


    Pyramid was brimming with talent, and there were plenty of gifted individuals in the mining area as well.


    Among those who had proposed to the Second Miss, there were chosen ones with various talents. Some held high positions and possessed wealth beyond imagination.


    Although Tang was evidently weak, Dong Ran felt that he was very powerful.


    An indescribable kind of powerful.


    The food was ready quickly. After serving the delicious Pipi shrimp crab-flavored mushroom soup, Tang Xian didn''t bother with formalities and simply served himself a bowl.


    As he savored the food, he felt that the cost of the mineflowers was well worth it. He considered himself to have a modest savings by now.


    Dong Ran also drank the soup eagerly. Perhaps the greatest benefit of being with Tang Xian was the chance to enjoy delicacies outside of the nutritious meals.


    "Tang, what are we going to do next?"


    Dong Ran was curious whether Tang Xian was going to hunt the Hellhound for Jiang Ming next.


    "Next, I will teach you a dance," Tang Xian replied.


    "Dance?"


    "Yes, you need to learn it well. People who are agile will look good when they dance it."


    Dong Ran did not understand. Could dancing be helpful for hunting in the mining area?


    She looked at Tang Xian doubtfully, and he said:


    "Dancing is an interesting activity, you''ll like it. Before you learn this dance, you cannot follow me into the mining area."


    "Why?"


    "I have some private matters to attend to in the mining area."


    Dong Ran did not ask any more questions.


    It was pointless to inquire about private matters, but she couldn''t help asking worriedly:


    "Will it be dangerous?"


    "Not sure, but I''ve already withstood the most dangerous encounter. There shouldn''t be any danger. Anyway, practice the dance steps I will teach you later during the time I''m not back."


    "Is this dance useful for anything?"


    "Enhancing the bust and lifting the buttocks."


    "..."


    The delicious pipi shrimps were quickly finished.


    This time Dong Ran was responsible for washing the dishes.


    Tang Xian sat quietly on the bed, planning his next moves.


    He fetched some paper and a pen.


    He intended to draw out the dance steps he had thought of¡ªthough he called them dance steps, they were actually designed to deal with the creatures in the mining area.


    For some of the longer-bodied creatures, turning around was a trouble.


    It was a task as laborious as turning around a train.


    If the steps were designed properly and guided accordingly, these creatures would be easy to deal with.


    Why not practice it himself? The answer was obvious.


    Tang Xian soon finished drawing.


    After folding the drawing paper, he handed it to Dong Ran. He instructed her about certain precautions, then sent her off.


    ...


    ...


    The time was nine o''clock at night.


    The temporary workers from the lower levels had already returned from the newbie village by this time, and the night was when the lower levels were at their liveliest.


    Without the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid from Shang Lu, Tang Xian couldn''t proceed to the mining area to deal with Qing JiuYu.


    Tang Xian planned to complete the task he had not finished during the day¡ªgetting beaten up.


    Decay Street might not have everything, but there was absolutely no shortage of hoodlums and ruffians. Three years ago, Bai Ling came here and nearly fell for a trap.


    Data about many people flickered through Tang Xian''s eyes; most of those on Decay Street had a criminal record. He planned to pick the person with the nastiest character to practice with.


    The guild system was one structure that, no matter how human civilization changed, was always retained.


    From the higher echelons with various councils, to the lower levels with all sorts of factions or family clans.


    One of the most troublesome for the security officers of the lower levels was the Xiang Family.


    Unlike other organizations like the Black Tiger Gang or the Triad, "Xiang Family" sounded like a single-family clan. But only a few core members had the surname Xiang; the people underneath were not of the same blood or surname. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These people originally came from Fortress No. 36, a place that had once experienced some turmoil, during which many prisoners were sent to the prison of Fortress No. 39.


    A few years later, after serving their sentences, they took up mining in the bottom levels of Fortress No. 39.


    They were all ruthless characters, the kind who fought with no regard for their own lives.


    The businesses on Decay Street were mostly backed by the higher-ups, but the largest gambling den here was opened by the Xiang Family. In fact, it received secret funding as well.


    Tang Xian knew who the people behind the scenes were; for him, the lower levels held no secrets.


    In the past, he always avoided provoking these people, preferring to keep a low profile.


    Today, he was also keeping a low profile, wearing a mask and a hat.


    He walked into the gambling den and, without hesitation, repeated what he had done during the day.


    The crisp sound of a slap echoed.


    In the noisy gambling den, one wouldn''t hear such the sound of a slap meeting a cheek with such gusto.


    But it could be seen.


    Everyone saw a tall, slender man with scholarly features slap the face of the gambling den''s boss, Xiang Peng.


    Slap!


    The first sound was drowned out by the shouts of the gamblers.


    Slap!


    By the second sound, the gambling den had quieted down significantly, and people began to look towards Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian kicked a security guard aside and grabbed Xiang Peng by the collar.


    Slap!


    This time, in the silent gambling den, everyone heard the clear sound of the slap.


    All mouths hung open, imagining what would come next. This young man, who didn''t know any better and was causing trouble in the Xiang Family''s territory, certainly wouldn''t be able to leave alive.


    Tang Xian didn''t care as he held Xiang Peng by the collar, slapping him furiously.


    Xiang Peng bore no grudge against him. If anything, although he had brought ruin to many gamblers and their families, it takes two to tango.


    After all, nobody forced the gamblers at knife-point to place their bets.


    "This is my first time smashing up a place, so I might be a little inexperienced. I hope you won''t see me as a newcomer and will treat me just as you would anyone else," he said.


    Tang Xian''s tone was sincere, but paired with Xiang Peng''s face, swollen like a pig''s head, it seemed highly sarcastic.


    But the crowd did not rush forward.


    After a half-second pause, Tang Xian suddenly remembered he was using Xiang Peng as a shield. Who ever heard of someone getting beaten while holding a hostage? With a slight sense of regret, he tossed Xiang Peng into the crowd.


    "My apologies for the oversight."


    Sure enough, a few seconds later, the furious roars of Xiang Peng could be heard.


    A group of thugs also raised various steel clubs, starting to rush madly towards Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was swiftly brought down by the surging crowd.


    He didn''t know how much human resistance he had accumulated during the day, but now, as steel rods as thick as wine glasses struck his body, he didn''t feel much. He could only feel the weight of the rods themselves, as if the force exerted by the person swinging them had been completely nullified.


    Fortunately, in his mind''s eye, phrases like ¡ª[Successfully resisted a normal human attack][Acquired 1 point of human resistance]still popped up, so Tang Xian didn''t mind it much.


    Guarding his face, he found a comfortable seat and waited for the storm to hit.


    ...


    ...


    Time ticked away, second by second.


    Tang Xian didn''t count the time, but it must have been quite a while.


    So long that the group of people looked at him with exhausted eyes as if he were a monster.


    Fortunately, at that time, a message appeared in his mind:


    [Human resistance has reached its maximum value, humans will no longer be able to cause any effective damage to you]


    [Human resistance has reached the maximum value, unlocking the achievement: Nemesis of Thousands]


    [Nemesis of Thousands: Immune to damage from human units, and any damage taken from human units will not exceed 30% of the maximum health value.]


    Tang Xian''s response was indifferent, with only a slight sense of confusion.


    He could still feel the sensation of the steel rods and clubs hitting him, the force originating from humans completely dissipated upon impact.


    Swinging blades, rods, and clubs required strength, and with that thought, Tang Xian understood the last sentence in the footnote of Nemesis of Thousands.


    Cold weapons and fists would be unable to harm him, but heat weapons that didn''t rely on human strength could still cause effective damage. It just couldn''t instantly kill him; at most, it would inflict 30% damage to his health value.


    In simple terms, even if he were bombed with a rocket launcher, theoretically, it would take four shots to kill him.


    "Why do I feel like I''m the arch-enemy boss who specifically conquers humans?" he wondered.


    Despite the complaint, Tang Xian was very satisfied with the day''s outcome. With genuine gratitude, he looked at the bewildered thugs in the gambling den and thanked them sincerely:


    "Next, I will pick a few lucky audience members to accompany me in the next test."

 Chapter 38: Chapter 28: The No-Loss Deal

    When the casino''s bouncers were panting from exhaustion, Tang Xian picked out a few and proceeded to give them a vicious beating.He deliberately chose those with lower values of good and evil; it didn''t matter if they were greedy or lustful¡ªeveryone should have greeds and desires. However, his experience taught him that the lower the value of good and evil, the more ruthless they were when it came to acquiring wealth.


    The simple customs of the lower class could not tolerate such scum contaminating the environment.


    Well, all that was nonsense.


    Tang Xian supported justice, but rarely took the initiative to enforce it. This time, his motive was simply to test another ability.


    [Successfully inflicted harm on a human unit, increased damage against human units by one point.]


    [Successfully inflicted harm on a human unit, increased damage against human units by one point.]


    ...


    The delightful prompts in his sea of consciousness made it impossible for Tang Xian''s limbs to stop moving. He knew that fighting was all about momentum, but he didn''t have much of it when he fought.


    Calculating the minimum force necessary for each strike, Tang Xian mechanically repeated the process with such calibrated force.


    Previously, Tang Xian couldn''t understand why people from the 21st century enjoyed playing games with high repetitiveness.


    Now, he understood. Whether the process was boring didn''t matter; what mattered was getting stronger.


    No one dared to approach Tang Xian anymore. A person who could withstand a beating with steel rods from dozens and still be fine as if nothing happened was someone they had only seen among the regular workers in the mines.


    Cupping his swollen face, Xiang Peng said, "May I ask which brother you are from? You''ve caused enough trouble for today, so perhaps leave some room for maneuver..."


    Tang Xian touched his cap. Indeed, during the fray, several had tried to remove his cap and mask, but he had kicked them all away.


    Confident he had not been exposed, he replied,


    "We won''t meet again. Since I declared I came to smash the place, I must keep my word."


    Ignoring Xiang Peng, Tang Xian continued to pound away with his fists at the man he held.


    Leveling up was a monotonous task, and overcoming monotony required focus.


    "Anyone else who talks or makes a fuss gets hit next."


    With that, no one else moved or dared to speak. Tang Xian enjoyed the quiet and concentrated on swinging his fists.


    After what felt like an anaerobic workout of several dozen minutes, and having switched his punching bag about seven or eight times, Tang Xian finally stopped.


    [Successfully inflicted harm on a human unit, increased damage against human units by one point.]


    [Cumulative damage against human units exceeded one thousand points, unlocking the achievement: Unrivaled.]


    [Unrivaled: When attacking human units, an additional real damage worth ten percent of the target''s maximum health is inflicted.]


    That should do it.


    Now he was truly the nemesis of humankind.


    If one day he stood opposed to humankind, he might rank as a calamitous-level boss in terms of threat level, right?


    Tang Xian refrained from further fighting; he was precise with his blows, but with the achievement of Unrivaled unlocked, continuing the fight could actually lead to fatalities.


    After dusting off his hands, Tang Xian symbolically flipped over a couple of tables.


    That was his way of fulfilling the promise to smash the place, and under the watchful eyes of Xiang Peng and the bouncers, he left openly and unabashedly.


    Before leaving, Tang Xian glanced at Xiang Peng.


    [Current demand: Send someone to track down the troublemaker (51%).]


    "I''m giving you a friendly piece of advice: don''t send anyone to follow me. The guy on your left has been messing around with your wife. You''d be better off worrying about whether your wife has been recently eager to go play mahjong instead of dealing with someone like me who you can''t touch."


    Tang Xian walked away.


    Xiang Peng turned to look at his trusted aide to the left, his eyes widening.


    ...


    ...


    Labor is glorious.


    Tang Xian worked hard tonight and slept soundly.


    When he got up the next day, it was already noon.


    Opening the door, he planned to stroll around Decay Street to check on the aftermath of yesterday''s events. However, Shang Lu had been waiting at the door for quite some time.


    Shang Lu still looked unkempt, nowhere near what you would expect from a wealthy person on the fourth level, holding a bulging prop bag in his hand.


    "Why didn''t you knock?"


    "I did. No response," Shang Lu replied.


    "So you just waited?"


    "I thought you had gone to the mining district. Figured I''d wait a while."


    "If I had gone to the mining district, you might have had to wait for seven days."


    "Seven days? Xian, humans can''t survive in the mining district for seven days."


    "Never tried, planning to see." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian felt he was becoming less and less like a human as time passed, but had no real basis for this feeling.


    Changing the subject, he said,


    "Have you completed the flower I wanted?"


    "Yes, here it is. This is a replica of the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid. Although the pattern and veins are slightly different, the scent is the same. I kept one mother flower for myself; the rest is all yours," Shang Lu said proudly.


    Tang Xian was also very satisfied and added,


    "You''re more efficient than I thought. I''ll go to the mining district for the trade this afternoon."


    "Alright, call me if you have more work like this."


    "Will do. If all goes well, you should apply for the patent on this technology in a week''s time. However, I hope you keep this matter confidential."


    "Don''t worry about it." Shang Lu still didn''t understand what exactly the deal Tang Xian was making and with whom, but he trusted him.


    Pattting Shang Lu on the shoulder, Tang Xian suggested, "You should still tidy up a bit in the future. A handsome guy like you¡ª24 years old, you should consider settling down and establishing a family."


    Shang Lu just laughed sheepishly and didn''t continue the conversation.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian didn''t revisit Decay Street. Now that he had the most crucial prop, he could make the trade with Qing JiuYu ahead of time.


    Opening the transportation rift, Tang Xian returned to the mining district.


    The forest of trees.

 Chapter 39: Chapter 28: The No-Loss Deal_2

    Travelers heading to the mining area could choose from several teleportation stations, which were mostly established in relatively safe regions.They could also choose to teleport directly back to the last place they left from. However, this memory was retained only once.


    Now, the tree sea had become a red zone due to Qing JiuYu''s appearance. Tang Xian guessed that if he didn''t take action himself, the Hell Flame Wolf that Jiang Ming was concerned about might never be killed by anyone.


    The Biphasic Orchid could only be found at the edge of the tree sea, so Tang Xian did not rush to venture deep into it.


    Although he was considered a real boss-level existence to the human factions, he was still quite weak compared to the creatures of the mining area.


    He had taken only a few steps when he stopped.


    [Calamity-level boss Jiuye Fox has learned your location through sharing, sharing time remaining: 5 days, 21 hours, 19 minutes, 44 seconds]


    Tang Xian frowned.


    This was what Qing JiuYu had done to him last time, but he didn''t know what the implications of it were.


    Because right after that he had left the mining area.


    Now that he thought about it, as long as he was in the mining area, Qing JiuYu would probably know his whereabouts for nearly the next six days.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    Dong Ran was now a member of his team, codenamed Tang, and as the team leader, it was natural for him to help rectify the mistakes made by his team members. So he didn''t mind.


    [You have learned the location of the Jiuye Fox, Qing JiuYu]


    At this moment, a certain image came into his mind through his sea of consciousness.


    It was at the edge of the tree sea, relatively far from the fox''s lair, but the Jiuye Fox moved very quickly. In Tang Xian''s sea of consciousness, there was a map.


    A red dot was approaching him at high speed.


    At this rate, Qing JiuYu would be close to him in less than ten minutes.


    Tang Xian slowed his pace.


    Before long, he smelled a faint fragrance.


    After a while, the owner of the scent appeared in his line of sight.


    "It''s really strange, I couldn''t sense you with my Soul Crystal the day before yesterday. You were like you had disappeared from this world."


    Qing JiuYu was very puzzled, as this had never happened before.


    Tang Xian figured out what the situation was and improvised an excuse,


    "I went to a very special place and picked a few Biphasic Orchids for you."


    Qing JiuYu''s eyes instantly lit up.


    Tang Xian opened his item bag.


    "This seems to be something humans use."


    "Humans are smart. They''ve invented many useful things, which we should learn from."


    Qing JiuYu nodded, finding the statement logical.


    Tang Xian took out three Biphasic Orchids.


    Qing JiuYu covered her lips. Despite being prepared, she was still overjoyed at the sight of the three Biphasic Orchids.


    Tang Xian had to admit that the evaluation of her charm as devastatingly enchanting was very fitting. The woman''s every grimace and smile carried an immense seductive power.


    "How did you obtain these?"


    "Like I said, it was a rather special place. I can''t tell you."


    "Hmph, stingy."


    Qing JiuYu happily took the Biphasic Orchids.


    "Alright, your pet... oh, no, your underling''s killing of my clan member can be considered squared away."


    It wasn''t that the life of a clan member was worthless, but that Biphasic Orchids were too rare in this world. Otherwise, Qing JiuYu wouldn''t appear here when the flowers blossomed.


    "But you still have to do what you promised me. It''s not been a week yet; I''ll tell you when the time comes."


    Women tend to be coy, expecting men to be persistent. But the thinking of the fox clan and the humans was different.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu, with the sincerity rating system evaluating her as: her word was as good as gold. Therefore, he didn''t ask further and nodded in agreement.


    He didn''t want to work for free, but this was an opportunity to penetrate the "upper tier" of the mining area.


    However, Tang Xian still wanted to strive for some legitimate rights.


    "This Biphasic Orchid, I actually know of a few other places where it can be found. I can get some more for you."


    "Really?"


    Women love flowers, especially those that are etched into their genetic memories. It''s probably the same reason cats love fish snacks.


    "Yeah, I keep my word, and you should have realized that by now." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing JiuYu nodded.


    At first, when Tang Xian boasted about finding three Biphasic Orchids of Jiuye, Dong Ran was skeptical.


    But Tang Xian was highly efficient, and Qing JiuYu''s impression of him improved significantly.


    Tang Xian also noticed that Qing JiuYu''s favorability towards him had risen to 45, described as "heart-racing."


    Giving flowers to a woman really can boost the relationship.


    Taking advantage of the moment, he said,


    "If you like other flowers as well, I can help you get them."


    "You''re a person who talks about interests, what do you want me to do?" Qing JiuYu was calm.


    "Occasionally I purely want to help people out of sentimentality, especially beautiful women."


    "Heh, you have a way with words. But I don''t like owing others."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    Continuing with pleasantries was the style of humans. Facing a fox with such high candor, Tang Xian said,


    "Has a Hellhound with three heads recently come to the Forest Sea?"


    "That''s right. It''s quite large and seems to be in an evolutionary phase. It may enter the next stage after a while."


    Tang Xian''s pupils contracted.


    An evolutionary phase?


    Indeed, in Steven''s "New Mine Area Evolution Theory," it is mentioned that the evolutionary cycles of mine area creatures are much shorter than earth creatures.


    But this requires some luck, probably related to Soul Crystals. Most creatures do not evolve until their death. A select few, however, can evolve into the next form of their kind.


    "Hell Flame Wolf?" Tang Xian said.


    Among canine creatures, there are not many existences above the elite level boss. The perfect level creature Hell Flame Wolf is one of them.


    "Yes. It''s been in the mine area for a while and has been quite well-behaved. What about it? Did it offend you? If you want to kill it, I don''t mind."


    Tang Xian nodded, thinking that he was pretending to be an entity capable of standing on equal footing with a calamity-level boss. Not to mention a Hellhound with three heads, even a Hell Flame Wolf would be as good as dead if he said so.


    "What about the Beast Court?"


    "As long as you''re discreet enough."


    "I tend to be rather heavy-handed in my actions, and I have some connections with the bone hyenas of the Red Soil Forest. When the Hellhound sees me, it might fight to the death, unavoidably leaving clues. Not all creatures in the Forest Sea recognize me; they won''t necessarily help me."


    Qing JiuYu watched Tang Xian with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Tang Xian didn''t beat around the bush.


    "Your kin hold a certain prestige here, not to mention you, and women are meticulous by nature, making few mistakes. Conveniently, it is not wary of you. In my hands are exactly two more Biphasic Orchids of Jiuye. Why shouldn''t we be good friends and solve each other''s needs?"


    "Tsk tsk, you speak just like a shrewd and cunning human, yet so straightforward. Okay, I agree."


    "It has one ear missing, and it''s also missing an eye. If possible, spare me the three heads, don''t burn them to nothing."


    When a calamity-level boss takes on an elite-level boss, Tang Xian didn''t even need to imagine it; the fight would surely be over in an instant. A breath of foxfire would leave nothing but ashes.


    He needed to make some requests.


    "Any other requests?"


    "Yes, it would be best to keep the belly intact as well."


    Qing JiuYu thought Tang Xian was amusing, curious about what he needed the head and belly for.


    Seeing the confusion, Tang Xian said,


    "Do you eat meat normally?"


    "Our fox clan has always eaten meat."


    "That''s good, I love meat too. It''s just that my way of eating it differs from yours."


    Then Qing JiuYu understood.


    "I will disappear for another two days. Next time I see you, I''ll bring the Biphasic Orchids you need. If there''s any other plant you like, feel free to tell me as well."


    Qing JiuYu nodded, replying, "Wait a few days, and I''ll come to you, bringing what you want."


    The deal was struck.


    Having a calamity-level boss work for you naturally saves effort.


    Latter on, Qing JiuYu chatted casually with Tang Xian about personal preferences, and he managed to learn some things.


    For example, the fox clan actually likes Portugese Lilies, the Nvwa Snake that''s in conflict likes White Mulberry best, and Qing JiuYu herself is quite fond of shiny objects.


    Mostly he knew already.


    But for an entity like Qing JiuYu capable of assuming a human form, there ought to be a few private likes. Pleasing Qing JiuYu became a higher priority than the next plan.


    Tang Xian did some calculations, seeing it as a deal that couldn''t lose.


    The leg of a calamity-level boss was outstretched; it would be a mistake not to cling to it, wouldn''t it?

 Chapter 40: Chapter 29: Translator

    As evening approached, Tang Xian had gathered enough redline grass and once again built a nest atop the Hundred-Handed Wood.He didn''t need to return to the mining district for the time being. Dong Ran''s dance steps still required practice, and he also had to patiently wait for Qing JiuYu to bring the things he wanted.


    And for Qing JiuYu to reveal what they wanted him to do.


    Tang Xian had some guesses. The conflict between the fox and snake tribes must be at a critical phase, and coincidentally, something significant had happened among the foxes.


    Without any clues, guessing blindly was a foolish endeavor. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The evening breeze was gentle. After scattering redline grass on the tent and the branches of the Hundred-Handed Wood, Tang Xian sat leisurely inside, breathing the cleanest air.


    Having an enhanced sense of smell was a perk, allowing him to detect scents from far away. By these scents, he could deduce what was happening around him, which was quite an interesting thing for Tang Xian.


    At least it made passing the time very convenient.


    The forest sea was different from the real world.


    Outside the Pyramid, the Earth used to be magnificent. But now the deserts had expanded, the oceans turned murky, and most of the surviving sea life was from thousands of kilometers beneath the sea.


    Some had even mutated. As for land creatures... Tang Xian wasn''t even sure if there were any left.


    Cities had turned to ruins, and the radiation left by wars was extremely lethal.


    In short, from the survival education Tang Xian and everyone else had received since childhood, the world outside the Pyramid had been thoroughly exhausted by humanity.


    It was an environment completely inhospitable to humans.


    It was said that many death row inmates were not executed but simply exiled outside the Pyramid, where they would die within a few hours.


    The mechanical Pyramids were humanity''s last refuge.


    If one could survive in the mining district for over seven days, humans would consider migrating there.


    Tang Xian really wanted to try, to see if he could last seven days in the mining district. He was indeed making the attempt, and today marked the first day.


    Shang Lu had given him quite a few Jiuye Biphasic Orchids. He had only given three to Qing JiuYu; the rest were bargaining chips. If anything happened in the next five days, he could at least use location sharing to ask for Qing JiuYu''s assistance.


    Although the forest sea was currently a red zone, Qing JiuYu was the reason for it becoming so. Although uncertain if the favorability described by "Heart Throb" was precise, his current relationship with Qing JiuYu should be friendly.


    Getting through these days safely wasn''t an exaggerated expectation.


    Interestingly, there were numerous cases in survival education where people died after staying in the mining district for seven days. The impression of the mining district for everyone was that it was difficult to survive in, not due to the environment itself, but because of the ferocity of its various unknown creatures.


    Tang Xian''s thoughts differed; he found the mining district more comfortable than staying in the Pyramid.


    Recalling certain special aspects about himself, he sometimes wondered if he had mutated.


    Many parents joked with their children, "You were picked up from the mining district by your mom and dad."


    Tang Xian''s parents had said such things too.


    He naturally didn''t take it literally, but he indeed couldn''t remember anything from before he was two or three years old.


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian laughed at himself mockingly.


    HIs thoughts had wandered too far.


    He indeed had a series of plans, like building a house in the mining district. Then establishing a private teleportation station.


    Right here in the forest sea, as long as he kept good relations with that group of foxes, he could likely become the first human in history to live in the mining district.


    But all this could only happen if he managed to stay in the mining district for seven days.


    ...


    ...


    Seven days weren''t a long time.


    Pyramid Fortress No. 39 was busier than usual during these days.


    There was a new debt to handle on Jiang Ming''s bill.


    Currently on the fourth floor, in his office, he opened his inbox and discovered that not long ago, a hellhound with three heads was hunted down by a team called Shengtang.


    As a person with a high credit rating, especially someone within the system and though Jiang Ming was young, he could enjoy the privilege of posting jobs and only paying once the task was completed, just like many entrepreneurs.


    He paid the bill promptly and became curious about the team named Shengtang.


    Using the convenience of his position, Jiang Ming checked and discovered that this team was actually affiliated with the military.


    And it had been established for only two days. The team went from the bottom of the rankings to soaring past two hundred places.


    "What kind of codenames are these? Tang, Tang, Tang Wudi... Even soldiers are getting less and less serious these days," he scoffed, shaking his head with a smile.


    Many teams were like this, luckily hunting down powerful creatures and shooting up the ranks overnight.


    But such luck, if had once in a lifetime, would already signify an extraordinary life. Many teams had experienced such sudden rises in rank, and afterward, they would simply be surpassed by other teams.


    Jiang Ming didn''t think too much of it.


    Soon, the Hunting Festival would commence.


    Teams of hunters from around the world would gather at Fortress No. 39, in the grand arena on the third floor, a grand event where hunters from all nations could exchange experiences and compete against one another.


    He was actually looking forward to seeing this Shengtang team.


    After paying the bill, Jiang Ming glanced at his mission.


    "[Hunt the hellhound with three heads in the forest sea, bounty price, one hundred pieces of standard purple organic ore. Pending completion.]"


    Jiang Ming looked on with a hint of resignation.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 29: Interpreter_2

    ```This task had cost him dearly, as he poured all his years of savings into it, not for anything else, but just to seek revenge for his fallen comrades.


    But just two days ago, the military elite, the high ranks of the Li family, released news that a calamity-level creature existed in the Tree Sea, and it was a boss-level entity.


    The Tree Sea was then marked as a red zone.


    Jiang Ming was certain that he probably wouldn''t be able to avenge his comrade. Hunters competed for rankings to gain fame and fortune. However, the mightier the hunter, the less likely they were to approach dangerous areas.


    They were all elites focused on survival, and the strongest knowledge for staying alive wasn''t various hunting skills, but three words: Don''t seek death.


    "Forget it, I''ve done all I could."


    Letting go of the thought, Jiang Ming began to deal with other matters.


    As a civil servant, his primary responsibility was the review of temporary worker''s permanent employment applications.


    For this reason, he would often conduct inspections at the lower levels. He went down there just yesterday.


    The lower levels are now in chaos, and it seems like the nefarious organizations are undergoing a major power reshuffle.


    Jiang Ming heard some news, some of which carried the exaggerated flair of wuxia novels.


    For example, the biggest foreign power in the lower levels, the Xiang Family, had their most profitable casino smashed by a lone individual.


    It is said that the person wore a hat and mask, making it difficult to see their true face, but they had mastered the long-lost Vajra Invulnerability Skill of the martial world.


    Jiang Ming also heard about it from his secretary Liu and found it somewhat amusing.


    But the troublesome power of the Xiang Family, these past two days have been quite eventful for them.


    The third in command, Xiang Peng''s wife had an affair, and the lover turned out to be Xiang Peng''s confidant. The investigation also revealed the true identity of this confidant, who was actually a hall master from another power, the Six Element Society.


    Decay Street has been a complete mess these days, but for the law enforcement of the lower levels, it''s actually a good thing.


    The various forces of the lower levels fight and trip each other up, such as reporting someone for hiding ancient furnaces capable of producing addictive tobacco.


    This tobacco was extremely addictive. Long-term use made people listless and reduced the mining efficiency of temporary workers in the lower levels.


    All along, the higher-ups had been investigating in secret and had suspected targets but no evidence.


    After the conflict between the Xiang Family and the Six Element Society erupted, both sides began to puncture each other''s defenses, and evidence that law enforcement couldn''t find was actively being delivered to them.


    Consequently, many other forces were also uncovered in the process.


    With evidence in hand, the regular army could intervene, and for the merchants of the third, fourth, and even fifth levels, it was a good opportunity to take over the industries of Decay Street.


    Jiang Ming believed that in a few days, the forces of the lower levels would be quickly swept away. Even if there were remnants, they would be greatly weakened, and for a long time, there''d be no need to worry about the security of Decay Street.


    This matter even made it into today''s morning paper for Fortress No. 39.


    Jiang Ming had read it as well. According to second-level journalists, everything stemmed from a single sentence uttered by a masked person.


    Now, the Xiang Family was offering a high reward for this masked individual.


    ...


    ...


    In the mining zone, the Tree Sea.


    Five days had passed, and Tang Xian had been living quite comfortably these days. He had also encountered some of the zone''s wildlife on several occasions.


    A herbivorous animal from the Tree Sea, the Ironbark Giraffe.


    Ranked as an elite-level ordinary creature, it didn''t meet the boss standard, so Tang Xian couldn''t communicate with this type of animal.


    But looking at its long neck, he thought of a delicacy called duck neck.


    "What a pity, its skin is tough as ironbark, can''t bite through it."


    Tang Xian sighed and gave up the idea of planning against this creature, as herbivorous animals could be aggressive toward humans as well.


    In essence, to the animals of the mining zone, humans belonged to the chaotic evil alignment.


    But Tang Xian found it strange that he seemed to naturally radiate a kind and lawful aura.


    He noticed several times that the Ironbark Giraffe, upon seeing him, showed a joyful demeanor.


    Even though the creature couldn''t speak a human language, its likeability in the panel read [Delighted to Meet], and had Tang Xian not applied Red Line Grass, perhaps this three-meter-necked Ironbark Giraffe might have even made friendly gestures typical of the Deer Tribe.


    It wasn''t just the Ironbark Giraffe, but also the Spiked Pigs he encountered by the lake, which were among the weakest of the enhanced-level creatures. Of course, they were still ones Tang Xian couldn''t beat. These creatures were omnivores and extremely aggressive towards humans.


    When Tang Xian was fishing, he saw one as well. Its likeability wasn''t at [Delighted to Meet], but it showed no animosity whatsoever.


    After giving Tang Xian a couple of looks, it left.


    Tang Xian even felt that there probably would be no danger without the Red Line Grass. This feeling was very comforting.


    A sense of unity with heaven and earth, living in harmony with nature.


    But he never let his guard down.


    After all...


    He really wanted to eat these creatures.


    Roast them, steam them, saut¨¦ them, fry them, boil them.


    For most animals, so long as the meat wasn''t too tough and they couldn''t turn into humans, he thought they could be eaten in any way.


    The evolution of thousands of years of human civilization was so that we could have the right to eat meat. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, there were some creatures Tang Xian didn''t want to eat.


    Last time, Tang Xian found animal paw prints on his tent, and this time, he saw the creature itself.


    It was a Lyrebird.


    Somewhat similar to a parrot but a few sizes larger. Sitting on a human shoulder, it wouldn''t look out of place.


    Tang Xian was struck dumb.


    This was one of the least researched animals known to humans in the mining zone. It was only mentioned in the New Classic of Mountains and Seas.


    It possessed feathers of five colors, was extremely intelligent and understood the speech of hundreds of animals.


    ```

 Chapter 42: Chapter 29: Interpreter_3

    The rest included a bunch of descriptions, which Tang Xian immediately recognized as the origin of this bird."Good morning, human. Can you treat me to a grilled fish?"


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised that human words came out of the bird''s sharp beak.


    Unlike parrots, mynas are an enhanced existence; they speak not only human languages but also those of various beasts.


    "You catch a fish, and I might consider cooking it for you."


    "You catch a fish, and I might consider not telling that silly fox you''re human."


    The myna cocked its head and scrutinized Tang Xian from its perch on the tree branch.


    Tang Xian became interested.


    This bird actually had another name, the "Gossip Bird" or "Troublemaker Bird."


    They were proficient in various languages and loved stirring up trouble between creatures that couldn''t understand each other, given that miscommunication was inevitable.


    But if even a mosquito could be seen through, how much more a bird?


    Tang Xian also sized up the bird.


    Stats surfaced in his eyes.


    Gender: Male.


    Good-Evil Value: 29.


    Greed and Lust Index: 55.


    Favorability: 4 (strangers).


    Financial Assessment: 0 (penniless).


    Favorite Thing: Beautiful female bodies.


    Thing Hated: Cat-eared bats.


    Thing Feared: Cat-eared bats.


    Current Sincerity Level: 10 (blatantly honest).


    Charm Value: 17 (unremarkable).


    Current Luck Value: 19 (slightly unlucky).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Extort the human in front of me (35%)]


    [Curry favor with that fox (40%)]


    [Stir up trouble between the human and the fox (20%)]


    [Other (5%)]


    Tang Xian couldn''t help but laugh.


    Many people have unique ways of seeking help, often using methods of blackmail and extortion to ask for it.


    Luckily, Tang saw himself as someone happy to lend a hand; he loved being extorted the most.


    It just so happened that he needed a translator in the mines, and here someone provided himself for the job.


    "Actually, I also detest cat-eared bats."


    The myna made a "Gaw!" in surprise, uttering its natural call. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How did this human know it hated cat-eared bats?


    "Those creatures are bloodthirsty, not to mention they have ears just like cats. For someone like me who naturally loves petting cats, it''s downright disgusting. At the age of fourteen, I came across information about these creatures, and it almost made me quit my habit of petting cats."


    "Yes, yes, they''re so annoying. Ah, but wait, don''t change the subject, you crafty human."


    "But cat-eared bats taste really good, did you know? Their wings are stronger than those of regular bats, and there''s more meat on them. The flesh is tender, and whether you have it in a hot pot or fried with some hot sauce, it''s incredibly delicious."


    The myna''s head lifted slightly, as if it was swallowing saliva.


    "You surely want to eat cat-eared bats too, right? They live in the same places as you do, mostly in deep mountains or tree holes, and they often bully you, don''t they? If you couldn''t speak their language and constantly flatter them against your will, you might already be dead, right?"


    "Gaw!"


    Could this human tell fortunes?


    "It''s horrible, but sadly you don''t know how to deal with cat-eared bats, but I do. Think about it, why would a nine-tailed fox choose to get close to a human like me? I know a lot of things, not just how to cook cat-eared bats, but also what they''re afraid of."


    "All you have to do now is catch a fish for me, and I won''t just treat you to grilled fish, I''ll also tell you how to deal with cat-eared bats."


    The myna''s eyes swiveled.


    "Deal, a deal." With two flaps of its wings, it flew towards the river.


    Watching the myna fly away, Tang Xian''s eyes gleamed with anticipation as he started to scheme.

 Chapter 43: Chapter 30: I Want to Ride You

    Tang Xian didn''t sabotage. He was a human who loved to protect little birds.Mockingbirds and cat-eared bats alike favored dry and cool places; they mostly nested in caves that were well-ventilated yet devoid of light.


    Cat-eared bats had a bloodthirsty nature; if the mockingbirds weren''t fluent in the language of the cat-eared bats, they would have a hard time surviving. These creatures had cat-like ears and a temperament somewhat similar to cats; they would toy with their prey just as a cat would "play" with a little mouse for a long time before finally killing it when they lost interest.


    Tang Xian liked cats, but he was always aware of the cruel wildness within them. The cat-eared bats were even worse.


    Mockingbirds shouldn''t have appeared in the Forest Ocean, so he could imagine how miserably one mockingbird could''ve been bullied by cat-eared bats to the point of being driven from home.


    The mockingbird returned quickly, efficiently catching a Green Phosphor Fish.


    After receiving the fish, Tang Xian began earnestly roasting the fish and plotting how to recruit this interpreter.


    "G¨¡ zh¨©, sly human, you should fulfill your promise!" the mockingbird urged Tang Xian.


    "I heard that mockingbirds can sense many illusions, some residual brainwaves from other creatures, which is why you can master various languages," Tang Xian said.


    "Yes, we are clever birds. We speak all kinds of languages," the mockingbird said, obviously proud.


    "That''s really nice. The fish needs a few more minutes to roast; let me first tell you how to deal with cat-eared bats. These creatures have better hearing than ordinary bats, but they are averse to light and basically cannot operate during the day. All you need is a fire to light up the place where they live. Their dwelling is dry and cool, easy to set afire.


    Being a neighbor, you should know this." Tang Xian said, looking at the fish while opening his prop bag. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mockingbird was initially overjoyed, then thought for a few seconds, and finally squawked angrily:


    "G¨¡ zh¨©! You deceitful human! You tricked me! How am I supposed to start a fire! If the fire starts, won''t my home be gone too?"


    "Hmm, so that method won''t work." Tang Xian did some calculations; the IQ of the mockingbird was probably slightly lower than that of an average human.


    Judging from the speed of reaction to the prank, it was roughly at the level of an IQ between 90 to 95.


    Plus, without human cunning, it actually scores less.


    In short, it was a silly bird. Of course, that was by Tang Xian''s standards.


    "I will tell that fox that you are an outsider human! You are like those who can vanish suddenly! You are an invader, g¨¡ zh¨©!" The mockingbird clearly hadn''t realized that the human in front of it¡ªwas really cunning.


    "Use your bird brain and think about it, when you incited other creatures in the Mining Continent, you relied on their inability to communicate. But I have no barrier in communicating with Qing JiuYu, and I''ve just given her the exceedingly precious Jiuye Biphasic Orchid. Do you think she will believe you or believe me?


    Life is short for a bird; why insist on antagonizing people you can''t afford to offend?"


    The mockingbird was stunned.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Afraid of light cat-eared bats don''t necessarily need to be dealt with by fire. There''s a type of fungus, called Glow Mushroom, very rare. Tonight, you can go and see it; it can make dark places as bright as day. Take these Glow Mushrooms during the night when cat-eared bats go out for activity and hunting, and spread them inside the caves; they won''t be able to return."


    "G¨¡! That''s how it is, that''s how it is!" the mockingbird was extremely overjoyed.


    "You should develop the good habit of listening before you speak. Do you know where the Glow Mushrooms are? Do you know how many there are? Know how to take them to where you live? If you pull them out directly, will they still glow?"


    The fish was ready, and Tang Xian gave the tail of the fish to the mockingbird.


    The mockingbird gaped; its bird brain was confused by the barrage of questions.


    "However, you don''t need to worry, fate arranged for you to come extort... ah no, seek help from me today. I''m a man happy to assist birds. Glow Mushroom grows at the bottom of YiSu Canyon, YiSu Canyon is south of the Forest Ocean. If you fly diligently, you can see them tonight; you can personally verify and see if they are as bright as I described."


    The mockingbird immediately became cheery again.


    "You are an honest human!"


    "Yes, my biggest flaw is honesty, soft-heartedness. So I still need to tell you honestly, there are only three to five Glow Mushrooms under YiSu Canyon and they are extremely rare. Probably, throughout the entire Mining Continent to the south, there are no more than ten plants.


    If you rely on your bird beak to take them back, let alone that they might not live at all, even if they could survive, how much can you take at a time? And even if you took them all... it is certain that three to five plants won''t light up much, you would just be bullied even worse."


    "G¨¡ zh¨©! What should I do, what should I do?" The mockingbird''s tiny head was filled with helplessness in an instant.


    "Fortunately, you met me, Tang Xian, today. Have you remembered my name? Say it, will you?"


    "Tang Xian, Tang Xian," the mockingbird repeated without realizing it had been completely following the other''s lead.


    Tang Xian couldn''t discern what the bird language sounded like, but he generously said:


    "I am very wealthy, I have enough Glow Mushrooms to illuminate a complete Forest Ocean. You could ask me for some. I could even personally take action and plant Glow Mushrooms in every cave north of the Forest Ocean. Furthermore, if you purchase this service now, you can get the Nine-Tailed Fox''s foxfire at half the price.


    Just imagine those fire-fearing dead bats; next time they come to bully you, your good friend Tang Xian, with his fox, can spew a great fire and roast them to death, eating their crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside wings. Doesn''t that sound great?"

 Chapter 44: Chapter 30: I Want to Ride You_2

    "Ah! Human, you are truly a great ''sugary salty''!" the mynah bird blurted out excitedly.Tang Xian furrowed his brows; that statement sounded somewhat awkward to him.


    "So, we are friends now, you see," he said. "In human rules, as long as everyone has shared grilled fish, we are friends for life and death. Do you know what it means to be friends for life and death? It means no matter what danger you face, I will help you out, and of course, the reverse is true as well."


    The mynah bird nodded incessantly, resembling a woodpecker pecking at wood.


    "Good, later on, Qing JiuYu will come to find me," Tang Xian went on. "I''ll talk to her about helping you teach those bats a lesson. You''re trying to curry favor with her for this reason, right?"


    "Chirp-chirp! That''s right, that''s right!" In the eyes of the mynah bird, the selfless image of Tang Xian grew taller and mightier.


    "However, you''ll have to do some things for me too," said Tang Xian with a smile. "After all, in a life-and-death friendship, there should be give and take, don''t you agree?"


    "Definitely, definitely." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tonight, you can go to the canyon first to check if the Glow Mushrooms are there. If they are, you can pick one for me. Don''t worry about killing it. In three days, I''ll bring the thing you want, and I''ll also ask you some questions then. We are best friends, and I won''t let you down, so you will surely answer me truthfully, right?"


    "Yes! You''re my good brother! Chirp-chirp!" the mynah bird nodded vigorously.


    [Current Honesty Level: 61 (Candid)]


    [Current Affection Level: 55 (Sharing Weal and Woe)]


    Looking at the data before his eyes, Tang Xian couldn''t help but laugh; the creature with the highest affection for him in the mining area turned out to be a bird.


    Regarding the Court of Thousand Beasts, and even some situations within the upper circles of the mining area''s creatures, the mynah bird likely knew. The mynah bird was very useful, and what Tang Xian currently wanted to know the most was about the level of civilization advancement among those upper circles.


    These were things he couldn''t ask Qing JiuYu.


    He had to play the role of a mysterious and powerful boss creature, even though he didn''t know exactly what creature he was pretending to be.


    ...


    ...


    Having finished the grilled fish, the mynah bird flew south with high spirits, preparing to fly to YiSu Canyon.


    That place was in the blue zone but rarely visited because the compulsory path went through the forest sea. Tang Xian thought, as long as he helped the mynah bird with the problem of the cat-eared bats, this mischievous yet pure-hearted little bird would likely become a great help to him.


    In the afternoon, Tang Xian began to survey the surroundings as he really planned on setting up a private base in the forest sea. After all, the land here cost nothing, and he only needed to maintain a good relationship with the group of foxes.


    However, at this time, the scent in the air began to indicate that some changes were taking place.


    Tang Xian then stopped what he was doing and waited patiently.


    A few minutes later, Qing JiuYu arrived quickly.


    According to the agreement, he would give her several Jiuye Biphasic Orchids, and she would bring the corpse of a hellhound.


    But Qing JiuYu did not look natural.


    Without even looking at the data, Tang Xian knew what had happened.


    He opened his item bag and spoke calmly,


    "Here are your Jiuye Biphasic Orchids. Though the hellhound got away, you made an effort to capture it, and that''s fulfilling our agreement."


    Qing JiuYu was taken aback.


    "You knew?"


    Tang Xian nodded and said, "Yes. A calamity-level creature visiting an elite-level creature, at a time of crucial evolution, would be extremely cautious. Its choice to escape shows the creature isn''t dumb; to have survived until its evolutionary period, it must have consumed many preys."


    "I''m sorry... Although my fox clan has always been called cunning, we aren''t untrustworthy... but this time I..."


    Qing JiuYu did feel somewhat uneasy. The fox clan''s sense of smell was not weak, but it couldn''t compare to that of dogs. Upon smelling her scent, the hellhound had started to run away, and when she arrived, she couldn''t even determine in which direction it had fled.


    Tang Xian, looking at Qing JiuYu, suddenly had a bold idea.


    "Now you are just like me, having a strong desire to kill the hellhound. You can run faster than it, but you can''t detect it. However, I can."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t doubt how Tang Xian knew she now wanted to kill the hellhound, as it wasn''t hard to guess.


    She looked at Tang Xian curiously and asked, "You can detect it?"


    "My nose is no worse than its own, so we might as well cooperate," he suggested.


    ```


    "How should we cooperate?"


    "I want to ride you."


    ```


    The character for "ride," both in its construction and its true meaning, is a proper word. Much like Tang Xian, who was a proper person. His expression was serious.


    Qing JiuYu was stunned for a few seconds, but then her face turned red.


    "You tell me the direction, and I''ll go catch it for you?"


    "Yes, so you need to turn into a fox, and then I''ll ride on you."


    "Even if I don''t revert to my true form, I am still faster than that dog."


    Tang Xian didn''t doubt Qing JiuYu''s word.


    ...


    ...


    The border between the Red Soil Forest and the Sea of Trees was indeed quite vast.


    It would take Tang Xian almost half a day to travel the distance.


    After the Sea of Trees was marked as a red zone, few teams dared to loiter nearby.


    Normally, there wouldn''t be any quests in an uninhabited zone.


    But at this time, an elite hunting team, ranked around fiftieth with all its members being experts, was slowly approaching the Sea of Trees.


    "Boss, although the hellhound with three heads is ridiculously expensive, are we really going to risk entering the red zone?" asked someone in the squad wielding a crossbow.


    The captain, whose weapon was a greatsword transformed from armed minerals and who had a burly figure, said, "That buyer originally offered a hundred pieces of purple minerals, which already was an astronomical price. I can determine that the person is a high-ranking official from some fortress.


    Now that he has raised the price to one hundred and fifty, it goes to show how much he wants that hellhound dead. Let''s just do the deal; even if it''s in the red zone, if we keep a low profile, we surely won''t run into the nine-tailed fox, right?"


    A team ranked around fiftieth, with all members having around five talents, consisted of experts among experts. They were capable of hunting the hellhound cooperatively, as long as they didn''t make any significant mistakes.


    The crossbowman nodded his head.


    Indeed, even though cataclysmic level bosses were unbeatable, they were rare species. If one could encounter them just by walking on the road, humanity would probably only dare to stay in the newbie villages.


    However, the team''s scout suddenly said, "It seems like the temperature has changed."


    "Nonsense, the temperature is always changing." The captain didn''t speak to the scout with the same courtesy as he did to the crossbowman because of the scout''s lesser strength.


    Although after leaving the Red Soil Forest, the captain also felt it was somewhat hotter.


    "My ability is to sense changes in temperature, boss. We should leave. Although the hellhound is a heat-flame type creature, it shouldn''t be causing such a significant rise in temperature over this large area," said the scout, shaking his head.


    "Coward. It''s normal for it to be hotter here since there are fewer trees than in the Red Soil Forest. It''s not like we could possibly run into the nine¡ª"


    The crossbowman didn''t finish his sentence and suddenly stopped with his mouth agape.


    Everyone''s mouths fell open when, in the distance of their line of sight, a hellhound that was far larger than anything they understood to be possible suddenly appeared.


    They were battle-hardened experts. Even though the hellhound seemed unusually large, with good teamwork, they might still win.


    But what shocked them to the point they forgot to draw their weapons wasn''t the hellhound.


    The hellhound was running towards them, and a hundred meters behind it, a fiery red fox¡ªnot the least bit smaller than the hellhound¡ªwas pursuing it at an even faster pace.


    The captain, the crossbowman, the scout, the healer, and the other two warriors were all dumbfounded.


    At that moment, they couldn''t count how many tails the fox had, but it was certainly more than six.


    In this world, there were no seven or eight-tailed foxes, so what appeared in front of them, they all knew what creature it must be.


    The breath of the Grim Reaper seemed to land instantly on each person''s neck.


    "Is... is that... the nine-tailed fox?" stammered the crossbowman, trembling all over.


    The terrifying aura emitted by the cataclysmic level creature, which also happened to be a boss, left them without even the thought of resisting.


    But as the two massive creatures charged their way, they noticed something even more shocking.


    "Good heavens! Boss, look, there''s someone... on the back of the nine-tailed fox!"

 Chapter 45: Chapter 31: Actually, I am a Glutton

    ```From the captain to the healer, the six members of the team all had their brains short-circuit.


    It was quite common to see humans in the mining area, and encountering a hellhound so large it could be considered mutated wasn''t unacceptable, after all... even a calamity-class boss like the nine-tailed fox had appeared.


    However, the picture composed of these three was truly unimaginable to everyone.


    The weakest humans were riding the strongest creatures of the continent, hunting down an oversized hellhound; for this elite team, the scene was simply too shocking.


    For a hellhound, a few hundred meters was a distance it could cover in the blink of an eye; its colossal size did not slow down its speed.


    In the eyes of the crossbow-wielder and the captain, this hellhound''s speed far exceeded that of ordinary hellhounds.


    The captain, as the most talented person in the team, could see five kinds of data, including speed.


    "Is this really a hellhound? Its health, speed, and attack power are all far beyond normal values!"


    They finally understood why the reward price for this hellhound was so high.


    The team chose to give up at that moment, some even regretting venturing too deep.


    This hellhound had already become an extremely dangerous creature, its stats were well beyond the elite level.


    But what was truly terrifying was the pursuer behind it.


    Eye''s talent was rare, only one kind, and he did not hold a high position in the team. The only talent he could see was health.


    He did not know how fast the hellhound was.


    He only knew that the nine-tailed fox''s health was up to seven digits.


    As for speed, even without data, everyone could feel how terrifying the speed of the nine-tailed fox was¡ªthe hellhound was being relentlessly closed in on!


    "Get down!" Eyes shouted loudly.


    At this moment, the team did not hesitate and all lay down.


    The huge hellhound swiftly swept over their heads.


    The next second, a horrific column of fire shot across!


    Though the hellhound was fast, it couldn''t outpace the fox fire; it had incredible defensive power, but one of its legs was instantly engulfed in flames.


    Creatures of the fire type had a certain resistance to fire, yet the fox fire of the nine-tailed fox could immediately burn everything to ashes.


    Emitting a painful howl from its mouth, the hellhound''s massive body could no longer stand on its one missing leg and crashed to the ground.


    It was merely grazed, but in just an exchange, the hellhound''s health was nearly halved.


    Seeing the numbers in their eyes, everyone''s mouths gaped open in shock.


    The scent of scorching filled their nostrils, and they could still hear the hellhound''s pained howling.


    "It can''t run anymore, can it?"


    The voice was human, speaking in Huaxia. The few did not get a clear look at Tang Xian''s face, but Tang Xian saw these humans.


    "Should we burn another leg? Just to be safe."


    "I wasn''t talking to you. Shut up, you dead dog."


    "Forget it, this dog is mutated; I won''t keep the body, just leave me the head."


    "Of course it''s useful."


    Tang Xian was talking to himself; the hunters lying in the pit had no idea who he was talking to.


    Everything just made them feel more terrified.


    What kind of person could ride a calamity-class boss?


    Though he seemed like a lunatic talking to himself, he was not someone they could afford to provoke at the moment.


    Tang Xian was obviously not talking to himself.


    He was conversing with Qing JiuYu and the hellhound whose leg had been burned off.


    In the midst of the conversation, Qing JiuYu swung her claws, breaking off the hellhound''s other three legs. Without struggling for long, the Soul Crystal lost its glow. While it was not exposed, the eyes no longer held the unique color of boss-tier creatures.


    Even if these boss-tier creatures revealed their true forms, Tang seemed to be able to converse with them, further convincing Qing JiuYu that Tang was a creature of this world.


    Unlike those humans who could escape at any moment.


    "What about these humans? Shall we kill them? They look so stupid playing dead," Qing JiuYu said, not in a hurry to revert to her human form.


    ```


    She rarely transformed in front of humans. Tang Xian didn''t hope for this scene to happen either.


    He wasn''t someone who liked to monopolize knowledge, but the fact that a calamity-level boss could take human form was, for the moment, a secret he needed to keep to himself.


    "Forget it, just a few ants. We should play along with their act, we can''t simply ignore them. Sometimes, you have to try to understand humans so you can be more like one," he said.


    "You''re really tolerant of humans. By the way, what happened to that girl from last time?"


    "She''s locked up." If he could see his current level of sincerity, Tang Xian believed he would probably receive an ''easy to read'' assessment. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing JiuYu asked no further.


    Tang Xian jumped down from Qing JiuYu''s back. He paid no attention to the several humans lying on the ground, playing dead.


    He also hoped inside that these humans would have the sense to not trouble him at this moment, for even Akasi might not be able to save them if they did.


    Luckily, his team was also quite experienced.


    In terms of playing dead, Tang Xian felt they deserved a score of seventy. If there had been some blood, they would have passed.


    He ignored them.


    As he checked the Cerberus, he furrowed his brows.


    "Could you help me cut off this head?"


    The kitchen knife in his prop bag was not capable of chopping off the meat around the Cerberus''s neck.


    Qing JiuYu was somewhat puzzled; wouldn''t it just be easier to snap it off with a twist?


    Humph, this man was really lazy. Not only did he not exert any effort while riding on her back, but even when it came to dealing with corpses, he expected her to handle it.


    Despite her internal complaints, her actions were quick and neat.


    With a swipe of her fox claw, the three heads of the Cerberus were severed cleanly.


    Tang Xian asked, "Do you want the Soul Crystal?"


    "Its grade is too low. The Soul Crystal is of no benefit to me. I figure it''s of no use to you either," Qing JiuYu expressed no interest in the Cerberus''s Soul Crystal.


    "It''s useful to me, you don''t want it but I do," Tang Xian said calmly.


    "You are of the same rank as me; if you want to get stronger, it would be better to hunt the Nvwa Snake with me."


    "Next time, who said it was about getting stronger? Be good, help me get the Soul Crystal out. I just like collecting pretty stones."


    "..."


    Qing JiuYu maintained her fox form, her 24k fox eyes widened as she stared at Tang Xian.


    She had long heard from the older generation in her clan that the more a being resembled humans, the more perverted their actions were.


    Tang Xian probably didn''t understand what it meant for a creature from the mining area to treat Soul Crystals as collectibles.


    But after a brief pause, he caught on.


    It was like carrying a necklace made of human bones around in human society.


    Fortunately, Qing JiuYu didn''t dwell on it.


    "What exactly are you?" she asked.


    Tang Xian was taken aback.


    The question came quite out of the blue; he would have to come up with a good story to get through this.


    "Why are you suddenly asking me this?" he asked.


    "I just want to know."


    "Can I not say?"


    "Why?"


    "I''m very rare. I want to maintain a sense of mystery in front of a lovely lady."


    "Pfft, you''re quite the talker. But you should also know that while mystery attracts women, it also repels them. You need an appropriate level of honesty."


    Tang Xian had to admit, Qing JiuYu''s words sounded like those of an elegant and intelligent woman.


    Fortunately, at that moment, he thought of an answer that suited his image and said:


    "Taotie."

 Chapter 46: Chapter 32: Pretending to Pretend to Be Human

    Tang Xian, like many others, pondered why the mining area had suddenly emerged at the end of human civilization.There were countless hypotheses for this question, and this world, which seemed like a replica plane, was obviously more complex than humans imagined.


    For instance, Tang Xian did not know about the Wan Beasts Court. High-level beings capable of transforming into humans seemed to conceal extremely complex secrets within the mining area. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, it was certain that mythical creatures existed in the mining area; the nine-tailed fox was one of them, so... it was highly probable that the Glutton, a creature known for its voracity, existed as well, right?


    The Glutton had a fondness for food and therefore was represented on the lid of a cooking vessel. It was also said that the word for gluttonous is "Gourmet," which is why food connoisseurs were colloquially called "Gourmet." Tang Xian thought that if he had to pretend to be some boss, that would be it.


    "Oh, I''ve heard about it. It''s from the ancient Dragon Clan, no wonder I can''t sense your kind. So the ancient Dragon Clan really does exist..."


    Tang Xian nodded, his face wearing an expression that clearly said, "Yes, I truly exist."


    He was somewhat concerned about the humans pretending to be dead around him, but they couldn''t hear Qing JiuYu''s voice in his own mind, so they wouldn''t understand what he meant.


    "Yes, it really exists, but it''s very rare. Actually, I don''t really like to talk about this topic."


    "That''s indeed an interesting piece of news. Consider it your compensation for today. Don''t worry, I won''t spread the word."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t feel particularly honored to have a member of the Dragon Clan riding on her back, driving her forward, but after learning Tang Xian''s identity, she no longer felt humiliated.


    However, she needed to find an opportunity to ride back one day. There were very few who had ridden a dragon, and even fewer were foxes.


    Most of the time, Tang Xian was able to guess what others were thinking, but he didn''t this time; otherwise, he would have sternly warned Qing JiuYu, "Female fox, your thoughts are very dangerous."


    After selecting one of the more recognizable heads of a Cerberus and putting it into his prop bag, Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu left.


    It was a long time after the self-talking man and the calamity-level boss-like creature left that the team pretending to be dead slowly rolled over and then stood up, dusting the dirt off their bodies.


    They were still in shock.


    "Can someone tell me if today''s events... were real?" Their eyes were still unfocused.


    "I don''t know. Speaking of which, with the other two heads of the Cerberus, can we still exchange them with that wealthy client for ore?" The healer in the team seemed rather bold.


    "I... don''t know. The Soul Crystal was taken by that person just now." The crossbowman looked in the direction they had departed, still frightened.


    "So that was the nine-tailed fox, truly terrifying. What exactly is the deal with that human?" the captain said.


    "I don''t know."


    Every frame, every scene of what had just transpired was something they had never seen before.


    So their answers always began with "I don''t know."


    "Was that person... talking to the monster?"


    "I don''t know. Oh my God, I''m baffled. Could it be that creatures in the mining area can be domesticated and tamed?"


    "Should we... report this to the higher-ups?" the eyes asked cautiously.


    "Idiot, they''ll say we were scared out of our wits by the nine-tailed fox, even that our brains got frazzled," the captain rejected the idea.


    He held the highest authority in the team and said in a grave tone, "We''re lucky to have escaped with our lives today. That person just now... might have even saved us. In any case, today''s events must not be spoken of. We''ll never come to this forest again."


    The eyes nodded in agreement; the captain''s words made sense.


    No one had seen the man''s face. However, his voice was distinctive and had etched itself clearly in everyone''s memory.


    The crossbowman shrugged, "Nobody would believe us if we told them. A human riding a nine-tailed fox, that''s truly a grand... fantasy."


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian found that riding a nine-tailed fox and observing the surrounding landscape was a quite unique experience.


    Although he would certainly not post an article on a platform like B-Hu about what it felt like to ride on a cataclysmic boss, if he did, people would likely mock him as a dreamer.


    This was like, over a thousand years ago, how many otakus fantasized Aragaki Yui and Rimi Ishihara were their wives.


    This couldn''t even be considered a dream, just an unrealistic fantasy.


    At least within the known existence of humans, Tang Xian was the person with the most in-depth research on the mining area, without a rival. Even he himself thought that today''s events felt somewhat surreal.


    But beautiful dreams are always short-lived.


    After returning to the sea of trees, the nine-tailed fox transformed into a human form.


    No longer able to ride the fox, but facing a body with a charm rating of 99 was also quite enjoyable.


    Qing JiuYu was curious, "Can you transform into your original form?"


    "No," Tang Xian firmly believed that he must strongly refuse this request.


    "Why? I''ve grown up hearing only rumors about dragons, and although I don''t know whether I''m stronger than the ancient Dragon Clan, at least their original forms seem to be more majestic than mine."


    Tang Xian said, "I''ll draw you a dragon when I get a chance, and if there comes a day you can''t see me anymore, you can quench your thirst by looking at the dragon."


    "Hahaha¡­ You''re really funny," Qing JiuYu probably saw through Tang Xian''s attitude.


    "Alright, I won''t press you on this, but why though? Your current form seems very weak to me," Qing JiuYu didn''t understand.


    "Actually, I''m pretending to be a human. I''ve infiltrated the human ranks, and in the future, I''ll come to know many humans. In short... the humans that stay with me will be friends of the fox clan."


    Tang Xian blurted out nonsense on the fly.


    Although unclear if he was the only human able to communicate with creatures of the mining area, Tang Xian could roughly imagine what the future might hold.


    He might be the type who would run between human and monster camps.


    "Pretending to be a human? That indeed is interesting. But it''s true that humans are full of schemes, and some long-lived beings have told us that humans once reached the pinnacle in another world. In that world, humans were definitely not a dominant force, yet they were able to cage creatures much more powerful than themselves."


    "Who told you that?" Tang Xian suddenly became somewhat wary.


    The mining area and reality are considered two different worlds, and they are not truly interconnected at the moment. At least creatures from the mining area cannot go to the real world.


    That''s humanity''s greatest reliance.


    But Qing JiuYu''s words seemed to imply that a being from the mining area had been to the real world, or at least... knew what the real world was like.


    "The Long-eared Ancient Apes. They are born with far greater intelligence than other creatures, and they also hold quite a high status among all beasts, although they are not powerful. Even the strongest warriors in their tribe are a bit inferior to the six-tailed members of my family. But they have long lifespans."


    "They have caught some humans before, or rather, they put some humans under hypnosis, making them talk about things from another world. The Long-eared Ancient Apes have been weak, but their say in the Court of All Beasts is not low, considering their long standing."


    Tang Xian nodded and relaxed.


    He knew about the Long-eared Ancient Apes; some humans had hunted them, and the third-floor''s creatures'' museum even had their skulls, just elite-level creatures.


    From the existing knowledge on primate creatures of the mining area, it is known that the IQ of Long-eared Ancient Apes is extremely close to that of humans. Fortunately, this species is very weak and rare.


    Tang Xian no longer dwelled on it.


    Watching Qing JiuYu''s beautiful figure, he noticed that Qing JiuYu''s current needs had changed.


    [Bring Tang Xian to meet the children (55%)]

 Chapter 47: Chapter 33: The Fox Tribes Little Girl

    Tang Xian understood meeting the parents.Human civilization had gone through many twists and turns, and although male-female relationships had become more casual, the process of marriage hadn''t changed much.


    However, Tang Xian didn''t understand what it meant to meet the children.


    The fox tribe''s den was deep in the Tree Sea.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Xian strolled and chatted leisurely.


    Einstein''s Special Theory of Relativity was correct, a long road, if accompanied by a beautiful woman, would feel much shorter.


    The fox den was different from what Tang Xian had imagined, mainly in terms of scent.


    Not long ago, his sea of consciousness had updated with information, enhancing his resistance and damage against the hellhound with three heads. His sense of smell had also been enhanced once more.


    But the foxy scent of the den was not very strong. He could smell it from a distance, but upon arriving at the scene, he didn''t find it pungent.


    The scent of Biphasic Orchid did an excellent job of neutralizing the foxes'' scent.


    He began to understand why the foxes liked this kind of plant and had some inspiration as well.


    "Do they not welcome me?" Tang Xian glanced at the foxes and realized that his favorability with them was quite low.


    The favorability was fluctuating around 5.


    "It''s always like this when outsiders enter our territory. Don''t worry, just follow me."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    The three-tailed spirit fox was an elite-level creature. In the Tree Sea, it wasn''t powerful, but it had a strong backing. Not every race''s pinnacle had a calamity-level boss creature as its leader.


    He also didn''t need to deliberately please them; he just had to avoid offending them.


    The fox tribe''s den, however, was bigger than Tang Xian had imagined, housing around twenty three-tailed foxes. Even an elite-level boss creature wouldn''t dare to intrude carelessly.


    Before long, Tang Xian saw a human child.


    "Qing Auntie! You''re back!"


    The little girl had a round, chubby face with some baby fat, and by human standards, she seemed to be about five or six years old.


    Her illusionary clothes were quite antique, different from Qing JiuYu''s palace attire, belonging to a later period, closer to 21st-century ancient girls'' garment.


    But what caught Tang Xian''s attention was that the little girl had no tail.


    As soon as the child saw Qing JiuYu, she hopped and skipped over, but then became somewhat frightened and hid behind Qing JiuYu upon seeing Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian looked at the little girl; the panel displayed nothing unusual.


    Gender: Female.


    Good or Evil Value: 55.


    Greed and Lust Index: 5.


    Favorability: 2 (Strangers).


    Financial Assessment: 5 (Dirt-poor).


    Loved Items: Fish.


    Disliked Items: Fishbones.


    Feared Items: Snakes.


    Current Honesty Level: 64 (Honest and Open).


    Charm Value: 60 (Jade-like Home Beauty).


    Current Luck Value: 52 (Minor Fortunate).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Eating caught fish (50%)]


    [Catching fish to eat (45%)]


    [Other (5%)]


    The thinking of children is always simple; once you know what they like, it''s very easy to raise their favorability.


    Tang Xian was unclear about Qing JiuYu''s purpose in showing him this fox tribe girl, but from the way she was addressed, he knew she was not Qing JiuYu''s child.


    However, she was a pretty little beauty in the making, and Tang Xian always liked beautiful things.


    "Actually, there are many kinds of fish. If you''re afraid of bones, you shouldn''t eat Green Phosphorus Fish or Red Phosphorus Fish. Their meat is good, but they have too many bones and can easily get stuck in your throat. Plus, eating them is like eating watermelon¡ªfive seconds of eating, one minute of spitting seeds."


    The little girl was taken aback. Tang Xian continued: S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "In the March Marsh to the west of the Tree Sea, there''s a type of fish called the Dragon Thorn Fish. Despite its name suggesting it''s covered in thorns, it''s actually named for its dragon-scale-like appearance. This fish is very delicious and particularly suitable for making fish soup, and it has no bones. Do you know fish soup?


    It''s made by sprinkling all kinds of spices into the broth and slowly simmering it over a gentle fire."


    Although the little girl had never eaten fish soup, she mostly consumed fish by breathing out a burst of foxfire, then directly eating the somewhat charred flesh. Yet for some reason, she found herself swallowing her saliva at Tang Xian''s description.


    The sight was incredibly cute.


    "But today we don''t have time, I''ll find a chance to make a sturdier fishing rod and then go catch you a dragon spike fish. Today, I''ll take you for fish soup, and you''ll realize that the soup is tastier than the meat."


    The little girl''s eyes widened as if they were shimmering with light, and then she quickly nodded, saying:


    "Really?"


    "Of course, I''ll take you to catch fish in a little while."


    "Okay!" The little girl glanced at Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu smiled and said, "How did you know she likes to eat fish?"


    "She smells faintly of fish," Tang Xian told the truth, even without relying on the panel, he could guess what the little girl liked.


    "Do you like her?"


    "She''s quite cute, but why doesn''t she have a tail?"


    "She is also a descendant of a nine-tailed fox, but her parents... well, her origins are somewhat complicated. Her tails will grow out when she''s older."


    "So, no matter how young, all nine-tailed foxes can transform into human form?" Tang Xian noticed Qing JiuYu''s candor had decreased.


    "Not exactly... It''s complicated, I''ll tell you more about it later. She will be a powerful warrior for our fox clan in the future, possibly even surpassing me. But for now, she''s still too small. I want her to grow a little in the Forest Sea, at least until she has a tail."


    Qing JiuYu''s expression seemed troubled, not because she didn''t trust Tang Xian, but because there were some secrets of the fox clan she couldn''t easily share with someone from another clan.


    Tang Xian nodded and said, "So, the reason you asked me to wait a week is that you needed time to bring her here?"


    "You''re very clever."


    "Where was she before?"


    "In another place of the fox clan, but the people there didn''t like her much."


    Tang Xian sensed there was more to Qing JiuYu''s words and that she had her difficulties, so he didn''t press the matter, saying:


    "The little girl is adorable. You say she has the potential to be even stronger than you in the future?"


    "Yes, I have no doubt about that. Don''t be fooled by her youth; she could easily handle a hellhound with three heads like we saw earlier."


    Tang Xian laughed.


    A member of the fox clan who looked entirely human on the outside but possessed combat strength exceeding that of elite-level bosses was rare.


    Of course, he also understood the meaning behind Qing JiuYu introducing him to this child.


    Qing JiuYu had arranged for the little girl to stay in the Forest Sea because it was safe, and the only thing in the Forest Sea that Qing JiuYu was a bit wary of was himself, acting out the role of a boss.


    "You''re planning to let her stay in the Forest Sea and have me help look after her."


    Qing JiuYu realized Tang Xian was indeed clever, even more so than most humans she remembered.


    Tang Xian looked into Qing JiuYu''s eyes and saw that she truly trusted him.


    He didn''t ask why.


    He figured it probably had to do with some doubts about him.


    Nor would he ask something tactless like, "Do you really trust me that much?" Such a question would only breed suspicion.


    He nodded, his voice calm and serious, "I promise you, and it just so happens I am setting up a nest in the Forest Sea, near your fox clan. You''d better clarify my relationship with you to your fox clan members."


    "What should our relationship be?" Qing JiuYu''s eyes were full of allure.


    "Of course, a pure friendship."


    Tang Xian crouched down, extending his hand.


    He looked at the little girl in front of him, a girl shrouded in too many mysteries, but he wasn''t in a hurry to unravel them. He smiled and said:


    "Shall we go catch fish?"


    "Yes, yes!"


    The little girl also reached out her hand, grasping Tang Xian''s, and her affection for him instantly grew a few points.


    Children are like that¡ªyou play with them, and they''ll like you.


    "By the way, what''s her name?" Suddenly, Tang Xian remembered, he couldn''t just call the girl a nine-tailed fox, could he?


    A shadow of sorrow flashed through Qing JiuYu''s eyes as she shook her head, "Actually, she has no name; I''ve always called her Xiao Ni."


    Tang Xian realized that the little nine-tailed girl''s background was perhaps quite complex and her status somewhat special.


    But when it came to naming, Tang Xian didn''t mind at all, saying:


    "If she has no name, let''s give her one now. From henceforth, you''ll be called Tang Chiyu."

 Chapter 48: Chapter 34: One Man, One Fox, One Bird

    Tang Xian didn''t know how Qing JiuYu got her name, but Qing JiuYu knew that the name Tang Xian wasn''t quite pleasant to the ear.She somewhat expectantly said, "Are you willing to give him your surname?"


    "What''s wrong with that?"


    "Our names are mostly derived from ancient apes that we understand best, and surnames are actually more important to us than given names as they represent belonging. It''s just that Xiao Ni, she¡­"


    "Alright, I know this little girl is very special, and you have some unspeakable difficulties that you can''t talk about. I''ll be appearing in the Sea of Trees often, and if she follows me, having my surname will be more convenient. It''ll save a lot of unnecessary suspicion."


    Tang Xian spoke in a calm tone that also felt very sincere.


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian with some gratitude, then said, "You will always be a friend of the fox clan, as long as I''m in it for one more day."


    This treatment surprised Tang Xian a bit. It seems this little girl was indeed very important.


    Qing JiuYu then smiled and said, "However, she can''t be called Tang Chiyu, that''s a bit too unpleasant to the ear. I know this name is very casual. You need to put more thought into it."


    Tang Xian didn''t agree.


    Take Dong Ran''s codename Tang, for instance¡ªone could immediately tell she was on his team, and it was clear what her distinctive feature was. Wasn''t it wonderfully vivid and direct?


    But since Qing JiuYu had asked, Tang Xian still nodded and said:


    "I originally planned to call you Tang Xiaoyu, but I know an idiot whose name sounds the same as yours. Hmm, you can''t end up like her in the future. So let''s call you Tang Xiaojiu."


    "Qing, do I have a name now?" the little girl asked with wide eyes, looking at Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu gently replied, "Tang Xiaojiu does sound quite cute. You, do you pick names just because they are easy to remember?"


    Nine represents the nine tails, and Tang Xian''s idea was very simple: if he would encounter more bosses entrusting their children to him in the future, he might as well start a nursery.


    To avoid confusing these people, having a word in the name that related to their true form was a good method.


    Of course, the nursery was just an exaggerated joke. Having one cute child was nice, but more could be a hassle.


    Qing JiuYu''s entrustment of the little girl to Tang Xian wasn''t purely done to please her. When he looked at the little girl, he genuinely felt compassion.


    "So it''s settled. From now on, you''ll be called Tang Xiaojiu. I''ll come to see you often, and I''ll take you out to catch fish to eat. Oh, I''m Tang Xian."


    "Okay, Tang Xian," Tang Xiaojiu seemed very happy to have a name.


    "It''s uncle... never mind, brother it is."


    He always felt that calling Qing JiuYu "Qing" and himself "brother" somehow seemed to be inadvertently demoting himself a generation. But children speak their minds, and besides, who can blame him for being young?


    "I''m about to take Tang Xiaojiu to catch fish. What about you?" Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu.


    "Once I''ve settled her, I must go, now. The fox clan up ahead still needs me." Qing JiuYu suddenly felt a bit reluctant.


    "The farewell seems to have come quite quickly. When will we meet next?"


    "I don''t know, probably not until the Nvwa Snake has retreated." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian frowned slightly.


    Deep down, he didn''t want to side with either the fox clan or the snake clan. He was interested in the war but didn''t want to get involved.


    He didn''t reveal his thoughts.


    The Nvwa Snake and the various other snakes were natural disaster-class creatures that preferred cold environments. Forced to migrate south and wage war with the fox clan for territories suggested there might be even stronger creatures emerging in the north.


    This was just one of Tang Xian''s guesses.


    "Humans have been studying the art of war and combat techniques in a way that other animals can''t compare. Many ancient texts that have been preserved are about the aesthetics of war.


    There are actually many interesting techniques in ''The Art of War by Sun Tzu.'' I''ll tell you about them when I have the chance, but for now, you might want to try and understand why the White Phosphorus Demon Snake led the Nvwa Snake to invade the south."


    Qing JiuYu nodded.


    "Well, separation will eventually lead to reunion. Take care on your journey. I''m off to catch fish with the little girl," said Tang Xian nonchalantly.


    Qing JiuYu was slightly stunned as Tang Xian simply took Tang Xiaojiu by the hand and walked out of the fox burrow.


    She didn''t know when they would meet again. Tang Xian''s carefree attitude was not that of someone facing farewell; it was as if he was leaving for the day and would return in the evening.


    This man was truly interesting.


    Tang Xian''s thoughts weren''t that complicated.


    Many people had some sort of relationship with him, like those classmates from his past, or those old temps from the mining area.


    As people got to know Tang Xian, they grew fonder of him.


    He was that kind of person, carrying a bit of pride. But once you got to know him, he was very comfortable to be around.


    But no matter how much others liked Tang Xian, he always seemed lukewarm to everyone.


    Farewells were the same, seemingly neither painful nor itchy.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Tang Xiaojiu was very lively.


    Catching fish, the little girl didn''t care about getting herself wet and walked barefoot by the riverside, energetically starting to fish.


    Compared to Tang Xian, who needed to wait patiently for the right moment to catch a fish, Tang Xiaojiu''s reaction and speed were much faster.


    Even if the fish swam swiftly, aware that two hungry creatures on the river''s surface were after them, Tang Xiaojiu could violently outpace them with speed.


    "The gap brought by bloodline really can''t be bridged," Tang Xian muttered with a wry smile.


    Just as Tang Xiaojiu was about to spout a mouthful of foxfire and then consume the fish in flames, Tang Xian said:


    "Eating like this is quite wasteful, you know."


    Tang Xiaojiu paused and asked, "What does wasteful mean, Tang Xian?"

 Chapter 49: Chapter 34: One Man, One Fox, One Bird_2

    "It could actually taste better, but you chose the least delicious method. Come, give me the fish. I''ll show you how to eat it."Tang Xiaojiu reluctantly struggled, battled with her conscience, and finally, obediently handed over the fish.


    To prevent Tang Xiaojiu from drooling along the way, Tang Xian put the fish into his carry bag and took her to his treehouse.


    Without delay, Tang Xian began cooking the fish.


    With wealth abound, one still only eats three meals a day. When it comes to eating, one must be particular¡ªeven if most of life requires compromise, at least under the existing conditions one should live as comfortably as possible.


    Lacking enough side ingredients, he couldn''t make a complex fish dish and decided to make a milky phosphorus fish soup.


    "I should plant a vegetable garden here in the future."


    Tang Xian initially wanted to add some chopped green onions but then realized he didn''t have any.


    Relying on a furnace for conversion, it inevitably had a fast-food quality which differed from naturally grown produce.


    Without stopping his hands, Tang Xiaojiu midway, lured by the aroma, couldn''t resist anymore and came in to urge him:


    "Tang Xian, is it ready yet?"


    Tang Xian vaguely heard the sound of swallowing.


    "It will take a little while longer."


    "How long is a little while?"


    Tang Xian stopped talking. Cooking is a serious matter.


    Especially since this bowl of milky fish soup had a special meaning to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xiaojiu felt that her fox life had never been so agonizing. Those little fish that smelled fishy, how had they changed flavor in Tang Xian''s hands?


    It really smelled good, slurp.


    After a long wait, Tang Xian took out a bowl and soup spoon, specifically choosing the parts with the fewest bones for Tang Xiaojiu.


    Then he filled it with some garnishes.


    A bowl of fish soup that he was quite satisfied with was ready. After putting in the spoon, a utensil so simple and easy to use, he said:


    "Come in."


    Efficiently, Tang Xiaojiu came in. Tang Xian pointed at Tang Xiaojiu''s large bowl and then at his own small bowl before starting to eat the fish soup.


    If Dong Ran were here, she would probably sigh about the difference between humans and foxes, favoring the fox over the human. After all, when Dong Ran was present, Tang Xian always had the large bowl, Dong Ran the small one.


    The little girl, although only just over five years old, unexpectedly understood Tang Xian''s kindness.


    "Tang Xian, your bowl is so small. Is it enough for you?" Tang Xiaojiu said.


    Tang Xian was surprised, this girl was quite considerate and said, "It''s enough for me."


    "Oh, if it''s enough for you, could you give me some more? It''s really delicious."


    Tang Xian: "..."


    ...


    ...


    In the end, the milky phosphorus fish soup was not made in vain; one bowl of fish soup later, the little girl''s fondness for him quickly soared.


    It even surpassed Qing JiuYu''s.


    Food lovers can fall for the one providing the food through the food itself. The principle can be traced back to ancient times when people used candy to lure little girls.


    Tang Xiaojiu was like a blank sheet of paper, not only innocent but also easily deceived, the kind you could trick away with just two fish.


    Therefore, it was necessary for him to raise Tang Xiaojiu''s discernment regarding food.


    The sky slowly darkened.


    Tang Xian originally wanted to send Tang Xiaojiu back to the fox den, but Tang Xiaojiu did not want to go back.


    "Tang Xian, can I sleep here tonight?" she asked.


    "Why don''t you want to go back?"


    "They don''t like me. Qing left, and I''m scared."


    "Those tri-tailed foxes?"


    Tang Xiaojiu nodded, seeming a bit wronged.


    It was then that Tang Xian realized Tang Xiaojiu might not be a normal nine-tailed fox; otherwise, how could those tri-tailed foxes dare to show disdain towards her?


    He couldn''t understand fox expressions.


    But thinking back, when he entered the fox den, the expressions of those foxes... may have been... not just unfriendly towards him. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was beginning to understand why Qing JiuYu entrusted Tang Xiaojiu to an outsider.


    He nodded and said, "I''ll go make some late-night snacks."


    "What''s a late-night snack?"


    "It''s delicious."


    "Yeah, yeah, I love midnight snacks."


    ...


    ...


    In the next two days, which were Tang Xian''s last two days of surviving the full seven days in the mining area, Tang Xiaojiu followed him around.


    Having a curious little girl trailing behind him gave him an unprecedented experience.


    He was reminded of his own childhood when he used to bombard his parents with endless questions and couldn''t help feeling sentimental.


    The idea of teaching Tang Xiaojiu human knowledge and concepts came to mind.


    Raising a nine-tailed fox with human methods would probably be an interesting experience.


    Tang Xiaojiu was completely won over by that bowl of fish soup.


    Wherever Tang Xian went, she would follow.


    On the last day, the dumb bird came, and Tang Xian gave it a name, calling it Tang Gazi. At first, he said it was easier to communicate with a human name.


    But by giving it the Tang name, Tang Xian''s intention was clear.


    He could only hear the voices of boss-level creatures and was unable to understand the language of ordinary creatures, so having a translator was useful.


    However, he had to take the time to explain to Tang Xiaojiu that this bird was not for eating. He stressed this important point three times, and the little girl looked at Tang Gazi with disappointment.


    How could there be birds that one can''t eat? That seemed utterly unreasonable.


    Tang Gazi was very afraid of Tang Xiaojiu, but it still didn''t leave Tang Xian.


    After flying for more than a day, it finally found YiSu Canyon and saw glow mushrooms, and now it was waiting for Tang Xian to take it on a journey of vengeance.


    Tang Xian really hadn''t been calculating on purpose.


    After all, Qing JiuYu had entrusted Tang Xiaojiu to him, which was something he couldn''t have expected.


    As long as he had glow mushrooms, Tang Xian could drive away the cat-eared bats. But his real purpose was to win over Tang Gazi.


    So Tang Xian turned and asked Tang Xiaojiu, who was still drooling over the bird,


    "Do you want to eat bird meat?"


    "Tang Xian! What are you going to do, Gazi! I don''t taste good!" Upon hearing this, Tang Gazi got excited.


    "Shut up, I wasn''t talking about you," Tang Xian scolded the silly bird with a glare.


    "Can bird meat also be made into soup, Brother Tang Xian?"


    "Yes, the taste is even more delicious, but it''s also good just to eat it like that."


    "Then let''s go eat bird meat!"


    "We''ll eat fish meat tonight, I have to get through this night. If I can survive tonight, I''ll take you to eat bird meat."


    "Have to wait another night?" Tang Xiaojiu found life as a fox to be very tough.


    Tang Xian then said to Tang Gazi:


    "Do those cat-eared bats often bully you and ridicule you?"


    "Yes, Gazi, they''re despicable!"


    "The cultivation of glow mushrooms will take a few more days, but just driving them away is not enough revenge. How about I take Tang Xiaojiu with me and we''ll burn that damned group of cat-eared bats and, by the way, we can eat bat meat."


    Tang Xian smiled and said, "Ordinary bat meat contains deadly poison, but the human cookbook still has the correct way to cook bats. And although the cat-eared bats bear the bat name, they''re not like bats at all; they are real birds that just have disgusting rat-like faces, similar to bats. Their meat is even more delicious."


    Upon hearing this, both the fox and the bird swallowed their saliva.


    Thus, human, fox, and bird reached a consensus: Tang Gazi would lead the way, Tang Xiaojiu would be in charge of lighting the fire.


    When the sun rose the next day, Tang Xian was ready to set out with a bird and a fox.


    But first, he had to get through the night.


    Though in the seven-day period, by just returning to reality for ten hours, one could go back to the mining area for another seven days.


    But this kind of interruption felt very uncomfortable.


    Tang Xian had seen some cases in textbooks about people who died after staying the full seven days. Their life force would rapidly decline within minutes, as if some invisible rule was forcibly expelling humans.


    He didn''t originally think he was special. It was just a bit regrettable.


    It wasn''t until he encountered the Cerberus and received strange resistance prompts in his sea of consciousness that he began to believe he had special potential.


    With less than an hour left until the seven days were up, he took out the portable transport rift, fully prepared for any scenario.


    As soon as Tang Xiaojiu knew Tang Gazi was going to take her to eat a bunch of birds, she had already considered Tang Gazi a friend.


    Tang Xiaojiu slept at the edge of the wooden hut, and Tang Gazi slept next to her little head. Their friendship was determined by their shared taste in food.


    Tang Xian hadn''t slept at all, his eyes wide open, waiting for the last second to arrive.

 Chapter 50: Chapter 35: The First 7 Days with the Idiot

    Time was up. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.The anticipated rapid loss of life force did not occur. Tang Xian clearly remembered when he had arrived at the mine.


    His brows furrowed slightly, the absence of the so-called seven-day certain death was naturally a good thing.


    But why would the textbook lie?


    Seeing is believing, personal experiences tell the truth.


    Tang Xian had come across similar cases in books, and everyone had only read about them, none daring to test it for themselves.


    He thought this ordeal would end meaninglessly, and he was ready to take out his diary to jot down some notes.


    But suddenly, Tang Xian felt his heart violently thump!


    It was as if a traveler known for light footsteps had suddenly stomped heavily on the ground.


    In an instant, Tang Xian''s eyes filled with bloodshot veins, turning frighteningly red in a very short time.


    He looked anguished, his breathing became rapid.


    His heart thumped more and more violently! The veins that pumped blood seemed as if they would burst under such intense vibrations.


    His eyes, nose, mouth, and even ears began to bleed.


    [Warning, subject to an unknown attack, unable to match corresponding resistance]


    In his last moments of consciousness, he caught the alert in his sea of knowledge.


    Tang Xian''s gaze gradually grew vacant, and during this excruciating process, he couldn''t even make a sound. Just as he was about to open a dimensional rift, he realized his body was completely out of control.


    He felt as if his entire body was paralyzed.


    In what Tang Xian understood to be a rapid loss of life, it seemed more like an accelerated degradation of bodily functions in a short time. He had enough time to open a rift and return to the Pyramid.


    Yet, it was not so, it started with a violent trembling in the heart.


    Instead of weakening, the heart was overly active, leaving his limbs in a constant state of paralysis.


    Will I die here?


    Tang Xian could no longer express panic; he was like a puppet drained of consciousness and strength.


    His last thought was merely a fleeting puzzle about life and death.


    It was too quiet; throughout this ordeal, Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi hadn''t even woken up.


    Perhaps it was Tang Xian''s presence that gave the fox and the bird a sense of security, allowing them to sleep deeply and soundly.


    Thud¡ªTang Xian fell to the ground.


    He completely lost consciousness, his last action being the attempt to open a transport rift, only to find he couldn''t even bend a finger.


    [Unable to match corresponding resistance, current life value detected to be too low, life recovery rate increased by 5%. Maximum life value increased by 5%]


    [Life recovery rate increased by 10%, maximum life value increased by 10%]


    [Life recovery rate increased by 15%, maximum life value increased by 15%]


    ¡­


    ¡­


    [Life recovery rate increased by 315%, maximum life value increased by 315%]


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Tang Xian had already completely lost consciousness; the messages in his sea of knowledge were like notifications occurring in an unconscious state, as indecipherable to him as the sounds of the outside world to a person deep in sleep.


    However, the blood that continuously flowed from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose began to dry slowly.


    The temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly. Tang Xian''s lips turned a frozen purple, hinting at the cold. He curled up and trembled slightly, as though in his dream he was enduring freezing winds and snow.


    Suddenly, at some point, Tang Xiaojiu woke up. The little girl didn''t know what had transpired, but as soon as she opened her sleepy eyes, she saw Tang Xian curled up in agony.


    She remembered enduring similar pain in her childhood. Although now was also her childhood.


    Back then, it was Qing who snuggled up to her, gently patting her back and saying many strange things to her.


    Tang Xiaojiu tiptoed over to Tang Xian''s side.


    Although they had only known each other for two days, her impression of Tang Xian was exceptionally good.


    Her small body could only hug Tang Xian''s arm, not enough to encircle his waist. Her little hands patted Tang Xian gently.


    Humming an unnamed tune.


    If Tang Xian could hear, he would probably recognize it as a type of lullaby of the human race.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    As the life force and life recovery speed reached a certain value, the warning about the low life value in Tang Xian''s sea of knowledge was lifted.


    But in this world, it wasn''t just the unknown attacks that could claim lives.


    Tang Xian had once read a book written by an author from the ancient Dongying Island Country called "Complete Manual of Suicide," detailing various means by which one could die.


    The human body is fragile... so fragile that a slight change in temperature could mean death.


    In the dream, Tang Xian seemed to watch his surroundings filled with blizzards, still wearing his thin work attire.


    Walking through the storm, the discomfort on his body disappeared, but the bone-chilling cold did not.


    He lifted his head to observe the boundless blizzards in the distance, thinking he might indeed die.


    Die from the cold.


    But then, a blaze of red appeared in the world of white.


    The winds ceased, the snow melted, all in a moment¡ªas the mighty flames overcame all the snow and ice.


    At last, Tang Xian felt a certain warmth.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    He woke up.


    When he opened his eyes again, he saw it was already noon.


    The feeling of sweat-soaked clothing was not pleasing¡ªsticky and uncomfortable. At the moment, all he wanted was to take a bath in the river.


    "Tang Xian, you''re awake! Let''s go catch some Cat-Eared Bats to eat!" Tang Xiaojiu''s cheerful voice rang out.


    "It''s Bat-Eared Fox Gazi," Tang Gazi''s voice also followed.


    A night had passed, and Tang Gazi was no longer afraid of Tang Xiaojiu, even perching on her little shoulder.

 Chapter 51: Chapter 35: The First 7 Days with the Idiot_2

    Tang Xian smiled, the sunlight serene and beautiful, penetrating the gaps in the wooden hut and landing on the adorable little girl and the foolish bird before him.Having survived a great disaster, Tang Xian experienced no significant emotional upheaval.


    He had always been as calm and composed as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze.


    It was just that the scenery before him seemed somewhat wonderful.


    It was a shame that things like cameras couldn''t be used in the mine area.


    Nodding his head, Tang Xian smiled and said, "Let''s go. We''ll feast on bird wings today."


    It seemed that the unknown power inside his body had helped him through a tough spot; the mine area¡­ should no longer have any restrictions on him now.


    However, after glancing at Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Xian''s gaze softened.


    Having lost consciousness, Tang Xian didn''t know what had happened.


    But the enhancement of his sense of smell allowed him to pick up many scents, including his own scent on Tang Xiaojiu.


    The flames in the dream must have been foxfire.


    In this moment, Tang Xian began to doubt Tang Xiaojiu''s true identity.


    But he also decided. No matter what dangers or troubles the little girl might encounter in the future¡ª


    He would always help her.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Fortress No. 39, the sixth floor.


    Dong Ran was very worried about Tang Xian; it had been a week without any news from Tang. Humans couldn''t survive more than seven days in the mine area.


    This point, although the vast majority had not verified it personally, the second young miss of the Li family had once conducted experiments using death row inmates.


    It was an inhumane thing to do, but the second young miss had always been like that; despite her youth, her methods were harsh enough and her thoughts inscrutable. To verify her hypotheses, she could take very unimaginable actions.


    In the clan''s reputation, the talent of the second young miss was considered even greater than that of the eldest son, but most people were somewhat fearful of the second young miss. As for the third son¡­ well, it was better to forget about the third son, the great profligate of the Li family.


    At the moment, Dong Ran was very nervous; the second young miss seldom sent for her personally, and she couldn''t understand why she had been assigned the task of getting close to Tang.


    When the second young miss had inquired about her last time, Dong Ran also had a feeling of heart palpitations.


    Today, the second young miss summoned her again.


    These past few days, she hadn''t been in contact with Tang. She had been practicing dance steps supposedly to "enhance breasts and lift buttocks."


    Dong Ran felt these dance steps were strange; though she wasn''t too bright, after a week of practice, she knew that these steps weren''t for enhancing breasts and lifting buttocks.


    They must have another purpose.


    Besides, she already had a D-cup; any more would just burst the buttons; she didn''t need enhancing.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Li Xiaoyu generally stayed in the study.


    Someone once told her: Books are the ladder of human progress; it is the most unrealistic fantasy of humanity to think of dominating the mine area with force, this would mean abandoning the greatest advantage of being an intelligent creature.


    Li Xiaoyu deeply agreed with this statement. As a person with only three days of talent, although considered talented among ordinary people, to her, it was tantamount to being handicapped.


    So, she loved reading.


    Yet no matter how much she read, she always felt she couldn''t compare to a certain person. This feeling had lingered for six years, like a persisting illness.


    Today, dressed in a dark evening gown, she was going to attend a soiree. Having not heard any news about a certain person for several days, she thought of summoning Dong Ran for an inquiry.


    Her delicate face bore no expression, resembling an exquisite sculpture or a machine.


    Only when she thought of someone would there occasionally be flashes of anger and humiliation in her eyes, along with some indescribable sentiments.


    A knock on the door sounded. Dong Ran had arrived.


    "Come in," said Li Xiaoyu, her voice pleasant to the ear, imbued with a sweet and soft quality, but that was just her innate vocal tone.


    Some men had mistakenly thought Li Xiaoyu''s speech was sultry and made frivolous advances toward her.


    This incident was known to the entire Li family and later to all the men who contemplated pursuing Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu was very merciful.


    The man later lived a good life, marrying another man and having children.


    Dong Ran stood somewhat restrained.


    Li Xiaoyu spoke indifferently:


    "According to intelligence from lower-level informants, during the six years Tang Xian worked as a temporary laborer, he did little work in the mine area and mostly chatted with people. He also left the mine area slightly later than others each time. This indicates that he has a fondness for the mine area."


    Dong Ran didn''t understand the meaning of these words.


    "Therefore, he would try to stay in the mine area as much as possible. He once said that living in the Pyramid was like being a monkey in a zoo. That phrase includes me in the insult too."


    Li Xiaoyu never went to the mine area. She liked the feeling of controlling everything from within closed spaces.


    Dong Ran nodded her head.


    This indeed sounded like something Tang would say. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But I''ve personally tested it; it''s indeed impossible to stay in the mine area for a full seven days. So he must have returned, but did he not seek you out?"


    This was truly the puzzling part for Li Xiaoyu.


    She believed that once Tang Xian became a regular, he would spend five or six days in the mine area, which is why she was unconcerned in the previous days.


    She also knew that Tang Xian had asked Dong Ran to practice some steps.


    According to her understanding, these steps were likely meant to deal with some creatures in the mine area, which also implied Tang Xian would still contact Dong Ran.


    But now seven days had passed, and Tang Xian had still not sought out Dong Ran.


    Li Xiaoyu felt somewhat anxious.


    Even slightly angry, why had Tang Xian given up a good temporary job to become regular?


    For six years, over two thousand one hundred days, more than twenty-three thousand hours, Tang Xian had been under her surveillance. Only by constantly monitoring this man''s every move could she feel at ease.


    But now, Tang Xian had disappeared.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 35: The First 7 Days with the Idiot_3

    She had surpassed the time she had anticipated by a full fifty-one hours.For over 180,000 seconds, she had completely lost contact with that man, and naturally, she was annoyed, even on the verge of going crazy.


    Dong Ran didn''t know how to respond; she was also worried about Tang.


    In fact, she thought the situation was even worse than what the Second Miss had imagined.


    Dong Ran wasn''t very intelligent, but for some reason, she had strangely grown accustomed to Tang Xian''s quirks. She even believed that Tang was the sort of person who, out of the blue, would want to test what it felt like to stay in the mines for seven days.


    And then he would end up trapping himself to death.


    Although Tang was very smart, in some sense, he was just as crazy as the Second Miss in certain respects.


    "Or is it that she''s no longer interested in you? Or perhaps she''s lost her sexual interest?" said Li Xiaoyu indifferently, with a particularly cold gaze.


    Even though Dong Ran thought she could deceive her, she never really held out any hope for fooling Dong Ran.


    She even believed that with Tang Xian''s wisdom, he would probably see through Dong Ran''s disguise within a day.


    The truth was even more brutal than what Li Xiaoyu had thought.


    It took Tang Xian roughly three seconds to judge that Dong Ran was not from the lower classes by looking at her hair, chest, and hips.


    "He knew your identity long ago and still employed you as a team member, teaching you some special steps. It seems he is sexually interested in you. But men are fickle, perhaps he''s tired of you by now? In that case, you would be useless."


    Li Xiaoyu sized up Dong Ran, considering this possibility.


    Dong Ran was stunned.


    The Second Miss knew?


    Good heavens, her cheeks instantly flushed red. But the blush didn''t last a second before it turned deathly white.


    Tang had said the Second Miss liked him, and in the past, those who dared to approach Tang met with terrible fates.


    Her eyes filled with fear, Dong Ran looked up at the Second Miss.


    Li Xiaoyu slowly approached Dong Ran, her fingers white as jade, gently stroked Dong Ran''s face, and spoke tenderly:


    "Find him and prove your worth to me."


    Dong Ran nodded, trembling, thinking that since the Second Miss had seen through everything and she was still alive, perhaps the Second Miss had a special arrangement in mind?


    With this thought... Dong Ran found courage from somewhere and asked:


    "Miss... why did you want me to approach Tang... Tang Xian? Isn''t he your..."


    She still didn''t dare to utter "Isn''t he the man you like?"


    Unexpectedly, Li Xiaoyu didn''t get angry; she even seemed a bit smug. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Over the past six years, I''ve tried to offer him advantages, but he has refused them all. He just doesn''t want to get involved with me. But in this world, who else but me is worthy of him? He must have told you about some of our past, right?"


    Li Xiaoyu lifted her head, her gaze inscrutable as she looked at Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran nodded. At this point, there was no need to keep hiding it.


    "Heh, that vindictive man, isn''t it just because he disciplined a few vixens who approached him back in the day?"


    Pausing, Li Xiaoyu said with a light laugh:


    "He hates me because I hurt the women who approached him, but I will make him realize I can give him anything he likes, including women."


    Li Xiaoyu said contemptuously:


    "Mating, to him and me, is just a base pleasure. Of course, a truly intelligent higher being should engage in deeper, intellectual exchange. Sooner or later he will discover that only I possess the wisdom to match his own. As for women, if he wants them, I''ll just give them to him. Whatever kind he likes, I''ll provide. As long as he is mine, that''s all that matters.


    You are the most beautiful among my maids, and physically, your secondary sexual characteristics are the most pronounced, greatly aiding in stimulating a man''s desires. That''s a natural advantage. So I sent you."


    Dong Ran was shocked. The Second Miss''s words were probably meant as a warning, but if Tang knew the Second Miss''s thoughts...


    He would likely think the Second Miss was really brainless, right?

 Chapter 53: 36 Chapters: The Strongest Smuggler in Human History

    Dong Ran now believed that the Second Miss was truly possessing an unhealthy obsession with Tang.Feeling inexplicably upset, she still didn''t dare to show it on her face.


    "All right, you may leave now. Report back to me when you have news about him," said Li Xiaoyu, her expression returning to the indifferent one she had at the beginning, seeming somewhat aloof.


    Dong Ran nodded and prepared to leave.


    "Wait a moment," Li Xiaoyu suddenly called out to Dong Ran.


    "He dragged you into forming a team? The other members haven''t been found yet?"


    "No."


    "So he borrowed your military identity?"


    "Yes."


    Li Xiaoyu furrowed her brows.


    If they hadn''t found six people, how could they participate in the Hunting Festival? Or was it that he didn''t plan on participating?


    "Are the team members all using code names?" asked Li Xiaoyu.


    Dong Ran''s face turned red again as she thought of that embarrassing code name.


    She hoped the Second Miss wouldn''t ask what the code name was.


    "What''s his code name?"


    "Tang Wudi."


    Li Xiaoyu laughed. After so many years, Tang Xian''s ability to come up with names was still just as bad.


    In the past, some of their classmates had also been nicknamed by Tang Xian, and these nicknames were characterized by being very direct. It''s likely that in a few years, when a group of people recall the past, they may not remember the real names of their old classmates, but those nicknames coined by Tang Xian would surely be remembered.


    "And yours?" Li Xiaoyu asked casually.


    "Tang... Tang the Terrible," Dong Ran felt her cheeks burn.


    Li Xiaoyu stopped laughing. She looked at Dong Ran very seriously.


    "You may leave."


    Dong Ran walked out of the study.


    Li Xiaoyu turned around and sat back down in her chair, picking up a book to read as she had before.


    However, she didn''t read for long. With her mind cluttered with thoughts, she made a phone call a few minutes later to Hua Science Academy''s fourth-floor department that studied ancient plants.


    Being Tang Xian''s classmate, Li Xiaoyu also knew Shang Lu.


    Shang Lu, upon receiving Li Xiaoyu''s call, was a bit nervous. This lady had a peculiar way of thinking, and the things she had done at school were unforgettable by anyone from their school years.


    "Miss Li, what can I do for you?"


    "I need a truckload of papayas, grapefruits, and kiwifruits."


    ...


    ...


    The mining area.


    The White Bone Mountain Range.


    Located to the north of the Forest Sea and relatively close to it, Tang Xian had a lot of information on the White Bone Mountain Range stored in his memory.


    The place sounds frightening, but it''s actually just in the blue zone.


    The most troublesome creature there is the elite-level boss, the Night Vulture.


    As a highland with many caves and being close to the Forest Sea, this area is considered a large habitat for avian creatures.


    Tang Xian and his group were now sitting in Tang Gazi''s home, a dry and cool cave, eating the wings of the Bat-Eared Bat.


    Tang Xiaojiu had oil all around her mouth, and bones were scattered around the edge of her bowl.


    "Gazi, your neighbors are really delicious," she commented.


    "Delicious, delicious," replied Tang Gazi. As an aviary creature, he had now been reduced to a parrot echoing Tang Xiaojiu.


    All the birds of the White Bone Mountain Range were actually trembling in fear. Although Tang Xiaojiu hadn''t shown the full strength of a catastrophe-level boss, she was close to the standard of a common creature at the disaster level.


    A small girl looking like a human made an entire cave of Bat-Eared Bats vanish with a burst of fire, and this news spread quickly through the avian-inhabited White Bone Mountain Range.


    Occasionally, Tang Gazi could even hear other birds suggesting in bird language that it should leave.


    It puffed out its chest in pride and flew onto Tang Xiaojiu''s shoulder, even though she had given it quite a scare with her burst of fire not long before.


    With strong martial power, there was no need to use their brains anymore, so Tang Xian happily took on the role of a dedicated chef.


    However, he needed to plan for some upcoming matters.


    "Tang Gazi. In this world, you''re after all just a small bird with no strength. How about you come to live with me and Xiaojiu in the Forest Sea?" Tang Xian asked.


    Tang Gazi cocked its head, blinking its bird eyes as it pondered Tang Xian''s words.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "If you don''t want to follow me, I''ll plant the Glow Mushrooms for you in a couple of days. But you should consider, with so many birds in the White Bone Mountain Range, just because the Bat-Eared Bats are gone, does it mean the other birds definitely won''t bully you?


    Let me list them for you, the birds that got along with the Bat-Eared Bats include the Night Vulture, the Rock Pouch Bird, the Sharp-Beaked Flying Squirrel, the Electric Leaf Bird..."


    Tang Xian listed over a dozen species of birds all at once. In truth, most of them despised the bloodthirsty Bat-Eared Bats, but Tang Gazi didn''t know that.


    Being labeled the enemy of the entire Avian Tribe on one side and having a powerful fox and a human who could make delicious food on the other, Tang Gazi, though simple, knew how to choose.


    "I''ll follow you, I''ll follow you," it nodded faster than a woodpecker pecking.


    Tang Xian nodded in approval. The Myna was settled, and soon they would be heading back to the Forest Sea.


    "After we finish eating, we''ll prepare to return to the Forest Sea."


    "Brother Tang Xian, if all the Cat Birds are eaten, will they grow back out of the ground?"


    Breeding Bat-Eared Bats wasn''t in Tang Xian''s plans, so he decided to extinguish Tang Xiaojiu''s desires for their meat.


    "That''s something to eat only occasionally. Eating too much of it not only builds up toxins but can also cause recurrent nausea. Do you know what nausea is?"


    Tang Xiaojiu looked at Tang Xian blankly and shook her little head.


    "Nausea means that later, when you see other delicious food, you won''t feel hungry and can''t eat it, and you''ll feel really uncomfortable. You''ll get sick just by looking at food and might even throw up what you previously ate."


    "Ah!"


    Tang Xiaojiu''s eyes widened, and the bird wing in her hand fell to the ground.


    There''s food that can make you not want to eat after consuming it? How awful can this food get?


    S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 54 Chapter 36 The Strongest Smuggler in Human History_2

    Tang Xiaojiu showed a frightened expression, feeling that life as a fox suddenly became dangerously wicked."Tang Xian, will eating fish cause an upset stomach?"


    "That won''t happen. The ancient fishermen by the sea could eat fish all their lives. Fish is nutritious, rich in protein, replenishes collagen, and makes the skin better. With various cooking methods, one won''t get tired of the taste."


    "Then let''s eat fish." With a new pursuit in mind, Tang Xiaojiu felt revitalized.


    Tang Xian laughed and then returned to the forest sea with Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi, who had officially joined them.


    At dusk in the forest sea, looking westward, one could see the sunset reduced to a mere sliver, while the night sky on the other side already cradled a crescent moon.


    With both the sun and moon sharing the sky, Tang Xian sat inside the cabin, leisurely watching the distance.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi went to catch fish for him.


    While enjoying his free time, he began thinking about renovating the forest sea.


    There should be a vegetable garden.


    And a small fish pond, specifically to raise tender-fleshed fish like Dragon Spine Fish.


    The cabin in the Hundred-Handed Wood could actually be expanded and reinforced, mainly to withstand weather like heavy rain.


    Bring along some books, and life could be considered perfect.


    However, for now, it would be necessary to return to the Pyramid later in the evening.


    Tang Xian''s nose twitched, knowing Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi were on their way back with the fish.


    Cooking was a joyous affair, one he wouldn''t decline.


    Tang Xian looked at the portable transport rift in his hand, stroking his chin in thought.


    "As soon as I leave the mining area, Tang Xiaojiu will have to stay here by herself for ten hours. If something happens at the Pyramid, there might be delays."


    That was somewhat troublesome.


    Although this little girl now possessed strength approaching that of a natural disaster-level being, she was just too kind and naive.


    After spending more time with a simple child like Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Xian increasingly understood why, in his childhood, his parents insisted on supervising everything he did.


    Even though he was far more sensible than other children his age.


    Tang Xiaojiu came back excitedly.


    "Tang Xian, Gazi and I caught so many fish. The little pocket can''t even hold them all."


    "Looks like we''ll need to make a fish basket," he said.


    Seeing Tang Xiaojiu''s happy face, Tang Xian felt cheerful as well.


    He then made a decision.


    "After we eat the fish, I will leave this place. Tang Gazi, you stay here, responsible for keeping watch. Until Xiaojiu and I come back, stay close to the cabin and don''t wander off."


    After speaking, Tang Xian took out a Jiuye Biphasic Orchid from his tool bag and placed it by the side of the cabin.


    Tang Gazi, not understanding Tang Xian''s intention, said, "Take me with you, take me with you."


    "The place I''m going to has lots of humans, and their favorite thing to eat is talking birds."


    "Don''t take me, don''t take me," he said.


    Tang Xian nodded and began to prepare the fish meal.


    There was enough fish, so he shaved off a lot of the flesh and used the fish heads to make a special pot of fish head soup.


    The delicious fish head soup, with its flavor carrying far, especially on such a night, could attract many creatures.


    But ultimately, Tang Xiaojiu carried the essence of a nine-tailed fox, which in a place like the forest sea, was enough to deter all beings.


    With himself also present, naturally there were no worries about Tang Xiaojiu being tricked away.


    After drinking an entire pot of fish soup, Tang Xiaojiu blissfully patted her little belly, let out a satisfied belch, and said:


    "Tang Xian, where will we go next? Are we going somewhere delicious?"


    "We''re going to make some preparations," he replied.


    Explore more at empire


    "Preparing for what?"


    "To ensure you have delicious food every day."


    "Delicious food every day? Then let''s go now!" Tang Xiaojiu perked up.


    Tang Xian smiled, opened the portable transport rift, and recorded the current coordinates.


    The portable transport rift, with each transport of a person, would consume one unit of ore energy, and Tang Xian''s cheaper model only had four units of power at most.


    It only supported one round trip for him and Tang Xiaojiu.


    Looking at the door-like object that suddenly appeared, Tang Xiaojiu felt a bit scared, but holding Tang Xian''s hand made her feel much more secure.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian had always been a law-abiding citizen.


    So, when he committed a crime for the first time, he felt a bit nervous.


    Bringing a creature from the mining area into the human world, he wasn''t the first to do so.


    Humans also hunted some of the ancient, common creatures in the mining area. But they must come from authorized green zones, after passing through numerous complex tests such as epidemic inspection, danger rating, and bloodthirstiness rating.


    Because most advanced equipment malfunctions in the mining area, blood tests must be conducted first. Then, the blood is protected in an armored ore container with high defense levels and transported to the Pyramid. After about a week, the blood test results would come back, and then the biology department of the Hua Science Academy would provide an assessment report on the creature''s behavior.


    The process was very troublesome.


    But it was for the safety of all mankind, and Tang Xian could understand that.


    To neglect this process was to commit the serious crime of smuggling.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about these rules; this was truly his first time breaking the law.


    Tang Xiaojiu was too special, and to him, she had to remain unknown to humanity.


    But leaving Tang Xiaojiu in the forest sea, he still felt uneasy.


    There were actually many smugglers, whether smuggling living beings or non-living things. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian''s smuggling was different; he would be the first in history to smuggle a calamity-level creature. Unprecedented, and most likely, there would be no one else to follow this path in the future.

 Chapter 55 Chapter 36 The Strongest Smuggler in Human History_3

    Despite this little foodie being relatively weak now, the destruction and threat she could cause outside of the mining area far exceed those within it.After all, humans in reality don''t have supernatural powers.


    Observing over the past few days, Tang Xian had not noticed a trace of bestial nature in Tang Xiaojiu, only the innocence and gluttony of a child.


    Moreover, Tang Xiaojiu was very obedient to him.


    Tang Xian also felt an inexplicable closeness to Tang Xiaojiu. He became increasingly certain that this girl had saved him once during his first seven days when he nearly died due to the mysterious rules.


    "Your little belly is all round after eating so much today. Stay in this room and rest, and tomorrow I''ll make you something even tastier than fish soup."


    "Ah... there''s something even tastier than fish soup? Tang Xian, don''t wait until tomorrow."


    "Alright, go to sleep. You can sleep on the bed."


    After settling Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Xian prepared to go out and make a phone call.


    There were quite a few people he needed to contact, including Shang Lu, who needed some vegetable seeds.


    He also had to ask Dong Ran about the progress on her dance practice.


    Furthermore, he had to trouble an old classmate again today.


    Arriving at the phone booth, Tang Xian frowned.


    He was not sure if calling this number now would cause problems for the owner of the number, especially since six years had passed, and Tang Xian was uncertain whether the other party still remembered their old school friendship.


    After all, this person was different from academic enthusiasts like Shang Lu.


    One person living peacefully for six years, and another being wanted for six years, would result in completely different personality changes.


    Still, Tang Xian made the call.


    It took about ten seconds before the call went through.


    "Who is it?" The voice on the other end was low and hoarse.


    Deliberately lowering his voice, Tang Xian revealed a smile. It was the person he was looking for.


    "It''s me, Tang Xian."


    There was nearly ten seconds of silence before the other end responded with a voice trembling from excitement:


    "Tch, six years without contact, and suddenly you call late at night. You motherfucker, after all these years, why are you still the same? Don''t you know my situation? Damn it, Tang Xian. I almost thought you were dead."


    Yu Xiaozhe swore profusely, his heart surging with excitement. He had never expected to receive a call from an old friend on what was, otherwise, an ordinary night. Most of the friends from back then had cut ties with him. Of course, they also never knew his contact information.


    "Get to the point. I''m swamped with shit. It better be something important. If you''re calling to catch up, just fuck off. I don''t want to get caught, so contact me as little as possible!"


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    Tang Xian did not know why the shy boy from back then had changed so much, but he could understand.


    In these six years, being one of Huaxia''s most wanted fugitives, it was impossible to maintain the innocence of youth.


    Even through the phone, he could feel some of the emotion in Yu Xiaozhe''s words.


    "That shy boy who could draw two kinds of currency with both hands is now talking like a gangster. I don''t know how you''ve been all these years. I''ve heard a bit about your situation. I''m not here to reminisce, but I need a favor. I want to get a fake ID for a kid, just with basic rights, under six years old. The name is Tang Xiaojiu, a girl."


    With a name like Yu Xiaozhe that didn''t sound fierce, but now speaking like an uncouth veteran, Tang Xian could not help but imagine the experiences behind it, and felt a touch of warmth in his heart.


    Time had changed a lot about this man, but it hadn''t changed the softest part of him that Tang Xian remembered. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tang Xiaojiu, six years old? Sure thing. You''ve got some nerve. Did you knock someone up in our graduation year? This is big news, and back then we were so close. You never told me?


    Not even when you got married? You dog, you''re such a bastard. I need three days, I''ll meet you in the mining area to give it to you."


    Cursing aside, an old friend''s request still had to be honored. After all, having spent six years with Tang Xian, Yu Xiaozhe had never seen Tang Xian ask for help.


    But he hadn''t expected that Tang Xian was now in such a bad spot that even his daughter couldn''t be registered under a household.


    Obviously, Yu Xiaozhe had misunderstood something. Tang Xian thought it over. After all, his own parents had been gone for many years; it would be illogical to suddenly have a younger sister.


    "Who''s the kid''s mom? It can''t possibly be Li Xiaoyu, that lunatic, right? She was only twelve back then!"

 Chapter 56 Chapter 37 The Steps to Making Hot Pot and the Honest Man

    Tang Xian believed that Yu Xiaozhe wouldn''t ask such a stupid question and reckoned it was just a jibe at him, so he simply explained:"She''s not my daughter. Anyway, I''m counting on you for this favor. Seeing that you''re in the mood for jokes, it seems you rarely come off worse in your battle of wits with the hunters chasing you. If you run into trouble in the future, you can come to me."


    Yu Xiaozhe laughed. Tang Xian was still the same old Tang Xian.


    "Come to you? What can you, a talentless cheater, do against those hunting me? Pick a place in three days, and I''ll come to get you."


    "The Forest Sea."


    "That''s a red zone, isn''t it?"


    "It''s my turf, no need to be scared."


    "Scared? What am I scared of? I''m just curious, how can a guy with zero talent like you survive in the Forest Sea?"


    Yu Xiaozhe had been a bit worried about Tang Xian before; the red zone was a no-go area for humans.


    "You know I wouldn''t lie to you. Okay, help me out with this, and I''ll return the favor. Crossing the fortress calls are expensive, two liang of hot pot oil per minute, so farewell."


    Tang Xian decisively hung up the phone.


    The busy tone left Yu Xiaozhe somewhat stunned.


    "Damn, despite being so broke, why do you speak with more arrogance than Laozi?" Cursing with a laugh, Yu Xiaozhe turned off the TV; he had been watching a soccer match.


    Many sports were declining, but basketball and soccer were still going strong, and there were plenty of spectators in the two-level sports stadium.


    Yu Xiaozhe began searching for materials. As a master of forgery, he firmly believed that everything in this world could be replicated, even people.


    If it was done well enough, it became real, and in this world, the fake could sometimes be more real than the genuine article.


    For instance, in the soccer match, there were players whom he had replaced. He was set to make a fortune today.


    But he had to deal with Tang Xian''s request quickly.


    It had always been this way. When he had asked Tang Xian for a favor in the past, Tang never dragged his feet. To reciprocate a friendly gesture, Yu Xiaozhe also didn''t delay.


    ...


    ...


    The fact that Tang Xian had returned to the mining area was first known by Li Xiaoyu, as always.


    She knew where Tang Xian lived and the places he frequented daily.


    She also knew that Tang Xian was aware that she knew.


    This somewhat tongue-twisting relationship had been maintained between them for quite a while.


    Li Xiaoyu believed Tang Xian liked being monitored by her. After all, it was too simple for him to shake off the surveillance, but he hadn''t done so.


    Tang Xian glanced at the gazes from people in the distance and nonchalantly shook his head.


    He was just lazy.


    After all, the most information was never leaking from him.


    Early the next day, Dong Ran arrived.


    When Tang Xian opened the door, he noticed that Dong Ran''s clothes were significantly more conservative, covering both necessary and unnecessary places.


    Such attire was in line with the core socialist values, and Tang was very satisfied.


    "Come in," Tang''s tone was still indifferent.


    As soon as Dong Ran entered, she noticed a cute little girl sleeping soundly on the bed.


    "This is¡­?"


    "My sister."


    "You have a sister?" Dong Ran was surprised.


    "Seeing is believing, why the need for questions? How''s the dance I had you practice coming along?" Tang was prepping for hot pot.


    "It''s very polished now!" Dong Ran replied confidently.


    "That''s good. After we eat, I''m going to see a friend to get some vegetable seeds, then we can head to the mining area."


    Dong Ran was still obedient, although she would sometimes take her own initiative, but a little training would put her right. Tang was fairly pleased.


    "What''s the point of learning this dance, anyway?"


    "For the sake of having top-quality beef tripe to eat."


    The authentic hot pot was originally all about eating beef tripe and omasum. The taste of tripe made from synthetic minerals was somewhat replicable, but surely not as good as that of real beef.


    "Huh?" Dong Ran didn''t understand.


    "Bulls have four stomachs, but the ones in the mining area have six. These bulls were originally called Long-handle Bulls, but after discovering they had perfect-grade combat skills, they got a more serious name, Yi Niu. Their meat is tougher than Cerberus, but their offal is about the same as regular bulls.


    Although their frame isn''t large, they''re very long, and one bull is probably enough for us to have hot pot several times."


    Tang slowly skimmed the Sichuan peppers and chili peppers that had been soaking overnight and continued:


    "Yi Niu''s charges are swift, and they''re very powerful, but if you sidestep, it takes them quite a bit of effort to turn around. However, never think you can fight a bull with ease. Many hunters believe that once they dodge the first charge, they have ample time to avoid the second, but they overlook Yi Niu''s tail flick and back kick."


    "The dance steps I taught you are modified from the most legendary matador''s steps at the Madrid bullring in Spain. As long as you judge the angle of Yi Niu''s first charge correctly and respond properly, it won''t be able to hit you afterward."


    Dong Ran understood.


    So the dance was actually for bullfighting, which led to eating beef tripe?


    Dong Ran had heard about bullfighting, a dangerous sport, and she said, "Then do I need to prepare a red cloth? I heard that ancient matadors would use red cloth to attract bulls because bulls become excited when they see..."


    "Bulls are color blind. You should read more when you have time."


    Tang''s remark stopped Dong Ran in her tracks.


    "The red color was simply deemed provocative by the matadors; it isn''t meant to excite the bulls but to excite the audience."


    Dong Ran had grown accustomed to Tang''s criticisms. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tang, have you been in the mining area... for seven days?"


    "Did Li Xiaoyu ask you to inquire?"


    "Hmm, the second lady asked me, but I wanted to know myself."

 Chapter 57 Chapter 37 The Steps to Making Hot Pot and the Honest Man_2

    "No, humans can''t survive in the mines for seven days. I''m just ordinary, how could I possibly court death in there?"Tang Xian said with a calm face, and Dong Ran nodded as well.


    At this time, the broth of the hot pot had come to a boil, and the spicy aroma instantly awakened a little one from her dreams.


    Blinking her sleepy eyes open, Tang Xiaojiu excitedly said:


    "Tang Xian, what are we eating today?"


    "Hot pot."


    Although she didn''t know what hot pot was, Tang Xiaojiu believed that anything made by Tang Xian must be very delicious.


    "What''s your sister''s name?" Dong Ran looked at Tang Xiaojiu and thought the little girl was very cute.


    "I''m Tang Xiaojiu. It''s a name given to me by Tang Xian," Tang Xiaojiu said, liking her name very much. According to the regulations of the fox clan, she was not entitled to have her own name.


    So Tang Xian gave her a name, and the little girl was very happy about it.


    "So cute. Wait a minute... Why was Tang''s naming style so normal when you named Xiaojiu?"


    "I originally wanted to call her Tang Chiyu. I thought it sounded better than Tang Xiaojiu, but due to some irresistible factors, it was changed to Tang Xiaojiu," Tang Xian explained.


    In his heart, he still thought Tang Chiyu sounded better.


    Dong Ran felt a bit more balanced now. Tang Chiyu was indeed Tang''s style. So, this little girl''s identity must be special, right?


    Why did she need Tang to name her?


    "Sister, what''s your name?"


    "They call her Tang Da."


    "Oh, so Tang Da is also a member of the Tang Family."


    "Pfft, Tang, don''t lead the child astray. My name is Dong Ran, you can call me Dongran."


    "Okay, Tang Da."


    Tang Xiaojiu nodded obediently.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian''s house became much livelier.


    Dong Ran asked Tang Xiaojiu many questions, and Tang Xian was quite satisfied with the answers. Although the child was naive, she was not dumb.


    Dong Ran wouldn''t associate a little girl with a calamity-level boss creature.


    Tang Xian concentrated on making the hot pot. To create a delicious hot pot, he really put a lot of thought into it this time.


    As everyone knows, there are four steps to making hot pot. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    First, carry away Tang Xiaojiu.


    Second, carry away the Tang Xiaojiu who ran over again after smelling the aroma.


    Third, carry away the Tang Xiaojiu whose mouth corners were almost drooling.


    Fourth, serve the hot pot.


    As the three of them began eating hot pot, Tang Xian realized the room was really small. Three people in a ten-square-meter room obviously felt a bit cramped.


    Moving to the second floor for living quarters would mean losing the chaos of the ground floor as cover, which would bring its own set of troubles.


    Tang Xian ultimately shook his head, grateful that such problems didn''t exist in the mines.


    The hot pot was quickly devoured, and Tang Xiaojiu rubbed her small belly contentedly, her round cherubic face beaming with satisfaction.


    Tang Xian said to Dong Ran, "Come with me to the second level."


    "Okay. What for?" Dong Ran asked.


    "To sell this," Tang Xian said, without revealing the prop bag. After all, the smell from the head of a hellhound was very unpleasant, especially right after eating, it could make one uncomfortable. Instead, he just took out the Soul Crystal Jade.


    "What creature is this from?"


    Dong Ran glanced and seemed to recognize it from a perfect-level creature, but it seemed to lack a bit in luster.


    "It''s from a nearly evolved hellhound."


    "It''s not that one, right...?"


    "Yeah, the one with the high bounty."


    "Did you do it all by yourself?"


    "Well, indeed there was only me."


    Tang Xian felt he was telling the truth, but to avoid overturning Dong Ran''s worldview, he didn''t mention that there was also a fox on his side.


    Dong Ran suddenly found that Tang Xian was a bit incomprehensible.


    Is this man truly without talent? Or could it be that everything was an act?


    Without paying attention to it, Tang Xian urged Dong Ran to wash the dishes. After giving some instructions to Tang Xiaojiu, and getting everything sorted, he took Dong Ran to the second level.


    ...


    ...


    The Task Department has many people coming to collect bounties every day.


    Tang Xian noticed that when he was with Dong Ran, there were far fewer eyes on him.


    It was mainly those who were monitoring him, probably distracted by Dong Ran''s impressive figure. Thinking about it, Tang Xian suddenly realized Dong Ran was more valuable than he had thought, and decided to add an extra piece of fish fillet to her meal tonight.


    The employees in the Task Department changed every two or three days, and the salary was not bad. It could be considered a very stable and high-value job.


    Just by coincidence, the person in charge of receiving Tang Xian this time was the same middle-aged woman from last time.


    The woman had a lasting impression of Tang Xian because their team''s name was quite ordinary, but the members'' codenames were memorably terrible.


    "Here to hand in a task?" the middle-aged woman asked.


    "Yes, there''s a special task that the employer wants to confirm in person. Could you please contact that employer for me? He requested the capture of a hellhound with a missing eye and ear near the Forest Sea."


    "You went to the Forest Sea?"


    Tang Xian nodded and did not mind the skepticism in the middle-aged woman''s tone.


    "I''ll contact Mr. Jiang Ming right now, but he might not be available."


    "You just tell him about this, and he will definitely have time."


    Tang Xian, holding his prop bag, felt it was a bit heavy, so he found a place to sit down.


    Just as he expected, after the middle-aged woman called, Jiang Ming hurried down from the fourth floor as soon as he heard someone was claiming the bounty for the hellhound he wanted captured.


    It took Jiang Ming about fifteen minutes to arrive in a rush.


    He went straight to the counter, inquired about the related matters, and then, informed by the middle-aged woman, he turned his gaze toward Tang Xian.


    Jiang Ming frowned; he took this matter very seriously.


    His teammate''s vendetta was something he could no longer pursue, especially since the Forest Sea had turned into a red zone. The task of hunting the hellhound had become completely bleak.


    Hearing that someone from the Task Department was contacting him, he arrived as quickly as he could, eager to see which team from the leaderboard was bold and capable enough to take on the task.


    And then he saw Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian waved politely at Jiang Ming. Tang Xian believed that Jiang Ming had helped him in the past, after all, he had let him advance when he was a temp.


    The small conflict that had happened then was something he considered not worth worrying about.


    "What are you doing here? What are you here for?"


    "Handing in a task, obviously."


    "Wait, Wang, the one who''s handing in the task is him?" Jiang Ming turned to look at the middle-aged woman called Wang.


    Wang nodded and said, "Their team has come to hand in a task for the second time, and it''s also a hellhound. They chose to deliver it to you again. What, do you know each other?"


    Jiang Ming was stunned.


    Last time?


    He remembered now. There had indeed been such a payout on his bill, submitted by a team called Shengtang.


    Jiang Ming remembered clearly, the codenames of that team''s members were awful.


    He looked at Tang Xian in disbelief, his gaze filled with doubt and suspicion.


    "Given your reputation, I want to see that hellhound first. How are you going to prove to me that it''s the one I''m looking for?"


    Tang Xian nodded, although he wasn''t aware of what his reputation was. As a young man raised under socialist core values, he assumed it was a good one.


    "Even though some time has passed, you probably haven''t forgotten what your enemy looks like so easily, have you?" Tang Xian opened his prop bag.


    A foul smell immediately filled the Task Department.


    The dog''s head in the prop bag wouldn''t rot, but the accumulated odors were still enough to make everyone frown once the bag was opened.


    Jiang Ming took one look and sorrow and rage flashed in his eyes.


    "Where did you hunt it? Did you really hunt it yourself?"


    "According to the transaction rules, I''m not obligated to explain the task execution to you."


    "Others may not know your identity, but I do. If you don''t explain things to me, I''ll charge you with the crime of impersonating the regular forces."


    Tang Xian believed Jiang Ming would not do such a thing.


    He was just very eager to know how a cheater like him, with no talent, could possibly hunt such a powerful creature.


    After thinking it over, Tang Xian decided to tell a lie.


    "I happened to encounter Akasi."


    Jiang Ming was taken aback.


    The legendary hunter with ten talents, Akasi?


    Tang Xian actually had such an extraordinary encounter?


    Indeed, rumors said Akasi could now single-handedly kill perfect-level creatures and that going to a red zone to hunt down a mutated hellhound was very much in Akasi''s style.


    Jiang Ming took a deep look at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian gave a frank smile, thinking it necessary to establish his honest and upright image, in order to dissipate Jiang Ming''s prejudice against him as soon as possible.


    As for the lie about encountering the top-tier powerhouse Akasi and the butterfly effect it might cause, Tang Xian was unconcerned.


    Sometimes life needs a few surprises.

 Chapter 38 The Importance of Watching News

    Jiang Ming wasn''t the kind of person to hesitate about paying up, but when it came to Tang Xian, he always felt that something was off.If the last mission was also completed by Tang Xian, it means that this man had become an official worker for less than half a month and had already successively killed two hellhound Cerberuses?


    This efficiency was a bit astounding.


    Tang Xian didn''t want to linger here any longer.


    "Wang, could you please transfer the hunting points to our team''s account? Here is the Soul Crystal."


    For Jiang Ming, the hound''s head was important evidence, but what the mission department needed was the Soul Crystal.


    Jiang Ming was silent for a moment, seeing that Tang Xian didn''t wish to offer further explanation, he nodded to Wang, signaling his agreement that the mission was considered completed by the other party.


    Tang Xian had made a considerable sum of money and felt like he had taken advantage of Jiang Ming, saying:


    "We might deal with each other in the future, but I''m quite busy these next few days, I have to go now. However, if you run into trouble in the future, you can find me."


    Tang Xian left with Dong Ran.


    Jiang Ming stood there dazed, with mixed feelings.


    The team was called Shengtang, and all members'' code names started with Tang; it was obviously related to Tang Xian.


    So, was Akasi a member of Tang Xian''s team?


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was amiss.


    This time Tang Xian relied on Akasi, but what about last time? The achievements of killing two hellhound Cerberuses were enough to raise Tang Xian''s team several dozen ranks in the hunting leaderboard.


    It''s possible, on the eve of the hunting festival, that many people would look favorably upon this team, and the major gambling houses would also include this team in their betting pools.


    What role does Tang Xian actually play within his team? The eyes?


    Jiang Ming couldn''t figure it out, chatted with the mission department people for a while, and then left.


    ...


    ...


    "Tang, why did you say it was Akasi who helped us? Or did he really help you?"


    On the way back, Dong Ran was also very curious about how Tang Xian had managed to defeat a hellhound Cerberus.


    "I read a newspaper last night," Tang Xian said casually.


    "Ah? What does that have to do with anything?" Dong Ran didn''t understand.


    "You should read more newspapers and watch more news. Then you''d know what''s happening around you."


    "Tang, you''re behind the times. Starting from the third level, people have access to the internet, who would still look at the news?" Dong Ran felt she finally had a chance to get one over on Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was unconcerned and said:


    "Luo gave me two hundred billion Weibo electronic translations from the human library. I read some of it and found that we are very easily swayed by rumors and can be easily suggested. This is because our judgment of many things is ultimately influenced by first impressions."


    Seeing Dong Ran''s confused face, Tang Xian continued:


    "Children always use a tone as if they understand everything and say the news is fake and deceives children. But people who are a bit older truly understand how to interpret the news, and don''t just eavesdrop based on browsing Weibo."


    "So, you should also read more news, and then you''ll know about the incident in the fortress paper from two days ago, where a terrible tragedy befell a hunting team from the 51st fortress."


    "The team leader''s name was Wang Tengyu, he killed five teammates overnight and was sent to jail, sentenced to be exiled outside of the Pyramid, to the extreme penalty. You should remember this team because they plotted to rob us outside the red soil forest."


    Dong Ran shuddered, surprised:


    "Them? Why?"


    Dong Ran remembered the four robbers they had encountered that day, after all, Tang Da''s Empty Fort Strategy had been very useful in repelling them.


    She also remembered Tang Da saying something strange at that time, telling that man not to sleep at night. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No reason, everyone deals with being cheated in different ways, some choose forgiveness, while others choose ''I''ll forgive your grandmother''s leg.''


    "Life seems chaotic, but karma is tightly linked. It''s just that few people are willing to carefully think about these relationships. No more talk, we are going to the mining area again tonight. You go back and prepare too. Bring some clothes to change into."


    Dong Ran was bewildered, why was Tang Da speaking so cryptically today?


    Tang Xian didn''t feel it was necessary to explain.


    He just wanted to show Dong Ran that truth can be shaped.


    Of course, Akasi wasn''t a member of his team.


    But Jiang Ming would seriously ponder over this matter, speculation would lead to investigation, investigation would prompt inquiries, and inquiries would spread the word.


    Just how powerful Akasi really was is all speculation.


    But if it became confirmed that Akasi truly had the ability to slay perfect grade creatures and rumors started that this lone wolf Akasi actually joined someone else''s team, then it would definitely spread quickly.


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    So much so... it would reach the person in question.


    Never underestimate the power of idle gossip; it can cross mountains and seas to change someone''s destiny.


    ...


    ...


    In the afternoon, Tang Xian first exchanged the ores for various treasures at Luo''s antique shop. Among the items were two recipes for side dishes, which he was very pleased about.


    One was a recipe for flavor-packed Laoganma chili sauce, the other for Wang''s Craftsmanship Thirteen Spices. Luo guaranteed they were authentic recipes, and following them would definitely reproduce the ancient flavors.


    Apart from that, Tang Xian also planned to buy a knife. A real knife that could truly cut through the tough skin of mining area creatures.


    So he went to the blacksmith shop on Decay Street.


    It was a weapon store. The store name was literally "Blacksmith Shop".


    The owner''s last name was Liu, and his name was Liu Lang. He did legitimate business, selling not controlled knives but essential tools for mining.

 Chapter 38 The Importance of Watching News_2

    He''s low-key, but he''s got plenty to talk about with Tang Xian. Some years ago, it was rumored that he''d been to the higher-ups and had always bragged to Tang Xian that an ancestor of his, also named Liu Lang, had once saved the world.Tang Xian is the kind of guy who, if you speak seriously to him, he will respond seriously, but if you speak saucily to him, he''s even saucier. So he told Liu Lang that his own ancestor was also called Tang Xian, and had helped save the world together. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two of them, both loving to brag, quickly became friends through their exchanges.


    Seeing Tang Xian, whom he hadn''t seen for some days, Liu Lang smiled and swiftly made a pot of tea.


    "You haven''t been around for about half a month. Did you get promoted?" Liu Lang passed over a teacup.


    Tang Xian took it without any ceremony and said,


    "I did get promoted. Why, were you thinking about me?"


    "Ha, I don''t know about others, but I knew when you got promoted."


    Tang Xian glanced at Liu Lang and, possibly catching the hint in his words, said, "Has there been some complaints in the third mining team recently?"


    "How could there not be? Song Zhe got demoted back to a temporary worker. All the temporary female workers he''d been flirting with are now causing a stir at his place," Liu Lang said with a laugh.


    "That shouldn''t have anything to do with me." Tang Xian never interfered with others'' flirting, let alone gossiped behind people''s backs.


    "Actually, it kinda does. Since you left, the mining quantity of the third team has noticeably decreased, and various KPI indices aren''t up to standard. With one person''s departure, the team''s performance has dropped by thirty percent. When the blame comes down from above, they naturally have to find a scapegoat.


    Everyone at the bottom knows what that Song Zhe did, and now he''s been dealt with," Liu Lang explained with a chuckle.


    Tang Xian was silent for a while.


    Thinking over Liu Lang''s words, it was indeed true that during his time as a temporary worker, he had raised the team''s average output. But having worked as a temp for six years, these guys just didn''t pick up his techniques. In the end, it was not his fault.


    Changing the subject, Tang Xian asked, "How''s business lately?"


    "Same old, not starving to death."


    "I''ve got a big deal and thought of you first."


    "How big of a deal?"


    "About a hundred blocks of purple organic ore. I know you''ve got connections and can trade organic ore for armed ore." Tang Xian promptly took the ore out of his prop bag.


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    Liu Lang gave a wry smile:


    "How do you know everything? You know the gossip from the lower levels, the major events, and even the dealings of little guys like me?"


    Tang Xian said, "If you want to know, you''ll have to give me a sixty percent discount."


    "Then forget it. I''d rather have money than secrets. I won''t ask how you got these ores, but you''ve got to tell me the truth¡ªis this ore hot?" Liu Lang looked into Tang Xian''s eyes.


    Tang Xian said,


    "It''s all legitimate. I traded for it with hunting points."


    "Oh, you became a hunter? A promotion, huh. Just these ores? Aren''t you planning on having me make something for you?" Liu Lang asked.


    "You''re not skilled in making tools, and besides, that''s illegal and doesn''t fit my socialist style. I just want you to help me exchange some ore, two-for-one ratio is fine, but the quality must be purple."


    Tang Xian found, to his surprise, that the tea was quite good¡ªLiu Lang still knew how to live.


    "That''s not too difficult. Are you planning to make a weapon? From the sound of it, have you found a smith?" Liu Lang looked at Tang Xian with increasing regard, thinking him an extraordinary person.


    Tang Xian nodded; he was even considering forging a weapon himself. Hunters were allowed to equip weapons, which was also within the law.


    But this required specialized equipment, which only Ke had.


    Having already troubled more than one old classmate, troubling one more made no difference. A lot of things were like that¡ªif there''s a first time, there will be a second.


    Of course, everyone who dealt with Tang Xian would end up happy in the end.


    Liu Lang took the job.


    Tang Xian was not surprised at all. The owner of this blacksmith shop was not as simple as he appeared.


    ...


    ...


    After running around a few places, the last person Tang Xian contacted was Shang Lu.


    He asked Shang Lu for some seeds.


    "Tomatoes, sweet potato leaves, bok choy? Xian, what do you need these seeds for? There''s nowhere to plant them in the lower levels." On the phone, Shang Lu was utterly confused.


    "I''m farming in a mining area," Tang Xian said.


    "Xian, how come you and Miss Li are the same, always doing things that baffle people? Are you two plotting something? She also asked me for some plants before, but she wanted finished fruits, like papayas and grapefruits," Shang Lu said.


    Tang Xian was stunned for a second before quickly coming up with an answer, then laughed and said,


    "Next time she asks you for something, just tell her that dietary therapy isn''t as good as massage. Some things aren''t about eating them in large quantities, but about putting in some effort."


    "Okay. I''ll pass the message to her," Shang Lu didn''t think much about it, and since Xian said it, it must be right.


    "By the way, Xian, if you''re farming in the mining area, could you help me research the growth cycles and changes in condition of Earth''s crops in the mining area? To see if they might mutate, like tomatoes growing as big as watermelons," Shang Lu''s point of interest was also rather strange.


    Tang Xian said,


    "It''s worth researching. The soil in the mining area is rich in various organic mineral elements, so it really might produce giant crops. Bogen fruits can''t be taken out since they''re contraband, but if carrots and cucumbers grow a bit larger, they''d surely be more popular with the wealthy ladies on the third and fourth levels, and sales would certainly be high."


    Shang Lu didn''t understand why larger cucumbers and carrots would sell better, but he agreed:


    "Alright, I''ll go down and get you those vegetable seeds in a bit."


    "Much appreciated."


    Shang Lu was quite efficient, and less than an hour after hanging up the phone, he arrived at the bottom floor and handed a bag of sealed seeds to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian then took out some of his usual notes and gave them to Shang Lu.


    Consider it a repayment to Shang Lu.


    This time Shang Lu didn''t insist. It was just what he wanted to know, to see if Xian''s opinions on plants would be helpful for his future research.


    The two didn''t exchange pleasantries and went their separate ways after they were done.


    After running around several places, Tang Xian finally finished some of the things he needed to do inside the Pyramid.


    When he returned home, Dong Ran was telling Tang Xiaojiu a story.


    The story was short, about how the fox deceived the tiger, claiming that the fox was the most feared animal by all, and if the tiger didn''t believe it, the tiger could follow behind the fox for a round of patrol.


    In short, it''s the story of ''the fox borrowing the tiger''s might.''


    But little Tang Xiaojiu couldn''t understand why it was the fox borrowing the tiger''s might, why not the tiger borrowing the fox''s might?


    So Tang Xiaojiu said, "Big Chest Sister, why is the fox afraid of the tiger? Is it because eating tiger meat causes recurrent vomiting?"


    Dong Ran was bewildered; what was this all about?


    Just then, Tang Xian came back.


    He overheard Tang Xiaojiu''s question and laughed, "The ''Medical Forest Compilation'' mentions tiger meat as strengthening muscles and bones, aiding digestion, resolving throat obstructions, and tiger penis soaked in liquor even makes a significant contribution to enhancing human sexual relations."


    "The ''Other Records'' even say that tiger meat is a remedy for nausea and vomiting, it boosts energy and strength, and not only does it not cause vomiting, but it also helps with the digestive system. I''ll take you to eat tiger sometime, there''s a kind of gemstone tiger in the forest, but they''re not easy to catch."


    Tang Xiaojiu excitedly jumped up.


    Dong Ran felt that the painting styles of Tang and Tang Xiaojiu were a bit off ¨C the gemstone tiger was a perfect level boss creature, much stronger than a hellhound. It was an understatement to say they were "not easy to catch."


    Tang Xian said, "It''s about time. Get ready to go to the mining area. There''s a lot to do this time in the mining area. Be prepared to stay for five days."


    He was addressing Dong Ran, who was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Ah, is it going to take that long to kill Yi Niu?"


    Tang Xian threw a newspaper to Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran didn''t understand what it meant, and only after a few seconds did she recall what Tang had said earlier today.


    Indeed, most of the news in this world are sensationalist pieces by bootlicking journalists, but Fortress News was like the prime time news of ancient times, written by the finest authors from all over, rationally selecting the most significant events based on priority.


    Dong Ran quickly noticed one of the news items:


    [Hunter Major Event: The top-ranked team "Scorched Blood Group," number twenty-nine in the hunting rankings, was attacked by a disaster-level creature in Waning Time Valley!]


    Dong Ran quickly read the news. The Scorched Blood Group, being a highly reputed team among Huaxia hunters, once had a terrifying record of hunting five perfect level creatures in three months. The biggest contributor to this was the team leader, the most outstanding active physician at Central Hospital of Fortress Twenty-One ¨C Qiao Shanshan.


    A doctor with only three talents but an exceptionally strong healing ability awakened.


    Dong Ran thought of a possibility and said, "Tang, you''re not planning to..."


    "Hmm, the report says that the Scorched Blood Group was wiped out, but I think Qiao Shanshan is probably still alive. She kind of fits the persona I have in mind for someone who''s tangibly indestructible."

 Chapter 39 The Mission to Rescue Tang Busi

    Mining area, forest of trees.After arranging the matters to follow, Tang Xian brought Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu to the mining area.


    To Dong Ran''s astonishment, Tang had actually brought a child to the mining area. Only when she noticed how familiar Tang Xiaojiu was with the surroundings of their treehouse residence did she realize that Tang Xiaojiu had been to the mining area before.


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    Dong Ran was very curious about Tang Xiaojiu''s identity and how she had come to be there.


    Reading the numerous doubts in Dong Ran''s mind, Tang Xian did not resolve them but simply said,


    "You must not tell Li Xiaoyu about this."


    "Why? Miss Second won''t be jealous of a child."


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "It''s unrelated to that imbecile, in any case, this matter about my sister, apart from future team members, must not be mentioned to anyone else."


    Tang Xian spoke in a calm tone, but his gaze was very serious. Dong Ran nodded in understanding.


    Observing Dong Ran''s current level of frankness, Tang Xian was reassured and said,


    "The reason I don''t tell you is not that I don''t trust you. It''s just that some things are troublesome to explain and there''s no need. Xiaojiu is someone we should protect and be close with. That''s all you need to understand."


    "I also find Xiaojiu very cute," Dong Ran said.


    Tang Xian nodded appreciatively, noticing that Dong Ran liked Tang Xiaojiu and that Tang Xiaojiu also liked Dong Ran. Having a woman looking after her would certainly be more convenient than a man doing it.


    "Big Chest Sister, are you calling me? Is there something to eat?" The little fox''s ears were sharp, accurately capturing her name within the faint dialogue between the two.


    Tang Xian started cooking fish, as the air in the mining area was fresh, naturally inducing the desire to eat.


    Dong Ran held Tang Xiaojiu''s little hand, watching Tang Xian prepare the food.


    "Tang, it''s been four days since that report... Is Qiao Shanshan still alive?"


    "I don''t know. If she''s been badly injured and has held on until now, even after the whole team has died, she would be the person I''m looking for."


    What Tang Xian was making was Zhuge grilled fish, having prepared the oil and other ingredients before his departure. Now that he had the side dishes, he could make a real grilled fish dish, rather than just simple barbeque.


    "But why wouldn''t she return? I think Qiao Shanshan is mostly likely dead already; otherwise, why wouldn''t she go back to the Pyramid?" Dong Ran said.


    "Maybe the portable teleport fracture device broke, or perhaps the trauma she suffered was too much, and it affected her mind. Anyway, since the news mentioned she has not returned, it means we can find her, or at least her body," Tang Xian handed Dong Ran a handkerchief.


    Dong Ran didn''t understand, then following Tang Xian''s gaze, she realized that Tang Xiaojiu was drooling in anticipation.


    "But tomorrow is the fifth day..."


    "Is there a problem with the fifth day?" Tang Xian asked, puzzled.


    "Don''t you die if you stay in the mining area for seven days?" Dong Ran said.


    Tang Xian knocked Dong Ran on the head and calmly said,


    "Seven days are seven days, five days are five days. People always love to set psychological barriers for themselves. In response to the rule of certain death after seven days, they limit themselves to leaving the mining area within five days. Over time, five days become three, and three become one. Exiting and re-entering take ten hours¡ªwouldn''t that be a waste of time?


    "From now on, shift your internal safety line to six days, twenty-three hours, fifty-nine minutes."


    Dong Ran was shocked. Tang''s way of thinking was fierce. To stay in the mining area for six days, twenty-three hours, fifty-nine minutes? Was he a devil?


    It felt like driving at the edge of a cliff.


    To reach the destination in the shortest time, you must go as fast as possible. But to prevent falling off the cliff, you also have to brake in advance.


    "How long will it take us? It will take a good amount of time just to get to Waning Time Valley, right? And then there''s the time to find her; we might even exceed seven days."


    Tang Xian stopped what he was doing to give the question some thought.


    After about five or six seconds, Tang Xian finally said, "We''ll probably find her within three to five hours before Qiao Shanshan''s seven-day limit. Hmm, there''s enough time. We won''t die."


    "..." Dong Ran was speechless.


    Could Tang''s concept of having ample time be different from ordinary people''s?


    ...


    ...


    A night passed. Tang Xiaojiu slept holding onto Dong Ran. Both the wooden house and the fox den had hard pillows.


    Tang Xiaojiu was originally accustomed to it, but after sleeping with Dong Ran, she couldn''t get used to it anymore. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Considering the time to spare, Tang Xian had intended to sleep in, as most people are in a rush in the mining area and would only relax in the Pyramid.


    Contrarily, Tang believed the mining area was the proper place to rest. In comparison, the Pyramid with all its running up and down, buying this and that, was troublesome.


    However, a stupid bird woke him up.


    "Gazi! Tang Xian, get up. A strange woman has come into the house!" Tang Gazi believed Tang Xian was a good friend and should warn him of the danger.


    Especially after seeing Tang Xiaojiu''s formidable strength, having collapsed into the bosom of this strange woman, Tang Gazi kept sounding the alarm.


    It was just like an owl alarm clock.


    Tang Xian woke up. He opened his bloodshot eyes and rubbed the sleep from them, and his first thought was how best to cook a mynah''s tongue.


    Luckily, once Tang Xiaojiu woke up, Tang Gazi stopped calling.


    "Ah... there are birds that can talk! This bird even called out your name!" Dong Ran exclaimed as if she had discovered a new continent.


    Tang Xian glanced at the dumb bird and the dumb woman.

 Chapter 39 The Mission to Rescue Tang Busi - Part 2

    Suddenly laughed again.The treehouse was more lively than ever before.


    After Tang Xian''s explanation, Dong Ran learned that not all creatures in the mining area were hostile to humans.


    Although Tang Gazi was talkative and somewhat foolish, his favorite thing was the beautiful bodies of various female species, so as soon as he found out that this woman was an ally, he quickly grew fond of Dong Ran.


    Amongst bird species, the mynah bird had a rather cute appearance, which Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu liked very much.


    Tang Xian was sure that Tang Xiaojiu''s fondness was similar to his own, mixed with a liking for the taste of bird meat.


    Watching Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi,


    Dong Ran couldn''t help but wonder what Tang had experienced in the mining area. How in just a few days, he had faced hellhounds, gained a little sister, and even became friends with a bird that could speak human language? His adventures were quite rich.


    The sky was just right, and the crisp morning air quickly sobered Tang Xian up. He found it very comfortable and thought it was the perfect time to travel, so he prepared to take Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu to Waning Time Valley.


    "I''m going too, I''m going too," Tang Gazi said upon hearing this, hoping to follow Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian hoped to have someone to look after the house. With that in mind, he realized he couldn''t always leave a foolish bird in charge, so should he get a hellhound as a guard dog instead?


    He pondered this for two seconds and then dismissed the idea, as raising a dog seemed difficult, mainly because he would eventually have to eat dog hotpot.


    "The place I''m going to has monsters that specifically eat birds," Tang Xian decided to continue leaving Tang Gazi to watch the house.


    "I''m not going! I''m not going!" Tang Gazi quickly shook his little head. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How come he had never noticed before that this world was full of creatures that wanted to eat birds? It seemed he couldn''t leave the treehouse, as the outside world was too dangerous. What a hard bird life!


    ...


    ...


    Choosing the forest sea as a dwelling place was no random choice for Tang Xian. This place was originally a yellow zone and was located at the central position of the terrain explored by humans. To the south was the region where humans were active.


    For example, the Red Soil Forest.


    To the north was an area that humans did not dare to venture into much. In short, the swampy forest had many accessible routes and offered many destinations.


    Now that the forest sea was a red zone, humans hardly set foot there, which suited Tang Xian''s requirements in various aspects.


    For instance, to get to Waning Time Valley, it only required a seven-hour journey. However, with two girls in tow, the trip was slower than expected.


    Not to mention Tang Xiaojiu displayed a super ability, super eating.


    About every half hour, Tang Xiaojiu would say, "Tang Xian, what are we eating next?"


    So they traveled quite slowly, but fortunately, with the little fox on the way, Tang Xian did not bother to apply Red Line Grass since he wasn''t worried about any reckless wild beasts.


    Creatures at the elite and perfect levels basically dared not show themselves.


    At least in the northern part of the forest sea, within a vast range, there was no faking tiger by fox, only faking fox by tiger.


    As dusk approached, Tang Xian finally saw the outline of Waning Time Valley from afar.


    There was a reason for the name "Waning Time." The place had guide-post locust trees that were even larger and more towering than Hundred-Handed Wood, with a canopy that blocked out the sun. With the exception of deep autumn and winter, there was basically no sunlight here, as if the daylight was incomplete.


    This place was a yellow zone, and among the possible creatures to encounter, the greatest threat was, indeed, disaster-level beasts, but now, Waning Time Valley was supposed to be free of them.


    From a distance, Tang Xian saw the enhanced-level creatures, Black Spotted Monkeys, on the guide-post locust trees.


    These monkeys were quite weak and extremely timid; if they displayed activity, it meant that this place most likely didn''t have any creatures beyond perfect-level bosses.


    "Tang, Waning Time Valley is so big, how are we going to find our way?" Dong Ran was very curious.


    "If a person is still alive and injured in such a place, they would naturally choose a cave close to the water source. We need to think more¡ªour heads, as the part that can be described above the neck, should be put to good use."


    Tang Xian did think so. Coming up with a way to find Qiao Shanshan wasn''t hard, but he realized he didn''t have to think about it at all.


    Having killed two hellhounds, his prestige, resistance, and even damage to the hellhounds was enhanced. But for Tang Xian, the most useful attribute right now was his sense of smell.


    "But with the current terrain and visibility, you don''t need to use your brain¡ªjust follow me."


    Dong Ran had gotten used to Tang Xian''s put-downs and obediently followed behind him.


    Tang Xian sensed some odors and had a basic understanding of the situation in Waning Time Valley.


    Qiao Shanshan was still alive; the faint scent of her perfume didn''t mix with any smell of rotting flesh, nor was there the smell that accompanies festering wounds. But there was another rather unique scent.


    Tang Xian smiled. Qiao Shanshan was quite clever. The situation might be better than he had imagined.


    The place was dim even in daylight, and at dusk, it became even darker. With many wild animals around, he had to walk more slowly.


    With Tang Xiaojiu present, they didn''t fear the wild beasts¡ªit was just troublesome. They were animals that one could tell just by their smell wouldn''t taste good, and there was no need to kill them.


    In the pitch-black environment, Tang Xian''s steps were slow but smooth, never pausing, which even surprised Dong Ran.


    Even Tang Xiaojiu, who looked like a five or six-year-old child, had a spring in their step, hopping and jumping along with Dong Ran and Tang, seeming very relaxed.


    With so many things about Tang Xian that didn''t follow common logic, Dong Ran decided it wasn''t worth the effort to ponder it.


    If Tang Xian said something was there, then it definitely was. Why use their brain? Working this way was both relaxed and efficient.


    Under Tang Xian''s lead, a faint light appeared not far from their view.


    ...


    ...


    Qiao Shanshan was a bit hungry.


    Using the krypton sulfur compound in her medical kit, which emitted a scent that was fairly mild to humans but strong to animals, she had not been attacked by other creatures all these days. But she couldn''t leave either.


    At the place she wanted to go to, there were two Perfect-Level creatures blocking the path. Discover exclusive content at empire


    Contrary to the norm, these two creatures weren''t repelled by the scent, which astonished Qiao Shanshan. It was as if they were following a command to guard the valley.


    Before this mission, as the team leader, Qiao Shanshan had left clues at the Pyramid. If she didn''t return in three days, she had arranged for someone from the newspaper to publish news about it.


    She believed that the news of her team''s demise had likely already been released by the Pyramid. But even so, it was unlikely anyone would come to rescue her.


    Qiao Shanshan had been in the valley for six days. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to go back; it was just that the portable teleportation rift was broken.


    One by one, her dear friends had been devoured by the cataclysmic Nvwa Snake, which also gave her the resolution to face death.


    But to her despair, the giant snake eventually left, and she wanted to follow it but couldn''t get past the two Perfect-Level creatures blocking the valley''s exit.


    There was still some water, as the water sources here were very clean.


    But food was scarce.


    Qiao Shanshan, who majored in medicine and had exceptionally strong healing abilities, was unfamiliar with the plants in the mining area. To her, the oddly shaped plants in this place were probably not just inedible but also dangerous to approach.


    Exhausted and hungry, she slumped inside the cave, her nose twitched, and she suddenly smelled the scent of fruit.


    Qiao Shanshan squinted her weak eyes, savoring the pleasant illusion in her breath.


    But then she felt something patting her face.


    "Wake up, you get sleepy when you''re hungry? Hungry thing, want a Bogen Fruit?" Tang Xian said, slapping Qiao Shanshan''s face and teasing her with his voice.

 Chapter 40 Hurry Up

    Qiao Shanshan''s eyes widened as a force gripped her cheeks and chin, forcing her mouth open. Her consciousness was quickly returning, and she could already see an unfamiliar man at the corner of her eye.The man was rough, stuffing some unidentifiable object right into her mouth.


    "No need to thank me. Nice to meet you, I''m Tang Xian."


    After pushing the Bogen Fruit into Qiao Shanshan''s mouth, Tang Xian wore a smile. His tone was gentle, like that of a tender-hearted, warm man. Tang Xian also thought of himself as very warm, having saved Qiao Shanshan''s life and even hand-feeding her.


    He figured the first impression must be quite good.


    Qiao Shanshan could only taste the sour and astringent flavor on her taste buds. But she felt a bit more spirited.


    She didn''t speak, just staring at Tang Xian with wide eyes.


    Tang Xian paused for two seconds, then suddenly realized.


    The logic was probably similar to how a person can swallow a light bulb, but can''t spit it back out. Qiao Shanshan didn''t have the strength, it seemed she couldn''t bite through the Bogen Fruit, nor spit it out.


    Something about the scene seemed off, so Tang Xian considerately pulled the Bogen Fruit back out a bit.


    Qiao Shanshan''s face was somewhat red, whether from anger or something else.


    "Who are you?" her voice was weak, but her tone somewhat guarded.


    "I''ve introduced myself already. She''s Dong Ran, this is my sister, Tang Xiaojiu. In short, we are here to rescue you. Also, I''ve formed a team and we''re short a doctor. So I''m here to recruit you as well."


    Tang Xian believed there was plenty of time, but he chose to get straight to the point.


    Dong Ran no longer wished to speak.


    The first impression Tang had given Qiao Shanshan was probably as bad as it gets.


    Seeing that Qiao Shanshan hadn''t eaten, Tang Xian pointed at the fruit and said:


    "This is Bo..."


    "I know, you don''t need to tell me, shut up." As a doctor, Qiao Shanshan naturally recognized some of the plants from the mining area. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her gaze was icy, but she still accepted Tang Xian''s kindness.


    Among the ways to commit suicide, the least likely to succeed was to starve or suffocate oneself to death.


    Once the craving for food or oxygen reached a certain level, one''s rationality would instantly crumble.


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t like eating in front of others, especially... in front of strangers, and especially such food. The fruit''s unpalatability was one thing, its suggestive shape was another. And there was also a man looking at her calmly. But Qiao Shanshan was just too hungry.


    Looking at the juicy Bogen Fruit, Tang Xiaojiu got tempted again: "Tang Xian, is that fruit tasty?"


    "Want to try?" Tang Xian took out a smaller Bogen Fruit.


    After Tang Xiaojiu took it, she bit into it without hesitation. Two seconds later, her gaze became vacant.


    Everything Tang Xian gave was tasty, so was the fruit really bad or had something happened to her taste buds?


    "Like it? If it''s tasty, eat more." Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Convinced that the first taste was just an illusion, Tang Xiaojiu took another bite, but it still tasted awful. Her panicked and doubting expression amused Qiao Shanshan, who was trying to keep a straight face nearby.


    "You, why are you bullying the kid. Little sister, that isn''t good, just throw it away."


    Tang Xiaojiu glanced at Tang Xian, then at Qiao Shanshan, and back at the food which was supposed to be tasty, and began to question everything.


    Seeing the child''s innocent charm and being rescued by someone had softened Qiao Shanshan''s expression.


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    "I have to return, I''ve been here too many days already. Thank you for saving me, I have some assets, just tell me your contact information, I will repay you." Qiao Shanshan was very calm.


    Tang Xian passed the Red Tail Fruit to Tang Xiaojiu and took the Bogen Fruit from her hand.


    After a bite of the tasty Red Tail Fruit, Tang Xiaojiu had an epiphany; the previous experience had been an illusion, how could anything given by Tang Xian not be delicious?


    Tang Xian said, "Your request is reasonable, but my demand is for you to join my team. I don''t want to waste time on you, I''ll say it straight, either you die here and let the Scorched Blood Group become history, or you choose to live. I will also take you to slaughter the Nvwa Snake. It may not mean much, but since you''re so fixated on revenge, it would at least fulfill a life goal."


    He casually bit into the Bogen Fruit, like he did when he was a child picking cucumbers with his father, eating a bite whenever he held a cucumber in his hands.


    As for the shape of the fruit, and whether eating it looked indecent, people concerned about such things, in Tang Xian''s view, simply weren''t hungry enough.


    Qiao Shanshan found this man to be very blunt. She shook her head:


    "My teammates and I have trained together for four years, we''ve laboriously climbed to the twenty-ninth rank on the Hunters List. They may be dead, but they are forever my teammates and partners, I cannot abandon them. If you have other conditions, I can agree to them."


    "Admirable, then farewell."


    Tang Xian stood up and immediately pulled Tang Xiaojiu to leave.


    Dong Ran was stunned.


    What just happened? Why didn''t Tang insist any further?


    Tang Xian reached the entrance of the cave, and seeing Dong Ran still standing there, he looked at her with a puzzled expression.


    Dong Ran looked back at Qiao Shanshan, then at Tang Xian, and finally followed them.


    They left.


    Qiao Shanshan was a bit dazed.


    Though her response to Tang Xian was not a polite formality but genuine disinterest in joining another team, she had thought to herself that, even if they couldn''t come to an agreement, this man would still save her, right?

 Chapter 40 Hurry Up_2

    He actually just walked away?He should be coming back, right?


    Qiao Shanshan suddenly felt a bit panicked.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian indeed left but didn''t go far.


    In a rare spot in Waning Time Valley where one could see the night sky through the guiding locust tree''s branches and leaves, with Tang Xiaojiu by his side, he started to appreciate the moon in this desolate wilderness.


    The moon was very round tonight.


    Dong Ran, feeling a bit uneasy, said to Tang,


    "Tang, we''ve already come here. Even if Miss Qiao doesn''t agree to join the team, we should still save her."


    "If you want to go, then go. You don''t need to tell me," Tang Xian said calmly.


    "...So are we going to save her or not? If we don''t save her, Miss Qiao will really die."


    "I really envy those who didn''t grow up at the bottom."


    "Ah... what do you mean?" Dong Ran was puzzled.


    "Qiao Shanshan''s death is a foregone conclusion. When a person is in a desperate situation, if they do not have the resolve to abandon everything to survive, then when death comes, they don''t have the right to regret or complain."


    Tang Xian found that the moon was indeed beautiful in every aspect; no wonder so much of human history''s complex emotions were entrusted to it.


    Tang Xiaojiu, too, squatted down, gazing at the small patch of starry sky above her. She didn''t understand what Tang Xian and the big sister were talking about but felt that the moon looked so round and delicious.


    "My coming here is her only chance to survive, breaking the fate that she should have died. She can choose to do everything to meet my demands, to please me. That''s her right."


    "I also have the choice to help her unconditionally, to take her away. Or I may remain indifferent and just pass by here like a sightseer. That''s my right."


    Dong Ran was frozen.


    Experience new stories on empire


    At this moment, Tang carried a kind of rationality that was somewhat uncomfortable.


    "People who let morals guide their thoughts, I admire that kind of person. I sincerely hope they are treated kindly by fate. If possible, I too would love to live in the ancient times of the 21st century, when children often complained about their lives but didn''t have to spend their days worrying about survival like me and those bottom-level workers."


    "The rule of living at the bottom is simple: more work, more gain, equivalent exchange. To get anything, you have to pay a price. Qiao Shanshan wants to live but also wants to reject my demands. To me, this shows her lack of determination to live. Such a person, even if they were to become my teammate in the future, will inevitably die sooner or later. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If she can''t be ''Tang Busi,'' then she might as well die now."


    Tang Xian''s tone was as casual as always, but these words sounded somewhat cold-blooded.


    But that was indeed what he thought.


    A woman was in danger due to her own reasons and was about to die. Unless someone saved her, she was certain to die.


    Then a man arrived, and he could save the dying woman. But if the woman ends up dead, should her death be blamed on the man for not saving her?


    Tang Xian wouldn''t bother with such a ridiculous question, because at the bottom, there are always temp workers dying, and there are always people who could redeem them.


    Indeed, some people do survive. In exchange for their survival, they would do anything, making them seem worthy of redemption to their saviors.


    Others choose to die with pride. Tang Xian respects those people.


    But he does not agree with them.


    He understands and supports Qiao Shanshan''s desire to survive, but as a bottom dweller, he says: Okay, but it''ll cost extra, as sentiment alone is not enough.


    "Let''s go, the night wind is a bit chilly. We''ll set up the tent after leaving the valley."


    After a long silence, Tang Xian suddenly spoke, taking Tang Xiaojiu''s hand and walking northward.


    ...


    ...


    The night was deep. There was wind tonight, blowing south.


    Dong Ran couldn''t sleep, neither could Tang Xian, especially since Tang Xiaojiu was so enamored with the moon. After pitching the tent north of Waning Time Valley, Tang Xian decided to make braised pig''s ears.


    First, though, he went through the trouble of killing two pigs.


    This was why Dong Ran couldn''t sleep.


    Tang Xian asked her to guard the tent, instructing her not to leave it. He, meanwhile, took Tang Xiaojiu out for a stroll.


    During this time, some frightening tremors came from outside Waning Time Valley.


    Before long, Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu returned. In his hands, he carried four bloody pig''s ears,


    These pig''s ears were large, with one as big as two outstretched palms put together.


    The four pig ears were washed clean and then put into the pot.


    It looked enough to fill three people for a while.


    Dong Ran didn''t ask how the two pig ears came about, nor could she recognize what kind of mining area creature these were. Wild pigs in the mines were not easy to kill, but Tang''s standard for difficulty did not apply to such matters.


    About an hour and a half later, Tang Xiaojiu was rolling around on the ground in hunger, when Tang Xian finally finished cooking a plate of braised pig ears.


    "Although those two Iron Can Pigs were really tough, luckily their ears were soft. Alright, come and eat," Tang Xian served the pig ears.


    Tang Xiaojiu bounced up as if resurrected. Dong Ran initially thought she wouldn''t have much appetite but then Tang Xiaojiu brought the plate right up to her face.


    "Big sister, eat," Tang Xiaojiu said, looking up at Dong Ran with wide eyes.


    Tang Xian said, "In the world of a child foodie, their willingness to share delicacies means you''re very important to them."


    Upon hearing this, Dong Ran naturally couldn''t refuse the little girl''s kindness.


    After eating a few slices, she couldn''t help herself. The more she ate, the more she wanted, and the large plate of pig ears quickly disappeared under the combined attack of the two women.


    Dong Ran had felt uncomfortable because Tang Xian hadn''t saved Qiao Shanshan and thought she would be eating without tasting.


    Later, she realized she was overthinking.


    It''s really delicious.


    This time, Tang Xian didn''t let them finish everything. He said,


    "The growth hormones secreted by the stomach not only make people want to eat, but also enhance the sense of smell. You need to slow down the pace of eating a little."


    ...


    ...


    Qiao Shanshan was finding it hard to bear.


    A Bogen Fruit had refreshed her quite a bit.


    But the toughest part of hunger is actually when you still have the energy to feel it.


    Especially now that she could smell the unique sweet and salty aroma of braised cooking.


    It was simply unbearable.


    As a doctor, she certainly knew what her body needed.


    Qiao Shanshan clenched her teeth.


    It was such a mean trick, tempting someone with the scent of delicious food when they were most hungry.


    The wind was blowing south, and that man must have deliberately started cooking in the north for this reason.


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t think for long; after smelling that scent, she ultimately couldn''t resist. After all, even if she were to die, she''d prefer to die on a full stomach, right?


    She propped herself up and slowly headed north.


    Following the sweet scent in her nostrils, her pace didn''t quicken.


    She even stopped.


    Qiao Shanshan looked towards the dark north, slightly puzzled.


    In the north, she had been wanting to leave this place for days, to chase the big snake that had killed members of the Scorched Blood Group.


    But there had always been two Iron Can Pigs guarding there.


    Among Perfect-level creatures, Iron Can Pigs are relatively weaker, but they are still Perfect-level. Qiao Shanshan couldn''t possibly face two adult Iron Can Pigs, not to mention even a senile one without any chance of victory.


    She looked curiously at the darkness ahead.


    How could Tang Xian dare to eat in such a place? Especially such food that could easily attract wild beasts.


    What about those two Iron Can Pigs? Come to think of it, what about the wild beasts around Waning Time Valley?


    Qiao Shanshan moved forward again. Such irresistible flavors to human taste buds couldn''t possibly be made by these ferocious beasts; it must be Tang Xian.


    Perhaps they didn''t realize how dangerous it was. Concerned, Qiao Shanshan quickened her pace. After about fifteen minutes, she saw a tent glowing with a dim light.


    Tang Xian and Dong Ran also saw Qiao Shanshan not far away. Dong Ran was delighted, and Tang Xian was quite calm, saying,


    "Come in and have something to eat?"


    "There are two Perfect-level creatures in this place. Aren''t you afraid of attracting them?" Qiao Shanshan was genuinely concerned.


    Tang Xian said,


    "They''re in the plate. Hurry up before it gets cold; I won''t reheat it."

 Chapter 41 Let the Lie Fly for a While

    Tang Xian was a helpful person, at least when it came to sharing gourmet food, he was never stingy.Humanity had moved into the Pyramid, and the only thing that could help human civilization to continue was the mining zone.


    But don''t think that those with talents in the mining zone could do anything under heaven. In the food chain, humans were ranked very low.


    Making food in the mining zone was a luxury.


    Qiao Shanshan approached Tang Xian with some skepticism and said, "What did you just say? You killed those two Iron Can Pigs?"


    Dong Ran was also shocked; were these pig ears from Iron Can Pigs?


    Tang Xian calmly said, "This isn''t braised food, once it cools, the oil will become very sticky, and the texture will worsen considerably when eaten. Why don''t you try it?"


    Qiao Shanshan, not sure if the creatures from the mining zone were edible, hesitated and, like Dong Ran, was astonished by this man''s actions.


    She didn''t doubt the truth of it, having approached the northern exit, she realized that the two presences had disappeared.


    Two perfect-level creatures, not just any stray cats or dogs, how did they go from predators to prey in less than two hours?


    And they smelled delicious enough to make one''s mouth water.


    Tang Xian said, "Are you going to eat or not?"


    Tang Xiaojiu said, "Big sister, pig ears are so tasty!"


    Qiao Shanshan tried a bite and her eyes widened instantly. The sweet and salty taste, combined with the crisp texture, made her feel even hungrier.


    Only then did Dong Ran show a look of realization. It turned out that Tang had talked so much, ultimately because he had a soft heart. She suddenly felt happy.


    Tang Xian was very pleased with Qiao Shanshan''s expression. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Iron Can Pigs always stayed in one place without moving; obviously, they were following some order. Though you might not believe it, the behavior patterns of the animals in the mining zone are very similar to that of humans and are becoming increasingly so. However, they are more foolish and rigid in their actions¡ªat least the Iron Can Pigs are like that, so they weren''t hard to kill." Experience new stories on empire


    Planning the hunt was the most energy-consuming part for Tang Xian; the actual execution was simple, especially after telling Tang Xiaojiu that the two pigs were edible.


    With the flicker of fox-fire, the weaker Iron Can Pigs among the perfect-level creatures stood no chance.


    Qiao Shanshan looked at Tang Xian, puzzled. To casually kill two perfect-level creatures suggested a level of ability that could top the hunters, right?


    She indeed had not heard of this man''s name before.


    "Even though you now know I''m powerful and that my pig ears are tasty, I won''t jack up the price. You just need to be my doctor and join my team. By the way, I will help you with your revenge. You should not underestimate that Nvwa Snake. Even if you found a bunch of the strongest hunters to go after it, ignoring whether they could find it or not, they would be marching to their deaths if they did."


    Tang Xian always wore a smile, and his tone never changed.


    It was like discussing a fair trade where no one owed anyone else anything. There was no need to debase nor flatter.


    Qiao Shanshan couldn''t help but say, "The strongest hunters can''t do it, and you can? Who do you think you are?"


    "I should mention a rule of the team: first, if the captain says something will happen, it definitely will. Of course, I can do it. In a little while, you''ll be killed by the Seven Day Rule unless you make up your mind. Consider your options while you eat; I''m not in a hurry. I''ll stay here overnight."


    The roads were hard to travel by night, and Tang Xian didn''t like moving through the mining zone at night either.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan turned their gaze to Tang Xian''s somewhat handsome face.


    This man was probably the least modest they had ever seen.


    Yet there was a difference in the expressions of the two women; Dong Ran found the newly formed team rule somewhat persuasive.


    Qiao Shanshan asked in confusion, "If you''re as powerful as you say, why not seek out the many excellent doctors available and come looking for me?"


    Tang Xian looked at Qiao Shanshan with a smile and said:


    "If you want to hear how special you are, prettier than others, or that you have unknown strengths, you would normally have to join my team first."


    "But since you''re about to die, there''s no harm in telling you. You''ve actually made a significant contribution to humanity. The earlier versions of the nutrition meal, though nutritious and not too bad in taste, still had much room for improvement. As a doctor, you think the adage ''bitter medicine cures disease'' is rather backward.


    If one can ensure the medicine''s effectiveness, its unpalatable nature should be eliminated as much as possible."


    "¡­"


    Qiao Shanshan thought this man valued her healing abilities and knowledge, but she was surprised that his focus was on something so trivial.


    It was a paper she had written in the medical journal "Modern Medicine," advocating the idea of "sweet medicine." She believed that although nutrition meals could supplement everyone''s needs, making them tastier could help people enjoy them more and create less mental resistance to taking them in.


    "From changing the external flavor of medication to transforming humans'' attitude towards food. I can imagine those old pedantic doctors scoffed at your views, but I think they are remarkable. I later sent your article to the people now in charge of researching the nutrition meals."


    Qiao Shanshan was taken aback; she had no idea about this. Although she had published that article, it didn''t get much readership. Her mentors, too, had said that she should focus less on the patients'' tastes and more on improving her medical skills.


    And that was all five years ago.


    "Then the nutrition meals really did undergo a revision, so for the past few years, the food people have been eating has become more and more delicious. Even though I really don''t like nutrition meals, I believe that a doctor who advocates ''sweet medicine,'' regardless of their medical skills, at least has a spirit of finding joy amidst hardship."

 Chapter 41 Let the Lie Fly for a While_2

    Life on the lower levels was harsh.Tang Xian always managed to live well, but compared to the comfortable lives of those on the higher levels, his existence could only be considered making the best of a hard lot.


    No matter the circumstances, one must strive to live on in the best way possible.


    "Just this?" Qiao Shanshan raised an eyebrow.


    After all, she was not only the team leader of the Scorched Blood Group but also a well-known hunter. In these times, hunters debuting in the "C" position were common, but those debuting in the "S" position were quite rare.


    "Just this."


    Tang Xian was unyielding and continued:


    "I''m not joking with you. If you''re hungry, I can share some food with you because I think it''s tasty and can remind one of the days when we had the right to eat meat. But if you''re dying, I won''t save you. We''re strangers, and if you want me to save you, you''ll have to accept my demand."


    "You''re taking advantage of the situation!" Qiao Shanshan said angrily.


    "You can''t imagine the benefits you''re missing. But never mind, death can push people to their limits. As you wait to die and keep thinking, maybe it will make your mind sharper."


    Qiao Shanshan felt uneasy.


    She had never encountered such an approach to recruitment, completely void of sentiment. As the brightest core member of the Scorched Blood Group, Qiao Shanshan had been targeted for recruitment many times, with most people laying the groundwork early, trying to make contact and curry favor with her.


    But this man in front of her, he did nothing of the sort; he simply said, "Join me or die."


    Yet his calm expression seemed casual but not dismissive.


    If she did not agree, this man would truly watch her die here.


    Speaking of which... she had been here for over six days already. The portable transport fissure recorded the time of entry into the mining area, turning red after exceeding five days.


    Qiao Shanshan could feel that with each passing second, death crept one step closer.


    "As for the seven-day death rule, I need to tell you that it will be excruciating when the time comes."


    "Your heart will pound as if it''s about to burst, the blood vessels around the ventricles will rupture, and at the same time, the brain will lose control over the body. All you''ll be able to do is blink your eyes, but you won''t be able to make a sound."


    "Then your consciousness will blur more and more, but you won''t die peacefully in the chaos. You''ll feel a bone-chilling cold, as if walking through ice and snow. Theoretically, you shouldn''t make it that far; your body will already be dead before your consciousness enters the realm of cold."


    "But if such consciousness persists after death, then you''re doomed to be trapped in the cold forever. It''s quite an uncomfortable thought."


    "If you could commit suicide in your consciousness, I would suggest you try to end yourself. I''m not fooling you, or you could try to kill yourself now, otherwise, dying by the mysterious rules of this mining area will be exceptionally painful."


    Tang Xian always spoke in a tone that suggested the moon was bright tonight, yet it sent chills down the spine of Qiao Shanshan, who was also a doctor.


    Was this man a devil?


    After a long silence, she said, "If I really agree to your terms, and then return to the Pyramid, how would you know I''ll keep my promise?"


    "I show the proper respect and trust to my team members," he said.


    That was the truth, but Tang Xian had only told half of it. What he truly believed in was the data he saw before his eyes.


    Gender: Female.


    Morality value: 61.


    Greed and sensuality index: 17.


    Affection level: 5 (strangers).


    Financial assessment: 27 (small savings).


    Liked things: Delicious food.


    Disliked things: Nvwa Snake.


    Stay updated through empire


    Feared things: Nvwa Snake.


    Current honesty level: 20 (superficial).


    Charm value: 67 (pretty as a picture).


    Current luck value: 45 (minor luck).


    Current needs analysis:


    [Kill the Nvwa Snake (40%)]


    [Gain Tang Xian''s trust through deceit (30%)]


    [Leave the mining area (25%)]


    [Other (5%)].


    ```


    Current demand analysis refers to the degree of desire for something and also affects the probability of doing that thing, the desire to kill the Nvwa Snake is the greatest, but Qiao Shanshan is incapable of that.


    Tang Xian had also conducted a study wherein people with higher morality scores are more likely to turn a lie into truth in the future, even when they tell a lie at a time when their honesty is very low.


    Especially since the two shared common interests, Tang Xian wasn''t too worried about being deceived.


    Just like when Dong Ran joined his team, he didn''t mind being lied to and could even play along with the act, but the premise was that the lie had to be one that everyone could accept.


    And some thoughts need to take flight for a while.


    "I promise you," she said.


    Qiao Shanshan was not good at lying, so the tone and demeanor with which she spoke made even Dong Ran feel the falsity.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Okay. Congratulations on surviving. From today, you will be the doctor in our team. My team is called Shengtang, and your codename is Tang Busi. This is a portable teleportation fracture, set to the coordinates of the fortress where you are. But the mine''s coordinates are in the forest."


    It''s always good to be able to save someone, so Dong Ran decided not to tell Tang that he had been deceived.


    Qiao Shanshan was also surprised, this man was very smart, she could feel that, but wasn''t he agreeing too readily?


    "After you arrive in the forest, you will see a cabin. If I''m there, you don''t need to pay attention to anything, but if I''m not, just tell the dumb bird that can talk that you are my friend."


    Tang Xian handed the portable teleportation fracture over to Qiao Shanshan. Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop also sold teleportation fractures.


    The portable teleportation fracture was not cheap; even for a formal employee, it was a significant expense. Tang Xian had bought a lot of them.


    Mainly for the convenience of travel.


    Qiao Shanshan found that the return coordinate was indeed set to her own fortress.


    The man seemed to have everything calculated, everything just needed to develop step by step.


    The premise is that one keeps their promise.


    "You would not want to experience what it''s like to stay in the mines for seven full days, so you can leave now," he said.


    Tang Xian handed the plate with the braised pig''s ears to Tang Xiaojiu, who happily went off to eat them.


    Qiao Shanshan took a deep look at Tang Xian, silent as she activated the portable teleportation fracture.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The next morning, as the sun could not penetrate Waning Time Valley, the frequency of bird calls had already picked up.


    When Dong Ran awoke, Tang Xian was already starting to make breakfast.


    The unfortunate animals in Waning Time Valley had waited six days, thinking they could feast on humans, only to find the scent of that weak woman had suddenly vanished.


    And to this rare human-visited place, two ferocious stars had come.


    Waking up early and scouring the valley, Tang Xian had not found anything tasty, as the creatures here mostly smelled foul, which required pickling to remove.


    Breakfast was simple; Tang Xian caught a few pine birds.


    Pine bird soup was delicious and suitable for breakfast.


    Tang Gazi had already eaten the bat-eared birds, which belonged to the losers among birds. It was a pity it wasn''t there; otherwise, giving it a chance to taste pine birds would surely make it prefer them even more.


    Breakfast was prepared under the silent urging of Tang Xiaojiu, and the little girl was eating with her mouth all messy. Dong Ran also ate quite a bit.


    Following Tang Xian, she realized she had to increase her daily exercise, or else she would put on weight.


    "Tang, are we going to catch Yi Niu next?" she asked.


    "Continuing north from Waning Time Valley is the Scorched Wilderness. The leader of the wild bulls there is Yi Niu. After we finish eating, we will go directly to catch Yi Niu. Oh, and make sure you keep this safe," he said.


    Tang Xian''s prop bag was rather messy, so he handed over two iron-can pig Soul Crystals to Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran was at a loss for words. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had witnessed how Tang Xian dealt with the hellhound, but what about those two iron-can pigs from yesterday? Implementing a tactic needed time, too.


    How exactly had Tang killed the two iron-can pigs?


    Tang Xian noticed her perplexity but offered no explanation.


    Dong Ran didn''t ask, thinking that with the skills Tang had shown, he was already worthy of being rated as a top hunter. Out of curiosity, she asked,


    "Tang, the hunting festival is coming up. Are we participating?"


    ```

 Chapter 42 Killing the Ox and Dancing

    ```The Hunting Festival takes place every four years, and Tang Xian had never participated. During the last Festival, he had bet with the temporary miners on which team would win.


    Since he couldn''t enter the Competitive Jungle of the mining area, he could only judge who had the winning odds by observing those who knew the insider information.


    Some people compare the Hunting Festival to the ancient Olympic Games, but Tang Xian thought that was nonsense.


    Indeed, the Festival also occurs every four years and is an important event for humanity in the new era of civilization. But, ultimately, it''s the same as the ancient slaves who fought in the Colosseum, pleasing the audience and slaveowners with their lives.


    Two hundred of the world''s best hunting teams enter the Competitive Jungle in the blue zone, where there are plenty of enhanced creatures, various dangerous plants, and some terrifying elite creatures.


    Compared to the ancient Olympics, the Hunting Festival has no sense of fairness. Out of the two hundred teams, the survival of a thousand people ultimately comes down to which team obtains the most Soul Crystals.


    The process is very brutal, with at least half of the teams never making it out of the Competitive Jungle from all the Festivals in history.


    As for those teams that die, whether killed by the beasts of the mining area or by other humans, no one knows.


    Because live broadcast equipment can''t operate in there, no one knows what happens inside.


    "What''s your take on the Hunting Festival?" Tang Xian rarely asked questions.


    "It''s a stage for competing for honor!" Dong Ran didn''t even have to think about it.


    "What honor?"


    "The ranking of the hunting teams. Many of the teams now in the top twenty didn''t climb up by slowly hunting creatures in the mining area. They made their kills in the Hunting Festival. Teams like that get recognized by all of humanity, and the rewards of the Hunting Festival are very rich."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    He understood Dong Ran''s point and knew why it was so.


    "Because the education from childhood teaches that such internal strife is an honor, I can understand why ancient gladiators would become addicted to the battles in the Colosseum."


    "As for rankings, they''re even more insignificant. Sometimes I wonder what exactly happened during the great calamity hundreds of years ago and how much of human civilization we lost. Many of the systems known as postmodern culture weren''t passed down either."


    Tang Xian''s tone was somewhat cold. Dong Ran was taken aback by his words and didn''t know what to say.


    "Have you ever been outside the Pyramid?" Tang Xian asked a question.


    "Big Brother Tang, what''s gotten into you? I can''t understand a word you''re saying... The outside of the Pyramid is a place of certain death, I heard many death row inmates are directly exiled there. Of course I would never go!"


    "I''ve heard as well, but I haven''t seen it. I''ve seen that one can''t survive seven days in the mining area, but the world beyond the Pyramid where humans absolutely can''t survive, I have no proof of that."


    Dong Ran looked at Tang''s calm expression.


    She had no idea how Tang could associate the Hunting Festival with such a distant place. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian didn''t explain.


    He also experienced times when intuition was quicker than reasoning, a phenomenon that happens much more frequently with smart people.


    After the great calamity, many systems increasingly resembled those of the slave era. Technology was advancing, but civilization was regressing.


    Tang Xian, in fact, had asked many people how many levels there were at the top of the Pyramid. No one had the answer.


    Even Li Xiaoyu, who was born on the sixth level, didn''t know what was at the peak of the Pyramid or what kind of beings lived there.


    The Hunting Festival seemed like a rational plan to eliminate human talents. Yet, through centuries of education, this event turned into a matter of honor and tradition.


    It isn''t that the people around are foolish, Tang Xian was well aware of how biased people''s subjective impressions can become once an activity turns into a tradition.


    Nobody denies how inhumane were the slave-owners who arranged for beasts to fight slaves in the Roman Colosseum.


    But in that era itself, those slaves believed that it was their honor. They were not less intelligent than modern people, it''s just that the word "tradition" holds great power.


    The Hunting Festival is now today''s tradition.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said, "Let''s go, it''s time to catch the ox."


    "Really, Big Brother Tang, you''re truly not going to participate? If you get a good ranking in the Hunting Festival, you could certainly clear your name of the cheater label," Dong Ran still wanted to persist in persuading him.


    "If you rack your brain and can''t figure out that the Hunting Festival is not a fair competition, then from now on you''d better think with the parts of your body you can''t describe with your neck. In the Competitive Jungle, where no one can make a ruling, and there are no laws or fairness, those more powerful than you might consider sparing you because of it."


    Dong Ran''s face turned red¡ªwas she not also looking out for his best interest? Why did he suddenly get so angry? And why did he speak so rudely?


    Naive people always hold beautiful illusions about the unknown. If Dong Ran really saw what the Competitive Jungle was like, she might have nightmares for a month. Tang Xian didn''t pay her any more mind, took Tang Xiaojiu by the hand, and walked towards the wasteland.


    He loathed the Hunting Festival, but whether or not to participate was a separate issue. Dong Ran said so much, but actually, only one thing she mentioned seemed somewhat persuasive to Tang Xian.


    That was the rich rewards of the Hunting Festival.


    As for honor, clearing the cheater''s name, he truly didn''t care about those.


    ```

 Chapter 42 Killing the Ox and Dancing_2

    All is subject to fate, and before the team was complete, even if the hunting festival offered rich rewards, he had no way to participate....


    ...


    The blood-colored wilderness was actually not barren; it''s a grassland, only the grass is red. This grass is not the "Red Thread Grass" but rather, Crimson Heart Grass, and it''s the favorite food of the wilderness cattle.


    This kind of grass actually thrives in the south, and if planted in the red soil forest, it might grow as tall as the Red Thread Grass.


    Wilderness cattle are herd animals, but their leader, Yi Niu, prefers solitude.


    Yi Niu is a type of bull that is very proud. It always stands on the high grounds of the wilderness, not allowing any ordinary cattle to come near, savoring the pleasure akin to "surveying the world from a great height."


    Tang Xian thought it was quite nice.


    Animals are really stupid when they act foolishly. Along the way, Tang Xian chose paths with less Crimson Heart Grass, thereby avoiding the wilderness cattle.


    The most numerous creatures in the blood-colored wilderness were the wilderness cattle; this place was practically their kingdom. The air even carried the scent of cow dung.


    Tang Xian actually wanted to take over this place, who wouldn''t want to own a natural pasture?


    However, there were still many currently unachievable aspects to this plan, so Tang Xian was not in a hurry.


    It would be great to start by eating a Yi Niu to settle his nerves.


    Yi Niu and wilderness cattle do not have a nose as keen as carnivorous animals, but their eyesight is quite good.


    They are somewhat similar to frogs, particularly sensitive to objects in motion.


    Therefore, once in the wilderness, Tang Xian moved leisurely, deliberately slowing down his pace.


    Even though wilderness cattle couldn''t detect the scent of a monster fox, they still did not attack Tang Xian. Tang Xian was sure that as long as he maintained a certain speed, he would not attract the attention of the wilderness cattle.


    "Brother Tang Xian, there are so many cattle here."


    Tang Xian probably guessed Tang Xiaojiu''s thoughts and said, "Not now, but in the future we can consider fencing them in."


    "What does ''fencing them in'' mean?"


    "It''s the preparation work that needs to be done before we eat them. We let them keep producing calves, and then we''ll always have beef to eat."


    Tang Xiaojiu understood. This was indeed a grand plan.


    Dong Ran was a little worried: "These cattle are rough and tough; what if we can''t handle them¡­"


    "Don''t worry, when we fight Yi Niu later, it will mainly have its back to you. I''ll direct you to its position, and you just need to keep attacking its belly."


    The highlands of the wilderness were quickly reached.


    The proud Yi Niu, with its three-meter-long body, was arrogantly patrolling its territory; Tang Xian, leading Tang Xiaojiu, walked unhurriedly.


    Soon, Yi Niu saw Tang Xian. It glared with its big eyes, anger evident in its gaze.


    Dong Ran was a little nervous. She trusted Tang Xian in her heart, but this was her first time facing such a formidable creature.


    Tang Xian took out a long ribbon from his bag of tools and tied it around Dong Ran''s waist.


    "Yi Niu is very strong; if its attack hits you once, you will certainly die. Its skin is very tough, and its belly is as well, though comparatively softer. This fight will take some time. Alright, now stand diagonally to it."


    Dong Ran nodded her head.


    Once the fight began, a determined expression surfaced on the girl''s face.


    Though it was bullfighting steps she used, the opening pose was indeed like dancing, with the white ribbon fluttering in the wind, dancing along with Dong Ran''s figure, tracing paths through the air.


    Bulls are animals that get easily excited by constant and irregular movement.


    The proud Yi Niu was especially this way, stamping its front hooves on the spot in the earth, gathering its strength.


    In Dong Ran''s eyes, various values of Yi Niu surfaced: Health Points 12000, Attack Power 2400.


    As Tang had said, this creature was powerful, hard to kill, and had the strength to deliver a death blow in a single hit.


    But its speed was a few beats slower than her own.


    Yi Niu charged.


    "From now on, repeat dance steps one through six in a cycle," rang out the voice of Tang Xian.


    Dong Ran couldn''t reply, in a life-or-death moment like this, all she could do was trust Tang Xian.


    The dance steps were light and quick, as if an entire maglev train was hurtling towards her at top speed. After skillfully evading Yi Niu with her second dance step, she felt the blast of air rush past her.


    How terrifying was that charge?


    She didn''t pause, for evading the Yi Niu''s charge also meant she had to dodge the sweep of its tail and the kick of its hind legs.


    But the third and fourth dance steps also perfectly avoided these attacks.


    The fifth step was a retreat, a large distance back, and the sixth step was to return to position.


    At this time, Dong Ran realized that she had arrived at the same spot where Yi Niu had begun its charge while Yi Niu had taken her previous position.


    Tang Xian revealed a smile.


    This girl Dong Ran had many faults, but her execution was not bad, and she had practiced the dance steps diligently. To help the girl accept them better, he certainly tried to make the dance steps appear graceful. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially when combined with the fullness in front of her chest, the bouncing movements could make any man feel pleased to the eye.


    "Continue, reverse positions, cycle through steps one to six."


    Having dodged the first time, Dong Ran gained confidence.


    Yi Niu''s charge could unleash a power far beyond its attack value. In simple terms, this creature''s attack power and health exceeded that of a perfect-level creature, but its speed and stamina were far less than that of an ordinary perfect creature.


    When it charged, the ground shook as if an earthquake were happening, and when it ran, the highlands of the wilderness trembled slightly.


    But a miss took its toll on Yi Niu as well.


    The white ribbon swayed in the wind, serving like a cat''s cradle teasing a cat. Yi Niu was particularly susceptible to this. Perhaps all bulls are.

 Chapter 42 Killing the Ox and Dancing_3

    While enjoying the bullfight on one side and the dance on the other, Tang Xian felt it was double the pleasure.He was very happy.


    Dong Ran was also very happy.


    Every beautiful woman is a born dancer, she had never imagined that one day she would be using such graceful steps to deal with a perfect creature.


    Tang was really amazing, such dance steps, he must not have tried them before, right? To have such powerful calculation ability, to ensure the ideal effect in practice?


    Even calculating Yi Niu''s every move, such collisions had already happened for the seventh time, Dong Ran felt no depletion of energy, even if she occasionally needed to stop and deliver two Palm Strikes.


    Yi Niu''s health in her eyes decreased very little. As a human, her attack power was only under three hundred. When hitting Yi Niu, some of that would be canceled out by its defensive power.


    She also had to calculate Yi Niu''s health regeneration speed. Although she couldn''t see this option, occasionally Yi Niu''s health would recover some.


    The numbers were irregular, hard to calculate, seemingly related to the current stamina, which was variable.


    In short, Yi Niu''s life was hard to reduce, but indeed, it was being whittled away bit by bit.


    About half an hour later, Yi Niu''s speed and stamina had decreased somewhat, Dong Ran could even see the defensive power had decreased, the original one hundred and fifty defensive power had actually dropped to one hundred and thirty.


    Even the health didn''t continue to recover.


    "Get ready to change your steps, it will now attempt a counter, you need to keep cycling between the third and fourth steps. Clockwise."


    Dong Ran just nodded slightly.


    As expected, just as Tang Xian had said, Yi Niu seemingly realized its charges were ineffective, and began to constantly attack Dong Ran with its tail and hind kicks.


    Dong Ran, following Tang Xian''s instructions, evaded easily with the third and fourth dance steps, especially when diagonally facing Yi Niu''s flank, she could comfortably land blows on Yi Niu''s abdomen.


    Another half an hour passed.


    Yi Niu''s speed noticeably slowed down a lot, the hind kick''s speed slowed, giving Dong Ran more reaction time.


    Tang Xian spoke, "Okay, now you can improvise. Face it using the first and second dance steps, the side third and fourth, just remember that. Your Gust Palm should hit the same spot every time."


    ...


    ...


    One hour later, Yi Niu was lying on the ground, gasping for breath. Its abdomen had been struck with a terrifying wound, its strength nearly exhausted, and a certain luster in its eyes was dimming by the minute.


    Tang Xian squatted in the distance, watching Yi Niu.


    Yet suddenly, he heard Yi Niu''s voice in his sea of consciousness.


    "Why would an existence like you scheme against me? Why would you exhaust me in such a way, despicable being!"


    Tang Xian laughed, this bull was really interesting. He squatted down and said,


    "Who would want to eat beef that''s been running around for a whole day and night, huh? Who wants to kill a cow and then have to hop and skip for two hours, huh? You think I like this? If I could slaughter you with one cut, would I bother with this? As a top-level ingredient evolving into this impervious state, is this something a normal bull should do?


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    Do you have any of the awareness a bull should have?"


    Yi Niu was stunned, it had never encountered such an unreasonable person in its bovine life, this person actually wanted to eat it? And complained that it was too tough to consume? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian had a way to kill Yi Niu outright, after all, with a single burst of foxfire from Tang Xiaojiu, the steak would be cooked medium-well.


    But the way Tang Xian preferred to prepare beef was to slow cook it until tender, and then pair it with potatoes cooked into a curry.


    As for how to eat it, Tang Xian didn''t want to think too much about that at the moment, he had more troublesome matters to attend to.


    Like how to gut this bull.

 Chapter 43 The Cow that Doesnt Lose Skills and the Busy Woman

    Many people can kill a chicken, but fewer can slaughter a pig.In slaughtering livestock, it''s best to kill with a single blow. In folklore, having to use a second knife stroke when killing a pig is said to bring about misfortune.


    Folk tales should not be taken at face value, as this is just a sign of respect for the animals, similar to how executioners strive to behead a convict with one clean sweep of the blade. If the blade gets caught in the neck, even a condemned criminal should not have to suffer such pain.


    Killing pigs is a skill, but slaughtering cattle requires even more care. The common practice in rural areas is to tie up the four legs of the cow, make a cut in the throat, and then wait slowly for the blood to drain.


    As for the legendary Butchering an Ox, if such a technique were to be available today, it could be considered a lost martial art.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brow, hesitating for a moment.


    Yi Niu was not easy to kill.


    Though it had a wound on its belly and was running out of strength, it was ultimately a perfect-level creature.


    Its throat was also very tough. Tang Xian was not sure if his kitchen knife could neatly cut through Yi Niu.


    What followed was somewhat gruesome, as Tang Xian could only jab the knife into Yi Niu''s wound. However, this first attempt didn''t succeed, and after several tries, he finally made another cut beside the existing wound.


    Before long, Yi Niu was close to death.


    "Even as a ghost... I will not let you off."


    "An ox spirit? My next target is a snake, so you might have some company. Perfect, an ox demon and a snake spirit can make a pair."


    Dong Ran remembered Tang bantering with the creatures in the mines last time and wondered, was Tang deliberately speaking nonsense to them?


    Blood slowly seeped from the wound.


    Tears appeared in Yi Niu''s eyes, just as the saying goes: "Pigs are dunces, sheep are warriors, tears of a cow spin in its eyes."


    This was a sign of a cow''s impending death.


    Tang Xian continued to jab at the cow with his knife, not feeling so great about it. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he had said, of course, he preferred to end Yi Niu''s suffering with one stroke¡ªa mercy to the creature intended for food, allowing it to die swiftly.


    But he wasn''t able to do it at the moment.


    Information began to surface in his mind, like when he had killed the Hellhound and the Iron Can Pig, granting him increased resistance and damage against Yi Niu.


    However, Tang Xian realized not all creatures dropped abilities.


    The Hellhound had indeed dropped an "[Enhanced Smell]" skill, which was very useful, but the Iron Can Pig, the Bat with Cat Ears, and Yi Niu had not dropped any skills.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind. As he continued on his gastronomic journey, he was bound to encounter some creatures in the mines that had special abilities to offer.


    His gaze fell on the knife in his hand.


    "Looks like I need to hurry up and get Ke to make me a knife."


    The kitchen knife had been dulled and blunted by the tough cowhide and could no longer be used. Fortunately, Tang Xian had a spare knife, and he was finally able to break open the cow''s belly.


    "Do you want the Soul Crystal?" Tang Xian was asking Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran was startled, "You don''t want it?"


    Usually, the team leader would be the one to manage the Soul Crystals.


    "You contributed the most today. We all share the food, so you take the Soul Crystal," Tang Xian said indifferently.


    Dong Ran was a bit surprised and suddenly felt a sweet sensation in her heart.


    "Thank you, Tang."


    Tang Xian nodded, planning to have Tang Xiaojiu melt the cow''s head after he finished slicing the stomach. He said:


    "Go to the bottom of the wasteland and keep watch. The scent of Yi Niu''s death is quite strong and might draw other wasteland cattle."


    "Okay!"


    Dong Ran was also concerned; having killed the leader of the herd on the wasteland cattle''s territory, they could have trouble coping with the enraged herd if discovered.


    Once Dong Ran had left, Tang Xian said to Tang Xiaojiu:


    "Can you burn the cow''s head to ashes?"


    "Can''t the cow''s head be eaten?"


    "It can, but it''s a hassle. Wait till we have our own ranch, then I''ll treat you to a full cow feast."


    "Okay."


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t know what a full cow feast was, but it sounded delicious.


    With her little hands placed upon the cow''s head, she didn''t breathe out fox-fire, as controlling such a small area of flame was easy for her, even at her young age.


    The head of Yi Niu began to burn.


    Under the scorching fox-fire, the cow''s head quickly reduced to a skeletal frame, with the Soul Crystal exposed, a special mineral of the creature that was hard to destroy.


    Tang Xian carefully wrapped the Soul Crystal and then stacked the cow''s internal organs, sealing them with the skins from his tool bag.


    This process was tedious and full of foul smells, taking a full hour and a half.


    After all these tasks, Tang Xian poured water from his canteen over his hands to slowly wash them, finally feeling a bit better.


    "Tonight, we can have a genuine Lianqing tripe hotpot."


    ...


    ...


    After killing the cow, with Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu by his side, Tang Xian started making his way back.


    The journey back to the forest seemed somewhat lengthy.


    Along the way, with some idle time on his hands, Tang Xian pondered some unfinished business.


    For instance, arranging an identity for Tang Xiaojiu. In Tang Xian''s view, aside from being more gluttonous than average, Tang Xiaojiu seemed in every regard to be a cute little girl. Discover hidden stories at empire


    He figured that the adults in the mines would instinctively wish they had a daughter just like Tang Xiaojiu.


    As a descendant of fox spirits, Tang Xiaojiu showed no signs of intellectual deficiency, which was quite rare. The creatures encountered thus far, whether it was the Hellhound, Yi Niu, or Tang Gazi the dimwitted bird, all struggled to escape their animal instincts.


    Qing JiuYu also displayed a bit of this, though not as prominently.


    "Tang Xian, why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Tang Xiaojiu, your happy childhood is about to be destroyed by my hands."


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t understand, her little face gazing blankly at Tang Xian.


    Dong Ran also looked at Tang Xian with a puzzled expression, as if asking a question with her face.

 Chapter 43 The Cow that Doesnt Lose Skills and the Busy Woman_2

    "Starting tomorrow, I will begin teaching you survival knowledge for the mining area. In short, Tang Private School is going to hold classes, and you and Dong Ran are the students. I''m going to start teaching you how to read."Dong Ran was stunned. She could understand preschool education for little children, but why did she have to follow along as well?


    Tang Xian looked at Dong Ran''s expression and said:


    "Is there a problem?"


    "I don''t accept this. I already know how to survive in the mining area¡­ I might not have scored full marks, but I don''t need to attend kindergarten like Tang Xiaojiu, okay?"


    Tang Xian couldn''t be bothered to speak, just using a gaze reserved for newbies to look at Dong Ran for a few seconds.


    Dong Ran''s face turned red.


    Thinking about what she had just said, it might be persuasive to others, but it seemed not to work on Tang...


    This person''s reserves of survival knowledge for the mining area and his ability to apply it were simply monstrous.


    "If I study with you, can I become as formidable as you?"


    "Of course not."


    "¡­"


    Dong Ran looked a bit aggrieved at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s tone wasn''t deliberately discouraging but simply stating a fact.


    In many sects, each generation is stronger than the last, but there are also many where each generation is weaker. Whether a disciple will possess the master''s skills or even surpass the master after the master has taught everything is a topic with an uncertain answer.


    But when it comes to Dong Ran and Tang Xian specifically, there wasn''t much to say. Tang Xiaojiu and the future Qiao Shanshan might be worth the expectation, but the probability was still very low.


    Tang Xian shook his head with some regret, still hoping for a genius successor, or rather, a deputy leader. Someone who could hold up the team when he couldn''t be present.


    Although, currently, this team, including the "casually acting without a certain return date" Qiao Shanshan, was merely three people.


    "Big Sister, what is reading?"


    Dong Ran didn''t have the heart to answer that question. She felt so sorry for Tang Xiaojiu; how could she have ended up with such a freak of a brother like Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian said with a friendly smile:


    "It''s the second most joyful thing in all the world, after eating."


    "Really?" Tang Xiaojiu suddenly became hopeful.


    Dong Ran: "¡­"


    ...


    ...


    Tang Gazi didn''t wait in vain.


    After close to three days, upon seeing Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Xian, and the woman return, it squawked happily.


    Mainly because the tripe hotpot really smelled delicious. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The pure and authentic tripe hotpot had several origin stories, with the most credible probably being a story from a little over a thousand years ago, during the Republic. The birthplace was not north of the Lianqing River, but Zhaifang Street in the lower half of the South Bank city.


    In the past, cattle traders often drove beef cattle to Chongqing via the Sichuan-Guizhou Road, staying overnight on the South Bank before crossing the river early the next day and driving the cattle to be slaughtered at Zhaifang Street.


    The Ma brothers acquired the hard-to-sell tripe and blood curd at a low price. After bleaching and cleaning the tripe and removing the stems, they used it as the main dish, imitated the local "Water Eight Pieces" in preparation and consumption practices, and added a dish made only of a mixture of sesame paste and minced garlic. This is the origin and namesake of the Lianqing Tripe Hotpot.


    Tang Xian knew several ways to make the old hot pot oil, and this time he used the spicy hot pot with authentic Sichuan flavor.


    Dong Ran felt her stomach burning, thinking that she''d breathe fire if she ate a few more bowls.


    But humans can''t breathe fire, so she ate a few more bowls anyway.


    As for Tang Xiaojiu, this truly fire-breathing little loli, she said she couldn''t eat enough at all.


    Tang Gazi, being a bird, was satisfied after just a few shreds of tripe, easy to feed.


    Tang Xian looked at the two women and one bird beneath the red oil and steam, feeling the evening breeze between the trees, his mood was delightful.


    The next few days would be quite busy. Apart from teaching a big and a little girl some knowledge of surviving in the mining area, Tang Xian guessed that Yu Xiaozhe should arrive tomorrow.


    This man was not one to delay. If he didn''t show up on time,


    then Tang Xian would have to give the matter some serious thought.


    Yu Xiaozhe was a wanted criminal with a substantial bounty. His failure to appear on time could only mean that he had run into trouble in reality.


    This matter would have to wait until tomorrow to be concluded; currently, there was another issue that concerned Tang Xian.


    "The Yi Niu with a long handle has six stomachs, and so far, only one has been eaten; there are five left. Though they won''t rot in the prop bag, I don''t want to open the bag and be hit by a stench. While refrigeration technology isn''t new, it''s not applicable in the mining area."


    Tang Xian unexpectedly started the conversation.


    Dong Ran asked, "Then what should we do?"


    Tang Xiaojiu waved his little hand and declared magnanimously:


    "Tang Xian, we just have to eat the remaining five. We''ll have hot pot again tomorrow!"


    Tang Gazi nodded crazily.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    "Old hot pot is delicious, eating it occasionally is harmless, but eating it consecutively is a different story, you can''t eat this every day. I need to figure out how to raise an Ice Scream Cat."


    Dong Ran knew about the Ice Scream Cat, a special breed of cat that lived in the jungle, which reportedly emitted increasingly cold breath the fuller it ate. Enough to cause a tiny area in the sweltering woodland to ice over.


    It wasn''t hard to deal with, just a Strengthening Class creature, but it was troublesome because such creatures were timid and quite rare.


    Tang Xian wasn''t afraid of trouble.


    He had already decided to get an Ultimate Ice Scream Cat to raise, and he had even come up with a name for it, Tang Bingxiang.


    ...


    ...


    Another night passed.


    Dong Ran realized that, without knowing it, it was already her fourth day in the mining area.


    She awoke very early because Tang Xian had arranged tasks for her. After the morning studies finished, she was to chop down a Hundred-Handed Wood.


    Dong Ran inquired about the reason and found out that it was for making a fence.


    And even the boundary line for the fence had been drawn.


    She was surprised to find that when the tree house was being built, Tang had already planted some Red Line Grass around this massive Hundred-Handed Wood.


    The grass had a tenacious vitality and would grow in just a couple of months. Using the Red Line Grass as a boundary and building a fence inside it was the first step in Tang Xian''s plan for making a den.


    It was physical work, and Dong Ran knew that despite being a delicate girl, she had the strength and efficiency for the task.


    Next was irrigation. Since there was now a courtyard, having a little pond of her own made perfect sense. But such an endeavor required great physical strength, and Dong Ran thought it reasonable that Tang Da would do it himself.


    Then came planting vegetables.


    Tang Xian had already given Dong Ran the design plans, explaining which soil in the yard could be used and which couldn''t, all illustrated on the design plans.


    When handing over the design plans, the trust in Tang Xian''s eyes made Dong Ran feel valued, so naturally, she had to take on this task.


    So what was Tang Xian doing?


    In the morning, Tang Xian taught two idiots survival knowledge for the mining area, and it was exhausting. A friend would visit in the afternoon, and that too would be tiring, so he needed to rest.


    At the moment, he was in the treehouse with a "I''m so fragile" smile, watching Dong Ran bustle about.


    Change in a person is subtle.


    To outsiders, there are signs to follow, but the person themselves may not notice it.


    For instance, Dong Ran was busy now.


    But the thought of having a safe little courtyard in such a dangerous red zone, where humans dared not trespass, filled her with joy after the work was done.


    Especially since she had been involved in its construction.


    Once filled with terror for the mining area, she now looked forward to life there with anticipation, not even realizing that she had less than three days left before being forcibly removed from the area.


    Breathing air much cleaner than inside the Pyramid, feeling the changing temperatures of spring, summer, autumn, winter, day, and night with the seasons, and eating delicious food with a sweet little girl.


    Such a life made Dong Ran''s smile unstoppable, and she didn''t find the tasks at hand tiring at all.


    She suddenly realized that Tang Xian was genuinely powerful.


    She didn''t know the details of the Selection of the Chosen from years ago, but now she was willing to trust this man.


    Unlike others in the Pyramid, Tang Xian wasn''t striving or compromising to climb to higher levels.


    Though at the bottom, he never cared about the hierarchy of the mining area, because he simply deemed it beneath concern.


    This might sound laughable, but that''s truly how Dong Ran felt.


    ...


    Tang Xian, after all, didn''t have the Mind Reading Technique, so he didn''t know what Dong Ran was thinking.


    He just wiggled his nose.


    He smiled. It was always a pleasure to have friends coming from afar.


    Yu Xiaozhe must be on his way.


    But then, he frowned.


    "Some uninvited guests have also followed. Well, it''s good, I''ll just take care of them on the way."

 Chapter 44 Man-made Disaster-Level Boss Tang Xian

    The Trial of the Chosen brought some slight changes to Tang Xian''s life. But looking back, Tang Xian still thought the days at school were pretty good.The female students around him were very pretty, and the boys all had potential in some area. Apart from being criticized a few times for giving private lessons at school, and encountering some minor troubles from the envy of others, Tang Xian''s school days were quite comfortable.


    Among them, Yu Xiaozhe was a talent. He was just a bit timid, shy, and awkward around people.


    The math teacher at the time said it was very hard for someone to draw regular objects in an orderly manner while using both hands simultaneously.


    The teacher called several students to test this, asking them to draw a cube with their left hand and a circle with their right, and they had to finish both within ten seconds. No one succeeded. Tang Xian had intended to try, but Yu Xiaozhe was the one called upon in the end.


    Yu Xiaozhe easily accomplished the task, earning hearty praise from the math teacher.


    Later on, Tang Xian found Yu Xiaozhe.


    This guy didn''t have many friends and seemed rather loner, always sitting at the back of the classroom, his mind on who knows what.


    Tang Xian, on the other hand, was a celebrity at school. In the eyes of the teachers, he was notoriously disobedient and famously studious, the kind of person who was welcomed by some and envied by others.


    In his dealings with Yu Xiaozhe, Tang Xian did not change his ways, and he asked directly,


    "When you use both hands simultaneously, what''s the most complex thing you can draw?"


    There were few in the school who could surprise Tang Xian, but Yu Xiaozhe was one. He pulled out two different bills.


    Not many people used paper money; the credit system was now the norm, and students also used academic research credits.


    But the complexity of paper money had always been changing.


    Yu Xiaozhe displayed remarkable talent, drawing two different kinds of paper money simultaneously with his left and right hands.


    This was the first time Tang Xian had seen such precisely detailed lines drawn by someone''s hands.


    Not only his ambidextrous skills, but Yu Xiaozhe also dabbled in micro-sculpting and had eyes that were more precise than many.


    Tang Xian took the initiative to become friends with Yu Xiaozhe¡ªa memory from when he was fourteen.


    ...


    ...


    Following the scent, before Yu Xiaozhe attracted the attention of the forest creatures, Tang Xian found him.


    "Are you really hanging out in such a haunted place?" Yu Xiaozhe was surprised.


    "You really came here alone," said Tang Xian.


    "The forest isn''t huge, but isn''t it said to have had a nine-tailed fox appear?"


    "It has."


    "And you''re still staying here?"


    "People here don''t eat foxes, and the foxes don''t eat people."


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t understand, and Tang Xian, just like before, always had a calm expression while speaking somewhat bizarre words.


    "Here, these are the documents for your daughter, born to you and some old flame I don''t know about."


    Without further delay, Yu Xiaozhe handed over the documents Tang Xian needed for Tang Xiaojiu.


    Tang Xian glanced at them and noticed, despite Yu Xiaozhe''s malicious emphasis that Tang Xiaojiu was his daughter, the parents'' section on the documents was marked with parents missing, having spent a few years at the Fortress Thirty-Nine Welfare Institute.


    This was a good arrangement in Tang Xian''s view.


    "Thanks. As a reward, my yard will be open to you from now on, and the forest can be your safe haven," said Tang Xian.


    "Tsk, bragging much? You really think you''re the boss around here?" Yu Xiaozhe didn''t care much about the so-called reward.


    During their school days, Tang Xian had helped him a lot.


    Some people in this world are like that; if you help them, they will always remember it. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian nodded earnestly and said,


    "After I''m done convincing all the creatures here, the whole forest will indeed be my turf, but that will take some time. For now, only my yard is relatively safe."


    Seeing Tang Xian''s seriousness, not seeming to joke, Xiaozhe frowned.


    Could it be this guy had some kind of adventure in the forest?


    Feeling the atmosphere around them, Tang Xian said, "I''ll take you to where I live first. I don''t have much to offer you, but we''re having fish for lunch. You should at least stay for a meal before you go."


    Zhe didn''t refuse. As an old schoolmate, he certainly hoped Tang was doing well and wanted to see how Tang was really faring.


    They didn''t walk long before Zhe noticed that although the forest should be full of mining creatures, for some reason, when they saw Tang, some creatures turned and walked away.


    Some creatures that were often by the river even showed a fearful gaze.


    Zhe found this more and more strange as he observed.


    Upon reaching the treehouse, Dong Ran had already set up a basic fence, and the efficiency of the four talented warriors was evident. Tang led Zhe into the yard.


    Zhe was truly astonished this time.


    "Damn, did you really build yourself a nest in the forest?"


    "Haven''t I always said this was my turf?"


    "Who''s that girl? She''s really... uh, pretty and vibrant."


    "My assistant."


    "You''re so poor you can''t even afford a call, and you have an assistant?"


    "Yeah, who says poor people can''t have assistants?"


    Zhe nodded, giving Tang a look that said ''you''ve got a point'' and spoke,


    "I know some rich folks on the third tier have two houses, one for living with their wife and the other for meeting their mistresses. Even back in school I thought you were up to no good, with all the girls keen on being around you, but I still underestimated you."

 Chapter 44 Man-made Disaster-Level Boss Tang Xian_2

    "I didn''t expect you to have so many lovers that you needed to build a house in the mining area."Tang Xian considered himself a person who had risen above low-level tastes and seriously corrected:


    "The air here is good, and I feel comfortable living here, that''s all."


    "I have something for you."


    Yu Xiaozhe took out a black box.


    "What is this? A communication device?" Tang Xian took it and glanced at it.


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded and said:


    "I met someone named Lin Sen. I''m responsible for the forgeries, and he provides some black tech products. People on the third level then got access to the network. This is like a mobile phone, but even at the bottom level, you can still receive network signals, and don''t worry, it can''t be traced. Lin Sen and I both use it, and now you have one, too.


    You can''t use it in the mining area, but when you''re back at the Pyramid, you can use it to flirt with girls. There''s been a renaissance of culture recently; they''re back to playing with message bottles, Douyin, and WeChat and stuff. I''ve already hooked up with several."


    Tang Xian, after all, was someone who had looked through two hundred billion Weibo posts from Luo, reading less than a thousandth of them, but still had some knowledge of the ancient techniques for quick hook-ups.


    He wasn''t interested, but having such a phone was very convenient. After all, he had to keep up appearances, returning to the Pyramid occasionally, and could spend those boring ten hours online.


    "I''ve installed some apps that young people like these days. The charging tools are inside, too, so figure it out on your own."


    Tang Xian nodded. Though his knowledge was comprehensive, he rarely engaged in such forms of entertainment and leisure. He planned to try them out when he had time, like setting up something they call a WeChat account.


    "This is a nice gift. I''ll help you deal with some trouble," he said.


    "What trouble could I possibly have?"


    "Have you recently taken on a new assistant?"


    "Are you a worm in my belly? How do you know everything?"


    "There''s something wrong with that assistant. Once you''re back...," Tang Xian said nothing, but made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Yu Xiaozhe fell silent.


    He looked at Tang Xian seriously, and after several seconds, he asked, "Are you sure?"


    "Positive. You don''t need to know how I know. You just need to remember, like when we were in school, that what I say is always true."


    "That kid is quite clever. I''ve got a big deal going on lately. Twelve fortresses of Dongdao Country are planning to break away from the federal system and return to the independent state system that existed hundreds of years ago. They''re printing their own currency."


    Tang Xian understood the implications of these words. Although each country still had its own name, human civilization was now under a federal system.


    Dongdao Country didn''t have a large population, but it did have twelve fortresses and not a few people on the second level and above. It was a technological giant, so it made sense that they''d want to break away from the federal system.


    For Yu Xiaozhe, who was adept at making counterfeit money, this indeed presented an opportunity to make a fortune. But Tang Xian didn''t want to know or participate in such illegal and unruly activities.


    He said:


    "When you think you''ve made enough money, it''s time to quit. If you run into trouble, let me know. I may not be able to solve your problems beforehand like I did today every time."


    "So how exactly did you find out my new assistant is a problem?"


    "You''ve been wanted by the federation and Huaxia for so many years but have survived quite well. I don''t believe you were followed after entering the forest. This can only mean that your recent movements have been leaked, and the only one who could have disclosed your whereabouts is your assistant. There could be other possibilities, but someone will soon point a gun at me, so I can verify it."


    Yu Xiaozhe was shocked. I''ve been followed?


    His face changed immediately, and a red dot appeared on Tang Xian''s head. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An assassin had Tang Xian in their sights.


    Tang Xian just looked at Yu Xiaozhe''s expression to understand what was happening and said:


    "I remember you having only two talents. Theoretically speaking, you are not as strong as my assistant. Follow my assistant and hide. They followed you all the way here, intending to catch you red-handed, so they will not shoot now."


    Tang Xian pointed at Dong Ran. At that moment, Dong Ran too noticed strangers approaching.


    "This is an old classmate of mine. His name is Yu Xiaozhe. This is my assistant, Dong Ran. You can also call her Tang. Things are a bit special now, so just consider yourselves simply introduced. Dong Ran, take Yu Xiaozhe and hide.


    Don''t engage with these people. That''s an order."


    Dong Ran nodded, worried for Tang Xian but already accustomed to the fact that when Tang speaks, all she needs to do is follow orders.


    "Remember to keep an eye on Tang Xiaojiu; don''t let her kill those fish too soon. They''re not fresh if they die too early."


    After saying this, Tang Xian walked out of the yard.


    Outside, he waved in the direction of the red dot and soon, three hunters emerged.


    By scent detection, Tang Xian knew that a total of six people had come.


    The unique smell of their uniforms could disperse some minor enhanced creatures and insects, a technology from the United Kingdom''s uaf mercenary corps, ranked thirty-third in the world for hunting.


    It was the standard style of British mercenaries, who would take on any job for money.


    Tang Xian heaved a sigh of relief, since they were unofficial military and not local Huaxia troops, he could confidently stretch out his hands and feet.


    The three hunters each wielded different weapons, presumably related to their awakened abilities.


    The leader was tall and thin, armed with a western sword; another was burly, wielding a chain hammer; and the last one, comparatively short, used a military spike.


    All were close combat units, which brought pleasure to Tang Xian.


    Fluent in various languages, he consciously cursed in Korean this time, saying "Ah-si-ba," then raised his middle finger.


    Although these three uaf mercenaries didn''t know why this Asian was standing there alone, waiting to be captured, nor why the counterfeit boss didn''t flee in the yard, being provoked was welcomed by them.


    It was a valid excuse to wantonly prey on their target.


    Many aspects of civilization were lost in this world, but the essence of national curses was preserved.


    English had "fuck," Japanese "baka," and Huaxia had "sand sculpture." Tang Xian actually preferred using local dialects. However, it wasn''t appropriate here; with international friends, one must use national curses¡ªcurses had to ensure the other party understood, or it was just self-indulgence.


    The short man''s military spike didn''t aim for a vital spot but pierced Tang Xian''s thigh.


    The sound of fabric tearing made Tang Xian frown.


    Right, his body had been enhanced, but his clothes couldn''t withstand the wear and tear.


    His trousers had ripped open.


    Tang Xian glanced at the short man, thought about how he was posing as a Korean which made it inconvenient to tell his attacker not to tear his clothes, so he just slapped him.


    The slap, carrying with it the maximum life value of ten percent, made the short man question his life choices.


    A whole row of teeth was spat out.


    "Does it feel good? Ssibada."


    It was still the first time hitting someone after activating Unrivaled, and Tang Xian checked¡ªthe ten percent of maximum life value might seem like only a tenth was deducted from the opponent''s life, but in reality, it was far more humiliating.


    It was like if a person lost one-tenth of their blood, they would appear as if they had lost half their life.


    Taking advantage of the short man''s delayed reaction, Tang Xian landed two more slaps.


    The opponent, the assassin, fainted.


    Tang Xian really wanted to teach him a lesson, that an assassin should stick to backstabbing; asking for a beating was deserved for getting too close.


    Seeing their teammate under attack, the healer and the one with eyes emerged from hiding, with only the sniper continuing to take aim.


    The western sword thrusted straight at the face, and Tang Xian didn''t dodge, merely instinctively closing his eyes before feeling a tickle and realizing the sword tip was pressing against his forehead.


    The chain hammer also hit his shoulder, tearing the fabric there.


    Tang Xian grabbed the western sword with one hand, and the tall and thin swordsman found he couldn''t pull the sword away, no matter how hard he tried.


    "I actually would like you to go back and promote my image, say that in Shulin, there resides a humanoid boss far more dangerous than any common mine creature. But then I thought, you''d bring lots of trouble, so it''s better if you just die."


    As the swordsman attempted to pull away in disbelief, Tang Xian delivered a barrage of slaps.


    Bang!


    Experience new tales on empire


    The sound of a gunshot rang out.


    Feeling a bit of pain on his forehead, Tang Xian figured that his current life value probably wouldn''t be affected much by such firearm attacks.


    "Armament mine weapons are increasingly becoming melee weapons, the reason being that advanced firearms cannot be used in the mines, as the noise is too loud. It tends to attract a lot of beasts."


    Amidst the howling of the three-tailed fox, the sniper hiding in the bushes felt a chill down their spine.


    This time, Tang Xian conversed in English with the sniper in the shadows not too far away.


    After pulling the chain hammer away and knocking down both the one with eyes and the healer, he looked at the five people lying on the ground and listened to the distant wailing, showing a friendly smile.


    "Shulin is really dangerous. Just because I can play here doesn''t mean you can."

 Chapter 45 Discovering that the Daughter is not Biologically Related

    Tang Xian initially thought the foxes disliked him, but later found out that the three-tailed foxes actually just disliked Tang Xiaojiu.The specific reason is unknown, however, the three-tailed foxes from the Tree Sea were very respectful towards Tang Xian.


    It was probably because of the Biphasic Orchids that Tang Xian brought with him. Also because Qing JiuYu said something to them before she left.


    So, after dealing with those humans, Tang Xian did not personally take action.


    The three-tailed foxes looked to Tang Xian with inquiring eyes, and Tang Xian simply nodded slightly.


    Explore hidden tales at empire


    Then, the foxes bit off the neck of the sniper, and soon after, a few more foxes arrived.


    Tang Xian was not posturing¡ªhe spoke with a serious tone.


    The Tree Sea is indeed a nice place, but it''s dangerous for everyone except him. This wasn''t being presumptuous because, so far, Tang Xian hadn''t encountered anyone with similar traits to his own, besides the mysterious growing power within him, the data in his eyes, and most importantly, the ability to communicate with the creatures of the ore sectors.


    After exploring the equipment on these people, Tang Xian left.


    The three-tailed foxes started to tear and bite, screams rang out, but it didn''t take long before all was silent.


    When he returned to the treehouse, Tang Xiaojiu was playing with fish. Tang Xian tossed the UAF member''s cellphone to Yu Xiaozhe, saying,


    "There should be information inside that you need, but you''ll have to find Lin Sen to help you hack it."


    Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t concerned about this issue right now; he hadn''t seen how Tang Xian had handled those people, so he asked curiously,


    "Did you take care of the UAF by yourself?"


    This was the ranking of the federation, higher in level than the hunting rankings of Huaxia. Teams within the top fifty were certainly not simple.


    "Mm, did you hear the foxes outside? They''re all my good friends. They helped me take care of it."


    "Cut the crap, the elite-level three-tailed foxes are no match for them."


    Tang Xian was taken aback for a moment; he actually hadn''t fooled Yu Xiaozhe.


    Tang Xian didn''t know that in the ore sectors, people with abilities had a certain sensory capability, the members of UAF were strong, but they couldn''t sense Tang Xian''s abilities.


    In short, Tang Xian was emanating an aura... of a weakling.


    Therefore, weapons like chain hammers, broadswords, and military daggers moved very slowly when attacking Tang Xian, coupled with the fact that they indeed hit him. These UAF members, because they underestimated him, did not use their full speed, otherwise, Tang Xian wouldn''t have been able to react at all.


    But even so, Tang Xian stood on unconquerable ground. Because they couldn''t hurt him.


    Tang Xian couldn''t understand the strength of human beings with abilities. Currently, the only thing capable of killing him were the creatures from the ore sectors. The only thing that bothered Tang Xian was that the shot earlier had hit his head but didn''t feel very painful.


    According to the settings, being hit by a firearm should result in a 30% loss of health, but the pain he felt just now was minor and definitely not as exaggerated as losing 30% of his health.


    Had his health limit increased?


    Tang Xian wasn''t too puzzled and said,


    "How do you know the foxes that made noise just now were three-tailed foxes? What if they were a group of six-tailed ones?"


    Yu Xiaozhe knew that six-tailed foxes lived alone, but he didn''t rule out animals having some special behaviors. He was a double-gifted individual, not highly gifted, but he could feel that Tang Xian really was like what those instructors had judged, devoid of any special abilities, a regular human.


    This question, he could only believe that it was true¡ªsix-tailed foxes had helped Tang Xian.


    "Can humans live in harmony with the animals in the ore sectors?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "Yes, like many years ago, pigs, chickens, cattle, sheep, and the like, weren''t they all farmed? They look forward to us feeding them happily every day."


    Tang Xian, along with Dongran, continued fixing up the yard, distracting Tang Xiaojiu while he started to prepare the half-dead fish.


    What lay before Yu Xiaozhe was just such a situation, hard to believe yet impossible to doubt; this Tang Xian had really built a stronghold in the ore sector, and the surrounding creatures hadn''t troubled him.


    "I''ve always felt you''re the type who could live comfortably anywhere you go."


    "When I build a nest outside the Pyramid one day, then that statement will be correct."


    "..."


    Focused on living is him, earnestly courting death is also him, Yu Xiaozhe laughed and said,


    "After eating this meal, we''ll consider the debt for the ID card settled."


    "That sounds reasonable." Tang Xian didn''t refuse.


    "Your daughter is quite cute."


    "You don''t need to fish for information, I''m not one to answer blindly."


    "Is she really not your daughter?"


    "No."


    "That''s great then. When this little girl grows up, she''ll probably be quite the beauty, right?"


    Tang Xian glanced at Yu Xiaozhe, reminded of a story.


    If you found out your daughter wasn''t biologically yours, what would you do ()


    A. Be shocked B. Be enraged C. Be devastated D. Be overjoyed E. Feel relieved F.


    Be indifferent.


    He nodded, feeling that Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t that weird after all. Yu Xiaozhe was just ecstatic, but the truly weird answer was another, and fortunately, Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t it.


    "Tang Xiaojiu is my sister, and in the future, she will bring some immeasurable help to the human race."


    "I don''t understand."


    "Do you eat spicy food?"


    Yu Xiaozhe was stunned for a moment, the conversation with Tang Xian seemed a bit disjointed.


    He nodded.


    "These two girls started to like spicy flavors after following me, I''ll buy a Hunan cuisine pot someday. You can come over to hang out when you''re free, this isn''t just politeness, but don''t expose the location."


    "Sure. This isn''t just politeness either, I''ll come over often when I have time."


    Tang Xian was very satisfied.


    Although Yu Xiaozhe''s personality had changed a lot, and was very different from the past, the sincerity between the two remained.


    The meal they had next made Yu Xiaozhe recall some past events.


    Like the time when Tang Xian skipped class to roast sweet potatoes, and in order to not get caught, fled to the school''s off-limits area. Just like now, for the sake of eating natural ingredients, they moved directly to the mining area.


    Life had changed him a lot. It was his choice.


    Many of his former classmates had gone to the upper echelons, and although their way of thinking had matured, their personalities had hardly changed.


    But it was different for the people at the bottom, Yu Xiaozhe knew, those who had gone to the bottom were essentially different people.


    Only Tang Xian had never changed. He had been worried that Tang Xian was very poor, but now he realized that he was only poor on the surface. These cozy days in the woods were something humans today couldn''t experience, even with money.


    This man was still a foodie and still as casual as before.


    However, from his attitude towards Dong Ran, Tang Xian seemed to have become more humble.


    In their student days, Tang Xian often bluntly called out the stupidity of certain classmates or even teachers, which laid some groundwork for the mockery he faced during the Trials of the Chosen.


    Humility is sometimes not just a virtue, but also a means of self-protection.


    Tang Xian had no idea what Yu Xiaozhe was thinking, and if he did, he would probably correct him, as he never deliberately tried to be humble but was just trying to change his attitude towards people around him.


    The meal was eaten quickly, Yu Xiaozhe had many things to attend to, so he was ready to say goodbye to Tang Xian.


    As he was about to leave, Tang Xian said:


    "Remember to get yourself a decent false identity as soon as possible, and then lay low. Since the Federation has started deploying private military forces like the UAF, it shows that their desire to capture you has exceeded the bounds permitted by the law itself."


    "I''ll try my best," Yu Xiaozhe didn''t promise directly.


    Tang Xian just mentioned it in passing.


    In the chilling Pyramid, everyone has their own life to live, and no one has the right to comment on the things one must do to survive.


    "Goodbye. Next time you see a beautiful woman, contact me through Weixin and let me get to know her too."


    "I can introduce you to Li Xiaoyu."


    "...A stab to the heart, I bid you farewell."


    Yu Xiaozhe left.


    Having accomplished one more thing, Tang Xian''s next step was to contact Ke.


    This was an urgent matter, because he needed a kitchen knife. Without saying that it could slaughter the creatures of the mining area, at least when they were unable to struggle and resist, even if it required some effort, as long as he could cut open the skins of these mining area creatures it would be enough.


    Tang Xian could do this himself, like the weapon design he had already done. But without the equipment, an atomic furnace, an Armed Ore Reactor, these were all things that only military engineers were qualified to use. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Back in the treehouse, Tang Xian took a look at the black phone and asked Dong Ran about her arrangements, saying:


    "When do you plan to leave the mining area?"


    "When do you want me to leave?"


    "Stay another day. Help me look after Tang Xiaojiu."


    "Where are you going?"


    "I need to make a trip back to the Pyramid. I will come back soon after I deal with a few issues."


    "Okay."


    Leaving Dong Ran behind was necessary; this woman had shown remarkable efficiency, and Tang Xian hoped that when he returned to the forest next time, he would see a tight fence.


    After settling some matters and preparing food in advance, Tang Xian left the mining area.


    Upon returning to his room in the Pyramid, the first thing he did was to turn on the black phone.


    Being able to access news online, naturally, he didn''t need to spend money on newspapers.


    Soon Tang Xian found the information he was looking for.


    [An all-female hunting team¡ªWhite Rose Group invites the renowned doctor Qiao Shanshan to join; Qiao Shanshan has yet to respond.]

 Chapter 46 No matter how skilled in martial arts, one also fears—

    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised. After all, he was a well-known hunter doctor, yet there was only one team trying to recruit him.Or was it because other teams felt they couldn''t compete with the White Rose Hunter Group?


    Tang Xian opened the news to take a look, and it was indeed the case.


    The news was attached with many hunters'' opinions.


    Personnel changes in the top hunting teams have always been a topic of great interest among the miners. The White Rose, as an all-female team with a very special configuration of four doctors besides the captain and the scout, was distinctive. All four members besides those two roles were doctors.


    One could imagine how the captain probably felt in battle, experiencing a continuous flow of healing.


    It was a team where doctors were treated very well, and being a woman like Qiao Shanshan, it seemed understandable that other teams felt they couldn''t outcompete the White Rose.


    But Tang Xian didn''t think so.


    "When Qiao Shanshan was with the Scorched Blood Group, she served as the captain, and her specialty was dealing with the wounds of multiple combatants in a short time. If she went to the White Rose Hunter Group, although it appears to have many doctors, it would actually reduce her status and her sense of presence, making her feel ill at ease.


    The more such a place, the less she could utilize her talents."


    "Quite good, she should have realized it by now."


    Without contacting Qiao Shanshan, Tang Xian believed that what she yearned for was the Nvwa Snake that had caused her team members'' tragic deaths.


    He didn''t think much further, glanced at the black cell phone, and found it to be really convenient. Although a millennium ago, even elementary school students had similar devices, now science had entered the quantum atomic field, and it was these non-industrialized devices that began to illustrate a regression in civilization.


    At least for the lower class, it was a regression of civilization.


    Tang Xian had originally thought he would need to hand over the design drawings in the mining area, but now it turned out to be very simple¡ªhe just had to take a photo and send it over.


    Without delay, Tang Xian immediately took the photos and sent them to Ke.


    He didn''t even make a phone call to exchange pleasantries. Everything was like reverting to many years ago.


    ...


    ...


    Fortress number fifty-one, fifth level.


    If merchants and tycoons didn''t have relationships within the system, they could only be considered wealthy people. Under the current system, no matter how rich, they were merely sheep turning into fat sheep.


    At most, they would live on the fourth level.


    The fifth and sixth levels were mostly inhabited by people in business or politics. There were also the military-political giants like the Li family.


    Ke Ye originated from the second level, his father being a foreman in the mining area and his mother a staff member at a major factory, responsible for producing some inorganic mineral conversion equipment related to medical devices.


    Making it to the fifth level, Ke Ye had indeed changed the fate of his family. As a single-gifted individual, able only to see a life value, Ke Ye knew it was hard for him to advance in the mining area. Choosing to be a military weapon designer was a very wise decision.


    He indeed had talent in this area.


    By his own ability, he made it to the fifth level. According to the trials of the chosen to change fate, Ke Ye had defied destiny.


    However, his popularity was not very good. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many times, when discussing some weapon concepts, most people around him couldn''t keep up with his thinking.


    When receiving suggestions from others, Ke Ye would mostly not adopt them.


    He had a nickname because of this, known as ''Ke the Unyielding''.


    Once he designed a weapon, Ke Ye refused to modify it a second time. He also rejected any suggestions others made about his designs.


    This habit was not directly developed but grew gradually over the six years after graduation.


    Five years ago, mankind set foot on Tortoise Crane Island.


    It was a blue region, but the process of implanting human civilization into Tortoise Crane Island was exceptionally arduous. A large number of mercenaries, regular armies, and hunters went to Tortoise Crane Island, facing those with shells as invincible as diamonds.


    The wear and tear on weapons was tremendous, and those long-lived creatures made up of cranes and tortoises were simply nemesis to weapons.


    The military department''s demand for a massive supply of new equipment was immense. For a time, weapon industrial parks in various countries were all busy.


    At this time, Ke Ye believed that mass-producing a large number of weapons in a short time was a waste of manpower and ore resources. It was better to temporarily change the weapon structure and produce new types of armaments.


    Ke Ye''s concept received support, but it also met opposition from some weapon designers.


    He insisted that to combat creatures in the mining area, sharp cold weapons should be manufactured, but another party believed firearms were the evolution of weapons, despite the mining area limiting some of the mechanical principles. Yet, firearms remained safer than melee weapons.


    Ke Ye felt these stubborn old fools were simply a bunch of idiots.


    In the case where human abilities remained unchanged, cold weapons certainly couldn''t compare to firearms.


    But everything changed in the mining area, starting with the fact that the principles behind advanced firearms would become ineffective due to the mining area''s different magnetic fields.


    Furthermore, the enhancement of human strength itself meant the power of swinging a weapon had far surpassed that of the normal world.


    Your journey continues at empire


    Eventually, the world organization passed Ke Ye''s theory, and humanity underwent a weapons reform.


    Ke Ye also advanced to the fifth level.


    This move offended many of his colleagues, yet also earned Ke Ye the approval of many hunters.


    The weapons reform incident was enough to make history, but Ke Ye wasn''t particularly happy.


    He remembered, a few years ago, someone had said something similar to him.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t focus on designing long-range weapons, at least not firearms. Designing a bow would be better. Just imagine, people in the mining area, if they can really awaken powerful abilities, when their fists are stronger than bullets, yet they rely on bullets, isn''t that giving up their own strength?"


    Four years before the weapons reform, that person had already realized that firearms, as a means of defending power at the Pyramid, would be very useful in managing humans, but when it came to entering the mining area and facing those creatures, firearms would be outdated.


    Nowadays, the regular military were basically equipped with firearms for the Pyramid and military knives for the mining area.


    Setting aside the design blueprint transmitted by his assistant, Ke Ye rubbed his eyes and lay wearily on the sofa, too lazy to reply to the assistant.


    The assistant knew this meant the weapon design was not approved.


    "Can''t these idiots focus on practicality? Must they prove their talent by designing weapons that are all flash and no substance? What''s the use of making a killing tool look fancy? Think they are drawing comics? What''s the use of carving a dragon on the handle? Can the dragon be summoned or enchanted?


    They should spend more time researching the proportion of armament materials, how to adjust the composite metal ratios to achieve maximum sharpness. These fools only know how to make flashy, useless things."


    This was just an inner rant, and Ke Ye didn''t take it out on his assistant.


    On the contrary, although he usually refused to make any changes to his designs, he was quite polite to others.


    Using that person''s words from back then, he would be considered thirty percent scheming. He was extremely polite to the idiots but would outright pronounce their death sentence once they crossed a certain line, from then on refusing to associate with them.


    Ke Ye planned to take a break. Recently, there had been news of an increase in red zones, and the higher-ups had increased weapon orders, while the next equipment revolution was also likely on the horizon.


    Humans were no longer content to operate only in the blue zones.


    Ke Ye believed that maybe after the next hunting festival ended, all of humanity might undertake a major joint operation to develop a certain yellow zone.


    So, it was quite exhausting for him and his colleagues.


    He took out his phone, planning to kill some time and adjust his mood, only to find an unknown number had sent him a message.


    Ke Ye opened it and discovered it was a blueprint.


    "Looks like it''s a weapon design blueprint."


    "This shape¡­ why does it look like a kitchen knife? A lunatic, an idiot''s design. Don''t let me find out who you are, you bastard."


    Ke Ye prepared to delete the message but kept staring at the screen.


    "Wait a minute, this person also listed a metal composition ratio chart, tsk, it doesn''t look like the work of an amateur, a colleague?"


    Ke Ye was mildly interested.


    Because he had never seen this design ratio before, his first impression was that it was a colleague trying to amuse themselves, writing something random.


    However, after simulating it in his mind, he realized that these minerals could perfectly complement each other in the reactor.


    Ten seconds later, there was slowly a glimmer in Ke Ye''s eyes.


    "Interesting, very interesting."


    His mind began to buzz with calculations. Ke Ye wasn''t very good at math, if it hadn''t been for someone''s guidance back then, he wouldn''t even have entered the threshold of weapon design. Now many of his design drafts relied on experience and intuition.


    A few minutes later, Ke Ye''s expression turned serious.


    "Who designed this? Such a powerful formula, why make a kitchen knife?"

 Chapter 47 The Girl Who Sold Tea

    Tang Xian didn''t intentionally mean to tease or leave any suspense.He just felt it was more natural to let the other party call him, rather than calling himself?


    Shortly after sending out the text, he did not receive a reply, so he lay down for a little nap. Not long after, the vibration of his cell phone woke him up.


    He glanced at the incoming call number, realized it wasn''t from Ke, but answered it anyway.


    "Sir, I''m with Atlantic Life Insurance, and we have a new insurance product¡­"


    Advertising. Sales pitch.


    Tang Xian didn''t feel averse and said,


    "Young man, whatever Atlantic is paying you, I, An Ping, will pay you three times that."


    "¡­"


    Tang Xian''s nonsensical reply rendered the person on the other end speechless.


    Waiting for Ke to finish analyzing the new alloy composition would probably take a little while, so to kill time, Tang Xian decided to register for a WeChat account.


    The fact that this social software had survived the calamity of lost human civilization proves that aside from eating, socializing really is the second most important thing in life.


    However, Tang Xian wasn''t very interested in this.


    Tang Xian''s WeChat ID was named Tang Wuliao.


    After completing the registration and just filling in some fictional personal information, a cute female avatar with the ID name "Your Cute Little Girl" sent a friend request to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised.


    It turns out that the rich folks above the third floor can be so idle, idle enough to be adding friends on this app at any time.


    "Hello, Wuliao Brother. I''m so bored too. What a coincidence, hehe."


    "Hmm, yes, you really are quite bored."


    "¡­"


    The person on the other end was choked up once again.


    Tang Xian turned off the messages and started to read the news.


    The news was almost uniform in reporting on the preparations related to the hunting festival.


    There were also a few reports on some anomalies in the northern mining regions, suspecting the awakening of some sort of super powerful creature, with some animals only found in the north now appearing in the south.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    These news pieces were only from some minor media outlets, and judging by their sensational rhetoric, they lacked substantiation and were mostly clickbait.


    But thinking about the Nvwa Snake showing up in Waning Time Valley, and the ongoing war between the fox and snake people, Tang Xian believed the author of those news articles might be onto something.


    Indeed, there were some issues with the biological chain in the north, but not to the extent of some super powerful creature awakening.


    A few more minutes passed, and after reading some academic stuff which was of little interest because most required privileged access he didn''t have, he found the experience dull.


    He glanced back at WeChat and saw his screen flooded with messages.


    They were mostly from the "Your Cute Little Girl" he had encountered earlier, with content that was suggestive and blunt, with a hint of showing off wealth.


    For instance, she talked about her identity as a wealthy heiress.


    She claimed to have a close relationship with the Li family''s second daughter, usually hanging out as best friends.


    This line made Tang Xian feel a sense of imprisonment through the internet.


    Had he just registered on WeChat, only to be discovered by Li Xiaoyu?


    He continued reading and realized he had thought too much, while also holding back from telling the person that her "best friend" was an idiot.


    This "Cute Little Girl" went on to say a lot, mainly that she''s traveling across bastions currently.


    She found that the tea from Bastion No. 54 was excellent and was considering investing in tea. Currently, she had some collector''s edition teas and thought Tang Wuliao Brother was an interesting person, so she planned to sell them to Tang Wuliao at a low price.


    In addition to the tea, it could also secure the friendship of a rich young lady.


    Only then did Tang Xian realize,


    It wasn''t just WeChat that was powerful; WeChat businesses and tea-selling girls were equally robust, existing tenaciously for over a thousand years.


    Tang Xian politely inquired about what kind of tea it was, and some other questions he considered quite mundane, such as¡ª


    Which land in the mining area was it cultivated on? What kind of water source and soil were used, and was it close to the cold marshes of the north or near Dragon Serpent Bay in the south? There are differences in acidity between these two, so what kind of influence would that have on the taste of the tea? Approximately what temperature was it grown at? What''s the harvest cycle?


    How''s the local weather? Would overly humid weather affect the taste of the tea? How does the soil there compare to that of Red Earth Forest?


    Tang Xian really wanted to buy. Experience more content on empire


    But then the other party fell silent.


    There was no way to speak up. The tea seller from the remote Fortress Fifty-Four, relying on pretending to be a wealthy girl, had sold quite a bit of inferior tea leaves transformed from organic minerals. Anyway, people nowadays couldn''t tell the difference.


    Naturally, he also encountered many customers who were serious about details, asking about the quality of organic minerals, inquiring about the quality of the boilers used for the tea leaf transformation. He had ways to deal with them.


    But the one he met today actually asked if the tea was manually planted in a mining area. Was he insane? Which tea company''s product wasn''t converted from organic minerals these days? Who the hell would, for the sake of taste, plant tea leaves in dangerous mining areas?


    Tang Xian still planned to continue asking. After all, he was capable of guiding Shang Lu to work at the Hua Science Academy''s Botanical Research Institute, so he should have some understanding of tea leaves.


    But the other party blocked Tang Xian.


    The messages Tang Xian sent all came back with red exclamation marks.


    It was somewhat unexpected.


    "Are these young people not serious about doing business? Who blocks customers, especially those with purchasing power?"


    Tang Xian didn''t mind. He could just ask again next time he encountered them.


    After casually browsing for a while, Ke finally made the call.


    Tang Xian looked at the incoming call number and pressed the answer button without haste.


    "Which fortress''s designer are you? You''re a genius! Where are you? Let''s meet right away. Have you applied for a patent for this type of alloy? Is this knife-like weapon designed to deal with some kind of special creature?"


    Right off the bat, it was a barrage of questions, not even asking who he was. Tang Xian couldn''t help but smile bitterly. Ke was also gaining a bit of Shang Lu''s temperament.


    Tang Xian answered seriously,


    "Thanks for the praise. I''m from Fortress Thirty-Nine, not a weapons designer. I haven''t applied for a patent; this was just a makeshift combination I put together. Also, it''s not designed like a kitchen knife; it is a kitchen knife. I''m now a hunter, hoping to revive the chef profession in the future, so could you tell me how much military ore is needed for you to help craft this knife?"


    Ke Ye was stunned.


    A hunter? Such a perfect alloy formula came from a hunter''s design? Reviving the chef occupation, what the heck?


    Ke Ye felt something was quite off but couldn''t remember what it was for the moment.


    "Do you mean to tell me that you''re giving me this formula just to craft a kitchen knife?


    "Yes." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re joking with me."


    "Not at all. If possible, please do it quickly; there are still several mouths waiting for meat in the mining area."


    "..."


    Tang Xian realized that today he seemed particularly adept at leaving the other party speechless. Ke Ye fell silent too.


    "Would you sell me this formula?" Ke Ye asked after being silent for over ten seconds.


    "Of course not, I''m giving it to you. After all, making a trade with me shouldn''t result in a loss for you. But rest assured, I''ll provide the military ore. You just need to be responsible for the crafting."


    "Do you mean you''re trading the formula for the cost of making this knife?" Ke Ye felt she couldn''t keep up with this person''s train of thought. Was he playing dumb? Or did he truly not realize how much the alloy formula was worth?


    Wait a minute, it was strange from the beginning, this voice sounded so familiar.


    Ke Ye felt her heartbeat quicken.


    Her breathing became a bit rushed.


    Tang Xian replied,


    "That''s right, that should be enough, don''t you think? You''re known for being economical with materials when making weapons, surely you wouldn''t find it too little, would you?"


    Ke Ye finally remembered, and her eyes instantly reddened.


    "You are¡­ Tang Xian?!"


    Tang Xian had always been a person of subdued emotion, whether in dealings with Shang Lu, Yu Xiaozhe, Dong Ran, or the old temps he had encountered in the past six years.


    He rarely showed excited emotions.


    Just like with Ke Ye now.


    But hearing Ke Ye''s somewhat choked voice, Tang Xian suddenly felt a bit of satisfaction.


    He smiled and said,


    "I am, can an old acquaintance get a discount?"

 Chapter 48 Another Arms Reform

    Ke Ye fell into a brief silence.Tang Xian, on the other hand, became quite talkative, "Giving discounts to acquaintances is not something one should compromise on lightly. Businesspeople conduct business not just to keep regulars, but fundamentally, to have customers recognize the quality of their goods, not to let them cut the price because of personal relations.


    In such cases, one must decisively talk about their advantages or feign hardship, tacitly yet firmly informing the customer that haggling is forbidden, in order to keep the business and reputation intact."


    Ke Ye asked, "Are you really Tang Xian? How can you prove it?"


    "If you really need proof, it''s not impossible. I''m quite curious, back when you were surrounded by Li Xiaoyu''s bodyguards, if they had turned violent, would you have chosen to be a ''1'' or a ''0''? Or perhaps..."


    "Stop, stop, I believe you," Ke Ye stopped him with an awkward embarrassment.


    The sentimental mood that had been brewing was no longer necessary after hearing the two words, ''Tang Xian''; it had quickly subsided.


    This was good; Tang Xian did not want the two of them to converse with a sentimental, nostalgic mindset full of longing for the past.


    Such a mindset was highly inefficient, often leading the conversation to pointless reminiscing.


    "I thought you were dead," Ke Ye said slowly.


    "That introduction almost had the vibe of my past reputation as a conversation terminator," Tang Xian laughed.


    "I''m not joking with you. After you returned to the lower levels, it wasn''t long before I went straight to Fortress Fifty-One. Later, I made some achievements, but when I used my contacts to investigate your file, all the information I found pointed to your non-existence. So, I thought you probably had an accident.


    I know it''s chaotic in the lower levels, and although the newbie zone in the mining area doesn''t have powerful creatures, spending a year or half there without dying would still leave you with a peeled skin," Ke Ye spoke earnestly, with a hint of confusion.


    Tang Xian frowned slightly.


    He could understand why Ke had not identified him immediately by his voice.


    If someone believes another person has been in an incident for several years, even if they suddenly hear someone with a very similar voice, they would not make the connection easily.


    He then pondered the reason he himself had considered this matter,


    There weren''t many people capable of completely sealing off his external data from Fortress Thirty-Nine, and not many would be willing to spend such resources on a minor figure like him.


    Realizing this and thinking about the ever-present spies over the past six years, he probably understood why Ke couldn''t find any information about him.


    Given all this, Tang Xian said:


    "It was Li Xiaoyu. Don''t mention that matter anymore; I can guess why she did it, probably to prevent the spread of my cheating. Anyway, I''m still alive, living rather well. I didn''t contact you to reminisce, but you''re welcome to visit the Tree Sea when you''re free. You need to make that kitchen knife for me first."


    After pondering for a moment and understanding the situation, Ke Ye said,


    "I thought this was your way of letting me know you were still alive. Did you actually want me to make a kitchen knife?"


    "Of course. I had someone exchange my Weapon Ore for points, which I''ll transfer to your account. That''s for the material costs. The alloy formula can be considered as rental for equipment. Also, regarding weapon construction, if you have any questions, you can ask me. Consider this as your personal craftsmanship fee.


    Doing business with me, whether you give me a discount or not, I won''t let you suffer a loss."


    Tang Xian''s tone remained calm.


    Ke Ye, feeling a bit offended, said, "You''re being quite formal."


    "If I were really being formal, I wouldn''t have approached you for business. Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can do business with me."


    "That tone is still as proud as back in the day. But why do you want a kitchen knife? Are you sure you just want a kitchen knife? This material you''ve provided is enough to make a set of knives."


    Tang Xian''s eyes lit up; he had forgotten about that.


    "You''ve reminded me. If possible, I''d like you to make some tableware as well¡ªcutlery, bowls, and chopsticks. Plus a set of knives. I''ve heard that ancient barbers, doctors, chefs, they all had their own set of professional tools. You can make me a set of chef''s tools. I''ll send you the reference materials and design sketches through the phone."


    Ke Ye couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "You now have the opportunity to command Huaxia''s future top weapon designer, and yet you''re asking him to make tableware and cutlery for you?"


    Tang Xian didn''t see anything amiss with his request and said, "Do it with care, after all, I have helped all the hunters quite a lot."


    Ke Ye was stifled once more.


    After a moment of thought, he said,


    "You''re not planning on disappearing once this batch of equipment is completed, are you?"


    "I generally won''t come to you guys proactively, but you can come and find me in the Tree Sea. I''ve built a house there."


    Ke Ye decided not to wonder why Tang Xian would go to the Red Zone to build a house. He raised an eyebrow and said,


    "Us? So, I''m not the only one who knows you''re still alive and kicking?"


    "Before you, there were Li Xiaoyu, Shang Lu, and Yu Xiaozhe."


    "...Alright then," Ke Ye''s voice carried a slightly unconvinced tone.


    Tang Xian probably understood why Li Xiaoyu had troubles with Ke back in the day; he laughed and said:


    "Yeah, the aforementioned arrangement doesn''t imply any ranking, only that there are priorities in need. Each of you has your own life, and I''m sure you''ll get by just fine, so there''s no need for me to disturb you. Now, let''s get down to business."


    After going over the weapon design schematics, Tang Xian knew that Ke Ye definitely had some technical questions to ask him.


    As expected, as soon as Tang Xian shifted the topic, Ke Ye also became serious.


    "I''m planning to publish this alloy formula and start mass production as soon as possible."


    "If you think it''s useful, then go ahead and use it. Aside from that, if there''s anything you want to ask, preferably academic questions, you should ask me now." Tang Xian was clearly not a stingy person.


    Ke Ye said:


    "The abilities of top human talents are getting stronger and stronger. Needless to say, equipment''s importance for mid-level and lower-level hunters. However, for top-tier hunters, the advantage of equipment seems to be weakening, especially with the excessively high maintenance costs, which has made many question the value of top-level gear."


    Tang Xian said, "I remember that the thermal weapons are quite powerful."


    "The power of these weapons is decent, but the wear and tear is too great. The thermal energy can give weaponry made from ore an incredibly strong attribute for a short duration, but after a few uses, the weapons are practically wrecked and need repairs.


    The top-tier hunter, Jink Armor, ranked fourth in the world for hunting, has already started advocating for hand-to-hand combat against creatures in the mines. Ideas like ''The Conqueror''s Way'' and ''The Strong Stand Alone Without Reliance on Weapons'' are becoming popular." Ke Ye sounded somewhat helpless.


    "Are you worried that your profession in weapon design and manufacturing will become a sunset industry?" Tang Xian asked.


    "I''m a bit worried."


    "That concern is entirely unnecessary. After all, without their gear outside the mines, they''d just be ordinary people. Equipment is still important, and as you said, there''s a big need for it among the mid to low-level hunters.


    As for the level of Akasi and Jink Armor, they do find it a hassle to use these disposable or semi-disposable weapons, especially considering they have to face elite monsters at the very least."


    Ke Ye was naturally aware of this. He wasn''t genuinely worried about losing his livelihood; he was just a bit unwilling to accept it.


    "I want to design weapons that surpass the capabilities of thermal series and also considerably reduce the wear on weapons when they deploy thermal power."


    Tang Xian seemed to have understood the implications of Ke''s words.


    "Hmm, take your time thinking about it. Just make sure you get my kitchen knife ready soon, along with all sorts of dining and kitchen wares. I''ll sketch out the designs for you later."


    "Wait, you''re not planning to help me?" Ke Ye was somewhat surprised.


    "I can design a new material formula for you that can withstand the huge load of the thermal series, and even larger loads if necessary."


    Ke Ye was shocked.


    "Xian, my brother Tang Xian, my real brother, if you really have a way, just spill it. I''m facing a real bottleneck here."


    Tang Xian didn''t beat around the bush and said directly:


    "This is your professional fee, so I''ll tell you. Thermal weapons, due to their conversion to heat, subject the weapons to high temperatures and hence wear them out. However, creatures starting from elite boss levels have Soul Crystals that can withstand high temperatures without even a scratch."


    Ke Ye was bewildered. Soul Crystals? And ones from elite boss-level creatures, no less.


    To use such rare and expensive material in weapons?


    "I''ll send you the Soul Crystal mixture ratio later. Generally, embedding just one crystal into a weapon would allow it to bear any wear from thermal exploits."


    As someone who witnessed first-hand that even foxfire couldn''t scorch a Soul Crystal, Tang Xian wasn''t just making empty promises. He added:


    "So, the weapon industry is far from becoming a sunset industry. On the contrary, these monster hunters will strive to hunt various formidable creatures for more powerful gear with almost infinite durability."


    "Even due to the extreme cost, a world of artifacts that can''t be mass-produced will rapidly emerge in the mining zones."


    "And in your profession, those with higher metallurgical skills will enjoy better treatment. The creators of these artifacts will completely enter a new era of custom-made weapons, which will likely be the third equipment revolution."


    Tang Xian spoke in a calm tone, but Ke Ye was seething with excitement.


    "These six years you''ve had... indeed, not a moment wasted. They say ''to each his own,'' but just like during school days, although I''ve been immersed in this field for so long... I''m still not on par with you."


    Ke Ye''s tone was a mix of happiness and resignation.


    This was a healthy competitive mindset. Tang Xian didn''t mind it and said sympathetically: S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I like a leisurely life and won''t formally pursue any career. In the future, you and Shang Lu in your respective fields will achieve heights that I can''t reach. Take it slow."


    This statement sounded somewhat insincere; Ke Ye gave a wry smile. Unless Tang would be informationally isolated or stay put like a napping rabbit, it''s unlikely the rabbit would lose the race against the tortoise. Find your adventure at empire


    In this era of the chosen, Ke Ye thought to himself, the only talent he acknowledged was Tang Xian.


    "It truly makes me happy that you''re still alive. I''ll finish your weapons as soon as I can. And hey, let''s chat more when you''re free."


    "You''re welcome to visit the forest sea anytime," Tang Xian said before hanging up the phone.


    It was mainly because he was worried about the phone bill. No idea how much Yu Xiaozhe had charged up.

 Chapter 49 Marry Me

    The phone equipment on the bottom level was all communal and very expensive. To charge a personal mobile phone, one had to go to the third level and use an identity code.Although Tang Xian was now a full-time worker, he still didn''t have the access rights to the third level. This wasn''t something he couldn''t achieve, it was just that he was too lazy to handle it¡ªit was very troublesome.


    He''d rather pinch and scrape to save money than do some tedious tasks.


    Ke sent him a text, probably with the pick-up address for Fortress 39.


    Although there were still couriers who made deliveries, they were only within the fortress.


    For example, when the rich people on the third level bought goods from the second level, there would be couriers who delivered the items to their doorsteps.


    But for inter-fortress deliveries, they used a method similar to crack teleportation technology; however, this kind of transport between fortresses couldn''t send living things, only non-living objects.


    Ke Ye gave him an address at a goods pick-up center on the second level, and Tang Xian noted down the account number and password for the retrieval of the items.


    Yet once again, a strange feeling¡ªor rather, a sense of chaos¡ªsurfaced in his heart.


    This world was truly bizarre.


    Crack teleportation technology, quantum matter conversion technology¡ªthese belonged in the super post-modern civilizations that existed only in science fiction stories in human records.


    However, living amidst these technologies today, Tang Xian felt a profound historical disconnect.


    Even though technology was far more advanced than in any past era, the social system seemed to have regressed to something akin to the age of slavery.


    This reminded Tang Xian of an ancient game called Age of Empires, where a map could contain entities from vastly different civilization levels.


    The people from the bottom level, the second level, the third and fourth levels, or even the sixth and seventh levels, seemed like they were from different times.


    For instance, Shang Lu and Ke from the fourth and fifth levels held knowledge that was thousands of years ahead of those from the first and second levels.


    But even in the third and fourth levels, there were many times when Tang Xian felt a sense of primitiveness, which he guessed existed at even higher levels as well.


    This was also why Tang Xian liked to study historical books. Humankind had experienced a great catastrophe, rumored to be caused by nuclear pollution and environmental fission, but there was no evidence to prove this.


    How the massive Pyramid city formed, how nations transformed their governments into a federal system.


    Who developed the teleportation cracks first, or who discovered the mines. These had no records.


    Experience tales at empire


    Tang Xian was well-versed in history and ultimately realized that some years were missing from it.


    But no matter how much he searched, he couldn''t find any historical documents about these missing years.


    He didn''t ponder it for long. There was no use in brooding over such problems. Tang Xian prepared to meet with Luo and Liu Lang.


    These two merchants were also his business partners on the bottom level. Now that he had a mobile phone, he naturally had to inform them of his contact information. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He quickly arrived at Decay Street.


    Today, Luo was grinning broadly, panting with an open mouth, his face bearing an ''all customers welcome'' expression as he watched people passing by.


    Seeing Tang Xian, Luo''s smile widened, and he almost rushed over to lick Tang Xian''s face.


    "Tang, you''ve finally come. I''ve been dying to see you," Luo said with his mouth agape, smiling broadly.


    "You were waiting for me?"


    Tang Xian noticed the sycophantic tone in Luo''s voice and the fear in his eyes¡ªan atypical divergence from the Luo he used to chat with.


    He took a closer look at Luo.


    The panel quickly revealed the reason for this man''s posture.


    [Current needs analysis: Please take away Miss Li of the Li family (95%), Others (5%)]


    The 5% of other needs typically included urgent matters or trivialities that generally didn''t need to be accounted for. So in Tang Xian''s view, Luo''s panel at this moment solely reflected a desperate wish to escort the menace from the antique shop''s elegant room away. Tang Xian instantly understood the situation.


    He raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised that this incident had occurred today.


    "You''ve really had a tough time," he said, patting Luo''s shoulder, feeling somewhat apologetic.


    "I wouldn''t dare say so, not tough at all. Let me show you the way," answered Luo, shaking his head vigorously.


    Without further ado, Tang Xian asked, "Where is she? How long has she been here?"


    Luo did not bother to ponder how Tang Xian knew there was a woman in the store¡ªone that they couldn''t afford to provoke. He didn''t dare think about it too much. His experience over the past two days was something he''d never forget in his lifetime.


    He gestured towards the inner room, ready to lead the way, but Tang Xian nodded and gestured for Luo not to follow before walking towards the room himself.


    Although he didn''t know exactly what Luo had gone through these days, seeing someone who could normally exchange jibes now acting so obsequiously, as a dog would to its master, suggested that Luo''s recent experiences had been pitiful.


    There weren''t many families with a Miss Li of the Li family, and Luo wouldn''t normally be so subservient to anyone. Even when encountering dignitaries from the third or fourth levels, he would only show respect if they showed him face first. It was rare to see someone like Luo behaving so fearfully.


    Tang Xian shook his head, feeling somewhat angry.


    In the ten steps to the inner room, he thought carefully about the reason for this, combining what Ke had mentioned on the phone earlier that day. He had a vague idea about some of the past deeds of the Li family, but he still needed to find out their intentions.


    Parting the door curtain, Tang Xian found the room devoid of the expected plethora of bodyguards, with only two women present.


    One of the women, while not lacking in looks, had a certain murderous aura on her face, her muscle lines firm, lacking the boneless softness that a woman should possess.

 Chapter 49 Marry Me_2

    The bottom layer is chaotic, and no matter how many bodyguards one brings, it''s possible to flip over here.But this woman, with just one glance, Tang Xian was certain that if it came to a fight, her strength would be not just one level above those bottom-dwellers.


    In this world, there are very few like Akasi, who have remarkable strength both in reality and in the mining areas. The woman in front of him should be one of them.


    This is a bodyguard, and naturally, next to the bodyguard is the employer.


    The employer''s figure reflected the ''little'' in her name. When she was twelve, Tang Xian thought this girl wouldn''t grow tall, and now it seems he was right; she really didn''t grow much taller.


    She had grown only a little bit, and was still a head shorter than him.


    Her taste in clothing hadn''t changed much either, a black Lolita-style dress. It would have been adorable with two ponytails, but instead, she opted for loose, waist-length hair.


    She was like a princess from a fairy tale suddenly arrived in reality.


    The unyielding arrogance still lurked in her black eyes. Tang Xian was sure that this woman''s intellect hadn''t changed much either, otherwise, she would have known that such a look was not liked by men.


    Unless that man had a particular fetish.


    This was Li Xiaoyu.


    Eighteen now, but in Tang Xian''s eyes, just as impulsive and childish as she was at twelve.


    "Sit."


    Li Xiaoyu''s reaction upon seeing Tang Xian wasn''t as excited as Shang Lu, Yu Xiaozhe, or Ke Ye. After all, over these six years, every move Tang Xian made outside his room had been reported back to her.


    Her tone seemed casual and light, although it naturally carried a soft and coquettish allure.


    This manner of occupying someone else''s house and using the tone of a host entertaining guests made Tang Xian uncomfortable; he did not sit down, and said indifferently:


    "Have you ever had a friend?"


    Li Xiaoyu''s big eyes pondered Tang Xian for a few seconds, then understood the meaning behind his question.


    "Luo''s attitude towards you today and from now on is the same as my friends'' attitude towards me. Since they are friends, they are useful to me, can be used by me, they should naturally be grateful and respectful.


    Luo''s tone with you was so familiar and disrespectful that I didn''t like it, so while you were away, I took the liberty to ''educate'' your friend, to let him understand how to be a good friend to you. People say dogs are man''s best friends; well, he is your dog from now on, he''ll do whatever you ask of him."


    Tang Xian didn''t want to correct Li Xiaoyu on the difference between a friend and a dog.


    The best he could do for Luo now was probably to end this conversation as quickly as possible.


    Since his promotion, the things this woman had done had become increasingly frequent. This also proves that stupidity cannot be cured; it only grows worse over time.


    He got straight to the point, "Let''s talk business."


    "I''m getting married soon." Li Xiaoyu was straightforward.


    "Congratulations, I''m leaving." Tang Xian prepared to depart.


    "Stop! If you walk out now, every person you''ve come to know in these six years will become your dog tomorrow." Li Xiaoyu''s tone carried a hint of pride. She was probably proud of her thorough understanding of Tang Xian''s connections over the past six years.


    Tang Xian stopped, turned his head, and scrutinized Li Xiaoyu seriously, trying to compose himself. He knew what Li Xiaoyu was thinking; those special eyes of hers always dissected everyone they saw thoroughly.


    Rated as wealthy enough to rival a nation, she was the richest among all the people Tang Xian had ever met.


    Li Xiaoyu had not come to see him for six years, and Tang Xian had thought that maybe her obsession had faded somewhat. The subsequent surveillance he had thought was just habit, but it seemed now that the girl''s obsession with him hadn''t lessened at all.


    He looked at Li Xiaoyu coldly, silent, waiting for her to speak.


    "You should help me. After all, I''ve helped you over these six years. Isn''t it said that those who deal with you never lose out? Now I want to see my return."


    "A deal is based on the willing consent of both parties," said Tang Xian. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "When the Li family makes deals, there''s no need for the other party to be willing," Li Xiaoyu said.


    ```


    "Oh, it looks like this marriage isn''t something you willingly agreed to either. Since you''re accustomed to dealing with things using the Li family''s logic, you should also be prepared to be dealt with using the same logic."


    "You! How rude!"


    Li Xiaoyu glared at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian still wore that same expression, just coldly returning Li Xiaoyu''s gaze, without saying anything more.


    Li Xiaoyu''s composure wasn''t like it had been at the beginning; she realized that this man was the same as he had been back in school. It had only been a few rounds, and yet the words he spoke made her grit her teeth.


    "I did a lot for you, regardless of whether you wanted it or not, but you reaped the benefits of those actions."


    "Such as training my friend into becoming my slave?"


    "I protected you in secret."


    "But I don''t need protection. You''d better learn the difference between protection and surveillance."


    "I even gave you Tang. I didn''t pursue her betrayal,"


    "Then I''ll thank you on her behalf. But what does that have to do with me?"


    "The incident when you cheated was originally going to create an uproar throughout the city, even becoming nationally known. It was I who stepped in to appease the situation."


    About this, Tang Xian felt it necessary to explain in detail.


    "I heard the school later fired a group of teachers for covering up and helping me cheat. These teachers were demoted to the lower levels, but I never saw them there, so they were probably promoted in the guise of being demoted. They calmed the storm for the Li family and received benefits from the Li family, moving up to a higher level, right?"


    "But the Li family truly wouldn''t bother doing such a thing for someone who cheated on the Chosen''s examination. Your father, Li Wanye, and your brother, Li Zheng, although they dote on you, wouldn''t allow you to use so many resources to cover up something that doesn''t need to be concealed."


    After thinking for a moment, Tang Xian said, "So the real story probably is that you convinced them that I genuinely have the ability to score full marks, especially since I had written academic reports before. These fell into your brother''s or your father''s hands, and they could easily judge my capability. Therefore, they chose to cover up the incident but didn''t correct the notion.


    Later, when the Li family reaches out with an olive branch, I would be wholeheartedly loyal to the Li family."


    "Otherwise, unless stupidity is a congenital trait in your family, I really can''t understand why Li Wanye and Li Zheng would cover up my cheating for me. This blatantly self-interested move, and you still have the audacity to say it was to help me?"


    Blocking news across fortresses required significant manpower and material resources. Having learnt about this, Tang Xian thought that Li Xiaoyu was only 12 at the time and couldn''t have held so much power. Hence, he easily figured out the outcome.


    "..."


    Li Xiaoyu was getting agitated. It didn''t surprise her that Tang Xian could figure out the details of these matters.


    But why was this person so hard to persuade? Wasn''t this the Li family''s investment in him?


    "So, all in all, I believe we can agree that you haven''t offered me any help. Now tell me what you''re going to do to stop causing me trouble."


    Tang Xian didn''t fail to sense Li Xiaoyu''s goodwill.


    However, he didn''t take kindly to such domineering goodwill.


    And most of the time, such goodwill had ulterior motives.


    Li Xiaoyu, indignant, thought, how come her heart-felt good intentions had turned into trouble?


    But she knew she wouldn''t win against Tang Xian; men were such unreasonable creatures that needed to be tamed.


    The journey to tame Tang Xian would be a long one, but as long as she got past the current difficulty, she would have ample time to slowly tame him.


    Li Xiaoyu steadied her rapid breathing and slowly returned to that same cold and haughty look, then said in a tone as if bestowing charity:


    "Marry me." Experience tales at empire


    Tang Xian was silent for a few seconds, looking at Li Xiaoyu with an "are you an idiot" expression, and then said:


    "Oh, then you might as well turn them into dogs."


    After saying that, Tang Xian turned and left without hesitation.


    ```

 Chapter 50 The Mysterious Pyramid

    "Eve, stop him!" Li Xiaoyu said urgently.Eve was Li Xiaoyu''s bodyguard. Even in the Pyramid, Tang Xian had to admit this woman was quick.


    Despite being several steps away, she was in front of him by the time Li Xiaoyu''s words had finished.


    Eve gave Tang Xian a push, then a flash of confusion crossed her eyes.


    While this place wasn''t like the mining area, where a casual swing of the arm could tear an opponent''s body apart, that push should have at least knocked Tang Xian down in front of the Young Miss.


    But the man didn''t move at all, only looking at her with keen interest.


    The feeling was as if all her force had met with empty air.


    "Your bodyguard is not bad, but it''s best not to pick names like Adam and Eve. It''s in poor taste," Tang Xian said without looking at Eve again, turning back to face Li Xiaoyu.


    It was naturally not possible to just walk away. But he had to dampen Li Xiaoyu''s edge a bit, otherwise this woman might really believe that everyone in the world should kneel and accept her charity.


    Li Xiaoyu said unwillingly:


    "Why do you always refuse to admit that I''m helping you? And refuse the benefits I''m offering you, is marrying me that bad?"


    "It''s bad."


    "What''s so bad about it!"


    "Everything is bad. If you''re just trying to get out of the marriage arranged by Li Wanye, you don''t need to marry me to achieve that. Since you claim to be the second smartest person in the world, you should be able to find your own way out of these troubles without trying to kill two birds with one stone by targeting me."


    "What way?" Li Xiaoyu became interested.


    Although Tang Xian was annoying, he was still smart. He could be considered on par with her as the smartest person in the world. So, in the spirit of tolerance for talent, Li Xiaoyu decided not to pursue Tang Xian''s statement that she was second best.


    "Figure it out yourself." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu calmed down again, her eyes deeply watching Tang Xian.


    After a while, she slowly said:


    "Isn''t there anything that you currently desire, which I can give you?"


    "Are you proposing a deal?" Tang Xian frowned.


    "That''s right. Many fools back then thought you were living a miserable life, including some of your friends. But only I knew that, in your eyes, the lower levels weren''t any less comfortable than the third level. You always know what others desire, but hardly anyone knows what you long for. But I do."


    "You know?"


    "Of course I do. You like delicious food; more precisely, you also like money, but you can acquire these things on your own, and you enjoy earning them through your ability, so they''re not suitable for trade. The best deals are where both parties can offer something the other lacks but desires."


    Li Xiaoyu''s eyes carried a bewitching hint.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    He liked good food and would often go through great lengths for it, but he wasn''t greedy for it. That''s why Li Xiaoyu wasn''t foolish enough to use these as bargaining chips in their trade.


    Because that would ruin the satisfaction of working hard for it.


    He found a place to sit down.


    Tang Xian was like that. As long as Li Xiaoyu didn''t keep making some insane proposals, like marriage, he was willing to converse with her.


    Li Xiaoyu showed delight.


    "So, after observing me for six years, you know what I long for?"


    "Of course. You enjoy food and studying history, but unlike the former, while some people enjoy the slow process of hunting and cooking, when it comes to knowledge, people prefer to acquire it simply. For example, you want to directly understand the process of human civilization''s evolution."


    Tang Xian was slightly moved; he indeed wanted to know this.


    If Li Xiaoyu could trade this information, he would accept the deal and take care of the matters Li Xiaoyu had arranged. Explore more at empire


    Seeing Tang Xian''s expression, Li Xiaoyu was pleased.


    "Complete historical records are impossible to find. You might have to go to the eighth level. My Li family, although located on the sixth level, can truly access the highest level which is the seventh level, and that''s currently the highest authority attainable for humanity."


    Raising his eyebrows, Tang Xian pondered the implication of her words.


    Li Xiaoyu clapped her hands. Eve nodded and then left the room.


    Tang Xian guessed Li Xiaoyu probably had some secrets to reveal.


    "Without my order, Eve doesn''t dare to come in. Now it''s just you and me in the room, don''t you want to do something?" Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Don''t waste time on such pointless jokes. Continue with what you were saying."


    Li Xiaoyu felt it was a bit dull.


    At this time, as someone seeking a trade, shouldn''t he show a face willing to be taken advantage of?


    Forget it. In consideration that you are Tang Xian, I won''t fault you for not playing along.


    "From what I just said, you should find the questions you want to know. There should be three; which one do you want to know first?"


    "What is meant by the highest authority for humanity nowadays." Tang Xian didn''t hesitate. He did indeed have three questions.


    "It''s literal. All the Pyramids in the world, the highest current level is the seventh. Those able to enter the seventh level include thirty-nine fortresses, Fortress One, and Fortress Two. There are also two fortresses in the United States and Dongying, and these Pyramids'' access levels have reached the seventh floor.


    The rest of the Pyramids around the world can only access up to the sixth level at most."


    "In summary, of all the Pyramid fortresses around the world, the few that are currently leading can only reach up to the seventh level."

 Chapter 50 The Mysterious Pyramid_2

    Li Xiaoyu was somewhat proud.When many people liked to talk about the Li family, they would mention the sixth layer of the Pyramid. But in fact, the Li family lived on the seventh layer. It''s only that for most people, they didn''t know the Pyramid had seven layers.


    Because many Pyramids... had only six layers. In some extremely backward races, the Pyramid even had only five.


    The world was never fair to begin with.


    Some were born with outstanding talents, able to perceive five or even six kinds of abilities, and they were revered as strong figures in the mining area; others possessed extraordinary intelligence, researching the knowledge of the mining area to unprecedented depths, commanding high social status within the Pyramid.


    They were naturally seen as successful individuals by everyone, but even such people¡ªtheir greatest achievement in life¡ª Read new adventures at empire


    Was probably being valued by the Li family and becoming a subordinate of the Li family.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about Li Xiaoyu''s not-so-subtle display of wealth, although this was probably beyond what could be described as flaunting wealth.


    He was just simply curious about some content he heard today and so he asked the second question.


    "How many layers does the Pyramid have in total?"


    "I don''t know."


    "You don''t know?"


    "Yes, the highest might have only eight layers, or there might be nine or ten layers. But for now, it is impossible to continue upwards."


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected this answer; he had once asked someone to inquire about the difference in area between the second and the first layer, plus the difference in height between the first and second layers, to calculate the total number of layers.


    But later that person told him that the area of the third and the fourth layers was the same.


    It was then that Tang Xian started to harbor a doubt.


    Although everyone called the fortress the Pyramid, perhaps... it wasn''t a regular Pyramid, it''s just that no one had ever gone outside to see the full view of the fortress.


    People thought the mining area was mysterious, but the Pyramid was just as mysterious.


    The third question naturally was confirmed.


    "Why is there a hierarchical difference between Pyramids? What are the conditions for entering a higher layer?"


    Li Xiaoyu said:


    "This is the most crucial question. We don''t know how many layers the Pyramid truly has, but to enter a higher tier, one must achieve fruitful results in the battles of the mining area. The reason the Li family, like a few other fortresses, could develop the seventh layer is because the Li family once led humans to take over the Yellow Zone of the mining area."


    "It was a battle where many died and were injured, but we also reaped rich rewards, obtaining a large number of perfect-level boss creatures'' Soul Crystals, among which were the conditions to unlock the seventh layer."


    "Unlocking conditions?"


    "Take for instance when the Li family''s ancestors entered the fifth layer two hundred years ago; at that time, the fifth layer was the highest tier. At the entrance from the fifth layer to the sixth layer, there were mission guides to unlock the sixth layer."


    "What kind of guides were they?"


    "Obtaining one hundred perfect-level creatures'' Soul Crystals. Once this condition is fulfilled, these guides disappear. So even now, if you go to the fifth and the sixth layer, you won''t see the guides, but on the seventh layer you can see them¡ªthe Soul Crystals of twenty Cataclysm-level boss creatures."


    Tang Xian was shocked. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu appreciated Tang Xian''s surprise, although she herself was quite astonished when she first learned the true nature of the Pyramid.


    But it was rare to see this man show such an expression.


    "I can also tell you the benefits of advancing to higher layers as well as the past unlocking conditions. However, you must agree to three things for me," she said.


    Li Xiaoyu was the epitome of upping the price.


    Tang Xian, however, didn''t hesitate and said, "I agree."


    "That easy?" Li Xiaoyu was somewhat unused to it.


    "Marriage to you is out of the question."


    "Hmph, you''ll agree to that in the future. But let''s not talk about this now since I don''t have many opportunities to blackmail you," Li Xiaoyu didn''t mind Tang Xian''s distaste for her.


    Oh, it couldn''t be distaste, it was a difference in interests. But with time, he would definitely realize that only she had the wisdom to match his.


    "There are no conditions for the first layer; at the end of human civilization, the Pyramid appeared earlier than the mining area. After humans moved into the first layer of the Pyramid, it was chaotic since the conditions on the second layer were clearly better, and everyone wanted to enter the second layer."


    "As for the conditions to open the third layer, it was: Human civilization adapting to a new social system. You must understand this phrase, deciding which people are suited for the lower layers and which people are suited for the superior environment of the second layer, required reasonable arrangements. Once everyone accepted these arrangements, the third layer was unlocked."


    "The unlocking of the Pyramid''s third layer brought humanity new technology: the teleportation rift technology. And when humans entered the third layer, the mining area descended."


    "The condition to go from the third layer to the fourth layer required hunting one hundred reinforced-level creatures. The subsequent unlocking conditions are actually incremental: reinforced-level, elite-level, perfect-level, Cataclysm-level."


    "The quantum extraction technology for armed, organic, and inorganic ores and some other technological advancements actually only came after new layers were unlocked."


    "So you''re saying, by developing higher levels, all of humanity could learn more advanced technology?" Tang Xian asked.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, saying:


    "Exactly. Now is the critical period for venturing into the eighth layer; no one knows what can be gained after entering the eighth layer. As for the condition to go from the eighth to the ninth layer, it probably forces humanity to confront Calamity-level creatures."


    Tang Xian agreed with this opinion, though he felt it was somewhat too distant and said:

 Chapter 50 The Mysterious Pyramid_3

    "Indeed, humanity has eliminated catastrophic creatures before, but it usually comes at a grievous cost, with about half the casualties incurred, and even then, it requires good luck, catching the catastrophic creature when it''s on its last breath. As for the catastrophic boss-level beasts, that''s even more unthinkable."Li Xiaoyu''s expression also grew solemn as she continued:


    "Catastrophic creatures are still too far beyond our reach at present. Even though humanity once obtained a Soul Crystal from a catastrophic creature, unfortunately, according to the current pace of the Pyramid exploration, it will be decades, even nearly a hundred years before that Soul Crystal can be used as a key.


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    Thus, that Soul Crystal was repurposed for another cause, as an energy reserve for fortresses."


    "Even the disaster-grade creatures are quite challenging for humans at present. Hundreds of elite teams might not be enough to hunt disaster-grade creatures, let alone boss-level beasts. Compared to reinforced creatures, elite creatures, and perfect creatures, disaster and catastrophic creatures have stats that are not even on the same scale."


    "It''s as if there are many intermediary levels missing between them, and they suddenly become powerful. To progress from the sixth to the seventh layer, a hundred perfect-grade boss creature Soul Crystals are needed. To go from the seventh to the eighth layer, twenty disaster-grade boss creature Soul Crystals are required."


    "The Li family''s ancestor reached the fifth layer in the past, and to go to the sixth layer he had to eradicate a hundred perfect-grade creatures. The exploration of the sixth layer took only twenty-two years."


    "To progress from the sixth to the seventh layer requires a hundred perfect-grade boss creatures. Although they are also perfect-grade, the bosses have all their physical abilities enhanced and they possess terrifying special abilities, which took seventy-four years."


    "And from the seventh layer to the eighth layer, we have been exploring for nearly a hundred years now, but it still hasn''t been completed."


    "Among the few fortresses that have unlocked the seventh layer, the Li family is still short of two disaster-grade boss creature Soul Crystals, while Lincoln Fortress in the United States is only short of one. As for the other fortresses, they are all around fifteen Soul Crystals short."


    Li Xiaoyu spoke earnestly: "We need to get there before them. Be the first to master the scientific and technological knowledge that can be gained from unlocking the eighth layer. Dongying has already begun to apply for secession from the federal system, and many small countries are restless, so there may be a return to the era of independent states.


    Therefore, my father and brother hope to raise the strength of all Huaxia''s fortresses to a new level before that era arrives."


    Tang Xian had begun to understand, saying, "Is that why you''ve been planning to get married recently?"


    "Yes," replied Li Xiaoyu, her gaze slightly cold. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "To whom? Akasi?"


    "No, to the Song Family of Fortress No. 1, who command several hidden and powerful Hunter''s Groups. Those old fools in the family are using me to trade for control of these Hunter''s Groups, planning a large-scale mining area warfare in the short term to slay disaster-grade boss-level beasts."


    Sorting out his thoughts, Tang Xian had figured out the information Li Xiaoyu had given him that day.


    Only by completing the quests can new levels be unlocked. Although a hundred elite creatures and a hundred perfect creatures seem easy today, merely the trade volume of all hunters from the Huaxia fortresses in one or two months,


    this is all because of the hunter''s current understanding of the mining areas.


    The sacrifice of countless ancestors and countless bones has enriched the mining areas'' survival knowledge for future generations, let alone each fortress''s progress being measured separately. So, the centuries of exploration have been very protracted, even if those tasks seem easy today.


    However, the quests for unlocking the latest levels remain extremely difficult for humanity.


    The Li family commands Fortress No. 39, as well as Lincoln Fortress, which is far off on the North American Continent.


    After nearly a century of time, both fortresses are on the verge of unlocking the eighth layer, and it''s a race to see who completes the last kill first.


    But whether it''s the Li family or anyone else attempting to kill a disaster-grade boss, it requires tremendous strength and a sufficient amount of luck.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brow and said:


    "You''re not expecting me to kill two disaster-grade bosses for you, are you?"

 Chapter 51 Cute Idiot

    Feeling the rare uncertainty and astonishment in Tang Xian''s tone, Li Xiaoyu nodded, appearing calm and serious.An expression befitting a minor errand.


    However, she corrected herself, saying, "In the yellow zone of the western mining area, the Blade Forbidden Lake, about forty years ago, we discovered a three-tailed Dragon Spine Crocodile. According to the bestiary unlocked at the sixth level, this is a creature that''s on the lower end among the Calamity-level boss creatures."


    "But it''s very clever. You can''t imagine, sometimes these animals exhibit intelligence that surpasses human beings. Yet, after being worn down by humanity for forty years, its demise is considered a military secret. Currently, the hunter squads of Lincoln Fortress haven''t discovered it, and the area has already been placed under martial law by the Li family''s forces. It will die soon."


    Li Xiaoyu said, "So you only need to kill one more. I believe in you."


    Tang Xian couldn''t help but think that he wasn''t even that confident in himself; how could this woman have so much faith in him?


    If it was just a Calamity-level creature, he might be able to do it by using his connection with Qing JiuYu. He had planned to track the Nvwa Snake for Qiao Shanshan.


    But to take on a Calamity-level boss creature was simply a fool''s dream.


    The Nvwa Snake was a Calamity-level creature, and its leader, the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, was a Calamity-level boss creature. The difference in strength between boss and non-boss creatures differed at other levels. At the Calamity level, the gap between boss and non-boss creatures is even wider.


    Being a Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, Qing JiuYu was the most powerful creature in the entire mining area, leading the fox clan against the snake clan for so long without gaining an advantage over the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.


    Even if we spoke purely in terms of strength values, Qing JiuYu''s strength should be several times, if not ten times, more formidable than that of the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.


    Of course, this might have something to do with the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon''s innate resistance to fox fire.


    Since the incident with Qing JiuYu, Tang Xian had elevated his estimation of the intelligence of Calamity-level and Catastrophe-level boss creatures.


    They possessed human intelligence; the methods used to kill their kin might not work on them.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said, "Creatures with boss markers, although their ability values are only slightly higher than those of ordinary Calamity-level creatures, actually exhibit combat power that far exceeds non-boss creatures.


    If the gap between elite and perfect class can be compared to the difference between a stream and a lake, then the gap between the perfect class and Calamity-level is like that of a lake to an ocean."


    Li Xiaoyu tilted her head slightly, puzzled, and said:


    "My understanding is that you''re trying to jack up the price."


    Tang Xian shook his head. Based on his life goal to eat a Catastrophe-level creature, he hadn''t thought of anything like jacking up the price. The main issue was that he genuinely had no confidence in accomplishing this task.


    "The intelligence of boss creatures is indeed close to that of humans, a point I''ve also verified. That''s the most critical aspect. Didn''t the Li family also take nearly forty years to kill a Calamity-level creature? I don''t think I''ll be stronger than the Li family, so it''ll probably take me forty years as well. By the time you''re fifty-eight, marriage shouldn''t be so urgent for you, right?"


    Tang Xian nodded to himself, thinking it made sense, and continued to speak despite Li Xiaoyu''s cooling expression:


    "Let''s change to a different task. Would dealing with a secondary Calamity-level creature be acceptable?"


    "No. I''m not asking you to do this alone. Aren''t you known as Tang Wudi?"


    "That''s in reference to dealing with human beings."


    "There are many humans who can beat you. Your specialty is here." Li Xiaoyu pointed derisively at her temple.


    "Not anymore. At best, it''s a draw." Tang Xian said very objectively.


    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t interested in Tang Xian''s bragging. Sometimes he would say things that made no sense.


    "I''ll assemble the team members for you, about ten of the top hunting squads under your command, with a one-year deadline."


    Tang Xian frowned.


    He hadn''t expected Li Xiaoyu to be so earnest.


    He started to carefully consider whether he could achieve the task within a year.


    Tang Xian had always been confident in his abilities. He believed that with his team and a comprehensive plan covering at least a quarter, along with many high-level pieces of equipment, he could confidently hunt Calamity-level creatures.


    But at that time, he had underestimated the power of Calamity-level creatures.


    Especially their heightened intelligence.


    And this time, he was up against a Calamity-level boss creature.


    "In one year''s time, is that for Lincoln Fortress to take down the last Calamity-level boss creature, or for your marriage to Fortress Number One?"


    "The former. I will be getting married in four months," Li Xiaoyu said. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised.


    Li Xiaoyu hadn''t set the deadline within four months.


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    "Our Li family, among the first to unlock the seventh layer of technology, didn''t monopolize it but instead integrated its content into educational resources, disseminating it to every fortress in Huaxia. However, Lincoln Fortress and Sky Guardian Fortress are different. These countries will monopolize such technology to strengthen their own fortresses, thereby controlling others."


    "You might not believe this, but the Li family has always prioritized the world over personal affairs. So it''s no surprise that completing the eighth level before Lincoln Fortress is much more important than some of my personal feelings," Li Xiaoyu said with an unchanged expression, even though she had previously mentioned her marriage with a trace of begrudging determination.


    Tang Xian couldn''t help but be surprised. This differed slightly from his impression of the brainless second young mistress.

 Chapter 51 Cute Idiot_2

    This world is sometimes like this.Some people strut around in their day-to-day lives, and everyone thinks that those people are nothing but straw bags who only got where they are because of their parents. But when a national crisis looms, these same people won''t even frown. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then there are those who always like to criticize others, always on the moral high ground, but faced with the same national crisis, these people do nothing, continuing only to scoff and jeer.


    Of course, this is just a partial phenomenon. But it''s enough to illustrate a principle.


    Actions can judge a person, but often, the actions people understand are not comprehensive. You can never know whether your friend will one day suddenly have a persona collapse or an elevation of character.


    Tang Xian thought of a story and began to tell it outright.


    "At the end of the fifth school year, there was a very handsome student in our class. Probably before he transferred, I was only the second most liked by the girls."


    Li Xiaoyu listened quietly, even though she didn''t know why Tang Xian was suddenly bringing up an irrelevant topic. At the same time, she automatically ignored Tang Xian''s shamelessly self-congratulatory remarks.


    "He was tall, aloof by nature, and supposedly his family had a good foundation too. And I quite liked this person."


    This "I quite liked" made Li Xiaoyu suddenly vigilant.


    Tang Xian noticed this expression and gave Li Xiaoyu a glance.


    "Many girls pursued him, all of whom were coldly rejected. His image as a high and mighty male idol was almost unshakeable."


    "It was only later that he became the laughingstock of the whole school. A photo and a video forced him to transfer schools."


    "Such a lofty idol, who usually looked down upon young and beautiful girls, was seen in the video wearing childish makeup with clownish blush, dancing a ridiculous dance, and singing a song that only people from a bygone era would like. He looked like a clown."


    "No one knew why he did this in the video, but his persona was ruined in an instant. Aloof people are of two kinds: those with a thick enough skin to withstand a nuclear bomb and those with thin skin; in fact, most people are the latter. So he transferred schools."


    "The former male god became a joke, especially among the girls he had rejected and the boys who were jealous of him. The incident turned into anecdote, and on some youth-favored websites, there were even parody videos." Your next journey awaits at empire


    Li Xiaoyu was somewhat angry. It seemed Tang Xian was implying that what he had just said might be different from his perceived character.


    But to compare oneself to a behaviorally deviant clown?


    Seeing Li Xiaoyu''s expression, Tang Xian said, "Listen to me before you react."


    "Later, Ke and I investigated the origin of this video, purely out of boredom, or perhaps curiosity about human nature, wondering exactly what it would take for someone to do something so drastically against the norm."


    "Eventually we tracked down a middle-aged woman who, as soon as she heard we were classmates of the aloof boy, treated us very kindly. She didn''t know he had transferred schools."


    "When I asked about the incident, she straightforwardly explained the reason. She had only met the aloof boy by chance. Her son and husband had met with an accident in the mining area, and she had lost all her will to live."


    "Put simply, a person with a cold persona encountered a woman seeking death. And then he saved her."


    "Some people have an extremely naive side to their hearts. You might find it hard to imagine such a handsome boy, not good with words, would dress up to make a woman who had given up on life laugh, making clownish gestures to encourage her. It''s just a pity... he forgot to close the window."


    Now Li Xiaoyu understood. The scene of the boy making the woman laugh was captured because the buildings in the grove on the third floor were very close to each other.


    "I didn''t pursue the matter further, just understood the ins and outs. After all, it had nothing to do with me. I didn''t have much to do with that aloof boy, but because of this, I found him rather adorable. Not only did his persona not collapse, but it also sublimated."


    Tang Xian thought about it and then generously added:


    "Just like you today."


    He spoke these words very lightly, lighter than plain water. But Li Xiaoyu''s face flushed in an instant.


    "Even if you compliment me... I...wait, do you agree or not?"


    Her thoughts were somewhat obstructed. This man had never complimented her before. Li Xiaoyu forced herself to calm down.


    She had to quickly think of something related to their interests.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    "I can''t promise you something I''m not even sure I can achieve myself. Hunting a disaster-class boss creature will be my goal, on my agenda. But whether I can kill it within a year, I can''t boastfully claim that I can."


    Li Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "As long as you do your best and don''t hold back, that''s enough."


    "You trust me that much? You might already become a married woman by the time I bring back the Soul Crystal of a disaster-class boss creature."


    "Shut up!" Li Xiaoyu was annoyed again; this man was ruining the mood.


    "I might get married, but I won''t let him touch me."


    "You don''t need to tell me these things. I''m agreeing only because there are some contrasts in your personality that remind me of that classmate. Although you have your brilliant points, they still don''t change the fact that you''re an idiot."


    "Shut up! Shut up!" Li Xiaoyu felt an urge to pounce on this man and bite him.


    Tang Xian said, "I don''t need you to find teammates for me. I need obedient teammates, but they should at least retain their own characters so that they can fully utilize their specialties and talents. The ones you found, forget it."


    As he thought about the mere days it had taken for Luo to become a servant, Tang Xian felt that the matter of finding Tang, Tang quickly, Tang very flesh must still be personally handled by himself.


    Li Xiaoyu steadied her breathing.


    "I think that''s about it, I''ll take my leave," said Tang Xian, now that he knew the full story and was ready to leave.


    "Wait a minute."


    "Is there anything else?"


    "You have to bring your team to the hunting festival."


    "I''ll see how I feel."


    Tang Xian didn''t want to say any more to Li Xiaoyu.


    In a little while, ten hours would pass, and if there was anything to say, Dong Ran would serve as the best messenger between the two of them.


    Thinking that Tang Xiaojiu and Dong Ran were probably hungry, he was also getting a bit greedy himself.


    As he left, Luo was exceedingly respectful, making Tang feel somewhat helpless.


    ...


    ...


    Li Xiaoyu also left soon after.


    Eve followed behind her, while Luo knelt at Li Xiaoyu''s feet, much like a dog. Li Xiaoyu glanced at Luo.


    Remembering the story Tang Xian had just told, she felt she hadn''t done anything wrong.


    People have two sides. Yet, these two sides coexist with logical relations; they are not without rationale.


    Someone''s apparent integrity is just a facade, because they''ve never been given the chance to be corrupted. Those who could corrupt them do not care to do so. In other words, they wish to fall but are given no opportunity.


    Therefore, she didn''t agree with Tang Xian''s words that if someone was a true friend, they would never turn into a dog.


    The disgust one has for the wealthy often correlates with how easily they can be bought.


    Li Xiaoyu verified this truism countless times amongst her father and brother''s business partners.


    On social media, there are always those who criticize the Li family, be it the media or individuals; they all seem to regard money and power as dirt.


    But as soon as the Li family spends a bit of money, these people are the quickest to change sides.


    "You haven''t transcended, you''ve just plainly collapsed. So you''re not fit to be his friend, just continue being a dog," Li Xiaoyu left these words behind as she departed.


    Of course, there was also enough wealth left with Luo that would make him happy to remain a dog.


    In Fortress 39, the Li family has private passages to any level they wish to visit.


    At this moment in the private passage, Li Xiaoyu was passing the third level, and she remembered something else.


    "What do you think of Tang Xian? Isn''t he interesting?"


    She asked Eve. As a top hunter, Eve was skilled at judging creatures in the mining area, but not so much at judging humans.


    Shaking her head, she said, "This man is strong, beyond that, your subordinate wouldn''t dare to comment."


    "Strong?"


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t believe it when Tang Xian claimed to be strong. But Eve''s judgment was accurate, so now she had to give it some serious thought.


    "I''ve seen all of Tang Xian''s medical reports from his Chosen Trial. He''s just a normal person, nothing out of the ordinary."


    "Maybe your subordinate has made an error," said Eve.


    "Forget it, I''ll investigate this later. I need you to help me look up someone," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Yes, tell me."


    "Seven years ago, in the third level''s 669 educational district of Fortress 39, there was a boy. Look him up for me. He transferred out after reaching the fifth year in 669 district. He''s notable for being rather handsome and was in the same class as Tang Xian."


    "I will report to you tonight. Are we going to punish this person?" Eve thought this individual must have offended Tang Xian.


    The second miss indeed cherished Tang Xian greatly.


    "No, if I''m in a good mood, I''ll send him some money to spend."

 Chapter 52 Oh, just you wait

    The Li family had indeed developed the seventh stratum, where they owned a manor, but both work and daily life primarily took place on the sixth stratum.Li Zheng was Li Xiaoyu''s older brother.


    To everyone, Li Xiaoyu came off as eccentric and arrogant, yet highly intelligent; gradually, the Li family started to entrust her with some business matters, which saw significant improvement over these years.


    However, Li Xiaoyu''s personality, coupled with her ruthless methods, always made people feel both respect and fear towards the second Miss Li.


    Li Zheng was different; he was more easygoing, often joking around with his subordinates, projecting the image of the perfect eldest son. With his exceptional talent and the proud record of leading teams to hunt down perfect-level creatures multiple times, everyone considered Li Zheng to be the most outstanding successor of the Li family.


    The respect and fear were similar, but for Li Zheng, the respect exceeded the fear, while for Li Xiaoyu, it was the other way around.


    The Li family also had a third son who was completely idle, spending all his time fiddling with peculiar and odd things. Everyone simply envied the third son; after all, with such a brother and sister, being able to live recklessly was also a kind of happiness.


    At this moment, Li Zheng was standing at the doorway of the Li residence on the sixth stratum, his face full of worry as he looked forward.


    Although Eve was very powerful, he couldn''t guarantee his sister''s safety amidst the chaos of the lower layers.


    It wasn''t until he saw Li Xiaoyu return that he finally smiled.


    Li Xiaoyu frowned, knowing her own brother was not a servant. Him standing at the entrance waiting for her could only mean that the Li family had visitors.


    Guessing her brother''s intentions, Li Xiaoyu asked,


    "Are they here for a marriage proposal again?"


    "Isn''t that why everyone says you''re smart? My dear sister, as I''ve told you when we were kids, offend anyone you please, I''ll cover for you if anything happens, but you''ll eventually have to marry. I know you don''t like the Song Family, they''re slightly inferior to us, the Li family, but our families need to collaborate in the future. So..."


    "I will treat him with as much politeness as possible," Li Xiaoyu interrupted Li Zheng.


    Li Zheng sighed softly and said, "Song Que himself isn''t here; I heard he''s in the mining region. It''s his father who came."


    "The old fox."


    "Cough, let''s not say that again, okay? It''s fine to talk like that privately, but we have to save face in public."


    Li Xiaoyu moved quietly and slowly, and Li Zheng was not in a rush, looking at his sister, his heart ached at her reluctance. Although he acknowledged Song Que''s strength among the younger generation, the unwilling look on his sister''s face still saddened him as her brother.


    But as members of the Li family, where was there room for freedom in love?


    It was like himself, wasn''t he also married to the daughter of the Zhang family on the sixth stratum of fortress seven? Although the daughter of the Zhang family was also pretty, it wasn''t as though he was shortchanged, but it was still a regret in life nonetheless.


    Li Xiaoyu suddenly stopped, and Li Zheng asked with a smile, "What''s wrong, getting cold feet?"


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and asked, "How old is Song Que this year?"


    "You''re about to become his bride and you don''t know how old your man is? Twenty-four."


    Li Xiaoyu glared at Li Zheng, obviously dissatisfied with the phrase "how old your man is."


    "Alright, alright, if you have any complaints, just vent them on your brother now. I don''t want you to get married either, but looking around Huaxia, there are only a few families that match our Li family''s status. The Song Family might not have the biggest business, but the future head of their family, in both mine and our father''s opinion, is the most outstanding.


    There is truly nothing to criticize about Song Que. There aren''t many who can impress me."


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    "I''m not unsatisfied, I''m actually in a good mood today."


    "Then why are you stopped here and not moving?"


    "I know someone who is also twenty-four."


    Li Zheng knew whom Li Xiaoyu was referring to; he shook his head and sighed:


    "Tang Xian might not lack abilities, but he ultimately has no talents. I believe what you said, he might have the intelligence to ace the ''Chosen''s Trial,'' but this person''s temperament is too free-spirited. The Li family now needs a military alliance."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t argue and asked: Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Will Song Que participate in the Hunting Festival?"


    "Probably, I''ve heard he has his own hunting team, but it''s ranked very low, apparently, it has not improved since its creation, probably because the Soul Crystals are all being used internally by the family."


    Li Zheng paused then said, "But don''t underestimate him, Song Que''s talent isn''t inferior to mine, and what combat abilities he acquired in the mining region, I''m not sure, but they must be very strong. His team is likely to be the biggest dark horse of the Hunting Festival."


    Li Xiaoyu still did not argue.


    "Then can he bring a Soul Crystal from a catastrophe-level boss creature for the marriage proposal?"


    "Well... probably not. To kill a catastrophe-level boss creature in a short time, the Song Family and our Li family would have to join forces."


    "So as long as they lack this Soul Crystal, I don''t have to marry him?"


    "That would be offensive, we need to leave the onlookers speechless if we are to slap someone''s face, right? It''s not good to renege on what we''ve already agreed on."


    Li Xiaoyu continued to ask:


    "What if someone does come with a Soul Crystal from a catastrophe-level boss creature to propose?"


    "Well, if you''re willing to marry him, our Li family is not afraid to offend a family like the Song''s."


    "Good, you said it."


    "I said it."


    Li Zheng really indulged Li Xiaoyu, but after the Hunting Festival, Li Xiaoyu would have to marry over. Akasi, a lone ranger like that, wouldn''t be able to participate in the Hunting Festival, and it was hard for Li Zheng to imagine anyone who could best Song Que''s team in the event.

 Chapter 52 Oh, just you wait_2

    By then, the Song Family''s prestige will soar, and if my sister marries into their family at that time, the alliance between the two powerful families will be a beautiful tale.In just a few months'' time, who else would come asking for her hand in marriage with the crystal of a calamity-level boss creature?


    ...


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    ...


    Tang Xian felt fortunate that Liu Lang from the blacksmith shop was still the same old guy, someone at the bottom like himself, with whom he could shoot the breeze.


    After sharing his contact information with Liu Lang, they added each other as Weixin friends.


    Liu Lang wasn''t surprised that Tang Xian could use the internet in the lower levels, nor did Tang Xian ask how Liu Lang could use the internet there. They simply exchanged a knowing smile.


    Interestingly, their IDs were very similar.


    Tang Xian''s was Tang Wuliao, while Liu Lang''s was Liu Bugge.


    After some idle chatter, Tang Xian left the blacksmith shop and returned to his residence.


    He took out his notebook and began to record the day''s observations.


    "The mine area and this world''s connection doesn''t seem coincidental. The mine area has been around for a long time, but in human history, its emergence came after the Pyramid, with still no intelligence on the exterior of the Pyramid."


    "Considering the social system, technology unlocking, and the spread of survival knowledge in the mine area, these aspects are not just human efforts. To create today''s situation, there must be an unknown presence, advancing with a purpose using something akin to game rules."


    "If there is a pinnacle to the Pyramid, what kind of existence could it be? Or is it like the Ark of God mentioned in the Bible? That its peak is devoid of life, merely a mechanical device, everything prearranged?"


    These were still questions he could not figure out.


    Tang Xian couldn''t discern whether the entity at the top of the Pyramid, or even the Pyramid itself, had benevolent or malevolent intentions toward humanity.


    However, he still had no fond feelings for the Pyramid itself.


    Considering the questions he pondered, the Li family likely thought about them too. As pioneers, perhaps the Li family had also explored. He could potentially discuss with the members of the Li family when the opportunity arose.


    This thought made him realize the importance of having some necessary speaking rights. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    About the creatures in the mine area, much of the knowledge came from the intelligence unlocked by explorers, and much was discovered through human exploration.


    All this knowledge gathered in Tang Xian''s mind. He pondered carefully.


    He realized that killing a calamity-level boss creature was indeed very difficult.


    Tang Xiaojiu had strength near that of a calamity-level creature, but the gap when compared to a calamity-level boss was still significant.


    As for humans he could rely on, they were even fewer.


    "Troublesome."


    For overly troublesome matters, like those questions without answers, Tang Xian usually set them aside for a while.


    Regarding killing a calamity-level boss creature, he decided to set it aside as well.


    Because if he ignored the tripe any longer, it was going to spoil. Naturally, the most important matter at hand was catching an Ice Scream Cat.


    A calamity-level boss was now less important than this cat.


    In the grand scheme of things, filling one''s belly comes first.


    If Li Xiaoyu, who held great confidence in Tang Xian, knew of this thought, she would probably stomp her foot in frustration.


    After sketching out knives, forks, and all the necessary equipment, Tang Xian sent the design drawings to Ke, who then also exchanged Weixin IDs with Tang Xian.


    Ke''s ID was rather fitting for his profession, true to the name-giving style of Tang Xian from years ago¡ªKe Datie.


    Then Tang Xian went to the mission department on the second level and exchanged two perfect-level creature crystals for points. Shangtang''s ranking rose quite a bit, and he transferred these points to Shang Lu''s account as the first sum of capital for their joint venture.


    Tang Xian checked the time, which was not far from ten hours.


    In the last ten minutes or so, he called Qiao Shanshan.


    Tang Xian didn''t know Qiao Shanshan''s phone number, but she stubbornly hadn''t disbanded the Scorched Blood Group.


    So he called the group''s administrative department.


    After a few rings, someone answered.


    "Hello, Scorched Blood Group administration."


    "Is this how you honor your friends? The Scorched Blood Group is gone, other hunting parties are lining up to poach you, yet you still cling to this administrative department. Some things don''t need such persistence; it affects efficiency."


    "It''s you!" Qiao Shanshan immediately recognized Tang Xian''s annoying tone.


    "How about visiting the forest? I recently killed a Yi Niu, you know. The tripe hotpot is especially authentic," Tang Xian invited her to hot pot, unfazed by Qiao Shanshan''s displeased tone.


    "I won''t join your team. I''m sorry I lied to you last time to save my life."


    "If lying can save a life, why not lie? But let''s set that aside for now. I''m inviting you to hot pot, more delicious than last time''s braised pig ears."


    Qiao Shanshan was baffled. Was this man calling not to exact revenge?


    A feeling that Tang Xian had let himself be deceived on purpose crept up on her.


    And besides... the braised pig ears were really delicious.


    "Though Tang Xiaojiu and Dong Ran can eat a lot, there''s too much Yi Niu tripe. It will go bad before we finish it, and that would be such a waste. Since we''re going to work together in the future, why not come up and give a hand? The cow suffered a painful death; we shouldn''t let its sacrifice be in vain, right?"


    Tang Xian was sincere in his tone. The Yi Niu had died a painful death, repeatedly stabbed. It would be disrespectful to not finish its meat. Don''t cows deserve some dignity?


    "What trick are you playing now?"

 Chapter 52 Oh, just you wait_3

    "I did save your life, right? The environment could have killed you, but I didn''t. Can''t even accept a meal from your lifesaver? I''m not some demon."Qiao Shanshan decided to not think about how this man had killed two iron can pigs and then, in an extremely short amount of time, killed a Yi Niu. What kind of strength was that? Find more to read at empire


    She said:


    "Fine, I agree."


    "See you in the mining area. Use the teleportation fissure I gave you last time; the online coordinates are in the treehouse in the sea of trees. That''s my turf. By the way, bring a change of clothes and daily necessities."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "After we finish the hotpot, you''ll definitely stick around. I''m a soft-hearted person; even if you''re not on my team yet, I''ll treat you to the benefits my team members enjoy, at least making sure you''re well fed and taken care of. Then you''ll want to stay even more."


    "Psycho, narcissist." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Phone calls are expensive, so that''s it, I''ll wait for you in the sea of trees. You''d better hurry."


    Without waiting for a response, Tang Xian hung up the phone.


    Qiao Shanshan was a person with a strong sense of justice; betraying a promise would surely weigh on her conscience.


    Especially after laying out her cards on the table over the phone, setting up a simple meal wasn''t that hard.


    Moreover, Qiao Shanshan didn''t have a better option right now.


    ...


    ...


    Hearing the busy tone as the call was disconnected, Qiao Shanshan was somewhat stunned.


    How could a person who easily killed two perfect-level creatures complain about the expense of a phone call?


    But vaguely, Qiao Shanshan still felt a bit of joy.


    It''s a kind of joy that many have experienced, when due to some pretense or concern for face, one must do something. The willingness to do it is there, but there are also other expectations within.


    Like when she was guarding the Scorched Blood Group while seriously considering joining a new team.


    The White Rose Hunter''s Group had already invited her, showing quite a bit of sincerity, but it was a tad overbearing.


    She thought it over carefully: having too many doctors in that team would limit her own talents. What was key was...


    Braised pig''s ears are really delicious.


    At this moment, Tang Xian called at just the right time, as if he could read minds, giving her an out.


    He didn''t talk about an invitation to join, just invited her for a meal¡ªhow could she refuse?


    Mentioning working together later wouldn''t seem so abrupt, and everything would seem to go smoothly.


    Qiao Shanshan started packing her things.


    The phone rang again at that moment. Checking the number, it was from the White Rose Hunter Group.


    She frowned slightly with displeasure; the attitude of this team was actually not bad. It was just that the captain was a little too confident.


    So on the phone, Qiao Shanshan refused the invitation once again, and sure enough, the captain said arrogantly:


    "Why should a woman make things difficult for another woman? If you join our group, I''ll give you the best resources and there''s no way you won''t be able to utilize your strengths. I am the best warrior, and you are the best doctor. If we sisters join forces, we''ll make sure to send those men home with their tails between their legs at the hunting festival."


    Qiao Shanshan could understand that kind of pride; the White Rose Hunter Group was ranked quite high, not at all inferior to the Scorched Blood Group. The groups ranked above the Scorched Blood Group generally had no shortage of members, which means that, in other words, joining the White Rose was considered her best option.


    Tang Xian was also a proud person to the bone, but his pride wasn''t the showy kind.


    Qiao Shanshan thought about it and then showed a mischievous smile, saying:


    "I don''t doubt your abilities, but I have already been invited by another team. I am planning to go to the sea of trees in the mining area to meet up with this team."


    "The sea of trees, isn''t that a red zone? I think you could find a better excuse if you want to refuse me."


    "No, I''m not lying to you. I really am going to the sea of trees; my friend is waiting for me there. If you don''t believe it, you''re welcome to challenge him in the sea of trees."


    "Hmph, just you wait!"

 Chapter 53 Guests Arrive

    Returning to the Sea of Trees gave Tang Xian a feeling of both physical and mental pleasure.In the short ten hours he spent at the Pyramid, he was extremely busy. Once back at the Sea of Trees, even though Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi had been hungry for ten hours and kept urging him to cook, he was too lazy to bother. He was going to sleep first.


    He had sent Dong Ran back once before, and by calculating the time she had been there, he guessed the girl was probably panicking by now, even though he had changed some of her ideas.


    Dong Ran indicated that once she finished reporting her progress to the second young mistress, she would return to the Sea of Trees as soon as her time was up.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry. After all, Dong Ran had repaired the fence. Before capturing the Ice Scream Cat, all that was needed was to finish digging the water channels.


    Before leaving, Tang Xian asked casually:


    "What does Li Xiaoyu generally ask about?"


    "Just about what you''ve done and where you''ve been."


    "She''s even more boring than me. You don''t need to report to her in the future." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah? But the second young mistress will punish me."


    "She''s asking favors from me now. Next time she asks about my business, tell her I won''t let you speak of it."


    "I feel like you''re setting me up."


    Tang Xian didn''t respond, turned to his side, and fell asleep.


    Dong Ran thought that she would help cover some tracks too. She didn''t report everything, after all.


    Reflecting on Tang''s experience of living under the second young mistress''s surveillance for six years, and how he just cursed the second young mistress as an idiot, Dong Ran mused that maybe Tang didn''t hate the second young mistress as much as it seemed.


    Dong Ran soon left.


    Tang Xiaojiu started to feel uncomfortable.


    "Tang Xian, we''ve run out of food you left us, and it just disappears out of the blue."


    Tang Xian, with his eyes half-closed and ready to sleep, still replied:


    "You probably ate it all, didn''t you? Children need to be honest."


    "Did I finish it?"


    Tang Xiaojiu began to seriously ponder this question.


    The lavish food, clearly present on the table while eating, had disappeared before she was full and came back to her senses.


    To explain this unreasonable phenomenon, Tang Xiaojiu wouldn''t suspect eating too fast but wondered if the food had vanished on its own.


    "Write out the twenty-seven characteristic external expressions of herbivorous quarry creatures from memory. Once you''re done, the food will reappear."


    Tang Xiaojiu was stunned.


    She recalled the first time she was dragged in to learn knowledge.


    Though it was said that learning was only second in joy to eating, why didn''t it feel joyful at all?


    Characteristics of herbivorous creatures?


    Her little head tilted seriously, pondering for a long time until Tang Xian''s breathing became steady. Tang Xiaojiu still couldn''t figure it out.


    It''s probably about eating meat, she thought. The characteristics of herbivorous creatures must be that they like meat! A creature that doesn''t like meat couldn''t exist in this world!


    So she prepared to write "eating meat" twenty-seven times in the little notebook Tang Xian left behind.


    Wait, what was twenty-seven again?


    And how to write the words?


    ...


    ...


    After sleeping for about six hours, Tang Xian woke up. When he woke up, Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi had also slept for a while. Tang Xiaojiu had drool at the corner of her mouth, smacking her lips together occasionally in her sleep, undoubtedly dreaming of eating.


    He smiled and started preparing food.


    Tang Xian went to the lakeside, ready to catch a few Glow Phosphorus Fish.


    At the same time, he began to ponder the matter of the Ice Scream Cat. Tang Bingxiang was very important, as food preservation was a challenge.


    To achieve refrigeration, there were two types of people who could do it in the quarry: those who had awakened battle gifts related to ice, which were beyond Tang Xian''s knowledge, and the Ice Scream Cats, enhanced creatures that lived in the jungle.


    It was said that they could only be seen at the lakeside for less than an hour between five and six in the morning and usually left right after hunting.


    Although they breathed ice, Ice Scream Cats normally didn''t live in cold habitats. Like the Hell Flame Wolf, they preferred to be active in subtemperate zones.


    Tang Xian figured that the Sea of Trees must have Ice Scream Cats. In the morning, he could sometimes see frost during this season, and the Sea of Trees didn''t have significant temperature fluctuations, hovering around nine degrees, so frost was unreasonable.


    Cats were not numerous in the Sea of Trees. The Gem Tiger, a big cat species, was one of them, but this type was much smarter than the Ice Scream Cat, having left this part of the Sea of Trees for the far reaches after Tang Xiaojiu came.


    Ice Scream Cats were different. Gem Tigers didn''t rely solely on fish¡ªthey could eat deer, dogs, and monkeys. The Ice Scream Cat, an enhanced creature, was at the bottom of the ecological chain and had to eat fish.


    With delicious, tender, phosphorus fish inhabiting this lake, Ice Scream Cats were likely to be present. Such creatures could probably sense Tang Xiaojiu''s routines, figuring that during their activity hours, the humanoid disaster-level creature living in the treehouse was likely still fast asleep.


    Tang Xian meticulously observed the ecosystem of the forest sea.


    The reason he dared to settle in this place was indeed because at the top of the food chain here was Tang Xiaojiu.


    After all, this area used to be only a yellow zone, where perfect-level boss creatures like the Gem Tigers and Hell Flame Wolves were basically at the top of the food chain.


    Tang Xian had patrolled the forest sea with Tang Xiaojiu flaunting her borrowed authority, and with the arrival of Qing Jiuyu, a character that could be likened to a high-status cultivator ascending to the Great Vehicle in a cultivation novel, in a region that seemed to still be cultivating their base physical and qi energies.


    The unique scent of the Biphasic Orchid he left behind also helped Tang Xian attain a high status in the forest sea, which was rife with fox clans.


    The forest sea was actually quite vast, with approximately fifteen perfect-level boss creatures and about forty perfect-level creatures living in it.


    They lived in the forest sea and none dared to harass Tang Xian, firstly because of Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Xian, and secondly because of those red-line grasses.


    Tang Xian also hoped the place he lived could be as idyllic as possible with birdsong and fragrant flowers. Mainly, they didn''t look very appetizing, so everyone maintained a respectful distance from one another''s waters.


    Tang Xian planned to use a simple method to attract the Ice Scream Cats, relying on the plants provided by Shang Lu.


    Camphor grass, also known as catnip.


    It''s an exceptionally attractive thing for cats, as most can''t resist it. After smelling the scent or consuming it, they become incredibly excited. However, unlike some prohibited substances, catnip is not addictive and doesn''t have any adverse effects on cats.


    At most, it turns these aloof creatures into dumb animals similar to Huskies momentarily.


    In his prop bag, among the many seeds provided by Shang Lu, there were catnip seeds. There were both ungerminated and mature products.


    Originally, he hadn''t planned on using it to capture Ice Scream Cats, as they weren''t part of his plan at the time.


    But when he heard Tang Xiaojiu talk about flaunting borrowed authority, he wondered if it would be useful for big cats like Gem Tigers.


    After all, many ancient people petted cats, but very few petted tigers.


    He originally wanted to try it. However, later on, the Gem Tiger took the initiative to withdraw to the far side of the forest sea. He decided to spare the tiger when possible, planning to let it off the hook.


    Shang Lu had provided plenty of mature products for comparison and observation, to see how different the process would be from the ungerminated growth to the direct mature growth.


    The mature products were sealed in bags along with the soil from the cultivation chamber and looked like specimens from afar.


    Tang Xian slowly opened these camphor grass packets and chose a suitable location that looked as natural as possible to plant them by the lake, a path Tang Xiaojiu must take when fishing. Basically, other creatures wouldn''t approach it.


    After getting all this done, Tang Xian planned to lie in ambush from four to seven in the morning, waiting for Tang Bingxiang''s arrival.


    With ample time left, after catching some fish, Tang Xian returned to the tree house to start preparing the afternoon meal.


    By the time he got back to the tree house, Qiao Shanshan had already arrived.


    She stood outside the fence, looking warily around.


    Then, seeing Tang Xian roll up his sleeves, his trouser legs covered in mud, and carrying a basket of fish, she was a bit slow to react.


    She had imagined that Tang Xian would have built a hideout somewhere hidden in the forest sea that would be very difficult for creatures to find.


    But she hadn''t expected Tang Xian to brazenly build a house on these massive Hundred-Handed Wood trees on the periphery of the forest sea.


    Looking at the man with the hermit-like ease of someone gathering chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, enjoying the leisurely sight of the southern mountains, she blurted out:


    "Did you grow up in the mining area?"


    After she spoke, she regretted it; in the Human World, that phrase is used to describe someone as barbaric. She had only wanted to express her surprise in a literal sense.


    Because to her, Tang Xian seemed to fit in perfectly here, with no sense of incongruity.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind and said lightly,


    "I didn''t grow up in the mining area, but I plan to retire there. You arrived just in time, I was about to make some food."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded, still somewhat at a loss. The idea of settling in the red zone was quite a shock to her.


    As they walked a few steps, Tang Xian''s nose twitched.


    When he had returned to the forest sea, he had smelled something, but wasn''t sure what it was. After sleeping and waking up, he realized the scent was clearer.


    "Did you bring guests too?"


    "Guests?"


    "A few hours ago, someone was making their way here from the direction of the Red Soil Forest. They should be here in about half an hour. They''re all women."


    "How do you know?" Qiao Shanshan figured out who those people were.


    "It''s one of the abilities I awakened in the mining area, but you''ll have to join my team before I can tell you."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded, thinking she should be polite, so she said,


    "Yes, you could say they are guests."


    "We don''t have extra bowls or food, so they will have to go hungry."


    "Then let them starve."


    Having glanced at Qiao Shanshan''s current honesty level, Tang Xian could guess these weren''t the usual kind of guests.


    He didn''t say much more. It was common knowledge that one couldn''t just wander into the red zone haphazardly. Those women lacked common sense and were probably even more foolish than Dong Ran.

 Chapter 54 How to Prevent Misfortune Arising from Speech

    Dealing with the fish was an activity held in the courtyard, but Tang Xiaojiu, who was inside the house, woke up naturally, as if connected by telepathy.By now, Tang Xiaojiu had realized that every time Tang Xian''s cooking involved fish, scales needed to be removed. So she squatted beside him, helping to scrape off the fish scales.


    Tang Xian didn''t point out that Tang Xiaojiu''s interest was more in playing with the fish than actually preparing it.


    It didn''t take long before the fish were all dead from the handling.


    "Big sister, you''re here," Tang Xiaojiu still remembered Qiao Shanshan.


    Qiao Shanshan nodded, also remembering the little girl who had looked so doubtful about life after eating a Bogen Fruit.


    "My name is Qiao Shanshan."


    "Sister Qiao."


    Qiao Shanshan remembered how Tang Xiaojiu used to address Dong Ran, suspecting that this was related to Tang Xian, so she preemptively told Tang Xiaojiu her own name.


    "Speaking of which, why did you bring such a young child to the mining area?" asked Qiao Shanshan.


    "She''s six years old, can run errands. Not young at all. The mining area isn''t dangerous for Tang Xiaojiu. You''ll understand in the future."


    After cleaning the insides of the fish, Tang Xian placed them in the pot.


    "In the future, don''t casually allow others to enter the forest sea; it''s somewhat inconvenient to handle such matters, and we can''t just kill them."


    Qiao Shanshan felt somewhat embarrassed; how did this man know everything?


    Simmering on a low heat, it would take about thirty minutes for the pot of soup to turn milky white. Tang Xian remembered the timing, instructing Tang Xiaojiu to watch the pot and warning her to wait for his return before eating, or else she might get sick.


    Frightened, Tang Xiaojiu nodded vigorously.


    He then gave Qiao Shanshan a meaningful look and started walking out of the courtyard.


    Qiao Shanshan hurriedly followed.


    To Qiao Shanshan, Tang Xian seemed like a legendary hidden master. If he wasn''t bragging, based on the strength he had shown, he could easily handle the White Rose Hunter Group.


    The White Rose Hunter Group had four members in total¡ªthree doctors and one warrior.


    The warrior, who was the team leader, was named Huang Jie, known as the flower of hunters, a beauty among women. Inside the Pyramid, she was accustomed to the adoring look from men.


    Because such a woman once she becomes powerful, always exudes a certain aura.


    So on the edge of the forest sea, upon seeing Qiao Shanshan with a man who seemed frail, Huang Jie showed a disdainful look.


    In the forest sea, Huang Jie was different, possessing robust physique and tremendous strength.


    The reason why the White Rose Hunter Group had so many doctors, instead of a conventional composition like other teams, was precisely because Huang Jie had real formidable strength.


    This was confirmed even by the hunter groups who were on the front lines, as none had been stingy in their praise when evaluating Huang Jie.


    Few others could keep up with Huang Jie''s actions. Coupled with her defensive power comparable to the elite creatures of the mining area, and her equipment starting with green-tier, with a weapon that was a blue-tiered thermal broadsword. Such high-end equipment allowed her to be extremely formidable in terms of offensive power.


    Therefore, battles were often simple. When dealing with enhanced or even elite creatures, doctors only needed to keep healing her, allowing her to freely display her prowess.


    Before long, these creatures would discover that this human possessed strength greater than that of wild beasts, a humanoid fierce beast.


    "So it turns out you''ve been following a pretty boy. I invite you again, Qiao Shanshan. I respect you and hope you will join my team."


    Huang Jie was actually somewhat surprised, such as the fact that Qiao Shanshan was genuinely here.


    Looking at Tang Xian''s worn clothes, she felt as if he was someone from the lower class; yet, the man was quite handsome. Thinking it over, she found it all the more laughable.


    "She said you''re a pretty boy," Qiao Shanshan said calmly, trying to provoke some animosity in Tang Xian.


    "I have a small face, and it''s fair, so she''s not wrong there. You should respond to them now, or reject them. The forest sea is dangerous; humans shouldn''t come here carelessly," Tang Xian replied with equal calm, ignoring the insult. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Shanshan was speechless, realizing that even Tang Xian knew the forest sea was dangerous.


    "You heard, you saw; this is my partner, and I already have my own team," said Qiao Shanshan.


    Tang Xian knew her words were somewhat theatrical, but he was still quite satisfied with Qiao Shanshan''s choice.


    Huang Jie remarked, "I thought you and your teammates were very close. Yet here you are, a few days later in the mining area, having an affair. Sorry, but I tend to speak bluntly; don''t take it to heart."


    Qiao Shanshan''s expression faltered.


    Tang Xian also slightly furrowed his brows.


    "He saved me and invited me to a meal, nothing more," Qiao Shanshan managed to say, her tone much colder.


    "Psychopath, who eats in the mining area? What good food can there be in the mining area? Are you trying to provoke me to come to the forest sea to challenge him? What, now you are worried about your man? Heh, girl, be bold enough to admit what you''ve done; it''s nothing to be ashamed of.


    In the Pyramid, it''s quite normal for men to have multiple women and women to have multiple men, right?" Huang Jie added another barb:


    "But you seem too lonely. It looks like those few teammates of yours aren''t enough for you. Just a few days dead and you''re already onto a new love. But it''s okay, it''s just a toy, sister understands. Would you consider joining us, I''ll ask you one last time."


    Qiao Shanshan was trying hard to control her emotions.


    After Qiao Shanshan''s statement of challenging her in the forest sea, Huang Jie lost any intention of recruiting Qiao Shanshan. She felt disrespected by Qiao Shanshan''s foolish rejection.

 Chapter 54 How to Prevent Misfortune Arising from Speech_2

    Now, he was simply relying on the other party''s good upbringing to insult her a few times.Tang Xian glanced at Qiao Shanshan, and then at Huang Jie, nodding as he said,


    "I accept your challenge."


    Huang Jie suspected she had heard wrong. She was about to mock him when she heard Tang Xian continue,


    "The idea that a man can have multiple women, and a woman can have multiple men is not that big of a deal. After all, it''s a phenomenon nowadays, which I refer to as ''atavistic phenomenon''. Sometimes humans are dominated by certain desires, which cause their rationality to regress, making their behavior as primitive and barbaric as animals, just like you."


    "However, apart from using your doctor to mock me, you''d better be honest with your man about this idea of yours. You can see what his expression will be."


    "Wang Yuan should be the hunter ranked nineteenth, right? I wonder if he will still be your sugar daddy once he hears about this."


    Huang Jie''s complexion changed. How could this man know she was acquainted with Wang Yuan? And how did he know about her relationship with Wang Yuan?


    Tang Xian didn''t explain anything. There were many things he wouldn''t say outright, just like Liu Lang, the owner of the blacksmith shop. In the current demand analyses, one could often see his dates with a girl named Liu Buding. Tang Xian thought she was Liu Lang''s sister, as they shared the same surname.


    But everyone has secrets, some noble and some nefarious, and these don''t affect his overall judgment of a person.


    It''s extremely irrational to deny a person entirely based on one action.


    But with the woman in front of him, Tang Xian thought she had nothing going for her besides being good-looking and powerful.


    "When I was a child, before the sixth school year, I encountered women like you. They loved to show off, were clueless, spoke harshly, and thought very highly of themselves."


    Tang Xian spoke in an indifferent tone, not at all stern, but with a smile as pleasant as a spring breeze.


    "When they saw other girls with male companions, they indulged in the filthiest speculations. Because that''s all they could think of, it reflects what kind of person you and they are."


    What Tang Xian didn''t mention was that by the sixth school year, those girls had all disappeared.


    Because in the sixth year, Li Xiaoyu arrived.


    At first, some would bravely claim that this girl, dressed expensively, must be kept by a man, but later, those women dared not speak another word.


    Some dared not speak, while others could not speak.


    In a rage, Huang Jie cursed, "You''re courting death!"


    No matter how she looked at him, Tang Xian did not exhibit the demeanor of a powerful figure from the mining area. She swung her greatsword forcefully, intending to land a lethal blow.


    Tang Xian believed there were too many people in the world with mental issues; he didn''t feel obliged to educate anyone, but after all, it was his doctor who had been bullied.


    When hitting a dog, one should consider its owner, shouldn''t they? Although the saying was a bit strange, that was essentially the point.


    He caught the greatsword descending towards his head between his forefinger and thumb.


    Gently holding it.


    Huang Jie was horrified inside. With her strike, even an elite creature wouldn''t dare to withstand it head-on, but now, the sword was pinched between just two of the opponent''s fingers?


    And she was unable to withdraw it? She couldn''t budge the sword at all.


    What kind of terrifying power was this?


    She really worried that the sword Wang Yuan had given her would, just like in the novels, suddenly break as the opponent pressed his fingers.


    Tang Xian was unable to do that. He had already figured out the principle behind immunity to human harm¡ªit was that all attacks aimed at him were as if they had no force at all.


    The force exerted on his body was as light as air, but this was solely in regard to humans.


    The attacks of creatures from the mining area were too frightening; the increase in resistance couldn''t keep up with the intensification of damage, and he couldn''t grind attributes like in the Pyramid. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Furthermore, creatures from the mining area calculated resistance separately for each species. In the mining area, with an extremely wide variety of creatures, Tang Xian still needed to keep a low profile.


    But it was different with humans.


    "An ant trying to shake a tree, hardly an easy feat, I am unmatched by anyone in this world."


    Reciting such sentences has no real effect other than showing off, but Tang Xian was starting to understand the mentality that matched the grandeur of those words.


    Qiao Shanshan watched this shocking scene; if Huang Jie weren''t so extremely detestable and it hadn''t been she who told Huang Jie the location of the forest, she might have doubted whether the two were just acting.


    The strength that Tang Xian was showing now would probably place him in the top five of the hunter rankings, right?


    Huang Jie was angry, startled, and terrified, but helpless. Out of necessity, she had to abandon the blue-quality greatsword in her hands.


    With that release, Tang Xian was the one who suffered.


    Without Huang Jie''s own force, Tang Xian simply couldn''t hold this heavy sword with two fingers.


    Fortunately, his movements were still quite graceful, and the aura of ''I am truly strong'' didn''t falter.


    However, Huang Jie took advantage of this gap to land a punch on Tang Xian''s face.


    The fist hit Tang Xian''s face, not even leaving a mark, and Huang Jie felt like she was hitting the hardest object in the world.


    What kind of monster was this?


    This man''s strength must be at the very top of the rankings, but why hadn''t she ever seen him before?


    Tang Xian looked at Huang Jie with interest and said,


    "The forest is very dangerous, you shouldn''t come here anymore. Also, the saying ''Disaster comes from the mouth'' is a very important saying passed down by our ancestors. For example, today you have brought trouble upon yourself because of your mouth."


    His expression turned very friendly as he spoke like the boy next door,


    "But I am a person who likes to help others. Since we have met, it''s fate. From today on, you won''t have to worry about disaster coming from your mouth anymore."


    As Huang Jie was puzzled by these words, Tang Xian grabbed her hand. Huang Jie thought to herself that this was bad and tried to pull away, but she was like a bug with one leg trapped, her other little legs kicking wildly, unable to move at all.


    Smack!


    A slap, carrying ten percent of the maximum health damage, landed on Huang Jie''s mouth.


    A whole row of teeth fell out neatly.


    "When your speech is unclear, people won''t be able to understand you, and you''ll have to keep explaining. This way, you will have more time to think about what should be said and what shouldn''t, thereby cultivating your character and eliminating the problem of bad breath at its root."


    As he said this, Tang Xian turned to look at Qiao Shanshan.


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    "You are a doctor, you are more professional. Am I right?"


    Qiao Shanshan felt that Tang Xian might have gone too far.


    But after a careful thought... Huang Jie''s moves were directly aimed at taking a life.


    Seeing Qiao Shanshan looking bewildered, Tang Xian took her non-response as agreement with his own words, and thus, a series of slaps followed.


    Feeling cheerful, helping others was as joyful as work, a delightful thing.


    Not sure if it had been more than ten slaps, Huang Jie had already fainted, and even with three doctors continuously treating her, they could only just stop the bleeding.


    Tang Xian said,


    "There are monsters in the forest that eat people, and there are people who eat monsters. For humans, the latter are more frightening. Remember, this is a red zone; don''t come here again."


    These words were for those doctors. Tang Xian waved his hand and left with the still flabbergasted Qiao Shanshan.


    Qiao Shanshan had never seen such a barbaric way of dealing with things.


    Growing up in a reasonably well-off family and educated by the upper crust of society, she would usually endure when faced with harshness from others.


    Watching Tang Xian''s retreating figure, she suddenly started to laugh.


    Thinking back on what had just happened, she felt a sense of refreshment.


    Tang Xian was indeed very powerful; in the hunting event, he might just be the biggest dark horse, right?

 Chapter 55 Akasi and Tang Suoye

    On the way back, the two of them tacitly remained silent. Qiao Shanshan was planning to feign ignorance for a little while, waiting for Tang Xian to bring up certain topics.Then she would pretend to decline before reluctantly agreeing in the end.


    Tang Xian was simply too lazy to talk, mainly because Qiao Shanshan had already shown her attitude.


    When they returned to the treehouse, the fish wasn''t cooked yet. Tang Xiaojiu was beside them, drooling uncontrollably, guarding the pot as if waiting for years.


    Qiao Shanshan felt like the wine was still warm, but the enemy''s head had already fallen.


    After repeating the necessary steps to cook the meal several times and carrying Tang Xiaojiu away, Qiao Shanshan couldn''t help but ask:


    "What about your other teammates?"


    "They haven''t shown up yet," Tang Xian said, timing the cooking and watching the fish soup.


    "They haven''t shown up? Wait, how many people are in your team now?"


    "Including you, three. We''re short of three more, but it doesn''t necessarily have to be six."


    "But only teams of six can participate in the hunting festival," Qiao Shanshan said, her eyes widening. It was unreasonable for a team with such strength not to participate in the hunting festival.


    "Do you really want to go?"


    "I was hoping to get a good ranking; I had already made plans with my teammates."


    "Well, that has nothing to do with me, you''ll have to find another way to persuade me."


    Qiao Shanshan was silent for a few seconds, pondering the way Tang Xian thought, then said:


    "The prize is said to be a fifth-level citizen ID card, and the corresponding residential rights, you know."


    Tang Xian raised his eyebrows slightly, finding the prize somewhat dull.


    "Not very impressive, there''s nothing good on the fifth level."


    "You haven''t been there, that''s why you say so. Although the living environment from the first to fourth levels gets increasingly better, the luxury on the fifth level is completely different."


    "If we find them, we''ll join; if not, then we won''t. Moving from this cage to another doesn''t seem very meaningful." Tang Xian pointed towards the sky.


    Qiao Shanshan was puzzled.


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    "Even if it''s the seventh level of the Pyramid, you can''t see the sky, but it''s different here. You can see the sky; if you can ride on the back of a nine-tailed fox, and it leaps into the air, you might even get the feeling of flying."


    Opening the lid of the pot, he slowly stirred the milky white fish soup with chopsticks, and Tang Xiaojiu immediately perked up. Tang Gazi also came over.


    Qiao Shanshan couldn''t understand the feeling of soaring through the air on a nine-tailed fox and thought Tang Xian had too much imagination.


    But what Tang Xian said was, in fact, all true.


    It included his attitude towards the hunting festival.


    "It''s just a bunch of people competing in a hunting ground to see who can catch more prey. Usually, the strong teams will hunt along with the smaller team''s game. What really goes on there is actually a kind of human-eat-human drama. Do you really want to join that?"


    Qiao Shanshan froze.


    This wasn''t like what she had imagined. Although the Scorched Blood Group had a fair ranking, they had not participated in the hunting festival before.


    This was considered a young team.


    Seeing Qiao Shanshan''s expression, Tang Xian decided that the other team members he needed to find should either have experience or, even if they hadn''t participated in the hunting festival, have experienced the dangers of the human world.


    "Enough talk for now, let''s eat and celebrate your joining," he said.


    "I haven''t agreed to..."


    "If you don''t join, I''ll throw you out."


    "You''re so violent," Qiao Shanshan exclaimed. Tang Xian always spoke indifferently, giving the impression he could truly do such a thing.


    Thinking of the last time he made her wait for death, Qiao Shanshan felt a bit of resentment. Couldn''t he invite her to join more gently?


    ...


    ...


    In the mining area, Red Lotus Hell.


    This is a legendary region mentioned in human literature, the red of the red zones.


    Legend has it that there is a massive devastation-level boss creature here, unknown by name, code-named Cleveland, a creature as huge as an ancient city itself.


    In the texts that mention Red Lotus Hell, it is described as being the back of Cleveland.


    In those descriptions, it is a turtle carrying a volcano.


    But Red Lotus Hell is not hot; it is extremely close to the Arctic, so it is an exceedingly cold region instead.


    Perhaps when that creature sleeps, this place becomes a world of ice and snow. But no matter how long the ice and snow accumulate, when it awakens, or even occasionally when it awakens, everything turns into a sea of fire.


    Whether Cleveland truly exists remains a mystery in the field of human exploration.


    Akasi didn''t come here to seek evidence of this creature''s existence; he was simply leading Tang Suoye to this place to hunt a perfect-class creature mentioned in their assignment. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The target was a White Rock Giant Bear.


    Something akin to a cousin of the polar bear, its fur couldn''t be skinned to make clothes, as it was far too tough.


    The giant bear floated helplessly at an altitude of seven thousand meters, cluelessly gazing at the bird''s-eye view it had never seen before.


    High in the sky at seven thousand meters, it found that Red Lotus Hell really did resemble a turtle shell.


    But its mind had no time to ponder over these things, as its ascent had ceased, and it began to plummet at an alarming rate.


    Even faster than what would be deemed normal.


    A terrifying force of gravity was exerted upon this poor perfect-level creature.


    Among the known hunters, none had officially killed a perfect-level creature on their own, and Akasi was merely the subject of rumors.


    He now watched the bear in the sky, imagining it would turn into a pile of mush in a few seconds, his expression calm but with a hint of envy.


    "So this is your awakened ability, huh? Looks pretty good," said Tang Suoye, as his silver hair fluttered in the chilly wind, seemingly feeling a bit cold, he tightened his clothes.


    A few seconds later, a thunderous roar echoed throughout Red Lotus Hell. A colossal pit emerged from the snowfield.


    As Akasi had imagined, the perfect-level creature was slammed to death.


    "Telekinesis is truly a terrifying power. Quite handy, but next time you just need to keep it bound, that commotion was a bit too much. If the legends are true, the gigantic creature beneath our feet might wake up," he said.


    "Nagging. How come the moment you arrive at the mining area, you become so talkative, even your tone has changed?"


    Tang Suoye was small in stature, and feeling even colder after tightening his clothes, he snuggled into Akasi''s embrace.


    Akasi gave a wry smile and wrapped his immense cloak around Tang Suoye''s small frame.


    "Inside Pyramid, we were merely test subjects, tools required to wear a somber expression. Here in the mining area, no one watches over us. You could try smiling for a change."


    Smile? Tang Suoye thought about it and really wanted to muster a smile, but he couldn''t manage it, and it looked uglier than crying.


    "Ah, forget it, don''t smile. When you come across something that makes you happy, you''ll naturally smile. That expression is really ugly though."


    Tang Suoye felt somewhat defiant, stretching his mouth into a grin, his small face frozen stiff.


    Akasi, however, was amused.


    "Did you take your medicine?" Akasi asked.


    "Lately, it seems I don''t need medicine anymore," Tang Suoye shook his head.


    "Can you see ten types of data now?"


    "Yes, just a few days ago," Tang Suoye turned his head away.


    "That memory must not be pleasant. But now you''ve withstood it. Congratulations, you''re one of the chosen now. In any other Pyramid, you would be someone many admire."


    Tang Suoye felt uncomfortable and said, "Are we still human?"


    Akasi froze, then after a few seconds, he chuckled and said,


    "We should... still count as human, right? Ah, this question really is uncomfortable."


    "I want to live aimlessly, to settle in a forest, to think only of what to eat every day, without dwelling on burdensome thoughts, to leave that fortress. Akasi, let''s run away, shall we?" Tang Suoye''s voice carried a tone of yearning.


    Akasi stroked Tang Suoye''s head gently, with a tender gaze.


    Tang Suoye didn''t shy away but stared into Akasi''s eyes with wide eyes.


    "How about it? After all, among that group of comrades, only the two of us survived. Let''s run away."


    "Where would we escape to? Every Pyramid has their people," Akasi asked.


    "Then let''s go outside the Pyramid!"


    Akasi paused, stunned.


    That was quite a heroic answer.


    "I don''t want to live this way, killing various creatures for those people in the mining area, or killing my own kind inside the Pyramid," Tang Suoye said, his expression pained.


    Just a few days prior, everyone was still together, laughing and talking, but suddenly it was just him.


    "They were not killed by you. These things would still happen even if we refrained, as there would be many hunters willing to bring back blood serum from mining area creatures for money. We are experiment subjects who survived. Just remember that," Akasi replied.


    Akasi rubbed Tang Suoye''s frozen face, smiling,


    "But I promise you, once I find a way to leave, I will bring you the life you want, where every day you only have to think about what to eat, without considering anything else, living in a forest within a mining area."


    Tang Suoye said,


    "Really? Then you can''t die, okay?"


    "I promise you," Akasi replied.

 Chapter 56 There is a House in the Forest

    Tang Suoye caught a cold.After all, no one in this world has decreed that those blessed with the power of ten talents cannot catch colds.


    She hates the cold.


    Because when it gets cold, she gets sick easily, just like when she was immersed in those liquids as a child. It was cold and uncomfortable, yet she could still hear some sounds.


    Right now, her forehead is burning up, and it seems like she can hear some voices too.


    Coming from her memories.


    "Specimen Number Nineteen, Tang Suoye, from Fortress No. 39, currently matches many genes and is an extremely special breed. It''s a pity we don''t have the serum of a calamity-level creature; I really want to know the limits of this child."


    That was how Tang Suoye came to know her name. In the fortress, she had no name and didn''t have the opportunity to introduce herself. Everyone referred to each other by code names.


    For example, Number Twenty next door was a plump little boy.


    Tang Suoye didn''t like him because he always bullied Number Twenty-One.


    Latter, Akasi told her that bullying her was sometimes a sign of affection, which Tang Suoye didn''t understand.


    But she came to understand later because Number Twenty-One died.


    The little fatty who always teased him, originally very lively, became like a completely different person after Number Twenty-One''s death. Quiet, gloomy.


    She met Akasi on an overcast day.


    That day, as usual, everyone trained, ate, and rested until the evening, when the doctor injected them with serum.


    Only later did Tang Suoye come to realize that this serum came from a Rampaging Kangaroo, a creature only found in the tropical areas of the mining districts, ferocious by nature, its serum filled with Neurosmog that affects neurons, stimulating the human region controlling anger. It made people forget pain for a short while and filled them with an unimaginable desire to kill.


    Tang Suoye, like the other children, was locked in a cage. She didn''t like it but had grown accustomed.


    It was just like being immersed in those fluids when she was very small.


    Eventually, everyone in the cages began to grow restless and desperately tried to break free, wanting to crawl out and tear apart every person in the room.


    After that, Tang Suoye couldn''t remember anything.


    When she woke up, a man with silver hair was carrying her.


    He was covered in blood. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This world has its favored ones. They may be weak and ordinary, but they can survive anywhere using the methods they like. Everything they do goes smoothly, every problem they face is easily resolved. You''re envious, right? But we''re also pretty amazing, you know. No matter how strong you become in the future, you cannot sever these painful memories.


    But don''t be afraid; they won''t hurt you. These sorrowful experiences will one day make the world you face become gentle to you."


    "Who... who are you?" Tang Suoye was very weak.


    "I''m called Akasi, and you?"


    "Number Nineteen."


    "Not that, your name, your real name."


    Tang Suoye''s eyes widened, because this question made her want to remember this person.


    "My name is Tang Suoye."


    "We will definitely meet again."


    After Akasi set Tang Suoye down, he left without explaining what had happened.


    That was how Tang Suoye remembered their encounter in her memory.


    But Akasi''s attention to Tang Suoye began even earlier.


    After meeting Tang Suoye, he was confined to solitary for three months.


    Anyone who violated the rules of the "Evolution Area" was usually executed on the spot, it''s just that Akasi was too special.


    Aside from Number Nineteen, he was the most outstanding specimen so far, and he completed tasks with high efficiency. So, Akasi survived. Experience tales at empire


    In fact, this wasn''t the first time Akasi had publicly opposed such experiments.


    Locking all the children in a room, fighting to determine a sole victor. This kind of thing had happened many times in the "Evolution Area."


    Once again carrying Tang Suoye, Akasi reached a high point with a few leaps and bounds, overlooking Red Lotus Hell, his brow furrowed.


    This place really resembles a turtle shell. But to know whether there''s a giant turtle underneath, one would have to break through the thick ice and dive into the water to find out.


    If a huge bright light suddenly appeared in the ocean, and everything in sight was no longer sea water and schools of fish, but a giant pupil instead, it would probably give anyone who saw it thalassophobia, right?


    "Akasi... I''m so hungry..."


    "All right, we''ll leave here soon. I''ll take you for some grilled fish."


    "Your cooking... is really awful. It''s always burnt, charred and terrible," Tang Suoye said without mincing words.


    Akasi smiled wryly and said nothing, knowing the little girl would soon fall asleep.


    He carried Tang Suoye on his back, moving faster and faster.


    If anyone could see the speed at which Akasi moved, they probably wouldn''t think he was human.


    Because humans simply couldn''t move that quickly. Even the creatures in the mining area rarely could.


    He was like an arrow that would never stop before reaching its destination.


    Lacking other abilities, Akasi, apart from his excellent fitness that enabled him to deal with perfect level creatures, depended on his speed.


    If a Decadent awoke only one ability, that ability, even if not fully developed yet, was enough to display the ultimate in a certain domain.


    His speed was so extreme that Akasi was the only one in the organization who could take on tasks in any region.


    The mining area was vast for humans, but for Akasi, if he traveled non-stop without eating, drinking, or sleeping, he could appear anywhere in the world within seven days.


    Heading south, Akasi and Tang Suoye''s mission this time, besides the Soul Crystal and blood samples of the White Rock Giant Bear, also included the Soul Crystal and blood samples of six-tailed foxes.


    This was what the people from the Evolution Zone demanded.


    Akasi''s thoughts were simple: if he couldn''t escape the Evolution Zone, then he would accept his fate and wait for an opportunity.


    Because one had to survive no matter what. Living the way one preferred was a luxury, but as long as one didn''t give up, there was always a chance.


    They had traveled non-stop for two days.


    Finally, Akasi reached the temperate forests on the edge from the Far North Zone''s Red Lotus Hell. According to the guide given by the doctor, this place was the forest sea, where about six solitary six-tailed foxes lived amongst dozens of three-tailed foxes¡ªa small fox clan nesting spot.


    Recently, it was said that a nine-tailed fox appeared here, a catastrophic-level boss creature, one of the strongest known creatures in the mining area. However, Akasi didn''t feel the oppressive presence typically associated with catastrophic-level creatures.


    He strolled around casually and noticed that the animals here were all cute little creatures such as gem tigers and six-tailed foxes.


    Although his definition of cute was somewhat unique, without the presence of disaster-level or stronger creatures, Akasi didn''t find survival in the forest sea difficult.


    It was also at this time that Tang Suoye woke up.


    For the two days of non-stop rushing, they had subsisted mainly on some fruits.


    Although they had caught a cold, both Akasi and Tang Suoye had monster-like physiques with life recovery abilities that could rival the beasts in the mining area.


    "Where are we?"


    "The forest sea, the red zone."


    "This counts as the red zone?"


    "They changed it a few days ago, supposedly because of the nine-tailed fox''s presence."


    Akasi headed to the lakeside, ready to catch some fish.


    Tang Suoye crouched on the shore, curiously examining a strange plant and sniffing it gently.


    "This doesn''t seem like a plant from the mining area," said Tang Suoye.


    Following her remark, Akasi turned to look, his interest piqued as well.


    "This looks like catnip, which can grow in such an environment, but this type of plant usually grows in patches. Just a few scattered plants look really out of place."


    As he said this, Akasi looked into the distance, furrowing his brow.


    With the serum of a night eagle in his blood, he could see extremely far.


    "There seems to be a house over there."


    (This chapter is only two thousand words long, as I''ve been very busy. The reason for its late release is that I''ve only just rushed back. Tomorrow''s update might also be very short. I''ll try my best to return to four-thousand-word chapters after Friday.)

 Chapter 57 Thermal Expansion and Contraction

    ```After catching a few fish, Tang Suoye and Akasi arrived at the cabin.


    "Is anyone there?" Akasi called out.


    No one responded to Akasi.


    Tang Suoye leaped lightly onto the treehouse, surveyed the arrangement inside: a small pot, a tiny window, and a few tents outside the window. Her eyes sparkled with delight:


    "Akasi, I like it here."


    Akasi looked at the surrounding fence and the well-dug water channels, and concluded that someone definitely lived here.


    Someone actually lived in the mine area?


    This was somewhat surprising to Akasi.


    After some thought, compared to the evolution zone in the Pyramid, he much preferred the mine area, so it wasn''t that hard to accept. There should be hunters among humans strong enough to survive in the mine area.


    Looking at the surrounding flora, Akasi was sure this person was extremely knowledgeable about the survival in the mine area.


    Glancing at the Redline Grass outside the fence, Akasi chuckled:


    "It seems to be someone who can survive without relying on brute force."


    To Akasi, the small animals around this place posed no threat. But if it were him, he would also choose to plant Redline Grass around the perimeter. Living here might not mean being surrounded by birdsong and flowers, but it was certainly comfortable. The owner of the house was probably a strong hunter or a sage among humans.


    Although it seemed like just about anyone in the evolution zone could rank highly on the hunter leaderboard, he was the only one from the evolution zone to appear on the leaderboard.


    Perfect-level creatures, to him, were no different from docile animals, but they seemed to be quite a challenge for the average hunter.


    "I like this place too, but this is someone else''s territory," Akasi spoke. Experience new stories on empire


    "There''s a pot here, do you want to cook the fish here?" Tang Suoye selectively ignored him. Her senses were not as singular as Akasi''s; she could immediately detect any humans around.


    "Are you sure? Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"


    Akasi smiled wryly; the girl didn''t seem to know what "trespassing" meant.


    "It''s fine, they must have left and won''t be back for a while," Tang Suoye felt completely energized.


    Akasi scanned the surroundings and nodded his head, saying, "Let''s make a deal, after eating, we have to get busy with our task, and then leave the mine area."


    "Shall we come here again next time?" Tang Suoye looked at Akasi with anticipation.


    "I''ll try to pick tasks near the forest sea," Akasi nodded his head.


    Usually, when roasting fish, he just used a twig to hold it over the fire, but today he found there was a ready source of clean water here, as well as a pot.


    Stroking his chin, Akasi mused, "Maybe I could make fish soup."


    If he wanted to preserve the freshness, naturally fish soup would be more comforting to eat than roasted fish.


    Tang Suoye kept nodding her head, urging Akasi to hurry up.


    For her, this feeling was like being in a dream.


    Just two days ago, she was still in the Far North Zone, all groggy, and when she woke up, she had arrived at the forest sea, living the life she had envisioned with Akasi, and it had been realized in such a short time.


    Tang Suoye just hoped that the owner of the house would come back later.


    Akasi liked this place too and still felt somewhat surprised.


    He also peeked inside the treehouse and discovered to his astonishment that there were seasonings.


    He checked and found that these seasonings seemed to be quite expensive brands.


    "The owner of this house seems to have quite an understanding of food," Akasi grew increasingly curious about the kind of person who lived here.


    ...


    ...


    Meanwhile, Tang Xian was with Tang Xiaojiu, Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, Tang Gazi, and the newly joined Tang Bingxiang, at March Marsh on the western side of the forest sea.


    Having repaired the pond these past few days, Tang Xian planned to catch some Dragon Thistle Fish as fry for breeding. This was a request from the non-human trio of Tang Bingxiang, Tang Xiaojiu, and Tang Gazi.


    ```


    Tang Bingxiang was naturally the one Tang Xian wanted¡ªthe Tang Bingxiang.


    It was a male cat, currently nestled in Dong Ran''s arms, its feline head resting on Dong Ran''s ample chest, gazing disdainfully at Tang Gazi with its cat eyes.


    Tang Gazi was meowing, occasionally interjected with its own commentary in ''gazi gazi'' sounds.


    As Tang Xian''s translator, Tang Gazi naturally also understood the language of feline animals; now it found itself being scorned.


    "You can only perch on a little girl''s shoulder, but I am different, I can rest on a big chest," the cat seemed to say.


    Tang Gazi was left speechless.


    Catching Tang Bingxiang was easier than expected. Catnip was irresistible to cats, and Dong Ran effortlessly nabbed the Ice Scream Cat upon returning to the forest.


    Tang Xian was surprised; the cat barely resisted.


    From Tang Gazi, he learned that Tang Bingxiang had long had its eye on the fish soup in the tree house.


    Tang Xian found himself at a loss for words momentarily.


    He hadn''t expected a cat to be capable of such plotting.


    As for the name Tang Bingxiang, the cat seemed to accept it. The process went so smoothly it was almost disheartening. Tang Bingxiang even took the opportunity to mock humans, declaring that the world would soon belong to the cat people.


    Tang Gazi relayed this message.


    Being able to see the sincerity level, Tang Xian knew this to be true.


    So he kept Tang Bingxiang captured, and went hungry for a day.


    Cats are sometimes like women; they''re wise, and they know how to judge the situation after making mistakes. When you''re firm with them, they act as docile as little birds.


    When you step back, they think perhaps making a mistake isn''t such a big deal.


    When you actually start to think it''s not a big deal, they take it further and reckon they didn''t do anything wrong¡ªit''s just you being petty.


    When you question if maybe you are indeed being petty, they''ll blame you for not thinking things through.


    Tang Xian believed it was necessary to teach this cat where it stood in the Tang clan hierarchy and who the real master was.


    The defiant ones wouldn''t get good outcomes, but for those who are subservient, there would be rewards aplenty.


    Tang Bingxiang soon realized the man named Tang Xian was the core of this group and not to be trifled with.


    It happily became Tang Xian''s sycophant, often trying to conquer him with cute, cat-like gestures.


    Tang Xian was indifferent, but Dong Ran loved it, playing with Tang Bingxiang from time to time.


    Its white paws pressing here and there on a certain part.


    Tang Gazi watched with envy.


    Dong Ran didn''t seem to mind; aside from the Ice Scream Cat feeling cool to hold, it was just like any other kitten¡ªcute and clingy.


    At the moment, Tang Xian and his party were making their way back to the wooden house in the forest, still a distance away from it.


    Yet Tang Xian sensed as if he could smell some kind of food.


    He was a bit surprised but didn''t say anything, just looking at the Ice Scream Cat and starting a conversation.


    Tang Xian didn''t expect an Ice Scream Cat to have a greed and lust index of sixty-six; considering cats aren''t typically concerned with wealth, it must be their lustfulness that''s more significant. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Given how this cat had been rubbing against Dong Ran''s chest these days, Tang Xian said:


    "Inside the body of an Ice Scream Cat, a Soul Crystal can nurture extremely cold breath, which slowly releases into the surrounding air with each breath. Even though you only feel a chill, that''s because your physique is very strong and you have some resistance to cold, especially in the mine area."


    "But the cold air will eventually stay inside your body."


    Dong Ran didn''t understand what Tang Xian meant and looked at him curiously. Tang Xian elaborated:


    "If you keep letting it rub against you, once you leave the mine and return to the Pyramid, you''ll feel colder, especially in certain areas. According to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, you might find that you need to wear smaller sizes of clothing that are close-fitting."


    Dong Ran''s face turned red, and her grip unconsciously loosened.


    Tang Bingxiang fell to the ground, giving Tang Xian a mournful look.

 Chapter 58 Nvwa Snake Conjecture

    Thermal expansion and contraction are indeed true, but this principle obviously does not apply to humans. Eskimos are not short, and people from the north are often taller than those from the south.Qiao Shanshan couldn''t help it and burst out laughing. It wasn''t the first time on their journey that Tang Xian had teased Dong Ran. Dong Ran was that kind of na?ve girl who could believe in something completely implausible, as long as you described it well enough.


    She was someone who easily trusted others.


    Tang Xian was well aware of this, which is why Li Xiaoyu was actually somewhat bright. Because Tang Xian didn''t dislike such people.


    Tang Xian squatted down, rubbed the cat''s head, and Tang Bingxiang thought this man was finally conquered by my cuteness, but immediately after, Tang Xian grabbed a tuft of fur on the back of the cat''s neck and lifted the cat up, saying:


    "Although you think you''re one of the smarter cats, your intelligence is actually lower than Tang Gazi''s. Studies have shown that parrots capable of mimicking speech, in fact, have intelligence comparable to primates like chimpanzees. You''d better learn well from Tang Gazi in the future."


    Tang Gazi felt a gratifying pleasure, praising Tang Xian!


    Tang Bingxiang doubted his feline life? Am I, a majestic cat, less smart than a bird?


    Qiao Shanshan, as a medical researcher, actually agreed with what Tang Xian said, nodding.


    The group continued on their way, and Qiao Shanshan saw that Dong Ran was no longer holding the cat, realizing that this girl really believed in Tang Xian.


    She believed in him unreservedly. Qiao Shanshan was curious about what Tang Xian had done.


    After walking for about two hours, Tang Xian began to discern distinct scents in his breath.


    March Marsh wasn''t that far from the sea of trees.


    The smell emanating from the treehouse was no longer just that of fish soup but also of human scent.


    Tang Xian didn''t much like uninvited guests.


    But among those who come uninvited, most are troublemakers; no one would leisurely make a pot of fish soup in a treehouse.


    He was a bit curious. He didn''t make any fuss because dealing with humans was easy, even for the top hunters.


    On the other hand, if common creatures from the mining area burst into the treehouse without giving Tang Xian time to prepare, he felt that would be more troublesome.


    "Tang, we''ve got our fish, the pond is almost ready, and you caught Tang Bingxiang. What do you plan to do next?" Dong Ran asked.


    "Catch the Nvwa Snake," Tang Xian said.


    Qiao Shanshan''s body shook, she looked at Tang Xian in disbelief.


    "Nvwa Snakes rarely venture too far south. The appearance of a Nvwa Snake in Waning Time Valley probably confirms one of my speculations."


    "What speculation?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "The fox tribe is retreating."


    "??"


    How did it come to the fox tribe again? Both Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran were puzzled.


    "The fox and snake tribes are at war. There are some problems with the northern ecosystem, leading Nvwa Snakes to migrate southwards, and the leaders of the fox and snake tribes are fighting each other for personal reasons. Hence, the two tribes are at war," Tang Xian explained.


    "How do you know this?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "In this faction, you have to learn to trust the leader. Doubting is just a waste of everyone''s time," Tang Xian replied.


    "¡­" Qiao Shanshan was speechless.


    Tang Xian then added:


    "The fox tribe''s new force is the Six-tailed Fox, just an ordinary perfect-level creature, vastly outnumbering the calamity-level Nvwa Snake, but the gap between calamity and perfect is too large. If it weren''t for the leader, a calamity-level boss creature, the battle would have been lost long ago."


    Tang Xiaojiu had been silent all along.


    She remembered that brother Tang Xian had warned her to keep silent when it comes to the fox tribe. She listened to Tang Xian.


    Qiao Shanshan nodded, still not understanding the basis of Tang Xian''s claims, but most of the time, although he seemed to be spouting nonsense and teasing, the advice and opinions he gave were correct eight or nine times out of ten.


    After observing for a couple of days, Qiao Shanshan found that Tang Xian''s knowledge was incredibly extensive.


    Especially in the morning, when he was teaching mining area knowledge to the two girls, one older and one younger, the content was so interesting that it was even better than those veteran teachers she had encountered on the third level.


    Qiao Shanshan was still somewhat uncertain and asked,


    "Are you really confident about killing a calamity-level creature?"


    "No, it''s very difficult to kill a disaster-class creature, but the Nvwa Snake you and your past companions encountered should be one of the weaker ones in its clan, and it was injured."


    "How do you know?"


    "Because you''re still alive."


    "..."


    Qiao Shanshan found herself unable to refute this.


    Indeed, that should be the case. Although she had tried every means to isolate many creatures in the mining area using chemical substances, if those things were effective against disaster-class creatures, humans would have conquered many yellow areas long ago.


    Biochemical weapons only served to drive away the creatures of the mining area and were hardly able to inflict any effective damage.


    Their effects on disaster-class creatures were even lower.


    She had no reason to have survived.


    "Did the Nvwa Snake that killed your former companions have any distinctive characteristics? Think carefully about its appearance," Tang Xian asked.


    "Yes, it did. You might not believe this... but several of the snake scales were an eerie white."


    Tang Xian was startled.


    The White Phosphorus Serpent Demon is an evolved form of the Nvwa Snake and also the leader of the Nvwa Snakes, a disaster-class boss creature characterized by its entirely white scales.


    Something was not right about this.


    "What''s wrong?" Qiao Shanshan rarely saw that kind of expression on Tang Xian''s face.


    "Nothing much. After we get back to the wooden hut, you rest for two days, then we''ll head back to Pyramid to get ready. After that, we''ll go find this Nvwa Snake."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded. Dong Ran had also started to get used to Tang Xian''s way of doing things.


    After all, no matter how you explain to this man how powerful a disaster-class creature is or how many troops are needed, he just looks at you calmly and then continues to do things his own way.


    However, Tang Xian could sense their unease.


    He said:


    "To kill a disaster-class creature, even I need luck, and right now, luck is on our side."


    Tang Xian didn''t elaborate further.


    The whitening of the Nvwa Snake''s scales indicated that it was in a period of evolution. There''s certainly more than one White Phosphorus Serpent Demon among the snake clan, and this was probably also why Qing JiuYu couldn''t extricate himself.


    If another White Phosphorus Serpent Demon appeared at this time, the pressure on Qing JiuYu''s side would likely increase even more.


    There are two forms that a creature in evolution can take.


    One is similar to the Hellhound evolving into the Hell Flame Wolf, obtaining some of the powers that it should not have until after evolution before the evolution is completed.


    It''s like in the cultivation novels where the same realm is divided into early stage, middle stage, and peak stage.


    The evolution of this kind of creature is very smooth, moving directly from the middle to the peak stage.


    But the other kind of evolution is the reverse.


    Like this Nvwa Snake. It needed to molt, transforming into a pure white snake over several shedding episodes.


    Each time, it would become weaker.


    But once completed, it would advance directly from a disaster-class to a disaster-class boss creature.


    Having listened to Qiao Shanshan''s explanation, Tang Xian realized he was wrong.


    That was not a weak disaster-class creature; on the contrary, it would become exceptionally strong in a short while.


    But at this moment, it was at its weakest. Experience more on empire


    Considering various feasible strategies against a disaster-class creature, Tang Xian no longer spent time teasing cats or Dong Ran, who had the intelligence of a cat.


    Unknowingly, the group had entered the tree sea region.


    After walking a little longer, even Tang Xiaojiu could smell the scent of food.


    "Brother Tang Xian, there are people in the wooden hut." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 59 Limited Edition Special Brew Collection

    Tang Xiaojiu''s nose was incredibly sensitive; Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan knew that, and even suspected that this might be the girl''s awakened ability in the mineral zone.When it came to the extent of her olfactory sensitivity, it was second only to Tang Xian''s.


    The two women became vigilant; Dong Ran, as the team member responsible for combat, moved to the front.


    ...


    ...


    Akasi gave a wry smile.


    They had agreed to leave after finishing their meal, but she ended up eating for two hours.


    Tang Suoye''s little ploy was not lost on Akasi; the girl was clearly thinking about coming back for more in the future. Hence, it was necessary to greet the host properly.


    Getting to know each other might facilitate another meal invitation later on.


    A friendship between a hunter ranked number one in the world and another who wasn''t listed but was every bit as formidable as the first, was, naturally, very valuable.


    Tang Suoye was indeed very hungry.


    Like Akasi, she had survived numerous harsh environments and battles to the death.


    She had developed an animal-like stamina in her stomach.


    She could endure unimaginable hunger that would cripple humans, then survive a long time on just a single replenishment of food.


    Developing such a trait was no easy feat.


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    That''s why both of them treasured food all the more.


    "They''re coming,"


    "I know, just let me finish this soup, and I''ll go down."


    After finishing her soup, Tang Suoye wiped her mouth with satisfaction. The smile she showed then was much nicer than any in the Red Lotus Hell.


    Food could heal a person, a truth that was unchanging through the ages.


    It''s like how shopping could heal a person; the logic was the same.


    Upon stepping out of the treehouse, Tang Suoye was slightly startled.


    She let out an "ah." Akasi was also slightly surprised.


    What kind of group was this?


    A man and two women, accompanied by a cat, a bird, the bird perched on a little girl''s shoulder, a girl who looked several years younger than Tang Suoye, holding a fish basket in her hand.


    The cat and bird must have been creatures from the mineral zone.


    Mineral zone creatures and humans coexisting in harmony?


    But Tang Suoye, with her even more sensitive wild instincts than Akasi''s, let out an "ah" because she sensed a faint sense of danger.


    It was emanating from the little girl. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Suoye had a feeling that this little girl might be even more fearsome than the perfect-class species they had encountered heading north a few days before.


    Shoot, could it be that this group of people was not to be trifled with?


    Tang Xian watched Akasi with a cold gaze, as Akasi''s expression gradually turned serious.


    As the number one ranked hunter, not many had actually seen Akasi.


    Some hunters had made their photos public, usually the decent-looking ones who planned to switch to a career in live streaming after retiring.


    If the mineral zone had live streaming, perhaps a slew of hunters would have become streamers.


    "Look, a wild Iron Bridge Mantis, remove its head and guts, and the rest is edible; six times the protein content of beef; tastes like chicken, nice and crispy."


    I digress; thankfully, the mineral zone did not support live streaming, otherwise, viewers would be more likely to witness humans being decapitated.


    Akasi had not made his photo public either, preferring to remain an enigma.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s unfriendly expression, he felt it necessary to explain.


    Only, he suddenly found himself somewhat at a loss for words.


    He wasn''t sure how to start.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan also felt the tension.


    As the gifted, they could sense an oppressive force of a much higher level.


    That man with silver hair... his expression became a bit more solemn, and it seemed as if an aura of murderous intent permeated the entire treehouse courtyard.


    What level of a powerhouse was this?


    Tang Xian suddenly rolled up his sleeves at this moment.


    Dong Ran thought to herself, "This is bad, is Tang about to take action without saying a word?"


    Qiao Shanshan wanted to remind Tang Xian out loud that the man in front of them was incredibly strong, not on the same level as Huang Jie, and that he should not be careless.


    Tang Suoye actually seemed a bit afraid of the little girl, with his footsteps showing a tendency to retreat, Akasi noticed this scene, and he realized that they faced more than one troublesome enemy.


    But for now, he should still focus on dealing with that man.


    As the strongest hunter, Akasi''s experience was very rich, and he could tell at a glance from their standing positions that Tang Xian was the core of this group.


    Watching Tang Xian roll up his sleeves, Akasi also remained ready to enter high-speed combat at any moment.


    Tang Xian didn''t just roll up his sleeves, he also swung his arms and furrowed his brows, coldly saying:


    "Did you touch my scented oil? My limited edition, specially crafted, finely brewed, scented oil from the Da Ming Prefecture!"


    Veins popped out on Tang Xian''s forehead, but that wasn''t the expression of someone about to hit someone else, but rather the expression of someone heartbroken to the point of anger.


    "..." Tang Suoye.


    "..." Dong Ran.


    "..." Qiao Shanshan.


    What the hell kind of pre-battle preamble was this?


    Feeling the pauses in Tang Xian''s speech, Akasi was stunned and reflexively nodded his head after recalling the moment.


    How did this oil suddenly seem more valuable than perfect-grade Soul Crystals and serums spoken by this man?


    Tang Xian was furious, for it was a cooking ingredient he couldn''t bear to use himself.


    "Why would you need scented oil for fish soup? Can you truly make fish soup? Adding scented oil is a waste, isn''t it? Such fish soup has no soul! And you''ve wasted my limited edition, specially crafted, finely brewed, scented oil from Da Ming Prefecture!"


    Akasi scratched his head, showing an apologetic expression.


    After Tang Xian began speaking, he realized that this man had no killing intent from the beginning, he was purely angry.


    The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.


    Tang Xian said, "Get down here! Both of you, get down here!"


    Tang Suoye and Akasi obediently got down.


    Seeing that a fight was not going to happen, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan actually felt a sense of relief.


    At this time, Tang Xian rolled up his other sleeve, with a look that seemed to regard others as weaker, and said to Akasi:


    "Today, I''ll let you see how real fish soup should be made!"


    The eyes of Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye instantly lit up.


    Qiao Shanshan was surprised at Tang Xian''s departure from his usual demeanor.


    This man was supposed to be someone who always remained calm.


    Not the kind to get angry over a little scented oil.


    And just now... she indeed felt a strong oppressive force coming from the silver-haired man.


    She had a feeling that Tang Xian was actually putting on an act, probably having already figured out that these two were not simple. So he was scheming something.


    Tang Xian walked into the wooden cabin, with Tang Xiaojiu passing him a Dragon Thorn Fish.


    Afterward, Tang Xian started working on the fish without saying a word.


    A smile played on his lips.


    Although the limited edition, specially crafted, finely brewed scented oil from Da Ming Prefecture was his treasure, he was never stingy with it.


    Especially since today''s guests were very special.


    Even without having met Akasi, from analyzing the small girl and the silver-haired man''s needs and preferences, he already knew their identities.


    Current needs analysis: Leave the Tree Sea with Tang Suoye (47%).


    Current needs analysis: Leave the Tree Sea with Akasi (32%).


    He might have not heard of Tang Suoye''s name, but how could he have not heard of Akasi? Tang Xian felt that his current smile must be quite cunning.


    Let this fish soup-making, scented oil-using cult learn what real fish soup is!

 Chapter 60 Change of Plan

    The first impression was too important; it forced Tang Xian to be particularly cautious when recruiting certain members.It''s not to say that Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, or Tang Bingxiang and Tang Gazi are less important than Akasi.


    But the next task is to practice on an evolved catastrophe-class creature, which is also a warm-up for the commission of a catastrophe-class boss creature for Li Xiaoyu. With someone like Akasi who has the Ten Talents, Tang Xian believed the chances of success would double.


    Although he was invincible among mortals, he knew that people with the Ten Talents were not mediocre compared to himself, a chosen one with perfect cultural scores; everyone was equally rare.


    Belonging to the level of treasures found once in a blue moon, he naturally had to treat these treasures well.


    Sometimes, men should learn from women and have multiple facets.


    Since the other party loved to eat, he should play the role of a foodie well.


    So he made the best fish soup of his life.


    When the fish soup was served, Tang Suoye said without giving Akasi any face, "His fish soup tastes better than yours."


    Akasi scratched his head and thought that he didn''t really know how to cook, he just threw in whatever spices he saw.


    A group of people thus transformed two strangers into guests over a pot of fish soup.


    Having become guests, it was natural to discuss food, and Tang Xian began to explain how to make the fish, what fish to choose, and how to cook different parts of the fish.


    How to prepare some high-level fish dishes.


    There were many dishes Akasi had only heard of, but he had never really made or tasted them.


    After all, most of the time, he and Tang Suoye didn''t eat, only consuming food when their vitality was extremely low. Consequently, they weren''t very particular about the preparation method.


    This time was just a matter of seeing a pot and some seasoning in the cabin; otherwise, it would have been the usual method of grilling fish with fruit.


    Once the conversation started, many topics slowly emerged.


    Tang Suoye drank very happily; the word ''happily'' mainly reflected in ''quickly''.


    This struck Tang Xiaojiu hard.


    This young lady was obviously the youngest next to herself, but her appetite was even greater than hers!


    Feeling like she had met the greatest enemy of her life, she unwillingly tried to show off her wolfing down skills.


    Then she got a fishbone stuck in her throat. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially when she found out that Tang Suoye had just eaten for two whole hours, Tang Xiaojiu''s expression was filled with disbelief.


    Such an opponent was too strong.


    The two young girls took care of most of the fish soup. Others soon felt somewhat full.


    Akasi said, "Thank you for the hospitality; your food is really delicious. Let''s discuss the compensation for your sesame oil, which I think must be a very precious ingredient."


    He hadn''t forgotten Tang Xian''s look of bulging forehead veins, suggesting the sesame oil must not have come easily.


    Tang Xian nodded without hesitation; although the sesame oil was of good quality, it wasn''t expensive.


    "Here, take this," Akasi said, taking out a Soul Crystal.


    Tang Xian examined it for a few seconds; judging by the color, it was undoubtedly from a perfect-level boss creature. Even without Tang Xiaojiu''s help, hunting such a creature would require some preparation.


    He shook his head and said, "It''s not as valuable as my sesame oil. You can''t eat this thing."


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran were stunned.


    Tang was asking for a hefty price.


    Both women recognized it as a Soul Crystal, and at least an elite-level one at that.


    Your sesame oil would be paid for by a truckload of these.


    Akasi, feeling somewhat embarrassed, nodded in agreement, thinking it did seem improper.


    The sesame oil was so treasured that it must have involved expensive processing techniques; just a Soul Crystal from a perfect-level creature seemed somewhat inadequate.


    Furthermore¡ªTang Suoye was still eagerly drinking soup.


    Akasi considered Tang Xian a significant threat, at least showing strength similar to his own. In their view, humans were no longer in the era where killing an elite-level creature required significant manpower and resources.


    Although most fortresses were still stuck in that era.


    "How about you suggest how to settle this? A promissory note? I do have a bunch of other Soul Crystals with me, but those are useful."


    "What do you need so many Soul Crystals for?" Tang Xian asked casually.


    "My boss needs them."


    "So you have a boss? You don''t have a team, do you?"


    "Well, no," Akasi replied.


    "Oh, it''s nothing, just asking," Tang Xian said.


    It seemed the boss was purely the boss.


    Tang Xian didn''t beat around the bush and said,


    "Next time you come to the Tree Sea, bring some meat for me. Any creature''s meat will do, as long as you think it''s edible."


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye looked up.


    They were engaged in a secret battle that others couldn''t perceive and enjoyed it, but hearing about meat, they temporarily called a truce.


    "Are we having meat later?" Tang Xiaojiu asked.


    "We''ll have meat tonight," Tang Xian replied.


    Tang Suoye wasn''t happy.


    She and Akasi would have to leave shortly.


    Tang Xiaojiu looked triumphantly.


    "Akasi, can we go back later, please?" Tang Suoye pouted.


    Akasi smiled wryly, knowing full well what Tang Suoye was thinking, and shook his head, saying,


    "Time to go back, yo. Otherwise, it''ll be tough to explain."


    "Alright then," Tang Suoye lost interest in continuing to drink. Why bother with soup when there''s meat to be had? Without the prospect of meat, the soup lost its appeal.


    Akasi continued, "Is it really that simple? Just any edible meat? Can it be from creatures in the mining areas?"

 Chapter 60 Change of Plan_2

    "What I''m talking about are the creatures in the mining area.""Then that''s really convenient, I''ll go kill a fox later."


    Tang Xian nearly choked, saying, "Foxes are no good."


    Akasi was puzzled and noticed that even the little girl beside Tang Xian looked somewhat displeased.


    "In any case, anything but foxes is fine."


    "Tiger meat?"


    "Tiger meat is great!" said Tang Xiaojiu.


    Akasi nodded, thinking that although the shell of the gem tiger is as hard as a gemstone, the meat inside is quite tender.


    So he got up, ready to go kill a tiger.


    Qiao Shanshan was shocked and said, "Are you going right now?"


    In the past few days, Tang Xian talked about the ecosystem of the tree sea, and she knew that there was only one kind of tiger in the tree sea. The gem tiger, a perfect-level creature, was not something one could just kill at will.


    Akasi continued to nod, Tang Suoye happened to want to get some exercise, and then with a few ups and downs, the two men went to the other side of the tree sea.


    Qiao Shanshan developed a thought and said:


    "They''re not running away, are they?"


    "No. Dong Ran, Tang Xiaojiu, wash the dishes," Tang Xian instructed.


    Tang Xiaojiu happily went to wash the dishes because Tang Xian had told her that only those who wash the dishes after eating are qualified to eat the most.


    "You''re that confident?" Qiao Shanshan was puzzled.


    "Of course, when have I ever made a mistake?"


    "The day you make a mistake, I''ll definitely jot it down in my little notebook."


    Tang Xian knew that most women are the kind of creatures who, if you make a mistake five years ago, might bring it up any time during an argument in the next five years. So he didn''t have any particular reaction.


    "You seem to care a lot about those two, you even staged a performance just now. I originally thought you would start fighting."


    "If it came to a fight... probably except for me and Tang Xiaojiu, all of you would die," Tang Xian also indirectly answered why he cared so much about the two men.


    "..." Qiao Shanshan was somewhat incredulous.


    Tang Xian didn''t say much, thinking about things in his mind.


    "I might have to make a trip back to the Pyramid. The hunt for the Nvwa Snake should be postponed for a couple of days."


    "What are you going to do?" Qiao Shanshan wasn''t in a hurry, knowing that Tang Xian was skilled, but the Nvwa Snake was not an ordinary creature.


    "Solving some trouble for those two just now."


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t question how Tang Xian knew the others were in trouble.


    She didn''t deny Tang Xian''s bizarre observational ability, the logic of which she didn''t understand. But she said with some puzzlement:


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    "Why does it feel like you really place great importance on those two? You never seem to care as much for me and Dong Ran?"


    "When you first meet a man, you''ll put on makeup, meticulously dress yourself up. You smile without showing teeth, sitting upright."


    "But three years into marriage, when you''re an old couple, you probably won''t even bother to wash your hair when you see him, laugh loudly, and sit with your belly pushed out and legs spread apart."


    Qiao Shanshan''s neck turned red with anger. What kind of explanation is this!


    She did understand what Tang Xian was trying to say, but even if she were married for three years, she wouldn''t laugh loudly or sit with her legs spread apart!


    This man was really annoying.


    "So with that guy just now, it''s your first time, but with me, it''s like an old couple?" Qiao Shanshan was so angry she was speaking incoherently.


    Tang Xian felt it necessary to correct that he was still a bachelor and wouldn''t be like an old couple with anyone.


    But after thinking it over, he simply nodded his head.


    Qiao Shanshan went to help Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu with the dishes, deciding not to talk to this man before dinner.


    ...


    ...


    Washing the dishes was done quickly by the two women and one child.


    But faster than them were Akasi and Tang Suoye. When they saw Tang Suoye''s small figure carrying a tiger head and Akasi carrying the dismembered body of the gem tiger in the courtyard, the two women in the treehouse had their mouths gaping open.


    Tang Xian knew many men liked women who could open their mouths widely but was worried they would dislocate their jaws if they kept being surprised like this.


    He himself was also somewhat surprised.


    The two in front of him were practically humanoid beasts, weren''t they?


    They had killed the most powerful creature in the tree sea while dishes were being washed.


    "Hard work paid off. You don''t owe me anymore," Tang Xian said.


    "That''s good, I really caused you trouble," Akasi was still very courteous.


    Especially since Tang Xian''s soup was delicious, Tang Suoye hadn''t concealed his liking for Tang Xian''s cooking skills when he went to kill the gem tiger.


    To see Tang Suoye happy, this transaction didn''t seem like a loss to Akasi.


    "What are your plans next?"


    "Back to the Pyramid."


    "Would you mind telling me which Pyramid?"


    "It''s not very convenient."


    "All right. Feel free to visit more often."


    Akasi nodded, and Tang Suoye said:


    "Really?"


    "Of course, I mean what I say."


    "My name is Tang Suoye." Tang Suoye happily gave his own name.


    Akasi was somewhat surprised; after all, during his days in the mining area, he occasionally met other humans, but even the friendly ones rarely got Tang Suoye''s name.


    "My name is Tang Xian, and we must have some fate. Perhaps our ancestors knew each other well. By the way, this is Tang Xiaojiu, she''s my sister."


    Probably because he thought that both young girls could eat a lot and both had the Tang surname, he decided to let them develop a friendship. Then Tang Xian turned his gaze to Akasi.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran were also curious who this man with silver hair who could kill a perfect-level boss creature just by doing the dishes was.


    Akasi paused before he realized and said:


    "I am Akasi, I hope you haven''t heard of me before."


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Xian''s expressions remained unchanged, while Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran didn''t react at first, finding the name rather strange.


    But all of a sudden, both women were shaken.


    "Tang Suoye and I should be leaving now, goodbye everyone."


    "Goodbye. We should see each other again soon," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Akasi didn''t know why, but he didn''t mind it either.


    He noted the coordinates of the forest sea and chose to leave through the sea of trees.


    In fact, he had not only killed the Jewel Tiger but also a Six-tailed Fox. However, from Tang Xian''s suggestive look, he understood that the fox could be killed but should not be openly discussed.


    So Akasi had already completed his task.


    ...


    ...


    After Akasi left, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan looked at Tang Xian with complicated expressions.


    "Tang, did you already know... that the person just now was Akasi?"


    "Yes," Tang Xian didn''t hide it.


    He often wouldn''t explain the reason behind many things, but he would give his team members the right to know the truth.


    Now Qiao Shanshan finally understood why the man with silver hair compensated sesame oil with a Soul Crystal, a deal she thought only Tang Xian would make.


    Now she realized it wasn''t that the other party didn''t know the value difference between the Soul Crystal and sesame oil, but rather that while the price was fixed, its value varied depending on the individual.


    For someone who could easily slay perfect-level creatures, Soul Crystals naturally weren''t important.


    "He''s even stronger than the rumors," Qiao Shanshan exclaimed.


    "The top hunters haven''t spread such rumors; rumors often come from the ignorant, especially those who can''t even kill elite-level creatures. So in their view, Akasi, the strongest hunter, is probably the kind that can kill perfect-level creatures. But in fact, he has long been able to do so."


    "Perhaps in a few more years, or even less, he could reach the level where he can kill calamity-level creatures."


    Qiao Shanshan was so shocked that she forgot about her intention to ignore Tang Xian.


    Or rather, she was impressed by Tang Xian''s discerning eye.


    If Tang Xian was trying to recruit Akasi...


    She thought about the future achievements of the team if it included Akasi.


    "How exactly did he become so powerful?" Qiao Shanshan didn''t really want to know the answer; it was just an expression of wonder.


    But Tang Xian seriously considered it.


    Individuals with ten talents might awaken unprecedentedly powerful abilities, which isn''t strange.


    But he always felt there was something more to it.


    After a long time, Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "I don''t want to delay, Xiaojiu, pack up and get ready to go with me to the Pyramid."


    "Will we still eat meat tonight?" Tang Xiaojiu asked.


    "Of course."


    "Great, then we''re off to the Pyramid."


    Tang Xian turned to Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan and said, "You two should also stay at the Pyramid these days. Without me, the tree house won''t be particularly safe. The Nvwa Snake matter will have to be put on hold. Plans can''t keep up with changes." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran nodded their heads.


    "Tang, what exactly are you planning to do?" Dong Ran asked curiously.


    Tang Xian, showing a rare expression of excitement, said:


    "I''m going to do something big this time."

 Chapter 61 Eating from the bowl while looking at the pot

    """Upon returning to the Pyramid once again, Tang Xian''s phone buzzed non-stop.


    He saw that in just a few days, there had been fourteen missed calls and thirty-four new messages, most of which were from WeChat.


    Looking closer, Tang Xian saw that they were sent by Ke Ye.


    Yu Xiaozhe had sent some messages as well, but both of their messages were merely casual greetings.


    However, it was Shang Lu who told Tang Xian about a new discovery.


    It was about the Red Line Grass; it turns out what repels animals is not the scent itself, but an element in the scent called Insect Ammonia. He had managed to purify this element.


    He had created a kind of fragrance, more concentrated, that would be masked within the scent, suitable for anyone to use. In the future, all humanity could be free from the annoyance of weaker creatures, and for the insect species in mining areas, it could provide very good protection.


    In this way, Shang Lu had made a contribution to all of humanity, especially to the groups with lower combat capabilities.


    Tang Xian replied to Shang Lu with a smiley face and a thumbs-up emoji.


    He also sent a sweating emoji in response to Yu Xiaozhe and Ke Ye.


    He felt it was necessary to tell them that if they wanted to catch up, they should come visit him in the Tree Sea, and to send messages that were more useful.


    After shutting off the messaging app, Tang Xian began planning his next moves.


    He had sent Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu away. Dong Ran then took Tang Xiaojiu to play in the marketplace on the second level of the Pyramid.


    The intention was to cultivate some hobbies in the child beyond eating, something suitable for girls, like shopping, starting from a young age.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind.


    He dressed in a way that never hid his lower-class status, anyway, being convincing with one''s words was a skill in itself. Read latest chapters at empire


    At the moment, his attention was all on Akasi.


    There was plenty of information available, and not just one analysis of current needs. Among the things that both Akasi and Tang Suoye loathed, one place was mentioned.


    The Evolution Zone.


    This place did not exist in the mining area, of that Tang Xian was certain.


    Therefore, it could only likely be an institution at the higher levels of a Pyramid. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the Hua District, there are fifty-six Pyramids. Unlike the pyramids of other national districts, the political goals of the lords of Huaxia''s pyramids may vary, but the overall situation is unified, and it is the strongest and most intact nation after the Great Calamity.


    The Li family is the most special among them; apart from their supreme status in Fortress No. 39, they also hold an absolute position second only to the first family of other fortresses.


    As for the Evolution Zone, Tang Xian had no information whatsoever.


    He speculated simply that this place might also belong to the organization that Akasi and Tang Suoye served.


    With that in mind, he decided to contact Li Xiaoyu; in terms of understanding the power structure, he was not as well-informed as Li Xiaoyu.


    It was only at this moment that he remembered something, Li Xiaoyu could find him, but he had no way to find Li Xiaoyu.


    And Dong Ran had just happened to go to the second level.


    Having no choice, Tang Xian had to step out for a trip.


    Decay Street had recently undergone a reshuffling of power, but the street itself was still bustling. Tang Xian walked for a while until he finally felt that sensation of being watched, for the first time realizing that the dimwitted moles sent by others had uses beyond surveilling him.


    Tang Xian then headed straight for someone who was sitting in a tea shop drinking tea. The man was so taken aback to see Tang Xian approaching him that he didn''t react immediately.


    After all, Tang Xian usually ignored them, so he was a bit stunned for a moment.


    Without any fuss, Tang Xian said,


    "Hello, sorry to disturb you, but please tell your Second Miss that I need to see her."


    This man, disguised as a tea shop patron for over six years, knew that Tang Xian had probably been aware of his identity for a long time, but this was the first time he had been approached so openly.


    "This¡­ I need to report this to my superiors first."


    "That''s fine; thank you."


    Tang Xian ordered a cup of tea and just sat next to the man. A friendly smile on his face, he stared intently at the spy.


    The tea shop spy was panicking.


    After all, he was a spy, someone watching over Tang Xian, so why did it feel like he was the one being watched?


    The voice on the phone seemed to be experiencing a similar situation.


    It probably had to do with reporting to a superior.


    Tang Xian continued waiting, even amiably helping to order another cup of tea for the man.


    He asked the spy how he felt being watched and whether he had encountered any difficulties during his work, or if he needed any help.


    The spy had never met anyone like this. What was he supposed to say? Would you mind going out more often? It would make it easier for us to watch you?


    No matter how you heard it, it just sounded wrong.


    """


    After a long time, having passed through countless layers of superiors, Tang Xian finally received a response.


    "Hold on a second."


    This was the final response.


    Tang Xian continued to hold on a second, the scout somewhat perplexed. What did ''hold on a second'' mean?


    Half an hour later, Li Xiaoyu arrived.


    The scout''s eyes widened, his lips quivered slightly, and a chill ran down his spine as the second Miss saw him exposed¡ªand saw him having tea with the target.


    He hurriedly stood up.


    Tang Xian was somewhat puzzled. Since when was standing and drinking tea a cultural thing?


    "Sit down," Tang Xian said.


    The scout dared not sit.


    "If I tell you to sit, you sit," Li Xiaoyu ordered.


    So he sat down.


    This was probably the pinnacle of one''s life. Being able to have tea with the second Miss of the Li family. How many people''s superiors'' superiors'' superiors could not ask for this?


    But now that it had actually happened, it was as uncomfortable as sitting on pins and needles.


    "You came back in less than seven days," Li Xiaoyu thought that Tang Xian had brought back good news.


    "I wanted to ask you about some things."


    "Go ahead, do you need help? I have already selected the personnel on my side."


    "Oh, that''s not necessary. Your matter is not very urgent; I''ll do something else first."


    Li Xiaoyu''s expression stiffened.


    My matter is not very urgent?


    She put on a smile, her gaze haunting.


    Tang Xian pretended not to see and said:


    "Two matters I would like your help with. One is to inquire about some news. The other is to help me arrange for someone to transfer fortresses."


    Li Xiaoyu said coldly, "I want to hear the latter first."


    Tang Xian nodded. The order didn''t matter, so he started with:


    "I''ve recruited a team member and hope you can help her transfer to Fortress No. 39. She''s a medical professional, her capabilities are decent, not the very best, but she has potential. This matter does relate somewhat to what you''ve asked of me."


    "A medical professional? Tang Busi?"


    "Good memory."


    "What''s her name?"


    "Qiao Shanshan."


    Li Xiaoyu''s face twitched slightly, her smile becoming more rigid.


    "Isn''t Dong Ran pretty enough?"


    Now it was Tang Xian''s turn to be stunned. He contemplated the logic behind that comment for a few seconds before shaking his head and saying:


    "We''re only talking about business here."


    "This is business," Li Xiaoyu didn''t back down.


    As the future number two of the Li family, she actually knew every person''s information on the hunter ranking list. Qiao Shanshan was an attractive woman with a mature aura of a professional, the type many men liked to conquer.


    "Then nevermind, I''ll have her demote herself two levels and apply for the transfer. Now, the second matter."


    Transferring fortresses required demotion, like someone from the third level being demoted to the first level. Tang Xian had thought about taking the backdoor approach but overlooked the fact that the focus of Li Xiaoyu''s concern was severely inconsistent with his own, so the matter couldn''t be discussed any further.


    Li Xiaoyu, with an itch of annoyance she couldn''t scratch, mentally noted Qiao Shanshan''s name. She thought that since Tang Xian had made a request, she would still have to help, but first, she had to probe into Qiao Shanshan.


    I already sent you one, and you still go looking for another outside? The bowl I give you is bigger than others'' pots, yet you still gaze longingly at what''s in others'' pots?


    However, she appeared quite calm at the moment, saying coldly:


    "Go on, what''s the second matter?"


    "Have you heard of the evolution zone?"


    Li Xiaoyu''s expression changed and she said:


    "Where did you hear about this place?"

 Chapter 62 Wrenching Force

    ```From Li Xiaoyu''s expression, Tang Xian was certain that she indeed knew about the Evolution Zone.


    It didn''t seem like just any small-time organization.


    "From a friend."


    "You sure have a lot of friends, are they male or female?"


    "Enough already, let''s talk business," Tang Xian gave Li Xiaoyu an unimpressed look.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t mind and thought it was reasonable to ask such a question. But she didn''t continue to inquire and said:


    "The Evolution Zone is a very mysterious and special institution. They possess many technologies that are ahead of our time."


    "Even more than the Li family has?"


    "The directions are different, it''s not easy to compare. Our Li family mainly excels in weapon research, but they are different; they focus more on the cultivation of the miners themselves. However, the specifics, I''m not too clear about that. This organization exists in many Pyramids, it''s not an organization unique to our nation, Huaxia."


    "What do you mean? An institution of the Pyramid fortresses abroad can survive within our domestic Pyramid institutions?" Tang Xian was somewhat surprised.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, not the least bit concerned about the spy subordinate she had arranged to be at her side.


    This subordinate also knew one thing, that he would need to forget everything he heard today, otherwise his fate would be quite miserable.


    "You should know that as long as the interests are aligned, there''s nothing in this world that can''t be negotiated. The Evolution Zone provided twelve elite soldiers to Huaxia''s second fortress, all named after the Chinese zodiac. Their talents, all reside within seven to nine types, capable of rivaling the top hunters.


    The scariest part is, it seems their physical abilities greatly exceed that of ordinary people, even outside the context of the Pyramid in the real world," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Li Xiaoyu''s pride was ingrained in her bones. So when Tang Xian heard her speak of an organization with such astonishment, he was convinced that this organization was truly not simple.


    Tang Xian said, "How strong are they? Don''t tell me they can bring their abilities from the mines out into the real world?"


    Tang Xian probably just spoke casually.


    But unusually, Li Xiaoyu showed a look of uncertainty and said, "My brother once had a conversation with a high-level official from the Evolution Zone. Some of the technologies they discussed during that conversation weren''t revealed in detail to me, but the hypothesis you mentioned seems to be a direction they are attempting to conquer.


    They''re creating superhumans, not just the Chosen of the mines but also the Chosen of the Pyramids."


    Li Xiaoyu added:


    "My bodyguard, Eve, her codename is Rabbit. Initially, she was a part of the Evolution Zone''s effort to penetrate the Huaxia Fortress, a sort of tribute, and then my father bought one to be my guard." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "While Eve is tacky enough, Rabbit doesn''t seem to be any better," Tang Xian commented.


    He then continued to ask, "So you''re saying these people are really trying to research beings that can be as powerful in the real world as they are in the mines? That really is crazy."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded and said, "In theory, it shouldn''t be possible, and there are no precedents for this."


    Tang Xian believed it was indeed crazy, but it wasn''t without precedent.


    He must be a special case himself.


    "Eve is one of the strongest and most outstanding among this batch of soldiers they''ve created. However, Eve''s memory, she doesn''t quite remember it herself, just that she went through a lot of brutal training as a child. In terms of Eve''s abilities, there''s a big difference between how she performs in the Pyramid and in the mines.


    But indeed, she is more formidable than many others," Li Xiaoyu explained.


    "I heard my brother say, they call this ''synchronization rate.''


    "Synchronization rate?"


    "Right, it''s the ratio of the difference between abilities in the mines and real-world abilities. A synchronization rate of three percent would be considered top-tier among these modified soldiers. That means, he possesses three percent of his abilities from the mines."


    "The twelve zodiac soldiers are at around five-point-five percent. This surely isn''t the strongest the Evolution Zone has to offer, even though they claim it is."


    Li Xiaoyu provided a lot of information all at once.


    "It seems their ultimate goal is to cultivate superhumans with a synchronization rate of twenty-five percent. But which specific scientific fields this involves, my brother might know some, as they''ve discussed potential collaboration projects. However, it''s been a long time since they last made contact."


    A synchronization rate of twenty-five percent is the ultimate goal?


    What is Akasi''s synchronization rate?


    Tang Xian wondered for a moment, does his situation count as a synchronization rate of one hundred percent?


    "Why bring up the Evolution Zone all of a sudden, what do you want to do?"


    "I want to have a look."


    "Then you better not think about it, the Evolution Zone currently has its own research facilities in both the first and second fortresses, with a level of martial law just like a military fortress."


    Tang Xian followed Li Xiaoyu''s conversation and nodded, not objecting but instead asking:


    "Speaking of which, this kind of project involving human experimentation, is that something you all just accept?"


    "I can''t answer that question for you. Or more like, my answer wouldn''t be of any use," Li Xiaoyu replied.


    After a moment of thought, Tang Xian agreed with Li Xiaoyu''s statement.


    Using human subjects for experimentation would be criticized in the most enlightened of times. Yet, even with the risk of criticism, some people would still take the risk for vast benefits, committing acts that defy ethics and morality.


    In this era, moral concerns have been significantly weakened.


    According to Tang''s guess, perhaps all humans living within the Pyramid are simply monkeys trapped in cages.


    "So now both the first and second fortresses have their bases? On which level?"


    ```

 Chapter 62 The Strength of a Wrench_2

    "What do you mean, do you really want to go?""Broaden my horizons," Tang Xian said with a casual air.


    He couldn''t very well say that he was planning to take down the Evolution Zone, given that the organization had partnerships with the Li family, as well as with other current top-tier fortresses'' masters. It could be said that they knew very well how to survive. To offend them was to implicitly offend many major powers.


    This was also the reason he had approached Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu wouldn''t harm him.


    "I''m not some brainless woman with big breasts, you can''t fool me with that talk."


    "You are indeed not a woman with big breasts or without a brain. But I have my reasons for what I do. Have you ever seen me at a disadvantage?"


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, pretending she hadn''t heard Tang Xian split a certain word.


    She thought to herself, could all those fruits Shang Lu gave her be genetically modified inferior goods? Why were they having no effect at all?


    Tang Xian, on the other hand, was thinking about something else. He suddenly asked, "Is Eve with you?"


    Li Xiaoyu was stunned.


    A bit annoyed, she looked at Tang Xian.


    Not only are you holding onto the bowl I gave you, but now you''re eyeing someone else''s pot, and even thinking of poaching my bodyguard?


    So, he liked that kind of fierce-looking woman?


    Tang Xian couldn''t help it and knocked on Li Xiaoyu''s head.


    Li Xiaoyu came back to her senses and said faintly, "My guard is naturally always with me."


    "Could I borrow her for a bit?"


    "You!" Li Xiaoyu glared at Tang Xian.


    Considering that Li Xiaoyu was brainless in certain situations, Tang Xian explained:


    "I just want to understand the situation from her, after all, she comes from the Evolution Zone."


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian with a cold expression but eventually clapped her hands.


    Soon, Eve entered the tea house.


    "Miss, you called for me."


    "I didn''t call you, he did."


    "Hello. I have some matters I''d like to consult with you about," Tang Xian greeted politely.


    Eve knew about the second miss''s feelings for Tang Xian and wasn''t sure if she should respond. In the end, she simply nodded and asked, "What would you like to know?"


    "Regarding the Evolution Zone, you don''t remember anything, do you?" Tang Xian asked.


    Eve nodded and said, "There are only some extremely short fragments, but they basically don''t form a coherent clue, and I instinctively feel they are not pleasant memories, so I haven''t tried hard to recall them."


    Tang Xian continued to ask:


    "You should know that your talents and physique are much stronger than the average person, even more superior than some outstanding hunters. As for the reason, you probably don''t know, do you?"


    "I don''t remember. Sorry," Eve said, her expression remaining stern.


    "Never mind. There''s a plant in the mining area called Anai, whose sap can make creatures fall into hallucinations and cause certain damage to the brain. If severe, it can lead to amnesia, but it is not irreversible. I know some recovery methods, and if you''re interested in your past memories, I can help you," Tang Xian said.


    "If you have this requirement, I can cooperate with you," Eve said.


    Cooperating with Tang Xian was equivalent to helping Li Xiaoyu, and Eve knew this.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "There are many ways to induce amnesia in humans. It''s not necessarily what I''ve mentioned. You also said these memories are probably not anything pleasant, so I won''t insist. I''m merely informing you that these memories might be recoverable. Whether or not to act on this is a decision only you can make. There is one more thing I need to ask of you."


    Eve was somewhat surprised. Tang Xian didn''t possess the dominance of the second miss.


    "Go ahead."


    "I would like to have a fight with you."


    Eve was taken aback, and so was Li Xiaoyu.


    Tang Xian felt he had almost investigated everything he needed to. Eve''s level of candor was high; she was not lying. This female bodyguard truly did not remember the past.


    But as a person who had scored full marks in the Trials of the Chosen, Tang Xian had delved into much knowledge.


    Akasi demanded the blood of the creatures from the mining area. The Soul Crystal was secondary.


    This led him to think of the ancient technology of extracting biological serums.


    This technology he also only had a basic understanding of.


    Injecting the serum of the creatures from the mining area into humans would certainly bring a significant enhancement of strength to the human body. The question was, could humans tolerate the serum of these ferocious creatures?


    Tang Xian almost concluded that what the Evolution Zone was doing was along the lines of what he had in mind.


    So, in order to take down the evolution zone, we must ensure one thing. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Tang, I cannot fulfill this request of yours."


    Tang Xian glanced at Li Xiaoyu.


    "Why are you looking at me? I''ve never beaten you, why should she hit you?"


    Tang Xian reminded Li Xiaoyu, "The last time we met."


    "The last time was to stop you!"


    Tang Xian recalled his last encounter with Eve, indeed there was no difference from others, he couldn''t feel the opponent''s strength. But he still had to be cautious and confirm it.


    Perhaps she didn''t exert her full strength last time?


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian with a weird expression, what kind of request was this? Did this man have some special fetish?


    Tang Xian found it hard to explain.


    He was now immune to harm from humans.


    But it was hard to say for sure whether these people who had been injected with the serum from the mineral zone creatures were still considered human.


    His plan was not complex, one could even say it was rather blunt, but this was predicated on facing humans.


    So Tang Xian didn''t beat around the bush and forcefully said,


    "No need to fight, testing our strength is also fine."


    Eve did not refuse this, saying, "How shall we compare?"


    "Arm wrestling?" Tang Xian remembered the captain of the White Rose Team, once caught by his hand, couldn''t break free. Theoretically, through arm wrestling, he could confirm whether Eve, this kind of super soldier, belonged to the range of humans.


    It was a necessary thing, Tang Xian believed it was worth testing.


    Eve''s gaze turned towards Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu was breathing rapidly, obviously agitated to the extreme.


    "You actually want to touch her hand!"


    Unable to communicate, Tang Xian said, "Everything I''m doing now can be considered preparation for hunting apocalypse creatures. If you''re so fond of the Song Family, then continue talking. If not, shut up."


    Li Xiaoyu pointed at Tang Xian, eyes wide, at a loss for words.


    But at this time, Li Xiaoyu also remembered that Eve had said Tang Xian was strong.


    She quickly calmed down and once again became her usual cold and noble self, as if the angry reaction from before had never happened.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded and said to Eve, "Go on. Don''t lose."


    Eve then sat opposite Tang Xian.


    Arm wrestling in the tea house was not rare, but it was quite unusual for a rich family''s young miss to bring her bodyguard to arm wrestle with Tang Xian.


    There were still some people here who recognized Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was the type who, whenever there was an uproar in the mining zone, would hide at the back and calmly analyze the situation, never getting his hands dirty.


    The others didn''t know what Tang Xian was up to.


    So they each began to speculate.


    Perhaps he was some poor guy trying to impress a rich girl by showing off his strength?


    That seemed plausible, and the onlookers'' attention gathered on them.


    Li Xiaoyu had wanted to clear the room, Tang could embarrass himself in front of her, but that didn''t mean others could ridicule him.


    Just thinking that this man was so arrogant, he actually preferred touching another woman''s hand instead of hers, she decided to let him lose face.


    Tang Xian extended his hand, got into position, and signaled with his eyes that Eve could start.


    Eve wondered whether to give him some face, after all, he was the man the second miss liked.


    Pretend a bit?


    So she didn''t exert much force either, waiting for Tang Xian to make his move. But Tang Xian didn''t exert any force as well.


    In arm wrestling, there is basically no talk of offense and defense; both sides just push in the opposite direction, but the one exerting force later often does so confident in their superior strength.


    Eve did not expect Tang Xian to be so confident.


    She then tried to exert force, to let Tang Xian know the difference in strength.


    Yet Tang Xian''s hand still did not move, nor did his expression change.


    A few seconds later, not feeling the pressure one usually feels while arm wrestling, Tang Xian urged, "You can start now."


    Eve: "..."


    Didn''t we just start?

 Chapter 63 Along the Network Cable

    Eve was somewhat astonished. Although she hadn''t used all her strength, surely she should have felt her wrist beginning to exert force, right?She tried to increase her strength.


    Li Xiaoyu noticed the expressions of the two and was somewhat surprised. Why did it feel like Tang Xian hadn''t exerted much effort, but Eve had already started to exert herself? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Was this an act?


    Li Xiaoyu said, "No holding back."


    Eve''s expression looked even more serious


    But inside, she felt bitter, she truly wasn''t holding back.


    Yet the person opposite her was immovable, as if fused with the surrounding environment, becoming a part of it, feeling like she was trying to move a mountain.


    Tang Xian also realized this wasn''t an act; it seemed that his opponent''s strength was completely cut off by him.


    He relaxed.


    It seemed his worries were entirely unfounded.


    Still, should he win or not? After thinking it over, Tang Xian slowly, evenly, with a serious face, let himself lose.


    The people watching from a distance felt Tang Xian wasn''t too bad; he didn''t lose too one-sidedly and even struggled a few times.


    Only Eve''s expression was more complex. She glanced at Tang Xian, thinking about the questions he''d asked, wondering if he could be from the Evolution Zone?


    She hadn''t won at all, but it was Tang Xian who had let her win.


    Tang Xian nodded and said, "I lost. There''s one last thing I''d like to ask of you."


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Eve, then at Tang Xian, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. Eve didn''t say anything at the moment; this sort of thing was for reporting in private later.


    Li Xiaoyu asked,


    "You''ve asked me to do so many things, but you don''t seem to care about my affairs."


    "These matters are actually related. I need to assemble my team first before I can go kill that calamity-level boss creature."


    "What is it? Tell me."


    "Help me apply for a temporary visa. I need to go to Fortress Number Two."


    Tang Xian''s statement was ever shocking, and Li Xiaoyu''s curiosity grew.


    However, Tang Xian''s thoughts were always unpredictable. He felt that whatever he could say, he naturally would say.


    Staring at Tang Xian, Tang Xian indeed began to explain, saying,


    "I''m mainly going there to find someone."


    "A man."


    After saying this, Tang Xian added.


    "I can bring him here," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "The Li family probably doesn''t have that much sway," Tang Xian felt the conversation had gone far enough.


    As he got up, Li Xiaoyu wasn''t happy.


    "Sit down!"


    "Alright, have someone prepare the procedures for transferring fortresses tonight. Thank you. I won''t make you do a losing business, but I can''t tell you the reward just yet. There are some things I can''t guarantee. However, it will definitely be of great help to the Li family."


    Li Xiaoyu did trust Tang Xian, yet she still felt something was off.


    "You''re not planning to take down the Evolution Zone, are you?" Li Xiaoyu casually asked.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "You guessed it right. I plan to go alone, charging into the second layer of the fortress and take down the military fortress level of the Evolution Zone."


    Li Xiaoyu felt somewhat reassured, naturally taking Tang Xian''s words as a joke, but she also picked up on some key points that Tang Xian mentioned.


    "Fine."


    "Pleasure doing business, I''ll take my leave." Tang Xian turned to leave.


    "Wait! Why are you in such a hurry to go!" Li Xiaoyu called out to Tang Xian.


    "Is there something else?" Tang Xian asked.


    Li Xiaoyu waved her hand, and Eve and the surrounding guards began to clear the area.


    Before long, the tea shop was left with just Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu.


    With a dignified look, she said,


    "This is my phone number."


    "Is that all? You could just have let me call you," Tang Xian really did make a direct call.


    Li Xiaoyu felt secretly annoyed and said,


    "My... other contact details are also in there."


    Tang Xian''s phone vibrated.


    Upon opening it, he discovered it was actually WeChat.


    The WeChat ID was just Li Xiaoyu. He glanced at Li Xiaoyu, and she nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Was all this really necessary just to add WeChat? It''s like you''re making it seem as if you''re trying to get aggressive with me," Tang Xian casually remarked.


    "If you like this vibe, it''s not off the table."


    "..."


    This time it was Tang Xian''s turn to be at a loss for words.


    He said, "It''s common not to use your real name on Weixin. Maybe you could change your name."


    "I don''t have a nickname."


    "Haven''t run into trouble?"


    "I have. Some boring people added me, asking if I was so desperate for money that I was waiting to bump into the Li family''s second daughter," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Tang Xian could relate, having recently encountered a tea-seller heiress who claimed to be friends with Li Xiaoyu.


    "What happened after? Did you block these people?" Tang Xian was surprised that a person like Li Xiaoyu would engage with lower-tier social entertainment apps.


    "My brother took some people and chopped them down along the internet cables."


    "..."


    Tang Xian was at a loss for words.


    In the fortress, network control was very strict, and real-name verification made people more cautious about talking big online. However, netizens hadn''t realized this and were stuck in ancient habits. They bluffed without knowing that all their data was being recorded.


    There''s no real freedom inside the Pyramid.


    "If you... need anything later, you can contact me through this," Li Xiaoyu thought it over and seemed a bit embarrassed.


    She couldn''t say that, besides work, no one really called her.


    Not to mention social entertainment apps, where even as the youngest generation, she found herself unable to fit into the lives of the common folk on the third and fourth layers.


    Earlier on, Li Xiaoyu had looked down on Tang Xian for choosing to live with the barbarians on the lower levels rather than move up to higher tiers.


    But as she monitored his movements, with her subordinates reporting back to her, Li Xiaoyu began to envy Tang Xian.


    He always had friends.


    It wasn''t the same for herself.


    It seemed like she didn''t need friends, nor were there many who would want to be her friend. Once people from the student or working classes knew her identity, it was difficult to maintain the previous rhythm of conversation; they would become obsequious.


    So she had no friends, but plenty of dogs.


    Like Luo.


    Tang Xian nodded his head but didn''t try to guess what was on Li Xiaoyu''s mind at the moment. Although they had interacted more frequently these days, it was strictly business.


    "Next time your ''bestie'' tries to sell tea leaves, I''ll introduce you," Tang Xian joked with a reference that Li Xiaoyu wouldn''t understand.


    He guessed that Li Xiaoyu found out his Weixin ID by pressuring Shang Lu, considering it an occupational hazard. He would bring Shang Lu a gift next time.


    Tang Xian turned and left.


    This time Li Xiaoyu didn''t stop him.


    She felt somewhat happy.


    But her happiness lasted only a few seconds before her expression turned stern again.


    Li Xiaoyu quickly left.


    On her way back, she pondered over Tang Xian''s words.


    Thinking that Tang Xian wasn''t someone to pry without reason, she concluded that his visit to Fortress No. 2 must be related to the Evolution Zone.


    With both Fortress No. 1 and Fortress No. 2 under the control of major families, she couldn''t place too many of her own informants there.


    So she was somewhat worried about Tang Xian.


    "Help me find out about Qiao Shanshan, all the information, from birth to now," Li Xiaoyu ordered in the private channel.


    "Yes," Eve replied.


    "How''s Tang Xian''s arm strength when you arm wrestled him?"


    Eve lowered her head and said:


    "I am incompetent, Mr. Tang''s strength is indeed rare..."


    Li Xiaoyu fell silent. It was apparent that Eve appeared to win only in appearance.


    She looked puzzled.


    She had Tang Xian''s medical reports from his sixth school year to last year. To put it bluntly, she had seen every bone in that man''s body.


    Eve''s body was monstrously strong.


    What had Tang Xian been through?


    Even though Tang Xian had called her an idiot, it was only Tang Xian who did so. Li Xiaoyu''s mind was sharp.


    After some thought, she came to a conclusion.


    If even she hadn''t noticed that Tang Xian was disguising himself, then it was even less likely for others to realize. His display of true strength in front of her meant, it was a form of trust.


    "Don''t speak of this matter to anyone else," she said.


    "Yes."

 Chapter 64 The Outside of the Pyramid

    Dong Ran took Tang Xiaojiu to the shopping center on the second level to buy things.However, Tang Xiaojiu didn''t find anything he liked, because most items couldn''t be eaten. He also wasn''t interested in toys.


    Soon after, Dong Ran received a phone call from Tang Xian.


    "I sent you the account number and password. Help me retrieve something. My kitchen knife has arrived."


    "Kitchen knife? Oh, okay. Did you find out the information you were asking about?"


    "I did. I''ll be staying at another fortress for a few days in a few days. You take Xiaojiu with you and don''t go to the mining area. I''ll leave some food behind. If I''m delayed and you run out of food, go find your boss. Have her make arrangements for you." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Ran didn''t dare to approach Miss Second, curious about what Tang was up to.


    Tang Xian guessed her thoughts and said,


    "I''m going to recruit new team members. This mission is quite difficult, so I won''t take you and Xiaojiu. Also, don''t let Li Xiaoyu''s people touch Tang Xiaojiu and don''t talk to strangers about Tang Xiaojiu, remember that."


    "Got it, got it!" Dong Ran now took to heart anything Tang Xian emphasized.


    After hanging up the phone, she went to fetch Tang Xian''s equipment.


    Tang Xian returned to his room, preparing food for the two girls for the next few days. At the same time, he was calculating all sorts of possibilities internally.


    "Li Xiaoyu''s efficiency should be quick. After tonight, I should be able to head to the other fortress direct."


    He had mixed feelings.


    Tang Xian had never traveled between fortresses.


    He was also curious whether he could see the world outside the fortress during the journey.


    What was the outside world really like? Was it truly a wasteland?


    He was somewhat excited.


    Tang Xian called Qiao Shanshan to inquire about her thoughts on transferring fortresses. Qiao Shanshan didn''t agree, unwilling to demote herself two levels to go to Fortress Thirty-Nine.


    Having no other choice, Tang Xian hastened Li Xiaoyu on WeiXin, promising some benefits.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t pay much attention to Tang Xian, only replying with a smiling emoji.


    ...


    ...


    After sorting out all matters, it was already the next day''s noon. In the morning, Jiang Ming had come by once, inquiring about Tang Xian''s recent situation and whether he was interested in taking on some jobs.


    Tang Xian politely dismissed him.


    Following this, Li Xiaoyu arranged all the necessary paperwork for Tang Xian, and the transport for the fortress transfer was privately owned by the Li family.


    Li Xiaoyu was waiting at the entrance for Tang Xian.


    The entry and exit to the other fortress was located on the first level.


    When Tang Xian heard Li Xiaoyu was waiting for him, he had a bad feeling, but relaxed only after seeing Li Xiaoyu in person.


    There was no indication in Li Xiaoyu''s current needs analysis that she intended to accompany him to Fortress Two.


    This was good; he really feared this woman would make some bizarre decisions on a whim.


    "I really wanted to go with you, after all, I don''t have many eyes and ears inside Fortress Two. But there are a few projects here at a critical stage, and I can''t leave," Li Xiaoyu said calmly.


    "Is that so, I must thank fate," Tang Xian said.


    "Tang Xian, don''t do anything rash," Li Xiaoyu stated, not minding what Tang Xian said, but there was a hint of panic in her eyes.


    "Rash? What do you mean?"


    "In any case, once I have sent you over, you have to promise me that you''ll return safely."


    Genuine good intentions were seldom refused by Tang Xian, who nodded and said,


    "No problem, don''t worry."


    "On the carrier, I can still communicate with you, so don''t mess around," she instructed.


    "What counts as ''messing around''?"


    "I think you''re the type of person who would open the hatch out of curiosity to see the world outside the fortress and jump out for a look."


    "..."


    Tang Xian couldn''t refute that.


    "So, will I really be able to see the outside scenery later?" Tang Xian asked.


    "No matter what expectations you have for the outside, you''ll be disappointed after you see it. You used to say some strange things back at school, but Tang Xian, let me tell you, the outside of the Pyramid is just as we know it," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Alright, I got it."


    Tang Xian did have some expectations, but he wasn''t going to feel too disillusioned if they weren''t met.


    He still really wanted to know what the scenery outside the Pyramid looked like.


    ...


    ...


    The carrier wasn''t large; inside there was a delicate table laden with various foods and drinks. The seating was against the window, allowing a clear view of the world outside.


    The carrier for transferring between fortresses moved rapidly, yet from high above, seeing the things below didn''t pass by in the blink of an eye.


    Tang Xian scrutinized the world outside the Pyramid attentively.


    It was a ruin.


    All around were the remnants of buildings.


    Within the debris emerged a faint purple hue, covered with various plants and weeds.


    Under the influence of radiation, these green plants had turned purple.


    All of this indeed matched what was written in books.


    Tang Xian was curious about just how big and tall the Pyramid was.


    But when he tried to look up, he realized¡­ he couldn''t see how tall the Pyramid was above the clouds at all.


    He was about twelve hundred meters from the ground.


    However, the height he was at now seemed to be only¡­ towards the lower part of the Pyramid.


    After a long flight and a great distance, he still couldn''t fully see the entire Pyramid.


    The Pyramid was like the immense World Tree mentioned in some novels, with each leaf a vastly broad domain.


    Only from a very distant perspective could one truly appreciate the enormity of the Pyramid.

 Chapter 64 Outside the Pyramid _2

    It was as if the cities of ancient times had been folded up to construct a gigantic pyramid, vastly immense.But to actually call it a pyramid was not accurate; this was just an early term, which people later got used to and couldn''t change their habit of using.


    The Pyramid was not just a pyramid, for it was too towering. From afar, it looked more like a huge stone pillar.


    Tang Xian had many speculations about the Pyramid, until he saw it in person, from its exterior, and realized all his speculations were wrong.


    Such scale, this level of architectural civilization, was beyond what current human technology could achieve.


    The mine area appeared mysterious, but now the appearance of the Pyramid seemed even more mysterious.


    Does a true summit actually exist above the clouds?


    What kind of existence are the people at the summit? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How is it, are you stunned by the sight of the Pyramid?" Li Xiaoyu''s voice came from the communication device inside the vehicle.


    "A bit, yes. The situation is more shocking than I had imagined," Tang Xian didn''t deny. The enormity of the Pyramid was beyond his expectation by too much.


    "I was also very shocked the first time I saw it. I sent people to try to fly to the highest point. But before passing through the clouds, they faced a great obstacle. There was no way to get through the cloud layer to see the true height of the Pyramid," said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Obstacle?"


    "Yes. It''s like the mine area''s special interference field. The vehicle would quickly lose power, the engine would fail to start, and it would fall straight down."


    Li Xiaoyu paused for a moment before continuing,


    "Luckily, once they fall out of a certain range, they can take off again. For the pilots, it''s also an experience of life and death."


    Tang Xian was silent, looking at the thick clouds in the sky as though they were a gate between the human world and some unknown realm.


    He gazed at the Pyramid and made an assumption. Calculating based on the height that could already be seen from the Pyramid, he deduced that there were at least twelve levels below the clouds. Perhaps the top was above the clouds, or maybe there were other levels.


    Tang Xian couldn''t speculate further. He just thought that the future seemed very far away.


    Humanity had spent hundreds of years to reach the seventh level and was about to enter the eighth,


    But perhaps they had only explored half of the entire Pyramid. The mysterious mine area still had a vast amount of content waiting for humans to explore.


    Tang Xian did not rejoice.


    Bizarre and exotic ideas had crossed his mind.


    For instance, the world outside the Pyramid was actually very interesting, inhabited by many people, and the people inside the Pyramid were just a form of entertainment for those outside.


    They lacked neither food nor clothing, and lived in comfortable environments, issuing various commands each day for the people inside the Pyramid to follow, to entertain themselves.


    Inside the Pyramid, whether noble or lowly, no matter which level one was from, one was merely a plaything, a captive beast for entertainment.


    Now, it seemed, this speculation was incorrect.


    Yet, looking at the Pyramid, which was far more advanced than human civilization, he did not feel much delight.


    The oppressive feeling of humans living inside the Pyramid never ceased.


    "There are a few more hours, take your time to look, the outside world is not that beautiful," said Li Xiaoyu.


    Tang Xian remained silent, memorizing the scenery he saw. And he truly began to ponder a question:


    "If one were to descend outside of the fortress, would one really die?"


    This question made him feel somewhat obsessed, and he really wanted to try it.


    Ultimately, the idea was suppressed. The last time in the mine area, Tang Xian remembered he nearly died for real; if not for Tang Xiaojiu... perhaps even the mysterious power inside him wouldn''t have saved him.


    The mysterious power under these rules seemed not to be inferior to the power within him.


    But one day, when he was fully prepared, Tang Xian would try it.


    ...


    ...


    The second Pyramid, the fourth level.


    The Evolution Zone on the fourth level was a mysterious organization. Although its location wasn''t particularly secret, no outsiders ever dared to approach the Evolution Zone.


    The wasteland outside the Evolution Zone had always been left untouched without anyone daring to contract or plan it, because too many "experimental subjects" had been buried there.


    In any case, for the people of the second fortress, while the Evolution Zone wasn''t an unheard-of organization ¡ª its reputation was, in fact, significant ¡ª nearly no one really understood the Evolution Zone.


    There were those who were not afraid to die and sought to uncover the secrets of the Evolution Zone.


    Once they went in, they never came out again. Even if some were not content and chose to file a report, the cases were generally indefinitely postponed.


    The Evolution Zone facilitated its introduction into the Huaxia Fortress market quite simply, with money.


    Large amounts of heavy weaponry and organic mines, even Soul Crystals, sourced from various fortresses ¡ª they used some of them and the rest were leveraged as capital to bribe certain restrictions.


    Akasi was currently in the Evolution Zone''s second camp.


    This place was reserved for only the most elite experimental subjects to reside, and the number was small, counting Akasi there were only seven.


    Langnu, a burly Northern Russian, upon seeing Akasi, looked hostile and suddenly pressed down on Akasi''s shoulder.


    Akasi didn''t understand what this meant.


    Langnu, injected with Giant Spirit Hippopotamus Serum, though far from being able to match Akasi''s speed, had astonishing strength.


    Caught off guard by Langnu, Akasi found himself unable to break free.


    "What are you doing?" Akasi stared at Langnu, who was two heads taller than himself.


    "Little one, number 19 no longer belongs to you now. That little girl has been taken away. To prevent you from causing trouble, the doctor has arranged for a few of us to come watch over you."

 Chapter 64 Outside the Pyramid _3

    Akasi was startled.The doctor had just taken Tang Suoye away, saying that there were some matters to discuss. He had been waiting here for Tang Suoye, who, after this mission, was supposed to become an official Hunter like himself.


    No longer needing to endure those cruel experiments. His only responsibility would be to complete the tasks in the mining area.


    But the current situation was clearly undergoing some changes.


    "Subject 19 is no ordinary case, the organization has found a Calamity-class creature, the serum of Eden''s Deer, and now they want to experiment on Subject 19 with it," said Langnu, standing behind him, was Michelangelo, the subject from the United Kingdom Fortress, designated number 14. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Michelangelo''s abilities were related to psychic powers.


    Under his gaze, Akasi felt his consciousness slowly slipping into chaos.


    "The last time you made a fuss to save Subject 19, the organization lost a lot of good seedlings. This time, they won''t let you cause trouble," Michelangelo said with an eyepatch on.


    Another powerful Hunter appeared, number 12, Yuan Du.


    Akasi had been on missions with Yuan Du before and knew that his abilities were also related to speed, but the most troublesome part was not his speed, but his ability to conceal his presence.


    Those with single-digit numbers who were still alive were all exceedingly powerful beings; each of them could dominate the Hunter rankings among humans.


    "I''ve never agreed with the doctor''s favoritism towards you. Although you can withstand the serum of the Calamity-class creature Lei Xiao, you have no other distinguishing features besides your speed. Once your legs are bound, what do you have left?"


    Akasi looked at Yuan Du, Langnu, Michelangelo, and a few other experiment subjects with unfriendly expressions around him.


    He said, word by word:


    "If anything happens to Tang Suoye, I will kill you all."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, the great Akasi is actually concerned about a little girl. But you should know that to date, the only people who survived after being injected with Calamity-class creature serum are you, number one and number two. If you think about making a move here..."


    Yuan Du''s eyes shimmered with excitement:


    "Even if you are number three, inside Pyramid, you''d still be killed."


    Powerful currents coursed through Akasi''s body.


    He gritted his teeth, having not expected to encounter such a great crisis upon completing this mission.


    "As long as I can''t move, anyone here can kill me. Of course, you can also pray that Subject 19 passes her test. Then we can all live in peace."


    Yuan Du looked at Akasi with a mocking smile:


    "But even if she survives, she will be locked in a cage. You know, after the serum injection, we always need to test the power, don''t we?"


    Pupils contracted.


    Being locked in a cage, for those in Evolution Area, they all knew what that implied.


    A sharp dagger plunged into Langnu''s arm. The moment Langnu winced in pain, Akasi bit his own tongue, using the sharp pain to regain clarity.


    The next second, Akasi''s figure flashed, a fierce thrust slicing through the air.


    Yuan Du narrowly avoided it, his heart skipped a beat, realizing that had Akasi not been in his current weakened state, he might have...


    "Stop him!"


    All the surrounding subjects closed in, and Akasi, seeing his dwindling space to maneuver, started planning his next move.


    The doctor''s sudden actions gave Akasi the idea to flee the Evolution Area.


    But there was a tracking device hidden within the vertebrae of his spine that couldn''t be forcibly removed.


    Even if he managed to escape... probably awaiting him and Tang Suoye would be an endless flight.

 Chapter 65 The Fugitive and the Invader

    The Second Citadel, Fourth Level, Evolutionary Zone Secret Laboratory.To Dr. Duke, every test subject in this laboratory was a treasure of future human history.


    Each held extreme significance.


    For example, number one and number two, as well as the temporarily needed number three. They were all living humanoid mine beasts.


    Possessing unbelievable abilities.


    "No matter what kind of ability, if the synchronization rate is too low, it will also lead to a reverse qualitative change due to the reduction in quantity."


    Dr. Duke looked at the unconscious Tang Suoye with absolute indifference in his eyes. His hand stroked Tang Suoye''s face.


    "Although Akasi has made many contributions to the organization, both he and you are items that can be improved upon once again. You have brought me many surprises, and I hope you can withstand the serum of the Eden Deer."


    Dr. Duke nodded to the staff member beside him and said,


    "Begin."


    Several laboratory personnel in hazmat suits had already begun their observations at their respective posts.


    "Target number 19, current highest synchronization rate, seventeen percent. A high-risk unit."


    Listened to their reports, even though he was already aware of these figures, Dr. Duke couldn''t help but admire them. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "These data have already matched Akasi''s, only second to number one and number two. But the prior serum was ill-suited for her. The serum of the Eden Deer might push her synchronization rate to break through twenty percent."


    Dr. Duke exclaimed.


    "Warning, serum injection is about to commence, the serum is extracted from a calamity-level organism, there is a high probability that it will lead to the death of the test subject. Do you confirm the injection?"


    "Confirm the injection."


    "Begin real-time monitoring of the synchronization rate."


    "Maximum power to the equipment!"


    As the personnel busily got to work, Dr. Duke was certain that as long as Tang Suoye could endure the serum of the terrifying creature known as the Eden Deer,


    the Evolutionary Zone would once again possess a humanoid calamity-level creature.


    Despite only being able to exhibit around twenty percent of their abilities within Pyramid, a calamity-level creature''s twenty percent was enough to form an entire army.


    Moreover, number 19 held the rare telekinetic ability. Manipulating everything from the shadows could paralyze any fortress''s military power.


    Dr. Duke knew he was not exaggerating. If this experiment were to succeed, number 19 could be compared even with the most perfect numbers one and two.


    Once the experiment concluded, the subject''s memories would be erased using the toxic plant Anai from the mine area, grooming her into a devoted follower of the organization, just like numbers one and two.


    Dr. Duke looked at the unstable experimental data, feeling somewhat anxious.


    Fact was, the test subjects in the containers were generally in a state of brain anesthesia and rarely formed memories.


    But Akasi and Tang Suoye, both exceptional cases, seemed to be able to form clear and complete memories even in a semi-conscious state.


    This strong will led Dr. Duke to try granting the two individuals free will.


    But clearly, he could feel the resistance from both number 19 and Akasi.


    Deep down, they did not recognize the greatness of the organization''s experiments.


    The organization had long since issued orders to quickly erase the memories of Akasi and number 19.


    "After this plan, you will become my most loyal subordinates."


    Dr. Duke seemed to foresee a future of immense promise.


    However, at that moment, the alarm in the laboratory sounded once again.


    "Warning, target number 19, vital signs rapidly deteriorating, please immediately stop the injection of the Eden Deer serum."


    "Warning, target number 19, vital signs rapidly deteriorating, please immediately stop the injection of the Eden Deer serum."


    Dr. Duke was stunned, having not anticipated that such an excellent specimen as number 19 would fail to endure.


    The other lab personnel also looked at Dr. Duke with inquiring eyes.


    Dr. Duke said,


    "Continue! This precious serum wasn''t easy for the organization to obtain, but since we''ve already used it, don''t fear wasting it."


    One of the staff members said,


    "Doctor... Her vitality is rapidly fading, she will die if we continue."


    Dr. Duke''s eyes widened as he sternly said to the staff member,


    "Then the organization will remember her sacrifice. Continue!"


    "Yes..."


    Pain appeared on Tang Suoye''s face.


    Dark, vein-like patterns slowly became visible on her face, resembling a dense and intricate tattoo.


    "Ah... Akasi..."


    She had never felt so close to death before, as if her forehead was heating up again.


    In the loneliest and most helpless moments, Tang Suoye subconsciously began to call out Akasi''s name.


    "Akasi..."


    Dr. Duke was excited,


    "What a powerful will this is! Do you see? What a powerful will! After such a heavy dose of anesthetics, after being corroded by the domineering serum of the Eden Deer, she still possesses her own consciousness!"


    The staff members were also shocked.


    The situation for number 19 was very unusual, so much so that none of them had ever experienced such a case.


    Under these circumstances, life could be lost at any moment. Yet her consciousness had not completely shattered.


    "The mine area and Pyramid are gifts from the gods, but the gods will one day regret it! Because we will create something even more frightening than them!"


    Dr. Duke''s expression was manic.


    Just then, a metaphorical bucket of cold water was poured over the situation.


    In the experimental equipment, the needles recording various data slowly returned to their original positions in an instant.


    Tang Suoye suddenly plunged into a deep coma.


    Dr. Duke exclaimed, "What''s happening?"

 Chapter 65 The Fugitive and the Invader_2

    """"It seems the power supply equipment on Line 2 has a problem!"


    "Go and check it out, immediately!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    Dr. Duke was frantic; this was truly a test of one''s mettle.


    Just then, the laboratory door opened.


    Akasi, covered in blood, suddenly appeared in front of the doctor.


    Dr. Duke was shocked again. He had arranged so many experimental subjects, and all of these experimental subjects had a synchronization rate of over ten percent, elite units.


    Even so, Akasi managed to fight his way out?


    "I really underestimated you."


    "Why?"


    His silver hair, now stained red with blood, Akasi looked at Dr. Duke, his eyes like a wild beast about to run amok in despair.


    "Why? Akasi, you are my most favored free man. I thought you would understand that all this is, of course, for the future of humanity."


    Dr. Duke continued:


    "What do you think is the purpose of founding Evolution Zone? Everything about the Pyramid indicates that there is, or was, a civilization with intelligence greater than that of humans. There''s a lot more technology waiting to be unlocked in the future, and to seize these technologies, naturally, force is necessary."


    "You and Number 19 are both exceedingly excellent experimental subjects, but there''s still room for further improvement."


    "Release Tang Suoye and me, I''m asking you for the last time."


    Akasi''s tone was icy cold.


    "Tsk tsk, an excessive demand. You two are the most valuable materials in the organization, release you?"


    Wiping the blood from his face, Akasi said:


    "Then you can die."


    Dr. Duke clapped his hands.


    An oppressive atmosphere suddenly filled the laboratory.


    "Number 1 and Number 2, at least for now, are beings even mightier than you, and they are much more obedient. Whether I can be killed or not, you''ll have to ask them."


    Two figures, a man and a woman, appeared suddenly before Akasi, moving at incredible speeds.


    Experimental Subject Number 1, synchronization rate nineteen point four percent. Serum injection level: Catastrophic.


    Experimental Subject Number 2, synchronization rate eighteen percent. Serum injection level: Catastrophic.


    "The organization has spent unimaginable manpower and resources over the years just to acquire these serums. You, who have been transformed by these serums, should not take your situation lightly..."


    Dr. Duke didn''t finish his sentence,


    as Akasi''s figure flashed, embodying the swiftness of the fastest creature in the mines, Lei Xiao, as if possessed. Even in the Pyramid, where he could only deploy seventeen percent of his speed, his swiftness was still astonishing.


    Dr. Duke then realized he had completely misjudged Akasi''s speed!


    Number 1 and Number 2 had failed to stop Akasi, who had boldly snatched Tang Suoye from the hands of the two most powerful experimental subjects.


    Looking at the blood vessels appearing on Tang Suoye''s face, Akasi clenched his teeth.


    "One day, I will uproot this organization!"


    Dr. Duke, amazed at Akasi''s speed, paid no attention to his words.


    "Tsk tsk, the two of you are treasures! Go ahead and try to escape, if you can. The place is crawling with guards now, and... Akasi, where can you possibly flee to?"


    Experimental Subjects Number 1 and Number 2 had their weapons coated with a high dose of anesthetic.


    Akasi, carrying Tang Suoye, naturally slowed down, and facing two subjects with higher synchronization rates than his own, he had no confidence.


    Moreover, defeating the previous group of experimental subjects had already cost him a lot of energy.


    Just one hit, and the future awaiting him and Tang Suoye would inevitably be one of having their memories wiped clean.


    A trace of fatigue and despair surged within, but without hesitation, Akasi quickly retreated.


    Tang Suoye had yet to wake up, muttering Akasi''s name with her lips still.


    Along the narrow corridor, Experimental Subjects Number 1 and Number 2 were relentlessly pursuing.


    At the other end of the corridor, the guards wielding thermal weapons also awaited to ambush the fleeing experimental subjects.


    Akasi could feel the ever-closing presence of death.


    A battle with almost no chance of victory awaited him!


    ...


    ...


    The destination for reaching Fortress No. 39 was also on the first level.


    """


    After arriving at Fortress No. 2, Tang Xian found that its lower levels were even more chaotic than those of Fortress No. 39.


    Although the Li family is seen by many as the evil ruling class, a warlord family with immense military power,


    in fact, their economic strength should not be underestimated either.


    The businesses managed by Li Xiaoyu do take from the lower-class people, but also contribute to improving their lives.


    There is no Decay Street in the lower levels of Fortress No. 2.


    The entire lower level here seemed very chaotic.


    As someone who came out through a special passageway, Tang Xian got a lot of stares from the lower-class inhabitants living on the fringes as he passed by.


    Most of those who could switch fortresses were criminals.


    Tang Xian wasn''t dressed particularly well, which made him look like a criminal.


    Tang Xian didn''t pay them any attention.


    Li Xiaoyu handled things very properly. She directly cleared the way and arranged for Tang Xian to go to the second layer.


    It was only upon reaching the second layer that Tang Xian realized that it was almost as good as the third layer of Fortress No. 39.


    He quickly drew a conclusion.


    In this place, the people of the lower levels probably had an even harder life.


    Businesspeople like Luo and Liu Lang barely existed at these lower levels.


    But by exploiting the lower levels, the upper ones flourished.


    Anyway, the economic statistics for each fortress are always calculated starting from the second layer upwards; the people of the lower levels are abandoned, as has always been the case.


    Tang Xian made a call to Li Xiaoyu.


    "I''ve made some inquiries, and the Evolution Zone here isn''t really considered a secret organization. They are located on the fourth layer, and I''m planning to check it out."


    "You''re crazy, the Evolution Zone isn''t much of a secret in its home fortress, but if you''d inquired more carefully, you''d have realized that they only know where that massive thing is, that''s all."


    Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Getting smarter, huh?" Tang Xian joked.


    "But I don''t have time to waste. I don''t quite like the Second Pyramid, I''ll leave as soon as I''m done with my business. This matter will benefit Fortress No. 39 as a whole. So, you need to secretly get me a pass to the fourth layer."


    Tang Xian''s tone was very serious, making Li Xiaoyu consider a certain unreliable possibility once again, she asked: S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why secretly? What are you planning to do?"


    "A big move. Didn''t I tell you? I''m going to break into the Evolution Zone and take them down."


    "..."


    Tang Xian had actually mentioned such an idea in their previous conversation, yet even though Li Xiaoyu had great trust in Tang Xian''s abilities, she thought such a claim was just a boast.


    "I''m not joking, but I''ve also considered that this might lead to many unpleasant consequences."


    Tang Xian paused, then said:


    "So you''ll have to arrange for a cleanup crew, flight logs, immigration records, it''s best to erase them all, and this has to be personally monitored by you. You should use your most trusted people for it."


    "Because this is quite important, I don''t trust anyone else but you."


    Regardless of whether Tang Xian had the capability to take down the Evolution Zone, Li Xiaoyu was not particularly worried about it anymore.


    Because once Tang Xian seriously decided on something, he was sure to have a plan.


    However, taking down the Evolution Zone could be a world-shaking event. If she had to handle the aftermath, it would be extremely troublesome and complicated, and every step had to be carefully calculated.


    She wasn''t very confident about managing it.


    But Tang Xian''s last remark¡ªthat he trusted no one but her¡ª


    made Li Xiaoyu''s face turn red, and she felt light as a feather, almost unreal.


    "Okay, got it."


    With a determined heart, that became her answer.


    She deliberately used a tone that seemed to carelessly suggest it was a minor issue she had agreed to.


    On the other hand, Tang Xian felt that if things were not handled properly, it might cause great changes in international relations.


    "Don''t be careless."


    "Nag. You''re the one who should be careful. Although I don''t know what plans you have made over there, you''d better not die... You, you still owe me for two things!"


    "The fees for cross-fortress calls and roaming are expensive, so I''m hanging up now."


    The call ended.


    Li Xiaoyu was a bit stunned. This was truly the first time anyone had hung up on her with such a reason.

 Chapter 66 Masked Chopper Hero

    Smart people have always been lazy, but once they get to work, they are extremely efficient.Tang Xian acknowledged this about Li Xiaoyu. Shortly after hanging up the phone, he received a message from Li Xiaoyu, and someone immediately came down to meet Tang Xian on the fourth floor.


    The person who came was inconspicuous. He looked just like most of the white-collar workers on the third and fourth floors, even sporting the thinness and dark circles under the eyes common to those who work long hours.


    "My name is Bu Jing, the Second Miss sent me to pick you up."


    Tang Xian sized up Bu Jing and, seeing that he was very sincere, he didn''t suspect anything and nodded his head.


    Bu Jing was somewhat surprised and asked, "You don''t suspect?"


    "I''m in a hurry," Tang Xian didn''t want to explain further.


    Bu Jing nodded his head.


    Li Xiaoyu had blocked Tang Xian''s external communications, and unlike Eve, Bu Jing was not aware of the relationship between Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu.


    But anyone personally instructed by the Second Miss was certainly an honored guest.


    "This is my ID card, no matter what you plan to do, please complete it efficiently."


    The ID card was a pass.


    Tang Xian had thought that Li Xiaoyu would arrange for someone to create a temporary pass, but instead, she directly gave her ID card to him.


    He instantly understood what it meant.


    Bu Jing would remain on the lower level, and for the time being, Tang Xian would operate using Bu Jing''s identity. If there was any exposure, and the plan failed, Bu Jing would be the disposable scapegoat.


    Looking at Bu Jing, though young, he showed no complaints, and his subordinates, though thinking Li Xiaoyu is an idiot, seemed to really respect her.


    Bu Jing was aware of what Tang Xian was doing. Without being pretentious, Tang Xian simply walked into the passage.


    About half an hour later, he arrived at the fourth level.


    The fourth level was essentially paradise. The humans living here enjoyed the fruits of labor of those on the lower three levels, living extremely affluent lives.


    Tang Xian''s attire seemed somewhat out of place, but being able to walk here, the onlookers probably thought Tang Xian was like some performers from the fortresses.


    Advocating for equality or the like.


    It was worth respect, but no one was willing to share their power in hand with the lower classes.


    Tang Xian didn''t linger; after inquiring a bit, he found the location of the Evolution Zone.


    People mentioned the Evolution Zone with a tinge of fear, as that place always had many entering, but none ever came out.


    Although they were lives of the lower levels, not worth caring about, it still made one involuntarily curious about what kind of terrifying institution it was inside.


    At the entrance to the Evolution Zone, there were no less than sixteen cameras monitoring all directions.


    Tang Xian didn''t know what the Evolution Zone was like normally, but today, he felt his timing was very apt.


    Enhanced sense of smell allowed him to detect the scent of blood permeating from inside the Evolution Zone through the thick metallic fortifications.


    Tang Xian briefly furrowed his brow.


    At the entrance, there were twelve armed guards.


    Based on his sense of smell, in the passing square, a large number of guards were running around, as if some emergency situation had occurred inside.


    He opened his tool bag, then put on the mask he had prepared beforehand, as well as the chopper. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The chopper was made by Ke Ye exactly according to Tang''s design, a legitimate kitchen knife with the pointed tip resembling that of a butcher''s knife.


    Holding the knife, Tang thought his current appearance must be quite bizarre.


    Although this appearance would undoubtedly cause alarms if he went into any other institution, the Evolution Zone should be different, as Akasi and his cohorts probably had more exaggerated attires than his.


    So, Tang decided to just walk in.


    "Halt, your pass," the guard quickly stopped Tang, who was wearing a mask and holding a chopper.


    "I didn''t bring it, I''m in a hurry, delivering a task," Tang said, while pulling out two perfect-grade Soul Crystals from his bag.


    For those people, such items were commonly seen, and they could tell the quality at a glance.


    Tang really hadn''t expected that getting into the Evolution Zone would be much easier than he thought.


    No one would wastefully use two perfect-grade Soul Crystals as a bluff. To those present, only the monsters residing in the trial area could accomplish such feats.


    So, Tang was allowed to pass.


    Tang felt that if the others believed him, there was no need for pretense, and casually inquired about the directions.


    He wasn''t worried at all that the group would suspect he was an impostor.


    From Eve''s symptoms, Tang deduced that the organization used drugs to erase memories to control these powerful new humans, like Anai.


    The guards had indeed encountered such cases before. They carefully told Tang the route. They didn''t want to offend these monsters from the trial area.


    Tang didn''t let down his guard.


    The more lax the outer guards and the less strict the work checks, the more it indicates absolute perils inside; no one would dare to infiltrate the Evolution Zone recklessly.


    Following the route given by the guards, Tang revealed a smile, somewhat similar to that on the mask, giving off a somewhat sinister vibe.


    Upon entering the trial area, Tang was certain that something very serious had happened in the Evolution Zone.


    The red alarm lights were flashing, a large number of armed guards were heading somewhere, and he was closely following them.


    Apart from those guards carrying green military-grade weapons, there were also humans in strange attire and bizarre forms.


    Among these people, the mask and chopper actually seemed quite normal, and surprisingly, not a single person doubted him.


    "Truly a friendly organization."

 Chapter 66 Masked Chopper Hero_2

    Tang Xian thought to himself, quickening his pace, wanting to know what exactly had happened in the Evolution Zone....


    ...


    Outside the safety corridor was the rest area, and in it, Akasi was covered in wounds, with a terrifying gash on his knee.


    Surrounding him were guards, strewn about haphazardly.


    They had all been severely injured by Akasi.


    The guards had a simple thought, no one could outrun a bullet, could they? sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the process of aiming and pulling the trigger was much longer than the bullet piercing the target, giving Akasi enough time to take down all his enemies.


    However, he was injured too, and most critically, a bullet had hit his knee.


    A synchronization rate of seventeen percent had given Akasi the constitution of one-sixth of his former self in the mines, but the wounds he had suffered were simply too numerous.


    Carrying Tang Suoye on his back and limping, Akasi still moved quickly.


    But behind them, two experimental subjects who were even stronger than him at his peak were slowly closing the distance.


    "Akasi... just throw me away..." Tang Suoye suddenly woke up at that moment.


    Akasi was overjoyed, waking up after the injection of the calamity serum meant that Tang Suoye had withstood the serum and at least was not in danger for his life.


    But such joy came at an inconvenient time.


    The current Tang Suoye was too weak, and the entire Evolution Zone was slowly tightening its encirclement. They were like the mine creatures they used to hunt.


    Doomed to an inevitable destruction.


    "Throw me away... they won''t kill me, I''m still useful to them... with me, you won''t be able to escape."


    Tang Suoye''s breath was weak, his voice faint, audible only to Akasi.


    Akasi shook his head.


    Some things, if you don''t do them, you''ll forever be compromising, but once you do them, there''s no turning back.


    Without answering Tang Suoye, as an elder of the Evolution Zone, he knew more clearly than Tang Suoye that even if Tang Suoye survived this operation, it was as good as being dead.


    Akasi felt his muscles beginning to tingle with soreness.


    Moisture welled up in Tang Suoye''s eyes.


    "Akasi, I don''t want you to die! Just leave me, it''s okay if I become a monster, wait until you become stronger... and then come back for me..."


    The iron door behind them was blasted open by a powerful force.


    Experimental Subject One and Experimental Subject Two looked at Akasi with indifference.


    At the same time, at the end of the hallway, a large squad of armed guards appeared, all aiming their guns at Akasi.


    Enemies were in front and behind them, with no way out.


    Tang Suoye, with eyes wide open, watched for a long time, realizing that this man probably wouldn''t give up on him.


    In truth, he also didn''t want to live like this, to live like a weapon, proving himself by severing other weapons.


    Experimental Subjects One and Two had no human emotion in their eyes, and if one day he became like that, it would probably trouble Akasi, wouldn''t it?


    It would be better to die here.


    Tang Suoye held tightly onto Akasi''s neck.


    Akasi still didn''t speak.


    No matter the legends about him among the hunters, to the immense evil of this world, he was just as insignificant.


    The things the Evolution Zone had done to him, he never had too much emotion about them.


    Thinking that maybe one day he would become a purely fighting machine, devoid of all sensation, seemed not to matter.


    Some people in this world live such muddled lives, lethargic and mild, not caring about the misdeeds others impose on them.


    Yet there are things they absolutely cannot compromise on.


    Bullets fired out of the gun chambers.


    Tang Suoye was too weak to deal with powerful beings like Experimental Subjects One and Two, and the most he could do was to block those bullets with telekinesis.


    The knife blade pierced into Akasi''s bone, and Experimental Subject One''s expression was indifferent. As the strongest creature in the entire Second Bastion''s Evolution Zone, he had long wanted to have a hand-to-hand fight with Akasi, the fastest being in the whole Evolution Zone.


    But it wasn''t about winning or losing, it was simply about expressing a brutal desire.


    The fearsome force of the punch sent Akasi flying along with Tang Suoye.


    Subject Two, waiting at the landing point, raised up his blade.


    Akasi adjusted his posture in mid-air with a strong will, enduring the pain in his knees, and moved at high speed once again.


    His figure streaked into a line in the not-so-spacious area, desperately dodging the attacks of the two powerful subjects.


    Once he started running, that terrifying speed alarmed the battle-hardened subjects and guards.


    Even though the end result would not change, these people could feel the silver-haired man''s intense will to live and his fighting spirit.


    The sound of breaking bones rang out; in his swift evasion, Akasi was still hit by Subject One.


    A terrifying punch broke Akasi''s ribs.


    Tang Suoye watched as Akasi kept coughing up blood, her tears streaming down in anxiety.


    Subjects One and Two flanked left and right, blocking any possible escape routes for Akasi.


    It was only then that Dr. Duke slowly pushed open the iron door, looking composedly at Akasi and Tang Suoye.


    "It''s no surprise you''re the best subject. If you were in peak condition, you might have the strength to surpass Subjects One and Two. This terrifying combat will, it''s a pity, is born from memory, and you and Nineteen will soon lose your memories."


    Akasi couldn''t move, but even at this moment, he was still thinking about how to get Tang Suoye out of there.


    Tang Suoye cried out loudly, her crying piercing and desperate. It wasn''t because she was going to lose her memory, but because the person who could remember her name was about to die.


    What awaited the two of them was not true death.


    Akasi always refused to leave Tang Suoye behind and go alone because he knew all too well that once he lost his memory, he would have nothing left.


    Not even himself.


    "Inject them with the extract," Duke ordered.


    Subjects One and Two pinned down Akasi and Tang Suoye, while the researchers in the experiment area approached Akasi with injection syringes, moving slowly.


    Before they could get close to Akasi, however, an extremely discordant voice suddenly emerged:


    "Please wait, I have a question. Regarding Anai''s ability to cause memory loss, I recall it''s temporary. What percentage of purification is necessary to cause permanent memory loss? And would this cause permanent damage to the nerves, or is it recoverable? Forget-me-nots have quite a market, a friend of mine discussed something similar before.


    I didn''t expect your organization had already reached the experimentation phase. Before your organization goes bankrupt, could you generously share the answer with me?"


    The man wearing a mask and carrying a chopper stepped out from among the guards in the front.


    Dr. Duke furrowed his brows; he had never seen this person before, and no one would be interested in such questions in this situation.


    "Who are you?"


    "Taotie. But right now, my actions can be considered those of a hero, so you might as well call me the Masked Chopper Hero."


    "I''ll ask you one more time, who are you! I recognize the voice of every subject here, you''re not one of us."


    "Indeed, I''m not."


    The Masked Chopper Hero was naturally Tang Xian. Tang Xian thought this name was quite good, like the Bald Cape Hero in the ancient anime, direct and visual.


    The most important thing was that they were both invincible.


    He casually walked next to Subjects One and Two, standing straight, looking at Akasi and the crying Tang Suoye, completely indifferent to the terrifying humanoid monsters beside him.


    "Such a pity, but I''ve arrived just in time. I can calculate many things, but this I really couldn''t foresee. If I had been delayed today, recruiting you wouldn''t be that easy; so this is fate."


    Dr. Duke furrowed his brows.


    "Take off his mask for me."


    Subject One instantly landed a punch on Tang Xian''s face.


    The mask did shatter, but Tang Xian didn''t move an inch.


    "You... you are..." Tang Suoye seemed to recognize the voice.


    "Shush! Smart kids get to eat fish. Don''t talk at this moment."


    Tang Suoye fell silent.


    In the scene before them, no one could speak. Subject One''s terrifying fist was still pressed against Tang Xian''s head, but Tang Xian''s tone didn''t change at all.


    Dr. Duke found it hard to believe what he was seeing; he was shocked beyond measure.


    "You actually withstood an attack from Subject One with a synchrony rate of nineteen percent!"


    "Troublesome, I need to change my codename. Since the mask is broken, just call me Chopper Hero for now."


    With a swift hand motion, the blade flashed, and Subject One''s arm was instantly severed.


    Everyone was shocked once again. Tang Xian calmly produced another mask from his prop bag.


    "There, I''m the Masked Chopper Hero again."

 Chapter 67 Im Sorry You Were Born Human (Two-in-One Chapter)

    Dr. Duke was certain that neither Huaxia''s hunter ranking nor the Federation''s had ever featured the Masked Chopper Hero.What shocked Dr. Duke most was that although the No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects might not be the strongest entities in the mine area, how could ordinary humans compete with experimental subjects that still retained some of the mine area''s abilities in the Pyramid?


    A single slash had severed the right arm of the No. 1 experimental subject? Such strength was beyond his cognition, and yet, as he looked at the cut, he couldn''t help but wonder if it was because of the weapon?


    The sheen of the weapon was unlike anything he had ever seen, possibly made of some new type of material, but why fashion it in the shape of a kitchen knife?


    Projects in the evolution area mainly involved biological genetics, but they were also at the forefront in the development of various drugs and weapons.


    The unique coloration of the weapon piqued his curiosity, but what truly shocked Dr. Duke was that this man had recognized at a glance that the injectable substance in the syringes was extracted from Anai?


    Tang Xian paid no mind to Dr. Duke, who was currently rich in inner turmoil.


    Because the frenzied No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects were violently attacking him.


    Being able to smell a trace of the mine area on them, Tang Xian had no doubt that if he had to face two perfect-level wild beasts of the mine area, he would likely die thoroughly.


    Fortunately for him, the opponents were of human origin, and for that, he could only be apologetic.


    Seeing their ferocious expressions, Tang Xian genuinely couldn''t feel that overwhelming power capable of destroying the flesh.


    It was as if there was an invisible barrier, completely absorbing that strength.


    The violent attacks raised clouds of dust. In the testing area, those armed guards widened their eyes; compared to Tang Xian severing the No. 1 experimental subject''s arm with a single slash, the combined assault by the No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects was even more terrifying to them.


    What immense strength was this?


    The entire B section of the laboratory building shook; most of the Pyramid''s construction materials were inorganic minerals from the mine area, capable of withstanding extremely intense vibrations. However, everyone felt that if it continued for a while longer, the building would collapse.


    Everyone unconsciously stepped back a few paces, and Dr. Duke retreated even further.


    It was his first time witnessing No. 1 and No. 2 in such a frenzied state.


    The humanoid weapon project was indeed correct! Decades of the organization''s research were absolutely worth it! No nation''s fortress would refuse such a biological treasure.


    Even the slaves at the bottom had gained greater value.


    Dr. Duke''s heart settled slightly, this masked man might be able to take a punch from No. 1, but facing the strongest experimental subjects'' consecutive attacks over such a long period, he feared not even flesh...


    His smile suddenly froze. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because the next scene once again emptied their brains.


    The terrifying No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects suddenly stopped their frenzied attacks, instead kneeling and looking pained, their gazes showing a kind of listlessness beneath their weakness.


    Tang Xian brushed away the dust with his hand and said with some reproach,


    "My favorite class was biology because the lab was the cleanest. This place doesn''t meet the standard; the air particles are over the limit. You need to pay attention to hygiene and cleanliness."


    Dr. Duke''s eyeballs looked as if they were about to burst from their sockets.


    Impossible, everything he had learned told him that humans could not possibly possess such a powerful body.


    Unless it was a monster from the mine area.


    Or perhaps the deities that resided at the very top of the Pyramid.


    Of course, the latter was a conjecture he came to through his own deductions, unverifiable.


    He personally believed that at the top of the Pyramid lived a group of beings with a synchronization rate of one hundred percent, whose civilization was several eras ahead of humanity.


    Tang Xian''s performance at this moment was beyond the support of any scientific theory he could think of.


    The robustness of the human body absolutely could not withstand such an attack.


    What on earth was this monster?


    What puzzled Dr. Duke most was, what had happened to No. 1 and No. 2?


    Too many perplexing phenomena made him feel that his knowledge seemed somewhat lacking.


    Back in the day, he was a near-perfect scoring genius in both biology and chemistry. If he couldn''t understand this, then who had created this monster before his eyes?


    ...


    ...


    While No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects were attacking frenziedly, Tang Xian was also freed from a worry.


    Attacks with armor penetration and soul damage, infinite defense, these were naturally good things, enough to stand invincible.


    Only if the opponent was too fast, he would not be able to touch them.


    Fortunately, he could land a few punches and kicks while these people were attacking crazily.


    Those punches, which seemed weak and powerless, were not taken seriously by the No. 1 and No. 2 experimental subjects.


    After a few punches, the outcome was decided.


    Tang Xian had to admire them; some hunters, including the UK hunter squad that had previously captured Yu Xiaozhe, started to doubt their life with just a slap.


    These two monsters, however, had endured over fifty percent loss of their life values before slowly falling.


    Glancing at the doctor, Tang Xian saw through the current demand analysis that revealed the man''s highly conflicted thoughts.


    Current demand analysis: Capture the Masked Man alive (75%) Destroy the Masked Man (20%) Other (5%).


    Current demand analysis: Destroy the Masked Man (75%) Capture the Masked Man alive (20%) Other (5%).


    The two alternating versions of demand analysis were constantly changing, indicating that the doctor was probably struggling over whether to end him or capture him alive.


    How cute, and no demand to run away. This meant that the other side still believed they had the upper hand with their numerical superiority.

 Chapter 67 Im Sorry You Were Born Human (Two-in-One Chapter)_2

    "Are they still considered human? Do they still have their own consciousness? I mean, do they have their own social circles, their own lives like you do?"Tang Xian pointed at the two experimental subjects kneeling on the ground as he asked Akasi.


    Akasi''s breathing gradually steadied.


    He had guessed the identity of the man behind the mask; the voice was something he remembered.


    He felt somewhat relieved; it was fortunate that he hadn''t taken action in the Sea of Trees with such terrifying combat prowess.


    Tang Xian was also surprised by Akasi''s recovery ability. He had almost died just moments ago, yet now his breathing was slowly becoming steady.


    These people really were monsters.


    Fortunately, in terms of biological classification, they still belonged to the human race.


    Akasi shook his head and said,


    "Not anymore, they are just beasts caged within a pen."


    "Oh, then I won''t be polite."


    Seeing that the vitality of the two experimental subjects was also recovering at an astonishing speed, Tang Xian did not dawdle.


    His hand moved and his blade fell, cleanly slicing through, in exactly the same manner as when slaughtering cattle and pigs.


    He had no strange creeds. After all, these two had come at him with lethal intent just now.


    In fact, no matter what Akasi''s response had been, he would have made a move.


    But pretending to be a humanitarian was still necessary if only for appearance''s sake; after all, he was no demon. Akasi was one thing, but he didn''t want to frighten little Tang Suoye.


    The strongest experimental subject in the entire Secondary Fortress Evolved Division was crushed overwhelmingly, so much so that their elimination lacked any spectacle, instilling fear in everyone who witnessed it.


    Tang Xian said, "How long have you been back at the Pyramid?"


    Akasi quickly understood the meaning of the question and said, "It''s been ten hours. But both Suoye''s and my portable transport rifts are in the equipment area."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that he had bought so many transport rifts precisely for such situations.


    Although the use of a portable transport rift could be set to return to coordinates, such as directly back to the Sea of Trees, it also had its limitations. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wasn''t a tool that could just appear at any location on a whim.


    Because its terminal would only record the coordinates of departure.


    If the transport rift was used in the Evolved Division, then after seven days, the place Akasi would return to would still be the Evolved Division.


    Tang Xian pondered that he must take Akasi out of here. It was not feasible to take them to the thirty-ninth fortress with Akasi severely injured.


    His only option was to first send Akasi to the mining area.


    But first, he needed to find a temporarily safe place.


    Dr. Duke finally gradually came back to his senses from his fear and said,


    "Akasi and subject number 19 both have tracking devices with the organization''s markers inside them. It''s useless for them to flee anywhere!"


    Tang Xian glanced at Akasi, who nodded with a stiff expression.


    "Isn''t there a way to remove it?" Tang Xian earnestly asked Dr. Duke.


    As if Dr. Duke were a friendly unit who would seriously answer the question.


    Dr. Duke had never encountered someone so brazen.


    "The standard tracking devices are made of inorganic mineral-electric core chips. The main component of these chips comes from a dark brown mineral found in the western part of the mining area, which has excellent conductivity. Some of today''s high-end SIM cards and graphics cards are made from this material."


    "Destroying them is troublesome; it requires electromagnetic separation technology used in the military. Besides, brute force hacking might damage the spine. They''re implanted in your spines, aren''t they? It looks like it''s not just a simple tracker, is it? With the confident look on your face, I''d guess there are also devices similar to electric shocks or explosives?"


    Tang Xian stroked his chin as if he was genuinely troubled.


    Dr. Duke''s face was full of astonishment.


    This monstrously powerful being actually knew this specialized field of knowledge... It didn''t line up with the typical characteristics of powerful beings being mostly dim-witted in his understanding.


    Such dim-wittedness didn''t refer to IQ, but to the extent of knowledge.


    After all, squaring off in fierce battle for training in the mining area and researching scientific disciplines in the Pyramid were both extremely time-consuming activities. There were few who excelled in both.


    But he didn''t show weakness and sneered,


    "You may understand the principle, but it''s meaningless. The moment you try brute force hacking, the explosive devices will blow his spine to pieces."


    "I see, how extensive would the explosion be? Is it just going to sever the spine, or will it turn the entire person into a human bomb?" Tango Xian seriously asked.


    He slowly approached Dr. Duke, who warned,


    "If you take one more step closer, I''ll detonate Akasi!"


    Tang Xian shook his head; the intellectuals of this era still lacked the hammering of socialism.


    We could have been discussing and exchanging academic knowledge, but instead, we choose to fight and kill.


    "The confident look on your face is laughable, but your eagerness to reveal that you have a detonator in hand is quite charming."


    Dr. Duke stiffened.


    He suddenly realized that he had let his fear get the best of him.


    Wisdom in a crisis was rare, and it wasn''t that the villains lacked intelligence, but in the urgency of the situation, they would hurry to reveal their trump cards to protect themselves.


    Dr. Duke calmed himself and said,


    "What of it? With the distance between you and me, I can kill Akasi before you get to me! You aren''t that fast, otherwise, you wouldn''t be approaching me so slowly."


    Tang Xian agreed with Dr. Duke''s words.


    He was only immune to human damage and could ignore human resistance. He was a bane to humanity.


    But that didn''t mean he possessed other superpowers.


    Even if he did 100 squats, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups every day, and ran 10 kilometers, he might lose his hair, but he certainly wouldn''t be able to punch out a great demon king with a single blow.

 Chapter 67 Im Sorry You Were Born Human (Two-in-One Chapter)_3

    He looked at Akasi, his tone carrying a certain interrogative nuance."Akasi, I want to beat this person, but you might die here. If you die, I''ll avenge you, deal?"


    Akasi was stunned.


    Dr. Duke was also stunned.


    The masked man''s tone sounded very serious and didn''t seem like he was bluffing.


    After careful consideration, Duke realized, despite not knowing the relationship between Akasi and the masked man, that in terms of biological value, the masked man''s existence was far more important than Akasi''s.


    Dr. Duke, following his own line of thought, came to a conclusion in an extremely short amount of time that seemed to suggest that abandoning Akasi was a negligible matter to the masked man.


    At the same time, Akasi made his move!


    Tang Xian was quite satisfied; the future Tang would still be very smart.


    This was a psychological battle.


    Life-saving trump cards should not be used lightly, but the more they seemed to matter, the more cautious the opponent would become. Conversely, it was most effective to adopt a posture of resignation at this time.


    Tang Xian''s tone was serious, but the look beneath his mask conveyed a different meaning to Akasi.


    This was silent cooperation.


    In the moment Dr. Duke was distracted by Tang Xian''s words, Tang Xian wasn''t able to get close to Dr. Duke in such a short time, but Akasi could.


    He was the fastest human on the surface of the earth!


    The dagger traced two arcs, and in that instant, Dr. Duke''s pupils shrank as he tried to reach for something.


    He finally realized what was happening, but his arms couldn''t follow his will.


    The scene unfolded in the blink of an eye. Both of Dr. Duke''s arms were severed.


    Even the guards couldn''t have anticipated that the critically wounded Akasi could make such a counterattack under these circumstances!


    Tang Xian found it quite reasonable.


    In the forest, he had sensed that there was a certain mutual dependence between Tang Suoye and Akasi.


    Everyone has the softest part in their heart, which they choose to protect with the strongest posture.


    "That''s about it."


    Tang Xian turned around and looked at the guards. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shock and astonishment were written all over the faces of the guards.


    They didn''t even know whether they should shoot the intruder now or flee.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Masked Chopper Hero colluded with Test Subject #1 and #2 to carry out a deadly attack against the organization''s higher-ups. You and Akasi, along with Subject #19, fought bravely to defend, yet you didn''t expect #1 and #2''s twisted humanity and degraded morals to lead them to sever the doctor''s arms. You valiantly fought the enemy, and with the bodies of mere humans, killed the two monsters."


    "But it wasn''t that our forces couldn''t win; it''s that the enemy was too cunning, threatening the critically injured Akasi and #19, taking them as hostages to escape. If we have a deal, then please clear a path later. Let''s part on good terms, as there may still be opportunities for collaboration in the future."


    The guards looked at each other, hesitant.


    This string of nonsense was obviously a mockery, full of holes, and the surveillance footage could clarify things.


    But these nonsensical remarks indeed caused them substantial psychological pressure.


    In this situation, the masked man seemed to not care about them at all.


    The guards, having some understanding of the test subjects, knew that the Evolution Zone was a forbidden area housing human-shaped beasts. This masked man had already shown strength several levels higher than the test subjects. If a battle were to ensue... it seemed there would be no suspense.


    "Let''s go, take this doctor, and let''s open all those ''cages''." Sensing the changing expressions of the guards and briefly analyzing their needs, Tang Xian was certain the fight here was virtually over.


    He hadn''t forgotten his purpose; since he was here, he naturally intended to set the organization back as much as possible.


    Just taking Akasi and Tang Suoye seemed more like stealing than rescuing.


    The abilities Tang Xian displayed today would surely be more attractive to this organization, which liked to experiment on living humans. They would probably try to investigate him in the future. This was the cost of recruiting a powerful being like Akasi.


    Tang Xian believed the Masked Chopper Hero should be more high-profile today and began to calculate all risks and minor details.


    The detonator was a control device, not a disarming device. To remove the tracking device implanted in Akasi, they would need Ke Ye''s help.


    That meant going to Stronghold 51, so he would need Li Xiaoyu''s help with a visa. Recruiting Akasi meant at least two more people would know about it.


    Tang Xian frowned, somewhat troubled by what he would say at the time.


    Akasi, holding the doctor hostage, slowly made his way to the other parts of the Evolution Zone. Along the way, indeed, no guards tried to stop them.


    Dr. Duke, in pain, asked, "Who exactly are you? Why are you able to defeat test subjects with nearly a twenty percent synchronization rate?"


    He had lost both arms, but there were many technologies in the Evolution Zone, and such surgeries were not unheard of. At this moment, his will was on the verge of collapse; he just wanted to know what kind of entity, defying the laws of science and leaving academic scholars restless, Tang Xian was, and who had created him?


    Tang Xian chuckled lightly and said:


    "I am a wild being with a hundred percent synchronization rate, so all your research is worthless. Instead of studying humans, you might as well spend more time on learning about the cultivation of peanuts and postnatal care for sows."

 Chapter 68 The Distinguished Educator Tang Xian

    The experimental subjects in the evolutionary area awakened their superhuman abilities through injections of serum derived from the mineral zone''s biological entities. However, these abilities were actually different from those of Tang Xian.Tang Xian had no answers to some of the puzzles about himself; his remarks were just off-the-cuff.


    Yet, in his view, the development of livestock and agriculture was indeed essential, even in the absence of their native land.


    Although the salaries of the scholars at Hua Science Academy who studied plants were never high, it''s possible that in the future, as humans settle in the mining areas or return to the lands outside the Pyramid, people like Shang Lu could become highly sought-after commodities, coveted talents recruited by various nations.


    Dr. Duke''s expression was one of utter disarray. As an academic researcher, he had spent his entire life trying to transform humans into docile biochemical weapons, but he had never seen a case like this before.


    As Tang Xian had said, his research was worthless in the face of someone like Tang Xian.


    If the creator had indeed created a person who could sync with the mining area one hundred percent... then the value of Tang Xian''s genetic material would exceed the total value of all the experimental subjects in the evolutionary area.


    "The organization will definitely find you¡­ don''t think you can escape!"


    "Alright. I''ll go harvest some chives periodically."


    Dr. Duke had no idea what chives were; he just glared at Tang Xian with a malevolent look. The pain of having his arms broken twisted his face, yet he never passed out from excessive blood loss.


    In essence, scientific research should always be tied to a moral threshold.


    Tang Xian believed that what had happened to Akasi and the others had exceeded that threshold.


    Akasi and the few who were lucky enough to survive were just that, a minority. Many more had been completely corroded by the serum, dying in the process of becoming experimental subjects.


    However, the physique of people like the doctor was clearly stronger than that of ordinary people. It seemed that they held some formulas that could truly benefit regular humans with minor improvements.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Akasi picked up the dead guard''s weapon and began to destroy all the containers he encountered along the way in the experimental zone, not missing a single one.


    Every experimental subject who survived in the evolutionary area wouldn''t be put to use right after the serum injection.


    They had to undergo a brutal survival test called "Trial in the Cage."


    They would place a group of experimental subjects in a room, inciting a killing desire with microdoses of Rampaging Kangaroo serum.


    Only the last survivor would become the unit required by the evolutionary area.


    It''s worth mentioning that the result of the "Trial in the Cage" was actually known before it started. The process was just to further test the abilities of the experimental subjects and slowly accustom them to killing.


    The weaker subjects in most other cages, with a sync rate of about two percent or less, were destined to be sacrifices.


    Akasi freed them by breaking open these containers.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about this. He couldn''t change the tragic fate of everyone.


    Gathering some research reports from the evolutionary area, Tang Xian started reviewing various experimental data.


    There was a wealth of data available for consultation in the instruments of the experimental zone, and Dr. Duke''s account had the highest access privileges for the area.


    Tang Xian copied all of it into his storage device and then completely deleted the local data. This hadn''t been part of his original plan; it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.


    Akasi''s physical destruction and Tang Xian''s data destruction directly caused the research of the second fortress'' evolutionary area branch to be ruined overnight.


    Dr. Duke was heartbroken, watching the data that kept being deleted and sinking into despair.


    To him, the masked man seemed like a marauding bandit who kept burning, killing, and looting. Those were years of painstaking research!


    They were the treasures of the hall of human knowledge!


    Tang Xian also perused some written notes.


    "These researchers actually aren''t bad at all. It''s a pity that their focus is misguided."


    Dr. Duke went mad, shouting, "Do you understand what you''re seeing? What do you know? Do you realize how many years of human civilization you''ve set back? You''ve destroyed my life''s work and have the nerve to make cold remarks?"


    Tang Xian raised the USB stick in his hand and said,


    "All your data are here. Let your people come and hunt me down. And I probably understand it better than you do."


    "Originally, I thought these technologies were worthless. You''ve exhausted your minds trying to grant humans within the Pyramid the abilities of the mining areas, yet your ambition was to transform humans into humanoid versions of the mining zone entities. This is the fundamental fallacy of your approach."


    Akasi and Tang Suoye were venting the anger they had accumulated over the years.


    Tang Xian had finished what he had to do and, finding himself bored, decided to educate the cult leader in front of him.


    He aimed to enlighten him with socialist thinking.


    "Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!" the doctor yelled furiously.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Akasi is one of the ten with gifts; if I''m not mistaken, Tang Suoye must be as well. They are the true chosen ones. Unlike your many experimental subjects, they have always retained their memories since birth. You chose not to use Anai to erase their memories because you wanted to study this phenomenon, right?"


    The doctor was stunned. Clearly, he hadn''t expected the masked man to see the implications. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tang Suoye must have awakened not long ago. Most human talents awaken between the ages of twelve and eighteen, with very few exceptions. That''s why you hadn''t acted against her until now. She was just Akasi''s partner. Speaking of which, I guess I arrived at just the right time."

 Chapter 68 The Distinguished Educator Tang Xian_2

    Ignoring Dr. Duke''s incredulous expression, Tang Xian continued his analysis:"What you''ve been talking about all along is the synchronization rate, but that''s not actual synchronization. Bringing the capabilities from the mine zone into the real world, and transferring the abilities of mine zone organisms into human bodies¡ªthere are essential differences between the two.


    Instead of ''synchronization rate,'' it would be more accurate to call it the conversion rate of the mine zone creatures'' abilities. So academically speaking, your terminology is imprecise. Negative review."


    Tang Xian didn''t stop his critique.


    "True synchronization should be like in the mine zone, where various talent data can be displayed in one''s vision, such as health points, health regeneration speed, critical hit probability, and so on. To say that your research misses the point and to call you a bunch of amateurs is not unwarranted.


    What you truly should be researching is the difference in force fields between the mine zone and the real world,"


    "Is it a unique element in the mine zone that activates human genetic sequences or a special force field with an evolutionary effect on organisms? That''s what you should be studying."


    With every additional word from Tang Xian, Dr. Duke''s look of astonishment grew. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t want to admit the validity of Tang''s points, but he felt a sudden enlightenment.


    "Identifying the cause of environmental differences between the Pyramid and the mine zone, determining precisely which genetic sequence harbors the potential for human talent awakening, and finding out why real-world mechanical devices fail to function in the mine zone¡ªyou were presented with all these correct research paths and yet you chose to conduct hybridization experiments,"


    "The experiment itself is flawed, even."


    Dr. Duke''s eyes widened. Having lost both hands, he couldn''t even gesture in frustration.


    "Perhaps you have some valid points, but where exactly is the experiment wrong? Akasi and No. 19 are both among the most outstanding creations!"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "Your experimental method is flawed. The integration of serums ultimately comes down to a matter of compatibility. Without first understanding the matching rules of the serums themselves, jumping straight into experimentation means that up until now, all your ''subjects'' have just been accidents.


    If you take any experimental subjects at random, you can''t be one hundred percent certain that they can withstand the serums you inject into them, can you?"


    Dr. Duke wanted to say something but remained silent. He could only look at Tang Xian with an expression that said, ''If you think you can do it, then go ahead''.


    Then Tang continued:


    "Why not try injecting human serum into the organisms of the mine zone instead of injecting the serum of mine zone creatures into humans? Why not attempt to domesticate the animals in the mine zone rather than trying to tame humans?"


    "The hospital has a vast amount of blood sample testing reports. By testing for compatibility, slowly figuring out which mine zone creatures have high compatibility with human serum, why not start with biologically similar creatures and inject them with human serum, monitoring their response? Wouldn''t that be more feasible, whether from a legal, ethical, or even efficiency standpoint?"


    Dr. Duke was speechless.


    Tang Xian looked at Dr. Duke with the same disdain he reserved for idiots, even more so than when he looked at Dong Ran and Li Xiaoyu.


    "Having learned a bit of knowledge, you like to show off. So fond of researching data, why not use yourself as the experiment? There are many benefits to that; no matter how cooperative your subjects are, some feelings are just not as delicate as those experienced firsthand."


    Dr. Duke looked at Tang Xian as if he were looking at a madman. Who would experiment on themselves?


    "For instance, if you now write an article on Zhihu about what it feels like to have your arms amputated, you could describe it with greater detail than others. It''s a precision that comes from within, unobservable by others."


    As someone who had taken the risk to experience a seven-day survival limit in the mine zone firsthand, Tang believed he had the credentials to educate Dr. Duke on hands-on experience.


    "Everyone is not born equal, but since the Federation has laws and even those at the bottom are protected by law, until your power is great enough to have the Federation amend the law specifically for you, allowing you to legally capture the lower class, everything you''re doing is wicked. There are better, lawful research avenues you could take; to ignore them is not only evil but stupid."


    All the data had finished loading, and Tang Xian had committed all the different experimental data he was perusing to memory.


    He looked at Dr. Duke and said with a light chuckle:


    "I also occasionally dabble in rooting out some foolish evil forces."


    ...


    ...


    What followed went smoothly. Tang Xian''s intrusion was an accident, and before it had a chance to spread, he had already destroyed everything there.


    The guards and some of the experimental subjects with low synchronization rates largely gave up resistance.


    Akasi had smashed all the containers, but when faced with the children, who were virtually unaware of the outside world and in a state of confusion, there was little he could do.


    Tang Xian had no intention of taking these people with him. The happenings on the fourth level would soon cause an uproar.


    It would be a major event that would shock the world.


    The Federation, Huaxia, and even some independent nations would all make clear their stances regarding the events inside the second fortress.


    This would bring great trouble to the evolution zones within each fortress, but Tang was confident that the organization was not so easily dismantled.


    Dr. Duke was but a middle manager in this group of intellectuals.


    Tang planned to hand Dr. Duke over to Li Xiaoyu''s people, which is why he had been keeping him captive.

 Chapter 68 The Distinguished Educator Tang Xian_3

    The genius scholar who had created creatures like Akasi, the super-hunters for the evolution zone, was now somewhat withdrawn.During Tang Xian''s departure, he had asked Tang Xian many questions, after all, the content Tang Xian had just mentioned was just the big picture; how to implement these concepts into detailed practice was the true test of skill.


    Tang Xian responded fluidly. This disdainful and irrefutable crush of knowledge made Dr. Duke start to doubt his own intellect. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At times, he even found it hard to understand, because Tang Xian often referenced knowledge from other fields.


    Some fields were extremely niche, where Dr. Duke usually would recruit special consultants rather than study the knowledge himself.


    He had originally thought the young man only knew some simple concepts, yet to his surprise, Tang Xian''s knowledge surpassed even his formidable physical prowess.


    He watched Tang Xian in disbelief.


    How could there be an existence in this world with such vast knowledge and physical strength?


    Suddenly, he remembered his former conjecture.


    He yelled like a madman:


    "You are a being from above! I get it! You must be a being from above!"


    When Dr. Duke was composed, he appeared a refined yet evil scholar.


    However, when Tang Xian made light of his life''s work, branding the organization''s research as erroneous with an indisputable tone and logic.


    He quickly broke down.


    Bu Jing drove, while Tang Xian, Akasi, and Tangsuoye were seated at the back of the small fortress-like vehicle.


    "This guy is so noisy, can''t we knock him out?" Bu Jing said.


    Akasi also found Dr. Duke to be noisy.


    Tang Xian was curious about what Dr. Duke meant by "beings from above."


    But Dr. Duke was already somewhat raving mad.


    "Madness is a prelude to a person''s complete transformation. I am gratified that you could have such an enlightening reaction after my lecture. I will visit you in prison and send you some books on animal husbandry," Tang Xian patted Duke''s face.


    Dr. Duke had not gone mad; his emotions were just excessively stirred.


    "You are from above! You come from above!"


    He kept repeating this sentence.


    Tang Xian knocked out Dr. Duke with a wrench. The wrench was something he had borrowed from Liu Lang earlier and had put into his prop bag as they left.


    "What do you plan to do next?" Bu Jing asked while driving on the fourth layer''s roadways.


    In roughly five minutes, they would reach his hideout on the fourth layer.


    "Stay here for a while, until your boss secures the visa for the fifty-first fortress. We''ll leave and won''t bother you for too long," Tang Xian said.


    "It''s not really a bother, but what you did today... it might cause trouble for my boss."


    "She asked for it. She agreed as soon as I mentioned it, so she can''t blame me."


    "¡­"


    Bu Jing thought for a moment and figured that the favored guest of Miss Second probably got along because they each had their own brand of bandit logic.


    "Don''t worry, the process went more smoothly than I expected. Although resolving this issue is tedious, it''s not difficult. You won''t be in trouble, and your boss''s trouble won''t be too severe."


    Bu Jing nodded and remained silent. His gaze drifted involuntarily towards Akasi and Tangsuoye.


    He didn''t know who these two people were, but as a full-time spy, he knew quite a bit.


    "Your friend seems to be not quite right."


    Tang Xian looked towards Tangsuoye.


    The young girl moaned in pain, her face etched with discomfort, and she had already lost consciousness.


    Akasi was worried, and Tang Xian was already aware that Tangsuoye had received an injection of serum from another calamity creature earlier that day. She was the first individual in the evolution zone to be injected with multiple serums.


    "Once we get to the hideout, head straight to the mining area. Her constitution will grow even stronger there. Don''t worry too much, although the evolutions zone''s bogus research has killed many, you and she are indeed beneficiaries."


    Tang Xian spoke earnestly:


    "She is evolving."

 Chapter 69 Fate, Ineffably Wonderful

    Stay tuned for updates on empireBu Jing''s residence looked very chaotic, a person who seemed capable of conversing with Tang Xian about almost any field, yet his life appeared somewhat disheveled.


    But it was only messy, not dirty. There were no unwashed clothes in sight, mostly just unsorted documents and books strewn about.


    This was the self-discipline of a spy. It wasn''t to say he was knowledgeable about everything from astronomy to midwifery, but for approaching different targets, it was necessary to have a broad yet rough understanding of various materials.


    Tang Xian actually considered Bu Jing to be a talented individual.


    Not wanting to delay any further, he simply instructed Bu Jing to watch over Dr. Duke, then left with Akasi and Tang Suoye for the mines.


    Upon seeing Tang Xian, Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang were the happiest. The bird and cat had grown accustomed to their dull and solitary lives. But once they had experienced a better way of living, it was difficult to revert back.


    However, the two small creatures didn''t bother Tang Xian; they trembled, sensing a terrifying presence.


    After arriving at the mines, the pain on Tang Suoye''s face seemed to lessen somewhat, but she still appeared to be in a dangerous state.


    The strange veins that surfaced on her face looked like tattoos from some sort of cult.


    Her small figure lay on the wooden bed in the cabin. The pain in her expression, combined with the veins on her face, resembled those perplexing paintings found in ancient religions.


    "The Deer of Eden might not be the most dangerous creature in the mines, but with its calamitous strength, it already possesses power beyond human resistance."


    "Such creatures are extremely rare. The information I could find on them is limited. In fact, much of the academic material is incomplete. Instead, it''s these illegal organizations and their secret doctrines that hold valuable insights.


    Do you know the locations of the other branches of Evolution Zone? Once you and Tang Suoye have recovered, we should pay them a visit, just for fun."


    Akasi was very worried about Tang Suoye, but he couldn''t help but show a bitter smile.


    In theory, Tang Xian, or rather the Masked Chopper Hero, would likely be hunted down like crazy by the entire Evolution Zone.


    But now, the impression Akasi got was that he should be worried for the Evolution Zone instead.


    He shook his head, not knowing the whereabouts of other outposts in the Evolution Zone, and turned his gaze back to Tang Suoye.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Biological evolution, after all, is an organism''s compromise with nature. But if we say nature is conscious, then it is also a way of mutual understanding between it and the organisms."


    "The projects researched by the Evolution Zone are not founded on this premise. However, Tang Suoye is an exception, and I am confident that she will be able to achieve the next level of harmony with nature sooner. You don''t need to worry about her."


    This was a conservative view and statement.


    Tang Xian was not a conservative person, but he had a deep respect for the various rules of this world, for the mountains and rivers, as well as for birth, aging, sickness, and death.


    Akasi nodded, fully convinced by the capabilities Tang Xian had demonstrated.


    He exploited the strengths of his enemies, used his strength to dismantle Evolution Zone''s most robust test subjects, and used his knowledge to make the lifelong research of the leading scientists in Evolution Zone seem worthless.


    Akasi was now convinced that trading a gemstone tiger for a bottle of perfume oil was a good deal. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That bottle of limited edition, specially brewed perfume oil was, after all, a good omen for being saved, for both him and Tang Suoye.


    Doing business with this person was a sure profit.


    Although he was still very concerned about Tang Suoye, Akasi felt more at ease after Tang Xian''s words.


    "I''m going to make some fish soup; she needs it right now."


    "Fish soup can accelerate recovery of life?" Akasi asked, puzzled.


    Tang Xian suddenly remembered a story, laughed, and said:


    "In my fourth year, I met a teacher named Lin Jue, a middle-school-style thug of a teacher. Actually calling him a teacher is a bit of a stretch; he was just a cadre in the school''s security department, prone to smoking, drinking, and perming his hair."


    "His favorite pastime was drinking. Once, after he lifted a female teacher''s skirt, he got beat half to death by her godfather who lived on the fourth floor."


    Akasi didn''t understand Tang Xian''s point but listened intently.


    "Hanging on by a thread, Lin Jue barged into my dormitory. I planned to take him to the hospital. He was covered in blood and in critical condition.


    He claimed that there were people in the hospital waiting to beat him up. But there were no small clinics around anymore; all the medical institutions were government-run."


    Tang Xian paused, the scene still vivid in his memory.


    "Since he loved drinking so much, he asked me for a huge tub of liquor, half-dead, claiming that no doctor could save him, only alcohol could."


    "He soaked himself in the tub of liquor for a full day and night. When I returned, I thought I was going to have to collect his corpse."


    "Unexpectedly, after soaking in alcohol for a day, he actually pulled through the critical period."


    Akasi still didn''t grasp the point of the story.


    Tang Xian explained:


    "Everyone has something they crave while they''re alive. Lin Jue told me, not finishing the liquor before dying would mean he was weak. I think Tang Suoye is that kind of girl too; she won''t die without having finished her fish soup and without getting her fill of delicious food."


    "Although I have some medical knowledge, the condition she is in now is probably something even those in Evolution Zone have never seen. With so many veins appearing on a person''s face, it seems to be some sort of genetic transformation. We can''t do much other than trying to boost her will to survive as much as possible."


    "Perhaps the young lady will wake up earlier if she smells the fish soup."


    Akasi understood and asked:


    "What happened to that teacher later?"

 Chapter 69 Fate, Ineffably Wonderful_2

    "Because he was involved in affairs with too many married female teachers at the school, he was driven out by the male teachers and never seen again. Later, it was said that he became a hunter, and apparently a formidable one at that. We might meet him in the future, he''s an interesting person," Tang Xian said."I always feel like that name should belong to someone who is foolishly honest and loyal," Akasi said.


    "I know that names have special meanings for you and Tang Suoye in a place like the Evolution Zone, but you have left there now, Akasi. You need to slowly adapt to human society."


    Akasi was stunned, and after a long while, he nodded and said,


    "Tang Xian, thank you."


    "You''re welcome, it''s a pleasure to work together."


    Akasi gently stroked Tang Suoye''s hair and said,


    "I''ve never been to a school; both Tang Suoye and I learned about the mining area in the organization. We lived there, not as humans."


    "The question Tang Suoye asked me the most after she met me was, ''Akasi, are we still human?''"


    "I know this question actually has nothing to do with the serums inside us, but with the way we live. In the entire Evolution Zone, only she and I truly have our own memories."


    "The memories of others are more or less shaped. For example, Number One and Number Two, they always thought they were animals. It was the organization that gave them the chance to survive."


    "There are also some children about the same age as Tang Suoye, whose memories are still being shaped, and they go through many cruel events."


    Akasi didn''t specify what those cruel events were. But Tang Xian knew; he had seen all the experimental projects.


    "In human form, we lived in the Pyramid using the ways of beasts. Yet I know that in the mining area, a place where beasts survive, there are actually many beasts that live with more humanity than us."


    "I have killed many people and many creatures in the mining area."


    "Tang Suoye makes me feel like she is a lot like the old me. I thought I should have long forgotten the reverence for life, but after meeting her, I realized I should be human. I want to protect her."


    Akasi''s tone was always mild, unlike Tang Xian''s sort of indifference; his gaze was gentle, not like the killing machine he described himself as.


    "The definition of a human is not that complicated; we should stick to the biological classification," Tang Xian timely spoiled the mood.


    Akasi laughed silently, as if the weight of the past had also dissipated. Switching topics, he said,


    "When I get a chance, I''ll learn from you how to make fish soup. And other tasty things."


    "You''d better get Tang Suoye to do it herself."


    Akasi scratched his head, smiling bitterly,


    "Recently I went with Tang Suoye to the Great Marsh in the north to catch some crabs. She insisted on cooking them herself, claiming you just need to steam them and they''re edible, that she could do it."


    "That''s great, it''s rare for a young girl to want to do things herself. Better than my own pet at home," Tang Xian said.


    "It''s indeed good. I thought I would eat whatever she made, no matter what. So, dozens of minutes later, when she told me it was ready, I was looking forward to grabbing a crab to eat."


    "Tasted bad?"


    "No... It wasn''t exactly bad, it''s just that when I was about to grab a crab, it climbed out of the utensils and raised its pincers at me in a threatening manner."


    "..."


    After being silent for a moment, Tang Xian said,


    "Actually, cooking for oneself is quite good."


    "I think so too; they can take care of eating."


    Tang Xian clearly lacked confidence in Dong Ran, who was clumsy with her hands, and Tang Xiaojiu, who was stuck with the concept of eating meat when it came to herbivorous animals. He imagined if the fish jumped a couple of times while he tried to pick up the meat with chopsticks, it would indeed be quite a scene.


    "Speaking of which, don''t you have any questions about me?" Tang Xian said.


    "You are dangerous, but you are a friend. Knowing this is enough," Akasi said earnestly and calmly. Experience tales at empire


    Tang Xian grew fonder of Akasi''s character. Indeed, he saw things more clearly than those few girls.


    "I plan to invite you to join my team. Of course, it also means dealing with the Evolution Zone together. This organization is naturally not as unbearable as I imagined." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright."


    Akasi''s agreement was too straightforward, leaving Tang Xian no chance to employ any further tactics.


    "That was quick."


    "I''m not stupid."


    Tang Xian glanced at Akasi and nodded, finding this statement quite interesting.


    It was a succinct mutual business compliment that praised two people at once.


    "I don''t have other friends. Having escaped from the organization, Tang Suoye and I will also need to choose to live in human society in the future. We have inherited talents, albeit a bit extraordinary, that only make us suitable to be hunters."


    Akasi paused before continuing,


    "Hunters need a team. You saved both me and Tang Suoye and possess strength beyond my reach. It is only natural that you would make the perfect teammate."


    Tang Xian seldom felt embarrassed; having thick skin was one of his strengths.


    But this was getting to him.


    Akasi''s combat skills were still the strongest he had seen, far surpassing his own.


    After all, as long as the opponent wasn''t human, he became the weakest member of the team, even inferior to Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan.


    With Akasi joining, he could feel more at ease being a behind-the-scenes worker.

 Chapter 69 Fate, Ineffably Wonderful_3

    ```The Eyes'' duties were actually not limited to being a mining area knowledge consultant; they were also responsible for task distribution, battle formation choices, support strategies, and so on.


    "You and Tang Suoye take a good rest here, I''ll return to the Pyramid later. Bu Jing is reliable, but there are some aftermath matters I need to personally inquire about before I can rest assured."


    "After we get the visas for the fifty-first fortress, I''ll come to pick you up, ready to head to the fifty-first fortress to help you get that thing out of your spine."


    Akasi nodded.


    "This cat is named Tang Bingxiang, and this bird is Tang Gazi; they''re both my teammates."


    "Were those girls last time also?"


    "Yes, the one with the big chest is named Tang, and the flat-chested one is Tang Busi. Later, I''ll have her come and look after Tang Suoye for you; she''s a doctor. In terms of her profession, she''s somewhat stronger than me."


    "Wait, these aren''t their real names, right?"


    "Just code names."


    "So what am I called?"


    "Tang."


    "Did you have that ready, or did you think of it just now?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Akasi didn''t really mind the name. It was pretty straightforward.


    "I had it prepared beforehand."


    "Why do I get the feeling that you''ve had your eye on me for a while?"


    "Fate, indescribable."


    ...


    ...


    After returning to the Pyramid, Tang Xian found that his phone was about to explode with messages.


    All of them were from several women¡ªDong Ran, Li Xiaoyu, Qiao Shanshan all had sent some.


    Li Xiaoyu''s were more numerous, around twenty-five or so.


    Tang Xian felt there was nothing to say, mainly feeling sorry about the phone bill. He had already told Bu Jing the requirements for the visa application, and Bu Jing was still dealing with it.


    There didn''t seem to be anything else to say. However, it didn''t take long for Li Xiaoyu to call again.


    Tang Xian had no choice but to answer.


    "I just received news that a war alert has been issued for the fourth layer of the second fortress''s Evolution Zone. Does it have something to do with you?"


    "An unnecessary question."


    "My brother has a cooperation with them, and he had just invested in the Evolution Zone not long ago. He''s really furious now."


    "Between Li Zheng and you, who has more say?"


    "Him."


    "Alright, please pass on the message to Li Zheng for me¡ªinvestment comes with risk."


    "Which force is helping you, has a federal organization secretly recruited you?"


    Li Xiaoyu indeed couldn''t imagine how Tang Xian, an ordinary person, could take down an Evolution Zone? She believed in Tang Xian''s intelligence; he must have found a very powerful organization to help him.


    She had been trying her best to stay calm; this matter had not yet spread, but in the next few days, the high-levels of the world''s fortresses would probably all be focused on this matter.


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a position to say much, so he went along with the conversation:


    "I can''t tell you. But you''re an accomplice too; don''t forget what I''ve cautioned you about, don''t leave any traces in the clean-up. As for Li Zheng, I''ll think of a way to drag him into this."


    To deal with the Evolution Zone, it was impossible to truly rely only on himself and Akasi. Bringing the Li family into the mix was also part of Tang Xian''s plan.


    "What do you want to tell my brother?"


    Read exclusive chapters at empire


    "Isn''t he doing business with the Evolution Zone? I''ll take care of these businesses now. Don''t worry, I won''t let him lose out."


    "Before this gets out of hand, I''ll arrange for him to talk to you," Li Xiaoyu realized she had sufficiently esteemed Tang Xian, yet she still underestimated this man''s abilities.


    "Alright, have him wait for me at the fifty-first fortress. Phone calls are pretty expensive, so it''s not suitable to talk about it here," Tang Xian ended the call.


    Li Xiaoyu was bewildered for a couple of seconds, then jumped up angrily. Why did this man always use that excuse to hang up the phone?


    ```

 Chapter 70 Meeting the Parents (Three-in-One Chapter)

    Tang Xian hadn''t hinted at asking for the cost of the call. He was simply frugal in certain respects. Overall, he was still a generous person.After Li Xiaoyu hung up the phone, despite being annoyed, her complexion took on an unnatural flush.


    With an older brother like a father, Li Zheng couldn''t be said to be anything but good to her. People often said that the second young miss carried the temperament of an empress in her bones, and perhaps she would one day contend with the young master for the head of the family.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t care about these rumors. She had no friends since childhood, but she had an interesting older brother.


    In fact, she felt that what her brother really should be concerned about was the youngest wastrel at home.


    After having an extremely talented daughter and son, Li Xiaoyu couldn''t understand why their father would want another child.


    Surely the family didn''t lack someone to play the role of a profligate, so much so that they needed to bring in another one to make everything neat and tidy?


    Li Haihe wasn''t the type to be unable to restrain his lower half, so Li Xiaoyu could only understand it as a cautionary measure.


    Thinking too much.


    Li Xiaoyu started to seriously consider how to arrange for her brother to meet Tang Xian.


    Since Tang Xian had made the request, it meant there would be follow-up arrangements.


    Bringing up an older brother being like a father again, she felt even more joy.


    Wasn''t this the same as letting Tang Xian meet her family?


    ...


    ...


    Li Zheng was not happy.


    He had been in a bad mood the last couple of days because the business in the evolution zone had fallen through.


    He exchanged a large amount of purple-armed ore products for a small squad of custom-made humanoid weapons.


    This trade was decided upon after observing Eve for a long time.


    He didn''t care about the means used by the evolution zone, but these obedient, loyal, powerful guardians, whether in the mines or the Pyramid, were greatly effective advanced weaponry that the Li family just needed.


    Puffing on a specially made cigar, his secretary reported various losses while Li Zheng was looking over the related files.


    Investment carries risks. From what was reported, the Li family had lost quite a bit on this deal. The mines used in the trade amounted to nearly a quarter''s income from the lowest levels of thirty-nine fortresses.


    "Young master, the old master will probably ask about this loss in a few days. How should we explain it?" the secretary asked.


    "Old man said openly not to deal with the evolution zone anymore. This matter can''t be explained, nor should we try to explain it. We have to show him the results," Li Zheng was relatively calm.


    Li Haihe was one of the earliest to trade with the evolution zone, but his attitude had changed significantly later on. However, Li Zheng believed that this was a future trend.


    "So you mean¡­ continue trading with the evolution zones in other regions? But such a loss is noted in the risk clause as a risk shared by both parties."


    Li Zheng had guts and said:


    "The expansion speed of the Pyramid is actually accelerating, and humans have already started to aim for disaster-level creatures. In another hundred years¡­ no, perhaps even less time, the technology brought by the evolution zones or the unlocking of the eighth level, will surely enable humanity to conquer more areas."


    "And the amount of these humanoid weapons in reserve will then become an important parameter determining the strength of each fortress. Developing these warriors will be the most profitable of all industries."


    Li Zheng said through clenched teeth:


    "Worst comes to worst, we''ll just give them another batch of finished ore!"


    The secretary was startled. The young master was like a gambler now, and an intense one at that.


    The door to the study was pushed open, and Li Xiaoyu, wearing a dark black long dress, looked at Li Zheng with an indifferent gaze.


    Li Zheng was a bit surprised and reined in his fierce expression, smiling and saying:


    "Yu, how come you''re here?"


    Li Xiaoyu glanced at Li Zheng''s secretary, who nodded and left the study conscientiously.


    After closing the door, Li Xiaoyu sat upright opposite Li Zheng and got straight to the point:


    "You''re troubled by the business in the evolution zone. Although father does not really agree with this deal, he has not explicitly refused it. You want to produce results."


    Li Zheng couldn''t be bothered to wonder how Li Xiaoyu knew about these matters. He indeed had discussed something of the evolution zone with Li Xiaoyu.


    The main reason was because of Eve. Li Xiaoyu did not want to be surrounded by people with unclear backgrounds.


    But Li Zheng didn''t know that Li Xiaoyu had also been paying attention to the evolution zone these past few days.


    "Currently, like you, there are quite a few people who have made a losing deal. Some families and enterprises with smaller businesses are probably facing the crisis of bankruptcy."


    Li Zheng did not want to keep secrets from Li Xiaoyu and said:


    "The loss of the purple-armed ore is not a too big figure for our Li family, but it''s definitely not small either, dear sister, if you''ve come now to blame your big brother, that really would be adding trouble for me."


    Li Xiaoyu did not beat around the bush and said: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re luckier than others; you''ll not lose on this deal because I know the truth of the matter."


    Li Zheng''s eyes brightened. Yu clearly knew something.


    "You know who did this? Someone from the evolution zone also contacted me, and they are very concerned about this person too. If they catch this bastard who sabotaged the evolution zone, there''s still room to negotiate the deal. He must be of significant value to the evolution zone," he said.


    "Who are you calling a bastard!"


    ...


    ...


    While waiting for Li Xiaoyu''s procedures, Tang Xian actually had nothing else to do.


    He called Qiao Shanshan, mainly to have Qiao Shanshan go to the mining area, bring some medicine, and help Akasi take care of Tang Suoye.


    He also incidentally found out the reason Qiao Shanshan had called him.


    Qiao Shanshan suspected that her personal information had been posted on a matchmaking website like Century Good Match.


    Through the changes of civilization, aside from the major portals and forums, such matchmaking websites actually survived too.

 Chapter 70 Meeting the Parents (Three-in-One Chapter)_2

    Qiao Shanshan''s phone was blowing up that day.After all, such an outstanding female hunter seeking a husband had many successful, or outwardly successful, men wanting to try their luck.


    Tang Xian thought it was great. He even felt happy for Qiao Shanshan and asked if she had taken a liking to anyone.


    Then Qiao Shanshan angrily hung up the phone.


    Successfully saving him some phone bill expenses.


    It wasn''t necessary for a grown man to marry, nor was it for a grown woman in this era. The meaning of marriage was diminishing for ordinary people, and it only seemed to matter among the big families, who saw it as a kind of special contract.


    What Qiao Shanshan hadn''t told Tang Xian was that most of the men calling to propose were from quite wealthy backgrounds, some even from families of significant stature in the eyes of ordinary people.


    She initially wanted to ask Tang Xian the reason, but his sincere blessings had left her at a loss for words.


    Tang Xian was unaware of the above, but he did know the reason.


    It probably had to do with Li Xiaoyu, which he thought was a good thing.


    At the very least, Li Xiaoyu''s methods had softened considerably. This showed that while her idiocy still existed, her madness was improving.


    Later, Bu Jing returned looking worn-out.


    Living in someone else''s house, Tang Xian naturally expressed some concern.


    "Is the spy business exhausting?"


    "Actually, it''s not too bad. The previous one was more relaxed, this one''s more exhausting."


    Tang Xian wanted to say more but held back. The work of a spy was supposed to be a taboo topic, and he had nothing else to discuss.


    Seeing this, Bu Jing said:


    "The second miss has instructed me to cooperate with you fully. If you want to ask anything, just go ahead. Also, the visa should be ready by tomorrow. Because we need to erase traces, it takes some time."


    "There''s no rush, I''m just curious. Whose undercover assignment are you on? You look a bit off."


    Bu Jing''s expression turned grave.


    "My work is quite abundant, and I have many identities. I often visit different fortresses to collect intelligence, mainly auditing some corporate accounts. The enterprise I''m investigating now is headed by a middle-aged woman, and she''s quite a handful."


    Bu Jing was actually just tired from running around the past couple of days.


    He had to manage Tang Xian''s matters, cover up numerous tracks for him, and simultaneously not neglect his own job.


    However, seeing Bu Jing looking slightly overstrained, Tang Xian thought otherwise.


    Many aspects of culinary culture had been lost, but when it came to the culture between men and women, it was impossible to sever.


    Since ancient times, there have been various tools that bridged the communication gap between men and women with vastly different wealth.


    Like the joy balls for rich ladies. And the joy fire.


    Observing Bu Jing''s somewhat drained expression, Tang Xian thought that it was rare for Li Xiaoyu to have such a devoted and conscientious employee.


    After all, he had helped him, so he would get Qiao Shanshan to prescribe Bu Jing some restorative medications.


    They then chatted casually about the standards for spies, and Bu Jing said that it really just came down to accumulating knowledge and acting skills.


    "I often join various unrelated chat groups, talk about everything briefly. You know, netizens discuss everything from major national affairs to daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt. One second they might be discussing the latest works of Xu Kun''s ''''Cabbage Cabbage'''', and the next they might start discussing the trade war between Huaxia Fortress and Lincoln Fortress."


    "By interacting with them, I can get a grasp on what the masses are currently focusing on, and then I reinforce my knowledge in those areas."


    Bu Jing was always very polite.


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "The members of these groups are really strict."


    "You can say that again."


    After resting for a bit, Bu Jing then asked: sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m going to make some noodles. Would you like some?"


    "You have flour?"


    "Yes, I bought quite a lot when I saw a store in another fortress. It was a rare find."


    "Sell me some."


    "Feel free to take as much as you want."


    Tang Xian treasured the flour like a precious find. You simply couldn''t buy it at Fortress No. 39.


    His impression of Bu Jing improved even further.


    He was not very knowledgeable about pasta dishes, but could make a few and decided to follow Bu Jing to the kitchen to learn.


    But just then, a visitor arrived.


    When Bu Jing opened the door, he momentarily forgot to invite the person in to sit. After a long pause, he then said blankly:


    "Please, come in!"


    The visitors were Li Zheng and Li Xiaoyu.


    Bu Jing''s brain stalled, like a remote county magistrate suddenly facing the emperor on an undercover visit.


    Tang Xian was also taken aback.


    Li Xiaoyu was not one to beat around the bush, but along the way, Li Zheng found Li Xiaoyu''s behavior quite strange.


    The tactics his little sister used had made many fearful just upon hearing her name.


    In her private vehicle, Li Xiaoyu would occasionally show enigmatic smiles.


    Unable to figure out the meaning behind her smiles, Li Zheng felt they seemed somewhat shy and became even more perplexed.


    Only upon seeing Tang Xian did he understand.


    But this only led to more questions.


    ...


    ...


    After tidying up a bit, they cleared a relatively clean spot in the messy room.


    It was like an informal tribunal meeting, with Li Xiaoyu sitting to the side, Li Zheng directly opposite Tang Xian. Bu Jing stood to one side, pondering the situation.


    There weren''t many formalities; it was just that the couch happened to be arranged that way.


    Li Xiaoyu maintained a calm expression, revealing nothing.


    But Tang Xian didn''t need to look at the panel to directly analyze the reason for the Li siblings'' visit.


    "Noodles get mushy if overcooked. Shall we get straight to the point?" Tang Xian broke the silence first.


    "My name is Li Zheng."


    "I know who you are. We can skip the pleasantries and get to the main issue. The Evolution Zone has been taken down, and you''ve been cooperating with the Evolution Zone for a while. You probably need a batch of warriors with a synchronization rate around five percent, if I''m not mistaken."

 Chapter 70 Meeting the Parents (Three-in-One Chapter)_3

    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know the specific project requirements, and Li Zheng could only be sure that Tang Xian had probably reviewed some materials.He scrutinized Tang Xian carefully.


    He began to ponder, what exactly was so captivating about this man that had bewitched his sister.


    "I remember you have no talent, and you''ve always been active in the lower levels of the Thirty-Nine Fortress, with no chance to come into contact with any organization that could shake the Evolutionary Zone."


    Tang Xian said:


    "When families discuss business, we only talk about business. I am aware of the experiments in the Evolutionary Zone, and you don''t need to fret about previous trades with the Evolutionary Zone. You''ve lost a deal, now let''s make another deal."


    Li Zheng found that in terms of momentum, Tang Xian was not at all inferior to himself.


    He laughed and said:


    "The ones you''ve offended are not limited to the Evolutionary Zone but also many families and enterprises trading with the Evolutionary Zone; these people won''t let you off either. I don''t know how you managed to cross the Evolutionary Zone, but no matter how strong the organization behind you is, it''s impossible to be enemies with everyone.


    However, if the Li family protects you, no one will suspect you, but the chip you need to put forward must be higher than that of the Evolutionary Zone."


    Li Zheng added:


    "For some matters, we also prefer to entrust them to others. I heard you have a liking for ancient food, to put it metaphorically, now I just want to taste the food, I am not concerned about the recipe."


    Tang Xian understood.


    He would only need to hand over the experimental project data of the Evolutionary Zone. Li Zheng probably wouldn''t care about Li Xiaoyu''s feelings and would immediately sell him out.


    Because although the data was important, Li Zheng must also be clear about its future value, but for now, he must first obtain the finished product of the deal to compensate for the losses of this incident.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "Before the improvement plan is confirmed, I will not provide any experimental subjects from the mines. If you are in a hurry to see a batch of experimental subjects, then there''s nothing to discuss. You may leave now."


    Li Zheng was stunned, while Li Xiaoyu had been quiet all along, her expression holding a touch of strangeness.


    Tang Xian said:


    "I run a shop; naturally, I sell and you buy. How could it be your place to make demands?"


    Li Zheng knew that Tang Xian had always been somewhat clever, but it now seemed that his wisdom was not enough to suppress his arrogance.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about what Li Zheng thought.


    He hurried Bu Jing, who was frozen at his side, to check on the kitchen.


    About a minute of silence later, Li Zheng calmed down and asked in a deep voice:


    "Exactly what is the trade you are proposing?"


    Tang Xian said:


    "A new drug, suitable for all humans, enhancing physical constitution without side effects. I am not joking with you. Experimental subjects can only be traded under the table, but my drug can be traded openly, in large quantities. This will become a highly demanded luxury item."


    Li Zheng was moved, considering the value of this drug.


    In the long run, of course, it was more valuable than experimental subjects. The assumption was that what Tang Xian said was true.


    "I will act as the supplier and will only provide to the Li family free of charge, but the Li family must provide the materials. Whether you use the drug yourselves or sell it at a high price, that''s for you to decide. There will likely be samples delivered in about a month."


    This time, Li Zheng was truly unsettled.


    If it were as Tang Xian described, then the entire market would belong to the Li family.


    He was somewhat incredulous and said:


    "What do you want?"


    Trades are indeed mutual. Li Zheng thought if Tang Xian truly could deliver what he just mentioned, the Li family should offer something substantial in return.


    He asked uncertainly:


    "Do you want to marry my sister?"


    Li Xiaoyu blushed beside him, maintaining a somewhat composed demeanor, yet her eyes betrayed panic.


    Tang Xian suddenly realized that both siblings were foolish. He kindly brought a path to wealth to the Li family, yet he was being implicated. He viewed them as business partners, but they wanted to be his in-laws. That''s not how business is conducted.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "I want the Li family to be my undercover line. On the surface, you will continue to interact with the Evolutionary Zone. In secret, you will assist me in taking down the Evolutionary Zone. Not a single one left; for this, I will also offer other assistance to the Li family."


    "What kind of assistance?" Li Zheng instinctively wanted to reject Tang Xian''s proposal, as Tang Xian''s request was clearly difficult to fulfill.


    ```


    Destroying the Evolution Zone is just too unrealistic; the organization is far more complex than imagined.


    But after Tang Xian spoke, he changed his mind.


    "This time, I''m destroying the Evolution Zone for the sake of my teammate. His name is Akasi."


    Li Zheng was surprised. Even Li Xiaoyu showed a look of shock on her face.


    Akasi was no stranger to the major families; there wasn''t an organization or country that didn''t want to recruit him.


    He appeared unpredictably, and the legends about him grew more and more. The second spot on the Hunter Leaderboard was always changing, only the first spot had never changed.


    The reason was simple; Akasi had submitted more than sixty elite boss creature Soul Crystals within a month. No team, let alone any individual, could break that record.


    This felt as if other hunters'' points were like those in a football game, going to the mining area once might not even score them a point.


    Akasi''s hunting points, on the other hand, were like those in a basketball game, always starting in the double digits after each game.


    There were suspicions that Akasi was actually a team, not an individual, but regardless, every force desired to recruit Akasi. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you saying that Akasi is... on your side?"


    "He''s currently my teammate. I can''t hide this from you; we will be partners in the future, but please keep it confidential. With his help, it would be a great advantage for you, no matter what you''re doing."


    Li Zheng and Li Xiaoyu exchanged a glance, both aware of the value of the strongest hunter.


    Humans were still in the early days of pioneering the mining areas, many regions were unexplored.


    Sending a large number of hunters to the Red Zone was akin to sending them to their deaths.


    But for a single, powerful individual, at least a lot of useful information could be obtained.


    Having Akasi meant securing a lead in the future development of the mining areas.


    Certain intelligence could reduce many losses during the human pioneering process no matter which fortress it was sold to; the higher-ups would not refuse it.


    This was the scenario where a thousand soldiers are easy to get, but one general is hard to find.


    "Was Akasi originally a test subject? What''s his synchronization rate at?" Li Zheng asked out of pure curiosity.


    "Currently, it''s around twenty percent, and it will be higher in the future. Speaking solely of synchronization rate, he''s second; there''s a little girl in my team who has an even higher rate. Admittedly, I lack talent, but my team is not weak."


    Tang Xian looked calmly at the Li siblings.


    These words, however, stirred up an uproar in the hearts of Li Xiaoyu and Li Zheng.


    Whether it was Akasi''s terrifying data or the existence stronger than Akasi, Li Zheng needed to give these matters some thought.


    Li Zheng finally believed that this was a deal worth making and felt much relieved.


    Just then, the noodles were perfectly cooked.


    Tang Xian did not pay attention to the two of them, heading straight to the kitchen. He opened his tool bag and took out some condiments.


    Bu Jing was somewhat puzzled; this person actually brought so many food seasonings on a long journey.


    Tang Xian tasted the noodles and found them quite chewy. They weren''t cooked too soft.


    There was still plenty of dough left. Tang Xian thought about eating it himself, but it seemed inappropriate to do so in front of the Li siblings. He carried a bowl out and glanced at Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu remained silent throughout, so Tang Xian asked her, "My cooking skills are not bad, would you like a bowl?"


    Li Xiaoyu considered it and nodded.


    Li Zheng, who was more casual, said,


    "My sister mentioned you like to tinker with food. Make one for me too."


    Tang Xian agreed and went to work on the task; this request wasn''t excessive.


    Li Zheng wasn''t sure if Tang Xian was telling the truth, but he believed it to a considerable degree.


    As long as he saw Akasi, everything would become clear.


    There was no need for calculation; Li Zheng could understand the value of Tang Xian''s team, even as collaborators, they definitely had value and necessity worth further engagement.


    Thinking about it, he decided to chat about some men''s topics to improve their relationship.


    "Xiao Xian, you''re still single, right? I''ve been to the Second Fortress; I''m familiar with the Qi Family''s turf. Later, I''ll take you to the night club on the fourth floor to relax..."


    Suddenly, Li Zheng stopped talking.


    Li Xiaoyu looked at him with a smile, her gaze friendly and expectant.


    ```

 Chapter 71 Li Xiaoyus Second Matter

    Li Zheng remembered the last time his little sister had smiled at the young master from the fifth layer of the Zhang Family. Later, the elder of the Zhang Family adopted a son.Li Zheng felt a chill on his back, and his feet suddenly felt a bit weak.


    Li Xiaoyu said, "Take me with you."


    Where would Li Zheng dare? Taking Li Xiaoyu was just like going to a nightclub to cause trouble. He waved his hands and said,


    "Nonsense, nonsense, haha, just rambling because I''m so hungry."


    Li Xiaoyu had actually been to those places of pleasure and found them uninteresting, and she figured Tang Xian probably found them uninteresting too.


    She ignored Li Zheng. After all, he was her brother, and she still counted on him to carry on the Li family''s lineage.


    After a while, Tang Xian came out with two bowls of noodles.


    The Li siblings were not particular. They seemed to be truly hungry. Li Zheng very obligingly picked up a fork and started eating.


    "This is pretty good, not to say it''s better than the top-tier nutritional meals, but it has its own flavor," Li Zheng slurped noisily as he ate, completely lacking the demeanor of a wealthy family''s young master.


    Li Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was very graceful, sipping a little at a time.


    Tang Xian found it unsatisfying to watch, while Bu Jing found it somewhat absurd.


    He never imagined the Li siblings, who would have the greatest say in their family''s future, would suddenly appear in his messy house, four people eating noodles together.


    Without many side dishes, this was plain boiled noodles, but fortunately, they were cooked just right, seasoned well.


    Bu Jing was somewhat worried, fearing he hadn''t been a good host and that the young master and young miss might think poorly of him, especially since the house was quite a mess. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I had a chat with your undercover agent in your family, quite professional, he could talk to me about any topic. It''s thanks to him that I was able to deal with the aftermath of my visit to Fortress Two."


    Without much more to say. Li Zheng nodded, and Li Xiaoyu responded faintly, "Got it."


    Tang Xian didn''t bring it up again.


    Bu Jing was startled. Was this an assignment being imposed on him?


    It wasn''t that Tang Xian was deliberately getting the Li siblings to look out for Bu Jing.


    Mainly because after the meal was finished, one couldn''t just command others to wash the dishes without offering something in return.


    After finishing the meal, Li Xiaoyu felt bored and found playing cards, Go, and mahjong all in Bu Jing''s room. She tried to coax Tang Xian into playing a game of chess. Tang Xian refused twice, but Li Xiaoyu kept insisting, and, unable to persuade her otherwise, he reluctantly agreed.


    Li Zheng, on the other hand, was taken by Bu Jing to see Dr. Duke locked in the secret room.


    Tang Xian did not give Li Xiaoyu any face, and a chess match whose outcome couldn''t change was dull if repeated; it was better to play against oneself.


    During this process, Li Xiaoyu''s gaze carried hope several times, only to become dim in the end.


    The game was not even midway, and Li Xiaoyu realized she could not save this game of chess.


    She looked deeply at Tang Xian.


    Time seemed to pass without her noticing; Li Zheng had already finished questioning Dr. Duke.


    Li Xiaoyu walked out of the house, feeling stuffy. Li Zheng noticed that Li Xiaoyu''s mood was off, so he followed her out.


    Bu Jing was somewhat baffled and said, "The atmosphere seems a bit off."


    "Don''t know, I''m not an idiot, how could I understand what those siblings are thinking?"


    ...


    ...


    On the fourth layer of Fortress Two, the streets were busy with people, most with smiles on their faces.


    In a Pyramid-shaped social system, the disparities between layers were not just in status but also in happiness.


    Li Xiaoyu was not very happy.


    The game of black and white stones, which includes both Connect Four and Go, is actually also called a lovers'' game. Surrounding without attacking, retreating without defending, and so on¡ªall have many interpretations within relationships.


    Li Xiaoyu, after all, was just a young girl who had just come of age. She had seen many people, understood the human heart, and was knowledgeable about human nature.


    But emotionally, she was only inclined, not incomplete.


    She would feel shy, sad, angry. She also had things she feared and tried to express her likes in a subtle way.


    After losing to Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu would find someone to coach her in chess in her spare time.


    The coach was a woman, a former national champion, now thirty-seven, retired, and looking after her family.


    She had told Li Xiaoyu, "When I play chess with my husband, he doesn''t let me win every time, but he makes the game look good, tries to make it last as long as possible."


    "If the young miss has someone in the future you like, you can test them out over a game of chess. If he also likes you, even if he can''t play, he will think deeply. Even if he has some knowledge of the game, he would willingly join the game."


    Li Xiaoyu had no such opportunities until today.


    But playing chess with Tang Xian was like playing with an emotionless machine.


    He paid no attention to the hints and implications in some chess phrases, thinking only of how to end the game in the most efficient way possible.


    They say the pathway with the beloved woman should be as long winding as possible¡ªa perfect serpentine with no end in sight.


    Tang Xian was very mood-destroying. He went straight down the most direct path because straight paths are easier to follow, looking at the other party with eyes that seemed to say how tedious they are.


    The utilization of solar power meant that there was day and night inside the fortress too.


    With lights shining, night had fallen.


    Walking on the streets of a foreign fortress, observing the passing young people, Li Xiaoyu, who rarely felt lonely, found herself feeling uncomfortable.


    In less than four months, she would be married into the Song Family. Life was clearly long, yet there was a sense of impending closure.

 Chapter 71 Li Xiaoyus Second Matter_2

    She would not express these tumultuous feelings, as people at the age of seventeen or eighteen are inherently sentimental, and no one at home would understand anyway.As for Tang Xian? He probably wouldn''t understand either, would he?


    When Tang Xian was eighteen, he was misunderstood by everyone in the school district, but no one ever saw him protest much.


    He just reacted indifferently.


    "Oh, so none of you believe me? Fine, I can''t be bothered to explain."


    And so, he became branded as a cheater.


    What does he even care about? I always feel that my relationship with Tang Xian is very distant. Is it because my personality is too eccentric?


    Li Xiaoyu was lost in thought for a long time before she noticed Li Zheng had followed her.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "I''m familiar with this place. If you''re out for a stroll, I can be your guide."


    "No need."


    Li Zheng, noticing her mood, said, "Why do you seem a bit upset?"


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t speak, just trudged on in silence, while Li Zheng followed behind.


    After walking past a street known for luxury goods, it was clear that shopping was not on her mind as her gaze occasionally fell on the men and women on the street rather than the expensive items in the shop windows.


    It was a tricky situation. Having watched Li Xiaoyu grow up and being a bystander, Li Zheng was of course aware of his sister''s troubles and worries. But this was not something he could help her with.


    He sighed and said,


    "Yu, from a very young age, we understood that everything in life is a transaction. When we treat others as commodities, we must also be prepared to see ourselves as commodities."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t turn her head or stop walking, maintaining a steady pace.


    "Tang Xian is a good guy, really quite good. If it''s about being smart, then you''re smarter. That eye for talent¡­ I had my doubts about him, but having seen him today, he''s indeed someone worth the Li family''s support. But in the future, he may become a good friend to us, and that''s about it."


    Li Xiaoyu still didn''t speak.


    "However, although I have a good impression of Tang Xian, I still think Song Que is a touch more outstanding. That guy is truly a prodigy, and he could help you more. Okay, this sounds a bit crass, it''s more that he could help the Li family more."


    "A seven-tiered fortress; our alliance with the Song Family means both sides have a solid foundation. As we move towards the eighth tier, we will always be one step ahead. The contribution of the eighth tier to the progress of human society is evident from the previous levels, so sister, of course I want our lives to include both love and a broader world. But..."


    "Annoying, I get it, I''m not thinking of calling off this marriage."


    Li Xiaoyu finally spoke.


    "Hey, that''s good, that''s good. Rest assured, if that Song Family kid treats you badly, even at the cost of humanity''s interests, I''ll help you get even."


    Li Xiaoyu said coldly, S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You think you''ve given Tang Xian enough attention, but you still haven''t."


    Li Zheng didn''t argue, saying,


    "Then I need to get to know him better, slowly; let''s not rush this. But you need to get over your feelings for him. He''s not blind; I don''t believe he hasn''t noticed your feelings."


    Li Xiaoyu flinched.


    She stopped walking and turned to look at Li Zheng.


    Li Zheng said,


    "There''s no man in this world who is not kind to women. Not a single one."


    Li Xiaoyu understood the meaning of the words. She tried to remain composed, but her complexion was still somewhat pale.


    In a world where no man is unkind to women, if a man is not gentle, it''s simply because she''s not the right person.


    Li Xiaoyu remembered what Dong Ran had reported to her.


    The first time she met Tang Xian, he mentioned that he had someone he was interested in.


    It seemed like a perfunctory remark, but Li Xiaoyu knew Tang Xian wasn''t that kind of person.


    He mostly spoke the blunt truth.


    Li Xiaoyu had checked all of Tang Xian''s classmates over the last six school years, and the strangeness was right there.


    The person was as if she never existed. Li Xiaoyu had checked those who had transferred schools, suffered accidents, or dropped out midway, and found no girl that matched Tang Xian''s description.


    After a long walk, Li Zheng looked on with a hint of pain. Li Xiaoyu, with her back to Li Zheng, was actually beginning to regain her composure.


    There is nothing irreplaceable in this world. With this thought, Li Xiaoyu suddenly felt more confident.


    She said,


    "There are still four months left. I hope that our Li family can continue to act according to our own way of thinking."


    Li Zheng was taken aback, the Li family''s way of thinking?


    "Always put the interests of all humanity first?"


    "Yes."


    Li Zheng didn''t understand the logic between the two, since it was precisely this way of thinking that required Li Xiaoyu to marry into the Song Family.


    "I''m going back," said Li Xiaoyu as she turned and headed back.


    Li Zheng knew his sister was stubborn. Once she decided on something, she rarely changed her mind. She had done quite a few laughable and lamentable things for Tang Xian''s sake.


    Only now he couldn''t figure out what his sister was planning.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, after a peaceful night''s sleep, Tang Xian felt refreshed.


    In ancient times, a thousand years ago, there were many who ate meat buns and fried dough sticks for breakfast along with other staple foods. These were ingredients he couldn''t get at the thirty-ninth fortress.


    Fiddling with food is an interesting affair, and Tang Xian delighted in it.


    Li Xiaoyu and Li Zheng stayed in a hotel instead of Bu Jing''s house, but Li Xiaoyu came over early in the morning.


    As she watched Tang Xian busily preparing food, a calm joy appeared on her face, and she suddenly realized that this man wasn''t hard to understand after all.


    He is just someone who loves to eat and is willing to spend time on it.


    Life needs to be managed. Who to know, who to like, who to get close to, and who to support, all are worth calculating.

 Chapter 71 Li Xiaoyus Second Matter_3

    This is the Li family''s way of dealing with the world, very utilitarian and very useful.Tang Xian''s thought process was very simple, he only managed himself. He may not live in the most luxurious manner, but he would definitely live in the way that pleased him the most.


    "Soon, I will be able to take you away. I''ve applied for visas to both the fifty-first and thirty-ninth fortresses," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Thank you."


    "What are you going to do in the fifty-first fortress?"


    "Akasi and the others have tracking devices left by the Evolution Zone on them, and I need to figure out a way to get rid of them."


    "Then what about my matter? When do you plan to deal with it?" Li Xiaoyu said.


    "After I take care of Akasi''s issue," Tang Xian scooped up his noodles.


    "Have you got a target?"


    "An Nvwa Snake. If I''m lucky, I''ll catch it at its weakest moment when it''s evolving into a cataclysm-level boss and kill it. If not, then I''ll have to wait."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, she didn''t press for details. Tang Xian was much more professional than her when it came to these matters.


    What she wanted to mention was another matter:


    "At this year''s Hunting Festival, the biggest dark horse might be the Song Family, unless you participate."


    "I probably won''t participate. I haven''t put my team together yet."


    Tang Xian felt the taste was a bit bland, so he reached for some seasoning salt.


    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t surprised by his answer and said,


    "The location might be close to your base in the mining area. You might even have to move."


    "What do you mean? Is the Hunting Festival''s location in the Red Clay Forest?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Yes."


    "How much in advance will it be?"


    "There''s a little over a month left. The Hunting Festival will start, and hunters from all over the world will go to the Red Clay Forest to hunt creatures of the mining area."


    Tang Xian frowned.


    This was unexpected. Although the Red Clay Forest was some distance from the Tree Ocean, during the entire six days of the festival, when every hunter in the world was hunting creatures from the mining area, resources would become scarce. There would always be those who took risks and went to the neighboring Tree Ocean, where there were more creatures.


    "Their intention is to use the red zones as a fence," Li Xiaoyu added.


    Tang Xian nodded, his mind already calculating what to do.


    Without Qing JiuYu''s Tree Ocean, it wasn''t even comparable to an ordinary yellow zone.


    "This Hunting Festival, for most hunters, is an opportunity to leap to the heavens. Who wouldn''t want an account in the fifth tier? It''s probably going to be unprecedented in scale. As for choosing the edge of the red zone, it''s actually to prepare for a large-scale reclamation of both yellow and red zones," Li Xiaoyu said seriously.


    "After the Hunting Festival, the leaders of each fortress will lead the regular armies, as well as outstanding hunters, to conquer a large area of yellow zone¡ªthe Pelar Plains," Li Xiaoyu continued.


    Tang Xian understood what this meant; humans rarely reclaimed mining areas on a large scale anymore. This operation was likely to be unprecedented in scale.


    It also implied that mankind''s conquest of the mining areas was about to enter a new stage.


    At the same time, the legendary Court of Myriad Beasts was likely to organize an unprecedentedly large counterattack.


    Not many disaster-level creatures and cataclysm-level boss creatures would appear. But there would definitely be one or two.


    And disaster-level creatures, perfect-level creatures, and elite-level creatures would inevitably be plentiful.


    Wars like this always produced countless heroes in human history.


    "Akasi will play a significant role in this invasion. A top-tier ''eye'' like you will take on a leader-level role. The second task I want you to do is to help each fortress capture this area, in the name of the Li family," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "You think too highly of me. But if the Li family has arrangements by then, I''ll help out."


    Tang Xian agreed readily, quite to Li Xiaoyu''s surprise.


    Li Xiaoyu had thought that someone like him would outright refuse, given how troublesome the matter was.


    Tang Xian said,


    "There''s still one more thing out of the three left undone; make sure it''s a challenging one. Don''t command me too easily. Since I''ve agreed to help you, don''t spare my efforts. Your business is the most important to me. I will complete it as soon as possible."


    All the unhappiness from the day before was swept away in an instant. Li Xiaoyu''s cheeks grew warm, even her earlobes blushed.


    This man... wasn''t so indifferent after all. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m going to call Akasi now. Li Zheng probably still harbors doubts, right? Let him come and verify the person."


    Tang Xian was naturally not indifferent.


    He had thought about what would happen if he told Li Xiaoyu and Li Zheng all of his secrets.


    Li Zheng would think it was a fantasy, while Li Xiaoyu would be surprised but ultimately choose to believe in him.


    This was something that he didn''t know whether to be happy about.


    But indeed, there was a young girl who harbored a somewhat superstitious belief in him.


    Defeating a cataclysm-level boss, leading humans to conquer the yellow zone, acing the Trials of the Chosen, and other such feats impossible for ordinary humans.


    Li Xiaoyu entrusted him with tasks because she had unwavering faith in his abilities.


    Perhaps in this young girl''s eyes, his worth was far greater than that of the first family of any fortress.


    Value comes in two types: one is actual value, derived from various interests. The other is purely an emotional judgment.


    Li Xiaoyu''s trust in him clearly stemmed from a mix of both values.


    How much each contributed, he couldn''t tell.


    Thinking deeply about it was troublesome, so he simply followed the attitude of being good to those who were good to him.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Upon receiving Tang Xian''s message, Li Zheng quickly made his way to Bu Jing''s residence.


    He didn''t just come; he also brought a group of fully armed guards. He obviously intended to verify Akasi''s identity through force.


    Tang Xian said nothing and went straight to the mining area, ready to move the fortresses with Akasi and Tang Suoye.

 Chapter 72 The Blue-Eyed Little Girl

    The siblings from the Li family''s visit to the second fortress was quickly known by the people of the Qi Family, the most influential in the second fortress.Just last night, Li Zheng had gone drinking with members of the Qi Family. Originally, Tang Xian was supposed to join, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he didn''t.


    The Qi Family was the biggest victim of the takedown of the evolution zone.


    All along, they had been providing various conveniences for the evolution zone, including the unexplained disappearance of some of the lower-class population, and some cases were also completely suppressed by the Qi Family.


    Li Zheng knew more or less about these things. He didn''t care whether he was alive or a ghost.


    Those who pursue justice would not categorize Li Zheng as part of the evil camp. And those who were self-righteous or reveled in evil wouldn''t find Li Zheng bothersome either.


    Just like the entire Li family, neither black nor white.


    Qi Xun, the eldest son of the Qi Family, although a profligate, had good judgment. The trade deals between Li Zheng and the evolution zone were also facilitated by him.


    Qi Xun could understand Li Zheng''s intentions, and Li Zheng had also lost a considerable amount of money, so Qi Xun did not suspect Li Zheng at all.


    All the clues of the entire incident were also led by Li Zheng to other places.


    Like to Lincoln Fortress.


    When the two family fortresses were competing, scrambling over who would first develop the eighth layer, in such circumstances, doing whatever possible to sabotage the opponent''s plans was reasonable.


    Qi Xun did not suspect anything.


    Consequently, the Li family''s records of entry and exit were all marked as green-listed, and all the procedures along the way were approved for convenience.


    With the procedures handled swiftly, Li Zheng arrived early at Bu Jing''s neighborhood, waiting to meet Akasi.


    ...


    ...


    The forest was in the subtropical zone, and it became somewhat hot in the summer; the Hundred-Handed Wood had no leaves.


    Returning to the forest, Tang Xian thought it might be good to plant a few plane trees. In the mining area''s environment, the plane trees would likely grow quickly, providing ample shade in the summer.


    Qiao Shanshan wore a plain, retro-styled skirt, paired with open-toed sandals, which made her look quite different from her usual appearance as an intellectual female doctor in a white lab coat, appearing more youthful and pretty.


    Perhaps she wanted to make herself seem younger, rather than what some people called "overage."


    Or maybe, after getting to know Tang Xian, she no longer regarded the mining area purely as a primitive place hard to survive in.


    Now, as she took care of Tang Suoye, Qiao Shanshan began to complain about Tang Xian.


    Akasi listened to the side, smiling.


    "Tell me, is that how a team leader should behave? When I was the leader, I always took the initiative to care about my team members'' lives. But look at him!"


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t seem particularly angry, just a touch of small-scale feminine grievance.


    "I think Tang Xian is quite good. He really cares about everyone''s business," said Akasi.


    "Good about what? I and Dong Ran called him dozens of times, and he never returned the calls. When we need to talk about something important, he''s completely useless," huffed Qiao Shanshan.


    "Maybe he''s just busy. He''ll find you when he''s free," Akasi said, still smiling.


    "I told him I''m getting harassed with proposals over the phone, and not only did he refuse to help out, he even said I''m getting on in years! Hear that? What kind of thing is that to say?"


    "That''s good, though, it''s nice to have people proposing," Akasi remarked.


    "He''s saying I''m old!" Qiao Shanshan reminded Akasi of the point.


    "Not at all. Maybe he just thinks you''re at the age to get married," Akasi continued nonchalantly.


    "Why do you always take his side?"


    "Because what Tang Xian does is not wrong," Akasi stated.


    Qiao Shanshan then realized, Akasi was just Tang Xian''s lapdog!


    This person had a gentle nature, which didn''t fit the image of the cold-blooded assassin from the rumors. But at the core, he was also a straightforward man with the same mindset as Tang Xian.


    Therefore, Qiao Shanshan felt a great contrast.


    But thinking that Akasi was going to be her teammate in the future, she still found it somewhat magical and shocking.


    Qiao Shanshan stopped talking because Akasi would only praise Tang Xian. She really didn''t know what Tang Xian had done.


    If it weren''t for the unique tenderness in Akasi''s eyes when he looked at Tang Suoye, Qiao Shanshan might even think Akasi was gay.


    She began acupuncture for Tang Suoye.


    Tang Suoye had left the critical phase, but the reason for her continued unconsciousness was unclear to Qiao Shanshan.


    Just then, Tang Xian pushed open the door to the wooden house.


    Qiao Shanshan thought to herself that it was terrible timing, she had been preoccupied with speaking ill of Tang Xian and hadn''t noticed anyone outside the wooden house.


    Akasi smiled at Tang Xian and nodded his head.


    Tang Xian certainly heard the earlier conversation but didn''t mind at all.


    Qiao Shanshan, after all, was an intellectual, but like Dong Ran, she was at best a little girl in a white lab coat.


    Looking at Tang Suoye, he asked,


    "How is Tang Suoye doing?"


    "She is out of danger, but it''s strange, according to her eye response, she should be conscious, but she just can''t wake up. I can only help her recover some of her injuries and stimulate her consciousness through acupuncture," Qiao Shanshan replied, her tone slightly intimidated, feeling like someone who''d spoken ill of the boss only to be caught in the act. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "She''ll be fine, it must be because of the Eden Deer serum. In the mining area, human constitution becomes stronger, and this influence probably altered the matching process of the serum. As long as her bodily functions remain stable, that''s enough," said Tang Xian raising Tang Suoye''s eyelid, revealing a look of surprise.


    "When did this happen?"


    "Last night," Qiao Shanshan said. "I was just about to tell you."

 Chapter 72 The Blue-Eyed Little Girl_2

    Tang Suoye''s pupil color had changed.The left eye remained brown, but the right eye had become a deep sea-like dark blue.


    Unlike the blue eyes of people in the Western fortresses, this pupil looked even purer.


    "The Deer of Eden gets its name because the earliest pioneers discovered traces of an ancient civilization west of the far west."


    "That place was just ruins, but people were certain that the architectural style could not have been produced by animals; it was similar to human civilization."


    "To get to that region, one had to cross several red zones. Of the pioneers who went there, only one came back, and that was the later great scholar Fernando, who died of a terrible disease not long after his return. He mentioned the ruins in his notes, naming them Eden."


    "The deer seen within were thus called the Deer of Eden."


    What Tang Xian was talking about seemed like a legend, at least Qiao Shanshan felt there was a lot of fiction in his words.


    But Tang Xian himself did not doubt it. It was a very strange feeling.


    Some knowledge from the mining areas, it was as if his very genes retained certain memories, allowing him to know what was true and what was false.


    He even believed that there had indeed been human-like creatures in the place called Eden, along with the snakes and trees Fernando mentioned.


    But these beings must have become extinct.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "The Deer of Eden is a catastrophic-level creature, but none of its stats are like those of a catastrophic-level creature; it seems like an ordinary animal. Only its eyes, as pure as the sea, contain the power to make it a catastrophic-level creature. In fact, its true capabilities and the danger it presents are not easy to quantify."


    Tang Xian''s expression was very solemn, not because Tang Suoye was in any danger.


    Among the many test subjects in the mining area, Tang Suoye was likely an extremely rare case, even rarer than Akasi.


    The appearance of catastrophic-level creature traits in a human body denotes an extremely pure rate of transformation.


    Dr. Duke had said that the Evolution Zones around the world have undergone nearly seventy years of experimentation, and Tang Xian wasn''t clear on how many monsters had been created in the process.


    To utterly destroy an organization like the Evolution Zone was not something that could be done overnight.


    "Get ready, we''ll leave soon. Our next stop is Fortress Fifty-One."


    Qiao Shanshan asked in confusion, "Why have you been running around these past few days?"


    "There''s some business to attend to. Do you think recruiting the number one hunter is easy? Instead of complaining about your leader, you''d better improve your medical skills as much as possible."


    Qiao Shanshan''s face turned red, and she said,


    "Is there anything else I need to do?"


    "If you can cook, help look after Tang Bingxiang and Tang Gazi."


    "..." So it seemed Tang considered her a nanny.


    However, Qiao Shanshan did not refuse. After all, the little cat and bird were quite cute, and she kind of missed Tang Xiaojiu too. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sometimes she felt Tang Xiaojiu was like a cute little animal.


    "Who doesn''t like cute little animals?" Qiao Shanshan glanced at Tang Xian and said with a hint of sarcasm.


    Qiao Shanshan mused that, although she was in her twenties, she was neither a leftover woman nor an old aunt.


    From Qiao Shanshan''s attire, Tang Xian discerned something and understood what she meant after pondering for a moment.


    He said earnestly,


    "Age is a woman''s enemy, regardless of how youthful the mindset or how vibrant the clothes, age objectively exists, and it only increases, never decreases, even with the revival of spiritual energy."


    Qiao Shanshan was annoyed.


    "You!"


    "However, age can endow women with a mature charm. Women of this age have a significant lethal effect on both little men and older men. I suggest you stick to professional attire, highlight your slender legs with a professional black skirt, complement it with open-toed black high heels, and apply grapefruit-colored lipstick to maintain your unique style.


    These summer dresses are actually for those with thicker legs."


    "Lastly, remember this advice: you can''t beat those seventeen or eighteen-year-old kids when it comes to being fresh, but you can outdo them in charm!"


    Tang Xian gave the advice earnestly, hoping Qiao Shanshan would understand her market position and eventually marry someone who appreciated her the most.


    To show he wasn''t just speaking from a straight male''s perspective or off the cuff, he even offered a complete outfit suggestion.


    This was surely him showing concern for his team member.


    But Tang Xian couldn''t figure out why Qiao Shanshan seemed ready to breathe fire, her eyes ablaze, the air filled with a tingling murderous intent.


    "You can go back now!"


    "Okay. Next time I return to the mining area, I''ll help you get revenge," Tang Xian said solemnly.


    Qiao Shanshan steadied her heaving chest, wanting to get angry but finding she couldn''t.


    Tang Xian left the treehouse with Akasi, with two more pieces of advice.


    "Regarding your situation with Tang Suoye, aside from me, only the siblings from the Li family are aware. They are the future leaders of Fortress Thirty-Nine and will provide considerable help in the future fight against the Evolution Zone."


    "I understand, you''re responsible for these matters," Akasi said lazily.


    It wasn''t necessary for him to exhaust himself thinking when Tang Xian had such a sharp mind.


    Tang Xian nodded; this was a sign of trust, so he said no more.


    Upon returning to the Pyramid, Tang Xian didn''t delay; he went straight to Li Zheng.


    Li Zheng started with a complaint, saying,


    "Xiao Xian, you have no idea how much I''ve gone through for your sake!"

 Chapter 72 The Blue-Eyed Little Girl_3

    Li Zheng took out his phone and opened the interface of a certain app."Now, many large corporations and wealthy families have started offering a bounty on your head! The price is not low at all!"


    Tang Xian couldn''t help but think that Li Zheng might be a fool as he asked in confusion,


    "They''re after the Masked Chopper Hero, what does that have to do with me, Tang?"


    Li Zheng paused for a moment, then laughed,


    "Hahaha, that''s right, that''s right."


    His gaze shifted to Akasi, probing,


    "Is this..."


    Tang Xian answered, "He''s a member of my team, Akasi. But for some reasons, let''s just call him Tang from now on."


    Li Zheng nodded, indicating he understood.


    Akasi also got some information from Tang Xian. Li Zheng wanted to see what Akasi was capable of.


    This was understandable. In business terms, this was like quality inspection. Akasi took it naturally.


    Without even waiting for Li Zheng to urge him, Akasi''s figure flashed, and a breeze arose from nowhere.


    Somewhat inexplicably, a gun appeared in Akasi''s hand.


    It was a blue-armed expansion remodel, somewhat resembling a Desert Eagle.


    Li Zheng was startled; that was his own sidearm. The distance between him and Akasi was clearly about four meters.


    He hadn''t seen clearly what just happened.


    "Truly powerful! Fantastic!" Li Zheng was excited.


    Li Zheng''s guards quickly reacted, immediately raising their weapons to aim at Akasi.


    Li Zheng waved his hand, signaling that all was well.


    At that moment, Akasi aimed the gun at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian had no reaction, simply nodding calmly as he met Akasi''s gaze.


    Li Zheng was taken aback, just about to say that the gun was powerful and no joke to be made, when Akasi pulled the trigger.


    An ear-piercing sound rang out, and Li Zheng''s expression froze in a moment of terror.


    But in his line of sight, nothing changed, except that Akasi''s position had moved forward slightly.


    He held a bullet between his fingers, the one that had been fired from the chamber, smoking from the heat, but unable to burn Akasi''s skin.


    Tang Xian wasn''t visibly worried that Akasi would actually shoot him.


    But deep down, he was somewhat amazed.


    It had only been a couple of days since the serious injury in the Evolution Zone, and he had almost completely recovered.


    Such terrifying self-healing abilities, along with the reaction speed and ability to catch bullets with bare hands¡ªif he didn''t have those strange forces inside his body,


    then probably the Evolution Zone would gradually take over the world in the coming years.


    "Spectacular! It''s breathtaking! I never expected to see such incredible speed inside the Pyramid! Truly worthy of..."


    Li Zheng stopped mid-sentence, feeling that the term "experimental subject" seemed somewhat disrespectful to Akasi.


    A man in his position appreciated all kinds of talented individuals.


    Military strength was also a kind of talent.


    Li Zheng was eagerly looking forward to what kind of help the duo of Tang Xian and Akasi could bring to the Li family.


    Akasi handed the gun back to Li Zheng, who had intended to give it to Akasi as a gesture,


    But then again, this thing wasn''t as fast as Akasi''s fists, was it? Like a toy, it seemed too petty, not worth giving away.


    Akasi remained silent throughout. Different from his interactions with Qiao Shanshan and Tang Xian, Akasi seemed more like a killer right now.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Before you go, take Dr. Duke with you. He will be useful to you."


    Li Zheng''s expression became complex as he said,


    "That''s... Right now he might not be in a state to meet people. My sister will take him to Fortress Thirty-Nine later."


    Tang Xian didn''t understand.


    Li Zheng said softly,


    "It''s because you went to the mining area, and she was bored, so she went to see that prisoner. And well¡­ my sister has always liked cutting various things since she was little¡­" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian understood and realized why Li Xiaoyu wasn''t present. He felt a bit of sympathy for Dr. Duke.


    In the sixth school year, while other children went to the great library, flipping through books like "Three Years of Survival, Five Years of Simulation,"


    Those with a literary bent might look at ancient literary works like "Cancer Tower" or "Suet Ball."


    Tang Xian read a bit of everything, as he remembered what he read after just one glance.


    Li Xiaoyu''s taste was probably the most bizarre.


    He remembered the expression of the librarian when Li Xiaoyu was returning books.


    A twelve-year-old girl returning books like "The Evolution of Ancient Punishments," "Nineteen Techniques of Court Punishments," and "Modern Anatomy." It was inevitably a bit horrifying.


    Tang Xian shook his head. Just another strange hobby of the wealthy.


    Realizing he hadn''t seen Ke in a long time and that his chopper couldn''t be used anymore because of this incident, Tang Xian urgently needed a new, truly combat-ready weapon. He urged,


    "Let''s not delay any further. Let''s go."

 Chapter 73 The Hidden Legend of the Weapon Realm

    The fifty-six fortresses of Hua Xia Country primarily derive their economy from the miners at the bottom level.They earn the lowest wages, yet create the most value. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But no one complains, because in this era, talent decides everything. For those at the bottom, mining is the means for the talentless to survive as the forsaken.


    While the operations at the base level are similar, each fortress actually specializes in certain areas.


    For instance, Fortress 39 emphasizes a comprehensive, well-rounded development. Fortress 2 is dedicated to the tertiary service industry.


    Tang Xian and his group were about to head to Fortress 51, which was a heavy industry fortress.


    Apart from the somewhat homogeneous first layer, from the second to the fourth layer in Fortress 51, the majority of street industries are involved in weapon processing.


    This is also why the most excellent weapon designers would want to go to Fortress 51.


    Because it represents the pinnacle of that field.


    On the way to Fortress 51, Tang Xian silently calculated the design of his next weapon.


    Li Zheng, on the other hand, was a chatterbox, constantly searching for topics of conversation, such as the girl Akasi was carrying, or the real identity of the Masked Chopper Hero, and so on.


    Thanks to Li Xiaoyu''s confidentiality, the fact that Tang Xian had strength surpassing Eve''s was still only known to Li Xiaoyu and Eve.


    In Li Zheng''s eyes, Tang Xian was the brains and the eyes of a team.


    Akasi was an assassin, and the Masked Chopper Hero was a warrior.


    Regarding the tragic incident in the evolution zone of Fortress 2, since the surveillance footage was uniformly destroyed, the Qi Family''s people and Li Zheng could only learn some testimonies when investigating the incident.


    These were provided by the guards from the evolution zone. The test subjects were mostly insane, their testimonies unreliable, while the guards'' were strikingly consistent.


    Li Zheng and Qi Xun thus became convinced that everything was done by the Masked Chopper Hero, Akasi, and Test Subject 19.


    The bloodstains on Akasi were evidence of a fierce battle he had been through.


    In all the testimonies, the strongest monster was still the Masked Chopper Hero, which aroused Li Zheng''s interest even more. He kept steering the conversation towards this person.


    Tang Xian''s response was, "I don''t know, I don''t recognize this person."


    Akasi kept silent as well.


    Li Zheng, finding it boring to probe further, realized that if these two tightened their lips, he could get nothing out of them.


    However, Li Zheng was certain that the downfall of the evolution zone was not a result of a large-scale clash of people, but a small team operation.


    Such a team would not be rejected by the higher-ups of any fortress. Li Zheng''s attitude toward Akasi remained amicable.


    Akasi was always cold, just like the silver-haired reaper described in the rumors.


    Tang Xian stared out the window.


    The scenery outside the vehicle, which he had only seen once before, still filled him with a profound sense of novelty.


    The remnants of the city torn asunder, reeking of apocalyptic desolation.


    Mammoth iron towers, tracks overgrown with plants, congested yet silent streets, and massive billboards whose inscriptions were indecipherable.


    The buildings still retained their strict angular shapes, standing like vertical coffins.


    Tang Xian knew there were no humans outside, the plants grew wildly unchecked, and he was curious. After centuries, was the area outside the Pyramid still uninhabitable?


    Seeing Tang Xian somewhat lost in thought, Li Zheng spoke up:


    "The place we''re flying over now is a city called Xianghai City. This city is also one of the first to respond to the great catastrophe."


    Tang Xian nodded and following Li Zheng''s lead, said, "They had already established refuges underground. A large number of shelters allowed this city to hold out the longest. There were also networks of passages between the shelters, and they were the first to quell the chaos brought by the disaster. When the Pyramid emerged, the people of this city were the most resistant to moving in.


    But entering the Pyramid was an inevitability; the shelters may have avoided the disasters on the surface, but they couldn''t change one fact: food reserves.


    The Pyramid had extensive food reserves, like initial supplies given for the development of civilization, much like a game called Age of Empires.


    But how could the food in the shelters, which lasted for three or five years, endure for ten or eight years? Ultimately, due to food shortages, a few upheavals occurred, and after the chaos, people unwilling to live too savagely had no choice but to enter the Pyramid.


    The history records of the world outside the Pyramid also end here. They were the last humans outside the Pyramid and ultimately they too entered the Pyramid."


    Li Zheng did not expect Tang Xian to be so knowledgeable about history.


    "What do you know about the great catastrophe itself?" Tang Xian asked.


    "I really can''t know that; I''m just as curious as you are, but not just me, even the older generations in my family have no clue," Li Zheng shook his head.


    Tang Xian was not surprised.


    Regarding the missing historical records, the causes and process of that great catastrophe, it seems that, just as Li Xiaoyu said, one would have to look higher up in the Pyramid.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    On the fifth floor of Fortress 51, the House of Daedalus.


    The best treatment a weapon designer could pursue is to work in the House of Daedalus.


    The weapons designed here are without exception revered and recognized by hunters and the regular army.


    The House of Daedalus mostly comprises old scholars, and there are some younger people, but at twenty-four years old, there are only a few like Ke Ye.


    In the conference room with the long table, Ke Ye and several peers of the same age all sat in relatively rear positions.


    At the very front was the greatest elder in the weapon design field, known as the father of postmodern weaponry¡ªLi Zhenjiang.

 Chapter 73 The Hidden Legend of the Weapon Realm_2

    Many weapon designers, whether working on firearms or bladed weapons, have their own creations, but without exception, they are all based on minor innovations of Li Zhenjiang''s work.That includes Ke Ye as well.


    However, Li Zhenjiang still had a high regard for Ke Ye. It was very difficult to achieve transcendence in the design of weapon shapes. The greatest changes, of course, had to come from breakthroughs and innovations in materials.


    This time, Ke Ye submitted a new proposal.


    It was also because the performance of this new alloy formula was so exceptional that it shocked all the elders.


    These young calves were about to start a revolution in the world of weaponry.


    At this moment, a group of people were discussing whether to make this formula public.


    "I am opposed to open-sourcing it. Such a formula should be for the exclusive use of our Fortress Fifty-One. Right now, with the competition among the fortresses, everyone wants to break through to the seventh level as soon as possible.


    Holding the advantage in weaponry, we are the most likely to breach the seventh level, following the fortresses of the Li family, the Song Family, and the Qi Family," said the speaker, an old academic in the weapons industry named Wang Qi, aged sixty-two, who had dedicated his life to metal casting.


    However, in the past, he had little regard for the younger generation. Even though Ke Ye brought a revolutionary formula today, he was still looking for ways to nitpick.


    Li Zhenjiang then turned his gaze to the younger faction.


    Ke Ye''s group did not speak; the one who spoke was Zhang An, who oversaw weapons manufacturing.


    Acting as a mediator, his comments today were different from the past.


    "I would like to ask Ke, did you come up with this formula yourself? Any reform should be approached gradually. Do you have a better proposal in your hands?"


    Ke Ye and the other young designers, despite being the top weapon designers of the nation, rarely had the right to speak in the House of Daedalus due to seniority.


    Now, as all eyes focused on this young man, Ke Ye spoke:


    "This alloy formula is not my invention. The reason for making it public is to strengthen the human camp as much as possible before the battle at Yuepela Plains begins, to minimize human casualties. Since it''s a joint human endeavor, I believe there is no need to keep secrets at this time."


    Zhang An felt this made sense, but still said:


    "Haha, it''s not easy for a young man to have such broad-mindedness, but I only agree with you halfway. Let me share my view. In recent years, Lincoln Fortress and the twelve fortresses led by Sky Guardian Fortress in Dongying have each harbored ulterior motives, possessing technologies from various families.


    For instance, in the field of armor, Sky Guardian Fortress''s armor wear outperforms ours in terms of lightness and defense. And in the realm of firearms, Lincoln Fortress is much stronger than us.


    Human nature has deteriorated, so even towards outsiders, achieving absolute unity is difficult. This formula can give our hunters an era''s advantage in weapons equipment, bridging some gaps. The technology should be promoted nationally but not shared with foreign countries."


    The meeting was divided into progressive, conservative, and moderate factions. As to the final decision, it was still up to Li Zhenjiang.


    Just then, Ke Ye said:


    "We belong to Fortress Fifty-One, and the weapons we produce are unparalleled in the world. Granted, the industrial strength of Lincoln Fortress and Sky Guardian Fortress is not weak, but how can they compare with us? If they have this formula, can''t we just produce something even better?"


    There was an uproar, his words were perhaps too arrogant. Li Zhenjiang remained silent, Ke Ye continued:


    "This formula was a gift from a friend. After asking for his opinion, he told me to deal with it as I please. Since it''s up to me, it should be handled according to my thoughts."


    Ke Ye was uncompromising. Although his ideas were not entirely supported even by his peers, instinctively, they backed Ke Ye against those self-righteous old academics.


    Wang Qi scoffed:


    "I thought you had designed it yourself, to be so haughty. Just like in using weapons, there is always someone better out there. Since this formula does not originate from you, then please invite that senior here. What gives a greenhorn like you the right to spout nonsense?"


    Li Zhenjiang also said:


    "Comrade Ke, you said this alloy formula was a gift from a friend. Judging by the formula, his understanding of the metal industry is profound. May I know which master it is? This could be considered a hidden legend in the weapons industry." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ke Ye felt like laughing. Wang Qi always looked down on young people, feeling they were impetuous.


    He always spoke in a condescending tone of experience, bemoaning how those born in the ''90s, the ''00s after them, and even worse, those from the new decade, were unfit for serious use.


    Such people have always existed, and Ke Ye wondered how Wang Qi would react upon meeting Tang Xian.


    Ke Ye then said:


    "So you''re saying, what I say doesn''t count, and it''s up to the owner of the formula?"


    Wang Qi replied:


    "Why not invite this senior to the House of Daedalus. I believe he can''t be as na?ve as your young group. How could we give such a valuable thing to outsiders!"


    Li Zhenjiang shook his head and said:


    "Since the expert has said that everything is up to Ke to arrange, then it will be up to Ke to arrange it. However, if possible, Ke, I hope you could also remind that expert to understand the impact of this formula on the future weapons industry and the balance of power among nations."


    Ke Ye respected Li Zhenjiang''s opinion, and Zhang An also agreed. Wang Qi had nothing to say,


    Ke nodded and said, "He will arrive at Fortress Fifty-One this afternoon, and tomorrow I will bring him to meet all of you."


    Everyone was pleased. They had been diligently studying weaponry for a long time, and naturally wanted to meet such a character, so the meeting thus came to an end.

 Chapter 73 The Hidden Legend of the Weapon Realm_3

    The rest of the people gradually left, and Ke Ye was tidying up the notes on the table when Zhang An spoke up:"Ke, I''ve looked out for you on normal days, haven''t I?"


    "Zhang, are you asking if I''ve fully disclosed the formula?"


    Zhang An was taken aback; this kid Ke Ye was quite smart.


    "Come on, let''s talk while walking. Tell me the truth, is there still potential for further improvement in this formula?"


    After thinking it over, Ke Ye felt that these people were after all considering the national interest. Plus, since they often had to deal with the weapons supervisory department, it would be best to make friends if possible. He then said:


    "To be honest with you, this is both a full disclosure and not quite a disclosure."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The formula is indeed the best alloy formula I can master at present, with no reservations. I haven''t kept any private stock for myself; I''ve disclosed everything." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhang An asked:


    "Then how can you say it''s not fully disclosed?"


    "Because what I can''t think of, my friend can. He must have an even stronger alloy formula in his possession."


    "Do we have such a wondrous person in our circle?"


    "He''s not in the weapon-making business. Doesn''t even count as doing it part-time. It''s just a hobby for him, and I''m not clear about what his job is¡ªconsider him a miner, I guess. You''ll find out tomorrow."


    Ke Ye smiled, thinking that revealing this formula might have been a fluke devised by someone for slaughtering pigs, which may be too much of a blow for them. He didn''t say more and directly left.


    Zhang An was left dumbfounded under the tree, his face filled with disbelief.


    ...


    ...


    In a way, Ke Ye wasn''t wrong¡ªTang Xian could be considered a low-level employee who had not even received his diploma.


    Upon arriving at Bastion 51, Tang Xian didn''t delay; he had already contacted Ke Ye. The miscellaneous affairs were all properly handled.


    With Li Zheng''s company, their group entered the fifth level without any obstruction.


    After passing numerous weapon shops far surpassing Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop in both scale and technology, Tang Xian met up with Ke Ye.


    At a height of one meter seventy, he was still young but already had a slight hunch. His skin had darkened compared to before, not as pale. Nor did he have the timidity of the past, but instead carried a trace of determination.


    Tang found this good; these were the signs of a person''s growth.


    Ke Ye wanted to say something, but seeing Tang''s faint smile, he couldn''t utter a word.


    Show-offs, complaints, extramarital affairs¡ªthese became labels of many class reunions.


    Ke Ye never attended a class reunion. For six years, he had been solely devoted to making weapons, also because Tang Xian''s name was never on the guest list of those reunions.


    A true heartfelt friend, upon reuniting after many years, brought more emotion and satisfaction in an instant of eye contact than an entire class reunion could ever offer.


    As Ke Ye thought about this, it was fortunate that Tang was not a sentimental person, otherwise, at this moment, two grown men might have ended up embracing in a surge of emotions.


    As Ke Ye was pondering how to invite Tang to the House of Daedalus,


    Tang spoke directly:


    "Let''s talk during the surgery. My friend is still being located, and there''s still a bomb hidden in his spine. We can''t delay any longer. Prepare the instruments, and let''s start immediately."


    "Now? You really haven''t changed one bit." Ke Ye gave a wry smile.


    (I will take a moment of your time from the regular chapter to say this: Since I began writing, I''ve never asked for any rewards, only for subscriptions, because for both reader and writer, subscription is a fair trade. I have every right to ask for it. The new book is going poorly, and if subscriptions remain low, the editor won''t promote it, creating a vicious cycle.


    If this book brings any joy to readers following pirated versions, I hope you will support it by subscribing. Additionally, if there is a recommendation arrangement this afternoon, I will provide an explosive release of ten thousand words tomorrow.)

 Chapter 74 Hunting the Nvwa Snake Operation (Major Chapter)

    Tang Xian was certain that the people in the Evolution Zone were aware of Akasi''s arrival at Fortress 51, and they might already be taking action.Subsequently, he also had to consider the possibility that they would publicly reveal Akasi''s appearance.


    Fortunately, the surgery to disrupt the tracking device with an electromagnetic interference field wasn''t difficult to perform; the tricky part was that the locator and detonator were in the spine, necessitating extreme precision during surgery.


    In a makeshift lab, Akasi and Tang Suoye were both present¡ªone unconscious, the other watching nonchalantly as the scalpel cut into the back of their neck.


    Ke Ye wasn''t responsible for performing the surgery; Tang Xian personally took up the scalpel.


    Ke Ye, watching from the side, winced at the sight, but the two undergoing the operation seemed long accustomed to the pain.


    He couldn''t help but wonder what the background of the man and woman was. It was his first time seeing anyone waiting for the end of a surgery without anesthesia so calmly.


    Even the doctors performing the surgery with Tang Xian were amazed.


    While people vary in their resilience to pain, most still show subtle facial expressions when in discomfort.


    The comatose girl might be one thing, but Akasi, wide awake, seemed genuinely impervious to pain.


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised; from a young age, they had been used as test subjects, their bodies subjected to countless more horrific assaults, with serums from cataclysmic creatures infused into their very being. For such flesh wounds, unless they chose to actively feel pain, it was essentially negligible.


    During the surgery, Tang Xian received a prompt in his mind.


    An unexpected harvest.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Precision Strike]


    [Precision Strike: When attacking a target that has reached the unparalleled achievement, you can adjust the additional damage with willpower, fluctuating between 0.03% to 10% of the maximum health value.]


    Tang Xian remained nonchalant, having witnessed even more astounding events before, he quickly adapted.


    "Not particularly meaningful, but better than nothing," he thought.


    He had already tested and found that normal physical contact didn''t trigger the additional damage from the unparalleled achievement. It would only take effect when facing human units that he had the desire to attack.


    Now, he simply had an extra switch to adjust the intensity of the force.


    It seemed that achieving the accomplishment was somehow related to his careful control during Akasi''s surgery, although he didn''t know exactly what triggered it.


    The ability was undeniably considerate.


    The surgery went smoothly; the electromagnetic separation equipment swiftly rendered the little gadgets attached to Akasi''s spine ineffective.


    The devices weren''t worried about battery life, as the human body naturally contains a very low level of bioelectricity, and the devices maintained an activated state by harnessing that bioelectricity continuously.


    Fortress 51, on the other hand, possessed equipment that could block electromagnetic induction, creating the effect of a pseudo-mining area environment, albeit only within a single room.


    Midway through, Tang Xian even had a casual chat with Ke Ye, who was watching.


    Their conversation was mostly about weapons; through the current demand analysis, Tang Xian could discern some of Ke Ye''s careful considerations.


    What should have been a tremendously dangerous surgery ended quite effortlessly.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Starting today, you and Tang Suoye are free."


    Akasi nodded. Finally, having truly broken free from the shackles of the Evolution Zone, he seemed a bit at a loss for a moment.


    The pressure of survival that had burdened him for so many years suddenly dissipated, making the once unattainable aspects of life seem not so distant anymore.


    All of this... probably began with the tampering of that bottle of sesame oil.


    After a while, he smiled, unable to say anything particularly memorable, he simply stated,


    "Tang Xian, thank you."


    Tang Xian remained his usual self, so calm it made one wonder if he was missing some emotions:


    "Once I finish with the busywork tomorrow, I''ll take you to the mining area. Things have been a bit hectic lately. But for tonight, you and Tang Suoye should get some rest."


    ...


    ...


    The next morning, Ke Ye came to the villa early on.


    Inside the Pyramid, the sky wasn''t visible, but the exhaust systems were clearly overloaded, indicating a smog distinctive of the Industrial Revolution. This was the case from the second layer up to the fifth layer.


    Tang Xian woke up early. After Ke Ye arrived, he didn''t rush off and instead had a bowl of noodles with him.


    He had heard Ke Ye complain about this when they previously made contact.


    "The old scholars in the courtyard are overly conservative. Humanity is on the verge of a massive invasion of the Yuepela Plains, yet they''re still fussing over minute calculations."


    "People need to have a bit of selfishness, which is not entirely wrongful."


    "No, whose side are you on? I remember you weren''t this conservative."


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "Of course, I''m on your side. I''m just telling you, you need to keep some tricks up your sleeve." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ke Ye was startled.


    "The era of personalized weaponry is coming. The effects of Soul Crystals from different creatures on weapons are yet to be seen. The future will see a plethora of weapons with bizarre and varied capabilities.


    You only need to advance the weapon-making concept to this era; however, keep some ace skills to yourself."


    "Whether you wish to pass down the lineage or establish a new school, either way, it''s good for you."


    Having finished his noodles, Tang Xian left while Ke Ye pondered for a moment before saying,


    "Doesn''t that mean that in the future, I may end up just like them?"


    "It''s different."


    "How is it different?"


    "Because you will be the biggest proponent of the weapons revolution. Just that alone sets you apart from those who have achieved nothing."

 Chapter 74 Hunting the Nvwa Snake Operation (Major Chapter)_2

    ......


    House of Daedalus.


    Tang Xian sat next to Ke Ye, as meetings were held daily and thus, a great deal of off-topic rubbish talk preceded them.


    For instance, someone would share their views and comments on a certain weapon.


    Someone''s store introduced some kind of mechanical modules.


    Tang Xian yawned, drawing quite a few displeased glances.


    "Who is this?" Li Zhenjiang asked.


    Ke Ye hurriedly said, "Li, this is my friend Tang Xian. The alloy formulation I presented yesterday was provided by him."


    The crowd was astonished. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To them, the proportion of various metallic materials in that alloy formulation seemed like art; without decades of dedicated study, how could one come up with such a thing?


    Wang Qi, who looked down on the young, naturally didn''t believe it, and said,


    "I wonder where Mr. Tang studied."


    "I haven''t, I''m just a junior employee," Tang Xian answered truthfully.


    Wang Qi was stunned and then laughed in annoyance:


    "Ke Ye, you brought this person here just so you could release the formulation to the public?"


    "The House of Daedalus is the ultimate meeting room that countless weapon designers and metallurgists dream of. You let a junior employee impersonate that senior?"


    Ke Ye glanced at Tang Xian, who then said:


    "That formulation was indeed designed by me. Although I work at the bottom, I occasionally review my past knowledge, as reviewing the old can lead to understanding the new. It was just a moment of inspiration,"


    Tang Xian spoke with a calm and earnest tone, and he didn''t try to boast or trivialize the matter.


    But even though he was telling the truth, the atmosphere on site was somewhat awkward.


    Not to mention Wang Qi, even Li Zhenjiang and Zhang An, including some young people next to Ke Ye, thought that Tang Xian was probably an outsider to their field.


    Tang Xian shook his head; he hadn''t seen Tang Xiaojiu for some days and missed her. He didn''t want to linger, so he went straight to the point,


    "You want to release the formulation to the public, right?"


    He asked Ke Ye, who nodded.


    Then, without paying attention to Wang Qi, Tang Xian directly asked Li Zhenjiang,


    "And you think this is an opportunity to reshuffle national power, so we should keep some secrets, right?"


    Although Li Zhenjiang was skeptical, he was a composed person and thus nodded in agreement.


    Tang Xian said, "Easy. May I borrow some paper and a pen?"


    Ke Ye handed Tang Xian paper and a pen.


    Tang Xian pondered briefly, then began to scribble.


    His hand moved swiftly, and as he hurried to finish the meeting, his handwriting became sloppy but still legible.


    The drawings resembled the work of a soul artist, yet it was clear enough for one to discern its intent.


    Everything seemed like the casual doodles of an outsider.


    However, in the House of Daedalus, no one stopped him; they all waited to see what the young man was up to.


    Minutes later, after making several changes and corrections, Tang Xian nearly finished his drawing and handed the paper and pen back to Ke Ye.


    "Some aspects of this formulation are still theoretical. Remember what I told you last time, after the battle in Yuepela Plains is over, when there are abundant Soul Crystals available, then you''ll be able to use it.


    Figure out the rest on your own; restrict it to national use for three years, then go public afterward. And for the formulation I gave you before, to cope with the upcoming conflicts, you should release it now. I''m off to the mines, you know the place. If you want to catch up, come find me."


    Having said that, Tang Xian left without delay.


    Ke Ye had a dumbfounded expression. Was this man multitasking the judgment, the new formulation, and saying farewell all at once?


    He lowered his head to look at Tang Xian''s scribbles and couldn''t tear his eyes away.


    Wang Qi snorted cynically, waiting to be amused. Zhang An, however, noticed something off in Ke''s expression.


    It was clearly the look of someone who had discovered treasure.


    Li Zhenjiang then left his seat and walked over to Ke Ye.


    Soon, more and more people gathered around Ke Ye. These masters of weaponry manufacturing all wore looks of disbelief.


    Wang Qi finally managed to squeeze in and take a look. At first, he was dismissive, but then he let out a light exclamation.


    And then, as if struck by lightning,


    "Can... can weapons be made like this?"


    Ke Ye was the first to regain composure. The previous formula given by Tang Xian was for an alloy that simply enhanced the toughness, lightness, and sharpness of existing metals, and was in all respects superior to the old alloys. It was hard to see how any improvement could be made on that.


    But Tang Xian also mentioned a concept: future weapons would likely use Soul Crystals as the core material.


    How to translate theory and ideas into specific plans would require a lot of work.


    Even Ke Ye hadn''t imagined that Tang Xian''s theoretical talk already had a complete plan in mind.


    As Tang Xian said, it was a draft that was still in the theoretical stage, but it already provided answers in many of the most challenging areas.


    Li Zhenjiang also calmed down and said,


    "The younger generation is to be feared indeed. We have indeed become complacent. This man is truly a genius! If we take the Yuepela Plains, humans'' domain would expand from the blue to the yellow regions, with the hunting range increasing by several times, and naturally, there would be more Soul Crystals."


    "With this, the usage of Soul Crystals, a rare material, in various fields will have more opportunities for experimentation, and so will the weaponry industry! This is truly revolutionary! With this formulation, we can definitely release the previous one to the open source."


    Zhang An nodded, and the others agreed as well.


    Wang Qi was doubting his life decisions and asked,

 Chapter 74 Hunting the Nvwa Snake Operation (Major Chapter)_3

    "So why did he decide to make it open-source three years later?"Everyone fell silent; they didn''t know the answer, and Tang had already left. The group started to regret not stopping Tang Xian at that moment.


    After a while, Ke Ye finally spoke:


    "If we still need to rely on a formula to establish our advantage even after being three years ahead in theory and direction, then perhaps there''s no need for the House of Daedalus to exist, right? I think that''s what he meant."


    "This..." Zhang An gave a wry smile, not knowing what expression to make.


    Li Zhenjiang slowly nodded and said:


    "With a three-year lead in thinking, during this process, we can create countless new weapons. Indeed, there''s no need to stick to the old ways."


    Zhang An sighed:


    "Ke, your friend is really something. These concepts, everyone can see them clearly at first glance, and the academic gap is actually not that large, but the thoughts of young people are boundless. This is indeed a wake-up call!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhenjiang also nodded in agreement:


    "Scientific progress is indeed a gradual evolution, but there have also been examples of completely abandoning the old system and making a breakthrough from an entirely different direction. Today is such an occasion."


    Ke Ye felt happier hearing them praise Tang Xian than if they had praised him. He really wished Tang Xian hadn''t left in such a hurry.


    But this person really hadn''t changed a bit in six years, still so straightforward. It seems he completely disregards these people''s opinions.


    Tang Xian had actually mentioned those concepts a long time ago.


    Six years ago, when discussing weapons at school with Ke, Tang Xian already had these ideas.


    He had also tried to make these ideas public through letters.


    But due to his status, whether these letters would be delivered was uncertain, and even if they were, it wasn''t sure if they would be taken seriously.


    The half-blind man at the street-side chess stall possesses the skills to play against national masters. The old monk, who sweeps the floors all day, yet can fend off heroes of the martial world. The neighborhood uncle, armed with a ping pong paddle, teaches the national team life lessons.


    While these scenarios are dramatic, they''re not realistic. Naturally, nobody believes that someone from the lower levels could possess much insight.


    The conference at the House of Daedalus ended before long, and a group of weapon scholars excitedly left, all planning to return to their own workshops and ponder deeply.


    Ke Ye was tidying up the table and turned the page, finding another design.


    He puzzled over it; he hadn''t noticed it before because everyone was transfixed by the message Tang Xian had left on the previous page.


    Soon after, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.


    "This lazy fellow, always drawing a diagram and leaving me to do the work."


    The drawing appeared to be a pair of gloves. However, looking at the notes everywhere, the gloves seemed to have many functions, and the principles were quite novel.


    This was clearly a new piece of equipment Tang Xian wanted him to make, and it was for mass production. Probably for each member of his own hunter squad.


    Ke Ye put away the design and hurried toward his own smelting room. If Tang Xian was efficient in his work, he shouldn''t be lazy either.


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, Tianque Plains.


    The White Bone Mountain Range, even more remote than Waning Time Valley, was once a paradise for many birds and also the farthest place Tang Xian and his companions had traveled through.


    Continuing two days'' journey north from there, one would reach the Tianque Plains.


    Now, life here was sparse.


    Where beasts used to surround it, with an ecosystem even richer and more expansive than the forest sea. But as the Nvwa Snakes and the foxes fought, many animals migrated to Saint Dene Highlands, west of the Yuepela Plains.


    Tianque Plains then became the biggest battlefield between the two clans.


    Qing JiuYu, as the leader of the fox clan and the only nine-tailed demon fox alive today, posed a significant threat to the snake clan during battles.


    Her strength was by no means inferior to her beauty, but due to the prolonged fighting, she also seemed a bit weary.


    The vast difference between a six-tailed and a nine-tailed fox far exceeded that between a Nvwa Snake and a White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.


    This battle, in essence, was more like her single-handedly fighting against the entire snake clan.


    As the battle continuously turned for the worse, it looked as if the fox clan would be driven out of the Tianque Plains.


    The resources here were very important to the fox clan, which had lived here for hundreds of years. Although Qing JiuYu was unwilling to accept this, she was helpless to change it.


    Nearly a hundred Nvwa Snakes and their leader, the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, were slightly superior to the fox clan in terms of compatibility.


    Even with the power of a catastrophe, she ultimately couldn''t influence things alone, and the gap in combat power between six-tailed foxes and Nvwa Snakes was too large.


    A large number of six-tailed and three-tailed foxes died; the scent of the Biphasic Orchids was mixed with the strong smell of rotting flesh.


    The rules of evolution in this world are chaotic. There are gradual advancements like those of the Nvwa Snakes, as well as leaps akin to moving from six tails to nine in one step.


    But the difficulty of evolution varies. Many elders of the fox clan, having lived even longer than Qing JiuYu, simply couldn''t evolve from six tails to nine.


    This was the gap in natural talent.


    Even as one of the strongest beings of the continent, she couldn''t stop the invasion of an entire clan of calamity-level creatures.


    However, recently, Qing JiuYu felt that the Nvwa Snakes of the Tianque Plains had become much more restrained.


    As she moved across the plains in her beastly form, she resembled a queen who reigned over this land. There had always been some troublesome white snake, bringing a group of Nvwa Snakes to entangle with her.


    But for three days running, Qing JiuYu hadn''t felt that annoying presence.


    The typically aggressive Nvwa Snakes had not organized an attack in these three days.


    With wisdom even surpassing some humans, Qing JiuYu quickly deduced that there might be issues within the snake clan.


    The snake clan leader, capable of transforming into a human like her, the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, was nowhere to be seen.

 Chapter 74 Hunting the Nvwa Snake Operation (Major Chapter)_4

    With that troublesome woman gone, Qing JiuYu felt a noticeable reduction in pressure amid the warfare between the two tribes.Many Nvwa Snakes hidden in the shadows were killed by her.


    The Soul Crystals of calamity-level creatures were of great benefit to Qing JiuYu''s recovery from her injuries.


    Even with nearly a hundred of them, the headless Nvwa Snake Legion could not pose a threat to her.


    With her massive beastly form, Qing JiuYu tore through the bodies of the Nvwa Snakes.


    This was a lone Nvwa Snake, found at the edge of Tianque by her, while the snake tribe had already hidden underground.


    But occasionally, a Nvwa Snake would still run out.


    This kind of defensive, non-combat state also confirmed Qing JiuYu''s guess.


    Her eyes carried a hint of puzzlement:


    "Why did that woman, Bai Mansheng, suddenly abandon her people and leave when victory was within reach?"


    Qing JiuYu couldn''t understand.


    But what she could be sure of was that the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon would return. In terms of strength, it was far inferior to the nine-tailed fox demon.


    Yet, the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, in coordination with her people, made a formidable presence on every outing, proving to be a great nuisance to Qing JiuYu.


    "This is actually a good thing. Her departure has tipped the balance. Perhaps my fox tribe can turn defeat into victory."


    ...


    ...


    White Bone Mountain Range.


    The stream water held a touch of chilliness. Bai Mansheng crouched by the stream, drank from it, her pure white gown reminiscent of a bridal dress, stained upon the ground, yet untarnished by dust.


    Her human form appeared transcendent and unprofaned, unlike Qing JiuYu''s naturally enchanting features.


    In human history, the seductive power of serpent demons was actually not much different from that of fox demons.


    White Phosphorus Serpent Demons were not as rare as nine-tailed fox demons, and Bai Mansheng did have a few of her kind. However, most were far along in years.


    It might be possible to glimpse their nation-toppling beauty and unmatched grace from their youth, but the marks of time spared no one.


    Bai Mansheng was still very young, just like Qing JiuYu, both leaders of their respective tribes, unlike the wolf, dog, lion, or tiger tribes.


    The leaders of the snake and fox tribes were the youngest and their human forms were exceptionally beautiful women.


    Bai Mansheng stood up and looked northwestwards, where her people were currently battling one of the most fearsome creatures on the continent.


    Although these days, the strength of her tribe had forced Qing JiuYu into a steady retreat, she had been seriously injured.


    The victory seemed assured, yet she had had to leave due to an important matter.


    A certain Nvwa Snake was about to evolve into a White Phosphorus Serpent Demon. Once at the calamity level, evolving further became extremely difficult.


    Everything depended on chance.


    This kind of evolution occurring within her tribe was naturally good news.


    But this time it was different, Bai Mansheng personally sought out this Nvwa Snake''s trail because this Nvwa Snake¡­ was a deserter.


    Once beings begin to possess intelligence that transcends instinct, their developmental trajectory eerily mirrors that of human history.


    When the feminine waxes and the masculine wanes, or vice versa, or when they balance each other out.


    The deserters had never accepted that the leader of the Nvwa Snakes was a woman, as snake tribe tradition had always been for the youngest and mightiest White Phosphorus Serpent Demon to succeed as leader.


    Bai Mansheng had her reasons for needing to rule the snake tribe, and her search was to ensure the deserter''s stance.


    This place was once a habitat for flocks of birds, but the arrival of a very powerful entity had made the entire White Bone Mountain Range much quieter than usual.


    The presence of a calamity-level boss, which was already very close to a cataclysm-level creature, caused any lifeforms that sensed it to scatter and retreat.


    Bai Mansheng''s steps seemed slow, yet they were incredibly fast. In a moment, she covered a great distance.


    Any birds or beasts encountered fled in haste.


    The breeze fluttered her gown, making her seem like a celestial maiden.


    She actually felt a trace of melancholy. These creatures were too weak; there was no need for them to hide from her.


    After all, their Soul Crystals were of little use to her.


    A lonely journey made the road seem endless.


    ...


    ...


    The sea of trees, the wooden hut.


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    Tang Xian was preparing food, to cross a vast area in the coming days, carrying easy-to-transport food would save a lot of trouble.


    There were places that Tang Xian had only learned about from books.


    Tang Xiaojiu looked worriedly at Tang Suoye. Despite once suffering a humiliating defeat to him in terms of food capacity, the mutual recognition between food lovers still made her fond of Tang Suoye.


    When she saw Tang Xian, Tang Xiaojiu also vented quite a bit of her frustrations.


    She didn''t like the Pyramid, even though for modern women, the fortress''s thirty-nine shops held many of their luxurious dreams.


    But for Tang Xiaojiu, pig''s ears, beef tripe, dragon spike fish, or even Mapo Tofu were much more substantial.


    "Tang Xian, why isn''t that young lady waking up? She really can sleep, she''s been asleep an entire day already."


    Tang Xian didn''t know the reason either. Theoretically speaking, Tang Suoye''s bodily functions were all normal, and she should have woken up by now, but she just hadn''t come to.


    Now that the cabin had Akasi and Tang Suoye too, it had become quite lively. This was also when the Team Shengtang had the most members present at one time.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Her name is Tang Suoye. Just like you, she likes her own name."


    Tang Xiaojiu nodded her head as if she half-understood.


    "Tang, are we going on a long journey?" Dong Ran asked curiously.


    "Of course, this time we''re going to catch snakes. Triple Snake Soup is a very delicious food. I''m not sure if we can eat the meat from a Catastrophe-level creature, but I imagine the meat from a Disaster-level creature will be very nourishing."


    Qiao Shanshan suddenly looked up and said to Tang Xian,


    "Disaster-level creatures are troublesome, Tang Xian, you actually... don''t need to rush. The mining region is so big, whether we can find it is still uncertain. Besides... you said it yourself, it''s an evolving Nvwa Snake. If it turns into a White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, going there would just be suicide."


    Tang Xian said, Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s why we need to hurry. Based on my understanding, if it becomes a boss-level creature, at the Disaster-level... basically, it can''t be eaten anymore."


    The others were puzzled, but Tang Xian didn''t explain.


    Perfect-level boss creatures and elite-level boss creatures, while powerful, also have intelligence close to that of humans.


    Catastrophe-level boss creatures can transform into human form. He didn''t know if Disaster-level bosses could do the same.


    If Disaster-level bosses turned into human form, Tang Xian''s principle was that they wouldn''t be part of his diet.


    Therefore, they needed to hurry, or else he would be missing out on a serving of snake soup.


    "How are we going to track down that Nvwa Snake?" Akasi asked.


    "We''ll head to the north of Waning Time Valley first. The last place it was seen is there. As for the battlefield between the snake and the fox tribes, it''s considered a far southern location, but it will definitely return."


    "What do you mean?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "You need to think of this snake as a person. It fled the battlefield to complete its evolution. Once the evolution is finished, it would naturally return to the battlefield. With this in mind, our target area is much smaller."


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Gazi, and this foolish bird was meowing, and it was unclear what kind of dirty deal it was conducting with Tang Bingxiang.


    "This foolish bird is called the hundred-tongued bird. Although it''s not very useful in battle, its meat is tender... slip of the tongue, but it''s proficient in many creatures'' languages, and the Nvwa Snake is not small. There must be many creatures along the way that have seen it."


    Tang Gazi clearly didn''t know what perilous thoughts his good friend Tang Xian had in his mind.


    "Tang Gazi can gather some information for us."


    Akasi understood, not expecting Tang Xian''s little bird pet to have such capabilities.


    After allocating the food, Tang Xian said,


    "Pack up, we''re preparing to set out."


    Qiao Shanshan looked at Tang Xian gratefully. Hunting a Disaster-level creature was basically impossible for a hunter team.


    Only those great families, deploying large-scale troops for extended campaigns, could hunt Disaster-level creatures.


    As for hunting a Disaster-level boss creature, it would involve exhausting the entire fortress''s resources and a plan spanning several years to achieve.


    Tang Xian was smart, and Qiao Shanshan believed he was fully aware of the dangers of this mission.


    But Tang Xian showed no intention of evading any commitments.


    She just didn''t know whether she would still feel touched in secret once she learned that Tang Xian''s actual subjective desire was to have Triple Snake Soup.


    Yet Tang Xian had some other thoughts in mind too.


    After the hellhound, he had hunted cat-eared bats, Yi Niu, iron-can pigs, and gemstone tigers. This included the six-tailed fox that perished at the hands of Dong Ran.


    None of these creatures had dropped a skill. He hoped that this time the Disaster-level creature would bring some surprises.


    Soon, Akasi carrying Tang Suoye, Dong Ran holding Tang Bingxiang, Tang Gazi perched on Tang Xiaojiu''s shoulder, Tang Xian in the rearmost position, and Qiao Shanshan walking ahead of Tang Xian, the group of visitors from the forest set out in earnest, all heading north.


    In human history, the smallest-scale Disaster-level creature hunting plan commenced!


    (This chapter has the most words to date, but it still doesn''t reach ten thousand. The mining area plot is a grand scene that I need to think about carefully. That''s all for today~ see you tomorrow)

 Chapter 75 Beast Tide

    The Forest Sea and the Red Earth Forest are centrally located on the continent, adjacent to tropical regions. Further north lies the forbidden land, where human civilization has hardly ever set foot.However, there is a well-developed map, derived from the knowledge gained by unlocking the levels of the Pyramid and from the explorations of human sages.


    Since humans first set foot in the mining area, it has been in the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere. Even after hundreds of years, humanity''s mining bases at their various strongholds are still near these regions, due to climatic reasons.


    North of the Forest Sea is collectively known as the Northern Region. Correspondingly, south of the Amara Continent in the Southern Hemisphere is known as the Southern Region.


    Thus, the range of human activity is actually very small, fitting snugly in the world''s crevices, much like their place in the real world.


    Although many pioneers have ventured into the world of mining and drawn fairly accurate maps, stepping foot in a place and conquering it are two entirely different concepts.


    The Yuepela Plains, where humanity is about to prepare for battle, are in the Northern Region but are extremely close to the west. The current route of expansion is also far from the Forest Sea. This is consistent with Tang Xian''s calculations.


    The human route for conquering the mining area should be rather circuitous. For decades, the Forest Sea should remain a quiet area.


    Tang Xian and his companions are stepping into the Northern Region.


    In less than fourteen hours of their journey, they have already encountered several waves of creatures from the mining area.


    Tang Xian carefully calculated that Dong Ran''s strength is close to that of the elite-level ordinary creatures and weaker than boss-level creatures.


    But with Qiao Shanshan''s help, Dong Ran can even fight with perfect-level creatures. At the very least, he can hold them off for a while.


    Akasi''s awakened combat capability is speed, and coupled with the serum from Lei Xiao, his speed becomes even more exaggerated. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But his weakness is also very clear; sharp weapons are not effective in the mining area, and his offensive power, under certain circumstances, might even be inferior to Dong Ran when using wind pressure.


    However, the terrifying speed allows Akasi to launch one-sided attacks against elite and even perfect-level creatures. Too rapid to be countered by the creatures of the mining area.


    Tang Xian did not use the spray extracted from the Red Thread Grass by Shang Lu.


    Along the way, he intentionally allowed the mining area creatures to approach.


    Once deprived of the Red Thread Grass, the human scent naturally carries a certain allure to these creatures. Continue reading at empire


    The group has reached the wasteland north of Waning Time Valley.


    Further north lies the Blood-colored Wasteland, and traveling northwest from there leads to the White Bone Mountain Range.


    The terrain here is flat, with few trees, and creatures are relatively scarce.


    But those they encounter are bothersome creatures.


    Along the way, Tang Xian also inquired about many creatures through Tang Gazi, birds and beasts included, and the group gleaned some useful information.


    Treading through the mud, Tang Xian said,


    "In a few more hours, it should start to rain. Let''s find a place to take shelter for the night."


    Qiao Shanshan asked, baffled,


    "Those animals did say they saw a large snake pass by three days ago, but why, following this direction in these developed terrains, has its trail disappeared?"


    Tang Xian did not answer but shook his head uncharacteristically and said,


    "I don''t know."


    Dong Ran was surprised. This was the first time he heard Tang say he didn''t know something about the mining area.


    Qiao Shanshan observed Tang Xian''s expression and felt that he was hiding something.


    "You don''t need to look at me like that. I''ll tell you what I can naturally," Tang said.


    The Nvwa Snake wouldn''t just disappear suddenly. Its huge size is many times larger than the Amazon Forest Boa, making it akin to a dragon gliding along the ground.


    But if it turned into a human, it would certainly become much smaller.


    A giant nine-tailed fox demon can transform into a seductive and enchanting woman. Perhaps the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon could too. Of course, it could also transform into something else.


    This means that the snake is likely about to complete its evolution or has already done so.


    Before reaching the Blood-colored Wasteland, the group found a cave and lit a fire inside it.


    Dong Ran gently stroked the head of Tang Bingxiang, occasionally scraping the cat''s cheeks, which the clumsy cat seemed to enjoy.


    Tang Xiaojiu opened the props bag, took out a fish, and stared at Tang Xian with eager eyes.


    Qiao Shanshan said,


    "That snake has been gone for a long time. What if we can''t find it within seven days?"


    Tang Xian answered,


    "The place we''re heading to, given our current pace, seems unreachable in seven days. We will return to the Pyramid halfway."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded. This was more or less what she had thought.


    This was her first time venturing so far. On the map, this was deemed forbidden land.


    Tang Xian saw her anxiety and said,


    "Actually, it''s not appropriate to divide regions into red or yellow zones. After all, even in the blue zones, it''s not impossible to encounter powerful creatures. Designating a safe area only lowers one''s guard. But you don''t need to worry too much. With a team like ours, as long as we remain vigilant, we can generally handle danger."


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Suoye, who was still asleep.


    Reflecting on it now, Akasi possessed a highly specialized ability, with overwhelming speed, but other stats quite average.


    The day they first met, the ability to effortlessly kill a perfect-level boss like the gem tiger must have been thanks to Tang Suoye''s efforts.


    Tang Xiaojiu is the trump card. Tang Xian trusted his team members, but he still maintained the mindset of keeping their strength hidden whenever possible.

 Chapter 75 Beast Tide_2

    If Tang Suoye could wake up, the chances of defeating a catastrophe-level creature would greatly increase.A campfire rose, and a group of people sat around it to enjoy their food.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan talked about some trivial matters, while Tang Xiaojiu ate, undistracted.


    Tang Xian''s nose twitched, and his expression gradually became serious, albeit with a hint of uncertainty.


    After about ten minutes, Akasi opened his squinted eyes, showing a trace of surprise, and glanced at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian shook his head slightly, signaling to keep calm.


    Enhanced olfactory senses gave Tang Xian an extremely far-reaching detection ability.


    Akasi relied on his acute sensitivity to slight tremors.


    Both of them had detected something approaching. They just weren''t clear about the situation yet.


    The feedback from his olfactory sense was so complex that even Tang Xian was unable to discern the situation.


    Soon, Dong Ran suddenly said,


    "Shanshan, do you feel that? The slight tremors?"


    Qiao Shanshan was stunned. The two girls had originally been sitting far apart, whispering girl talk.


    Qiao Shanshan then looked at her water cup; the ripples in the water indicated that it was indeed trembling.


    "This is a low hill; it shouldn''t collapse, and I''ve never heard of earthquakes in this terrain. What''s going on with this slight trembling sensation?" Qiao Shanshan said.


    She looked questioningly at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s expression grew even more grave:


    "We''re in danger. Block the cave entrance with something, extinguish the campfire! Quick!"


    Akasi also got up, ready to take out red line grass from his bag.


    Tang Xian stopped him, "Don''t use that. They''re probably patrolling their territory. The smell of red line grass could expose us at this time."


    Akasi nodded and put out the campfire.


    "Put all the food back into the bags! Don''t leave any remains!"


    Tang Xiaojiu was somewhat reluctant, while the two little animals, Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang, shrank behind Akasi.


    As creatures of the mining area, they too sensed danger, especially the sensation of the earth gently trembling, which filled them with fear. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Ran, looking at Tang Xian''s expression, asked with a trembling voice, "Tang, what exactly is happening?"


    Tang Xian looked around and said in a low voice, "Everyone, get down and press against the cave walls. Don''t make a sound if you can help it."


    Akasi seemed to have been through such a situation before, but it had never been as terrifying as this.


    He guessed it was the migration of a herd of beasts, but where would such a large-scale operation come from?


    Tang Xian leaned out of the cave, looking to the north. Nothing could be seen outside the cave; it was getting dark, and the view was no longer clear at a distance.


    In the limit of his vision, there was still nothing, but the scent in his breath was becoming increasingly intense!


    The few people in the cave dared not speak. Akasi pressed his ear to the ground, and after about ten more minutes, his pupils contracted,


    Tang Xian''s eyes also widened.


    On the edge where the sunset was about to fall, in the last afterglow of the red light, clouds of dust emerged.


    Countless wild bulls from the north, under the leadership of the new chieftain Yi Niu, were running wildly!


    It was as if all the wild bulls of the entire crimson wilderness had gathered together, charging straight in a certain direction!


    Tang Xian quickly withdrew into the cave. Like Akasi, he lay flat on the ground, also making a shushing gesture.


    The group lay there, witnessing a magnificent scene outside the cave that none of them had ever seen before.


    The thundering hooves of thousands of elite creatures resonated at the border of Waning Time Valley and the crimson wilderness.


    Though they all knew the mining area contained tens of times more creatures than the human population, seldom had they seen such a large-scale movement of mining area creatures.


    No one dared to make a sound. Although these animals were elite creatures, quantity had led to a qualitative change.


    Even dozens of regular combat troops would be instantly overwhelmed by a herd of this size!


    For half an hour, the vast herd of bulls stampeded past. During this time, Tang Xian noticed that it was not only bulls but also zebras, antelopes, and even lions, along with other enhanced and elite creatures, were all among them.


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    No wonder the very earth was trembling.


    A long time after those creatures had run towards an unknown direction, Dong Ran asked:


    "Tang, are we safe now?"


    Tang Xian shook his head, "There''s another tremor coming. Stay down. There are also many birds in the sky."


    After the deafening sound of hooves had faded away, the sharp cries of birds echoed in everyone''s ears.


    Tang Gazi let out a "gazi" sound and said,


    "There are Zudun People! Gazi!"


    Qiao Shanshan was puzzled, "What are Zudun People?"


    Tang Xian was visibly moved, looking at Tang Gazi, he asked, "Tang Gazi, are you sure?"


    "Yes! Gazi! The ones flying in the sky are night eagles!"


    "Tang, what are Zudun People?"


    "A perfect-class boss creature."


    "But... just perfect-class. We are going to hunt catastrophe-class... It can''t be that worrying, right?" Dong Ran said, unsure.


    Tang Xian shook his head. After all, Zudun People were extremely rare creatures, so it wasn''t surprising that Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan didn''t know about them.


    But he still said,


    "We walk in nature, preying on all things, yet we must also revere all things. True, you may feel the days in the forest sea have been comfortable since following me, but also remember, this is a harsh world that keeps all of human civilization isolated in the cracks."

 Chapter 75 Beast Tide_3

    Dong Ran rarely saw Tang Xian speak so seriously, and felt somewhat anxious in her heart.It was at this moment that everyone felt the previously tranquil earth begin to tremble violently!


    The magnitude of the shaking was far more exaggerated than the stampede of tens of thousands of creatures from just moments ago!


    Tang Xian made another gesture for everyone to be silent.


    He didn''t dare to stick his head out, but he knew that it must be dark outside by now.


    It was as if dusk had fallen just a second ago, and the next second it turned into night.


    It wasn''t that night had fallen, but that the mountainside-like body of a walking giant had obscured all light.


    The enormous footprints were almost the size of a basketball court, hinting at the colossal size of the creature''s body.


    The feedback from his sense of smell told Tang Xian that there were nearly forty Zudun Giants here.


    His breathing became tense.


    Creatures of such immense size had extremely obvious disadvantages, but they also possessed tremendous combat advantages.


    A single Zudun Giant was naturally of no concern to Tang Xian, but forty perfect-level bosses were passing by.


    Feeling their terrifying footsteps, he truly worried that one accidental step on this low hill would leave everyone, if not dead, at least seriously injured.


    Dong Ran covered her mouth, her eyes nearly bursting out, wanting to scream, but not daring to speak.


    It wasn''t just Dong Ran, even Qiao Shanshan and Tang Xiaojiu, and even Akasi''s expression became extremely grave.


    In their line of sight, they saw a gigantic pupil.


    A Zudun person crouched down, seemingly sensing the presence inside the cave.


    It bent over, its face close to the ground, but the cave entrance was just too small for it.


    So what everyone in the cave saw was one gigantic eye!


    Tang Xian had his back to the cave entrance, his body merely one meter away from this eye.


    Cold sweat poured down Tang Xian''s back. Even without seeing the eye himself, he could roughly understand the situation from everyone''s expressions.


    The giant eye roamed around and finally focused on Tang Xiaojiu.


    It revealed a look of puzzlement. After looking at Tang Xiaojiu for quite some time, it turned its gaze back to Tang Xian.


    To the people in the cave, this felt like facing an alien creature that looked similar to an eye.


    Then it let out a tremendous roar.


    "Why are you with humans?"


    A message flashed through Tang Xian''s mind, startling him. He quickly realized.


    Indeed, the Giants from the legends, the Zudun people were perfect-level boss entities, naturally capable of communicating with him.


    But Tang Xian didn''t speak.


    Many thoughts flashed through his mind about the day''s events.


    The Bloody Wilderness had been a habitat for herds of cattle for hundreds of years.


    And those lions and antelopes should have come from other forests of the Northern Region, while the Zudun people, with their huge statures, were usually hidden like stone sculptures within the great marshes.


    They were not creatures that should have appeared in this place.


    Why would the Nvwa Snake migrate from the Far North, even daring to face the fox tribe that had a cataclysm-level boss entity?


    Tang Xian thought it might have something to do with the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon but immediately shook his head.


    It wasn''t very likely.


    The scale of the beast horde just now, along with these forty or so Zudun Giants, let alone a disaster-level boss, even a cataclysm-level boss couldn''t have caused such a huge impact.


    "If you''re not going to talk, then I will take my clansmen and leave, okay?"


    The giant eye blinked, then slowly moved away from the cave entrance.


    The message in his mind left Tang Xian unsettled for a long time.


    Not until the true nightfall descended, not until the land had already quieted, did Tang Xian''s group still maintain their vigilance.


    Only after a long time did Tang Xian finally say in a deep voice:


    "In history, there was a record of such a massive migration, not just of one type of lifeform, but nearly several regions'' ecological systems collectively migrating."


    "That was three hundred years ago, when the great scholar Publius went to the Southern Region and witnessed it. Contrary to what we just experienced, that group of lifeforms was moving from south to north, while this group of lifeforms was migrating from north to south." Experience new stories on empire


    Tang Xian took a deep breath, calmed down, and started a bonfire.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s expression return to calm, both Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran also began to feel at ease.


    Seeing Tang Xian as calm as usual instinctively made them feel safe.


    As for the beast tide not long ago, it was also the first time they saw Tang Xian so tense.


    "What was the cause of the migration?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Publius only proposed a hypothesis, that there is a special force field in this world which resonates with the crystals in the brains of lifeforms, but this force field can change due to some special reasons."


    "Some lifeforms are unaffected, while others are driven away by this force field."


    "I have no way to verify Publius''s view because he mentioned something that I find quite terrifying."


    Akasi asked curiously, "What did he say?"


    Tang Xian answered:


    "He is a scholar who has traveled further than Fernando, and he once came across the remains of northern lifeforms in the far south, as well as the footprints of eastern plains lifeforms on the western highlands."


    "Does that mean something?" Qiao Shanshan was puzzled.


    "It doesn''t prove anything, but that scholar had a very bold conjecture; he believed that there is something in this world manipulating the habits of lifeforms."


    Dong Ran didn''t understand this concept, while Qiao Shanshan shook her head and said:


    "Isn''t that a bit far-fetched?"


    Tang Xian did not respond, his mind wandering back to the Wan Beast Court that Qing JiuYu had mentioned.


    Qing JiuYu herself was a calamity-level boss entity; among the lifeforms known to humans, she was easily among the strongest. Yet, it seemed, she too had to obey the Wan Beast Court.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "Get some rest. This migration does not affect our hunting, but I hope that while you do not fear this world, you also do not underestimate it."


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan nodded. Qiao Shanshan had wanted to ask if they could find the snake, but seeing Tang Xian''s demeanor, it seemed he was quite confident.


    Tang Xiaojiu suddenly said:


    "Tang Xian, I miss Qing. After we catch the big snake, can we go see her?"


    "Sure, I also have some things I want to ask her. Bringing the snake gall, she should be very happy."


    Dong Ran was startled, and Qiao Shanshan''s ears perked up.


    Both women were very curious about Tang Xiaojiu''s identity, and Akasi was also somewhat curious. Unlike the women, he could sense some unusual aura from the little girl.


    It was a feeling more dangerous than that of perfect-level lifeforms. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Ran asked hesitantly,


    "Tang, who is Qing?"


    "Do you want to ask for yourself, or on behalf of the Second Miss of your house?"


    "Of... of course, on behalf of the Second Miss..."


    "Oh, I''m not telling you. Tang Xiaojiu, don''t you tell them either."


    "Oh, Big Chest Sister, Tang Xian won''t let me tell you, so don''t ask me, okay?" Tang Xiaojiu said.


    "..." Dong Ran fell silent.


    Qiao Shanshan was startled again. Tang Xian certainly knew a lot of women... It seemed like the Second Miss of Dong Ran''s family must have some feelings for Tang Xian. Sometimes she thought Dong Ran looked at Tang Xian with admiration. Could Qing be related to Xiaojiu, entrusting the little girl to Tang Xian''s care? That relationship must also be out of the ordinary.


    Humph, definitive proof of a playboy.

 Chapter 76 How Do I Taste?

    Tang Xian had not intended to hide anything, but he planned to spend more time with his teammates before revealing some secrets to them. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.The complexity of the civilization in the mining world might be beyond their imagination. Revealing it now held no particular significance.


    Seeing how obediently Tang Xiaojiu listened to Tang Xian, Dong Ran did not press the matter and had simply asked on a whim.


    Well... consider it a question on behalf of the second lady.


    After a night passed, Tang Xian and his group emerged from the mountain cave in the low hills.


    The borderland between the Blood Wasteland and Waning Time Valley had become a mess.


    Amidst the scattered trees and stone forests, the area was half valley, half plain, offering some coverage from prying eyes.


    But after being trampled by forty Zudun Giants, it had been utterly flattened.


    Even the immense footprints left behind shocked Dong Ran and the others. Gazing through the pupil, they could not imagine the full size of the giants.


    After all, the cave was only so big; it was possible their entire heads were nothing but eyes.


    Upon seeing the terrifying footprints, they felt like ants trapped within them.


    The hard soil had been stamped down to half their height.


    Tang Xian laughed and said, "This place could be turned into a cluster of swimming pools."


    Dong Ran was still in shock:


    "This world... actually has creatures so colossal?"


    This prompted everyone to think of another question.


    "The eye stuck to the cave yesterday... probably belonged to a Zudun person lying down with its face to the ground, right? It must have seen someone in the cave, so why did it leave?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    These questions were usually answered by Tang Xian.


    But he had been avoiding the past few questions.


    The Zudun Giant had spoken. Its voice echoed in his own mind.


    But it might not have been directed at him, right?


    Perhaps it was addressing Tang Xiaojiu?


    Tang Xian was uncertain; he had been facing away from the eye and could not ascertain more details.


    He couldn''t see the attribute panel either.


    He couldn''t discern the needs of these ancient creatures.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "Let''s keep moving. This is not the largest creature in the mining area. The truly massive creatures of the mining area... are so large they cannot be fully seen with the naked eye."


    Akasi said, "What creature is it? The Cleveland from Red Lotus Hell?"


    Tang Xian was surprised and responded, "You''ve been to such distant places?"


    "I''ve been to both the poles, north and south."


    Speed might not grant Akasi overwhelming attack power, but at least, it allowed him to easily escape from any danger.


    Tang Xian thought for a moment; this was the principle of using one''s strength to overcome many challenges.


    "I''ve never seen Cleveland. If I were on that island, I might have been able to determine its existence through some methods. But Cleveland is not the largest creature in this world."


    "The largest creature known to date should be the Sea Demon. If the recorded texts are true, then the size of a Zudun Giant is about equivalent to a small flea on the body of a Sea Demon."


    "..."


    Everyone was astonished; the enormity was indeed unimaginable.


    In the uninteresting pursuit on their journey, Tang Xiaojiu and Akasi were actually quite fond of hearing about these "largest creatures in the world."


    Tang Xian did not keep it to himself and shared as they continued their journey.


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    The broken trees and remains of stones gradually vanished, and beneath the Blood Wasteland, the weeds somehow thrived.


    Without the animals, the silence here resembled the end of the world.


    The morning sun gave way to the setting sun.


    The red afterglow lent the Blood Wasteland a gloss like fresh blood.


    Although the strongest scent in Tang Xian''s nostrils was still that of cow dung, indeed the removal of the massive herds had left the north with far fewer odors.


    Along the way, he spoke of the Sea Demon, Cleveland, Titan Beast, and even the nine-tailed fox, among other cataclysmic boss creatures.


    Each creature was shrouded in legend, making the long journey somewhat more fascinating.


    Akasi actually had a good amount of knowledge about the mining area, accumulated through countless survival challenges, but many secrets held in human history were beyond his reach.


    Night fell once again, and the group initially planned to continue their trek, seeking high ground to camp out in the deep night.


    But Tang Xian said: "Qiao Shanshan, you and Dong Ran return to the Pyramid, rest for ten hours, then come back here. Akasi and I will wait for you here."


    "Why?"


    "Just do as you''re told without any backtalk," he retorted.


    "Tch, you''re the leader so what you say goes," she replied.


    "As it should be," he affirmed.


    Qiao Shanshan thus opened a teleportation fissure, taking with her a puzzled Dong Ran.


    After the two women left, Akasi struck a match and asked, "Are we hunting tonight?"


    "North of the Blood Wasteland, there are some Bone Jackals. I don''t know why they haven''t left, but I''ve picked up their scent. Later, you will join me in hunting them down, and Xiaojiu will come along."


    "Meow!"


    "Screech!"


    The two small animals made their presence felt, as if saying ''don''t forget about us.''


    Tang Xian reconsidered and said, "Never mind, Xiaojiu can stay to look after these two burdens."


    "Leaving Xiaojiu alone... isn''t that a bit inappropriate?" Akasi remarked.


    Tang Xian had not intended to keep secrets from Akasi and revealed:


    "She''s just like your Tang Suoye."


    Akasi paused for a long moment before slowly nodding.


    "Why do we need to hunt Bone Jackals at this time?"


    "Without the vast herds, there''s much less to interfere with my sense of smell. I''m starting to sense some vague directions, but it''s still not enough."


    "What does this have to do with killing dogs?"

 Chapter 76 How Do I Taste?_2

    "It''s not clear yet, we''ll have to experiment to find out. After all, they are not hellhounds, just belonging to the same canine family."Tang Xian began setting up the tent while Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Gazi, and Tang Bingxiang, the three non-humans, waited inside for Tang Xian and Akasi.


    Akasi was still confused about what Tang Xian had said. Tang Xian walked towards the darkness of the west and said,


    "Consider it one of my abilities, for now, killing dogs can enhance my sense of smell. To find that Nvwa Snake, my sense of smell needs to be stronger."


    "This is indeed... a legitimate reason to eat dog meat."


    ...


    ...


    The reason why it''s called the White Bone Mountain Range is simply that there is a huge centipede-like skeleton here¡ªspanning the entire range.


    No one knows what creature this skeleton belongs to, nor how long it has been here.


    If the mining world and the Earth actually have the same age, then millions of years ago, this world may have also harbored many gigantic creatures.


    Perhaps some remnants still exist.


    Compared to this skeleton, the Nvwa Snake seemed much smaller.


    This was a Nvwa Snake that had just reached adulthood, its gray scales had mostly turned white.


    At the very beginning, the first white scale appeared on its belly, a time when its kin had yet to discover it. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But every member of the snake tribe knew what this meant.


    It left on its own.


    It fled the battlefield to the south. The heart of a snake and scorpion describes the malice of humans and also represents the cruelty and intelligence of these creatures.


    The leader of the snake tribe has always been the youngest and most powerful White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.


    After that white scale appeared, its intelligence also began to slowly evolve.


    Instinct led it away from the group, alone in search of survival resources enough to get it through evolution.


    Until it became the youngest and replaced that woman, Bai Mansheng.


    What evolution demands is nothing more than food, and human flesh is the most delicious.


    These invaders from another world, weak and greedy.


    They covet the creatures'' Soul Crystals, but they themselves are also a delicacy to this world''s predators.


    The Nvwa Snake had eaten many people, and its body bore more and more white scales, lacking only the most crucial scale at the forehead.


    Its huge body roamed the beastless White Bone Mountain Range.


    The beast tide migration two days ago wiped out all of the Nvwa Snake''s sources of food.


    Just at the last critical stage of evolution.


    This afternoon was calmer compared to other days; it (the snake) swam in the great swamp, flicking its tongue. Its huge body gradually shrank.


    Until it took human form.


    But it couldn''t speak, and its ordinarily handsome appearance, now with a touch of wickedness, was marred by the lack of the last scale covering, leaving half of its face covered in gray scales.


    Destroying the beauty of the whole face, as if it were a creature with snake genes recombined.


    The Nvwa Snake looked at its reflection in the water, gently touching the gray scales on its face.


    The desire in its eyes was enough to show its craving for food.


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    "Go!"


    The sudden sound startled the Nvwa Snake; it was a disaster-level creature, with the power to turn rivers and seas.


    But when it transformed into a human, its power was greatly reduced.


    Originally, it was supposed to do this after completing evolution, but the beast tide migrated, and it thought this place would surely be empty of life, so it let down its guard.


    It prematurely enjoyed the privileges of a leader-level creature.


    But who could have imagined that humans were lying in ambush in this place!


    How could humans step so deep into this territory?


    The terrifying wind pressure came at it; from more than ten meters away, Dong Ran let loose several blows.


    Initially worried whether her attack could harm a disaster-level creature, she didn''t understand why this creature could transform into a human form!


    And after transforming into a human, its strength was clearly much weaker.


    The Nvwa Snake instinctively prepared to dodge.


    But just as it was about to evade, a flash of silver light appeared.


    A man with silver hair holding a dagger began to slash frantically!


    A look of astonishment was in the snake''s eyes, this speed far exceeded its understanding of humans.


    "Take advantage of this moment to suppress it, try not to let it revert to its original form!"


    Several teammates didn''t understand why the Nvwa Snake appeared in this form, but they didn''t doubt Tang Xian''s words.


    The wind pressure was imminent, but Akasi held the Nvwa Snake in check.


    Just as Dong Ran''s terrifying force was about to hit both the Nvwa Snake and Akasi together¡ª


    Akasi suddenly disappeared.


    The Nvwa Snake again looked at this speed with astonishment, while Dong Ran''s next wave of attack had already arrived!


    At the same time, on the surface of the lake, flashes of silver light!


    Akasi''s attacks were like a ferocious storm, not only making it impossible for the Nvwa Snake to defend itself but even blocking its vision with the storm-like rapid strikes!


    "Its vitality still conforms to that of a disaster-level creature, but its other stats have dropped drastically, what''s the reason for this?" Qiao Shanshan asked from a distance.


    "Being human isn''t so easy, is it?" Tang Xian''s gaze was fixed on the Nvwa Snake, without any relaxation.


    Two days ago, after he and Akasi hunted down the bone hyenas, Tang Xian''s sense of smell indeed improved.


    Apart from feeling sympathy for the canine creatures of this world, Tang Xian had no other thoughts.


    After further enhancing his sense of smell, Tang Xian was finally able to precisely locate the Nvwa Snake from a great distance.


    In fact, the group had already been ambushed at the edge of the great swamp in the White Bone Mountain Range seven hours earlier.


    Tang Xian was accurate in his calculations. The beast tide migration meant the Nvwa Snake was without food.

 Chapter 76 How Do I Taste?_3

    However, the fish in the water were unaffected. The serpent fruits were also one of the ways for the Nvwa Snake to obtain food, but during its evolution, it inevitably needed meat.Therefore, under Tang Xian''s arrangement, a group of people had already ambushed by the largest lake in the White Bone Mountain Range.


    Akasi displayed the terror of a top predator, a hunter who could kill even perfect creatures, and now he had completely overwhelmed the Nvwa Snake!


    Dong Ran was shocked to find that she didn''t even need to lift a finger.


    Akasi, with his ten talents, could see all the combat data of the Nvwa Snake.


    Apart from the abnormal vitality, all other stats were below those of a normal perfect creature.


    He didn''t understand the principle, but his attack was relentless.


    Qiao Shanshan, watching from a distance, was thrilled, her former companions had died at the hands of a disaster-level creature, and the hope of avenging them was dim.


    But now, that Nvwa Snake, which should have been capable of destroying the heavens and the earth, was being beaten without the power to fight back.


    Tang Xian watched the battle between Akasi and Dong Ran with a calm expression, considering what the team lacked.


    The cooperation between Dong Ran and Akasi was actually just Akasi unilaterally supporting Dong Ran. Such speed suppression was terrifying, but still something was missing.


    He pondered on how to compensate, but right at that moment, the battle took a turn.


    The Nvwa Snake stopped defending against Akasi''s attacks, allowing the strikes from Dong Ran and Akasi to land on its body. As the dagger pierced into its flesh, it grimaced painfully, spitting out its serpent tongue.


    A look of destruction appeared in its eyes.


    "Damn it! It''s trying to forcibly revert to its true form!"


    Akasi accelerated his attack, his already fearsome speed somehow managed to increase yet another notch.


    But the human-shaped Nvwa Snake slowly started to grow larger, its originally fair skin covered by grayish scales.


    The sharp dagger, made from purple-armored ore, couldn''t penetrate the scales.


    Sparks flew where the blade met the scales, leaving only a faint scratch on the hard, icy surface.


    And the wind pressure from Dong Ran could no longer push it as before.


    Akasi was startled to find that the Nvwa Snake, even without fully reverting to its serpentine form, was experiencing a crazy increase in all its talent data.


    The once strongest vitality now seemed unremarkable compared to the other stats.


    These values were still changing.


    Akasi glanced at Tang Xian.


    "Retreat!" Tang Xian didn''t hesitate.


    They had originally thought that the switch between the animal''s two forms required a process or an action to trigger.


    Qing JiuYu was like this.


    But it seemed that when its life was in danger, it could forcibly change back to its true form.


    A true disaster-level creature, even weakened from evolution, was absolutely not something they could confront head-on!


    Tang Xian''s thought was simple: snakes were not smarter than humans. Knowing everything about its habits, such attacks could be organized time after time.


    There would always be a chance to wear it down to death in the White Bone Mountain Range.


    But the Nvwa Snake was already in a fury.


    It seemed to realize as well that the speaker was the leader of these people!


    The serpentine body, growing larger and larger, slithered forward. It looked slow, but the distance was closing for everyone except Akasi!


    Akasi, resolute, said:


    "I''ll cover the rear! You go!"


    Tang Xian didn''t make any unnecessary fuss, and Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran also knew there was no time for regret.


    The Nvwa Snake, watching the creature whose speed still caused it trouble, saw its snake eyes slowly turn white.


    Opening its mouth wide, just as Akasi approached, it spat out a large cloud of white mist,


    Tang Xian was startled by this scene ¨C this breath was definitely not a Nvwa Snake''s ability!


    "Has it completed its evolution?"


    In Akasi''s memory, the Nvwa Snake didn''t possess such an attack method. Although he dodged quickly ¨C managing to evade the mist instantaneously despite being very close to the Nvwa Snake ¨C a small amount still touched him.


    Instantly, ice crystals formed on his legs!


    The Nvwa Snake continued its furious spray, and in no time, the entire lake had frozen over! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The temperature in the air dropped sharply, and everything in sight turned from high summer to bitter winter.


    "Is... is this a disaster-level creature?" Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan felt weak at the knees.


    They finally felt firsthand the terror of a disaster-level creature and understood the origin of the term "disaster."


    An area covered in ice and snow, even the most violent blizzard couldn''t cover such a vast expanse in a short period. Discover hidden stories at empire


    Akasi''s speed, hindered by the ice, struggled as the ice crystals seemed to pierce through his calves. Clenching his teeth, he tried to draw the Nvwa Snake''s attention, but his speed was far too slow.


    The Nvwa Snake paid no attention to Akasi and quickly caught up with Tang Xian and the others.


    Tang Xian, who had been holding Tang Xiaojiu''s hand, looked back and saw the Nvwa Snake''s needs from the current demand analysis.


    "It''s coming for me. If this continues, everyone will die."


    Tang Xian had miscalculated; indeed, he didn''t expect a Nvwa Snake that had not completed its evolution to prematurely use the ability of the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.


    Tang Xiaojiu thought she must protect her brother, Tang Xian, and was ready to use her fox fire to fight the Nvwa Snake to the death.


    But what happened next came too quickly! So swiftly that Tang Xiaojiu could hardly react.


    The massive Nvwa Snake finally completed its transformation. The gray scales on its head, due to the loss of vitality, and the great crisis instead sped up its evolution¡ª


    That last piece of gray scale was slowly turning white!


    Just a little more, some essential nourishment, and it would evolve from a Nvwa Snake into a terrifying White Phosphorus Serpent Demon.

 Chapter 76 How Do I Taste?_4

    The Nvwa Snake''s body became even larger, like an endless winding ice dragon!Tang Xian, Qiao Shanshan, and Tang Xiaojiu all entered its attack range.


    Once prey entered the attack range in its serpentine form, the snake''s head would lunge in an instant with a speed too fast for the naked eye to catch!


    As Tang Xiaojiu was preparing to spit fox-fire, she only felt the huge snake head seemed to move, yet seemed not to.


    Immediately after, she was hit by a powerful force that sent her flying.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran exclaimed in shock, their eyes filled with grief and terror.


    In an instant, the Nvwa Snake swallowed Tang Xian, who was running at the back, whole.


    "Tang!" Dong Ran screamed, her voice tinged with a sob.


    Akasi was also stunned by this scene, the snake''s overall speed wasn''t fast, but the speed of its attack in that instant was truly astonishing.


    Everything happened too quickly, before anyone could react, Tang Xian was completely swallowed into the snake''s belly.


    Tang Xiaojiu was stunned; she had never experienced a scene like this before.


    The Nvwa Snake looked at these tiny humans with eyes full of pride and brutality.


    The massive head scales continued to turn even whiter.


    Akasi pulled the ice crystal that had pierced his calf right out, enduring the pain, and his figure flickered before once again appearing in front of everyone, shouting:


    "Go! Don''t stop!"


    Qiao Shanshan, carrying Tang Suoye, almost bit through her lip, she gathered her pain and thoughts and said:


    "Dong Ran, don''t freeze up, run with Xiaojiu! Otherwise, we''ll all die!"


    Dong Ran nodded, grabbed Tang Xiaojiu''s hand, and prepared to leave, but she found she couldn''t move Tang Xiaojiu at all.


    She wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but she always felt... that the girl''s ears... seemed to have gotten sharper suddenly.


    An immense oppressive force came over them, stronger than that from the Nvwa Snake, and Dong Ran couldn''t tell where the suffocating pressure was coming from.


    Tang Xiaojiu had her back to Dong Ran the whole time, only Akasi saw this scene.


    He saw Tang Xiaojiu''s ears become somewhat pointed, small tiger teeth emerge, and her pupils turn amber.


    Despite her still adorable facial features, it gave Akasi a feeling of a peerless fierce beast!


    But just at that moment, the transformation suddenly stopped.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s gaze remained fixed on the Nvwa Snake, which originally had a look of cruelty and disdain. Gradually, it showed signs of pain.


    Akasi followed Tang Xiaojiu''s gaze and also realized something was amiss.


    The Nvwa Snake''s body seemed to start convulsing, it opened its mouth wide, its head striking aimlessly, and any massive trees it touched would directly snap.


    All this indicated the Nvwa Snake was in great pain.


    Tang Xiaojiu was stunned, something came to her little mind.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan watched the scene in disbelief as they retreated far away.


    ...


    ...


    Stomach juices kept dripping on Tang Xian, and he didn''t know whether to feel relieved or disgusted.


    If he had been bitten by the serpent''s teeth just now, his body would probably have been severed in two.


    Fortunately, his body was a little too small compared to the full size of the Nvwa Snake, so small that it didn''t need to be chewed.


    ```


    This was almost what he had calculated.


    Tang Xian didn''t like risking his life; after all, one only had one life, but today''s perilous situation was due to his own miscalculation.


    Luckily, the snake was targeting the leader. He still had a chance to turn the tide.


    Man and serpent reached a consensus.


    You want to eat me, and I want you to eat me.


    Of course, I''ll eat you back in the end.


    The corrosive stomach fluids, dripping continuously, fell on Tang Xian, and inside the snake''s stomach were many remnants of fish.


    [Current damage received is 7 percent of life points; current life recovery speed is 747 percent.]


    Tang Xian wasn''t sure how he had acquired such a strong life recovery ability. But he could guess it was related to the last mine area test of seven days of survival limit.


    As long as it wasn''t fatal damage that could kill him instantly, he could recover fully in an instant. That was the general idea now.


    If he had been swallowed by the great snake and chewed by its shockingly powerful jaws even twice, he would have undoubtedly died. But thankfully...


    The stomach acids were causing sustained damage.


    "Maximum life point damage. Such extraordinary stomach fluids from a calamitous creature, it''s a pity I didn''t bring a container. Otherwise, I''d take some back for Shang Lu to research." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t deliberately dodge the stomach acids. It was just pain and nausea.


    The pain was gradually subsiding, but the nausea wasn''t going to subside.


    He took out the kitchen knife from his tool bag and began to stab, one cut after another.


    [Successfully resisted Nvwa Snake''s stomach acid damage.]


    [Gained one point of Nvwa Snake resistance.]


    [Successfully inflicted damage on Nvwa Snake, enhanced damage against Nvwa Snake by one point.]


    In the sea of consciousness, the messages of life points being reduced by 7 percent, recovery of life points, and the inflicting of damage and gaining of resistance against the Nvwa Snake kept looping.


    Tang Xian realized that snakes and dogs were categorized into different types.


    But humans weren''t distinguished as yellow, black, white, male, female, old, or young.


    "Is it because my humanity doesn''t have enough prestige?"


    Originally hoping to max out his resistance to the entire snake species through the Nvwa Snake, Tang Xian found his plan had failed and began to stab around with the kitchen knife, dissatisfied.


    From time to time, he would throw out some soul-searching questions, like do I taste good, what''s it like to eat me, are fish remains left because it can''t digest them well?


    The great snake didn''t respond to him, and it was then that Tang Xian realized that this snake, after all, was not the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon and couldn''t communicate with him. Enjoy more content from empire


    What followed was a violent shaking, overturning heaven and earth, as the food remnants splashed on his face.


    Tang Xian knew the great snake was writhing and rolling, and he continued to stab the knife while enduring the dizziness.


    After a long while, the shaking started to weaken.


    Tang Xian shook his head slightly, and the dizziness decreased a bit.


    The stomach had been punctured.


    The Nvwa Snake was extremely weak.


    It was only after the sea of consciousness prompted updates to the achievements for "Unrivaled" and "Adversary of Ten Thousand" with the new creature Nvwa Snake added that Tang Xian slowly made his way from the esophagus toward the snake''s throat.


    The dozens of meters long Nvwa Snake, with its mouth wide open, was also awaiting something to emerge from its belly.


    ```

 Chapter 77 The Legend of the White Snake - Mining Edition

    Beneath the ice, the great swamp billowed with thick white mist. In the distance, the vegetation, too, turned a deathly gray from the cold, shattering upon touch.The gigantic Nvwa Snake was on its last breath, yet it had not perished. It lay with its mouth wide open, desperately hoping for some restless prey to wander out.


    Meanwhile, Dong Ran, Akasi, Tang Xiaojiu, and Qiao Shanshan all widened their eyes, witnessing this incomprehensible scene.


    Once the terrifying cataclysmic beast revealed its true form, it displayed its power to crush the Sheng Tang Squad in an instant, and its final icy breath almost turned the battle into a massacre.


    But just as a greater tragedy was about to unfold, the might of the giant serpent seemed to choke, and the previously heart-stopping moment lost all its flavor.


    Under the gazes of Dong Ran and the others, someone appeared, wearing tattered clothes due to the acidic corrosive liquid, leaving him barely covered.


    The women who had been worried about him just a second ago instantly blushed and cried out in unison, turning away.


    Tang Xian emerged.


    He was confident that even in its dying counterattack, the giant serpent could no longer cause him any real harm.


    Akasi didn''t know how to express his astonishment.


    "It''s great, you''re alright." After thinking for a moment, that was all Akasi could say.


    Tang Xiaojiu burst into tears with a loud "Wa."


    Akasi noticed that Tang Xiaojiu''s pupil color had returned to normal and her small tiger teeth had disappeared. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He suddenly understood what Tang Xian meant¡ªTang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye were alike.


    "I was rather lucky, mathematics changed my fate," said Tang Xian calmly, as if he were merely an observer.


    "What thing? What does this have to do with mathematics?" Qiao Shanshan turned back, puzzled by Tang Xian''s words.


    "Actually, it''s quite simple. During your fight with the Nvwa Snake, I estimated its actual movement speed, let''s assume it''s x. The Nvwa Snake''s attack range, which I calculated in my third school year, is roughly one third of its body length, let''s assume the body length is y.


    Once within range, the Nvwa Snake''s attack speed would be seven times x. Assuming my movement speed is z, and at that time, my distance from the Nvwa Snake was two-fifths of y. It''s easy to calculate at which point the Nvwa Snake would snap its jaws shut on me. I don''t need quick reflexes; I just needed to control my own speed z.


    When reaching the position, I would charge in the opposite direction, towards the Nvwa Snake.


    This is actually simpler than a math exam in survival training; even third-year students can solve it now. The only thing I needed to be careful with was that the estimated distance from the snake and its body length couldn''t have too much error compared to its actual size and distance. Practice more often, and you''ll be able to do it too," he explained.


    Everyone fell silent. Calculating math problems in the brink of death?


    This was truly unimaginable. The two women looked at Tang Xian as if they had seen a ghost.


    So much so that they had all forgotten that the poor giant serpent''s weak eyes were still fixed on them. Experience tales with empire


    Tang Xian approached the Nvwa Snake and said coldly,


    "I truly hoped you would complete your evolution and become a cataclysmic-level boss creature, but unfortunately, you were always just a bit short."


    "However, this might be for the best. After all, if you were six times stronger, all my squad members would have perished here."


    "I can''t hear your words, but since you have the ability to morph into a certain form, I think maybe you can understand mine."


    The crowd was baffled, and Dong Ran recalled that Tang often seemed to speak to creatures in the mining area after killing them, as if talking to themselves.


    "You no longer have the means to kill me, you know that, right? Unless you evolve now. I can''t kill two birds with one stone and fulfill two women''s wishes at the same time¡ªit''s regrettable, but for safety''s sake, I must kill you before you have the chance to evolve."


    A kitchen knife could deal an extra ten percent of maximum life value as damage. Tang Xian held the knife and viciously hacked at the eye of the Nvwa Snake.


    At this point, Akasi, Dong Ran, and Qiao Shanshan were all shocked watching Tang Xian.


    The life value of the Nvwa Snake dropped rapidly; such terrifying attack power froze their thoughts.


    Tang Xian knew his companions could see the life value of creatures¡ªAkasi, of course, as well as Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran.


    This was a common attribute visible to the Gifted.


    There was a particular scent in his breath that made Tang Xian certain the battle with the Nvwa Snake wouldn''t end easily; another uninvited guest was hurrying their way.


    Tang Xian planned to first reveal some power beyond their comprehension. As for an explanation, he couldn''t be bothered to provide one, letting them think what they would.


    As the last vestige of life left the Nvwa Snake, Tang Xian held the knife, frantically severing the snake''s pupil and even attempting to thrust his entire left arm into the socket.


    The scene was overly grotesque, with a mix of blood and brain matter spraying out, drenching Tang Xian''s face.


    Witnessing this, Dong Ran turned away, almost vomiting at the sight.

 Chapter 77 The Legend of the White Snake - Mining Zone Version_2

    Tang Xian gave her an unamused glance. It was just like how ancient people enjoyed eating pig intestines but couldn''t stand anyone mentioning that it carried poop.Anyway, once it was served on the table, it all tasted great.


    As a doctor, Qiao Shanshan was used to seeing gore. She was treating Akasi''s calf wound from afar, and his astonishing self-healing speed amazed her.


    Akasi was also equally impressed with Qiao Shanshan''s healing abilities. After all, a pierced calf would normally take several hours to heal, but with Qiao Shanshan''s help, the pain disappeared within minutes.


    After a lot of effort, Tang Xian, covered in blood as if he was obsessed with flesh, actually just struggled because the Soul Crystal within the Nvwa Snake''s skull was buried too deep.


    After exerting a lot of energy, Tang Xian finally extracted it.


    The huge Nvwa Snake had a Soul Crystal the size of a night pearl, the same as those from the previously perfect-rated elite creatures.


    Tang Xian threw the Soul Crystal to Akasi,


    "The spoils of war. Find a place to clean it and pack it up."


    Akasi nodded, and Dong Ran, curious, said, "Tang, this Soul Crystal has a purplish luster! Could this be the Soul Crystal of a calamity-level boss creature?"


    Everyone was startled, especially Qiao Shanshan. The Nvwa Snake had changed too much since the last time she saw it.


    She wouldn''t have doubted if someone said it evolved into a white-scaled snake.


    The Soul Crystals of perfect-rated creatures and perfect-rated boss creatures were green, with the only difference being the intensity of their glow.


    However, the Soul Crystals of calamity-level creatures were blue, and those of calamity-level boss creatures were purple.


    This Soul Crystal clearly had a hint of purple, albeit very faint.


    After looking at it for a long time, Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "I wish I could pick up such a bargain, but it''s only close to a boss form, and it hasn''t finished evolving. If it had, it would have suddenly shed its weakened state, and its power would''ve surged sixfold. We wouldn''t have survived the encounter."


    The terror of a calamity-level creature had already been witnessed once by Qiao Shanshan. Tang Xian was right. Although the Nvwa Snake had changed drastically and could even use the breath of a boss form,


    its strength had significantly diminished due to its evolutionary phase.


    Even so, when it showed its true form, it was still overwhelmingly powerful.


    "It''s a pity, its body covered tightly with scales, and the flesh around its eye sockets isn''t tasty¡ªnot fit to make snake soup."


    Tang Xian''s focus was elsewhere. He frowned, slowly digesting the battle of the day.


    [Killed an adult Nvwa Snake, acquired combat skill¡¤Snake Stance]


    [Killing more Nvwa Snakes will increase the attack speed and power of Snake Stance]


    He got a drop.


    The near team wipe in combat brought results. Tang Xian, though battered, had finally gained something.


    However, while the enhanced smell was described as a skill, this time it was described as a combat skill.


    The two, of course, were different.


    Tang Xian, having no knowledge of combat, was therefore not very satisfied with this "combat skill."


    [Snake Stance] came with no explanation, and he was unclear about what it actually was.


    It just seemed to him that if his opponent were human, he probably wouldn''t need to use combat skills.


    If it were creatures from the Mining Continent¡­ As someone without any innate talent, other than being tough and enduring, he had no other advantage.


    "Kind of a mixed blessing, but since there''s no description, it might come in handy later. Better than nothing."


    Thinking this way, Tang Xian turned to the rest of the group,


    "We''ll have another formidable enemy soon. Based on its approaching speed, it''ll arrive in about ten minutes. Qiao Shanshan, you, Dong Ran, and Tang Suoye, along with Tang Xiaojiu should all head back."


    "Wait, aren''t you going back?" Qiao Shanshan asked, confused.


    "Of course, we''re going back too. Akasi and I will deal with the snake''s corpse. We''ll head back shortly after."


    "Then be careful," Qiao Shanshan didn''t doubt Tang Xian''s judgment.


    Dong Ran had no doubts at all. Only Tang Xiaojiu was reluctant to go.


    "Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang are still in the tents outside the White Bone Mountain Range. Tang Xian, I don''t want to go. You promised to look for Qing Auntie," she said.


    Tang Xian wanted to pat the little girl''s head but restrained himself, mindful of the bloody stench on him.


    He bent down and said,


    "I keep my word, but you need to go back first. Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang won''t be in any danger, but it''s different for you. Be good."


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t understand why she would be in danger, but since Tang Xian was serious, she obediently nodded her head.


    At Tang Xian''s urging, Qiao Shanshan took Tang Suoye, Dong Ran took Tang Xiaojiu, and they each used the teleportation fissure to return to the Pyramid.


    Akasi said, "Another hunt?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and replied, "Not this time, this is too troublesome, so I can only leave you behind. There are some things I will eventually tell them, but it''s more troublesome to explain to women, you''re more convenient."


    Akasi gave a wry smile and said, "I suppose it''s something that''s hard to believe. Just tell me, and I''ll believe what you say."


    "That''s why I''m leaving you here."


    After a pause, Tang Xian continued:


    "In a few minutes, we''re going to meet a human. But this human is not simple¡­ You''re likely to see the data on her."


    "A mining continent creature in human form?"


    "You know?"


    "The Nvwa Snake we just killed was like that. Those two girls must also be surprised by this."


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "The conclusion I''ve come to now is that calamity-level and boss-level creatures above calamity-level can transform into human form, but their strength will be greatly reduced. However, why this is, I''m not sure. The last one who told me this only said it was because it looks better."


    Although Qing JiuYu was very open at that time, Tang Xian still believed she had hidden a lot.


    Sometimes when women lie, they''re not even aware that they''re lying.


    "The last one? It must have been the nine-tailed fox."


    The forest sea turned into a red zone because of the nine-tailed fox, and though the nine-tailed fox wasn''t in the forest sea, there was now one more human.


    Thinking back to his first meeting with Tang Xian, both Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu showed signs of revulsion toward eating fox.


    Akasi deduced that Tang Xian must have met one of the strongest creatures in the entire Mining Continent.


    Tang Xian found talking to Akasi comfortable, without the need for much explanation.


    Dong Ran is one thing, being legally brainless after all. And Qiao Shanshan, despite being only a ''C'', doesn''t like to think too hard either.


    "These are some of the unsolved mysteries. But the nine-tailed fox is now my friend. The one who is coming next is not as powerful as the nine-tailed fox, but still not someone we can deal with at the moment."


    The scent in his nose was getting clearer, Tang Xian thought it must be the large swampland that had been frozen over, alerting that creature.


    It was rapidly approaching.


    "So what should we do?"


    "Just follow my lead and act. I''ve done this once before and have some experience."


    ...


    ...


    Bai Mansheng transformed from her huge white-scaled snake form into a human, her snake tail turning into a long skirt as she moved with graceful steps. Yet, in just a short ten minutes, she had crossed the entire White Bone Mountain Range and arrived at the edge of the swamp.


    She furrowed her brows.


    There was a strong stench of blood in the air. From a distance, she saw a corpse of her own kind, smaller in size than her true form but stronger than ordinary Nvwa Snakes.


    Parts of the snake''s eyes had been gouged out, and the thick blood, due to the cold, was not flowing.


    Underneath the snake''s body was a blood-covered human, baring his white teeth at her.


    There was also a person with silver hair next to him, his face showing no emotion.


    With a light leap, Bai Mansheng instantly arrived in front of the two men.


    She did not notice the fleeting surprise in the silver-haired man''s eyes because her gaze was fixed on the individual covered in the blood of her kin, wielding a kitchen knife.


    "I''ll be honest, I killed the snake. But this human can testify that it attacked me first. According to the court''s rules, this counts as self-defense, right?"


    Tang Xian wasn''t sure if the court of beasts adjudicates disputes among beasts.


    Nor was he certain if they even had the concept of self-defense.


    But if they did¡­ probably more people would think that Tang Xian''s situation now resembled excessive self-defense.


    Bai Mansheng said in a deep voice:


    "I am Bai Mansheng, leader of the Bai Family. You have killed my kin, and it falls to me to pass judgment."


    Even in human form, the pressure and aura emanating from Bai Mansheng instinctively made Akasi feel endangered.


    If it weren''t for Tang Xian''s previous instructions, he might have instinctively assumed a defensive stance. Explore more at empire S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As if completely unaffected, Tang Xian said earnestly:


    "Bai, it''s nice to meet you, I''m Xu Xian. About this matter, let me explain it to you."

 Chapter 78 The Serpent Spouts Nonsense

    "Suddenly, the Heavens threw a tantrum, and in an instant, a torrential rain began to pour, leaving Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing with nowhere to hide, drenched and full of worry. Then, unexpectedly, they felt an umbrella cover their heads from above. Turning around, they saw a gentle and graceful young scholar, fair and delicate, holding the umbrella over them."Bai Suzhen''s first encounter with Xu Xian was a scene Tang Xian was very fond of.


    However, he was covered in blood, sporting a somewhat hysterical smile, which had nothing to do with being fair, delicate, and gentle.


    Instead, he more closely resembled a maniac who had escaped from a chainsaw massacre movie.


    But as one of the four great folk tales of Huaxia, and also one of his favorite stories, seeing a white snake capable of taking human form in the mining area made him want to imagine himself in the story.


    Bai Mansheng was exquisitely beautiful, possessing a reserved temperament, a classical beauty not found within the Pyramid, much like Qing JiuYu.


    But the differences were as vast as the heavens and the earth, with three parts less charm and three parts more unearthly grace.


    This deviated from Tang Xian''s impression of the gentle and lovely Lady Bai, typical of a fragile beauty.


    The beauty of Bai Mansheng was more akin to a lotus blossoming in icy solitude.


    "I haven''t heard your name. You''d better explain clearly why you killed my kin."


    Bai Mansheng''s disposition was colder than Tang Xian had imagined, which probably stemmed from the intrinsic differences between snakes and foxes.


    Snakes are cold-blooded animals by nature.


    However, since they now possessed human form and intelligence, they could not be devoid of human feelings.


    Concern for one''s own kind is one such expression.


    Tang Xian said:


    "It was at a critical point of evolution. Two days ago, a wave of beasts migrated, causing a large number of creatures to leave. With no food available, I was passing by this place, and it probably mistook me for a human and tried to eat me."


    "I appealed peacefully and held back at every turn, thinking that a snake is ultimately a cute little animal. But unfortunately, your kin was blinded by madness and repeatedly tried to kill me."


    "Although my ancestors and yours have a deep connection, your kin relentlessly sought to put me to death. I had no choice but to fight back. During the confrontation, I reasoned with it, with affection and logic, hoping it would understand that I am not an enemy of the Nvwa Snake clan. But it seemed to have lost its serpentine nature, as if its brain had short-circuited due to its nearing evolution."


    Recalling Qing JiuYu''s deference toward him, Tang Xian felt even more confident.


    The strongest being on the entire continent couldn''t see through him; Bai Mansheng should be even less likely.


    "As it turns out, I''m not tasty. But it has paid for its offense with its life. So, we''re even now, and I believe you, Bai, must be a reasonable woman."


    Having met the leaders of the group twice after finishing off the underlings, Tang Xian mused over his luck.


    Analyzing the data before his eyes, he was neither servile nor overbearing.


    Gender: Female.


    Moral Alignment: 50.


    Greed and Lust Index: 4.


    Affection Level: -2 (Strangers).


    Wealth assessment: 32 (Modest savings).


    Liked Things: None.


    Disliked Things: None.


    Dreaded Things: None.


    Current Candidness: 50 (Objective and practical).


    Charm Value: 95 (Unparallelled beauty).


    Current Luck: 50 (Smooth sailing).


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Clarifying the cause of the Nvwa Snake''s death (30%)]


    [Probing the creature before me (30%)]


    [Returning to Tianque Plains (25%)]


    [Healing injuries (10%)]


    [Other (5%)]


    The difference from what Tang Xian thought was not big; just like the first time he met Qing JiuYu, the other party was also very curious about him.


    Only the personality and way of expressing it differed.


    The only thing that somewhat dissatisfied Tang Xian was that Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu''s beauty should be on par, yet the data score was a few points lower, which he felt was an aesthetic issue.


    It did not align with his subjective sense of beauty.


    Additionally, having no liked things, and no dislikes or fears.


    The attributes of a girl with no clear preferences left Tang Xian momentarily not knowing how to proceed. Stay connected through empire


    Bai Mansheng observed Tang Xian for a long time, her cool eyes containing a hint of puzzlement.


    Akasi was silent beside her, yet his heart was tossing with shock and awe.


    Tang Xian appeared too composed, and even Akasi did not know where such composure came from.


    Most importantly, Akasi noticed that within the eyes of the Bai Family member, there was a certain wariness toward Tang Xian.


    Bai Mansheng approached the corpse of the Nvwa Snake, her eyes even colder.


    The Nvwa Snake was certainly dead.


    Tang Xian began,


    "You are the leader of the Nvwa Snakes, but according to the way the snake clan selects its leader, he was also a potential threat to you. There are no other creatures left in the White Bone Mountain Range, and the swarming fish in the ponds have all been frozen solid. No one saw me kill him." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After pausing, Tang Xian looked into Bai Mansheng''s eyes and slowly said,


    "I think we are not enemies, perhaps we can even become friends. What do you think?"


    Bai Mansheng''s expression remained unchanged, but she was startled inside.


    How could this person have discerned her slight wariness towards the Nvwa Snake?


    Though it wasn''t mentioned in the demand analysis, Tang Xian easily inferred that the relationship between the Bai Family and this Nvwa Snake was somewhat special.


    If a Nvwa Snake truly submitted to the current leader, even during evolution, it would not deliberately stray too far.


    Wouldn''t it be safer to enjoy the protection of the snake clan?


    This also indicated that this snake''s motives were not pure, and with some understanding of snakes, Tang Xian could easily deduce this layer of relationship.


    Bai Mansheng''s expression softened slightly, and she asked,


    "Why do you call me Bai?"


    "I''d like to call you by your name too, but you''ve only revealed your surname."


    "My name is Bai Mansheng. Who are you, exactly?"


    Actually, the scene before Tang Xian was also quite shocking.


    When cold snake skin turned into this fine-looking vessel, most men would be willing to disrobe and forget day and night, ultimately leading to their belts widening.


    So Xu Xian can''t be considered a hero, he simply followed human instinct.


    "Who I really am is a secret. When we get to know each other better, I''ll tell you."


    "Do you live in the White Bone Mountain Range?"


    "No."


    "Then why are you here?"


    "You ask too many questions."


    Bai Mansheng stared at Tang Xian, unable to see through him, always feeling that he carried a distasteful human scent.


    But she couldn''t muster much of an aversion either.


    The mine area was teeming with life, but there were very few "people."


    Throughout Bai Mansheng''s life, besides the three elders from her clan, she mostly dealt with that fox spirit who had been fiercely battling recently.


    The number of people she had seen could be counted on one hand.


    Seeing Tang Xian, even with her cool nature, couldn''t help but arouse curiosity.


    Tang Xian was constantly monitoring Bai Mansheng''s favorability. It had finally changed from -2 to +2, although the evaluation was still unchanged.


    Despite Bai Mansheng''s unchanging expression, Tang Xian still confirmed his speculation from her subtle reactions and the change in favorability.


    He struck while the iron was hot and said,


    "I actually did you a favor."


    ???


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian, puzzled.


    "The snake clan and the fox clan are at war. Without you there to hold the fort, I fear your subjects won''t be able to withstand Qing JiuYu''s attacks, right? But think about it, you''re injured right now. This Nvwa Snake was a mere step away from completing its evolution, and it''s possible it would have completed it by the time you found it."


    "If it had malicious intentions, even if you defeated it, your injuries would have worsened. As a result, the advantage you previously led your snake clan to create on the northern battlefield might cause a chain reaction from a single strand being pulled."


    Bai Mansheng''s eyes showed surprise again; she had certainly not expected this man to have such insight. But how did he know she was injured?


    Akasi was even more confused.


    He tried to sort out the logic.


    Tang Xian had seen the nine-tailed fox spirit, and he had also mentioned that the fox clan and the snake clan were at war.


    Also, from the attitude of Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Xian not wanting to eat the fox, their relationship with the nine-tailed fox spirit seemed good.


    So it made no sense... to pose as someone who would help the snake clan against the fox clan.


    Akasi had always been a gentle and sincere person, but he suddenly found... Tang Xian wasn''t as straightforward as he had imagined.


    Tang Xian hadn''t thought so much.


    His logic was simple.


    Speak to people in human terms, and to ghosts in ghostly ways.


    By analogy: speak to foxes in fox language, and to snakes in snake language.


    Seeing that Bai Mansheng''s favorability had increased by three points, he was sure he was generally on the right track.


    He then showed an even friendlier smile.


    (Don''t ask why two chapters¡ªthis is normal behavior~a whim of inspiration)

 Chapter 79 Artistic Girl Bai the Little White Snake (Third Update)

    Bai Mansheng had also heard from the ancient apes in her childhood that humans were cunning and not to be trusted.But for creatures in the mining areas, the most significant trait of humans was probably their weakness.


    Absolute martial power could crush all deceit and trickery.


    Traps, schemes, setups, equipment. These were the things humans used to compensate for their gap with the creatures of the mining areas, and they were laughable in front of calamity-level beings.


    The only thing they could do was to use manpower and time for a blood exchange.


    But Xu Xian must not have been human.


    Bai Mansheng was certain of this, so she nodded at Tang Xian and said,


    "It''s thoughtful of you, but you and I are neither kin nor kind, so why help me?"


    Akasi was just short of a dumbfounded expression.


    Wasn''t this the person who had just killed their clansmen demanding justice, and now was offering help?


    There were indeed many things about Tang Xian worth learning from.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I told you, I find snake species cute and kind-hearted."


    "Is that really so?"


    "Could there be any falsehood in that?" Without turning red or out of breath, Tang Xian''s expression remained normal.


    "But I don''t even know who you are, so why are you connected to my snake lineage?"


    "To answer that, we have to start from the encounter between my ancestor and yours."


    "It''s a tale from the Late Tang Dynasty, one year..."


    Lacking a normal human childhood, both Akasi and Bai Mansheng listened as Tang Xian casually told The Legend of the White Snake.


    Tang Xian had read The Legend in some folklore and liked it so much that, after reading it, he memorized it.


    He really hadn''t thought that one day he would use this story.


    After all, the story was ultimately written by humans, and as the saying goes, "If you are not a snake, how can you know the joy of a snake?"


    However, as Tang Xian improvised his narration, blurring some details and copying the literary style, without altering the original plot too much¡ª


    Akasi and Bai Mansheng actually listened with rapt attention.


    After a few minutes, Tang Xian stopped.


    "Why aren''t you continuing?" Bai Mansheng demanded in a cold voice. She had a calm and aloof temperament and hated most those who tell stories but leave them unfinished.


    Tang Xian asked,


    "Are you hungry?"


    Akasi nodded, adhering to the principle that more words lead to more mistakes, and silence is faultless. He had not spoken, striving to play the role of Tang Xian''s attendant effectively.


    Thinking Tang Xian was hungry, Bai Mansheng swept her white sleeve, and the layer of ice on the lake surface instantly shattered.


    A dozen plump and tender redscale fish then landed in front of her.


    Bai Mansheng''s eyes showed hesitation, as she usually wouldn''t eat in human form. A beautifully ethereal woman holding a fish and gnawing on it was not very elegant.


    But she also didn''t want to revert to her original form just then, so she picked up a fish, ready to eat it directly.


    Tang Xian remembered the first time he met Tang Xiaojiu, it was the same situation.


    He laughed and said, "Are you in a rush?"


    "Although the battle is pressing, it won''t hurt to wait a moment longer." Bai Mansheng, mainly wanting to hear the rest of The Legend of the White Snake, spoke.


    "Alright, fish isn''t eaten like this. I''ll prepare it for you later. Don''t eat it yet; I need to go to the lakeside to clean up."


    Covered in snake blood, Tang Xian felt no appetite. Fortunately, the blood wasn''t hard to clean off, and after a few rolls in the cold lake water, Tang Xian shivered from the cold.


    It was clearly summer, yet he experienced the thrill of winter swimming.


    Afterward, opening his tool bag, Tang Xian laid out the pot and an array of spices.


    Akasi efficiently began to scale the fish.


    Bai Mansheng, puzzled, asked, "Why do you use human tools?"


    "Because they are useful. Oh, and don''t start on the fish yet."


    Bai Mansheng then put down the fish, and Tang Xian also casually tossed her a fish basket.


    "You really carry a lot of stuff with you."


    "Walking through the Jianghu, how can one not be well-equipped."


    "..."


    Since the fire-starting device was in Dong Ran''s prop bag, Tang Xian let Akasi use the most ancient method to start a fire.


    A person with exceptional speed, naturally, would be incredibly fast at drilling wood to make fire.


    Tang Xian nodded, thinking that if Akasi couldn''t make it one day, this high-speed vibration would be quite the spectacle at either the third or fourth level of the White Horse Club.


    Making do with simplicity, Tang Xian didn''t offer any special treatment to the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, the leader of the great snake clan.


    At the very least, the fish soup he prepared was no more exquisite than what he usually served to Tang Xiaojiu and Dong Ran.


    But soon after, when Bai Mansheng sipped the delicious fish soup, even her usually cool and indifferent face showed a hint of emotion.


    It was the same principle as a cat that has gotten used to eating dry fish food and no longer cares for fresh fish.


    Tang Xian couldn''t ask for too much detail; he only guessed that taking on a human form might involve compromises in taste and certain habits.


    One minute later, Tang Xian served Bai Mansheng a bowl.


    In less than a minute, he refilled it. Explore more stories at empire


    About ten minutes later, the pot was empty, and both Akasi and Tang Xian, holding their bowls, exchanged glances. Despite her thin appearance, this woman could eat more than Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan combined.


    "Is there any more?" Bai Mansheng asked, slightly embarrassed.


    "I''ll make some more for you."


    "Can you also finish the story from before?"


    "Do I look like I''m here to serve you?"


    "It''s about the bearing of a storyteller."


    Tang Xian pondered for a moment and realized the little white snake made a good point.


    "Speaking of Fahai, he doesn''t understand love, being originally a hellhound. Seeing the prosperous business of Baohe Hall run by Xu Xian of the Dragon Clan and Bai Suzhen of the Snake Clan, he couldn''t sit idly by and wanted to interfere."


    Bai Mansheng was confused. Aren''t hellhounds lowly creatures?


    How could they possess the ability to transform?


    Yet, she was engrossed in the story and even found herself feeling resentment towards the dog clan.


    In the summer lakes and wetlands, yet surrounded by a glacier, the steaming fish soup paired with an engaging and entertaining story made Bai Mansheng momentarily forget about time.


    She was always aloof in her demeanor, never showing joy or anger. It was hard to discern her inner thoughts.


    Akasi wasn''t sure whether she had let go of her hostility towards him and Tang Xian.


    But Tang Xian was very clear.


    Because her favorability had reached 14. The current assessment was "familiar."


    A little more effort, and perhaps it would reach "joyful meeting."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that this little white snake was really reserved; her favorability was constantly rising without showing it, completely different from Qing JiuYu''s temperament.


    Here were two people locked in a life-and-death struggle that he had both encountered by chance, which was quite fateful.


    From the beginning, he had never intended to side with the fox clan but had only agreed to teach Qing JiuYu some tactics.


    He never said it was to help Qing JiuYu fight against the Snake Clan.


    Now that the leader of the Snake Clan was here, he could teach her some tactics as well.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about the casualties between the fox clan and the snake clan.


    This wasn''t a sign of cold-bloodedness; even humans can kill each other, history''s greatest killers being humans themselves, not wild beasts.


    So if the creatures in the mining area were battling fiercely, he was even less inclined to get involved.


    He befriended both Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng simply because of personal preference.


    As long as he did not let Qing JiuYu find out that he was on good terms with Bai Mansheng, and vice versa, things would be fine.


    Tang Xian believed that the heavens wouldn''t play such a trick on him, allowing two dangerous women to appear by his side at the same time.


    Thinking about such a scenario made him shiver involuntarily. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Well... It shouldn''t happen, right? Better be careful.


    (Okay, can''t write anymore, time for a break)

 Chapter 80 Three Questions

    The sky gradually darkened, and Akasi grew somewhat worried.They had agreed to return to the Pyramid later in the evening, but several hours had already passed.


    Yet the Nvwa Snake showed no intention of leaving.


    Tang Xian watched without urgency. The layer of ice began to melt, and the White Bone Mountain Range at dusk felt much colder than usual.


    By the time Tang Xian finished recounting the entire ''The Legend of the White Snake,'' Bai Mansheng nodded thoughtfully, her expression still light and serene.


    Tang Xian saw the favorability points soared to 28, a pleasant surprise, thinking it was far more tiring than when he was raising points with Qing JiuYu.


    But Qing JiuYu at least had things she liked. He lifted it by giving flowers without much persuasion from himself.


    For a Nvwa Snake with no obvious attributes, finding the right approach was already quite an achievement.


    Upon observing the Nvwa Snake''s data, Tang Xian discovered that there was something listed under her likes.


    [Likes: Folk love stories.]


    Tsk, so she''s a literary girl?


    After finishing several pots of fish soup and listening to an entire story, Bai Mansheng asked:


    "Do you have other stories?"


    "Plenty more, some even more touching than this."


    "Good, let''s hear them next time. Let''s talk about serious matters."


    Tang Xian indeed wanted to discuss serious matters, but he had no idea what Bai Mansheng''s "serious matters" were.


    "You mentioned Qing JiuYu. Do you know that fox?"


    An invisible pressure arose. Akasi felt the hairs on his arms stand up, the feeling that danger was imminent.


    Tang Xian kept a straight face, thinking this was the time to test his composure and acting skills.


    "I know her, just an acquaintance."


    "How did you meet?"


    "I killed a three-tailed fox. She happened to be nearby."


    "And then?"


    "Why do you ask all this?"


    Tang Xian felt something was not right.


    He had mentioned Qing JiuYu''s name early in their conversation, but Bai Mansheng had pressed the question until after the entire story.


    A reserved woman can be petty.


    "She is my mortal enemy. If you get along with her, then you are my enemy as well."


    "An enemy''s friend is also an enemy?"


    "Exactly."


    "I have a terrible relationship with her."


    Tang Xian said with a smile, as if he were discussing something quite joyous.


    Bai Mansheng nodded slightly, and the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the air finally lessened a bit.


    "She would make an enemy of you over a three-tailed fox?"


    Tang Xian raised an eyebrow, realizing that indeed, there must be some scent on him that was confusing the judgment of the Nvwa Snake and the spectral fox.


    They seemed to think he was some formidably powerful being.


    In that case, it certainly wasn''t worth it for Qing JiuYu to offend a powerful being of equal standing over a three-tailed fox.


    "Foxes aren''t cute, so I ate the fox."


    This time Akasi couldn''t hold back and coughed.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s still composed demeanor and remembering how not long ago he spoke of how cute foxes were, how one couldn''t eat them, he felt he was seeing another side of this man.


    "Very good," Bai Mansheng said indifferently with just two words.


    But the favorability points actually went up by five.


    There is a saying that to foster a friendship with a woman, you should hate what she hates.


    The effect seems to be much stronger than liking what she likes.


    Tang Xian now truly experienced this firsthand.


    "But why did she not fight you?"


    "She bears a grudge against me. But I am someone who dislikes violence."


    Bai Mansheng furrowed her brows, not because she sensed falsehood in his words, but because the man before her had been covered in blood only moments before, which hardly indicated any aversion to violence.


    "If you encounter her again, you must kill her. If you promise me, my Serpent Clan will forever be your ally."


    "Alright¡­ fine," Tang Xian finally felt the difficulty of the conversation increasing.


    Akasi, standing to the side, began to put together some reasoning based on the names ''Qing'' from Tang Xiaojiu''s mouth, and ''Qing JiuYu.''


    The conversation contained a vast amount of information, and he was not yet certain of some of his thoughts.


    But it seemed... Tang Xian was in a tight spot now.


    Although surprised by the captain''s continuous nonsense, Akasi understood it was all about survival.


    "What is the deep hatred between you and her? Did the war between the two species come first or did your personal vendetta lead to the war between the tribes?"


    Tang Xian remembered Qing JiuYu saying she had some personal feud with the leader of the Snake Clan.


    "The personal grudge came first, but the war between our tribes has nothing to do with it."


    "I''ve listened to your stories for so long and cooked so many pots of soup, now I want to know some things."


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian for a long while, then nodded and said,


    "Speak."


    "There are three things I''m particularly concerned about. Why is the beast migration happening, is it related to the Beast Tribunals? What''s the personal vendetta between you and Qing JiuYu, and what caused the war between your two species?"


    Touching his chin, Tang Xian pondered for a second, and said,


    "Shall we start with the first one?"


    "You sure have a lot of questions," Bai Mansheng said coldly.


    "It goes both ways, next time I''ll tell you an even better story."


    "Thanks, but I don''t know about the first question. The Beast Tribunals only actively arbitrate some major events and accept cases from all realms, occasionally sending some revelations. I don''t think it has anything to do with the beast migration."


    "If you don''t know the first one, then let me ask another. How was the Beast Tribunal established? What else is it responsible for?"


    "You really know how to bargain," Bai Mansheng said somewhat surprised, looking at Tang Xian.


    "We have to learn to think in human ways, it''s beneficial to us," Tang Xian replied calmly.


    "I don''t know when the Beast Tribunals originated. As far as I can remember, they have always existed. The internal structure is very complex; it seems to be managed by a group of Long-eared Ancients, but some say that ancient creatures from legends are aiding them."


    "But these are all unverified claims, right?" Tang Xian asked.


    "How to verify? Anyway, those who offend the tribunal will surely die."


    "Doesn''t the Beast Tribunal care about wars between two species?"


    "They might, but only if one of us, either Qing JiuYu or myself, no longer wishes to fight and actively seeks the tribunal''s arbitration. The events they arbitrate are on a much larger scale than the war between my Snake Clan and the Fox Clan."


    Bai Mansheng continued,


    "That''s all I can tell you about the Beast Tribunals. Don''t bring up any other issues. As for the migration of the beast tide, it has always happened, but my Snake Clan has never received such a revelation, so asking is pointless."


    "Then why does the Snake Clan have to fight with the Fox Clan?"


    "The climate of the Tianque Plains is much warmer than the far north, which helps with the propagation of my Snake Clan. The Nvwa Snake lineage is an extremely rare high-level species. Usually, powerful creatures like the Nvwa Snake are solitary, and it''s rare for them to form a group."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    It''s true that most calamity-level creatures were solitary; those living in groups were indeed scarce.


    The combat power of such groups was also extremely formidable.


    Fortunately, he was not afraid of the Nvwa Snake. But the one in front of him was not a Nvwa Snake.


    "I thought a powerful creature had awoken in the north, forcing you to leave."


    "Your guess is related, but off the mark. We left the north for a better breeding environment, but the reason for leaving now is not due to some powerful creature awakening, but because one has died."


    Tang Xian was moved; this possibility had never crossed his mind.


    "The Nvwa Snakes resided in the north, always at odds with the Bear Clan of the extreme north, and we battled them for hundreds of years."


    "So you won?"


    "We won, and the Bear Clan is no more. Naturally, there''s nothing left in the north for us."


    Tang Xian didn''t know what to say.


    With only a few words, he could feel the ruthlessness of the Snake Clan.


    Despite having better options available, they persevered with a relentless attitude driven by hatred.


    This was indeed reminiscent of the nature of snakes in the wild.


    "Your species really holds a grudge."


    "We are also very good to our friends."


    Enjoy new stories from empire


    "What if you discover one day that your friend has deceived you?"


    Tang Xian looked seriously at Bai Mansheng.


    Bai Mansheng said indifferently,


    "If I find him pleasing, he lives; if I don''t, he dies."


    "Do you find me pleasing?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Have you deceived me?"


    "The two are unrelated; I just want to know if you find me pleasing."


    Bai Mansheng stared directly at Tang Xian but ultimately didn''t speak.


    Tang Xian had to come up with the answer himself. Since they had a pleasant encounter, he must have been pleasing to her.


    Heh, this reticent little white snake.


    "So how did you and Qing JiuYu come to be at loggerheads?"


    (Four updates planned for today, don''t worry, more to come, rushing)

 Chapter 81 The Grudge Between the Fox and the Snake (Second Update)

    The third and final question was actually the one Tang Xian cared about the most."At this stage in my evolution, I can transform into a human form,"


    "I know. I can do it too." Tang Xian hadn''t expected the answer to be related to transforming into a human.


    The topic had just become more interesting.


    He didn''t want to miss the opportunity.


    "Speaking of which, why can we turn into humans?"


    "You don''t know, and neither do I."


    Bai Mansheng''s response was decisive, leaving Tang Xian somewhat disappointed.


    Akasi was finally convinced that Tang Xian was pretending to be a creature from the mining district.


    Such boldness in his artistry...


    As the prime test subject who grew up in the evolutionary zone, having seen a myriad of twisted experiments beyond the imagination of ordinary people, Akasi was still shocked by Tang Xian''s performance today.


    He remained silent, playing the role of a mute human attendant.


    "We can take on human forms. The Court of All Beasts once said this is the first step in the interconnectedness of all things. It is also the first step in tracing back to our origins, but there was never much more said about it."


    Interconnectedness of all things? Tracing back to origins?


    Tang Xian was not a man of lowly tastes, but the first thing that came to his mind was mating.


    A turtle couldn''t mate with a rabbit.


    Nor would a lion marry a tiger.


    But if everyone turned into a human shape and even shared a common human language,


    then... could species that previously couldn''t mate now do so?


    That''s probably what they meant by the interconnectedness of all things.


    Their offspring would probably retain a human form, but what would their true nature be?


    It''s too complicated, because the reason for transforming into humans couldn''t be found.


    It must be related to tracing back to our origins.


    The mysteries of the mining world were multiplying, and even these most powerful creatures didn''t know; perhaps no one knew at all.


    It''s possible that the Court of All Beasts had also lost many precious texts over time due to historical changes.


    Tang Xian shook his head, no longer dwelling on it.


    There was already a pile of unsolvable mysteries on the side of the Pyramid and the human catastrophe.


    Both worlds were incredibly complex.


    "So you can take on human forms, and then how did you get into trouble?" Tang Xian steered the conversation back on track.


    "Do you know about the Endless Turtle?"


    "There''s a real creature from the myths?"


    People usually marveled at the strange creatures Tang Xian spoke of, but now it was his turn to be amazed.


    He was somewhat familiar with the Endless Turtle, having seen it mentioned in the "New Classic of Mountains and Seas" a long time ago.


    The book dated back hundreds of years when humans still struggled against enhanced creatures, and he was somewhat skeptical of many of its descriptions.


    "What myth?"


    "It looks like a turtle with a bird''s head and a snake''s tail. Its sound is like clanking wood; wearing it prevents deafness and can be used as a foundation. Is the Endless Turtle you''re talking about like this?"


    "No, the Endless Turtle just looks like a rather large ordinary turtle. Although it can''t transform, it can speak human language. As for the turtle you mentioned... I have never seen one. Who told you about it?" Your journey continues on empire


    "Lu Xun said it."


    "I don''t know him."


    "It doesn''t matter, continue, what does your conflict with Qing JiuYu have to do with this old turtle?"


    "The Endless Turtle can foresee some incomplete fragments. The time is unverifiable, the place unverifiable, but its prophecies eventually come to pass in part."


    "Did it make a prophecy that caused you and Qing JiuYu to fall out?"


    "It''s not a falling out, I simply never liked her." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All right, what was the prophecy?" Tang Xian asked.


    Bai Mansheng fell silent.


    "Why aren''t you speaking?"


    "I don''t feel like talking about it. I need to rest for a bit before I go. Are you heading to the north?"


    "Don''t dodge the subject. Do you still want to hear the story or not?"


    "Are you threatening me?" Bai Mansheng stared at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian didn''t back down, nodded, and said,


    "You said it yourself, it''s a storyteller''s discipline. I''ve always hated stories that are left unfinished and people who only speak half their mind."


    Bai Mansheng paused for a moment, then nodded, feeling that Xu Xian''s words made sense.


    She bit her silver teeth and said,


    "The Endless Turtle said that Qing Jiuyu will compete with me for a man in the future. Though I don''t know who my beloved will be, I cannot tolerate this fox enchantress."


    Pfft...


    It wasn''t that Tang Xian couldn''t hold back, but Akasi, who was drinking lake water, couldn''t.


    However, Tang Xian''s expression was also quite a sight. After being stunned for two seconds, Tang Xian said,


    "That old turtle really speaks without a filter."


    Bai Mansheng shook her head and said,


    "The Endless Turtle''s predictions are very accurate. When the Court of All Beasts can''t settle some matters, those wisest of the ancient long-eared apes would consult it."


    "Is there only one Endless Turtle?"


    "On the north side, there''s only one; whether there are any in the Southern Territory is unclear."


    Tang Xian nodded, finding the idea not unacceptable. Some animals have a very slow sense of time and, over the long term, can create unstable time distortions, gaining knowledge of some fragments.


    This is mainly reflected in some long-lived creatures.


    If humans can awaken strange and unusual abilities, then it''s normal for the indigenous creatures in the mining area to have even stranger abilities. It wasn''t hard to accept.


    Tang Xian still felt it was a pity, though. If there were two, it would have been nice to kill one for soup.


    Turtle soup nourishes the stomach and is a great delicacy.


    However, regarding the old turtle''s words, Tang Xian pondered them carefully and felt that Bai Mansheng and Qing Jiuyu might have misunderstood the meaning. He always felt that the phrase "compete for a man" should not be specifically about romantic relationships.


    "I need to go," Bai Mansheng stood up.


    Tang Xian also nodded. If this little white snake listened to another story and had a few more pots of soup, she might have spent over ten hours.


    Dongran, Qiaoshanshan, and those girls are probably constantly calling me by now, right?


    If he arrived at the mining area ten hours later, the two women would be easy to explain, but Tang Xiaojiu was a juvenile form of a nine-tailed fox.


    If Bai Mansheng found out, it would be troublesome to explain.


    "Let''s go. I won''t see you out."


    Just like when he parted with Qing Jiuyu, Tang Xian didn''t have a sentimental habit.


    Bai Mansheng sized Tang Xian up again, taking a serious look at him from head to toe, then nodded and said,


    "Where are you off to? Since you don''t live in the White Bone Mountain Range, you must be hurrying somewhere."


    "I''m heading south," Tang Xian replied.


    "Oh, then farewell."


    "Until we meet again."


    Bai Mansheng, seeing Tang Xian''s nonchalant attitude, felt inexplicably annoyed. She didn''t linger any longer, and with a light step, her figure slowly disappeared into the distance.


    Tang Xian kept silent; he glanced at Akasi, knowing that Akasi probably had a bunch of questions.


    But Akasi didn''t speak either.


    It was only after a long time, when Tang Xian noticed that the scent in his breath had faded substantially, that he finally relaxed.


    "In three hours, Dongran and Qiaoshanshan should be back here. I actually really wanted to ride the giant snake, just considering the trouble with these women," Tang Xian said with some regret.


    After having ridden a fox, naturally, he would also want to ride a giant white snake tens of meters long.


    Akasi said seriously, "Although Dongran and Shanshan have some strength, there''s really no need to bring them along for hunting a calamity-level creature."


    Tang Xian replied, "Dongran needs some experience, and Qiaoshanshan''s role is indeed negligible in battles where the power gap is wide. She''s more suited for attrition warfare."


    "But revenge needs to be witnessed with one''s own eyes. The Nvwa Snake is her enemy that killed several of her teammates. I wasn''t planning on provoking calamity-level creatures at this stage, but since I promised those two women, it''s not good to back out."


    Facing the terrifying existences of the mining area is one thing, but when it comes to friends, keeping one''s word is another matter altogether.


    Akasi gave a wry smile and said, "How long do you plan to keep today''s events from them?"


    (More later)

 Chapter 82 The Upper Limit of Favorability (3rd Update)

    Akasi was not stupid. He understood the significance of Tang Xian choosing to keep him behind.Tang Xian knew the events of today were too subversive for ordinary humans.


    The Beast Court, which could take on the form of human miners, and the intelligence displayed by the miners'' creatures that was indistinguishable from humans.


    Tang Xian had no intention of hiding these things from his teammates, but everything needed to be done step by step. He chose Akasi, who had the strongest ability to accept change and the most trust in him, to be the first to know the truth.


    One day in the future when he would speak of these things again, having a collaborator would make it also more convenient for Dongran, Qiaoshanshan, and the others to accept.


    The complexity of the mining area far exceeded imagination.


    Tang Xian said,


    "It''s still too early now. We''ll do it later. Some boss-level creatures in the mining area might, for some unknown reason, consider me as one of their own. As to the root cause, I''m also not clear about that, including some of my abilities, which require investigation."


    "I get it, you really are an interesting guy," Akasi said with a laugh. Find your next read on empire


    "Interesting?"


    "Quite interesting. Maybe your very existence is a kind of irony to the years of research in the evolution zone."


    Tang Xian grew to like Akasi even more, largely because of the trust, but also because of his strong capacity for acceptance.


    The favorability was at fifty-nine, being evaluated as a friendship close enough to put one''s life in the other''s hands.


    This was even higher than that of Ke Shang Lu and the others; the classmates he previously got along well with were at most fair-weather friends, with favorability around forty.


    But Tang Xian noticed something, there was a difference in how favorability was evaluated between males and females.


    For instance, a favorability range of ten to twenty was evaluated as "feeling a sense of familiarity" for females, while for males it was "instant rapport."


    And for twenty to thirty, it was "joy at meeting" for females and "regret at not meeting sooner" for males.


    Tang Xian saw no need for this distinction.


    He wanted to correct it but found the data in his vision was not subject to his will.


    In Tang Xian''s eyes, there was essentially no difference between men and women.


    It was only between the foolish and the non-foolish.


    Tang Xian originally thought the limit of favorability was 100, just as the limit for charm value should be Qing JiuYu''s 99, appraised as a woman who could overthrow states with her beauty.


    It was only later that he encountered an exception, and he realized that the data display was skimping as well.


    There was only one exception, and that was Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu''s favorability towards him seemed to be 100, but there was no appraisal. This shouldn''t have been the case.


    Upon closer examination, Tang Xian discovered a small plus sign next to the 100.


    It seemed that this plus sign caused the appraisal to disappear. It probably meant... an obsession too deep to describe.


    He wasn''t a fool, although the appraisal did not show up, but the previous values had not been significantly off, so Li Xiaoyu should be no exception.


    Thus, Li Xiaoyu probably had a nearly unhealthy fascination with him.


    This wasn''t something good, especially since it had been unchanged for six years after Tang Xian had rejected her.


    The attitude Tang Xian preferred was, if you treat me with respect, I''ll return it tenfold; doing business with him, he tried not to let the other party lose out, with the condition that he also profited.


    The same went for friendships.


    But the level of Li Xiaoyu''s favorability towards him was something Tang Xian found hard to handle.


    Thinking too far ahead.


    Tang Xian shook his head and stopped thinking about these trivial matters.


    His somewhat friendship with Bai Mansheng was not out of utility, but simply personal interest.


    Tang Xian said, "Let''s go back to the tent, that cat and bird must be starving."


    Akasi nodded and asked while walking,


    "You promised Xiaojiu to go to the north in search of Qing JiuYu, didn''t you?"


    Akasi believed that Qing JiuYu was the Qing aunt Xiaojiu mentioned.


    Tang Xian nodded and replied,


    "To take a look and provide some help, then leave. I underestimated the strength of catastrophe-level boss creatures; I need to think more deeply about some things."


    "What are your plans after that?"


    "Go back to the wooden house in the Tree Sea, waiting for the arrival of the Hunting Festival."


    Akasi did not think Tang Xian was the kind of person interested in the Hunting Festival.


    Tang Xian didn''t wait for Akasi to ask and spoke directly,


    "I probably won''t be participating in the hunting festival. But the event will still bring me some trouble. I need to guard my yard and at the same time warn some intruders."


    Akasi understood, realizing that the hunting festival was being held near the Forest Sea.


    "This time, the evolution zone will also send some test subjects to participate in the festival," Akasi said.


    Tang Xian didn''t stop, continuing on his way.


    "If possible, I''d like to go to the area of the hunting festival alone to find these test subjects."


    Tang Xian nodded without any hesitation and said,


    "I will help you."


    He added another sentence:


    "I can''t turn those kids who have transformed into monsters back into humans, nor do I possess the knowledge of how to reverse-extract the blended serum. But I will do my best to save those children who haven''t been modified.


    Organizations like the evolution zone, I will eradicate them root and branch."


    Akasi nodded, with a warm smile on his face.


    The two soon arrived at the outskirts of the White Bone Mountain Range, at the border with the blood-red wasteland, which was a stretch of shallow grassland.


    This place was unique, with grassland to the south that once nourished a large herd of cattle.


    To the north lay a rugged mountain range that had once been home to a large flock of birds.


    But now, there were no more cattle moos or bird songs.


    On the vast boundary land, there were only a few tents.


    In the central tent, a short-haired lazy cat stretched and licked its paws, while a clumsy bird chirped eagerly for food.


    Upon seeing Tang Xian, the cat and the bird acted like a farmer in drought yearning for rain.


    Tang Xian took out some food and a cat trough, and the cat''s head rubbed incessantly against it, Tang Gazi did the same.


    Occasionally, it would push Tang Bingxiang with its wings, which annoyed Tang Bingxiang who then exhaled a low-grade version of the icy breath, freezing the food solid.


    It looked smugly at Tang Gazi.


    Akasi watched the cat and bird, laughing out loud.


    Tang Xian said, "Such foolish cat and bird."


    ...


    ...


    The first fortress, the sixth layer.


    The Song Family, the Qi Family, and the Li Family were the three major families of Huaxia.


    Song Gengzhao, as the family head, had exhausted all his energies for the Song Family.


    In the quaint study room of the Song Family head, there had always been the words "the first fortress."


    This was also a reminder to the successive heads of the Song Family that the first fortress was not literally the first.


    But Song Gengzhao didn''t care about these things.


    The competitions among the fortresses within Huaxia were still relatively aboveboard.


    Even though the Song and Li Families were competing for the title of the true first fortress of Huaxia, the heads of both Song Li families maintained the philosophy of serving the world first.


    Even the Qi Family, with its not-so-clean historical background, followed this principle. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the various fortresses of Huaxia each had their own schemes, their views on external affairs were surprisingly united.


    As such, after the great catastrophe when civilizations changed and other countries underwent turmoil, the distance between fortresses grew wider.


    But this was not the case with the Huaxia fortresses.


    Song Gengzhao''s choice of a marital alliance with the Li family was also regarded as a beautiful story. Even in the race with Lincoln Fortress for the pioneering of the eighth layer, at such a critical moment, the Song Family was willing to support the Li family wholeheartedly.


    Inside the study, looking at the approaching wedding date, he said with a smile,


    "Although Li Wanye has been ahead of me and Qi for these years, there''s still something he lacks compared to me.


    Li Zheng is a talent, but he''s still not as good as my son. I can''t outdo the past, but you''re different. The next generation might just elevate our Song Family to the first fortress.


    With the hunting festival approaching, we outsiders have been invited to be guests at the thirty-ninth fortress. My son, you must do your best, take the strongest record of battle, and marry the Li family''s little princess!"


    Song Gengzhao would deal with some of the Song Family''s affairs in his study every noon.


    Joined by the ever-smiling Song Que.


    (To be continued)

 Chapter 83 The Second Smartest (4th Update)

    Song Que was similar to Li Zheng in temperament. Their upbringing had instilled in them an air of authority that didn''t require anger to assert itself.In this day and age, the aesthetic preferences of both men and women had become increasingly distorted and bizarre, exhibiting a bit of a cyberpunk flair.


    But wherever he went, Song Que ought to be considered a handsome man.


    That is, as long as he didn''t smile.


    Somehow, when such a person smiled, it inexplicably made him appear somewhat simple and honest. There are just those types of faces in the world.


    For example... the lead actress from the ancient American drama Game of Thrones, whose beauty oscillated between a one and a nine with her smile¡ªthe Mother of Dragons.


    Unfortunately, Song Que was naturally cheerful and sunny, smiling frequently.


    Therefore, at the First Fortress, Song Que also had a nickname, "Song the Simple."


    It wasn''t that this eldest son of the Song Family was truly simple-minded. Song Que''s honest simplicity was real, but when it came to scheming, there were few who could rival him.


    After the Korean player Li Haochang, who had swept through the board game circles of all the fortresses, took Song Que as his disciple, he soon retired from the game.


    This, however, was a fact only the Song Family knew the reason for.


    Song Que said with a smile, "Dad, I haven''t seen her. I''ve heard she''s good-looking and smart."


    "Of course she is, this marriage won''t be a disadvantage to you. If we''re talking about real men, the Li family can''t compare to the Song Family, but when it comes to the ladies of the Song Family, compared to that girl from the Li family, they fall far short."


    Song Que scratched his head, thinking his eldest sister and third sister were also quite outstanding.


    "In a couple of days, we''ll go to the Thirty-Nine Fortress, and you''ll meet that girl."


    "She seems rather fierce, what if she doesn''t like me?"


    Song Que resembled a chick who wanted to be seriously in love but was also somewhat timid and cautious.


    Song Gengzhao nodded, unable to refute this fact¡ªthe second young mistress of the Li family was notoriously fierce, and not a few young masters from great families had turned from young lords into young ladies.


    It seems no one had dared to propose to the Li family in the Thirty-Nine Fortress these years, aside from the disparities between families, there were also some concerns beyond matching one''s social status.


    Song Gengzhao said with a smile,


    "Just treat her well, with your good looks and honest nature, she won''t mistreat you. Affection can be nurtured slowly."


    Song Que nodded, no longer discussing the matter. He was somewhat looking forward to meeting Li Xiaoyu.


    "By the way, how is the preparation for the hunting festival going?"


    "The team members are arriving one after another," Song Que said.


    "These team members are no ordinary people; it cost the Song Family quite a bit to recruit them. Do they follow your lead?"


    This was Song Gengzhao''s greatest concern.


    His son was undeniably talented, and on the hunter''s chart, probably only the mysterious and unfathomable Akasi could compete with him. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet paradoxically, the role he chose to play in the team was the least respected one, "the eyes."


    Song Que said,


    "Don''t worry, Dad. Indeed, they are all capable people, and truly a joy to be around! But they still respect me."


    "Oh? A group of capable people, each prouder than the last, willing to acknowledge you as their leader?"


    Song Que nodded earnestly and said,


    "It''s only right that strong individuals have their own personalities and temperaments. To earn their respect doesn''t hinge on whether I choose to be ''the eyes'' or not, being stronger than them is all that matters."


    Song Gengzhao was very satisfied with his son''s confident attitude.


    "Alright, train as much as possible these days. This hunting festival will be swarming with all manner of bizarre creatures. Don''t take it lightly. The prize is secondary for you, honor is what''s most important."


    Song Que nodded.


    After some casual conversation, Song Que left the study and not long after, headed to the mining district.


    The Amara Continent was the largest mining area for humans.


    Almost all fortresses had their own territory and fortifications here, and it was also the starting point for the "newbie village" of each fortress.


    Lin Jue, swinging a baseball bat, was smashing an elite-level creature that had carelessly wandered into the safety zone.


    It was just a way to kill the boredom.


    "Speaking of Song Que, that lad, he''s a pampered prince, isn''t he? Why doesn''t he have a few women to serve him?"


    Lin Jue tossed away his cigarette butt and continued to beat the corpse with a baseball bat.


    The hunters by his side were used to it by now. This old thug, who seemed full of ruffian charm, was not to be underestimated in strength. He loved two things in life the most: fighting and women.


    "Such temper so early in the morning? The captain is a decent man, if you want a woman, go find one yourself at the club on the third floor." Discover hidden content at empire


    The man speaking had only one eye, with a fierce-looking face, as he wiped the firearm in his hand.


    It closely resembled a Barrett heavy sniper rifle. Such a heavy object seemed as light as foam in his hands.


    Lin Jue shook his head and said,


    "Being the boss as a rookie is the least fun. I really miss the days when I was on my own. Back at Fortress 39, I cuckolded an entire school''s worth of teachers. Those were the glory days."


    "Lin, give it a rest, you''ve told us that story over eighty times. As someone who''s been demoted, you can''t go back to the third floor either."


    The doctor laughed and waved his hand, stopping Lin Jue''s walk down memory lane.


    Lin Jue felt somewhat embarrassed and chuckled.


    "That''s true, if I could go back to the third floor, I would have already asked Cyclops for those club addresses."


    "We follow Song because he''s smart. Although I''ve always looked down on brainiacs, his talent would be wasted if he didn''t use it. Stop harping on about women. Win a place in the rankings, and you''ll be able to go back."


    Lin Jue nodded, acknowledging the logic in that.


    However, Song Que hadn''t arrived yet, and unable to bear the boredom, he said,


    "The Song family''s old man hid his son for so long, he really knows how to hold back. If it were me and I had such a son, I''d have shown him off on my social circle ages ago."


    "Give me a break, with your record of whoring around without settling down, who would want to have a kid with you?"


    The one-eyed man taunted Lin Jue.


    Lin Jue wasn''t annoyed and laughed heartily,


    "Well, I couldn''t produce a kid with brains like that anyway. He''s the second smartest young person I''ve seen."


    This statement suddenly made the rest of the crew, also waiting for Song Que, pause.


    "What bull are you spouting now?"


    "What''s the situation, you''ve seen someone smarter?"


    Lin strutted his stuff and said,


    "Of course, when I was at school, even the principal had to address me as Teacher Lin! I''ve seen plenty of kids."


    "Stop blowing smoke about your past exploits, the only thing you''re interested in besides women is still women, no other fresh stories."


    "Let''s leave it at that, that kid supposedly messed up later, cheated on an exam and got expelled; now, I can''t even find any news about him.


    It''s a shame, really. He was smarter than Song Que, just didn''t have the talent. Compared to Song Que, it''s all about fate. It''s not easy surviving at the bottom, who knows if the kid''s already kicked the bucket."


    "What the hell are you talking about? It''s all gone to waste now," the one-eyed man cursed.


    To him, a smart kid with no talent was common at the bottom; brains alone didn''t impress him much.


    After all, Song Que wasn''t just smart.


    The doctor smiled, slightly surprised.


    They had been partners for a while now, doing life-threatening trades, not listed on the hunters'' rankings. But their abilities were not to be underestimated. They also knew each other fairly well.


    He knew Lin Jue and the one-eyed man were both rogues who spoke roughly and loved to boast, but the regret in Lin Jue''s eyes couldn''t be faked right now.


    So he consoled him,


    "Smart people will always find a way to live comfortably. Don''t regret it, maybe you''ll meet him again someday."


    "I hope so, that kid did save my life once."


    (Alright, it probably won''t blow up like this tomorrow)

 Chapter 84 Qing JiuYus Deadly Demand

    "What are you talking about?" Song Que suddenly appeared, interrupting the conversation among the group.Lin Jue gave a silly smile and laughed without saying anything.


    Song Que didn''t mind and said,


    "Doctor Qin, is everyone here?"


    "Yes, Lin Jue, the Cyclops, and I were chatting, while Lao Lei and Xiao Shi are in the tent."


    "Then let them know we''re ready to set off," Song Que said, his face breaking into a simple smile again. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Jue asked, "Where is this hunt taking place?"


    "We''re going to the Red Clay Forest. Get ready in advance and observe the terrain; it will be helpful for us."


    Song Que knew these people had formidable abilities and were likely to be somewhat arrogant, so he said,


    "This hunting festival holds extraordinary significance for me. I''m not afraid of being laughed at, but I do want to achieve a good ranking, to make a good impression on my fianc¨¦e. I''ve heard there are many teams, and it''s the largest scale event yet, so everyone must not take it lightly."


    Lin Jue and the Cyclops remained silent, but Doctor Qin smiled and said,


    "Don''t worry, Captain. We have a plan. We''ve all been through tough times with our heads strapped to our belts¡ªwe won''t make any rookie mistakes. The stronger the opponents, the better they perform."


    Song Que''s smile deepened, and he nodded in satisfaction.


    Lin Jue said, "Whose daughter are you marrying? The great young master of the Song Family actually gets shy and nervous? You''re still a greenhorn."


    Song Que scratched his head and said with a wry smile,


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    "The daughter of the Li family from the Thirty-Ninth Fortress."


    Lin Jue''s expression became odd.


    He had been ousted from the school by a joint petition of male teachers nine years ago, but it was only the previous year that the Song Family had invited him to Fortress Number One.


    He was naturally familiar with the princess of the Li family.


    "Damn, I won''t comment on anything else, but boy, you''ve really got guts. I, Lin Jue, cannot compare." After pondering for a bit, Lin Jue blurted out that sentence.


    Song Que became a bit flustered, thinking increasingly fearful thoughts of the yet-unmet young lady.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian took action again two days later, having already spent five days in the mining area. To reach the Tianque Plains, even if the group traveled at their fastest pace, it would take three days, so he let Akasi go back to the Pyramid to rest.


    He also told Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan not to come too early.


    On the morning of the third day, the chill had subsided considerably, and the glaciers had receded by half, with the area around the lakes and marshes finally showing some signs of life.


    After Tang Xian had breakfast with Akasi in the White Bone Mountain Range, Dong Ran brought Tang Xiaojiu, and Qiao Shanshan brought Tang Suoye.


    Tang Suoye remained unconscious. Akasi''s gaze was always filled with a touch of concern.


    Tang Xian patted Akasi on the shoulder and said,


    "All her vital signs are gradually improving. Don''t worry, she will surely wake up, and I''m certain of this."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded in agreement; she had been investigating the reasons behind Tang Suoye''s failure to wake up.


    Her blue eyes were as deep as the ocean, and pale blue streaks were gradually appearing in the whites of her eyes.


    But they had stabilized a day before. Perhaps this meant that the serum from the Eden Deer had finally fully integrated with Tang Suoye''s own serum.


    She should wake up soon.


    Qiao Shanshan wasn''t actually worried about this; her concern was more about whether Tang Suoye''s thought processes might be affected once she awoke.


    Tang Xian and his company continued on their way.


    After traveling for another three days, they finally emerged from the White Bone Mountain Range and arrived at a vast crevice.


    Standing on the edge and looking down, all that could be seen was darkness at the end of their sightline.


    "An abyss that seems bottomless, isolating this vast plain, marks the edge of the Tianque Plains. According to legend, this abyss is the bite mark of some creature, but that truly is just a myth," Tang Xian explained to his companions, taking in the Tianque Plains'' vastness through his nostrils, detecting the stench of blood and rotting flesh in the distance.


    The scents of foxes and Nvwa Snakes intertwined, indistinguishable for him.


    The scent of the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon was no different from that of the Nvwa Snake.


    This gave Tang Xian a subtle unease.


    He just hoped they wouldn''t encounter Bai Mansheng. After all, he had said he would head south.


    The group continued on their journey, and Tang Xian felt he needed to kill a few more hellhounds or maybe even start breeding some canids.


    Opening a dog meat farm didn''t seem like a bad idea either.


    It would satisfy his cravings while enhancing his sense of smell.


    By now, Tang Xian could detect hundreds of scents from a great distance. In fact, his olfactory senses had become even more acute than those of the hellhounds themselves due to his continuous culling of them.


    It was just that the Tianque Plains as a battlefield between two clans was... too complex in scent.


    However, the scent of the Biphasic Orchid was quite distinctive. The only one who could possess that scent was Qing JiuYu.


    After Tang Xian had given her a few Biphasic Orchids, she had always carried them with her, which had ended up giving Tang Xian a direction to follow.


    Otherwise, the Tianque Plains were several times larger than the woodlands; finding a single fox would be very difficult.


    Tang Xian led the group towards the area where Qing Jiuyu was located.


    Along the way, he admonished the others, including Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, to speak as little as possible.


    Qiao Shanshan, now that her deep grudge was avenged, was quite respectful of Tang Xian, while Dong Ran had slowly developed the habit of whatever Tang said would happen.


    So neither woman objected.


    West of the Tianque Plains was a forest made up of guiding locust trees.


    After nearly three hours, Tang Xian led his company from the edge into this forested area.


    Originally, the Tianque Plains hosted many creatures, and its ecosystem was even more complex than that of the woodlands.

 Chapter 84 Qing JiuYus Deadly Demand_2

    But because of the war between two powerful races, only foxes and snakes were left here.So the group encountered no danger.


    However, not long after they entered the forest, trouble arrived.


    Over a dozen Six-tailed Spirit Foxes sprang out from behind a huge guidepost locust tree.


    These were all perfect level creatures; Akasi was no slouch, and could handle perfect level boss units with ease.


    But faced with a large group of foxes surrounding them with malevolent gazes, he didn''t know where to begin.


    "Don''t move, if they attack, just focus on defense," Tang Xian instructed.


    "Why?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "To the east of Tianque Plains, we don''t kill snakes. To the west, we don''t kill foxes. Remember that."


    The two women didn''t understand his reasoning, but they nodded anyway.


    They stood back to back, watching their surroundings warily.


    The number of foxes surrounding them kept growing, from a dozen to several dozens.


    Apart from beast tides migrating, no one had ever seen so many perfect level creatures gathered together.


    Akasi also felt the pressure.


    If it really came to a fight, his side had no chance of winning.


    At most, he could deal with three to five perfect level creatures, but how could he manage thirty to fifty?


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan''s foreheads were also beaded with sweat, as if facing a great enemy, while the two small animals, Tang Bingxiang and Tang Gazi, one tucked its tail, and the other kept howling, probably pleading for mercy.


    Tang Xian noticed the foxes'' gazes growing fiercer, filled with a certain disgust.


    The panel showed that most foxes had this particular requirement in their current needs analysis,


    [Attack the foxkin girl]


    Tang Xian looked at Tang Xiaojiu, who seemed to be able to sense these foxes'' emotions.


    She hung her head low, her eyes filled with a certain grievance, misty with tears.


    Tang Xian held Tang Xiaojiu''s hand, speaking softly,


    "Don''t be afraid."


    Tang Xiaojiu wasn''t scared, just simply saddened.


    It was like a child in kindergarten who wasn''t bullied, but no one wanted to play with her.


    Since she could remember, apart from Qing, all her fellow kin had looked at her with cold eyes.


    As if looking at an outsider.


    "We''ve just entered the forest... How come there are so many foxes..."


    Qiao Shanshan originally thought Tang Xian''s talk of the Fox and Snake races'' conflict was conjecture, but now it seemed that conjecture had been confirmed.


    Tang Xian didn''t reply to Qiao Shanshan; the conflict between the Fox and Snake races must have reached a critical stage.


    These foxes weren''t likely guarding them, but Tang Xiaojiu''s appearance made them show themselves.


    Counting the time in silence, Tang Xian''s expression was grave, yet he did not seem panicked.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were still girls after all. Seeing Tang Xian''s calm demeanor, they felt reassured.


    To Akasi''s slight surprise, he discovered that the group of foxes began to retreat slowly, making way.


    One second, it seemed like the most intense battle was about to erupt, and the next, the air of imminent violence had instantly vanished.


    The gazes of the foxes were still unkind, but they began to withdraw in an orderly fashion, then returned to their previous hidden spots.


    They didn''t understand what was going on, when at that moment, a voice as soothing as velvet sounded,


    "I was wondering who had come. It turns out to be you. I was thinking why these kids suddenly looked so vicious."


    Akasi was prepared early on, knowing that Qing JiuYu was the fox leader.


    But Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan didn''t know; they watched in amazement as a woman so beautiful it spurred envy walked out from among the foxes.


    Her luxurious dark-court attire complemented a face so stunning it was breathtaking.


    Just the other day, the two women had been discussing the revival of ancient costumes. Suddenly seeing a genuine ancient costume beauty, their focus was unexpectedly not on why this woman appeared among the foxes. Explore more adventures at empire


    But on how beautiful her clothes were, which textile shop had made them. The nail polish she wore, which shop had done it. My God, this slightly bluish shade of red lipstick could actually complement a person so well. Qiao Shanshan had always thought that this lipstick, if applied thickly, had a strong presence, but felt somewhat overpowering.


    Yet on the woman before them, this face perfectly resolved that issue.


    Exotically alluring, yet not vulgar.


    Akasi''s focus, however, was somewhat more on point.


    This woman was none other than Qing JiuYu, but why... no data?


    He was very curious about the data of one of the strongest creatures in the mining area, the nine-tailed demon fox, but to his astonishment, Qing JiuYu had absolutely no data.


    Has the humanoid form of a catastrophe-level boss become indistinguishable from a real human?


    Akasi didn''t speak.


    "You have another pet with you, how envious. If you come next time, remember to have your pet send me a message in advance."


    "Xiaojiu missed you, so I brought her here to see you," Tang Xian said calmly.


    "Qing!" Tang Xiaojiu, who was feeling wronged, instantly cheered up at the sight of Qing JiuYu.


    With light and happy steps, she ran toward Qing JiuYu.


    Seeing Tang Xiaojiu, Qing JiuYu felt joy in her heart as well. With a smile, the Tianque Plains, filled with a killing atmosphere, seemed to experience the rebirth of spring.


    Dong Ran thought to herself that the second lady also looked beautiful, but compared to the woman before her, she lacked the stunning allure that goes straight to the heart, especially for men.


    She and Qiao Shanshan both guessed who this woman was, and both involuntarily glanced at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s face remained calm, with no blushing, and his heartbeat and breathing didn''t change in the slightest.


    Both ladies breathed a sigh of relief¡ªwell, as usual, this man was blind.


    They didn''t know what they were relishing in, but both girls felt somewhat happy.


    Perhaps they were thinking, no matter how beautiful you are, in the eyes of Tang Xian, the big trotter, all he probably sees are X-rays.


    "This isn''t the place to talk." Tang Xian felt his legs getting soft from standing too long.


    Qing JiuYu nodded and said, "Yes, now isn''t the time to talk either. But it''s good that you''ve come."


    Tang Xian had a bad premonition and asked,


    "What do you mean?"


    "The Snake Clan and the Fox Clan are fighting fiercely, with heavy casualties on both sides. Today, she will lead her snakes to negotiate with me here."


    ????????


    A row of question marks appeared over Tang Xian''s head.


    What''s happening here? How coincidental, stumbling upon two dangerous women having a talk?


    Wasn''t the Snake Clan bent on exterminating the Bear Clan at all costs?


    Both of your clans were fighting fiercely, so what''s with the negotiations?


    Too bad, he couldn''t see his own attribute panel in the mirror; today''s luck must be completely inauspicious.


    Tang Xian remained unmoved outwardly, nodding steadily, he said,


    "Then you talk. I''ll take Xiaojiu to the woods behind us to take a break. You can come find me when you''re done."


    Qing JiuYu said, "Won''t you stay to watch? I was thinking that you could help me strategize."


    Tang Xian thought for a moment and replied, "I''d better not. It''s not appropriate for an outsider to meddle in the war between your two clans."


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were still confused, but Akasi knew the dire situation Tang Xian was facing.


    He was truly sweating for Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s nose twitched slightly, indeed detecting the strong scent of the approaching Snake Clan from afar.


    Qing JiuYu said, "That woman is arrogant, has the upper hand in the war, and the Fox Clan has suffered heavy losses. She is known for her deep scheming, so she''s likely to propose many conditions unfavorable to me in this negotiation. But if you help me, it would change the entire situation."


    Tang Xian once again declined, "You think too highly of me. I''m quite fatigued from the journey. I''m so hungry, let''s do this¡ªI''ll go take Xiaojiu to eat something first."


    But Qing JiuYu was not so easily dismissed.


    Such negotiations between the two clans were a significant event; any helper that could be roped in should not be easily let go.


    Her eyes glimmered with allure as she spoke,


    "Xiaojiu''s little belly you''ve been caring for is round and plump; she doesn''t seem to be starving. Could it be that you are reluctant to help me?"


    This was really troublesome.


    The Trial of the Chosen wasn''t this difficult.


    Women are sensitive and suspicious, and during such times, they don''t require logic but intuition.


    But the most troublesome thing is that this intuition often turns out scarily accurate when they are suspicious. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing JiuYu''s smile remained as she said,


    "Why do I feel like you are making excuses? Bai Mansheng, that little demoness, went south a few days ago, and you came from the south. You didn''t run into her, did you?"


    (Just this one update, but this chapter is 4,000 words, which is like a two-in-one~)

 Chapter 85 Who is more beautiful, Bai Mansheng or I?

    Tang Xian once again felt that a woman''s intuition could sometimes be classified as a superpower at certain times.His acting and mental endurance were undergoing a tremendous test.


    Akasi felt it was a moment of life and death, but the hardest time had not yet come.


    He was somewhat nervous.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran were somewhat confused, as the conversation between Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu seemed abrupt to them.


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    After Dong Ran''s first encounter with Li Xiaoyu, the task Li Xiaoyu had entrusted her with to surveil Tang Xian was canceled.


    The reason was that Dong Ran was easily swayed, which wasn''t a matter of being disloyal to the Li family, but rather that she was too easily led by the nose by Tang Xian.


    Nevertheless, Dong Ran still agreed to help the second young miss keep an eye on whether Tang Xian had other women outside. At the same time, she would also find an appropriate opportunity to inquire about the object of Tang Xian''s affections during his school days.


    "The past few days? Let me think, I saw a fascinating beast migration in the south, a spectacular sight, do you know the reason for the beast migration?"


    Tang Xian showed a very interested expression, Qing JiuYu shook her head, her flirtatiousness unabated, but her smile was somewhat indescribable.


    "You''re changing the subject."


    "Not at all, I just find this topic more interesting. After all, the Fox Tribe is at a disadvantage now, and the vast areas of the Blood Barren Plains, Waning Time Valley, and White Bone Mountain Range are all vacant. I do not know where the beast migration has gone, but now these places lack a master."


    Tang Xian continued:


    "The weather too far south is not suitable for the Nvwa Snake, sometimes retreating can lead to a boundless horizon. In the upcoming negotiation, you can actually make concessions, because making concessions might turn out to be even better."


    Being caught changing the subject was no big deal; it was amateur behavior to awkwardly laugh and switch back to the topic at hand.


    One must be firm and continue changing the subject and delve deeper into the new topic.


    Qing JiuYu had always thought Tang Xian was quite wise, even smarter than the long-eared ancient apes of the Myriad Beasts Court. When it came to tribal issues, her mind was really pulled back to the conversation.


    Today was for negotiation.


    Qing JiuYu nodded her head and said:


    "But I always feel like we are losing."


    "Losing is not shameful."


    "Why?


    "Even if the Nvwa Snake Clan had a few more White Phosphorus Serpent Demons, they wouldn''t compare to a nine-tailed fox demon that the Fox Tribe might give birth to in the future. Going to fight when you can''t win is the unwise decision, especially when the Fox Tribe''s future holds the potential for greater things."


    Tang Xian was referring to Tang Xiaojiu.


    No matter why Tang Xiaojiu was being shunned by these foxes, one day, she would become one of the most powerful beings in the world.


    If a Fox Tribe had two Calamity-level boss creatures, the Snake Clan would naturally find it extremely difficult to resist.


    Qing JiuYu nodded, thinking Tang Xian made a lot of sense.


    "However, during the conversation, you cannot lose in presence, even though the leaders of both sides probably know the outcome of the negotiations, whether the Snake Clan has any cards up their sleeves, what the Fox Tribe''s cards are, no one is sure. Therefore, in some areas, even if you could concede, you need to pretend to be strong."


    Qing JiuYu was very smart, and with just a hint from Tang Xian, she understood the implications.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were not stupid, but neither of the two girls had a tragic past like Akasi, nor had they had experiences as bizarre as Tang Xian''s.


    Their imagination was ultimately bound by common sense.


    Words like Fox Tribe, Snake Tribe, and leader, when spoken by two human beings, all sounded half-understood.


    Even at this moment, they hadn''t realized the identity of the woman before them.


    Both were merely amazed at how well-behaved these foxes seemed.


    Dong Ran could at least comfort herself a bit; if Tang, a big brother figure, could capture the heart of someone like the second young miss, the other women he knew were likely also significant figures.


    If Akasi, the number one hunter, was part of the team, then perhaps this stunningly beautiful woman was also an important person.


    After some thought, Tang Xian said weakly: sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m a bit tired, so I will take my companions and leave first. The negotiation is nothing more than a matter of giving and taking and overreaching. As for how to grasp the scale in between, you figure it out yourself. You''re such a smart woman, there shouldn''t be any problem."


    Qing JiuYu''s beautiful eyes shifted as she smiled and said:


    "You''re quite the sweet talker. I like people like you, clever and pleasant to listen to. That Bai Mansheng little demon is also a beauty, you sure you don''t want to stay and have a look?"


    Tang Xian immediately realized this was a trap, another probing statement.


    "No thanks, women all look about the same to me."


    Qiao Shanshan frowned and thought to herself that many of those diagnosed with face blindness were indeed notorious womanizers.


    For example, a certain entrepreneur from a thousand years ago was infamous for not recognizing his own wife''s beauty.


    Tang Xian was really a scumbag!


    But Qing JiuYu was persistent because a dilemma that had been troubling her might finally be resolved by someone.


    Seeing that Tang Xian''s gaze did not carry a hint of lust, Qing JiuYu felt very comfortable.


    So, some questions were particularly suitable to ask Tang Xian. Because he was objective.


    "How about this, you rest for a while in the shade behind the pointing locust tree, not too far away. If something really happens later on, it will be easy for me to find you immediately."


    When such a woman proposes a compromise, it is often the final declaration.


    Tang Xian couldn''t be bothered to decline further, as further refusal would seem like hiding something emblematic of guilt.


    "Alright."


    He then led his companions to a spot in the shade, from where they could hear the negotiations between the leaders of the two tribes.


    But without being exposed to view.


    Tang Xian felt today was probably not going to be very peaceful.

 Chapter 85 Who is more beautiful, Bai Mansheng or I?_2

    "Since the attribute panel includes luck, I should find some time to study the ''Book of Changes'' and other mysticisms."With this thought in his mind, Tang Xian crouched under a tree and said softly:


    "Don''t ask anything, don''t say anything, I will tell you the truth in a few days."


    These words were naturally addressed to Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan.


    The two girls nodded, their minds filled with too many questions.


    But sensing the distant atmosphere, which was faintly oppressive but growing increasingly heavy, they really had no desire to speak.


    Soon after, they finally understood where that oppressive feeling was coming from. Even in the shade of the trees, the large branches of the guiding locust blocked much of the view.


    But when those serpent creatures, some dozens or even hundreds of meters in length, appeared in groups, one could still glimpse the squirming fear.


    When had Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan ever seen so many calamity-level creatures appear in groups?


    This scene was even more overwhelming than the previous beast tide.


    After all, the beast tide mostly consisted of elite-level to perfect-level creatures.


    Tang Xian made a shushing gesture.


    The calmness in the depths of his eyes also settled the minds of those around him.


    Compared to the two girls, a bird and a cat seemed much calmer this time.


    Although Tang Bingxiang was still tucking his tail, he wasn''t shaking fearfully. Tang Gazi was even more normal, his small eyes constantly shifting, perched on Qing JiuYu''s shoulder, seemingly deep in thought.


    After all, they had seen Qing JiuYu, and facing a group of calamity-level creatures was not unacceptable.


    The hissing of the great serpents flicking their tongues in the air slowly settled into quiet.


    The gurgling growls of the foxes also gradually ceased.


    For a moment, the woodland to the west of the Tianque Plains was exceptionally quiet.


    Only the softest footsteps could be heard, and even that sound was only faintly audible when stepping on fallen leaves.


    Bai Mansheng had arrived.


    Her gaze swept the surroundings, and with a slight frown, she said:


    "There are actually humans in this place. You really have strange tastes."


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    "Humans can be very interesting at times. We should catch a few more to play with, maybe we can learn a lot."


    Bai Mansheng pondered for a moment, thought of someone, and unexpectedly nodded, saying:


    "Makes sense. Let''s start the negotiations."


    The female leaders of the two clans were just a dozen feet apart.


    The atmosphere of the entire Tianque Plains turned solemn and tense with their exchange of glances.


    When Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan heard this, there was another woman?


    Although they had heard the name Bai Mansheng just before, something still felt off.


    Perfect-level creatures they could understand, but why were these calamity-level Nvwa Snakes... also standing behind a human?


    The shock made them peek out their heads slightly.


    From a distance, they only saw Bai Mansheng from the side.


    But with that quick glimpse, the sight of her profile left them astonished.


    "This woman is too beautiful!"


    Both girls had the same thought in their hearts.


    They thought Qing JiuYu was the pinnacle of beauty in ancient attire, but Bai Mansheng was no less extraordinary.


    She managed to wear a plain long dress with a beauty more stunning than a wedding gown, which suited her own cool temperament perfectly.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan naturally had many suitors, but at this moment, they felt somewhat disheartened.


    This beauty seemed beyond what humans could possess.


    With their minds whirling through a jumble of thoughts, Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran glanced simultaneously at Tang Xian.


    Their looks were scrutinizing and judgmental, as if silently labeling Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian chose to ignore this.


    ...


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    The war on the Tianque Plains had lasted for half a month, during which both clans suffered heavy losses. Although the fox clan had fallen behind, the snake clan wasn''t faring well either.


    Bai Mansheng''s self-healing abilities were astonishing, but her injuries hadn''t fully recovered until now.


    The foxfires summoned by Qing JiuYu seemed to burn the soul.


    If they continued to fight, the two clans might become severely weakened and other beast clans could take the chance to invade.


    The leaders of both clans realized this problem, which led to today''s peace talks.


    Tang Xian felt that the pettiness between women, regardless of the occasion and level, wasn''t because women were stingy, but rather this kind of pettiness was unrelated to generosity with money.


    Take Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng for example, even if discussing official matters, many reasonable concessions that could be agreed upon were continuously delayed due to personal emotions.


    In short, one second they might be discussing territory distribution, and the next they would start attacking each other.


    The funniest part was, both were mortal enemies on the battlefield, not leaving room for each other to live, and while their negotiations were fiercely contentious, there was also a strange harmony.


    "Dear sister, this forest is not suited for you. Look at these little snakes; their bodies are even thicker than the guiding locust trees. Why not give the flowers and grass some room to live?"


    "You''re better suited? A careless move and your foxfire would burn down the entire forest."


    "Our fox clan has been living here for generations, and when have such problems ever occurred? But sister, with such a fiery temperament, I''m afraid you''re going to breathe fire."


    "I can''t compare to you, who seems gentle and charming but devours people without spitting out the bones."


    "Sister, you''re really too modest. When it comes to devouring people without spitting out the bones, how can one compare to your snake clan? I''m quite curious; with such feasting, do you even taste what you eat?"


    "Let''s talk business."


    "Aren''t we talking right now?"


    Bai Mansheng wore an expression of cold detachment, while Qing JiuYu maintained a flirtatious smile.


    One like a secluded lotus under the ice spring, the other like a peony filled with boundless spring vitality.

 Chapter 85 Who is more beautiful, Bai Mansheng or I?_3

    Dong Ran only felt the atmosphere of the conversation was strangely tense.Qiao Shanshan had read enough books to figure that the mention of eating people here was probably a metaphor.


    Only Akasi and Tang Xian wore complicated expressions, indicating heavy hearts.


    Tang Xian, of course, knew that the cannibalism referred to by the two terrifying women was literal. He thought the two young ladies were also pondering over it, just unsure whether they''d deduced the real meaning.


    His expression complex, he felt uneasy, merely hoping this talk would end soon and Bai Mansheng would return home early.


    ...


    ...


    As the discussion reached its final stage, Bai Mansheng, though not prone to laughter or jokes, couldn''t verbally outmaneuver Qing JiuYu. But the overall strength of the Serpent Clan being superior to that of the Fox Clan was an unchangeable fact.


    In the end, Qing JiuYu agreed to lead her clan out of Tianque Plains.


    Having scored a verbal advantage, Qing JiuYu''s mood improved somewhat.


    After all, she had been mentally prepared for this.


    "Your people should be able to evacuate within seven days," she said.


    "Seven days it is then. But since we have come to an agreement this time, let it be understood that my people will not come to Tianque Plains, and your Serpent Clan must not violate the Blood Wastelands. Should there be uninvited intruders, don''t blame me for being heartless and ruthless."


    Bai Mansheng replied coldly:


    "Seeing you or your people already irritates me enough; rest assured."


    "Is that so? Seeing my sister so beautiful doesn''t bother me in the slightest," said Qing JiuYu.


    "Are you done speaking? If so, then leave."


    Bai Mansheng stood up, ready to take her leave.


    "Sister, no need to hurry away. Since you''re here, why not chat a little longer?" Qing JiuYu said, her smile enigmatic as she looked at Bai Mansheng.


    "What else is there to discuss?" Bai Mansheng wasn''t worried about Qing JiuYu tricking her.


    "Public matters are done; naturally, we must discuss private ones."


    "What private matters could possibly concern you and me?"


    "Oh, come on, look at what you''re saying. Back when we were just girls, the Endless Turtle gave its prophecy. Could it be you dislike seeing me because of that old turtle''s nonsense?"


    Bai Mansheng did not wish to dwell on this topic. Despite their beastly nature and instincts, they had developed human-like intelligence and personality traits, and their evolution closely mirrored that of humanity.


    Among women, there were those passionate like Qing JiuYu and others as cold as Bai Mansheng.


    Some, like Qing JiuYu, played with the world, and some, like Bai Mansheng, waited for a love eternal and unwavering.


    A woman like Bai Mansheng, seemingly aloof, once she met someone she fancied, would become naively blissful, believing in things like fate and other esoteric concepts.


    It''s similar to how modern girls, far past the age of feudal superstition, still adore tarot readings and horoscopes.


    Continue your adventure at empire


    Qing JiuYu didn''t care for the Endless Turtle''s prophecy at all, but Bai Mansheng believed in it.


    The Endless Turtle''s prophecy had frustratingly intertwined the fates of two utterly opposing women.


    Creatures capable of transforming into human form thanks to the power contained within a Soul Crystal were exceedingly rare.


    The circle of disaster-level boss creatures and cataclysm-level boss creatures was essentially akin to human high society in miniature.


    Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu were the two women most often compared over the years.


    Because their human forms were too breathtakingly beautiful.


    Qing JiuYu said:


    "I''m not interested in your man. That old turtle must be senile. With our temperaments so different, how could we both fancy the same person? But if he actively seeks me out in the future, I wouldn''t mind getting a taste for myself." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng''s gaze was icy as she replied:


    "Is that what you wanted to say?"


    "Of course not. I just want to know the answer to one question. Which of us do you think is more beautiful?"


    "Ridiculous."


    Bai Mansheng turned and was about to leave.


    Tang Xian had a bad feeling.


    To him, it indeed sounded like a trivial question. Human women wouldn''t openly ask who was more beautiful compared to someone else. Even if they did, such thoughts would be kept hidden and tested in many other ways.


    For instance, a girlfriend might take out a photo of herself and a co-worker and ask her boyfriend, "This is my colleague, do you think she''s pretty?" Or maybe: "Ah, my best friend just put on a new lipstick, do you think the color looks good?"


    The only acceptable answer to such questions was one that did not directly address the question itself.


    But beasts were different; their thinking was much more straightforward. When they wanted to know who was more beautiful compared to someone else, they wouldn''t go through messy tests.


    Just as gazelles like to show off their horns and peacocks their feathers.


    The way animals court each other is by competing over who is more attractive to the opposite sex.


    Even though Bai Mansheng seemed cold and detached, deep down, she too wanted to know who was more beautiful between herself and Qing JiuYu.


    "You think it''s trivial because we only ever ask our own admirers. You bring yours, and I bring mine. But today, I''ve met someone truly impartial. His gaze is pure, and I believe you will trust his judgment once you see him."


    Which is more beautiful, the fox spirit or the serpent spirit?


    To the upper echelons of the mining zone creatures, it was an unsolved riddle.


    Neither Qing JiuYu nor Bai Mansheng cared for these people''s opinions.


    Their gazes were unapologetically filled with desire to mate.


    Such gazes, what right did they have to assess their beauty?


    But they both cared about the answer to this question.


    Bai Mansheng thought of someone, the reason why she stayed so long that day.


    A story and fish soup were part of the reason, but that person''s clear gaze was also a factor.


    Her interest piqued, she stopped in her tracks.


    Qing JiuYu''s smile deepened as she turned to look at the wayfaring tree not too far away.


    Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and Tang Xiaojiu remained blissfully unaware, struck dumb.


    Akasi''s back was soaked with cold sweat.


    Tang Xian shook his head helplessly.


    Finally, the voice of judgment rang out.


    "Tang Xian, come out and have a look. Who do you think is prettier, me or Bai Mansheng?"

 Chapter 86 The Survival Way of Straight Men

    Bai Mansheng was somewhat surprised when she heard the name "Xian," and her gaze followed suit, looking toward the huge guiding locust tree.Tang Xian frowned.


    During this process, he had thought of countless excuses and many other nonsensical things.


    For example, considering the recent cannibalistic squabbling between the two women, he felt it was possible he might be eaten. Could he apply to write a recipe according to his own will before being devoured?


    Or should he continue to use the surname Tang, or adopt the surname Xu? Or should he be known as Tang Xian, with the courtesy name Xu Xian?


    Of course, these were just random thoughts.


    It was simply that his brain was running so fast, generating many serious and not-so-serious thoughts. These thoughts flashed by, and Tang Xian blinked, having made up his mind.


    Akasi looked at Tang Xian with some concern, but within a few short seconds, Tang Xian''s expression had eased, as usual.


    He patted Akasi on the shoulder, signaling to relax.


    "Just keep quiet," he said.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were confused and felt that the atmosphere was very odd.


    Tang Xian couldn''t tell them about the awkward situation at this moment.


    He slowly stood up and walked out from under the guiding locust tree at a leisurely pace.


    Navigating between human and beast camps required many things, including a vast reservoir of knowledge and hardcore survival skills, as well as acting abilities.


    Bai Mansheng saw Tang Xian walking out so calmly, with a look of deep melancholy.


    She was always composed, but now she revealed a look of surprise and confusion.


    This was a chain reaction.


    When Bai Mansheng''s reaction caught Qing JiuYu''s eye, Qing JiuYu immediately became certain Tang Xian had met Bai Mansheng before.


    Unlike Bai Mansheng, Qing JiuYu always played with the human world and now just found it somewhat amusing. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially as the color on Bai Mansheng''s face slowly worsened, she found it even more entertaining.


    Although the two female leaders had different demeanors, both had strong auras.


    In the large empty space between them, only the two of them stood.


    Tang Xian continued with the same gait, slowly making his way to the center between the two, forming a tripod stance.


    "We meet again, ladies," he said.


    Ladies?


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran were startled again.


    Dong Ran remembered that when she went undercover at Big Brother Tang''s, it was also his first time entering the mining area as a formal worker.


    So when had he met these two beautiful women? A sense arose that he could sneak off to buy a pack of cigarettes at the Pyramid, and in that time he could flirt with other women behind the Second Miss''s back.


    And not just one, but two.


    An undeniable philanderer.


    Dong Ran''s brainwaves unexpectedly synchronized with Qiao Shanshan''s.


    Qiao Shanshan''s thoughts were the same. The two women silently exchanged glances, nodding in mutual agreement.


    It was as if they had determined this to be a certain iconic scene.


    On the other side, Bai Mansheng''s expression went from surprise and disbelief to confusion, then slowly turned into anger, finally settling into a cold sneer.


    "Is he the one you were looking for?" she asked.


    "Yo, hearing you say that, it seems little sister knows him. Could it be that you happened to meet during your trip to the south a few days ago?" Qing JiuYu was actually somewhat annoyed.


    How intelligent she was; the moment Tang Xian kept making excuses earlier, she put two and two together, and it all became clear to her.


    But as much as she was annoyed, she was even more intrigued by the opportunity to humiliate Bai Mansheng and to watch the excitement unravel.


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian, and indeed, as Qing JiuYu said, he seemed as undiscriminating between the two peerless beauties as he would be with any other flowers and plants.


    "What credibility can be found in the words of a swindler?" she said.


    Tang Xian remained silent, his face neutral.


    He understood Qing JiuYu''s thoughts; perhaps now was the time to choke Bai Mansheng.


    But in the end, he knew that he would be the most unlucky one.


    As expected, Qing JiuYu asked, "Oh? What did he deceive you about? Do tell."


    Bai Mansheng, as if seeing through Qing JiuYu''s intent, replied coldly:


    Continue reading at empire


    "On my way south, I encountered a man who claimed his surname was Xu, Mr. Tang. It''s rare to meet someone of equal standing, so we exchanged a few words. He told me that he had a dreadful relationship with a certain fox, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend."


    The smile on Qing JiuYu''s face gradually receded.


    Bai Mansheng seemed to have regained some ground, and her expression softened slightly.


    "So I was curious, why was your relationship with him so dreadful? He said that foxes are not adorable, and he had eaten a fox," she continued.


    Qing JiuYu''s gaze lowered slightly, and the smile at the corner of her mouth became enigmatic.


    Bai Mansheng sneered:


    "Now it seems, Mr. Tang, that you actually have quite a remarkable relationship with her? I wonder, the words you told me before, how much of it was true and how much was false."


    Tang Xian found that his fondness for Bai Mansheng instantaneously dropped from a happy meeting to a slight discontent, plunging directly into the negative.


    Even the originally palpable attraction Qing JiuYu felt for him decreased a bit, but not by much; she was still within the range of being charmed.


    Tang Xian guessed the change in the two women''s moods without saying a word.


    Qing JiuYu decided to ignore Tang Xian for now and also disregard the original question of who was more beautiful.


    This was an excellent opportunity to strike at Bai Mansheng.


    She said with a coy laugh:


    "So this is what it''s about. Tang Xian, you really have a heart of stone. I remember you telling me last time how adorable foxes are, and that we shouldn''t eat them, right?"


    Bai Mansheng''s gaze grew chillier by a degree.


    "I''ve said that," Tang Xian nodded.


    "But how come this sister here says that you told her I''m not adorable at all, and you even ate my foxes?" she asked.


    "She didn''t say anything wrong," Tang Xian said earnestly.


    Qing JiuYu was slightly taken aback.


    Could this man really be so shameless? Doesn''t he look a bit too composed?

 Chapter 86 The Survival Way of Straight Men_2

    ```"Won''t you explain?" Qing JiuYu said.


    Tang Xian shook his head and replied, pointing to Bai Mansheng, saying:


    "In terms of beauty, Miss Bai has the temperament of a snow lotus from the deep mountains, her skin and bones as clear and cool as ice; she seems to transcend the dust of the world. However, from a human perspective, such a woman is too untouched by the common world, lacking a bit of the warmth of life, making one feel no desire to approach her."


    Without waiting for a reaction from the two women, Tang Xian then looked toward Qing JiuYu and said:


    "As for you, your beauty carries an enchanting, aggressive charm, wild and fiery with a touch of the exotic. But from a human perspective, such a woman is like a blazing flame, seemingly warm yet actually dangerous, likewise making one feel no desire to approach."


    Tang Xian seriously added:


    "You both are under the pleasant delusion that you are the most beautiful women under heaven, thus this pointless contest of beauty, which is quite laughable. It''s better to balance each other out."


    "But even if that were truly possible, it still wouldn''t meet the criteria for ''the best.''


    "There were nearly ten billion humans in the world, many of whom were of outstanding beauty. In places like Ukraine, France, Ireland, there are beautiful women everywhere, and simply being attractive is not enough to be crowned ''the best.'' Even a face carved and sculpted, possessing both longevity and stunning beauty, becomes tiresome after being seen too often.


    "For example, in certain countries, beauty can be formulaically produced through cosmetic surgery, creating a multitude of identical faces. Aren''t those faces beautiful? In ancient times, they would have been considered nation-destroying beauties, but with them so common, they instead cause weariness."


    "Of course, the same goes for an interesting soul, which can also become boring after a while. Life''s beauty resides only in the first encounter. So whether comparing external or internal beauty, both are vulgar and laughable acts. Being oneself is all that''s necessary."


    "In summary, both of you left a pretty good impression on me at first sight. Despite each having flaws, the good outweighs the bad. But from the second glance, you both gradually started to look less attractive. So there''s nothing to compare."


    Tang Xian concluded.


    This summary, like a Time Stop Barrier, silenced everything around.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were shocked for a long time before they finally confirmed to themselves that Tang Xian must be... blind, right?


    He claims these two women aren''t attractive? Could they be called unattractive? If they weren''t, then the world would be left with only ugliness.


    Qing JiuYu''s breathing became slightly hurried.


    Bai Mansheng''s fingers trembled stiffly.


    Although Qing JiuYu had asked about something else, Tang Xian felt that questions should be addressed one by one. So this couldn''t be called an irrelevant response. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He decided to first resolve this pointless comparison of beauty with Bai Mansheng, then consider other issues later.


    He paused, ignoring the rising anger of the two women, and with a certain melancholy in his gaze, he said:


    "Imitating human behavior is just a beginner''s approach. As you progress, you must think and reason as a human would."


    This nonsensical statement led the thoughts of the two women astray for a second.


    What in the world was he talking about?


    "I must have told both of you before, right? To learn to think the way humans do. Although they are frail, in terms of thought, whether in the realm of science or philosophy, they are far ahead of your civilizations."


    "But mimicking humans is not easy. After the advanced stages, you need to understand how to be the disinterested onlooker to remain clear-headed."


    "This requires you to think very rationally, stepping out of your current persona to reason."


    "Thus, to better understand humans, I created a second persona for myself."


    "This persona can be called Xu Xian. Compared to the persona of Tang Xian, he is more emotional. He possesses a sense of romance that is somewhat valueless but allows better interactions with others. Through the existence of Xu Xian, I understood my social and character flaws as Tang Xian."


    "Therefore, I decided to take parts from both personas and integrate them."


    "The process is still quite complicated. I haven''t fully mastered it yet."


    Tang Xian looked earnestly at Bai Mansheng and continued:


    "I haven''t lied to you. Xu Xian occupies all of my neurons responsible for emotional thought and can stand on equal footing with Tang Xian as a persona."


    "He enjoys folktales and myths that are not believed by others, and he indeed doesn''t dislike snakes and foxes. To him and me, they are lovely little animals. Xu Xian thought you were a person worth befriending, so he followed your wishes and told a lie."


    "From my current persona''s standpoint, the greatest purpose of love between men and women is the perpetuation of life, but for Xu Xian, it is a form that transcends life itself. Some people live their whole lives in a daze, which is unrelated to their living environment and lifestyle." Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "It''s simply because they haven''t met the one they love. Xu Xian is someone who believes in these things."


    With not a hint of perfunctory in Tang Xian''s eyes and his scholarly tone coupled with an excessively rational temperament, both Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng started to feel somewhat swayed by his credibility.


    "This is the first time I''ve heard someone put a positive spin on personality splitting," Qiao Shanshan said with a complex expression.


    It sounded absurd, and yet, Tang Xian''s performance made it seem quite plausible.


    The highest art of acting is to incorporate real emotions into the portrayal.


    Ke Ye and Yu Xiaozhe had both commented that the current Tang Xian was more tolerant of fools.


    ```

 Chapter 86 The Survival Way of Straight Men_3

    They felt such a sense of poignance because, long ago, as early as the first year of their student life, Tang had a particularly distasteful personality¡ªtoo calm and rational, mercilessly bursting many a childhood fantasy.He was like a machine whose IQ and EQ were inversely proportional.


    He should have been the envy of all teachers and students, a true genius, yet he was despised for being overly rational and harsh.


    Of course, there were times when he was bullied, but even if he was cornered by a group of students about to be beaten, Tang would calmly and rationally explain the series of butterfly effects that his beating would cause.


    And then he successfully scared off those students.


    No one could bully Tang, teachers sometimes tried to scare him, but Tang would often find loopholes in their points, leaving them unable to justify themselves.


    As a result, no one liked Tang. He always sat alone in the back row, gazing indifferently out of the window.


    Like a machine. Like a misfit who never belonged at Pyramid.


    This situation continued until the third year.


    That''s when he suddenly changed.


    The process was pretty much as Tang had fabricated: the birth of a new personality, which then gradually merged with the original one.


    As time went on, Tang increasingly resembled a normal human being, rarely harsh and infrequently introspective.


    Yet, he was able to empathize deeply with human emotions.


    But this history, it was just for Tang to channel emotions.


    There was neither the personality of Xu Xian nor Tang.


    He had indeed suffered from a split personality, but both personalities had merged during the third year due to a certain event.


    This merger was the Tang of today.


    His words today were just a bluff to get through these calamities.


    This compelling act, and the vaguely meaningful pain flickering in his eyes, led Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng to unconsciously believe Tang''s words, visibly softening their demeanor.


    Bai Mansheng''s opinion of him was gradually improving.


    Tang said indifferently,


    "The task you have entrusted to me is proof enough of my stance, so don''t doubt me."


    He was speaking to Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu nodded, then curiously said, "So all that perplexing stuff you just said, was it true?"


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng still found the concept of a split personality hard to grasp; they understood Tang''s meaning but only partially, it was like understanding without really understanding.


    "I have no need to lie to you. What do you have that''s worth my deceiving?" Tang stated.


    Qing nodded, thinking that it made sense; this man in front of her seemed less and less attractive, and his strength was not inferior to hers, so indeed there was no need for him to deceive her.


    Tang then looked towards Bai Mansheng:


    "Xu Xian is an important part of me, without him, I would become obnoxious and isolated, so don''t despise him, he cares deeply for friends like you. Friends are very important to him."


    The emotions in this statement, the true from the false, even Tang himself could not clearly define, much less Bai Mansheng, who ultimately just nodded.


    "You don''t dislike the Serpent Clan?"


    "I don''t dislike them, and I''d say the same in front of Qing JiuYu. I''m different from Xu Xian; when I speak, I''m not so considerate. He has some traits that I lack, but overall, what he likes, I''m bound to like as well."


    "Alright then." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng said just these two words, deciding to let go of the comment Tang made about her becoming less attractive because of his assertion that what Xu Xian liked, he liked as well.


    She turned to leave.


    The negotiation finally came to an end.


    Qing JiuYu was more open-minded than Bai Mansheng, and although she was also annoyed with Tang for saying she looked less attractive, following his rambling, Qing JiuYu realized...


    Competing with Bai Mansheng for beauty was truly trivial.


    On the truest level of triviality.


    But when women become stubborn, they pursue an issue to its very roots. While Qing wasn''t as petty as Bai Mansheng, she was more tenacious.


    With a smile, she asked,


    "I''m curious, what does the woman you like look like?"


    The real meaning of this question was, if you had to choose one, who would it be?


    Inwardly, Bai Mansheng thought of Qing JiuYu as a sly vixen, always stirring up trouble.


    Yet, she stopped in her tracks, pricking up her ears.


    Tang answered:


    "Xiaojiu, come here, let brother give you a hug."


    Tang Xiaojiu ran out cheerfully, unable as a child to understand so much; she just felt that since the adults were done talking, then Tang could make her some delicious food again.


    Tang picked up Tang Xiaojiu, pinched the face of the six-year-old girl, and said,


    "This is the kind of girl I like."


    (Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, for several days I will update consecutively¡ªI need to plan out the storyline for the Hunting Festival. Consider this a hint for recommendation tickets~)

 Chapter 87 The First Farm in the Mining Area

    Tang Xiaojiu''s little face was pinchable and bouncy, with a hint of the baby fat only small children possess.Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran had not expected such an answer. Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng also felt this answer was somewhat evasive.


    But... it wasn''t unreasonable.


    Even though Bai Mansheng had only just met Tang Xiaojiu, she found the little girl very cute.


    It was not surprising to Tang Xian, who could be said to have escaped death.


    Just as there are many women in the world whose appearance at first glance can evoke the feeling of first love. They are the ideal lovers in the minds of most men.


    And naturally, there are some children who on first sight can make older people think of their own daughters or younger people think of their own sisters.


    Similarly, children do not possess as many complicated thoughts as women, especially not the boring and lowbrow kind.


    Therefore, among these women, Tang Xian found Tang Xiaojiu the cutest.


    The only imperfection was that she was too dumb and could only be a foolish glutton.


    "Once you have children in the future, you''ll probably be able to understand this fondness better. Alright, now that we''ve finished talking, it''s time to disperse."


    Without turning back to say goodbye again, Bai Mansheng slowly left with the Nvwa Snake group.


    After the group of calamity-level creatures left, the oppressive feeling in the air also relaxed significantly.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan felt like they could breathe much easier.


    The group then slowly exited through the guiding locust trees.


    Having already regarded these people as Tang Xian''s servants, Qing JiuYu paid them no mind and led them towards the fox clan''s stronghold in the Tianque Plains.


    Six-tailed foxes are solitary creatures. Even during times of war, the places they inhabit are set at certain distances apart.


    They had lived on the Tianque Plains for a long time. When Tang Xian looked over, he found that the forest seemed to have been transformed by this group of foxes.


    The large clusters of guiding locust trees must have been at Qing JiuYu''s behest.


    Through the journey, Tang Xian hardly spoke, echoing the same admonition: Don''t say anything, don''t ask anything; she will tell them everything on the way back.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan actually started to notice some hints.


    But bound by habit and common sense, they ultimately did not dare to think in that direction.


    This had nothing to do with wisdom, but the content was simply too subversive.


    Qing JiuYu''s dwelling was in a cave on a low mountain.


    As they neared the cave, even Dong Ran and Akasi could smell the strong fragrance of the Biphasic Orchid.


    The interior of the cave was starkly different from the fox den Tang Xian had seen in the forest of trees; it resembled more of a woman''s boudoir.


    With materials similar to crystal embellished by the Biphasic Orchid, this place had a unique charm.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran, being girls who loved beauty, naturally liked it here. It was quite remarkable to see such a place in a mining area.


    Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran thought about striking up a conversation with Qing JiuYu.


    But before they could speak, a glance from Qing JiuYu, full of allure, made the two girls shudder with a sudden chill.


    This fear seemed even more intense than when they were in the forest.


    The two girls stopped in their tracks, the words on the tip of their tongues, but ultimately they remembered Tang Xian''s warning: Don''t say anything, don''t ask anything.


    So, they sat down next to Akasi, silently watching Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu converse in whispers.


    Because the cave was so vast, they couldn''t clearly hear what the two were discussing.


    ...


    ...


    "When do you plan to lead the fox clan away?"


    Tang Xian found that Qing JiuYu enjoyed comforts even more than he did.


    The interior of this cave even had a mountain spring brought inside.


    "We''ll set off the day after tomorrow. With the beast tide migrating, the Blood-Red Wasteland seems more suitable for us," Qing JiuYu said as she leisurely filed her nails.


    "By the way, why do you have more and more humans around you?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "Do you really dislike humans?" Tang Xian washed his hands with the spring water and turned to look at Qing JiuYu.


    "Although they are weak, they can be very cunning and cruel. I''ve heard from the ancient apes that human history has always been filled with slaughter against their own kind."


    Tang Xian nodded his head.


    "The slaughter among animals is also not uncommon. Humans killing humans generally don''t eat each other, while the slaughter among animals is often accompanied by consumption."


    Qing JiuYu slightly frowned and said,


    "Sometimes I think you''re just a human."


    Tang Xian was unconcerned. Since he had managed to deceive Qing JiuYu safely during their first meeting, there would be no more trouble later on.


    "The biggest difference between animals and humans lies in wisdom. Once you have the wisdom of humans, you will also walk the old paths that mankind once trod."


    "Wisdom does not reduce greed or the wildness of survival; it only hides these traits, revealing them at the most lethal moments."


    Tang Xian thought about finding some different food to eat, as eating fish all the time wasn''t great.


    "Your words are hard to understand."


    "You don''t need to understand. Relative to you, I am probably like a transmigrator or someone who has been reborn, or like an experienced netizen meeting someone from a village that just got internet. We''re not on the same channel."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t understand what Tang Xian was saying, but she found him interesting. She silently took note of some of his words.


    "Are there no other creatures around here?"


    "A lot of creatures left with the migration of the beast tide, but if you head east, you can still find some other beasts."


    "Are there pigs, chickens, cattle, sheep, or anything like that?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We don''t have what you''re talking about, but there are a few Mountain Taming Beasts to the east."


    Tang Xian was familiar with those creatures, a type of massive goat-like creature.


    Although large in size, they were only elite-level creatures.

 Chapter 87 The First Farm in the Mining Area_2

    "Can you go kill one and bring it back?""Why should it be me who goes?"


    "Because you''re cuter."


    "What does that have to do with anything?"


    "Cute ones should get out more. There, good girl, I''ll make you lamb offal soup, you''ll love it."


    Qing JiuYu gave Tang Xian a lazy glance, realizing that this man always came to boss her around.


    "Will you come with me?"


    "That works. Shall I ride on your back?"


    Thinking of Bai Mansheng''s speed, which allowed him to disappear from sight in a few moments, Tang Xian deduced that even if Qing JiuYu turned into a human, he wouldn''t be able to keep up with her pace.


    Qing JiuYu found it unfair.


    "I want to ride Taotie too."


    "..." Tang Xian hadn''t expected the little fox to be so cunning.


    So he blurted out a made-up tradition that Taotie cannot be ridden. Clan rules.


    Eventually, after a lot of persuasive talk, Tang Xian convinced Qing JiuYu and brought Tang Xiaojiu along.


    When Qing JiuYu left, she cast a deliberate glance at Tang Suoye, who was still unconscious, a hint of confusion in her eyes.


    Silence fell upon the cave instantly.


    Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang hid in the corner, not daring to speak.


    Dong Ran was the first to break the silence.


    Originally, to them, Akasi seemed as rare an existence as a natural disaster.


    But Akasi was easygoing, and after two days, both girls felt he was much nicer than Tang Xian, the big boor.


    Dong Ran opened the conversation.


    "Akasi, you don''t seem surprised at all."


    Qiao Shanshan noticed it too; she and Dong Ran had seen too many unbelievable things today.


    Beautiful women to the extreme, and those natural disaster-level Nvwa Snakes; these creatures, though the most terrifying beings, were so peacefully standing behind the two women.


    That fleeting glance from Qing JiuYu gave them a shiver deep in their souls.


    Everything subtly pointed to a certain place, but they still didn''t dare to think in that direction.


    Akasi''s expression was serious; he didn''t feel unsurprised, it was just that... he had been mentally prepared for a couple of days.


    He nodded and said:


    "Try to think in the boldest direction; their conversation with Tang Xian has already explained a lot."


    Thinking in the boldest direction was just a hint.


    But soon, the expressions on the faces of the two girls gradually changed from confusion to horror.


    In the end, both of them were so frightened that they each took a tactical lean back.


    "... Do we... have we encountered monsters?"


    "I heard Tang Xian say this is a biological mine, also known as the ability of a Soul Crystal. Only a very few mine creatures can do this."


    The words ''mine creature'' and ''Soul Crystal'' nearly gave them the answer.


    "So... so... so... the two women we saw just now... were actually...?" Dong Ran was a bit scared.


    Akasi smiled, feeling he needed to reassure the two girls, and said:


    "It''s what you''re thinking, but don''t be afraid. The captain is handling it, isn''t he?"


    After a long while, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan finally accepted the truth.


    But another question emerged.


    Is Tang Xian human?


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian rode atop Qing JiuYu, who revealed her true form, holding Tang Xiaojiu in his arms.


    In this world, the two nine-tailed fox spirits were closely linked to him.


    The unlucky Mount-Control Beasts, sensing the fox spirits'' aura, even forgot to resist.


    The Mount-Control Beasts, like black goats only much larger, possessed the strength of elite boss creatures, but their defensive power and regenerative ability were significantly below the average for creatures of that stage.


    This allowed Tang Xian to finally find a creature that was good to eat, easy to kill, and had relatively tender meat.


    Tang Xian struck while the iron was hot and, with the help of Qing JiuYu and Tang Xiaojiu, plunged into the nest of the mountain-taming beasts, emerging with two cubs in his arms.


    In terms of size, the cubs of the mountain-taming beasts were actually smaller than young lambs.


    They looked quite adorable.


    "Tang Xian, are we going to raise them? Just like the kitty birds and kitties?"


    Tang Xiaojiu stroked the black-furred cub of the mountain-taming beast.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Are they cute?"


    "They are cute. Fluffy and soft to touch."


    Tang Xiaojiu caressed the two mountain-taming beast cubs, which, due to their young age, did not yet possess the ability to sense dangerous creatures.


    They instinctively grew somewhat close to Tang Xiaojiu.


    "When they grow up a bit, we will eat them."


    Tang Xiaojiu was stunned.


    "I suggest you raise the mountain-taming beasts here on the Bloody Wilderness. Once they''ve grown, you can eat them."


    These words were not meant for Tang Xiaojiu, but for Qing JiuYu to hear.


    The fox clan was about to journey to the Bloody Wilderness, a grassland vast enough to sustain an entire herd of cattle, and naturally, it could support the mountain-taming beasts as well.


    Qing JiuYu wondered if she wanted to eat a full-grown mountain-taming beast, why not just capture one?


    Why raise them?


    Tang Xian bent down, along with Tang Xiaojiu, and stroked the mountain-taming beast.


    "Catching a mountain-taming beast is easy, even my clanspeople can manage it without difficulty," Qing JiuYu said, puzzled.


    "Foxes are carnivorous, and the Bloody Wilderness is a grassland. The distance traveled each time to hunt must be quite far, right?"


    Qing JiuYu nodded.


    "Then why not consider capturing a bunch of mountain-taming beast cubs? These little lambs will grow to be much bigger than the six-tailed and three-tailed foxes, and one alone would be enough for many of your tribe to eat. If raised to a certain scale, your fox clan won''t need to roam too far for food here.


    "As long as the factors of food supply and environment are well thought out, they will reproduce faster than you consume them. Then, wouldn''t you have an endless supply of mountain-taming beasts?"


    "I could also have lamb to eat regularly," Tang Xian casually added.


    Qing JiuYu''s eyes lit up; she had never thought about this before.


    Lions hunt antelopes often by killing whenever they encounter one. Such is the hunting amongst animals¡ªdepending on luck to find food. Who would consider raising their food deliberately, waiting for it to grow and multiply before eating it?


    "Let''s go find some more mountain-taming beast cubs later, and have your tribe herd them in a certain area of the Bloody Wilderness."


    "Herding? What do you mean by that?"


    "The mountain-taming beasts will ultimately grow large, and due to their immense size, using human fences is impractical. You will need to alter the local environment somewhat, raise them in a place that''s easy to observe, and assign your foxes to take turns guarding them. In short, let them get used to this kind of environment from a young age, to develop a dependence on it."


    Qing JiuYu stared at Tang Xian in amazement, finding his ideas to be quite numerous.


    Tang Xian said:


    "This is the rudimentary form of animal husbandry. The development of future animal husbandry actually lies within the breeding process, such as how to make the livestock''s meat better quality, grow faster¡ªthese are all documented in human texts. From time to time, I''ll share some of these experiences when I come over to pick up some lamb."


    Qing JiuYu nodded, genuinely astonished by Tang Xian''s ideas.


    Tang Xian could understand her surprise.


    Most creatures live from meal to meal, and countless millennia of wild instincts have stopped them from considering changes at this level.


    Moreover, the creatures of the mines are not like humans. Although humanity has many countries and cultures, there is a general consensus among them because they can reproduce together and their dietary needs are almost identical.


    But mine creatures are fundamentally different. Take Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, for example.


    What they eat differs greatly, and they are not the same species to begin with.


    This inevitably leads to secrecy and is detrimental to the progress of civilization.


    Therefore, although a few powerful creatures in the mines possess human intelligence, their level of civilization is still at the most primitive stage.


    Tang Xiaojiu felt a bit upset.


    Because the cute little lambs would be eaten.


    Seeing the expression on the young girl''s face, Tang Xian said:


    "In this world, being cute certainly has its advantages, but the rule that the weak serve as prey and the strong as hunters cannot be changed."


    "You can make friends with a weaker creature because you like it, but even if one day you have to eat it, as long as it''s permitted by your tribe''s laws, then no one has the right to blame you." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t understand all this, and after a long pause, she said:


    "Then... do they taste good?"


    "They taste great. I guarantee that you''ll forget all these troubles soon enough."

 Chapter 88 No Longer Human, JoJo

    Tang Xian didn''t mean to describe the food chain as so cruel.But as a foodie, one must build immunity to such moral dilemmas early on.


    I want to eat meat.


    These four words had been a significant reason for the advancement of human civilization for a large period of history.


    After cutting enough meat from the mountain-taming beasts, Tang Xian, Qing JiuYu, and Tang Xiaojiu started to head back.


    Riding on the nine-tailed fox again, Tang Xian pondered Li Xiaoyu''s request.


    "Do you have any enemies?"


    Tang Xian suddenly asked.


    "Bai Mansheng."


    "Pick another one."


    "Why? Feeling pity for him?"


    "Didn''t you just make peace? A fox should keep its word. Isn''t there another one of the same level you urgently want to kill?"


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    "I mean, if there is, why not take me with you and kill it?"


    "There are a few annoying ones, but they are not easy to kill, and creatures that can transform into human form are protected by the law."


    Tang Xian was slightly surprised.


    Those who can transform into human form are either calamity-level or catastrophe-level bosses.


    The court provides legal protection for them?


    Thinking for a few seconds, Tang Xian roughly understood.


    When he killed the Cerberus, Qing JiuYu seemed to hesitate.


    Elite-level bosses, perfect-level bosses, and calamity and catastrophe-level bosses that can transform into humans.


    All these special boss units must be legally protected.


    But in terms of enforcement, calamity and catastrophe-level boss units receive the strongest protection.


    After all, they have "human" forms.


    On one hand, the Megafauna Court wanted to legislate, but it was hard to suppress animal instincts and even harder to establish universal laws in the world of beasts.


    Therefore, certain unique regulations between each beast race had to be ensured.


    But for the intellectually awakened boss units, the law''s effectiveness was clearly intensified.


    "So, if you can''t manage to kill your enemy without anyone noticing, it would cause a lot of trouble?"


    "Yes."


    "You are already one of the strongest creatures in this world," Tang Xian reminded Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu understood what this meant and shook his head, saying:


    "But being an enemy of the Megafauna Court is dangerous and would pose a great risk to my entire fox clan."


    Tang Xian understood, feeling somewhat disappointed.


    It was as though calamity-level bosses and above all had names, identities, and were officially registered.


    If he wanted to kill these creatures, he couldn''t seek help from the mining area.


    Qing JiuYu''s strength could only be used to help him manage the farm.


    As for calamity-level bosses, Tang Xian decided to pick a target carefully before taking action.


    "By the way, you should take the matter I mentioned seriously."


    "What matter?"


    "The farm in the mining area."


    "And what about the farm?"


    "It''s the place where we breed mountain-taming beasts. Let''s call it Tang Family Mutton Restaurant."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t quite understand nor did he know what was so special about it, but he nodded and said:


    "This matter will help my fox clan survive in the long term, I will get to it quickly."


    Tang Xian felt pleased.


    Before long, he returned to his dwelling carrying the meat of the mountain-taming beasts.


    Watching Tang Xiaojiu leading two little lambs, Akasi, Dongran, and Qiaoshanshan were all somewhat baffled.


    Tang Xian began to cook the mutton.


    There are many ways to eat sheep. Your next journey awaits at empire


    One could say that every part of it is a treasure.


    Even sheep testicles are a popular ingredient at food stalls and barbecue joints.


    Limited by the seasoning available, Tang Xian could only make a few dishes, like mutton soup and roast mutton.


    Akasi and Tang Xiaojiu very conscientiously pitched in as helpers.


    Even though Tang Xiaojiu would often forget the knowledge Tang Xian taught her after eating,


    the notion of hard work paying off was etched in her mind. To eat more, one must put in the work.


    The flesh of the mountain beast reeked strongly of game, calling it a mine version of goat posed no issue whatsoever.


    But Biphasic Orchid could excellently neutralize this odor; Tang Xian had never actually tried this method before.


    So, he tried adding some petals of the Biphasic Orchid to it.


    Before long, a pot of delicious mutton offal soup was ready.


    Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang, the two little creatures, naturally hid in a corner, waiting to eat some leftovers later. They used to dare to act cute on other days, but today they were exceptionally quiet.


    Akasi was still somewhat normal, after all, he had drunk fish soup with Bai Mansheng and had seen the world.


    Whereas Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were clearly unsettled, with both girls trembling incessantly.


    After a glance at them, Tang Xian immediately knew they had finally remembered the truth.


    Without saying much, he casually chatted with Qing JiuYu about this and that.


    Qing JiyuYu and Tang Xiaojiu had already begun to tuck in heartily.


    Tang Xian was roasting leg of lamb. Unable to cut off the whole leg because it was simply too big, he did however, manage to slice a good amount of the meatiest and chewiest parts of the leg.


    The aroma of the barbecue was much richer than that of the soup.


    Seeing Akasi slowly taking a seat on the side, and with Qing JiuYu seemingly not minding, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan swallowed their saliva a few times.


    Finally, they overcame their fears and dined with a powerful creature such as the nine-tailed fox.


    Qing JiuYu''s eyes widened, she had never expected the food Tang Xian cooked to be so delicious.


    It was far more delightful than swallowing it raw or chewing it toughly. It was just a bit inconvenient to eat with a fork and knife like Tang Xiaojiu did.


    But... it looked very elegant.


    Qing JiuYu probably understood why Tang Xian always had so many people around him; it must be because he was earnestly studying humans.


    Tang Xiaojiu was in agony.


    She shed tears.


    Wuwu, it''s too delicious.


    Since it''s this delicious, little lamb, I''m sorry, we can''t be friends!


    Tang Xiaojiu, undergoing an inner painful struggle, eventually turned her anguish into appetite.


    The two foxes drank two-thirds of the mutton offal soup and ate three-quarters of the roasted leg of lamb.


    Qiao Shanshan was quite dismayed.


    This isn''t scientific!


    On Twitter and Weibo, many young girls like to show off food and then express their distress at being unable to gain weight.


    Doctor Qiao considered them to be drama queens showing off.


    If they''re capable, why not have three tubs of ice cream a day, snack on chips and fries as you please, indulge in spicy snail noodles for supper, and down it with two bottles of milk at night, huh!


    But to have a lady of such noble bearing like Qing JiuYu manage to consume such a large portion of lamb leg and still maintain such a seductive figure, that was a huge blow to people''s self-esteem.


    Is it a metabolic issue with creatures from the mines, because of their overly powerful digestive functions they can''t gain weight? Or is it that these foods are actually a very minor amount relative to their true size?


    But regardless of which it is, the result is that they don''t gain weight, and that''s just so unfair, I don''t want to be human anymore, jojo!


    Tang Xian had been silent the whole time. But after the meal, there was a subtle change in the relationship among the people.


    Although Qing JiuYu wasn''t very sociable with other humans, perhaps because of Tang Xian, she showed no desire to attack.


    She didn''t even show any disdain or contempt.


    This put Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran much more at ease.


    ...


    ...


    On the third day, Tang Xian figured out that it was Akasi''s and Dongran, Qiaoshanshan''s fifth day in the mine area.


    He then took his leave from Qing JiuYu. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Behind the fox tribe''s team followed many young mountain beasts as they headed south.


    Although Tang Xian also headed south, he took a different path.


    On the fourth day, Tang Xian reminded Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan to keep what they had seen and heard a secret, or it would cause immense panic. The two girls took it seriously and promised, then they all returned to the Pyramid together.


    Back at Fortress Thirty-Nine, the first thing naturally was to deal with the messages on his phone.


    After staying away for over ten days, there were quite a few messages from Li Xiaoyu on Tang Xian''s phone.


    In his room, with Tang Xiaojiu watching an audiobook on one side, Tang Xian replied to the messages.


    All of Li Xiaoyu''s messages could be summed up in one sentence.


    The Hunting Festival is drawing near, and a large number of hunters have gathered in the Red Clay Forest.

 Chapter 89 Registration Scene for the Hunting Festival

    After some thought, he decided to return the call.The call was quickly answered, and before Tang Xian could speak, Li Xiaoyu blurted out:


    "I''ve checked your black card thoroughly and forged an identity to top it up with enough credit to last generations, so if you dare use the excuse of saving phone charges to hang up on me again, I''ll bite you to death!"


    Tang Xian shook his head; being thrifty on phone charges had nothing to do with the actual amount left.


    "Just speak if you have something to say, the phone charges are burning."


    "..."


    There was a pause as Li Xiaoyu calmed down on the other end of the line.


    "You must attend the Hunter''s Gathering."


    "The team isn''t complete; I''m not planning to go."


    Li Xiaoyu had expected this response and said:


    "Song Gengzhao told my father that his son, Song Que, will secure the first place in the Hunter''s Gathering and propose to me!"


    "Even if he isn''t first, you''ll still have to marry him, won''t you? The man is your fianc¨¦; can''t you wish him well? I''m not going to the Hunter''s Gathering. My presence there wouldn''t be fair to the other hunters."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t understand what he meant. She now knew that Tang Xian wasn''t the talentless ordinary person she had thought he was.


    At the very least, he could overpower Eve in terms of strength and wouldn''t be helpless in the mines.


    But how is him participating unfair to the other hunters?


    "Why would that be unfair? It''s unfair if you don''t participate."


    "My team member is quite special. I will represent the Li family in the large-scale assault on the Yuepela Plains, but I think I''ll pass on the Hunter''s Gathering. It''s not exactly a spectacle; let''s not spoil even the suspense. I''m actually planning to bet on your man to win; the gambling dens in the lower levels are already taking bets."


    "Tang Xian! I will bite you to death!"


    Tang Xian said seriously: Discover stories at empire


    "That''s a bit difficult, unless you stop being human too."


    Li Xiaoyu''s breathing became rapid, and after taking several deep breaths, she gradually calmed down, speaking coldly:


    "If you''re not participating, then at least lend Akasi to my brother''s team." Unable to persuade Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu had to compromise.


    "I''ll have to ask Akasi about that," Tang Xian said, not outright refusing.


    "Name your price."


    "I''m not thinking about the price this time. I haven''t figured out what I need yet. As long as Akasi is willing, I have no objections."


    Tang Xian realized that this was a potential deal. There was no need for him to become the target of everyone''s arrows; too sharp an edge can attract trouble.


    But providing strong external support had commercial value.


    Within Huaxia''s stronghold, only the Li family was a viable partner.


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian asked:


    "Anything else?"


    "All the hunters are at the big stadium on the third level. You''re good at judging people; would you come with me to scout around?"


    "I can''t; I have other matters to attend to."


    "What could be more important than my issue?"


    "I need to convince Qiao Shanshan to switch strongholds. Along the way, I''ll buy her a house on the second level."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that a Calamity-level Creature Crystal of nearly boss-grade quality should suffice to solve Qiao Shanshan''s relocation issue.


    Li Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and said:


    "You can only accept the people I arrange for you! You can''t go looking for anyone else!"


    "Nutter."


    Tang Xian was about to hang up the phone.


    But at this moment, Li Xiaoyu changed her tune again, saying:


    "I''ll handle her relocation for you. My Li family has a few villas sitting empty on the third level; she can stay there. I''ll send someone to handle the transfer procedures."


    Li Xiaoyu continued:


    "This afternoon is the formal registration; you''ll accompany me."


    "Deal."


    Walking around with a wealthy woman to save a crystal seemed reasonable to Tang Xian.


    "Wasting phone charges is extravagant; I won''t say more. I''ll come to find you in a bit." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian hung up the phone.


    Before heading to the third level, he contacted Dong Ran to settle Akasi, Tangsuoye, and Tang Xiaojiu.


    Then he went to the blacksmith''s shop, planning to return the wrench he had casually taken from the owner, Liu Lang.


    Liu Lang''s business was as usual, modest and unassuming.


    Upon seeing Tang Xian, Liu Lang smiled, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, he said:


    "Didn''t I tell you? My Liu family has plenty of treasures. This wrench carries a 100% stun property and has saved the world before."


    "It''s a nice piece, certainly blessed by your ancestors. Here, it''s yours again."


    "You here for something?"


    "Just a small matter. I have a blueprint here; I want to make a pair of glasses."


    "What''s up, you headed to the tropical zone in the mine area? You need sunglasses?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "They''re for a young girl. Use cloudsteel for the material and make the lenses blue. I''ll send you the payment by points."


    "Okay, they''ll be ready by tomorrow afternoon."


    Though it was a blacksmith''s shop, Liu Lang took on a variety of jobs, including repairing mining tools, fixing furniture, and creating custom-made small items.


    Life on the lower levels might be tough, but truly skilled people can always manage well anywhere.


    Tang Xian didn''t linger long and after saying goodbye to Liu Lang, went to find Li Xiaoyu on the third level.


    He could only go as far as the second level; the third was out of reach.


    However, Li Xiaoyu had already made arrangements. When he reached the passage entrance, he saw people from the Li family waiting to receive him.


    They were easy to recognize; some personnel were responsible for behind-the-scenes work, while others were for show. Those representing the face of the Li family could be seen from a noticeable position boasting the red eagle tattoos.


    To some of the Li family''s ground-level operatives, Tang Xian''s face was also familiar.


    He arrived at the third level without delay.

 Chapter 89 Registration Scene for the Hunting Festival_2

    The indoor vehicle took Tang Xian directly to the sports stadium.Li Xiaoyu''s attire was the same as always, always a dark gothic dress.


    Women who were to marry into the Song Family would rarely leave their houses before the wedding, but Miss Li always had a different style. Find your next read at empire


    She held Tang Xian''s hand, and although he wanted to refuse at first, after seeing the girl''s fierce glares several times, he didn''t refuse too strongly, and in the end let Li Xiaoyu link arms with him.


    It was somewhat like a father taking his daughter shopping.


    "Aren''t you afraid of running into someone from the Song Family?"


    "At most, they''ll just kill you, the adulterer. They wouldn''t dare do anything to me."


    Tang Xian was taken aback; her reasoning made sense, though he was not an adulterer.


    "I''ll just say I''m your uncle."


    "You''re taking advantage of me!"


    "In ancient society, with an age difference like ours, young people wouldn''t call someone ''brother.'' That''s for age gaps of two or three years. With a six-year difference, women would call men ''uncle.''


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t quite understand; Tang Xian was the kind of person whose truth and lies both sounded far-fetched.


    The sports stadium was bustling with people, and Li Xiaoyu became a dazzling sight.


    Beauty is a peculiar thing; it can attract people''s gazes, but those gazes inevitably fall onto the person beside them.


    Tang Xian felt many eyes on him. Not very friendly ones.


    Then he saw Jiang Ming, whose gaze was different from the others.


    He first looked at Tang Xian and then glanced at the girl beside him.


    Then Jiang Ming froze,


    Working within the system of the thirty-ninth fortress, he, of course, recognized Li Xiaoyu.


    Moreover, back in school, Li Xiaoyu and Tang Xian had always been two very strange individuals.


    Tang Xian smiled, although Jiang Ming did not like him, he didn''t dislike this man.


    Generally speaking, he found people with high moral values quite endearing.


    Regardless of gender.


    "Hello." Tang Xian took the initiative to greet.


    Jiang Ming was a bit stunned; he knew about Miss Li''s impending marriage to the Song Family.


    Now, with her arm linked with Tang Xian''s, this was somewhat ostentatious.


    "Are you participating in the hunting festival?"


    "Not participating, just bringing a kid to have a look."


    Li Xiaoyu glared at Tang Xian, then looked at Jiang Ming and said,


    "I remember you, you''re the one who investigated Tang Xian''s exam scores in private, and after he became a formal employee, you even sent someone to look into his relationship with Akasi."


    Jiang Ming was shocked.


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised.


    Those who investigated him inside the thirty-ninth fortress couldn''t avoid Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu was right about one thing; while she monitored him, she was also protecting him.


    Though it was meaningless.


    Tang Xian said, "Don''t mind her."


    Previously, Tang Xian had lied to Jiang Ming, telling him that Akasi was in the team.


    It started as just a ripple effect of a lie.


    But the twists and turns of the world couldn''t be predicted. Tang Xian hadn''t expected Akasi to stumble into the treehouse.


    Nor had he expected Jiang Ming to be so persistent.


    He looked at Jiang Ming intently and said,


    "You seem to care a lot about me. Over these years, few have been willing to investigate me. Aside from this little girl beside me, you''re quite attentive. But I''m curious, why is that?"


    Jiang Ming was stunned, as if Tang Xian''s gaze sought to see through him.


    Li Xiaoyu selectively ignored the words ''little girl'' that came out of Tang Xian''s mouth.


    She clearly wasn''t little.


    She stared at Jiang Ming with wide eyes, also quite curious about Jiang Ming''s motive.


    After all, both men and women could be subjects of her jealousy and suspicion.


    Jiang Ming was not quite comfortable under such scrutiny and slightly turned his head, saying,


    "As you''ve said, I''ve lived a life without blemish, but I followed the crowd that year. If you didn''t cheat, and I''ve decided that you did, even if it won''t matter now or in the future, it bothers me."


    Without saying much else, Jiang Ming left.


    His attention to Tang Xian was just a quest for verification.


    But he could never find out too much, as many leads had been covered up. The allegations of Tang Xian''s exam cheating had evidence, but all of it was hidden away by the Li family.


    Tang Xian just smiled and paid it no mind.


    Li Xiaoyu seemed lost in thought before saying,


    "This person isn''t bad, but his methods are somewhat underhanded, going so far as to investigate you privately."


    Having thick skin naturally wasn''t the exclusive trait of any one individual, Tang Xian realized that when Li Xiaoyu''s skin grew thick, it was also quite something.


    "Aren''t you the least qualified person to say that?"


    "I''m different, what I do is called investing."


    Tang Xian didn''t bother to argue any further.


    There were many people who wished to observe him; in fact, over these past six years, Liu Lang, Luo, some of the older temporary workers in the mining area¡ª all had shown a certain amount of curiosity toward him.


    Yet, the extent of their probing remained within the boundaries of friendship.


    Jiang Ming hadn''t gone too far, at least not affecting Tang Xian''s life, only using reasonable approaches to investigate.


    But still, it was somewhat petty.


    "I don''t care myself, I just hope others don''t care either. If you want to see me in the future, come to the forest sea, or come to the lower levels."


    Li Xiaoyu pondered the connection between these two sentences. Suddenly, she understood.


    She was somewhat pleased.


    This was the first time Tang Xian had invited her.


    Tang Xian''s gaze landed on the entrance to the sports hall.


    A youth with slightly curly and unkempt hair, dressed casually, caught his attention.


    Several people were following the youth, and judging from the insignia on their sleeves, they appeared to be a team.


    Li Xiaoyu glanced over and said,


    "This person is named Zhong Xiuran."


    "Never heard of him."


    "A genius from Fortress 56, the Zhong Family''s business scale is no match for the big three families, but their foundation isn''t weak either. Inside Fortress 56, he''s known as a notoriously lazy person."


    "He does look quite lazy."


    Tang Xian noticed Zhong Xiuran''s drooping eyelids, his face looked as if he hadn''t fully woken up, occasionally glancing around without any interest.


    Even his shoelaces were loose. His sleepy eyes, messy hair, earphone wire hidden in the folds of his shirt at his chest.


    "He looks suitable to be a lookout, but he isn''t," Tang Xian shook his head.


    "He''s quite formidable. In the younger generation over these years, his reputation might not compare to my brother or Song Que''s level, but he''s also considered a genius whom many favor. He''s very smart, with six kinds of talents, although his awakened ability is unknown."


    Li Xiaoyu added,


    "But he hasn''t lost before."


    "Lost?"


    "Hunters often face many challenges among themselves."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    "Boring, fighting small monsters lets you eat meat. Fighting people just costs you money."


    Li Xiaoyu knew that Tang Xian never much cared for so-called rankings and honors.


    Thinking it over, Tang Xian decided today was ultimately about assisting the young mistress in assessing people, and thus he said,


    "Zhong Xiuran, you should keep an eye on him. If you meet him during the Hunter''s Gathering, tell Li Zheng it''s best to form a brief alliance with him and not to make an enemy of him."


    Li Xiaoyu was startled, thinking that this evaluation was perhaps too high.


    "His combat ability probably isn''t too strong, but people who are thinkers are the most troublesome, those who play tactics are all dirty, so let him go and dirty others."


    "Dirtier than you?"


    "I''ve already given up on participating, haven''t I? Besides, I''m a brute now. If you can use brawn, who would want to bother with using the brain, mindless enjoyment is the real pleasure."


    Tang Xian''s gaze then shifted toward another area, under the billboard directly ahead, where a man holding a samurai sword, his long hair styled in a retro fashion, stood. His resolute face, shadowed by thick stubble, seemed weathered by time.


    Li Xiaoyu, following his gaze once more, said,


    "Gong Kun, a famous swordsman in the mining area, also a master of the sword in the Pyramid. He ranks highly and is quite mysterious, but not a threat to worry about."


    Tang Xian discovered Li Xiaoyu''s information was very complete.


    "You should remember this person as well."


    Li Xiaoyu said, "He only has four kinds of talents, just like Dong Ran."


    "But that sword of his is not bad. Of the team''s six people, only he came; the rest are probably lying low, which means this Gong Kun is just the public face, the real players haven''t shown themselves. Anyone who can use such a sword must surely have the support of a top-notch weapons master, or sponsorship from some big financial group."


    "Is that sword very special?"


    "Of course, his identity should be from Fortress 51."


    Tang Xian looked away again.


    The use of the weapon alloy he designed had spread so quickly, it indicated that behind Gong Kun, there was a top weapons master who had access to the House of Daedalus.


    More teams continued to arrive, as Fortress 39, the site of this Hunter''s Gathering held outside the main event, had hunters coming in from all over the world.


    Tang Xian found himself feeling a bit more interested. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    (To be continued)

 Chapter 90 Be Strong

    Tang Xian began to look around.By observing these hunters, one could roughly gauge the current combat capabilities of humans. Although this wasn''t in a mining area, such observations carried a significant margin of error.


    However, Li Xiaoyu believed in Tang Xian. She had already taken note of Gong Kun and Zhong Xiuran and was confident that these individuals or their teams would surely make remarkable moves at the hunting festival. Their prey would likely be substantial.


    At this moment, Tang Xian pointed in the direction of one o''clock, towards a photographer behind a camera in a corner of the gymnasium.


    "Who is that person?"


    Li Xiaoyu was startled for a moment. Tang Xian naturally would not concern himself with a staff member without reason.


    Upon close inspection, she realized that although this person was like the other staff members in the corner, the camera model and the filming stance were different.


    These extremely subtle details were noticed by Tang Xian in an instant, which slightly surprised Li Xiaoyu. She shook her head and said,


    "Can''t see the face, don''t recognize them."


    Tang Xian said, "He has been observing the same spots we observed earlier. He has good vision, an eye for a certain team. The team''s leader is named Gu Luo."


    "How do you know?"


    "Don''t worry about how I know, just remember it. This team has excellent eyesight, and they must be exceptional at gathering intelligence. Try to get the information of the team leader, Gu Luo. If you can make an alliance, do so.


    In this kind of battle surrounded by enemies, the role of vision should not be underestimated. If two teams cooperate, he can help you avoid many unnecessary fights."


    Li Xiaoyu, accustomed to Tang Xian''s tone, didn''t mind it, nodded, and kept his words in mind.


    Tang Xian could feel that when he looked towards the camera, it also pointed at him.


    He gave a polite smile, made a ''see you later'' gesture, and then looked elsewhere.


    The camera, quite perceptive, did not continue to watch him and turned to another direction.


    Tang Xian noticed there were quite a few interesting people around.


    He was like a precise minesweeper, seeing through every exceptional hunter hidden in the crowd in an instant.


    "In section E of the stands, fourth row, the sixth seat from the left, that woman."


    Li Xiaoyu was shocked; Tang Xian''s range of vision made her uncomfortable, as the two directions were one hundred and eighty degrees apart.


    "That woman has been sizing us up from the very beginning and also glanced at Zhong Xiuran''s team."


    "The female devil Qin Qian," Li Xiaoyu recognized the target this time.


    She added,


    "She used to be as famous as the White Rose Team for being a strong woman. However, Qin Qian herself is actually quite low-key. It''s just that the challengers who lose to her are very prominent hunters, so she can''t keep a low profile."


    "Who is stronger, her or the White Rose Team''s leader, Huang Jie?"


    "How do you know about Huang Jie?" Li Xiaoyu stared at Tang Xian.


    "Met her by chance once, just helped her with a little favor," Tang Xian said casually.


    "Huang Jie is only famous because the White Rose is an all-female team, but Qin Qian truly has real skills. The Qin Family is not a small one either. In fact, they have a very good relationship with my Li family."


    Tang Xian roughly understood; because of the distance, although he could clearly see that Qin Qian was quite pretty, her faceplate did not appear.


    "Also, keep an eye on her. This girl should not be simple. But this time I can''t analyze anything; it''s just intuition." Your journey continues at empire


    Li Xiaoyu nodded. Without Tang Xian''s reminder, she would firmly remember any woman''s name that Tang Xian mentioned.


    "Although the Hunter Ranking is a ranking, it''s all about points, and points don''t necessarily reflect true strength, especially at the hunting festival. In this process, there aren''t many who are seriously just hunting. It wouldn''t make a difference if it were called the Hunter Festival."


    Tang Xian continued to watch the people around him; different panels appeared before his eyes, exposing evil intentions and interesting secrets at a glance.


    Li Xiaoyu listened to Tang Xian''s words and said, S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You mean, the ranking is just a secondary reference?"


    "Yes, the true danger of an opponent has to be measured by one''s own perception. Akasi will protect Li Zheng, and Li Zheng''s own strength is not weak either, the Li family''s reputation is good, but that won''t stop people from targeting the Li family. I''ve found these for you, try to win them over as allies."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded seriously and took note.


    Tang Xian''s gaze stopped; a malicious glare was fixed on him.


    Following the direction of the glare, Tang Xian saw a bald man with a knife scar on his left eye terrifying to behold.


    The man was burly, with piercing eyes.


    Wang Yuan, ranked nineteenth on the domestic Hunter Ranking. Tang Xian recognized this man.


    He knew all the top hundred hunters who had revealed their faces.


    Wang Yuan''s gaze was furiously fixed on Tang Xian.


    Next to him was Huang Jie, wearing a mask.


    Tang Xian immediately understood what was going on. It seemed the renown captain of the White Rose had twisted the facts, and, unable to defeat him herself, she had instigated a stronger hunter to bear a grudge against him.


    Talk about speaking of the devil. Just after mentioning this "heroine among women," she came with others looking for trouble.


    From Huang Jie''s panel, Tang Xian found out that, while she presented herself as a feminist in public, she had affairs with many men behind closed doors.


    In her current needs analysis, likes, dislikes, fears section, he saw the names of four men.

 Chapter 90 Be Strong_2

    One of them was Wang Yuan.When their eyes met, Wang Yuan''s face twisted fiercely as he slowly walked towards Tang Xian.


    Li Xiaoyu noticed someone approaching, and at a glance, she recognized both Huang Jie and Wang Yuan.


    "Didn''t you just say that you helped Huang Jie?"


    "Yes."


    "But her look, and that of her man, wasn''t very friendly towards you."


    "I taught her some life lessons, maybe she hasn''t fully understood them yet, but no worries, I can teach her again."


    Wang Yuan arrived in front of Tang Xian.


    Without any hesitation, he pointed at Huang Jie next to him and aggressively pulled down her mask.


    With her nose and mouth now crooked, Huang Jie glared angrily at Wang Yuan and quickly put the mask back on.


    "Is this your doing?"


    "Yes."


    "You admit it?"


    "I did it, and if you''re not satisfied, I can hit her again. Perhaps it can also serve as a facial correction."


    Wang Yuan sneered:


    "Good, I like a man who owns up to his actions. Today, only one of us will leave here alive."


    "I must remind you, in a friendly way, that first of all, we''re in the sports stadium, guarded by the Li family. Even though it seems no one is in the corners, causing trouble here will get you disqualified immediately."


    "You hit Laozi''s woman, and even if it means dying here today, I still have to make you pay. I don''t give a damn about any qualification!" Wang Yuan''s gaze didn''t waver.


    This big guy from the Northern Fortress couldn''t stand someone bullying his woman.


    "Everyone says Wang Yuan has a violent temper, which is indeed true, and I quite like that about you. So, secondly, listen carefully, she isn''t your woman¡ªshe''s been with at least four other men at the same time."


    "But as the saying goes, if nobody knows you''re cuckolded, you''re not really cuckolded. I won''t say anything, this is my niece, and she certainly wouldn''t discuss such trivial matters."


    Your next journey awaits at empire


    Li Xiaoyu glared fiercely at Tang Xian. However, the gossip in front of her was too juicy, and she didn''t want to interrupt, so she let Tang Xian''s nonsensical talk slide.


    Huang Jie, pale with shock, furiously said:


    "You''re slandering me! Yuan, don''t listen to his nonsense, he''s slandering me!"


    Huang Jie''s reaction was a bit too agitated.


    Wang Yuan, anger surging, was about to lash out with his fists.


    As a bare-knuckle fighter, and even though he once tested with six talents and many organizations wanted to retain him, Wang Yuan found it too dull. He refused high-paying jobs and went to the third level to fight in underground matches.


    Over the years, he also honed his keen wild instincts.


    Tang Xian did not move, watching the fist big as a sandbag; he lightly grabbed it with one hand, and calmly said:


    "Do you know where the biggest secrets of the new era are hidden? Not in the eyes of some who''ve cheated their way ahead, but in their smartphones."


    "Think back, in those quiet nights, when you called to check in on her and she breathlessly told you she was taking the elevator or out for a run at night?"


    "Aren''t there always a few days when she''d ignore you, and when you reached out to her, she''d always respond with ''I''m sleepy,'' ''I''m going to shower,'' ''Let''s talk another time?''"


    Li Xiaoyu rarely smiled; she was professional, unless she couldn''t help it.


    Watching Tang Xian speak earnestly, almost like reciting a comedic script, she could hardly hold back her laughter.


    But seeing Wang Yuan''s expression, she realized... could this not be just a script?


    Wang Yuan was visibly shocked, his expression one of someone who had been hit close to home. But it could also be because he was surprised by Tang Xian''s strength.


    As Tang Xian held on to Wang Yuan''s fist, Wang Yuan found he could not pull it back at all.


    Huang Jie''s expression was equally captivating.


    "Sometimes, out of a sense of security, the most dangerous evidence is hidden in the closest place. You''ve never checked her phone, have you? You may look fierce, but you trust and tolerate your woman a lot. But you''ve met an extraordinary foe."


    Tang Xian patted Wang Yuan on the shoulder, looked at his slightly bewildered expression, and said:


    "Brother, stay strong."


    Tang Xian was about to turn away and leave but was stopped by Wang Yuan grabbing him.


    Tang Xian flicked at Wang Yuan''s fingers with a light touch.


    Wang Yuan reacted as if struck by lightning and involuntarily stepped back two paces.


    For those with high goodness scores, Tang Xian didn''t want to be too harsh; he preserved both face and foundation.


    The blow he dealt just now used his newly achieved precision strike, setting the bonus damage to one percent of the target''s maximum life.


    With Wang Yuan''s experience, that was enough to make him realize their disparity. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Yuan felt incredulous.


    The force of the moment was neither small nor overwhelming, but just a light flick from the other party produced such power, which seemed somewhat exaggerated.


    Yet, in Tang Xian''s eyes, he indeed saw not a trace of fear or cowardice.


    This made him begin to doubt whether what Tang Xian said was true.


    Huang Jie looked spitefully at Tang Xian, probably because Tang Xian had outwitted her again. Whether in Pyramid or the mining area, she could not get the better of him, which infuriated her to the point of irrationality. She disregarded Wang Yuan''s gaze and spewed out:


    "Don''t you feel smug! I''m going to tell Qiao Shanshan that you were walking hand in hand with another little vixen! You two-timing pretty boy!"


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows and turned to look at Huang Jie.


    Li Xiaoyu also furrowed her brows and turned to look at Huang Jie.


    Their gazes were completely different.


    Tang Xian just felt this woman was foolish, and rather unlucky, somewhat pitying her.


    Li Xiaoyu''s gaze was more dangerous.


    Deep down, Li Xiaoyu didn''t truly believe that any woman could make Tang Xian''s heart flutter.


    But she just couldn''t stand others talking about Tang Xian being close with someone else.

 Chapter 90 Be Strong_3

    Qiao Shanshan was not a woman arranged by her, but one Tang Xian found on his own; since she couldn''t persuade him otherwise, she had accepted it.Where would it be someone else''s turn to make remarks?


    "My name is Li Xiaoyu. I''m not a ''little demoness,''" Li Xiaoyu''s tone was very calm.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    Li Xiaoyu was a bit of a fool, although not so foolish as to want to kill someone''s entire family over a single insult.


    But still, those who bullied Li Xiaoyu ended up somehow not quite right afterward.


    Wang Yuan was originally in shock, racked with annoyance, anger, pain, and a whirlwind of other complex emotions.


    But upon hearing the three words "Li Xiaoyu," a sudden realization came over him.


    "Don''t you want to see her phone? If you want to look at it, do it quickly, otherwise you''ll miss the chance," Li Xiaoyu said.


    With a tone both calm and serious, Wang Yuan clenched his teeth and said:


    "I acted rashly just now, and I didn''t recognize someone important right in front of my eyes. Brother, could you please say a good word to your niece, I, Wang Yuan, will remember this incident and will come to apologize and make it up to you another day."


    No matter how fierce someone was, it was well understood within the Pyramid that the three top families could not be offended.


    The contributions of the Li family to the Huaxia Fortress were so significant that many, like Wang Yuan, held the Li family in awe. Wang Yuan had also admired from the bottom of his heart those from the Li family who sacrificed their lives for humanity in the mining areas.


    It was Li Xiaoyu''s turn to be stunned; she had never before encountered someone like Wang Yuan.


    Wang Yuan himself should have realized that what Tang Xian said was probably true, that trouble arises from careless talk, and it was indeed this woman''s talk that caused trouble, but in such a situation, Wang Yuan still wanted to plead on the woman''s behalf.


    Her anger subsided somewhat, largely because of the man in front of her.


    But who was Tang Xian''s niece?


    Tang Xian said, "Listen to your uncle, let''s just let this one go."


    Tang Xian threw in another taunt, making Li Xiaoyu really want to rush over and bite him to death. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ignoring Li Xiaoyu''s fierce look, Tang Xian pulled her away.


    Huang Jie originally wanted to say more, just like all trolls who did not feel satisfied unless they fully displayed their malice and folly, as if otherwise, they would have lived in vain.


    But the stern look from Wang Yuan shut Huang Jie up.


    Wang Yuan, with a grim face, led Huang Jie toward the exit of the gymnasium.


    Tang Xian stopped thinking about the incident.


    He dragged Li Xiaoyu to another place.


    Li Xiaoyu also slowly came back to her senses.


    "Why did you stop me?"


    "Wang Yuan holds the Li family in high regard, and that is why he was willing to bow his head and admit his mistake. Besides, Huang Jie won''t get off easily; it is unlikely she will appear in the Hunter''s Circle in the future, so there''s no need to go overboard. Wang Yuan is the one who''s been cuckolded; you have to leave some right to vent to him, don''t you?"


    After thinking it over, Li Xiaoyu agreed with him.


    Tang Xian pointed toward the grand chandelier where a lavishly dressed group stood, their expressions and eyes carrying an air of frivolous nonchalance.


    Li Xiaoyu said:


    "That is the Qi Family''s team. The one in the middle, grinning like an idiot, that''s Qi Xun, their team leader." Find your next adventure on empire


    "I thought Qi Xun was an ignorant fool," Tang Xian said.


    "Song Que, Qi Xun, my brother, they are all actually experts; they''re just not on the list. As for being ignorant, we outsiders don''t really know if that''s true or not¡ªonly people from the Qi Family know. In this world, some like to present themselves as righteous, while others prefer to degrade themselves."


    Li Xiaoyu continued:


    "The Qi Family cannot be united with us. Our three families have good relations, but at the Hunting Festival, we have always tried our best to compete. For such a big event, the Qi Family and the Song Family have an agreement with our Li Family not to form alliances; otherwise, it would be too unfair to the other side."


    "The people behind him are all new faces. Do you recognize them?" Tang Xian said.


    "The Qi Family, although the weakest among the three big families, still have no shortage of tricks. Over the years, they''ve secretly cultivated quite a few experts."


    Listening to Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "Since they are enemies, we must be careful. These people behind Qi Xun... they seem troublesome."

 Chapter 91 Hunters from a Foreign Land

    the hunting festival had no true enemies to speak of; huaxia''s hunters, no matter how fiercely they competed against each other, always presented a united front when facing the outside world. s~ea??h the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.qi xun did indeed seem to be a profligate, after listening to li xiaoyu''s words, tang xian carefully scrutinized him and found qi xun indeed had little to be suspicious of.


    if someone like that were actually pretending to be a profligate, then among the sons of the three major families, li zheng might be ranked last.


    "why haven''t i seen anyone from the song family, i''d like to see which unlucky guy is marrying you," tang xian looked around.


    li xiaoyu had already been irritated by tang xian too many times today and said with a numb expression,


    "i don''t know, maybe he''ll show up later. since qi xun is here, he should be arriving soon. let''s go somewhere else, the reception on this part of the field is for those within huaxia fortress, the hunters from other nations'' fortresses are on the other side."


    "so many people," tang xian remarked.


    "there are a total of two hundred teams, and huaxia accounts for nearly half. however, for this reason, fortresses from other nations are accustomed to banding together against us during the hunting festival," li xiaoyu explained.


    tang xian nodded and said, "there should be no major issues with akasi either, he is a very reasonable person. let''s go have a look on the other side now."


    thinking that it would be quite awkward if they really came across the song family''s team, tang xian didn''t want to linger any longer and as they walked, he said,


    "do you remember the people i told you about?"


    "gong kun''s team with their strong equipment support, zhong xiuran''s team that might have tactical talent, gu luo''s team with their exceptional eyesight, and the female devil qin qian," li xiaoyu reported calmly.


    "mhm, try to win these people over, and if you can''t, try not to make them enemies. we can''t guarantee anything else, but li zheng''s personal safety must be ensured," tang xian said lightly.


    "don''t talk as if my brother is going to die or something," li xiaoyu still had some confidence in her own brother.


    "you yourself said it, this is the largest and highest-quality hunting festival; no one knows what might happen. moreover, the mine zone has been a bit unstable these days," tang xian turned and walked towards the entrance.


    "the mine zone is unstable?" li xiaoyu was somewhat surprised.


    "the beast migration is unexplained, its destination unknown; it''s also uncertain whether it will affect the hunting festival, even though the festival is in a blue zone, many things become unpredictable."


    if wildlife was migrating, it meant there were no fixed safe areas in the world of the mine zone.


    "when did this happen?" li xiaoyu, while not as scholarly as tang xian, also studied the mine zone.


    "a few days ago, that''s my premonition. mankind has always lived between two continents, rarely venturing into the northern territories. speaking of the plan to detour from the west and attack yuepela plains, i think that needs to be well reconsidered."


    as someone who had come from the red soil forests up north, crossed the waning time valley, traversed the crimson wastelands and reached the tianque plains, tang xian knew that he had only reached the edge of the northern region.


    the vast northern region''s true nature was yet unseen.


    "mankind is opening a western route directly to the yuepela plains right now, the timing of the beast migration is too coincidental."


    with unhurried steps, li xiaoyu felt tang xian''s worries were a bit too conspiratorial.


    "animals have always migrated, right? that''s unrelated to our actions. i know that many animals are nearly as intelligent as humans, but they are ultimately scattered. they even fight among themselves. how could they possibly migrate in unison and establish defenses?"


    tang xian simply shook his head slightly, not saying anything further. these matters were pure instinct on his part and baseless.


    after a short walk, the two arrived at the other side of the stadium.


    the complexions that met their eyes began to stand out distinctly in this area.


    many small countries had disappeared after the great calamity; united, they also formed the largest fortress alliance¡ªthe federation.


    even the fortress clusters of huaxia, dongying, and the united states were within the scope of the federation.


    however, these countries, already colossal or with great influence, retained their national titles.


    for some powerful countries, becoming independent from the federation had only happened in recent years.


    of course, with the mine zone ahead, humanity as a whole was still united, with no infighting. this kind of secession affected only the economic system and market.


    the ones most likely to secede were lincoln fortress and sky guardian fortress. although huaxia fortress hadn''t seceded, its massive size always led all other powers to treat it separately.


    so far, the fortresses that could enter the seventh level were only these two and the three major families of huaxia.


    although numerically inferior to the fortresses of huaxia, lincoln fortress has always been at the forefront in various aspects compared to other fortresses.


    even with the marital alliance between the song family and the li family, there was no absolute certainty they could develop the eighth level of fortress no. 39 before lincoln fortress.


    naturally, lincoln fortress became a key point of focus for li xiaoyu and tang xian.


    they had only one representative hunter team.


    "lincoln fortress couldn''t be considered a cooperative partner now, could it?" tang xian asked.


    "no, they are inevitably the enemy we''ll have to confront in the mine zone. their priority is even above the qi family and the song family." explore more at empire


    li xiaoyu and tang xian watched together as the spotlight fell on the distinctly different hunter team from lincoln fortress, unlike those of other nations.

 Chapter 91 Hunters from a Foreign Land_2

    all six members were present.the leader had a gloomy face, his features serpent-like, and tang xian recalled the snape he read about in harry potter from his childhood.


    it was the kind of visage that at first glance, could terrify, and fittingly, he was also clothed in a black robe.


    "this man, with his pale face as if frosted and snake-like gaze, must be a mage and his powers relate to frost."


    li xiaoyu didn''t bother to ask tang xian how he came to that conclusion, as he probably wouldn''t tell even if she did.


    she simply took note of it internally.


    tang xian was certain his judgment was correct, after all, not many would have "freeze everything" as their current priority in a needs analysis.


    he could even sense that this person was struggling to contain that desire.


    it was evident in the fluctuating percentages of his needs.


    "make a note that this person is quick to anger, a potential weakness."


    tang xian''s gaze shifted to another person as he said:


    "the bald guy next to him, the one in the dark suit, who not only has no hair but also no eyebrows, even has a barcode tattooed on the back of his neck, and it''s marked s-004."


    li xiaoyu realized how meticulous tang xian''s observations were; it seemed like just a casual glance, yet he had captured every detail.


    "this one is a firearms expert and the most mentally poised in this hunter''s group. pay special attention to him; we must try to gather all his information. the use of modern weaponry might just be a smokescreen; his true strength is not to be underestimated."


    for the first time, tang xian looked truly cautious.


    "that good?"


    "this man is from the evolution zone," tang xian whispered.


    li xiaoyu was taken aback.


    stay updated through empire


    a hunter from lincoln fortress came from the evolution zone?


    she pondered for several seconds before nodding slowly.


    "it''s fine if we can''t find out anything. his pupils are a silver-gray color. many creatures from the mines have this same eye color, similar to tang suoye. perhaps he underwent similar experiments. of all the people we observed today, in terms of combat ability from the mines, he is the most dangerous. remember that."


    this was the first time li xiaoyu had seen tang xian show such wariness towards someone.


    it wasn''t so much that tang xian was wary for himself, nor was he greatly concerned about akasi. but it couldn''t be said the same for others.


    tang xian continued his observations and found the lincoln fortress team to be quite strange.


    "my first impression of this team is a stark sense of disconnection; they don''t seem like a united team at all, just temporarily assembled together."


    li xiaoyu had also noticed this. other teams had some eye contact or conversation, whereas this one had none.


    they looked around as if they were predators searching for prey; even standing together, they seemed to each rule their own realm.


    behind the bald man was a clown with extremely poor makeup. tang xian easily associated him with a criminal mastermind who could have escaped from arkham asylum.


    an emerald-green suit, unkempt hair as if soaked in strong liquor, the occasional rolling of the eyes, and an evil smile.


    even beneath the makeup, tang xian was certain that this man''s true face was rather handsome, a stark contrast to some in the more honest gotham city. because of his youthful and handsome features, he exuded a different aura altogether.


    the moment tang xian''s gaze first swept over this person, he found his attribute panel to be very strange.


    the value of good and evil was fluctuating.


    the current luck value was also volatile.


    even the needs analysis kept changing.


    it was impossible to predict what the clown would do next.


    this was the first time tang xian had seen a panel that represented absolute chaos.


    his likes were ever-changing, while his fears were listed as none.


    as for his dislikes, that was the only attribute that remained constant.


    dislike of boredom.


    tang xian was sure this wasn''t a modified test subject from the evolution zone.


    yet, the sense of danger this person presented was rapidly approaching that of the bald man.


    "lincoln fortress might play some dirty tricks this time," tang xian suddenly fretted.


    the clown didn''t seem particularly formidable on the surface.


    at that moment, the clown also took notice of tang xian. dangerous individuals always had a keen instinct for catching eyes that were fixed on them.


    the moment tang xian locked eyes with him, his mouth twisted into an unfathomable smile.


    most normal people would find such a smile somewhat unsettling.


    tang xian felt nothing of the sort, and he returned the smile politely.


    unexpectedly, this time he didn''t say anything to li xiaoyu.


    some opponents are better off unknown.


    compared to clowns, men in black robes and bald ones, the lincoln fortress''s doctor seemed much more benign.


    their expression was somewhat vacant, their gaze adoringly fixed on the clown.


    and next to the clown stood a hulking figure carrying a chainsaw, his head encased in a leather mask.


    a stark contrast to the hulk was a member of the team, thin as a monkey and short and frail. it looked as though they had been consuming illicit substances for years, their eye sockets heavily sunken.


    standing together, these two offered a strong contrast, but tang xian felt they were not as threatening as the bald one and the clown.


    tang xian turned away, no longer looking in their direction.


    "what about sky guardian fortress?"


    "they''re up in the stands, look, section c of the stands, the few playing cards and leaning back in their chairs are them."


    tang xian followed li xiaoyu''s gaze and laughed,


    "these guys really have a good attitude."


    dongying had twelve fortresses, thus many teams, but sky guardian fortress''s team was the best equipped.


    every country has its own industrial domain that others find hard to surpass.


    for instance, lincoln fortress leads a whole era ahead of the other fortresses in terms of ranged weapons and firearms manufacturing.


    and huaxia''s fortresses, with fortress fifty-one, had the strongest cold weapons.


    their forged swords and knives were praised by hunters around the world.


    as for sky guardian fortress, their armor was light yet durable, capable of withstanding immense damage, truly the epitome of defense.


    and the hunter''s group of sky guardian fortress was clad in future-esque alloy armor.


    if it weren''t for the small katana at their waists and the recognizable samurai braid, tang xian might have mistaken them for alloy-covered robots.


    he couldn''t make out the materials of the alloy armor. s~ea??h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "these people are very well-balanced, four samurai, one ninja, and one monk. their state of mind also signifies their power; they''re playing cards at a time like this, completely ignoring their opponents, quite interesting. be especially wary of that ninja, i haven''t encountered ninjutsu before.


    i''ve heard many advanced ninjutsu techniques are feasible, but due to human limitations, they can''t be used. but in the mining area, that''s another story."


    li xiaoyu silently took note.


    tang xian felt it was about time; there were many excellent hunter teams from other federal fortresses, but compared to the teams from sky guardian and lincoln fortress, they seemed somewhat inferior.


    both intuitively and based on data, tang xian had not spotted anyone particularly worth attention.


    after all, most teams were actually not as good as the li family''s own team.


    not to mention they had akasi as an external reinforcement.


    tang xian was ready to leave.


    just then, a commotion erupted in the northern side of the gymnasium.


    all the fortress teams from the various counties of the federation looked towards the entrance, and so did the group of lunatics from lincoln fortress.


    even the card-playing hunters of sky guardian at the stands ceased their entertainment to look towards a certain area.


    tang xian and li xiaoyu turned to look, and tang xian had an awkward smile on his face.


    li xiaoyu''s face was expressionless, but she gripped tang xian''s arm even tighter.


    "this... i specifically tried to avoid this, how did we run into them so soon?"


    the huaxia number one fortress, the song family''s hunter team, was particularly conspicuous at the foreign fortress gathering.


    especially with the li family''s hunter team as hosts.


    "your brother is here too. before they notice us, could you let go of my arm?"


    "i won''t."


    "the song family''s people are not the villains in your life," tang xian said lightly.


    this remark gave li xiaoyu food for thought.


    "regardless of whether you like song que or who you want to marry in the future, you have now accepted the engagement. i don''t want to be pointed at and cause trouble, and you shouldn''t deliberately cause a strain on the relationship between the two families."


    "this is so annoying," li xiaoyu finally let go of his hand.


    it wasn''t that she cared about the song family''s attitude; she just didn''t want to bring trouble to tang xian.


    soon after, li zheng saw tang xian and li xiaoyu, then his gaze shifted toward song que nearby, with a peculiar expression.


    he wasn''t sure whether to greet them or not.


    (the next update should be in the afternoon. it will also be a 4,000-word chapter.)

 Chapter 92 Tang and Song

    the people in the li family''s group, aside from li zheng, were all strangers to tang xian.in the song family''s group, however, tang xian did spot a familiar face.


    he couldn''t help but laugh silently. he hadn''t expected to see that rascal teacher lin jue after so many years. he had heard years ago that lin had become a hunter, the kind who did the dirty work off the record, very powerful.


    looking at him now, it seemed the rumors were true. being employed by the song family meant lin jue must have had something exceptional about him. tang just didn''t know whether the song family''s subordinates kept a tight leash on their wives.


    as li zheng was debating whether or not to greet them, tang xian walked over, with li xiaoyu closely following behind.


    there was no avoiding it now. li zheng, looking at song que, who was surveying lincoln fortress, said:


    "song que, stop gawking."


    song que turned around and said with a simple smile,


    "zheng, maybe you won''t be my toughest opponent. look at lincoln fortress''s momentum."


    li zheng replied, "alright, alright, this isn''t the time for scouting, and that''s not your job."


    tang xian had already approached li zheng.


    song que noticed li zheng''s attention on the man and woman before him surpassed that of the other hunters and couldn''t help asking:


    "who are these two?"


    li zheng felt a bit of a headache coming on. his sister and tang were together¡ªif they appeared too close for comfort, wouldn''t it be like wearing cuckold''s horns in public?


    "let me introduce them. this guy is the li family''s new technical consultant, tang xian."


    song que sized up tang xian, figuring that since he was a technical consultant, he must be outstanding in some respects.


    "nice to meet you, i''m song que, ''song'' from ''tang and song,'' ''que'' for ''defect.''"


    "nice to meet you, i''m tang xian, ''tang'' from ''tang and song,'' ''xian'' for ''leisure.''" tang xian politely responded.


    "tsk, your names really pair well together, hahaha..." li zheng joked.


    tang''s first impression of song que was quite favorable; this man had an exceptionally high good-evil value.


    li zheng and qi xun could be said to be the former, sometimes a good person who does bad things, and the latter, a bad person who occasionally does good things.


    rich young masters naturally have their wicked interests, but not song que.


    his good-evil value was nearly the same as jiang ming''s.


    as for charm, he was the highest tang xian had seen among men¡ªa score of eighty, with only two words for description: "like a dragon." stay connected via empire


    tang felt his smile was too simple¡ªif not so, maybe song que''s charm value would be even higher.


    he glanced at song que once more, then at li xiaoyu.


    song que was indeed impeccable, and tang even thought this man could be described as huaxia''s future.


    it was just the idea of him and li xiaoyu together that was hard to imagine.


    "is this beautiful lady your sister, brother tang?"


    "no, she''s his sister." tang pointed at li zheng.


    li zheng''s face remained expressionless, mainly because he didn''t know what kind of expression to make.


    song que nodded, seeing nothing amiss, but after a second or two, he suddenly frowned.


    "wait a minute, zheng, how many sisters do you have?"


    "i have only one sister. it''s her, li xiaoyu," li zheng coughed.


    "ah!"


    song que gasped, startlingly leaning back with his face flushing red up to his neck.


    li xiaoyu exclaimed indignantly, "what are you yelling for! what''s with a big man blushing!"


    song que took a moment to catch his breath. he could strategize and remain calm in the midst of war, but for some reason, after learning about li xiaoyu''s life these past days¡ªeven though he had never met this young lady¡ªhe felt a chill every time he thought of li xiaoyu.


    today, seeing li xiaoyu brought him great joy because she was lovelier than he had imagined, just unexpectedly so.


    it was a political marriage between the two families, but he wasn''t averse to it. naturally, he wanted to get along with li xiaoyu properly.


    but this sudden encounter upset his plans.


    li zheng found it amusing to see this side of the song family''s eldest son.


    tang was also mildly surprised; song que was indeed different from what he had imagined. sea??h th§× n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    if he had to choose a friend among the sons of the top three families, he thought song que would be the most interesting.


    tang xian said nothing.


    li xiaoyu would have to meet song que sooner or later; what if song que''s excellence could change her mind?


    song que stood by, hemming and hawing, wanting to say something but unable to speak¡ªit was an awkward shyness, like that of the boy next door.


    li xiaoyu didn''t look at song que again, instead scrutinizing tang xian very carefully.


    tang''s expression was natural, no different from usual. it seemed he didn''t care about the present situation at all. the only fluctuation might have been his admiration for song que.


    a sense of desolation slowly surfaced in the depths of li xiaoyu''s profound eyes.


    she often didn''t know what tang xian was thinking¡ªguessing his thoughts was something both painful and enjoyable for her.


    but at this moment, li xiaoyu knew what tang xian was thinking.


    and because she knew, she felt even more desolate.


    from a very young age, she knew her fate through the arrangements made in the name of love by others.


    she didn''t escape this arranged marriage.


    but faced with tang''s apparent indifference, she felt terrible.


    she was nothing if not persistent towards him, all she wanted was to make her feelings clear to him.


    suddenly, li xiaoyu felt disheartened.


    "tang xian, you''re really an idiot!"


    she flipped her sleeves and left without looking back.


    leaving tang xian dumbfounded, song que, and li zheng also confused about what had just happened.


    song que was about to follow her, but li zheng held him back.


    "you better not follow my sister when she''s throwing a tantrum."


    song que didn''t know much about matters between men and women and just said:


    "brother tang, why did she suddenly get angry with you."

 Chapter 92 Tang and Song_2

    "i don''t know; i''m not the kind of person who... who thinks about so much in their head."song que said with embarrassment, "it''s a shame. i didn''t even get to say anything."


    li zheng had never seen the song family''s eldest son like this, flustered, but he actually felt kind of happy about it.


    "although my sister doesn''t talk much, she has a wild temper. i was worried that after marrying into your song family, she would be aggrieved. hahahaha, now it seems that the one who is aggrieved is not her."


    song que gave a bitter smile. in his mind, he was still thinking about li xiaoyu. he regretted that li xiaoyu left too quickly. continue your journey on empire


    "by the way, did yu ask you to come here for something? i heard that you are not participating in the hunting event," li zheng asked tang xian.


    tang xian nodded and said,


    "i''m not participating. consider me a strategist for you. i''m here to observe the competition today."


    song que noticed that tang xian spoke differently from li zheng''s other subordinates, li zheng was unexpectedly courteous to tang xian, and tang xian showed no flattery to li zheng.


    "alright, thanks. let me introduce you; these are my teammates. they may not be on par with the one in your family, but they are also top-notch. this is tang xian, my friend, and also the team leader of shengtang," li zheng began to introduce the four people behind him.


    upon hearing the team leader of shengtang, the gaze of three of them, except for the doctor, was hostile, even showing quite a bit of animosity.


    the one at the forefront had a crew cut, a square face, a beard around his mouth, and callused hands. tang xian could tell at a glance that this man had trained.


    the guest elders within the li family, unlike hunters, mostly have a very strong sense of community and honor. they act much like soldiers but don''t follow discipline as strictly as the regular army, basically only taking orders from the li family.


    tang xian quickly understood why the others were unfriendly towards him.


    it must be because of akasi. the decision li zheng made this morning to request an external aid from shengtang''s hunting team meant one of the six in a team had to be replaced by a newcomer, which naturally would squeeze out an old member.


    the arrival of shengtang''s external aid disrupted their sense of community and their sense of honor because if the li family scored a position, those replaced from the team would not be able to share in this honor.


    the square-faced man extended his hand and said,


    "mr. tang, nice to meet you. i''m xie jiang."


    "oh, hello." tang xian also extended his hand courteously.


    a handshake is the most basic act of etiquette, but it is also a way for many martial artists to show dominance.


    tang xian could not feel any aggressive force in the grip, so he was somewhat puzzled as to why xie an kept holding his hand.


    xie an was inwardly surprised; this young man didn''t look like a muscular type, so why were his bones so hard?


    he had thought that even if he was punished by the young master, he would need to put this little shengtang man in his place.


    but unexpectedly, the guy was really tough, and judging by his expression, it was as if nothing had happened.


    because tang xian''s face was too calm, neither li zheng nor song que noticed anything unusual.


    at this moment, li zheng asked,


    "speaking of which, you came here with my sister; did you observe anything?"


    tang xian was about to respond and turned to withdraw his hand.


    xie an was suddenly flung into the air.


    lin jue, holding a lacrosse stick, shouted excitedly,


    "damn, this guy is flying up to the sky!"


    li zheng was shocked; he didn''t see what had just happened and couldn''t understand how someone shaking hands was suddenly airborne.


    xie an only felt an indescribable force pulling and flinging his entire body.


    then there was the feeling of his feet leaving the ground, and a strong sensation of weightlessness followed.


    he reacted quickly, hugged his knees, rolled in the air, and after flipping twice, landed steadily.


    song que had observed the whole process and was inwardly amazed at tang xian''s frightening strength.


    he had heard that some powerful individuals possessed strength beyond ordinary people even within the pyramid, and now he had witnessed it.


    xie an''s face felt hot with embarrassment, some didn''t see clearly what happened, but he himself knew it very well.


    tang xian said apologetically, "sorry, i was about to talk and forgot we were still shaking hands."


    xie an shook his head. he was inwardly shocked but also knew that tang xian had held back.


    the seemingly casual pull had flung him into the air¡­ he felt a little scared now, grateful that tang had been generous, not taking his slight action during the handshake too seriously.


    xie an admitted defeat and said,


    "thank you for your leniency, mr. tang. i was too impolite just now."


    li zheng truly didn''t see what had happened and asked,


    "what just happened?"


    tang xian replied, "nothing much, just a friendship blossoming between two men." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    song que found it amusing and felt tang xian was interesting.


    tang xian stopped dwelling on the incident and said,


    "i''ve told yu everything i observed. you can ask her later."


    tang xian felt it was time to leave. although he found song que somewhat interesting, ultimately, they couldn''t become friends, and there was not much to talk about with li zheng, so he said,


    "please continue; i have some matters to attend to and must leave."


    li zheng nodded and said,


    "take care, and come visit the li family when you''re free."


    tang xian walked away.


    watching tang xian''s retreating figure, song que said,


    "this person is really interesting. zheng, how did you find him?"


    "what do you find interesting about him?"


    "he''s very smart."


    "how can you tell?"


    "yu asked him to observe, which shows his observation skills are strong. and just now, the way he looked at our teammates, he was very deliberate about where he looked."


    "what do you mean?" li zheng was genuinely unaware of these subtleties.


    "he could immediately locate the most prominent part of these hunters'' training, whether it was legs, knees, or fingers."

 Chapter 92 Tang and Song_3

    song que seemed very excited."this person belongs to the li family, why do you seem so happy?" li zheng smiled.


    "although i don''t know how talented he is, his absence from the hunting festival is good news to me. one less observant and formidable rival." s§×ar?h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    after a pause, song que added somewhat regretfully,


    "however, it''s also bad news. i really wanted to have a good competition with tang."


    ...


    ...


    tang xian left the stadium.


    he made a phone call to li xiaoyu.


    it wasn''t for any other reason; li xiaoyu had left the event halfway through, and he wanted to know if his task was considered done and whether the wealthy lady would acknowledge it.


    after all, arranging for qiao shanshan to switch sides would be quite troublesome without the help of the li family.


    read latest stories on empire


    of course, there were some other reasons as well.


    li xiaoyu answered the phone.


    "speak," she said.


    the voice on the other end of the phone was cold. tang xian pondered for a moment and then asked,


    "are you in a bad mood because song que is not good-looking?"


    "what does his looks have to do with me!"


    "whether your other half is good-looking is actually quite important; it relates to the matter of whether to turn off the lights or not."


    li xiaoyu didn''t understand.


    tang xian explained,


    "if they''re not good-looking, you have to do some things in the dark, which lacks a lot of romance. have you seen a movie in pitch blackness?"


    "get lost! tang xian, are you sick or something!"


    li xiaoyu had actually seen tang xian, right at the entrance of the stadium. she hadn''t gone far.


    tang xian also saw li xiaoyu; they were only about twenty meters apart.


    li xiaoyu looked at tang xian; although she seemed ferocious, there wasn''t a hint of anger in the depths of her eyes.


    she suddenly wondered why tang xian hadn''t hung up the phone at such a short distance.


    this wasn''t his style.


    without attempting to get closer, tang xian continued with the phone to his ear,


    "i actually think song que is quite nice, so it''s a bit regrettable."


    "i regret your &%#@$!" li xiaoyu cursed angrily.


    tang xian''s tone remained the same as he said,


    "what i regret is that i won''t be able to be friends with him in the future."


    li xiaoyu was taken aback.


    "your reluctance to marry him stems from me. so, it''s really not appropriate for me to help you, but the problem is that i''ve already agreed to help you. what a hassle."


    her heartbeat accelerating, li xiaoyu found herself at a loss for words.


    not far off, tang xian maintained his pace, unhurried as ever.


    "i should never have played that game of chess with you. how would i know that someone could be crazy from the age of twelve? going mad in a play is one thing, but living as a madman brings a lot of pain."


    with people coming and going, the scene seemed to slow down suddenly. li xiaoyu held the phone tightly, staring at tang xian without blinking.


    gradually, the street quieted down; the noise persisted but became muffled, as though the whole world contained only tang xian.


    "i''ve thought about it. your desire for the crystal of a calamity-level boss creature, as well as the reason you''re marrying into the song family, is to unlock the eighth layer. once the latter is achieved, your initial demand can naturally be waived, so the task i need to do, to put it simply, is to sabotage your wedding."


    "seeing how you braced yourself to sacrifice for all humankind, i thought you had really come to terms with it. turns out you were just pretending. fine, now i know what you''re thinking."


    "i''ll figure out a way to keep you from getting married, lest you end up living as a resentful woman. as for what mess will happen afterwards, we''ll deal with that when the time comes. anyway, you''d better not change your mind, in case you end up with no one wanting you and then develop feelings for someone."


    a twinge of sourness in her nose, li xiaoyu finally blinked because her eyes felt moist.


    so, this guy knew what she was thinking all along.


    after a long silence, li xiaoyu still didn''t know what to say.


    tang xian, not at all troubled by the phone bill, just quietly waited.


    after a while, li xiaoyu said coldly,


    "i would never fall for someone else. you idiot."


    "hmm, hang up then, the phone bill is quite expensive."


    tang xian hung up the call, and suddenly, li xiaoyu laughed out loud.

 Chapter 93 The Specific Operations That Made the Whole School Green

    li xiaoyu knew that there was still a way to go before tang xian could develop a liking for her.but to her, tang xian''s attitude today was like a stone gate that had been pried at for a long time, and the lock had finally budged slightly.


    or perhaps for her, liking tang xian was something that didn''t involve tang xian. but even a madman on these matters would hope for a response.


    she was happy, but tang xian couldn''t bring himself to feel happy.


    being too rational, there were many emotions tang xian just couldn''t fathom. continue your adventure with empire


    there was however one certainty in his heart, he didn''t dislike li xiaoyu, and that was the most troubling part.


    he thought many of li xiaoyu''s actions were downright foolish.


    he also had no reason to respond to anyone''s affection for him.


    but faced with li xiaoyu''s level of crazy affection, tang xian had never seen anything like it and was somewhat at a loss.


    after hanging up the phone, tang xian headed towards the tiered corridor.


    li xiaoyu trotted after him.


    outside the gymnasium, a man and a woman were quarreling, looking like husband and wife.


    walking behind tang xian, li xiaoyu glanced over.


    the woman was pulling on the man''s ear, yelling all sorts of trivialities. from afar, li xiaoyu could only faintly make out phrases like "fox spirit" and "secret stash of money".


    "i really want to tug on your ear like that."


    li xiaoyu blurted out unexpectedly.


    tang xian looked at li xiaoyu with a face full of question marks, realizing he truly could not understand foolishness.


    he then heard the man nearby declare with certainty:


    "wife, i swear to you, i''ve absolutely not hidden any private money!"


    tang xian glanced over, reckoning the man''s current honesty level was off the charts.


    he felt somewhat sorry for the man because his current luck was also low, rated as "adverse for all matters".


    the woman slapped him, and the man''s phone dropped to the ground.


    the evolution of mobile phones, over a thousand years, didn''t make them as thin as some concept phones suggested. making them smaller wasn''t always better; convenience in the hand was all that mattered.


    so phones became increasingly functional and quicker in processing speed, but the design hadn''t changed much.


    in the past, people liked to hide money under the battery cover. it was still the case today.


    the man''s phone fell to the ground and a square purple organic gem dropped out.


    this was the current form of a man''s private stash, with a circulating value roughly equivalent to a hundred ancient soft coins.


    the man chuckled awkwardly and said:


    "your slap knocked the credit out of my phone."


    the woman dragged the man back by his ear.


    li xiaoyu felt envious. tang xian''s ears must be very comfortable to tug on.


    tang xian, upon seeing li xiaoyu''s expression, suddenly felt he hadn''t wronged song que.


    on the contrary, he was saving song que.


    "will you let me tug on your ear, please? you can hide private money any way you want in the future, i don''t mind, just let me tug on your ear," li xiaoyu said.


    tang xian thought about it; li xiaoyu really was someone with no experience in love, probably interpreting ear tugging as an intimate gesture between husband and wife.


    "what married couples really care about isn''t the private money itself, but what it''s used for. that man had his ear tugged because he spent his private stash at a club. his desires haven''t changed; he''s still obsessed with a certain technician there."


    li xiaoyu pondered for a moment and then understood, saying:


    "i can do that too."


    "what the heck?" tang xian was stunned.


    "i could buy out those clubs. and if you find them ugly, i can replace them with prettier ones. will you let me tug your ear, please?"


    tang xian realized his ears were indeed treasures.


    he didn''t continue the conversation and couldn''t comprehend li xiaoyu''s madness.


    li xiaoyu laughed heartily, finding it very amusing.


    the two walked on for a while longer.


    they reached the cinema.


    while humanity couldn''t leave the pyramid for filming, advanced imaging technology made movies even more lifelike.


    tang xian had no desire to watch a movie; he had left homework for tang xiaojiu.


    whenever he had a moment of peace, tang xian would teach tang xiaojiu about human knowledge, and sharing the same language reduced many difficulties.


    he had intended to return to check tang xiaojiu''s homework, but li xiaoyu stubbornly pulled tang xian into watching a movie.


    the movie''s theme told the story of an entrepreneur tycoon''s early life, how he step by step broke the monopoly of the state-owned car manufacturing industry in the united states, and another storyline was his romantic entanglements.


    it portrayed his relationships with his two wives and one hundred and forty-six lovers.


    the director used several flashback cuts to show the daily routine of a playboy, who did the same thing every morning¡ªkissing his female companion in the elevator, flirting with women in his office. every few frames, he remained the same, but the women kept changing.


    li xiaoyu realized she had chosen the wrong movie; it wasn''t interesting at all.


    some male audience members would occasionally shout when the film showed risqu¨¦ scenes.


    when the narration summed up that the protagonist maintained relationships with one hundred and forty-three women by the age of forty-three, it provoked another round of cheering.


    after all, this was a biopic based on real events.


    tang xian didn''t find it distasteful nor appealing.


    from the cinematography and the director''s narrative pace, he thought it was a decent film. sear?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    but the subject matter wasn''t to his taste.


    when the movie ended, li xiaoyu said:


    "i think a normal man would care that he actually had one hundred and forty-six lovers. you seem completely unfazed."

 Chapter 93 The Specific Operations That Made the Whole School Green_2

    "what should i feel?""aren''t you surprised or resistant?"


    li xiaoyu was like a contradiction incarnate, feeling on one hand that she could give tang xian everything, but on the other hand, she yearned for tang xian to have eyes for only her.


    tang xian shook his head:


    "those fans are surprised merely because of the numbers; it''s just a reaction to the change in magnitude. but they weren''t resistant, they even quite craved that kind of life."


    "why, isn''t everyone longing for... a love that''s loyal and exclusive?"


    "most of the time, people love only one person their whole life because they can only afford to love one person. if they could love more, most people might not refuse more options."


    tang xian walked out of the movie theater.


    lowering her head, li xiaoyu followed, somewhat puzzled by the meaning of his words.


    thinking of lin jue whom he had just seen, tang xian also remembered what lin jue had done in the past.


    "i knew a rogue teacher named lin jue, part of song que''s team. when he used to teach, his greatest joy every day was to harass women."


    "once, when a female teacher returned to school with her newborn child and husband after maternity leave, lin jue said, ''the kid doesn''t look like me.''"


    li xiaoyu couldn''t help but laugh.


    "what happened then? did lin jue have an affair with the female teacher?"


    "not at all, he was just mouthing off. he didn''t like the way that male teacher strutted around, so he decided to give him some grief. but the male teacher took it seriously, went to the hospital with his child for a paternity test, and found out the child indeed wasn''t his."


    li xiaoyu fell silent.


    "so, it couldn''t be covered up any longer, and eventually, the female teacher admitted to having had a moment of indiscretion with another teacher from the school, a physics teacher."


    "then this matter reached the physics teacher''s wife, who angrily confronted him saying, ''ha, her child isn''t her husband''s, but is yours definitely yours?''"


    li xiaoyu had not expected the situation to unfold like this.


    "the physics teacher also took his son for a paternity test and found out his child indeed wasn''t his either. it was the young and handsome art teacher''s."


    "after the art teacher''s girlfriend found out, she wasn''t happy and said sorrowfully to the art teacher, ''is it because i had dinner with the music teacher liang that you decided to get back at me like this?''"


    "and then it was the turn of the music teacher liang. it was a chain reaction just like dominoes falling; if one goes down, they all go down."


    "because of lin jue''s joke, all the married couples at the school had a crisis of trust. exaggerated, right?"


    "afterwards, lin jue felt like he lost out. he hadn''t caused all of these betrayals, so how did everyone tacitly turn their anger towards him?"


    li xiaoyu found the joke funny, but also felt something was off.


    "you seem particularly skeptical about absolute loyalty between two people."


    "not at all, just the opposite. it''s precisely because i believe in it that i think if someone likes another person, they must ask themselves whether this fondness stems from lust or the soul."


    "don''t wait until life gets twisted together and becomes tangled before attempting to sort out this question."


    they had reached the passageway. s~ea??h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    li xiaoyu had no plans to go to the lower level and just stood gazing at tang xian, thinking about the story he told.


    until tang xian was about to enter the checkpoint, she called out loudly:


    "i''m from the soul!"


    "i never doubted it," tang xian said indifferently, waving his hand as a gesture of farewell.


    li xiaoyu stood there dumbfounded, as she was not someone who reacted quickly.


    but it took a while for her to register tang xian''s response and then she started to giggle foolishly.


    ...


    ...


    the lower level was quite vast, but it also had a large population, with the temperature noticeably higher than the second and third levels, and the air seemed somewhat murky.


    tang xian first went to luo''s place. he bought a specialized oven for roasting ducks and an apparatus for turning the ducks while roasting.


    though he couldn''t chat and mingle with luo as in the past, the need for trade was still there.


    with the hunting festival fast approaching, after getting all his gear ready, tang xian planned to stay in the mining area.


    what was left to do was wait for liu lang''s glasses, the gloves ke was crafting, and some grass seeds from shang lu suitable for herbivorous animals. continue reading at empire


    upon returning to his residence, tang xian saw akasi telling stories to tang xiaojiu.


    this house couldn''t accommodate three people, akasi, tang suoye, and dong ran all stayed on the third level, where the li family had arranged accommodations.


    akasi had just come down to ask about tang xian''s plans for the day.


    "we''ll have lunch here," tang xian told akasi.


    akasi nodded; eating with tang xian and enjoying the food prepared by tang xian were both pleasant experiences.


    tang xian picked up the homework book on the table and casually flipped through a few idioms written by tang xiaojiu.


    "colluding in villainy, the two characters you wrote wrong changed the entire meaning," he said.


    "the character ''bei'' is so hard to write," tang xiaojiu said with a wronged expression.


    "but you wrote ''wei'' wrong as well."


    in the homework book, tang xian instantly noticed the phrase "wolf besieged by trickery."


    there were also "sheep aren''t spitting," "incessant bats," "an extraordinary search for intestines," "a chicken that cannot be lost," and other such misspelled terms.


    the mistakes were mostly related to food.


    tang xian shook his head and said,


    "such a foolish child."


    tang xiaojiu felt that she was already pretty impressive.


    when she showed her homework to brother akasi earlier, he seemed very happy.


    tang xian opened the furnace, took out the organic ore, and prepared to cook a duck, while simultaneously mentioning to akasi,


    "li zheng plans to hire you as external support to help with the hunting festival."


    "i''ll listen to you," akasi replied.


    "then go and help. living in lincoln fortress no. 39, it still serves some purpose to get along well with the li family. no need to mind the other team members; if there''s real danger, just focus on protecting li zheng."


    "okay."


    after some thought, tang xian said,


    "at lincoln fortress, i saw a bald man from the evolution zone with a code, s-004. do you know him?"


    "i''m unaware of other evolutions zones; the s-series coding is probably an american practice. they''re ranked based on strength and talent in categories d, c, b, a, s, and sss. however, sss is said to be just a conceptual model; practically, the s-series subjects are the strongest," akasi explained.


    tang xian understood and asked,


    "how is tang suoye doing?"


    akasi didn''t respond; he just shook his head.


    tang xian was also encountering for the first time a human with the biological traits of the mining zone''s creatures.


    he said softly,


    "she will wake up. while you go to help li zheng, i will look after her for you."


    "i appreciate it," akasi said, naturally trusting tang xian.


    regarding tang suoye, tang xian was quite curious about how much she would differ from before once she woke up.


    ...


    ...


    after seven in the evening, almost everyone in lincoln fortress no. 39 was talking about the hunting festival.


    tang xian went shopping with tang xiaojiu, and although decay street at the bottom was chaotic and degenerate, walking around after dinner allowed them to hear a lot of news.


    from national affairs to the widow next door.


    the place tang xian mainly visited was the bookstore.


    audio books.


    most devices can''t be used in the mining zone, but these old-fashioned phonographs can be used there.


    tang xian hadn''t forgotten the little company he had set up with shang lu; although it hadn''t opened yet, he still secured certain benefits.


    qing jiuyu liked biphasic orchid, bai mansheng liked stories.


    though tianque plains are far from the forest sea, yuepela plains are close to it.


    tang xian wasn''t sure if the beast tide migration was related to the preparations for attacking the yuepela plains.


    but buying a few bottom-tier novels wasn''t a big deal.


    a new model of a box-shaped phonograph reading device, several disc versions of the popular novels and stories that people enjoyed.


    most were about the resurgence of spiritual energy, time-travel, and rebirth; tang xian occasionally read them too. they were relaxing and entertaining, and while they might not have the depth of classical literature, the amusement they provided was no less comparable.


    bai mansheng probably liked them as well.


    of course, there''s no such thing as a free lunch; she''d have to trade something for it.


    (afternoon... not sure if there will be more, i''ll try to finish it today.)

 Chapter 94 The Hunt Begins

    even now, people on earth have not discovered the exact location of the mining area within the galaxy.if we speak in terms of the multiverse concept, this is probably two parallel earths blending together due to some rule.


    the technology for the transmission rift comes from the pyramid. without the pyramid, humanity might have perished in the great catastrophe. sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    that''s why the hunting festival couldn''t be broadcast.


    after all, the two worlds might be separated by tens of thousands of galaxies.


    hunters compete in the hunting grounds¡ªthe redsand woods¡ªfor seven continuous days of slaughter and hunting.


    the organizers and envoys from various countries, on the other hand, hold a seven-day-long singing and dancing festival at a large stadium.


    the hunters vie for honor, while the upper echelons of various countries build diplomacy on this ground.


    every hunting festival is a reshuffling of a new round of diplomatic relations.


    as lincoln fortress poised to take the "first clear" of the eighth layer, the situation in the world was also slowly changing at this event.


    as for the hunt?


    people certainly care about which team will take the glory of being the world''s number one hunter''s group, and how their fortress''s own hunters rank.


    but since they cannot watch, they can only wait leisurely amid the extravagance of the banquet.


    the time is fifteen days after the registration.


    the hunting festival begins.


    ...


    ...


    the sea of trees.


    tang xian spent this half a month doing two things.


    the first thing, half a month ago, after purchasing books converted to cd format, he had them re-edited.


    he ensured that every book would stop abruptly at the most captivating part of the story.


    then, undeterred by the longer route, he returned to the mining area, to tianque plains, and gave these story cds to bai mansheng.


    bai mansheng was deeply moved, and although he always treated xu xian with cool detachment, his affection skyrocketed to the point of heart-fluttering.


    she believed that since tang xian brought her a pile of stories, it must be xu xian''s personality dealing with her, which naturally made her happier. enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    tang xian felt sure that this affection would drop eventually.


    but when that time came, all he had to do was to blame it on the tang persona he had conjured up.


    therefore, he didn''t press the advantage while the iron was hot. after delivering the novels, he left as if he were the very model of doing good deeds anonymously.


    bai mansheng was somewhat puzzled but didn''t give it much thought and quickly began listening to stories from the human world as tang xian had taught him.


    the second thing tang xian did was to visit qing jiuyu''s grasslands, where he obtained some anai from shang lu. following the formula he''d seen in the evolution zone, he turned the anai into an extract.


    he did this not for any other reason but to inject it into some of the solitary beast mounts.


    for this purpose, he even made a special trip with qing jiuyu to a place outside the bloodwasteland, capturing nearly fifteen beast mounts in a week.


    greatly shortening the delivery cycle for tang mutton restaurant.


    qing jiuyu initially found it somewhat cruel. it was bad enough to eat them, but to also make them forget their enemies seemed hard-hearted.


    she was curious how tang xian knew so much about human black tech. tang xian said:


    "this isn''t cruelty; they are bred here precisely to be easily eaten by us. if they can forget past grudges and wait to be dispatched happily, isn''t that a form of kindness?"


    "moreover, living happily leads to more flesh. a fat person is happy, and they are fat precisely because they''re happy."


    "as for this extract, you can call it meng po soup."


    "it''s from some illegal organizations on the human side, quite useful stuff. i''ve said it before, humans have a lot of things that you could learn from."


    qing jiuyu didn''t think much and believed tang xian''s words.


    talking with tang xian always seemed to make sense to her.


    in the bloodwasteland, where stones and trees are scarce, it is actually difficult for foxes to find suitable places for their dens, and as they do not have biphasic orchids like those in the woodlands, the defeated migrants need time to adapt.


    tang xian brought tents and taught qing jiuyu how to set them up while also informing her about the surrounding terrain and where to get timber suitable for fencing.


    and he planted biphasic orchids in some unused grasslands.


    all this moved qing jiuyu greatly.


    of course, tang xian had his own motivations.


    he was transforming this place into the first farm, letting these little foxes work as foremen under the big fox''s leadership.


    so everything had to be done with care.


    the transformation of the bloodwasteland was still in the early stages.


    tang xian decided to come back after the events at yuepela plains were over to see how things had progressed.


    in the meantime, he left qing jiuyu to build it up extensively.


    qing jiuyu felt that tang xian truly had the foxes'' interests at heart. such a generous glutton was vastly different from the indescribable greedy beasts of legend.


    watching the young lambs grazing leisurely on the wasteland, tang xian left with great satisfaction.


    time had also just passed fifteen days, and today was the day the hunting festival began.


    the vast land to the south of the sea of trees belonged to the redsand woods, where the most dangerous creatures were elite-level boss creatures.


    it is extremely rich in species variety and highly suitable for hunting.


    tang xian returned to the cabin in the sea of trees, where the still unconscious tang suoye was.


    there was also tang xiaojiu, who was striving to learn idioms but without any improvement.


    akasi had gone to assist li zheng and might be battling in the redsand woods at this very moment.


    dong ran and qiao shanshan had not come to the mining area.


    qiao shanshan, surprised and delighted by the invitation from the li family, arrived at fortress thirty-nine.


    although living on the third layer, the li family''s residence there could only be described as luxurious.

 Chapter 94 The Hunt Begins_2

    li xiaoyu was especially enthusiastic towards qiao shanshan, taking her around without giving her any chance to stay with tang xian.qiao shanshan, oblivious to some of the undercurrents, never expected to meet such a wealthy lady in the thirty-ninth fortress.


    each fortress has its own unique characteristics, and due to the considerable difficulty of moving them, many local specialties can only be bought on site.


    therefore, qiao shanshan was in the midst of a shopping frenzy.


    as for dong ran, she was dragged along by qiao shanshan, after all, she was in unfamiliar territory.


    add to that, as members of the shengtang team, they were specially treated by the li family, so they all had the qualifications to participate in the banquet.


    this was the top-tier ball of the entire world, and the girls naturally found it hard to refuse.


    tang xian did not go.


    the cabin had been remodeled by dong ran and qiao shanshan beforehand to include a swing set.


    tang xian lay in a rocking chair, listening to ancient texts under the cooling moonlight.


    next to him was tang xiaojiu swinging, from whom the sound of childlike laughter came from time to time.


    tang bingxiang and tang gazi were having a ''meow-meow-meow'' squabble nearby, which he found quite comfortable.


    the moment was peaceful and pleasant.


    far away, the situation was tense with battle.


    tang xian''s gaze stayed fixed on the southern sky.


    ...


    ...


    the mining area, the red clay forest. the first night of the hunting event.


    as the largest blue zone north of the amara continent, although there were two hundred human hunter teams, they entered at different starting points and actually were quite far from one another.


    especially under the cover of these red-tailed trees and soil-adhering trees, the area felt very expansive. even a narrow space might hide endless possibilities.


    without any tools to discern direction, what the hunters had to do was to go as deep into the heartland as possible in search of prey.


    li zheng''s team was still at the edge of the red clay forest at that time.


    akasi, leading the way, knew about the abilities of the shengtang team members due to that handshake incident between tang xian and xie an.


    though they did not recognize this silver-haired person as akasi, akasi''s displayed speed made each of them feel inferior.


    "about three miles ahead, there are some creatures, but they are all enhanced level, and the points for hunting them are very low. whether we act or not, you decide," akasi suddenly appeared and said to li zheng.


    "let''s not bother. let others handle them. although the red clay forest is vast and full of beasts, with so many people hunting, it''s best for us to only target elite creatures," li zheng said with much more steadiness once he was in the battlefield.


    akasi nodded.


    his brow was furrowed, for while his scouting had not uncovered any dangerous information,


    the beast blood coursing within him perhaps provided a sense of imminent danger far beyond that of humans. akasi felt that something was off but couldn''t put his finger on it.


    "this is a signal flare tang xian gave me. keep it," akasi handed the signal flare to li zheng.


    li zheng took the thing resembling a burning stick and asked,


    "what''s this for? what do i do with it?"


    "if you find yourself in danger and neither i nor anyone else can protect you, use this. he will see it," akasi said softly.


    "hey, hey, hey, don''t make me sound like some useless commander. i have seven gifts too," li zheng didn''t reject the kind gesture, hiding the signal flare in the closest position to his body.


    akasi did not say much more, his figure flickering as he left for other places to continue searching for intelligence about the surroundings.


    the long night was drawn out and everyone knew the nights in the mining area were dangerous. what would happen this evening was still unknown, but first, they had to find a place to set up camp.


    ...


    ...


    song que''s team, without any break, had already approached the shallow areas of the red clay forest, and the vast woodland of soil-adhering trees was not far ahead, resembling the entrance of something ghostly and secretive.


    lin jue''s baseball bat was stained with blood, while song que was holding a crystal in his hand.


    at his side lay a wild bull, turned into mincemeat by the baseball bat.


    "strange. even though wild bulls are elite creatures, why did we encounter them here? aren''t they supposed to live further north? xiao shi, you''ve been to the north, right? do you know what''s going on?" the one asking was lin jue.


    xiao shi was a young girl, not particularly cute, and with a rather fierce look about her, she shook her head silently and expressionlessly.


    ever since they entered the hunting area, she had maintained this expression.


    and no matter how fast the team moved, xiao shi always stayed exactly a yard behind song que. discover hidden content at empire


    no more, no less.


    lao lei dressed in a kung fu robe coughed twice and said,


    "it is true that wild bulls are in the north. let''s move deeper and see if we''ll encounter any more."


    song que looked at the dead bull and said,


    "creatures do migrate, but the timing of this one is somewhat eerie. everyone must stay alert."


    "with you as our eyes, i''m not worried," the one-eyed king said.


    lin jue nodded in agreement too.


    song que felt an uneasy sensation in his heart.


    the first creature they killed on the hunt was an elite-level creature, which was naturally an excellent start.


    but it happened to be a creature that didn''t belong here.


    song que cared somewhat but couldn''t figure out the reason.


    as one of the rare ten-talented individuals in human history, song que''s awakened ability was known as the scales of fate.


    when activated, short-lived visions of the future involving the scenes in his sight would appear in his sea of knowledge.


    the eldest son of the song family naturally could enter the mining area at a very young age, and his ability was awakened early too.


    as a child, he could see one-seventh of a second into the future.


    when he grew older, he could see two-fifths of a second into the future.


    even older, at just twelve years old, he could see three-quarters of a second into the future.


    after that, he never measured it again, and only song que and song gengzhao knew the limit of his data.


    even teammates like lin jue did not know.


    with this ability, song que''s prediction of people''s behavior around him was extremely accurate, which was also the most suitable ability for being the eyes and commander.


    after the future battle of the yuepela plains broke out, song gengzhao believed that no one could be more suitable to be the commander of all humanity than his son.


    in terms of strategy, he should be second to none.


    song que looked around, convinced that they were currently safe, but that lingering sense of crisis would not go away.


    ...


    ...


    the entry point to lincoln fortress was at the seven o''clock direction on the outer edge of the red soil forest.


    the clown walked in the middle of the team, with his mouth twisted and his eyes carrying a certain longing.


    the chainsaw and the monkey were on the sides, vigilantly watching their surroundings.


    the wizard was not in the line-up, and the bald s-004 was also not there.


    but no one cared.


    the doctor''s name was lilith, and lilith followed closely behind the clown. after ensuring there were no outsiders nearby, she said,


    "master... 004 and black snake have gone, why didn''t we go with them?"


    lilith didn''t understand, after all, 004 and black snake''s strength were much stronger than that of the chainsaw and monkey.


    and her master had no combat capability at all.


    the clown''s face, pale as if made up, became rather terrifying when he frowned.


    "they are going to kill, we are going to save, of course we can''t be together. you are far worse than my last assistant."


    lilith did not understand.


    this mission was supposedly not just to hunt those creatures but also to beat down the hunters from huaxia as much as possible,


    what did it have to do with saving people?


    the clown pointed at the bulky man nearby.


    "the chainsaw used to be a cardboard factory worker, huge in size but very timid. he was always bullied. he might be physically healthy, but his soul was sick."


    lilith didn''t quite understand, the nickname chainsaw came because this big man''s hand had turned into a chainsaw. s§×arch* the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    in the hunters'' world of lincoln fortress, the chainsaw was infamously brutal.


    she couldn''t associate him with timidity.


    the clown didn''t explain further but just emitted a creepy laugh.


    "in this forest, there are many people whose souls are sick. killing them is a very disappointing thing. 004 and black snake are just two dogs that don''t understand fun. turning a hero into a demon lord is the most interesting game."


    the sinister and terrifying laughter was not loud, much like a curse that belonged to the clown only.


    yet it rhythmically echoed in lilith''s mind.


    she glanced at the chainsaw nearby, only to notice he had squeezed out a chilling smile on his lips.


    she didn''t realize that her own lips were also unconsciously curling into the same smile.

 Chapter 95 Pure and Desireless Bai Mansheng

    darkness loomed over the red soil forest crisis.zhong xiuran hadn''t expected to encounter a creature in the red soil forest that was native to the white bone mountain range, the goldfire bird.


    this perfect level bird species was extremely troublesome to deal with.


    his four team members were fighting with all their might, while zhong xiuran yawned, appearing weary.


    it was already deep into the night, and the appearance of a goldfire bird was a good opportunity, but it was truly difficult to handle.


    "warriors, lure the enemy, draw this foolish bird into the trap zone," zhong xiuran commanded.


    "will those traps work on a bird?" the assassin among the team members wasn''t sure.


    but zhong xiuran didn''t answer, and he didn''t ask again.


    apart from the warrior with shield and hammer still within the goldfire bird''s range of attack.


    the others began to retreat gradually.


    hunting a perfect level creature was no simple task; the team''s doctor realized that apart from zhong xiuran, who hadn''t joined the fight, the rest had all suffered minor injuries.


    it seemed as though the roles of hunter and hunted had reversed; the goldfire bird fought more valiantly as the battle went on, its excited cries echoing as its golden feathers, sharp as blades, continuously slashed at the team''s warriors.


    "pick up the pace, the warrior won''t last much longer."


    at the end of the day, only a very few could take on a perfect level creature alone.


    the team members nodded, retreating with vigilant expressions.


    the goldfire bird''s attacks grew fiercer and fiercer.


    zhong xiuran ordered:


    "warrior, retreat, quickly!"


    when the warrior heard the command, he breathed a sigh of relief. his shield was full of scratches; if he didn''t retreat now, the goldfire bird''s fearsome strength would overwhelm him.


    encountering a perfect level creature from the white bone mountain range forced zhong xiuran''s team into a clumsy escape.


    why would the goldfire bird let its prey go?


    it was the ruler of the skies, but the dense trees here forced it to run on the ground.


    even without the ability to fly, its speed was still faster than that of humans.


    just as it was about to catch up, zhong xiuran came to a halt.


    when the goldfire bird''s sharp beak was about to pierce through him, he broke into a smile.


    suddenly, the ground revealed numerous spikes and vines.


    like a contracting stomach, these vines and spikes, along with the sandstone, instantly formed a net that wrapped around the goldfire bird.


    the goldfire bird''s body couldn''t move, with only its long neck swaying ceaselessly as cries of distress echoed from its beak. s§×ar?h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    the assassin and the warrior drew their weapons, swiftly severing the bird''s head.


    the battle was over.


    wiping the sweat from his forehead, zhong xiuran was still somewhat afraid.


    in the ore zone, it was impossible to create highly automated traps. but zhong xiuran''s ability was to manipulate his surroundings. your journey continues with empire


    soil, vines, water flows¡ªall could be moved by his will.


    the traps he had busied himself with all afternoon were all laid out in this area¡ªit was all part of his hunting strategy, using defense as his offense.


    "it''s too dangerous, this is just the periphery and we already encountered a perfect level creature. the red soil forest is not as we know it. we won''t go any deeper," zhong xiuran said.


    the doctor spoke up:


    "but if we do this, our team will fall far behind other families and teams in terms of points."


    zhong xiuran, unconcerned, replied:


    "let us fall behind then. even with all our efforts, we can''t compare with the top three families. on the contrary, they will need our help. given the current situation, the teams from the top three families will also be driven out."


    seeing that his team members didn''t quite understand, zhong xiuran explained further:


    "this place is full of traps; to survive here, one must ingratiate themselves with us. and this is the most suitable location to set up camp; many hunter teams will pass through, and maybe even the top three families will come by."


    "all we have to do is collect a protection fee. how does that saying go? ''if every person in huaxia gives you a piece of ore, you could instantly become a billionaire.'' the principle is the same in the ore zone."


    the team members remained silent.


    they had heard that the young master of the zhong family was indolent to the bone, but they hadn''t imagined it to this extent.


    zhong xiuran ordered someone to extract the goldfire bird''s soul crystal.


    he looked at the corpse of the goldfire bird.


    thinking about why such a creature would appear in the red soil forest, he pondered deeply.


    ...


    ...


    qin qian''s team only had her as a woman, though she was the female leader. yet, qin qian didn''t come off as oppressively arrogant.


    she was called the female demon lord simply because among female hunters, she ranked first in strength.


    it didn''t actually mean she acted like a queen.


    on the contrary, she often appeared pitiable, was considerate, and took meticulous care of her team members.


    none of the men had any complaints.


    qin qian''s team ventured deeper into the red soil forest area.


    previously, the thirty-nine fortresses had announced a new hunter spray. it was a perfume created by dr. shang lu of the hua science academy, refined from red line grass.


    the creatures in the ore zone were highly averse to its scent, hence they no longer approached humans.


    this spray was considered an invention beneficial to all humanity, but no one at the hunting event used it. those who came here naturally hoped to encounter as many creatures from the ore zone as possible.


    yet qin qian ordered all her team members to spray themselves with it.


    the team members were somewhat puzzled; indeed, they hadn''t encountered any creatures from the ore zone on their journey, but they did come across quite a few hunters.


    dead hunters.


    at that moment, qin qian was crouched beside the corpse of one such hunter.


    "qian, it''s nighttime now, when the prey is most active; why are we avoiding these animals?" someone asked.


    qin qian shook her head and responded:


    "along the way, how many hunters'' corpses have we come across?"


    "if i''m not mistaken, twelve," answered a member of the team, known for his keen sight.

 Chapter 95 Bai Mansheng, Pure and Desireless_2

    qin qian nodded and said,"judging from their clothes, they should just be members of two different teams. the cause of their deaths is essentially the same, a bullet hole in the forehead, or bodies torn to pieces."


    after thinking for a moment, she said,


    "qian, do you suspect... that this was not the work of creatures in the mining area?"


    "yes, the bodies torn to pieces looked just like shattered stone statues. this must have been caused by rapid freezing, which doesn''t exist in the red soil forest, and is very rare in the north. moreover, a bullet hole in the forehead couldn''t possibly be the work of creatures from the mining areas. this must have been inflicted by a certain firearm," qin qian said.


    "what about the bullets?" asked a warrior from the team.


    puzzled, eyes said,


    "firearms are powerful indeed, but this is a mining area, and the hunters selected for the hunting festival aren''t ordinary people who could be..."


    "no bullets mean the bullet still had force left after piercing through the skulls."


    qin qian closed her eyes, picturing the scene where the dozen or so bodies had fallen, and started sketching out a certain scenario in her mind.


    the team members fell silent as the moonlight began to take on a sinister aspect.


    after a long time, qin qian shook her head and slowly opened her eyes, saying,


    "i hope my guess is wrong. there should be a two-person hunting team ahead of us, not far away."


    "they prioritize hunting humans over creatures in the mining area. one of them must be equipped with highly advanced firearms, and they must be terrifyingly accurate shooters."


    "the other one is a mage capable of freezing all creatures within sight."


    "just two people? what about their teammates?"


    "i don''t know."


    qin qian said,


    "we need to slow down our pace and steer clear of those two hunters who prey on humans. with seven days to go, this is just the first night; there''s no need for us to hurry our hunt."


    "are those two very strong, qian? we have six on our side."


    qin qian shook her head and said,


    "very strong. the one using ice has abilities that are definitely beyond mine."


    this remark left the team members speechless.


    "let''s find a place to rest for now," said qin qian.


    ...


    ...


    for the people of the red soil forest, the night is long.


    tang xian, however, was oblivious and woke up to bright daylight.


    he was covered with a thin blanket.


    he had slept all night on the cool chair.


    tang xian felt comfortable; not participating in the hunting festival was the right choice.


    with akasi''s temperament, he probably spent the whole night worrying about li zheng''s safety; how could he have slept well?


    the scent of decay was already faintly present in his nostrils; tang xian believed that not many prey would have died over the course of this night.


    but quite a few hunters did.


    in every hunting festival, what really counted was hardly just pure hunting skills.


    shaking his head and trusting in akasi, tang xian didn''t worry further.


    he took out some mount beast meat from tang bingxiang''s lair and caught a dragon spine fish from the small pond dong ran had dug to prepare some food.


    tang xiaojiu was awakened by the smell. his little head still foggy with the idioms and common knowledge from yesterday.


    then, like a sleepwalker, he started helping tang xian.


    tang xian laughed; the foolish kid had at least engraved the principle of working more to eat more deep inside his bones.


    in this half-asleep, half-awake state, he was still fixated on food.


    the woods in the south stank of blood, while the forests in the north carried an unusual fragrance.


    many creatures in the forest had become accustomed to tang xian''s presence, and outside the fence covered in red thread grass, the aroma of lamb and fish attracted a bunch of animals.


    however, no creatures approached the small house, thanks to the presence of the little nine-tailed fox inside and previous warnings from bai mansheng, the big nine-tailed fox.


    all these cats, dogs, tigers, and leopards drooled as they looked at the little wooden house.


    but today was an exception.


    as tang xian was finishing with the food, a visitor came to the treehouse.


    in a spotless white robe, bai mansheng''s arrival made many animals near the treehouse scatter instantly.


    "tang xian, sister bai the little white snake is here," announced tang xiaojiu after helping tang xian clean the fish scales. he had been shooed away by tang xian and was now swinging in the courtyard.


    tang xian wasn''t surprised; he had already smelled bai mansheng coming.


    glancing at bai mansheng, he said,


    "sit. there isn''t much food prepared, and there are many animals outside. if you can''t eat your fill here, feel free to go outside for more."


    bai mansheng sat down in front of the cool chair tang xian had been sitting on, her expression cold and silent.


    tang xiaojiu saw that the food was almost ready, so she swiftly ran into the little wooden hut and moved down the small table and stools to eat in the courtyard.


    before long, the table was set with a pot of fish soup and a basin of mutton.


    tang xian gave bai mansheng some bowls and chopsticks.


    bai mansheng''s expression became a bit strange.


    she was there to seek justice today, and eating someone''s food would soften her heart. if she ate, how could she still seek justice?


    but not to eat... she couldn''t quite resist.


    even a fairy''s stomach will growl when hungry.


    bai mansheng wasn''t particularly hungry, but she couldn''t withstand the great temptation of food.


    especially since if she didn''t start eating now, that little fox might finish everything soon.


    so bai mansheng took a bite of the mutton.


    well, just one small bite would do. taste it and that''s all, just one small bite, and she could still confidently berate tang xian''s inhumanity.


    after one bite of mutton, bai mansheng unconsciously picked up another piece with her chopsticks.


    just one more bite, even if she took another one... she could still question tang xian with plenty of confidence, right?


    she ate another bite, and this time the piece of mutton she picked up was even larger than before.


    after swallowing the second bite of mutton, bai mansheng took a glance at tang xian and tang xiaojiu.


    both the glutton and the little fox were focusing on their meal, so it seemed like they didn''t see her eating. since they hadn''t noticed, she might as well... have one last bite...


    yes, this really would be the last bite!


    just like how bai mansheng had listened to the same unfinished stories over and over again, the idea of having one last bite started to loop in her head.


    the loop ended quickly.


    because the mutton was all gone.


    tang xiaojiu, being considerate, took the bowls and chopsticks as well as the spotlessly clean pot and basin to the creek to wash.


    tang xian said:


    "good, right?"


    bai mansheng''s expression was complicated, but eventually, it returned to her usual coldness, and she said:


    "why are those stories only half-finished?"


    "these stories are quite precious, you''re lucky to have heard even half."


    "what about the rest?"


    "the rest is a bit troublesome, after all, they''re human things, and i''m not human. do you want to hear the stories?"


    "hmm, i do."


    "okay, but you''ll have to pay extra, otherwise the affection isn''t enough."


    "what is money?"


    bai mansheng suddenly remembered something and asked:


    "oh yes, what are recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and subscriptions? i often hear someone crying their eyes out asking for these things after some stories finish, their voice different from the storyteller''s."


    "oh, that''s the author''s note at the end of the chapter. you know about authors, right? they are a kind of bird that produces stories using recommendation tickets and monthly tickets as ingredients and subscriptions as the main material, with a call similar to that of a pigeon," tang xian calmly explained.


    "oh, they are quite pitiful. i see they often have to take leave because they were hit by a car, beaten up by readers, fell sick, or other things i don''t quite understand, like power outages and internet disconnections," bai mansheng said.


    "actually, those are just excuses for not having enough tickets. i''m quite familiar with humans, so if you promise me one thing, i''ll help you get the rest of the stories."


    "what thing?"


    "some events will happen in the yuepela plains soon. you have to promise me that you''ll keep your little snakes well-behaved and just observing, not getting involved. and you must listen to me until these events are over."


    "why should i listen to you?"


    "well then, i''ll just cancel the sequel of these stories."


    "you! bastard!"


    bai mansheng''s eyes widened, how could she have not foreseen that xu xian was this kind of person!


    no, that''s not right, xu xian couldn''t possibly be so heartless, it must be tang xian!


    tang xian found this little white snake quite interesting. even more so than dong ran and qiao shanshan.


    "you should give it some thought; working for me won''t take too long, just about a month or so," he added.


    after a pause, tang xian said:


    "there will be stories to hear, and mutton to eat."


    bai mansheng always thought of herself as having few desires, but faced with this man, she realized she was not without wants. continue reading stories on empire


    after looking at tang xian for a long time, she clenched her teeth:


    "it must not be anything that harms my snake clan."


    "of course not."


    tang xian went back to the treehouse and brought out the remaining cds. but these cds still weren''t the full stories; he had cut them again at the climax near the ends of the books.


    with the stories in hand, bai mansheng left satisfied.


    s§×ar?h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 96 Tang Xian with Two Beauties Hidden in a House

    tang xian''s days became increasingly leisurely.it was the second day of the hunting festival at noon.


    not long after bai mansheng left, tang xian began to plant some vegetable seeds and casually started to build a trellis.


    originally, these tasks were meant for dong ran, as lazy girls who just want to eat are not pleasing; he had to find some work for her.


    but dong ran, along with qiao shanshan, seemed to be stuck with li xiaoyu and couldn''t get away.


    he wondered if qiao shanshan was resenting not participating in the hunting festival.


    he particularly cared about this since after all, he was a good team leader who took his team members'' feelings to heart.


    tang xian predicted that a major event would soon occur on the mining area''s battlefield.


    many forces would leave the scene early.


    but what he didn''t expect was that in the following days, his tree house and yard would also become very lively.


    ...


    ...


    fortress thirty-nine.


    qiao shanshan didn''t blame tang xian for not participating in the hunting festival.


    she even felt that not participating was the right thing to do.


    compared to fighting in the mining area, it was indeed more comfortable to spend lavishly at the three-story shopping street with the li family''s shopping card.


    it wasn''t only men who liked rich women; qiao shanshan once again praised li xiaoyu for her generosity.


    however, tonight she would have to be with dong ran, as this morning, li xiaoyu sent someone with a message saying she was feeling unwell.


    she asked dong ran to take qiao shanshan around to properly explore fortress thirty-nine.


    they were even given a temporary two-day pass, during which qiao shanshan and dong ran had their privileges extended to the fifth level.


    they could almost visit any place in the fortress, and if they found the banquet at the gymnasium boring, they could have fun elsewhere.


    continue reading stories on empire


    qiao shanshan was somewhat worried about li xiaoyu, and as a doctor, she wanted to help.


    but being unable to enter the sixth level of the li family, she could only pray that the young girl would be all right and recover quickly.


    li xiaoyu was not sick at all.


    she was in her room, fiddling with some items stolen by eve.


    in the great hall of the li residence, song gengzhao was chatting with his father about the matters of the two families'' marriage alliance, as well as topics related to the hunting festival.


    in li xiaoyu''s eyes, it was all exceedingly boring.


    with a long seven days having passed only one night, she planned to do something interesting.


    to prevent being disturbed by boring people, these past few days she had indeed put in some effort to ensure that qiao shanshan and dong ran were well settled, happy, and couldn''t care less about home.


    in front of li xiaoyu lay a portable teleportation rift.


    eve''s eyes carried a warning.


    "miss, if you must go, please let your subordinates accompany you. if something were to happen to you¡­"


    li xiaoyu disregarded the caution, only confirming one detail before asking,


    "this is indeed qiao shanshan and dong ran''s portable teleportation rift?"


    "without a doubt."


    li xiaoyu nodded and said,


    "then there''s no need to worry about me. i have my own measure. you can leave now; i don''t want anyone to follow."


    eve reluctantly withdrew.


    li xiaoyu gazed at the portable teleportation rift, her expression complex.


    li xiaoyu had actually heard about tang xian''s tree house in the mining area from shang lu before.


    it happened when she asked shang lu for some exotic fruits like kiwis, grapefruits, and papayas, and the honestly dutiful shang lu confessed,


    "eating these fruits does nothing; you have to act."


    luckily, shang lu was not where the shang family''s prosperity ended, the family line continuing without a hitch.


    li xiaoyu knew the kind of person shang lu was.


    he was the sort who would feel a girl asking him to see a movie was hampering his science, wishing to spend all his skill points on scientific research. s§×arch* the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    such a person couldn''t make such a slick comment, so she didn''t blame shang lu.


    after inquiring, she found out it had been relayed by tang xian.


    she also learned that tang xian had acquired a house in the tree sea.


    li xiaoyu could hardly imagine someone settling in the tree sea, but if that person was tang xian, it seemed to make sense.


    li xiaoyu had not been invited by tang xian before, so she did not go.


    but half a month ago, tang xian finally extended an invitation to her.


    her heart stirred wildly at the thought.


    a dual-talent like herself wasn''t really a big deal in the mining area, and li xiaoyu knew that going there at that time was dangerous.


    while most felt empowered entering the mining area, li xiaoyu felt that upon entering, she became ordinary and insignificant.


    but looking at the idiotic dances, the boring shopping trips, or accompanying the guests from the song family, it was truly uninteresting.


    she had been to the mining area no more than ten times, and usually returned quickly.


    because she didn''t like the mining area, only this time it was different; there was someone she liked there.


    ...


    ...


    tulin, the northern edge.


    strictly speaking, this place was no longer part of tulin; it was considered to be within the tree sea.


    the temperate climate was already somewhat hot in the summer. intense combat left people parched and fatigued. everything looked slightly distorted under the high temperatures.


    as a contemporary swordsman, gong kun rose to power in the mining area not solely due to his talent but also by leveraging some long-lost sword techniques.


    coupled with the finest swords from the house of daedalus, he seldom encountered enemies.


    and the team he led had always been fortress fifty-one''s secret weapon.


    it was a special team.


    it was evident in the fact that the entire team lacked a medic, a decidedly reckless formation of six swordsmen.


    every opponent they met could sense this team''s strong offensive mentality.


    every member of the team was a skilled swordsman, originating from an ancient sword doctrine, the swordsmanship.


    each member was once a renowned and noisy swordsman.

 Chapter 96 Tang Xian with Two Beauties Hidden in a House_2

    ```but now, this team of six was wounded all over, and even gong kun''s famed blade "four-leaf sea" had developed cracks.


    the group was frantically running for their lives.


    "gong... we''re not going to make it. just ahead is the red zone''s forest sea!"


    the speaker looked to be in his fifties, gasping for air, with a horrific wound on his back.


    the others weren''t faring much better, each bearing injuries.


    gong kun spoke through gritted teeth:


    "no one stop! those sky guardian bastards targeted us from the start. we might not survive in the forest sea, but if we stop, we''re surely dead!"


    "but we... we just can''t shake them off!"


    feeling the ghostly shadows behind them they just couldn''t shake off, the youngest member of the team panicked.


    even out of the corner of his eye, gong kun could see that they had been running for nearly three hours, yet the sky guardian pursuers were relentless.


    the gap wasn''t shrinking, instead, it was slowly but surely closing in.


    they were already becoming weary, while the sky guardian hunters seemed to have energy to spare.


    "faster! even if we fail and die here, by dragging these monsters into the red zone, we''ve bought time for other hunters!"


    in full stride, gong kun made a decision.


    his resoluteness communicated to every swordsman in the team.


    there was reluctance in their eyes, but they ultimately gritted their teeth and accepted the decision.


    ...


    ...


    it was three hours ago when gong kun''s team encountered the team from sky guardian fortress.


    in the world of hunters, there is an old saying¡ªthere are no coincidences on the battlefield.


    the people of sky guardian fortress indeed came prepared.


    their alloy armor was impressive at first glance, just as the swords in the hands of gong kun and his team could not be underestimated.


    there has always been the clash between the strongest spear and the strongest shield.


    there were still many days left in the hunt, and the samurai from dongying decided to seek some pleasure first.


    their target was a young man named jin jiro, who possessed a special ability to hear the sound of metal, distinguishing even the faintest vibration sounds clearly.


    in reality, this ability wasn''t of much significance in combat, and there were even stronger "eyes" among the reserve members of the sky guardian fortress.


    but they still chose jin jiro.


    the aim was to steal the equipment of gong kun''s team.


    when two powers meet, a battle is inevitable.


    however, the outcome of the fight was beyond what gong kun had expected. the people from sky guardian fortress were almost entirely covered in battle armor.


    calling them half-mechanical would not be an exaggeration.


    the sword techniques that landed on them caused absolutely no harm whatsoever.


    the alloy that covered their bodies seemed to have become their skin.


    the duel between swordsman and samurai was over in an instant.


    the strongest sword lost to the strongest armor, but gong kun could feel that the difference between his team and the group from sky guardian fortress¡ª


    wasn''t just about the weaponry.


    they were like a pack of monsters, with cruel smiles on their faces, constantly hunting them from behind.


    as if playing a game of cat and mouse.


    the vast hundred-handed wood forest was vaguely visible, with the edge of the forest sea already appearing in everyone''s line of sight.


    and the distance between the team and the samurais and ninjas behind them was getting closer and closer.


    gong kun''s breath was rapid; his gaze sharp as a sword, reflecting a sight in the depths of his pupils that shouldn''t have belonged in the mining area.


    gong kun suddenly picked up speed and said:


    "keep your spirits up, faster!"


    about twenty meters behind gong kun was the leader of the sky guardian fortress team.


    this team of hunters was ranked ninth on the federation''s hunter chart.


    the team leader was named rensheng yeyi, the strongest samurai of the sky guardian fortress.


    like gong kun, he too saw the sight at the end of their vision that shouldn''t have been there in the mining area.


    ...


    ...


    things in the world can be strangely coincidental.


    while tang xian was pondering whether to plant eggplants or cucumbers first in the limited land¡ª


    li xiaoyu appeared.


    why li xiaoyu suddenly arrived at the cabin in the forest sea through a portable teleport rift, tang xian figured the answer out in two seconds.


    he couldn''t help but curse qiao shanshan and dong ran inside.


    one with brains but no brawn, the other lacking both, they couldn''t even look after their own stuff.


    but it wasn''t entirely their fault.


    after all, even the residence was provided by li xiaoyu, so it was easy for her to take whatever she wanted.


    this was li xiaoyu''s first time dealing with tang xian in the mining area.


    ```


    li xiaoyu sized up tang xian''s small courtyard without a word.


    tang xian also didn''t know what to say for the moment.


    he had calculated many possibilities but never considered that li xiaoyu would steal dong ran and their group''s transmission equipment to come here.


    after scrutinizing for quite a while, li xiaoyu was sure she still didn''t like it here.


    she believed tang xian would find living in this place very comfortable, but she herself preferred highly mechanized and modern housing.


    but she didn''t hate it either.


    "sit."


    with a simple greeting, tang xian continued to bend over to work on the agriculture in the mining area.


    li xiaoyu moved closer and saw tang xiaojiu, whose belly was round and plump, lying on a cool bench, fast asleep.


    she was stunned, staring at tang xiaojiu without blinking.


    tang xian hadn''t noticed this scene yet.


    the dilemma of whether stir-fried cucumbers were tastier than stir-fried eggplants troubled him.


    it wasn''t until he smelled the scent of blood in the air, a smell that was rapidly approaching the treehouse, that he straightened up and turned around, preparing to call li xiaoyu into the treehouse to hide.


    that''s when he saw li xiaoyu gazing at tang xiaojiu with a contemplative look. discover hidden content at empire


    "someone will be here in a few minutes, go hide in the house up in the tree for a while," tang xian said as he came to the pond and washed his hands.


    "i remember your parents went missing in the mining area."


    "yes."


    "i also remember you''re an only child."


    "you''ve checked everything on my household registration; if you have something to say, say it."


    tang xian felt it was necessary to remind li xiaoyu that two groups of people were racing towards this place.


    "this can''t possibly be your sister."


    "indeed, she''s not my sister."


    tang xiaojiu was still sound asleep, her small belly clearly still round, but the corners of her mouth were already drooling, smacking her lips from time to time.


    "i know every woman in the thirty-ninth fortress," li xiaoyu''s tone grew colder.


    "watch your language, what do you mean by ''my women?'' i don''t have any women," tang xian said.


    li xiaoyu said,


    "she doesn''t resemble you, nor does she look like any of those women who follow you. so, she is neither your sister nor your daughter!"


    tang xian was beginning to understand li xiaoyu''s logic.


    he said irritably,


    "i remind you, don''t get jealous over a six-year-old child."


    "what does being six have to do with anything? the year i met you, i was only twelve. if you dial back six years, i, too, was six! give her another six years, and she''ll also be twelve!"


    "idiot, i''ll explain it to you later."


    tang xian picked up the deeply sleeping tang xiaojiu and walked towards the wooden house.


    li xiaoyu followed tang xian.


    pushing open the door of the wooden house, tang xian placed tang xiaojiu on a bench inside the house.


    tang xiaojiu turned over, and with a plop, she fell to the floor.


    "ouch, the lamb leg fell to the ground!"


    the little girl woke up abruptly.


    li xiaoyu, who was still feeling jealous, couldn''t help but laugh at this scene.


    but as she shifted her gaze, her smile froze.


    because there was another little girl in the house.


    this one wasn''t six years old!


    she was clearly about fifteen or sixteen!


    she was even older than when li xiaoyu first met tang xian!


    who on earth was this person? luckily, she had come to the mining area, otherwise, she wouldn''t have known that this man was hiding not one, but two jewels in his house!


    bang!


    tang xian ignored li xiaoyu''s questioning gaze and closed the door of the wooden house.


    "someone is coming, don''t make a sound."


    li xiaoyu kept quiet.


    being in the mining area, even with only dual talents, she could sense the extraordinary momentum of the approaching people.


    she was somewhat panicked.


    tang xian may have strength, but after all, he didn''t have any extraordinary abilities.


    those people in the mining area are not like those in the pyramid.


    tang xian went outside the courtyard, ready to pack up his few belongings.


    about ten meters away from the courtyard, there was gong kun, exhausted and nearly spent.


    gong kun didn''t know why he had run here, perhaps it was a reflex in a life-or-death situation.


    holding his freshly cleaned clothes, tang xian thought for a moment and said,


    "i recall the hunting area is to the south; you should head back, there''s no way through here."


    s§×arch* the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 97 The Truly Strongest

    ```the tree sea is a red zone, where the strongest creature, the nine-tailed fox, once appeared.


    the information came from the li family, and it couldn''t possibly be false to people all over the world.


    but at the edge of the tree sea, there was a small courtyard with a huge hundred-handed wood in the middle, and on it, a wooden house.


    this didn''t look like something creatures from the mining area would do, gong kun and his teammates were dumbfounded as they stared at tang xian holding human clothes.


    tang xian kindly reminded them:


    "the folks behind you are out to kill you, so i suggest not to turn your backs to the enemy, better face the gale."


    with the freshly laundered clothes, tang xian placed them next to a little stool by the swing frame in the courtyard.


    the hunters from the sky guardian fortress team sneered with their samurai swords in hand, disdain in their eyes as they looked at gong kun.


    "captain... i can''t run anymore," said the youngest swordsman in gong kun''s team.


    after three hours of full-speed fleeing, you either don''t stop, or once you do, it''s tough to start again.


    gong kun nodded gravely, silent, his expression stern as he held his sword before him.


    determination to meet death in his eyes.


    at the same time, other swordsmen also raised their long swords!


    the hunters from sky guardian had proven their physical superiority far beyond that of gong kun''s team.


    escape was impossible, their only choice was to commit to the fight.


    it was a strange scene.


    encountering a human residence within the tree sea was baffling to all, but the people from fortress fifty-one had no time to consider such oddities.


    the enemy stood before them. they had no choice but to take up their swords.


    the people from sky guardian fortress had some leeway as they sized up the location.


    they considered it a nice resting spot.


    rensheng yeyi''s nose twitched; he could still smell the meat scent that lingered on from earlier.


    his nose wasn''t the keenest there was.


    in the team, the largest man was named dahetian shimmen.


    bulky in stature, he wielded a nearly two-meter-long oversized katana.


    drool trickled from the corner of his mouth, his dull gaze laced with lechery.


    "women... boss, i smell the scent of a woman!"


    li xiaoyu, within the wooden house, also watched all these through the window. s§×arch* the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    half a month ago, she and tang xian had reviewed the intelligence of the various fortresses and naturally remembered sky guardian fortress, the enemy that required utmost caution.


    but she had not expected gong kun''s famous swordsmen clan to be reduced to such a sorry state.


    how far had they run?


    it may be that their entry point was on the northern edge of the red clay forest, but being chased to the edge of the tree sea...


    those hunters from sky guardian fortress seemed to be merely toying with them, weren''t they?


    li xiaoyu was worried about tang xian.


    but from her position, she couldn''t see him.


    tang xian was folding clothes. in fact, a few articles were still damp. however, he feared that if blood splattered on them later, they''d have to be washed again.


    with dong ran absent, there was no one to launder clothes. did he not have to take care of his own cleanliness?


    outside the small courtyard of the treehouse, the team leader of sky guardian fortress addressed the ninja sarutobi sasuke beside him, who was holding chains:


    "sasuke, can you handle their whole team alone, no problem?"


    sarutobi sasuke nodded.


    regarding sarutobi sasuke, that was not his real name.


    just as a swordsman''s title can be inherited, so can names such as hanzo, sasuke, and muguraizaizo, which also serve as titles.


    having heard their conversation, tang xian was sure that those sent by sky guardian fortress must be the finest samurai, ninjas, and monks, no wonder gong kun and his team couldn''t beat them.


    he stood at the gate of the courtyard, ready to see how a ninja fights.


    the battle was about to commence.


    the swordsmen, suddenly under immense pressure, charged at sasuke the moment he adopted a defensive stance!


    tang xian shook his head at the sight.


    as an "eye," one should indeed be capable of commanding battles.


    with six against one, there were many tactics to choose from.


    this team confidently opted for a pure warrior lineup, forgoing even a medic, and thus an "eye." but tang xian still saw many ways to win.


    in the end, he did not partake, but when the young swordsman''s chest was slit open by the shuriken, tang xian slightly furrowed his brow.


    "avoiding the vital points on purpose, mocking the opponent? really devoid of any samurai spirit," he thought, finding those from sky guardian rather unpleasant.


    ...


    ...


    in the shallow area of the red clay forest.


    under the leadership of ye feng, gu luo''s team had already slain two elite creatures, both iron tree giraffes.


    your journey continues at empire


    in most teams, "eyes" usually hold a lower rank.


    however, ye feng was an exception in gu luo''s team, second in command only to the leader gu luo himself.


    his outstanding talent for extreme vision, precise judgement, and vast knowledge, earned ye feng his team''s recognition in many missions.


    he had even led them to several missions they deemed nearly impossible, successfully hunting perfect-tier boss creatures.


    as a result, in gu luo''s team, ye feng became the commander.


    there was actually another hunter team in huaxia centered around an "eye."


    previously lesser-known, in the days leading up to the hunting festival registration, they drew unprecedented attention.


    from among the top three families, the song family''s heir, also the team leader of the first fortress, was an "eye," which was seen as incredible by everyone.


    ```

 Chapter 98 The Perilous Forest

    "when you think i''m all about theory, in fact, i''m a practitioner."this was the impression tang xian currently gave.


    rensheng yeyi watched sarutobi sasuke struggling to rise from the ground, his expression growing solemn.


    the slap didn''t seem particularly remarkable, and its speed was within sarutobi''s range of reaction, but it was precisely because of this that sarutobi sasuke was careless. your journey continues at empire


    and such an ordinary slap was able to send sarutobi, covered in alloy armor over his muscles, flying over six meters.


    the strength of it seemed oddly excessive.


    rensheng yeyi had also been a top student when he was in school.


    he couldn''t imagine how such a soft slap, which couldn''t even raise a breeze, could defy the mechanical principles he knew.


    it felt like some people couldn''t keep their secrets buried anymore.


    "playing the pig to eat the tiger, do you huaxia people love this trick?" s~ea??h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "who''s playing the pig to eat the tiger? i''ve formally declared i''m very powerful. besides, only idiots resort to regional and national insults."


    tang xian found these people really lacked manners. just fight if you want to fight, why resort to trash talk?


    rensheng yeyi drew his samurai sword, his eyes revealing absolute murderous intent.


    "i will not underestimate you."


    gong kun and his companions watched as sarutobi sasuke finally began to rise slowly, their hearts surging with shock.


    seeing tang xian send a ninja of the sky guardian fortress flying with a single strike filled them with hope.


    a difficult task was now before tang xian.


    the slap just now made his adversaries wary of underestimating him.


    although he was in an invincible position, in terms of physical strength and speed, he was ultimately just a normal human.


    once the opponent began to guard against his attacks, it would be very hard to land a hit.


    he possessed an attack power that his opponents could not defend against and an absolute defensive power that prevented him from getting injured, yet he lacked the ability to match their speed.


    rensheng yeyi launched an arc-like sword-drawing slash, a brief crouch followed by an explosive burst of speed!


    this was his strongest move, the iaido skill.


    tang xian only saw the fierce look in the opponent''s eyes, and the next second, a blinding flash of the sword passed by.


    he reacted swiftly, eager to catch the opponent quickly.


    but while his mind kept up, his hands couldn''t, and as he tried to grab the sword barehanded, rensheng yeyi''s figure had already reached two yards behind tang xian.


    the wind stirred the sword''s qi, and the power of the slash bloomed instantaneously, like a flower unfolding.


    rensheng yeyi returned the sword to its scabbard, the clanging sound resonating like a dragon''s roar or a tiger''s growl.


    the surrounding hundred-handed wood, along with the fence of tang xian''s outer courtyard, were instantly cut through.


    the tree stumps of the hundred-handed wood outside the courtyard slid down diagonally, the large branches kicking up a cloud of dust and broken grass.


    conveniently falling near tang xian, the outer courtyard swirled with smoke and mist.


    gong kun''s eyes widened in horror as he watched the iaido skill that had just been executed.


    if it had hit a vital spot, even a perfect-level creature with a strong defensive shell could suffer significant damage from that single stroke.


    the wind began to settle slowly.


    rensheng yeyi furrowed his brows, because there was no blood on the blade.


    a coughing sound came through the air.


    tang xian patted the dust off his body, looking somewhat distressed at the fence that dong ran had made.


    fortunately, the hundred-handed wood where li xiaoyu and tang xiaojiu stayed was deep in the inner courtyard, and that slash had only cut through the hundred-handed wood in the outer courtyard.


    but even so, tang xian felt that suddenly breaking a tree ruined the aesthetic, particularly when the fence was cut through, which made tang xian quite uncomfortable. dong ran''s labor might be inexhaustible, but that didn''t mean her hard work wasn''t valuable.


    a slash had opened up in his clothing at the waist, and tang xian felt that, grimy and with torn clothes, he must look like a beggar.


    so annoying, encountering such an unreasonable bunch.


    tang xian emerged again into everyone''s sight, frowning.


    no injuries to speak of, just his clothes torn.


    sarutobi sasuke watched incredulously at the scene.


    that single slash was rensheng yeyi''s coup de grace, which could even severely injure a perfect-level creature with a strong defensive attribute like a shell.


    but after the dust settled, this peculiar man still stood in his place, not having moved an inch. it was downright incredible.


    not only the people of sky guardian fortress were shocked, but so were gong kun and others, as well as li xiaoyu, who had been anxiously watching from the wooden house.


    li xiaoyu thought blankly: could it be that tang xian really has talent? did he intentionally fill in some wrong data years ago for personal reasons?


    she was increasingly convinced this might be the case.


    ever since tang xian showed strength that surpassed even eve''s, li xiaoyu suddenly realized that even after observing this man for six years¡­ in truth, she only knew some of his habits.


    but this man was still full of secrets. once the fight ended, she definitely needed to find tang xian and get some answers.


    but first, she wanted to figure out who these two girls were. this was what li xiaoyu thought.


    then, tang xian remembered something.


    during his testing with dong ran, a prompt had sounded in his mind.


    "[unable to kill the target, cannot acquire skill.]"


    he had originally thought that killing one''s own kind could grant skills, but it seemed that the experimental subjects from the evolution zone were not like that.


    "perhaps the experimental subjects are special, and you guys aren''t from the evolution zone, and are purely humans, there might be unexpected gains," tang xian murmured to himself softly.


    rensheng yeyi drew his sword again, facing the threat with the seriousness it deserved, yet he was also excited; it was the first time someone had managed to catch his iaido skill head-on.

 Chapter 98 The Perilous Forest_2

    he assumed the correct stance, his energy sinking into his waist, right hand grasping the hilt of the samurai sword, his entire being radiated with murderous intent."that strike just now, if i were not somewhat special, i probably would already be dead. so, i am certain that you truly intend to kill me."


    tang xian''s hands began to subtly sway.


    "i never planned to let you go, but if you were sincere in your attitudes and took a round of anai reagent injections, i could have let you live and leave."


    tang xian said earnestly:


    "now, i have changed my mind. we have an old saying, ''an eye for an eye.'' you want to kill me, so it''s only fair and reasonable that i kill you, right?"


    the movement of his hands increased in amplitude.


    tang xian''s limbs exhibited a bizarre type of flexibility and twisting.


    stay connected with empire


    rensheng yeyi saw clearly the movements made by tang xian, and the other members of the sky guardian fortress had also seen tang xian attempt to grab the blade during the previous iaido strike.


    they were all seasoned top hunters and quickly reached a conclusion.


    this man possessed terrifying offensive and defensive power, but his movement speed and attack speed were no different from that of an ordinary person.


    just that the man seemed to be preparing some kind of technique at the moment. his hands, swaying, took on a strange serpentine posture.


    rensheng yeyi swung his sword!


    the speed of this strike was even more horrifying, gong kun could not imagine that a human could achieve such a rapid slice.


    the huge natural gap in talent made him understand the defeat of his group was not merely an equipment issue.


    but then something even more surprising happened.


    faster than rensheng yeyi''s sword, a thing appeared!


    tang xian''s arms, akin to two snakes, attacked abruptly in the moment rensheng yeyi''s sword was about to slash towards tang xian.


    years of experience made rensheng yeyi commit a fatal mistake.


    he assumed his opponent would instinctively defend against his strike.


    just like how the huaxia man had tried to snatch the blade with both hands previously.


    but this time, the opponent completely abandoned defense.


    when the blade cut through the man, rensheng yeyi''s expression changed from somber to frightened.


    it was as if he had struck an unknown metallic substance; he even saw sparks from the blade friction in a fleeting moment!


    yet, the opponent''s expression did not change even slightly, as if he had felt no attack at all.


    most terrifying was when this person''s hands rose; he felt as if two poisonous snakes were lunging out!


    the clash between the two was over in an instant.


    the sound of a breaking neck was so grating to everyone''s ears.


    it was like a knife scraping glass, raising goosebumps on their skin.


    however, li xiaoyu, inside the wooden house, found the sound rather pleasant, one of her favorite sounds when playing dissection games.


    the samurai sword clanged to the ground, and rensheng yeyi fell and did not get up again.


    tang xian did not linger, taking advantage of the moment the others were dumbstruck, he continued to use snake-like movements.


    this was a combat skill he acquired after killing the nvwa snake, and tang xian found this ability unexpectedly suitable for defense and counterattacks.


    since his own defense and counterattack method actually did not involve defending, the snake-like technique seemed even more aggressive.


    in a brief moment, it displayed terrifying burst power, like entering the striking range of a snake''s head, capable of killing the prey within a brief one-sixth of a second.


    following rensheng yeyi, the first to suffer was a dizzy sarutobi sasuke.


    normally, just fleeing would have been enough to avoid it, but faced with tang xian''s terrifying power, sarutobi sasuke made a foolish self-preservation move; he attempted to use clone skill to confuse tang xian.


    seven shadow clones were hard to distinguish, even their escape movements were identical.


    but tang xian easily found the real body.


    to sarutobi sasuke, it felt as if his proudest clones were like some cheap props that could be seen through at a glance before this man.


    while performing his ninjutsu, tang xian had already entered the snake-like technique''s kill zone.


    this time, sarutobi sasuke completely lost consciousness.


    the members of sky guardian fortress were still masters with lightning-fast reactions; dahetian and the other two samurai formed a triangular encirclement around tang xian.


    and the monk also retreated instantly, radiating in golden light, the three samurais bathed in the holy light suddenly showed ferocious expressions.


    any fear of the horrific killing ability tang xian had exhibited was gone.


    only then did tang xian realize that the monk was not a traditional healer.


    he was more like a being that could induce a berserk state in his teammates.


    but they still made a mistake. the group still instinctively thought tang xian would defend.


    the snake-like movements were activated.


    after the three entered tang xian''s attack range, without exception, all were hit by tang xian.


    when attacking others, tang xian always targeted the temple or neck region. s§×arch* the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    but facing dahetian shimmen, tang xian furiously attacked the man''s nose.


    the most terrifying aspect of the snake-like technique was its ability to strike multiple times in an instant.


    dahetian lost consciousness, his nose shattered, sinking into his face.


    in just a few seconds, all the combat members of sky guardian fortress were struck down.


    their proudly worn alloy armor had not provided any protection in their confrontation with tang xian.


    the monk turned and ran; he was the weakest member of the sky guardian fortress, but still a gifted one. hell-bent on escaping, tang xian truly could not catch up.


    but he did not get far.


    "i told you, the forest is very dangerous," tang xian said to the monk, watching the foxes ahead.

 Chapter 98 The Perilous Forest_3

    the fracture of the hundred-handed wood caused a tremendous noise.the scent of human blood attracted many foxes.


    they were already familiar with the humans and the mystical beings within the wooden hut, so they naturally knew that outsiders had arrived.


    after the most dangerous ones were dealt with, these elite three-tailed foxes all leaped out, encircling the monk completely.


    soon, the heart-wrenching screams of the monk could be heard.


    the leader of the three-tailed foxes crawled up to tang xian, howled, and sniffed at the people from sky guardian fortress who lay on the ground.


    tang xian didn''t understand the language of foxes.


    but he saw the fox''s panel of requirements.


    [shed human armor 29%]


    he suddenly realized that these alloy armors already covered their entire bodies.


    and the foxes couldn''t bite through them.


    tang xian shook his head and made a shrugging gesture.


    the leader of the three-tailed foxes cocked its head, looked at tang xian for a while, then left with fading interest.


    the rest of the three-tailed foxes slowly departed as well.


    the great battle was over.


    tang xian turned around and found gong kun and the others staring at him as if he were a monster.


    mixed in their gaze was the fear of death.


    to die at the hands of an enemy might not be too frightening for them.


    but the fear was far greater when facing death at the hands of a stranger.


    "can you still get up?" tang xian asked.


    gong kun nodded, not understanding the implication. experience tales with empire


    "we are both from huaxia, and i do not wish to trouble you, but don''t cause me any problems. i want you to promise me that you won''t reveal my location. don''t tell anyone that there are humans living in the forest, and don''t mention the wooden hut here. as long as you promise to keep it secret, i''ll let you go. can you do that?"


    tang xian added:


    "don''t lie, i can tell."


    gong kun and his companions exchanged glances, and after a moment of silence, gong kun said:


    "we are indebted to you for saving our lives. though we are swordsmen, we know well that a favor should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. we are willing to swear never to divulge your information."


    tang xian found this amusing, it being the thirty-first century, yet here he was listening to the sort of speech from ancient times.


    he waved his hand and said:


    "i''ll leave you to deal with these corpses. drag them back to the sky guardian fortress and hand them over to the scholars at the house of daedalus. you''ll receive decent rewards for this."


    gong kun was shocked¡ªhow did this man know their background? but he didn''t dare to ask more questions; the offer was too generous, and indeed very tempting for them.


    tang xian laughed:


    "the people of our country have world-class capabilities in reverse-engineering and imitation. i believe soon you''ll be wearing alloy armor just as good as these folks''."


    as if a terrifying demon had become the benevolent creator in just a second.


    gong kun and his companions were beside themselves with excitement.


    tang xian spoke with a stern face:


    "alright, now take these people and get out of the forest. i warn you, if i find anyone coming into the forest, i''ll hold you responsible."


    tang xian had turned back into the terrifying demon.


    gong kun and his companions hastened away with the corpses of the sky guardian fortress hunters.


    once the group had completely vanished from sight, tang xian stretched.


    using the serpent form had left his back and waist sore.


    and no clues had arisen in his sea of consciousness, leaving him feeling like it had been a wasted effort.


    "you can come out now," tang xian said to li xiaoyu.


    li xiaoyu pushed open the door of the hut and slowly climbed down from the tree house.


    considering her recent experiences, yu bluntly asked: s§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "tang xian, you once said you have eight talents, is that true?"

 Chapter 99 You Should Just Be Human

    li xiaoyu''s need analyses rarely changed, as she tended to make up her mind about something as soon as it came to her and hardly ever hesitated.unless it was about jealousy.


    therefore, what tang xian saw in her eyes was not only li xiaoyu''s confusion about her own abilities but also her puzzlement about the two little girls in the room.


    but ultimately, li xiaoyu was more curious about tang xian himself.


    "when you talk to me in the future, you''ll have to learn to speak in the way that normal friends do. i would feel much happier that way," tang xian reminded.


    li xiaoyu said earnestly,


    "i don''t have friends."


    tang xian was taken aback.


    "at least none like you have with akasi or shanglu ke ye," she elaborated, never having had such friends.


    li xiaoyu wasn''t sad, her tone was casual; she was long accustomed to such matters.


    tang xian nodded and said,


    "i did indeed once claim that i could see eight talents, but that was all nonsense."


    this wasn''t false¡ªspeaking of the number, the idea of eight talents was indeed fabricated.


    li xiaoyu was puzzled,


    "then what was with the fighting power you demonstrated just now? the strength of the hunter''s group from the sky guardian fortress is comparable to the top three families in our realm, yet you alone¡­"


    tang xian said,


    "during the chosen''s trial, it was indeed my first time to enter the mining area, and back then, i truly couldn''t see any basic data like life points."


    "i wrote down some data, but it was all ludicrous stuff. anyway, because i couldn''t see life points and wrote some nonsensical data, i was deemed to be contemptuous of the exam discipline and cheating. you know all about these events."


    it took a rare few tens of seconds for tang xian to ponder before he slowly started to speak,


    "i will answer your questions, but before that, you''ll have to answer one for me first."


    "what question?"


    li xiaoyu knew about the cheating scandal.


    she believed without a doubt that tang xian could have scored full marks on the culture test.


    however, the teachers weren''t so sure, even though tang xian was already excelling in his studies on regular days.


    every teacher understood the difficulty of scoring full marks in a single subject.


    let alone in all subjects, full marks in a single one was hard enough to achieve.


    since the mining zone was a new world, with the exploration depth of each subject reaching its limits, it was rare for someone to master even one.


    so the traditional tests allowed students to choose one or two subjects based on their own hobbies and interests.


    which teacher would have thought that a student would privately self-study all subjects?


    thus, the chosen''s trial was the first time tang xian challenged all subjects before an audience,


    displaying an amount of knowledge that shocked the whole world.


    and the tendency that tang xian displayed in his six years of academic career, which easily offended people, was disagreeable to many.


    if he really had gotten beaten up, that would have been fine. but the problem was that this group of people could never bully tang xian.


    those who wanted to bully tang xian often forgot their original intent after being bluffed by him and left with a loss of face.


    from teachers to students, those who liked tang xian trusted him unequivocally.


    those who disliked him would love to fabricate something out of nothing to ruin him.


    hence the rumor of him cheating on his culture exams.


    the li family also played a part in fueling this scandal.


    if no one else scored full marks, how could tang xian have achieved them?


    to make the full marks appear more legitimate, at the behest of the li family, a farce of collusion between teachers and students was orchestrated.


    it was implied that tang xian was able to score full marks because the teacher secretly helped by providing the test answers.


    for this purpose, the li family really did bribe a number of teachers to change their statements.


    the focus of the issue then shifted to dealing with the improper influences within the school.


    as for tang xian himself? demoting him back to the lower ranks was sufficient. sear?h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    meanwhile, the li family kept a covert watch on tang xian, mainly to confirm whether he possessed the talents li xiaoyu had mentioned, and they also isolated tang xian from outside information.


    this was the full account of the cheating scandal.


    not until six years later, during a conversation with ke ye, when tang xian learned that his information was being blocked from the outside world, did he deduce the evolution of the events.


    but there was one thing he still didn''t understand.


    why did educators not believe in the new data he had filled in, such as luck points and charm points, even though they were markedly different from life points and defense points?


    the outright rejection of new things by people seemed too resolute.


    he asked,


    "indeed, these ten attributes, from life points to attack range, cover all known human talents to date, but why are people so certain that there are no new talents in this world?"


    tang xian once thought that tradition constrained people''s willingness to accept new things.


    but on further reflection, such staunch persistence in belief suggested there was some theory convincing people that there were only these ten categories of talent data.


    as if it was some kind of objectively correct truth.


    li xiaoyu''s reply seemed to validate this point, explore more at empire


    "of course. firstly, indeed, no one who could see other data has been found; secondly, when the fifth layer was explored, the historical documents unlocked in the pyramid mentioned this specific part."


    tang xian was moved.


    it was the first time li xiaoyu had seen such a surprised reaction from tang xian.


    "what''s the matter?"


    "nothing, just continue speaking, and explain everything you know in detail. not only what the documents in the pyramid say but also anything else you know," tang xian urged with a tone that surprised li xiaoyu.


    she nodded, slowly saying,


    "these documents are considered confidential, and only the leadership tiers of each fortress have been privy to them. even now, only educators are informed, and yet, for the integrity of the chosen''s trial, they are all bound by confidentiality agreements."

 Chapter 99 You Should Just Be Human_2

    "as for those who have seen the original, there are even fewer, i remember that each fortress wrote in a different language, in the sky guardian fortress it was in dongying language. in the huaxia fortress, it was in our own script. the fortresses of other federations did the same, all using the languages of their own civilizations before the great catastrophe.""when i was nine, my brother and i were called in by our father for a talk, where he showed us these texts."


    "inside there was a line that read: ''in the realm of the impure and the fallen, humanity will awaken to divinity, seeing the vision of the ordainer."


    li xiaoyu watched tang xian, whose expression kept changing subtly.


    i had thought tang would be focused on the last sentence, but when i mentioned that the scripts recorded in each pyramid fortress were different, tang frowned.


    in that moment, tang''s mind raced with many thoughts.


    did the builders of the pyramids, or the true owners, actually foresee the great catastrophe of mankind?


    or, more conspiratorially, was the historic catastrophe that vanished without a trace, actually orchestrated by the pyramid builders?


    but why would they do that?


    your next chapter is on empire


    tang couldn''t come up with an explanation.


    it was certain, though, that the pyramids'' locations were fixed, which allowed preparation of the scripts of the corresponding states in advance.


    as for li xiaoyu''s last sentence, under such deductions, tang was not unshocked, only gradually getting used to the astonishment.


    li xiaoyu could not understand why tang was astonished; when she and li zheng first came into contact with this information, they were indeed amazed and even questioned whether there really were gods in this world.


    but tang''s reaction still seemed strange to li xiaoyu.


    "is there more?" tang asked.


    "that''s about it, the rest of the text mentions some mineral resources, topographical data, and some common knowledge we are aware of, including talent data, which is also common knowledge."


    li xiaoyu continued to say:


    "so you have to understand, there are no talents beyond the ten kinds of data in this world."


    tang nodded.


    he had a clear picture now.


    "do you believe what is said about unlocking the knowledge in the pyramids?" tang asked.


    "at least for now... none of it has been found to be false, right?"


    what should have been a confident reply, li xiaoyu started to hesitate as she looked at tang''s expression.


    "do you believe there are gods in this world?"


    "are you referring to the divinity and the ordainer mentioned in the documents? human civilization once teetered on the brink of destruction, then huge pyramids beyond human capacity to build appeared, and even a second world; i¡­ actually don''t know whether i should believe it or not."


    instinctively, li xiaoyu wanted to say that perhaps there really were gods in this world.


    but hidden within tang''s calm expression seemed to be another answer.


    "why do you ask all this, have you thought of something?"


    tang stood up and said: s§×ar?h the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "today you''ve told me a lot of interesting things, let''s have lunch here this afternoon, i''ll cook you something delicious."


    "don''t change the subject! you haven''t even answered my last question!" li xiaoyu said.


    "i''m not changing the subject, it''s just that many pieces of information need to be sorted out. i will not yet tell you what i have thought of, but i will first answer your first question."


    "i have no talents, at least none related to so-called divinity or the ordainers. it''s true i can''t see life values, but i indeed have a very powerful strength, you have to keep that a secret for me."


    tang''s expression was very serious.


    li xiaoyu furrowed her brow and said:


    "do i need to have someone kill the people you just let go? to keep it secret... i would do that."


    tang shook his head and said:


    "the information they know is not equivalent to yours, and they will not break their promise. on this point, you needn''t doubt; just know that what i''m telling you is correct."


    "as for why i have this power, i''m not clear yet. but if we consider the rule that more talents mean stronger awakened powers, then i have indeed defied this rule."


    li xiaoyu was stunned, and after pausing for a moment, she asked:


    "does anyone else know?"


    "no, the others just know i am strong, but in the mines, my being strong is reasonable, and they don''t know how many talents i have. even akasi and the others actually think that i am just deliberately concealing my talents."


    tang looked at li xiaoyu and said with a wry smile:


    "you are the first person to know about this. i considered using a plausible lie to placate you, but the information you gave me was very useful, it provided me with insights, and this is reciprocity."


    "so the most plausible is the lie, and the absurd truth you''re telling me, are indeed the facts?" li xiaoyu''s face flushed slightly, overwhelmed by being the first to know.


    tang nodded and said:


    "it is precisely because the lie is plausible and the truth is absurd that we need to be wary of unknowns like the pyramids. and i need someone to share information with."


    "me?" li xiaoyu''s eyes fixed on tang.


    "no kidding."


    "good, i accept. i''ll keep it a secret, and i''ll help you out, too."


    li xiaoyu seemed very happy. because tang chose to share a secret with her that she thought was definitely worth hiding.


    and also because this man was not only smart but also very strong.


    tang, on the other hand, was quite calm.


    selecting li xiaoyu was primarily due to her absolute trust in him.

 Chapter 99 You Should Just Be Human_3

    ```li xiaoyu spoke of common sense that ordinary people could easily accept, which was utterly shocking to tang xian.


    because he was not within the scope of common sense.


    now, he was finally convinced that he was an anomaly, or rather, the only anomaly.


    tang xian returned to the wooden cabin and took out his journal, beginning to record the day''s observations and insights.


    li xiaoyu originally wanted to ask some questions, but upon seeing tang xian earnestly recording his thoughts, she fell silent.


    it was the same back in school when if a man liked a woman, he would find the woman''s focused appearance, her occasional hair-toss, very enticing.


    when a woman liked a man, it was actually the same.


    tang xian sat at an angle on the windowsill, the serious expression as he wrote in his journal looked like a painting to li xiaoyu.


    for a moment, the cabin fell into complete silence, save for the rustling sound of the pen on paper.


    "there are still many mysteries, but a lot of things have started to connect." s§×ar?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "the ruins of eden once showed signs of an advanced civilization. i''ve been pondering whether these civilizations were the creators of the pyramid civilization."


    "originally, that''s what i thought, but now i''ve started to doubt."


    "at the very top of the pyramid, there definitely is a controller, of which i am now finally certain. let''s assume it''s the orderers, they are naturally not gods, but they possess technology incomprehensible to modern humans, giving humanity various abilities in the mining world. this is what is referred to in the texts as the ''impure world.''"


    "the term ''impure,'' along with humanity''s attitude towards the mining areas over the years, should clearly illustrate the ideas of the orderers."


    "all the knowledge and abilities they bestow upon humanity are closely related to the mining world, with a primary emphasis on conquest."


    "this must be an entity several eras ahead of human civilization, but what is their reason for seizing the mining areas? why don''t they do it themselves?"


    "if humanity continues to expand the hierarchy, could there come a day when we might have a chance to meet the orderers?"


    "us, playing the invaders, are we allies or merely pawns in the eyes of the orderers?"


    "if talent is divine, then what am i?"


    writing up to this point, tang xian looked outside the window where the summer forest exuded a rich arboreal scent.


    this world was much more beautiful than what he had seen outside the fortress while on the flying vehicle.


    he chuckled to himself.


    "or is it that humans are the descendants of the orderers, and i''m the descendant of demons or agents of chaos?"


    "the civilization that once existed at the ruins of eden and the pyramid civilization¡ªif they are not the same group of people, what is their relationship? are they antagonistic?"


    tang xian closed his pen, stopping his writing there.


    li xiaoyu likely could not provide him with more information about the origin of the pyramid world.


    now, to acqurie those abilities, one must unlock the eighth level.


    advancing human civilization to the next era, at the same time, unlocking information from the eighth level will yield more clues.


    li xiaoyu, seeing tang xian close his journal, finally spoke:


    "i have another question."


    tang xian knew what the question was, and he was somewhat surprised that li xiaoyu could hold it in for so long before asking.


    "this six-year-old little one is called tang xiaojiu; she''s sort of my sister. although she''s quite silly, you''ll grow fond of her."


    "moreover, the girl lying in the bed is tang suoye, she is akasi''s¡­ mhmm, companion. everyone encounters someone worth fighting tooth and nail to protect in their lifetime. for akasi, tang suoye is that person, and vice versa."


    "tang suoye is unconscious because she was injected with a serum that was far too potent, and the quantity severely exceeded that used in previous experiments. you had better like her too because i quite like these girls who are as simple as animals."


    li xiaoyu was puzzled.


    "like animals?"


    "yes, tang xiaojiu is like a gluttonous little duck, a creature that will gobble everything up no matter how much you feed her. both foolish and greedy."


    tang xiaojiu perked up her ears, thinking to herself, i''m clearly a fox.


    ```


    "tang suoye is like a little wolf," tang xian said. "with a touch of wildness, i have seen her fierce gaze when she was guarding akasi."


    li xiaoyu didn''t know tang suoye; on the day akasi appeared, she had been in bu jing''s house, discussing human anatomy with dr. duke.


    but this tang xiaojiu, with her round little belly, really looked like an adorable duckling.


    tang xian went on,


    "in a certain era, ancient aesthetics went through a very twisted change. men became effeminate, women became childlike, children became pet-like, pets became aristocrat-like, aristocrats turned into scoundrels, scoundrels began to talk about culture, and culture itself became absurd."


    "to say so might sound too critical, but if we change the order a bit, comparing women to interesting pets can actually vividly describe a woman''s charm."


    li xiaoyu didn''t understand how ancient people thought.


    tang xian said,


    "take dong ran, for example, i find her quite cute as well."


    "really? what kind of animal do you think she resembles?"


    "a dairy cow."


    li xiaoyu''s eyes widened.


    "cows have always been hardworking and diligent, passionate about labor. look at the repair work on this yard, the digging of this small canal; all thanks to dong ran''s efforts."


    "then why a dairy cow?"


    "figure it out yourself."


    li xiaoyu was too lazy to try to figure it out, finding tang xian to be someone with quite peculiar thought processes.


    "what about me, then? what do i resemble?"


    tang xian looked at li xiaoyu in surprise, finding the question difficult to answer.


    "hmm...better just stay a human," he said after thinking for a while.


    he really couldn''t think of an answer, based on the records luo gave him from those social media posts.


    actually, li xiaoyu did fit certain characteristics of a creature. but it wasn''t really appropriate to say. so he let it go.


    li xiaoyu looked displeased, always feeling that tang xian was insulting her.


    ignores li xiaoyu''s expression, tang xian began to prepare the evening''s meal.


    this time he didn''t make noodles for li xiaoyu, there were plenty of dishes that could be made with mutton and fish.


    while preparing food, tang xian noticed the sky getting dark.


    he looked up, saw the clouds shifting.


    huge gray clouds slowly drifted over the red clay forest.


    "looks like the weather''s changing. go get the clothes," he said.


    tang xiaojiu came running out,


    "is it going to rain, brother tang xian? let''s go play in the mud!"


    "go play on your own."


    tang xian, carrying the clothes, walked towards the wooden house, somewhat surprised.


    the weather forecast didn''t predict such large clouds for today. continue your adventure at empire


    "tonight, the red clay forest might witness a stormy encounter," he muttered.


    tang xian piled the clothes inside the cabin but didn''t notice another area of the cabin.


    tang suoye''s fingers twitched slightly.


    (that''s really just one chapter for today; i wrote five thousand words, as much as i could. i''ll see if i can manage two chapters tomorrow.)

 Chapter 100

    in the evening, before dusk, it began to rain heavily.tang xian, tang xiaojiu, and li xiaoyu had no choice but to have dinner in the cabin.


    li xiaoyu said, sear?h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "do you really like it here?"


    "of course. no clamor to disturb the ear, no official documents to toil the body. the only thing in life to ponder every day is how to consume other creatures. this is the life i want," tang xian said.


    tang xiaojiu widened her eyes and said,


    "yu doesn''t like it here? but you do like it, don''t you? you like it, don''t you? i''ll give you some of the lamb."


    li xiaoyu felt somewhat out of place. she''d never experienced anything like this before.


    tang xian said,


    "a child''s reason for liking someone is very simple and pure. next time you come, bring some snacks and toys, maybe she will become your adoring follower."


    "but i''m a little duckling," tang xiaojiu was confused.


    she couldn''t understand how she had turned from a fox to a duckling to a puppy within one day.


    li xiaoyu looked at tang xiaojiu uncertainly and asked,


    "do you know who i am?"


    "i know! you are tang xian''s good friend," tang xiaojiu replied. read latest chapters on empire


    li xiaoyu glanced at tang xian again.


    tang xian said,


    "you''re too guarded."


    "not at all," li xiaoyu lowered her head and started eating the lamb.


    tang xian could understand.


    from her childhood, everyone was either fearful of her or respected her.


    but both emotions were inseparable from her identity as the li family''s darling.


    li xiaoyu hadn''t lied; probably besides li zheng, nobody could be called a friend.


    even in her sixth school year, as a twelve-year-old girl among a group about to turn eighteen, the others only flattered or avoided her.


    most of the time, li xiaoyu didn''t care about these things.


    interacting with foolish people was only a waste of her time.


    but life is a constant compromise with the world, even for the members of the li family.


    if one truly has a close friend, or is genuinely liked by someone,


    whether one is intelligent or foolish, it doesn''t matter much.


    li xiaoyu wanted to pat tang xiaojiu''s head, but after hesitating for a few seconds, she withdrew her hand, maintaining her icy demeanor.


    tang xian saw this but didn''t intervene and said,


    "after dinner, you should go back."


    "you''re getting rid of me."


    "you can come again tomorrow. but you can''t stay here overnight. we don''t have enough beds unless you''re willing to sleep on the floor."


    "why not enough? we can squeeze together."


    tang xian didn''t respond to that, just looked at li xiaoyu and said,


    "go back."


    his attitude wasn''t very firm, but li xiaoyu knew she couldn''t win against him in the end.


    she said,


    "why don''t you go back."


    "i like it here."


    "i can have someone build a building here for you."


    "then your people will all die here. the forest sea is dangerous, and that goes for everyone including myself."


    thinking about how those foxes were so friendly towards tang xian, li xiaoyu didn''t quite believe his words.


    she didn''t insist much either because tang xian probably truly disliked that idea.


    "fine, i''ll go back later. then tell me, when will you go back to pyramid?"


    "not sure, it depends on the mood."


    a sudden thought struck li xiaoyu.


    "is it that you can''t stay in pyramid for more than seven days at a time?"


    tang xian looked puzzled.


    "how did you come to that conclusion?"


    "i''ve studied your habits over these six years. generally, after six in the evening, you''d stay in your room for at most one hour, probably to eat."


    "then, there''s a thirty percent chance you will go chat with luo, a forty-four percent chance you''ll visit liu lang''s smithy, and a twenty-one percent chance you''ll stroll around decay street."


    "the remaining five percent are always different and can be categorized as miscellaneous events."


    "but after you became a full-time worker, even though you spent longer times at the mine with each visit, your routine upon returning to the mining district didn''t deviate from your previous patterns. however, my... no, the people assigned to protect you told me that you often stay in your room for several days at a time without coming out."


    "i can''t imagine you staying in a room about ten meters squared for days. i can only think that you were actually at the mining area all along."


    "from what i know about you, you are definitely the type who would test the seven-day survival limit on your own initiative."


    after saying all this, li xiaoyu stared at tang xian.


    in a rare display, tang xian showed a look of approval.


    he smiled and said,


    "laplace was an 18th-century physicist and probabilist who proposed the famous laplace''s demon theory."


    "if a being could know the forces of nature''s motions at a given instant and all the entities constituting the universe, and if that being were capable of analyzing these data, then the movement of the largest bodies and the smallest particles would all be encapsulated in a single formula."


    li xiaoyu had no interest in listening to tang xian talk about mathematics.


    tang xian went on to say,


    "actually, this theory is a variation of statistics. today, you''ve used a big data approach to prove that certain things are actually not miracles. if we have enough information, we can make a detailed summary and forecast of a person, then that person''s future in a certain time frame is nearly fixed."


    "but for precise predictions, you have to consider surrounding variables, such as my plan to visit liu lang''s forge. but if someone contacts me out of the blue and tells me about a top-notch club newly opened on decay street, i might change my mind."

 Chapter 100 _2

    "you''ve gathered enough data about me, but you failed to account for the data of those around me, as well as that of the people you''ve sent."li xiaoyu widened her eyes and said,


    "do you mean the intelligence provided by my people is actually incorrect?"


    "of course, knowing that i''ve been under surveillance, it would only make sense for me to intentionally display a false pattern of behavior as a decoy, wouldn''t it? however, i didn''t have the leisure to do so. what i want to say is that your analysis is impressive, but don''t blindly trust it."


    tang xian teased,


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    "why can''t i be like a homebody and stay inside my house for several days straight? although there''s only a bed in my room, for a man, sometimes a bed is all that''s needed."


    li xiaoyu fell silent.


    regarding the fact that he could survive in the mining area for more than seven days, tang xian thought it was something he could share with li xiaoyu.


    but not now.


    "also, call off your people. i hope that the next time i return to the lower levels, i won''t see them again. otherwise, i won''t invite you to visit the tree sea again."


    li xiaoyu pouted.


    seconds later, she nodded reluctantly.


    the rain grew heavier, accompanied by the sound of thunder.


    tang xian watched li xiaoyu open the teleportation fissure to return.


    then he sat by the window, occasionally with slanted rain blowing in through the window, falling on him, not cold but somewhat warm.


    tang xian looked into the distance, thinking that after tonight, the hunting ground might have only half of its people left.


    ...


    ...


    the red clay forest.


    gu luo threw his great sword aside and took out a meal made of nutrition rations, wolfing it down.


    they had found a cave.


    at the moment, a group of people sat by the campfire, watching the heavy rain outside the cave.


    ye feng and song que were discussing something.


    the contest between the two teams had ended hours ago.


    the victor was song que.


    gu luo felt somewhat sad for ye feng because the ability song que had demonstrated nearly countered all command.


    in a battle between two armies, how to execute command instructions with maximum efficiency is extremely important.


    but being able to see through the enemy''s deployment and tactics, anticipating their actions, already put one in an almost unbeatable position.


    during the battle between the two teams, ye feng''s impeccable calculations, combined with the immediate environment and the disparity in strength between the two teams, resulted in almost perfect command.


    but song que seemed to have seen through the entire battle, always managing to be one step ahead of ye feng.


    there was also a significant gap in the strength of the two teams themselves.


    gu luo had originally thought that he could suppress at least two people.


    but that hooligan with the baseball bat had endless strength and dominated with his fighting style, proving to be a match for gu luo himself.


    when the great sword left wounds on him, he didn''t even flinch.


    gu luo thought to himself that if this person, with his hooligan appearance, was really a thug, then his martial prowess and ruthlessness would be enough to unify the underworld.


    the one-eyed sniper was also terrifying. he seemed to need no aiming at all, and the heavy sniper rifle in his hand appeared incredibly light. the horrifying rate of fire and pinpoint accuracy allowed him to suppress two other people alone in the team.


    as for the last team member who attempted to attack the old man, he was easily defeated by the elder with a flick of his fingers.


    as if struck by lightning.


    if the elder had not deliberately held back, the power of that one finger could have been lethal.


    gu luo was thoroughly convinced, and ye feng felt inferior.


    song que displayed the demeanor of a king. the previous wager was canceled; he suggested that the two teams collaborate instead. they could watch out for each other and exchange information.


    song que even openly admitted that his ability was not just about out-calculating ye feng to win, but his power was a natural counter to any vision-based abilities.


    such a leader quickly gained the recognition of gu luo''s team.


    as the sky began to change, song que predicted a heavy rain was on its way, and the group hurried along, venturing deeper into the red clay forest to find a cave for shelter.


    song que asked,


    "by the way, gu, on our way here, i''ve noticed many creatures in the red clay forest that shouldn''t belong here. they mostly come from the north, at least a ten-day journey away from here. it doesn''t seem like they''re just stopping by. seeing as you''re knowledgeable, do you know what''s going on?"


    gu luo thought to himself that this son of the song family was indeed generous, offering information first when proposing an exchange.


    he shook his head and said,


    "we''ve been lucky, encountering only local creatures, like the iron tree giraffes. as for creatures from the northern region, we haven''t come across any. i''m not aware of the phenomenon you mentioned."


    after a pause, gu luo frowned and said,


    "but i''ve come across another suspicious phenomenon."


    "what is it?" song que asked. s§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "along the way, ye feng spotted some people from a distance. they looked like hunters from the federation. many of them ... looked very strange. they weren''t simply dull; the restlessness in their eyes and the smiles at the corners of their mouths all seemed to have a sinister quality."


    ye feng took over the conversation and said,


    "we didn''t provoke this group of people. their emotions didn''t seem normal, and they were all slowly heading deeper into the red clay forest. the most vivid impression they gave me was that they were like people possessed."


    "possessed?"


    song que pondered for a while and then said,


    "it seems that in this hunt, both monsters and humans are behaving abnormally."


    gu luo said,


    "we are hunters; we just need to slay any monsters that come at us. as for me, i think we should be more wary of humans than these monsters."

 Chapter 100 _3

    ye feng also nodded."previously, in the stadium, i had observed a guy, and i couldn''t make any judgment about him... the feeling that person gave me was not exactly dangerous, but it was absolutely chaotic."


    song que, seeing the serious expressions of the two, chuckled and said,


    "we just need to avoid provoking them, after all, the hunting festival is ultimately about pursuing the creatures in the mine area; i personally don''t want to fight with people."


    gu luo nodded, he could tell that song que''s temperament was relatively mild and friendly.


    the group began to exchange other information among themselves.


    but at that moment, the entire red earth forest suddenly began to tremble.


    the deafening thunder, yet, could no longer mask the sound of the earth''s tremors.


    inside the cave, the trembling, the flickering campfire caused everyone, including song que, to show a look of concern.


    "what''s going on? an earthquake?" lin jue shouted.


    "no, there has never been an earthquake in the mine area. every tremor is caused by the movement of huge creatures nearby. but it''s strange, there shouldn''t be such creatures in the red earth forest," ye feng replied.


    song que nodded and said,


    "there''s never been a creature this huge in the red earth forest. but the red earth forest now, that''s another story."


    song que was worried about something in his heart.


    the closer you got to the deep parts of the red earth forest, the more dense the creatures you would find, most of which had never been seen before.


    he couldn''t help but wonder, did the red earth forest still count as a blue zone now?


    if there were disaster-level creatures hidden here...


    the hunters participating in this hunt might face a gruesomely fierce battle.


    the group steadied themselves, as the sensation of the tremors was decreasing.


    ye feng''s pupils, dark as the night, activated his limit vision, looking in the direction where the tremors were coming from, his expression one of horror.


    "could this be... the legendary ancient humanoid creature, the zudun giant?"


    everyone was startled. the people in song que''s team knew of gu luo''s team''s ability for night vision and penetrating vision, with extremely long sight.


    many among them had not heard of the zudun giant, but judging by the reactions of their companions and the strong tremor just now, they knew this creature must be extremely difficult to deal with. explore more adventures at empire


    without further thought, song que stepped out of the cave, letting the heavy rain fall on him, watching the faint outlines emerging in the distance.


    those humanoid outlines were overlaid with the silhouettes of distant mountains, indistinguishable in terms of who was more minuscule or colossal.


    this scene was just as shocking for song que.


    the torrential rain had awakened the sleeping zudun giants from beneath the earth?


    the red earth forest actually contained legendary life forms that were only supposed to exist in the far north? sea??h th§× novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    even standing from such a distant place, song que couldn''t get a full view, unsure of how many zudun giants there were.


    it seemed these giants were merely startled awake from their sleep, casting a vacant glance at the miniature world around them before slowly returning to tranquility.


    song que returned to the cave, sitting beside the campfire to dry his drenched body.


    at that moment, lao lei suddenly opened his eyes and said,


    "young master, if we continue deeper, this old man will surely accompany you, but you must think it over. with the strange occurrences these past few days, there might be even more powerful presences in the depths of the red earth forest, beyond these giants. those are not something we humans can handle right now."


    song que nodded. he pondered for a long time and then said,


    "it''s highly possible that the red earth forest no longer counts as a blue zone. with everyone''s abilities, even just hunting at the edge, you could still secure a very high rank. i plan to delve into the depths of the red earth forest to investigate the source of these anomalies, which might be very dangerous. there could be terrifying beings that even we can''t handle. you don''t have to follow me."


    song que didn''t use reverse psychology or challenge. he genuinely hoped his companions would weigh the situation carefully.


    such a leader, naturally, is more likely to earn allegiance.


    lin jue, with his hockey stick touching the ground, replied,


    "i''m not afraid. i would love to encounter a disaster-level creature. or even a disaster-level boss creature, that''d be fine too. let''s take it down, and you can use the soul crystal as a dowry for your girl!"


    (there''s one more update tonight, it''s so hard 555)

 Chapter 101 The Catastrophe-Level Boss in the Red Clay Forest

    red soil forest, the second night of the grand hunting festival.in the pouring rain, about forty or fifty hunters walked in the deluge, all having felt the violent tremor just moments before.


    but there was no pause in their steps.


    madness twinkled in everyone''s eyes, and wicked smiles squeezed onto their faces. s§×arch* the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    sinister laughter sporadically arose amidst the gaps in the thunder.


    gradually, as the group ventured deeper, they encountered numerous beasts.


    deep within the red soil forest, it seemed as if something was luring these creatures.


    the density of the beasts far exceeded that on the periphery; even on such a rainy night, they were eerily active.


    just as human emotions slowly became bizarre, the beasts also seemed affected by something in the depths of the red soil forest, becoming abnormally excited.


    man and beast finally met. as the lightning illuminated the night sky, what appeared before their eyes was a herd of wild oxen charging at them.


    enjoy new adventures from empire


    the beasts attacked these humans who trekked through the rain, yet they seemed to have lost any sense of fear or pain.


    humans, when faced with the creatures of the mines, showed not the slightest intention of retreat.


    they let out twisted, evil laughs, interspersed with cries of agony.


    this chaotic blend of sounds made everything so eerily peculiar.


    eventually, the hunters were overwhelmed by the herd of wild oxen. there seemed to be hundreds of them; they rampaged through the red soil forest as if in fear or perhaps in excitement.


    on a nearby high ground, the clown wiped the rainwater from his face and said,


    "the true monster is about to awaken; a king among the mine creatures lies hidden in this land. humans will swarm to hunt it, yet they will ultimately be hunted by it!"


    the clown took another road, with lilith, still obsessed with him, following close behind.


    on either side of them were the huge electric saw monsters and the skinny figures of dwarves.


    they continued towards the depths of the red soil forest, not hunting any beasts.


    even now, not a single crystal adorned their bodies.


    and all the humans they encountered along the way became lost in that bizarre and evil laughter.


    lilith looked at the corpses on the other side with curiosity.


    to the clown, she was ultimately somewhat special, her lips occasionally curling into a smile she herself was unaware of, yet she still retained her own consciousness.


    but from time to time, lilith couldn''t help but think: why not tear these few fellows to shreds?


    these thoughts were but fleeting.


    "master, shall we just ignore those people?"


    she had realized that her master possessed a terrifying hypnotic ability.


    or rather, the power to corrupt others'' souls. those corrupted should have been comrades on their side.


    the clown looked somewhat disappointed, but his face remained serious¡ªif one disregarded the smile on his lips.


    "they''re just inferior hunters, already fallen. they were never delectable offerings, truly too dull. at the end of this hunt, there might be unexpected surprises awaiting."


    "only those with the heart of a child are the most delicious food amidst chaos."


    the clown''s steps continued forward, the downpour unable to wash away the pallid makeup on his face.


    lilith didn''t understand the meaning of his words, but she knew all she had to do was follow the clown.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    more and more parties progressed through the heavy rain.


    all started because of the sudden severe tremor that had recently occurred.


    this tremor spread from various places within the red soil forest.


    akasi was not walking at the front of the group, he and a line of others had already changed into dark raincoats, slowly making their way deeper into the red soil forest.


    in akasi''s view, everything was as tang xian had said.


    the migration of the beast tide would definitely affect the grand hunting festival.


    he believed it was necessary to stop li zheng from moving forward.


    "you say those creatures are zudun giants? there really are such beings?" li zheng shouted to akasi.


    the rain muffled their voices, so they had to shout.


    akasi nodded, the memory of being closely watched by an eye of the zudun giant in the blood-red wilderness deeply ingrained in him.


    "we might not want to continue forward, because that area has at least forty zudun giants and countless other creatures of the wilderness. it''s extremely dangerous for the entire hunting party," akasi said.


    "you might not understand the other guys. qi xun''s team, song que''s team, they would never give up this chance. it''s not only an opportunity to earn a lot of hunting points but also a chance to refresh the records of the hunting festival."


    everyone believed akasi''s judgment, as he had displayed a speed that impressed everyone along the way.


    but the others were not weak either. li zheng''s terrifying strength had also left a deep impression on akasi, and together with li zheng, even when facing perfect-level creatures, the fights were concluded with ease.


    however, hunting was not akasi''s purpose. he had only agreed to tang xian to ensure li zheng''s safety.


    but it was clear that the group had made up their minds to delve into the red soil forest.


    without any choice, akasi could only accompany them deeper.


    li zheng said,


    "i have a feeling that something in the depths of the red soil forest is awakening. we have encountered many extraterritorial creatures along the way. they didn''t travel thousands of miles to the red soil forest because of its scenery. perhaps something is slowly waking up and needs their protection."

 Chapter 101 The Catastrophe-Level Boss in the Red Clay Forest_2

    akasi was moved; this idea was different from what tang xian had mentioned, but the beast tide migration was also a first for tang xian to witness.so even if he had overlooked something, it was quite normal.


    the intensity of the rain was slowly starting to diminish.


    li zheng and the others began to quicken their pace.


    akasi said,


    "if you encounter danger, make sure to send up a signal flare. i''ll go ahead and explore deeper into the red soil forest."


    li zheng nodded, and in the blink of an eye, akasi''s figure had disappeared into the curtain of rain.


    ...


    ...


    deep within the red soil forest.


    s004 and black serpent each carried a bag holding soul crystals.


    by constantly plundering other teams along the way, they hardly ever had to fight any creatures, but the crystals they obtained were the most among all teams.


    the cruelty of the hunting festival gradually unveiled itself on the path leading deep into the red soil forest.


    qin qian, who had been cautious not to take any risks at the rear, had lost count of how many foreheads with bullet holes and bodies shattered by frost they had encountered along the way.


    s004 and black serpent had sensed a team in the far distance behind them long ago.


    neither of them had the habit of looking back, showing complete disregard for the team behind them.


    as the massive bodies of the zudun giants disappeared from view, they hastened their steps forward.


    among all hunter groups, s004 and black serpent were leading at the very front.


    they had killed all those who had ventured deeper into the red soil forest than themselves.


    by this time, the rain had significantly lessened.


    "a figure is rapidly approaching at high speed; in about ten minutes, it will be here," said s004.


    black serpent raised an eyebrow and said,


    "akasi?"


    "possibly," replied s004, always expressionless.


    "what a bountiful night this has turned out to be."


    black serpent and s004 continued to move forward.


    at the deepest part of the red soil forest, the rain was like sunlight falling through dense foliage, becoming ever finer.


    the surrounding earth-lodged trees and red-tailed trees were covered in a type of red luminescent moss.


    the eerie red light drove away the shadows.


    black serpent, a powerful subject from the evolution area, was also one of the researchers there.


    he possessed a vast reserve of knowledge, and these strange luminescent mosses made him think of a certain creature.


    he approached the depths of the dense forest enveloped in red light, while s004''s ears twitched, hearing the footsteps of countless creatures in the darkness.


    fear and excitement gradually filled black serpent''s gaze.


    "of course! of course!" he exclaimed, with uncontrollable joy lacing his voice, yet there was an underlying sense of fear.


    s004 furrowed his brow and said,


    "what have you found?"


    "it''s the sapling of the zudun sacred tree! without a doubt! it''s this thing¡ªthe zudun giants are herding the beast tides here, surely at the calling of the sapling! hahahaha!" black serpent''s eyes were filled with fervor.


    "what is that?" s004 was seeing his partner this frenzied for the first time.


    "you can think of it as the emperor of the forest, a creature whose juvenile stage is as powerful as a cataclysmic boss creature."


    "but this creature is not simple; it doesn''t need any evolution, just continued growth. once it reaches maturity, it will have the might of a disaster-level boss creature. most importantly, it''s not an animal, but a plant," black serpent continued to explain.


    "the sapling of the zudun sacred tree, the cleveland of red lotus hell, the shadow dragon of magic dragon valley, the sea demon of the ashen sea¡ªthey are all among the most legendary of beings! it''s said that once it matures, it will have the form of the world tree from myths."


    "legend has it that only the ruins of eden have ever played host to such a miraculous plant. i never expected to find one here. we must seize its crystal before it turns into a disaster-level creature!"


    s004, still with the same mechanical demeanor, said, s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "i must remind you, ahead there lie thousands of mining area creatures, starting at elite level. and if our hunting target is a cataclysmic boss creature, we stand no chance."


    black serpent sneered,


    "even the weakest cataclysmic boss creature is definitely not something we can stand against. but plants are different."


    "a sapling state zudun sacred tree, without a complete self-consciousness, wields formidable strength to control the entire forest, but it does not know where its enemies are. when it goes berserk, it will indiscriminately destroy everything."


    s004 understood.


    "including those creatures protecting it?"


    "correct. a berserk zudun sacred tree will turn the red soil forest into the most dangerous area. and we have a horde of greedy hunters behind us; they will create the opportunity for us to approach the zudun sacred tree," black serpent was already hatching a plan.


    "while lincoln fortress and fortress thirty-nine are fighting over the cataclysmic boss creature soul crystals, what price could a cataclysmic creature''s soul crystal fetch? control over an entire level of the fortress? or tons of minerals?"


    "plus those things embedded inside the sacred tree''s trunk could certainly help us create even more outstanding experimental subjects," black serpent grew more excited.


    s004, meanwhile, gazed into the distance.


    this was the depths of the red soil forest, where the breaths and heartbeats of countless creatures could be heard.


    and there was a figure, constantly approaching the depths of the red soil forest.


    he said to black serpent, explore stories at empire


    "before that, we should deal with the traitor first."


    ...


    ...


    akasi, sprinting through the rainy night, was like a swift arrow.


    this was the furthest akasi had ventured away from li zheng.


    he possessed the speed to travel from the southern territory to the northern territory in just a few days.

 Chapter 101 The Catastrophe-Level Boss in the Red Clay Forest_3

    The entire Red Clay Forest wasn''t all that vast a battlefield for Akasi.In an extremely short period of time, he had moved from the outskirts of the Red Clay Forest into its heart.


    At the edge of his vision, there was a hazy red light.


    These lights merged into one, dense and numerous, like underground roots entwining.


    Outside the red glow, he saw two figures from afar.


    Along the way, Akasi had found many hunters'' corpses.


    He watched ahead cautiously, a familiar yet repulsive scent wafting through the air.


    In a few bounds, Akasi had arrived before the two figures.


    "Although we''re not from the same group, I''ve heard Black Snake mention early on that you from the second fortress, as well as number nineteen from the second fortress, are the experimental subjects the organization has valued most in recent years,"


    s004 spoke without a trace of emotion, as if mechanically reading off a piece of text.


    "But as far as I know, despite your rapid growth, you haven''t reached the standard of the number one and two experimental subjects, and numbers one and two, if placed in our group, would probably be at the bottom of the s-series."


    s004 raised his gun, thinking that bullets seeking to kill an existence like Akasi, in the eyes of the people in the Evolution Zone, was extremely laughable.


    But s004 was an exception.


    His ability was simple. The acceleration of small objects.


    No one could dodge his bullets.


    And those tiny bullets, upon gaining incredible propulsion speed, also multiplied their power countless times.


    Akasi didn''t speak.


    He didn''t recognize these two people, but he could determine they were from the Evolution Zone.


    Their strength was of a monstrous level, even stronger than that of number one and two.


    Meanwhile, water droplets on the branches behind Akasi had already turned into ice.


    ... S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    The Tree Sea. The heavy rain gradually ceased, leaving the air extremely fresh and invigorating after the rain.


    Tang Xian had no mood to enjoy it.


    Although the strongest tremor was felt in the Red Clay Forest, he, who was at the edge of the Tree Sea, could also faintly sense it.


    A feeling of unease surfaced in his mind.


    Tang Xian thought of the Zudun Giant.


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    Then, he easily associated it with the true situation of the beast migration.


    Beasts in front, the giant behind.


    Tang Xian had a sudden realization that he had missed such a key piece of information, misled by the migration theory previously mentioned by scholars.


    "It''s almost as if the giant is driving the beasts towards a certain place,"


    Once his thoughts started in that direction, Tang Xian found that many points that had previously been unclear now suddenly made sense.


    "The Red Clay Forest has the finest soil in the entire mining area, this red clay can cause plants to grow wildly. If the Zudun Giant is driving the beasts here¡­ could it be..."


    The answer flashed through Tang Xian''s mind, and for the first time, he showed a hint of panic.


    "Damn! A world-class boss creature has appeared in the Red Clay Forest!"


    From the recent earthquake, Tang Xian quickly reasoned out the truth of the matter, thinking back to the beast migration days ago.


    Tang Xian, who originally had no intention of joining the hunting festival, realized he must make a trip to the Red Clay Forest.


    Without delay, Tang Xian began to check the items in his tool bag.


    A raincoat, a mask, a kitchen knife, Redline Grass Spray, Anai Extract. After ensuring these items were all in place, Tang Xian looked over at Tang Xiaojiu.


    Tang Xiaojiu had already fallen asleep.


    This little girl was a future cataclysmic level boss, and even now her strength was only second to that of a world-class creature.


    But what was about to happen was too dangerous, and Tang Xian was unsure whether to bring Tang Xiaojiu along.


    At that moment, Tang Suoye woke up.


    The girl who had been in a coma for almost half a month suddenly opened her eyes.


    "You''re awake?"


    The purity of the Eden''s Eye in her right eye, deep like the ocean, made Tang Xian feel momentarily disoriented. The pupil resembled a deep-colored sapphire.


    Tang Xian noticed that some of the small objects around were trembling unconsciously.


    Tang Suoye looked at Tang Xian, her gaze somewhat vacant.


    She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

 Chapter 102 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 1)

    Tang Suoye continued to try speaking, but still couldn''t utter a word. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.She was a bit anxious.


    Tang Xian suddenly thought that perhaps the high concentration of Eden''s deer serum had granted Tang Suoye terrifying abilities, but at the same time, she lost some...human rights.


    Tang Suoye had become mute.


    Tang Xian said with a complex expression,


    "Don''t rush to speak, you probably can''t talk anymore."


    Tang Suoye was stunned.


    The confusion in her eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by pain.


    "Do you remember who I am?"


    Tang Suoye nodded, but not long after, shook her head.


    "It seems that it''s not just language, memory has also been relatively affected."


    Tang Suoye was unable to express her thoughts, she just felt that the person in front of her gave her a feeling of trustworthiness.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Do you remember your name?"


    Tang Suoye nodded and tried to speak. Tang Xian could read a few words from her lip movements.


    He continued,


    "Good, it seems the impact isn''t too significant. My name is Tang Xian, I''m your friend. You''ve been unconscious these past few days. Right now, time is pressing, and we have some troublesome things to do. Akasi might need our help."


    Upon the mention of Akasi, Tang Suoye became agitated.


    She kept trying to speak, even though there was no sound. She wanted to scream her lungs out, but it was as if the world no longer carried the sound of her voice.


    After a while, Tang Suoye curled up in discomfort.


    She finally realized that she seemed to have lost the right to call someone''s name.


    Tang Xian''s expression didn''t change; he didn''t know how to comfort Tang Suoye.


    The events happened so suddenly, her awakening and loss of speech, both carried a hint of fate.


    Tang Xian said indifferently,


    "I am going to save him now. You want to come with me, right?"


    Tang Suoye raised her head and nodded earnestly.


    Tang Xian smiled and took out a pair of glasses from his prop bag.


    "Put on these glasses; they will prevent others from seeing the color of your pupils clearly."


    Tang Suoye took the glasses. They were well-crafted, with a frame that had a silver look to it, and the color of the lenses matched her right eye perfectly.


    After putting on the glasses, she found that her vision was not affected.


    She attempted to speak, but just like before, she couldn''t make a sound.


    "You like this, right?"


    Tang Suoye nodded. Although the glasses were slightly large for her small face, they served their purpose of concealing well.


    Tang Xian was pleased and said,


    "They were meant for you."


    "No time to delay, we''re setting off immediately to the southern Red Clay Forest. Hmm...I might be somewhat frail, but I can handle a fight, so any people we encounter along the way, I''ll deal with them. Creatures from the mines, you handle them. No problem, right?"


    Tang Suoye nodded.


    Following that, Tang Xian put on his mask and drew his kitchen knife. Seeing this mask, Tang Suoye suddenly felt even more familiar, her lips moving slightly, expressing that she still remembered this mask.


    The bespectacled young girl reminded Tang Xian of something.


    "I am now the Masked Chopper Hero, and you''ll be the Blue-Eyed Little Witch. My reputation is slowly building, and soon you''ll have one too."


    Tang Suoye nodded, although she thought the nickname sounded rather unsightly, she couldn''t voice any objections.


    Before leaving, Tang Xian draped a thin blanket over Tang Xiaojiu, covering her little feet.


    Then he blew out the lamp in the room.


    The outsiders of the forest, with the girl with the blue eyes, joined the battlefield.


    ...


    ...


    All places are like this, very much like the Pyramid.


    The more central the area, the smaller it is.


    More and more teams, sensing major tremors, headed deeper into the Red Clay Forest.


    In this process, they all slowly paid a price.


    Zhong Xiuran from afar was an exception; he was full of traps on the loop.


    Holding his position on the main paths of the periphery, regardless of how intense the hunting desire expressed by his teammates, the young master of the Zhong Family never changed his mind. Continue your saga on empire


    "The hunting zone is that big. Once these people delve into the Red Clay Forest, they will soon run into each other. Not to mention threats from humans for now, you don''t know about the Zudun Giants, let me tell you what creatures they are."


    "These giants are perfect-level boss creatures, yet their strength is comparable to calamity-level creatures, even though they are especially slow in other attributes, particularly speed. But through the feedback of the environment, I can feel there are nearly forty of these creatures."


    "Can you imagine what it''s like when forty perfect-level bosses go mad? A single stomp from them after a rainy night, landslides are the least of our worries, even the ground caving in is possible. You want to hunt, then weigh whether you have the ability."


    Zhong Xiuran''s words undoubtedly poured cold water on everyone.


    But he quickly added,


    "Feel the trembling of the earth. Although it''s nowhere near as intense as that caused by Zudun Giants, if you press your ears to the ground, you can still hear the sound of hooves in droves."


    "Red Clay Forest must have undergone some kind of mutation. Those guys will come back, and all we have to do is set up enough traps, then the game they hunt will be ours."


    The team members felt more convinced by his words.


    "Why bother running around so much? We just need to conserve our energy here."


    Zhong Xiuran''s philosophy of life was simple.


    If something could be resolved without moving, it''s a loss to even make a move.

 Chapter 102 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 2)

    ... S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality....


    Every team had their own calculations, and no one was clear about how this hunt would eventually turn out.


    Song Que and Gu Luo''s teams were the least calculating of all.


    Song Que''s idea was simple, there must be something powerful deep within the Red Clay Forest.


    The appearance of the Zudun Giants must have a reason.


    He was the purest hunter in this hunt.


    The two teams had already reached the depths, where the red-tailed trees and earth-burrowing trees became even more massive and their branches even more sinuous.


    Along the way, Song Que saw many hunters.


    He finally understood the strange phenomena that Ye Feng and Gu Luo had mentioned.


    These people indeed looked abnormal, the combination of the smiles at the corner of their lips and the chaos and ferocity in their eyes formed a chilling and malevolent visage.


    Along the way, they either encountered such people or a cluster of corpses shattered by freeze or shot between the eyebrows.


    Their brutality and bizarreness cast a terrifying atmosphere over the night.


    "These people seem to be hypnotized, let''s try not to provoke them as much as we can," Song Que said.


    Lin Jue wondered and said,


    "I think these guys are all easy targets; I could knock one down with a cudgel. What''s there to fear?"


    Song Que shook his head and said,


    "We are all hunters here; we are here to hunt, not to fight amongst ourselves. When facing the terrifying creatures of the mine area, we might need to join forces. Plus, since this group of people is hypnotized, who exactly hypnotized them? We must find that person."


    Gu Luo and Ye Feng remained silent.


    Song Que indeed was a man of justice, but he was perhaps a little naive.


    Continue reading at empire


    The minds of the people they encountered along the way had been severely corrupted.


    And there were at least two groups of people: one group killed with extremely brutal but neat methods, and the other continuously "recruited" to form an army with smiling faces.


    "Continuing forward, we come to the deepest part of the Red Clay Forest. There await forty Zudun Giants. Gentlemen, brace yourselves."


    Song Que walked ahead, and this time Xiao Shi didn''t follow behind him but walked in front of Song Que.


    Lao Lei widened his eyes and said,


    "I''m afraid we have already encountered a beast horde."


    Ye Feng activated his Ultimate Vision, and his expression changed immediately. He said in a grave tone,


    "Less than three hundred meters ahead of us, there are seven Ironwood Giraffes, but what''s strange is that next to the Ironwood Giraffes, there are their natural enemies, four Perfect-level creatures, the Bloodhowl Panthers."


    "There are nine Golden Fierce Birds in the sky. And there''s a countless number of Black Spotted Monkees in the trees. Although these are only Enhanced-level creatures, they are in vast numbers, and they are all watching us, indicating that they have already spotted us."


    Song Que silently calculated the chances of victory.


    The situation was very grave; they had not yet reached the final core area of the Red Clay Forest, and there were already so many creatures.


    After careful consideration, he thought they still had a chance to fight.


    But what Ye Feng said next made everyone feel the terror of the Red Clay Forest.


    "Listen... if we keep moving deeper, we will probably be overwhelmed by the beast tide."


    The Ultimate Vision gave Ye Feng the most coveted non-human visual ability of all eyes.


    Yet under the night sky, he was still a beat slow, and only after finishing his report did he realize that behind that group of creatures, there was an even more horrifying number of beasts charging in a tide.


    "Behind those creatures we just mentioned, there are ten Hell Three-headed Dogs, over thirty Bone Hyenas, seven Iron Tank Pigs, three Hell Flame Wolves, and even further back, I can only see very thin silhouettes and cannot discern what creatures they are, but their numbers rise another level."


    Everyone was shocked.


    The deepest part of the Red Clay Forest was crammed with such a vast number of creatures?


    Ye Feng''s expression grew even uglier.


    "It seems we have no way back."


    "What do you mean?" Gu Luo rarely saw Ye Feng so pessimistic.


    "We are now trapped, no matter what, we will have to go through a great battle."


    "Behind us, an uncountable number of Wild Plains Oxen have formed a line, like a wall, they have surrounded the entire area."


    Song Que was stunned.


    He had already felt the tremors on the ground, though they were far less than the terrifying vibrations brought by the Zudun Giants.


    But he did not expect that it was a herd of Wild Plains Oxen running.


    What number of Wild Plains Oxen must it take for merely their running to cause such a great spectacle?


    Song Que quickly calmed down and analyzed,


    "These herds must have been following some kind of command; they have formed three defense lines. The first line of defense is formed by the Wild Plains Oxen, the second by various mine area creatures. The third line of defense should be the forty or so Zudun Giants Brother Ye saw."


    "Moreover, with the tremors brought by the Zudun Giants, most teams have probably already entered within the first defense line. Rather than a defense line of Wild Plains Oxen, it now looks more like a fence."


    The group was more accepting of this explanation, but greater mysteries arose.


    How could these wild beasts work so well together?


    Song Que brought the group''s doubts to light as well.


    "Zudun Giants have always been the servants of gods in myths, managing the seedlings of sacred trees for the deities. These creatures, some of them natural enemies, have put aside grievances and overcame their wild nature to fight together, likely under some kind of summons."


    "If I''m not wrong, the Sacred Tree is about to be born."


    "What is that thing?" the One-eyed King was curious.

 Chapter 102 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 1)_3

    "A terrifying plant mentioned in the records of unlocking levels; it could bring evolutionary opportunities to the species on this land. As it grows continuously, it could also possess the strength of a cataclysm-level boss creature."Song Que''s answer astonished everyone.


    There were actually such creatures in the world.


    Song Que said,


    "We are the conquerors of the mine, but we should equally revere them."


    Gu Luo wiped his greatsword and said,


    "So, do we retreat or advance now?"


    "Wait," Song Que said.


    Ye Feng also nodded and added, "We need to wait."


    "Wait for what?"


    "Reinforcements."


    ...


    ...


    The members of Li Zheng''s team had established a logic: as long as Akasi didn''t come back, it meant the path ahead was relatively safe.


    So they quickened their pace, and before long, they encountered Qin Qian''s team.


    Qin Qian was the only one left.


    Li Zheng remembered his sister had admonished him to ally with this force if possible.


    "To come across such a beauty in this muddy place is truly more pleasing than the clearing sky after the rain," Li Zheng said with a handsome smile. He wasn''t as simple as Song Que.


    But Qin Qian''s reaction at this time was intense, especially at the sight of the smile.


    Her expression looked somewhat neurotic.


    "Are you humans or ghosts?"


    Li Zheng was taken aback, carefully pondering these words.


    As the team member shone the light over, Li Zheng sucked in a breath of cold air.


    Beside Qin Qian were full of corpses.


    In the darkness of the night, Li Zheng hadn''t been able to see clearly. Now with the light, he saw that Qin Qian was covered with wounds; the beautiful demon queen looked somewhat ragged.


    There was a faint trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.


    It was at this time Qin Qian confirmed that Li Zheng and the others were normal humans.


    Her tense nerves relaxed, and she collapsed on the ground.


    "Doctor, save her," Li Zheng calmly demanded.


    The doctor began to treat Qin Qian.


    Meanwhile, Li Zheng started to inspect the corpses around Qin Qian.


    These corpses were strange, their faces all bore smiles.


    Such smiles looked bizarre and carried a kind of enticement that struck right at the heart.


    Li Zheng furrowed his brows and said,


    "Find a way to wake her up immediately; I have something to ask her."


    "Yes, sir."


    Li Zheng stroked his chin.


    Did Akasi see this scene when passing by here?


    If he saw it, why didn''t he come back to report?


    Or was there something even more dangerous further in that Akasi needed to confirm?


    A big battle had occurred here. The hunting festival was naturally cruel, but this battle was too chaotic.


    Qin Qian''s own teammates, along with the members from various fortresses, it was practically a free-for-all.


    What was the deal with these smiles?


    Why did the smiles also appear on the faces of Qin Qian''s teammates?


    Li Zheng wasn''t foolish; he thought about Qin Qian''s somewhat neurotic behavior earlier, as if she was desperately resisting some kind of influence.


    Li Zheng raised a hand, indicating that the team should stop right here.


    A very ominous premonition emerged in his mind.


    Just then, Qin Qian awoke.


    She hadn''t sustained serious injuries; those people couldn''t get close to her, but she was hurt when her own teammates turned against her.


    Seeing the red eagle emblem on the chests of Li Zheng''s team, Qin Qian said,


    "Are you from the Li family of the top three?"


    "That''s right, beauty. You woke up just in time. Can you tell me what happened?"


    Qin Qian''s whole body visibly shuddered; then she shook her head vigorously.


    That detestable laugh was finally expelled from her mind.


    "Up ahead is a real demon, a true demon. I advise you not to continue forward! I didn''t see what it looks like, but I encountered some of its infected."


    "Infected? Are those the ones with the strange smiles on their faces?"


    "Yes, even just fighting with these people can affect your mind with bizarre laughter that rings out of nowhere."


    Qin Qian''s eyes reddened.


    The feeling of having to put an end to his teammates was, of course, not pleasant.


    Li Zheng fell silent.


    He looked into the distance, Akasi was still inside.


    It seemed that on the other end, Qi Xun and the others were inside as well...


    "Looks like we have to race against time. At the very least, we have to pull Song Que out. Goddamn it, I don''t want the hunting festival to end only to lose my brother-in-law."


    Qin Qian exclaimed in surprise:


    "You''re still going?"


    "We have to go."


    Li Zheng was adamant.


    Qin Qian gritted her teeth and said:


    "Take me with you, I can be of help. I want to kill the source of the infection!"


    Li Zheng said with a laugh:


    "Beauty, you don''t look too good right now. Are you sure you''re not a burden at the moment?"


    Qin Qian said coldly:


    "I can take you down in five seconds."


    "Hey, I like that."


    Looking at the hunters scattered all over the ground, Li Zheng believed this Demoness had real skills.


    Akasi had been gone for quite a while, which somewhat concerned Li Zheng; it just so happened that a spot in the team had opened up.


    Li Zheng, taking Qin Qian with him, began to walk towards the deepest part of the red soil forest.


    ...


    ...


    As all sorts of bizarre incidents were taking place inside the hunting festival, in the Pyramid''s world, a major incident occurred during the hunting festival ball at the grand sports stadium.


    Song Gengzhao and Li Wanye, the two most powerful figures of the Huaxia Fortress, were currently flipping through documents.


    "So, you mean to say that after registering, the experts from Lincoln Fortress were replaced by someone called the Clown? And the ones currently participating in the hunt are not the original hunters?"


    Song Gengzhao was somewhat incredulous.


    Li Wanye nodded and said:


    "The information brought back by my scout is just that. Lincoln Fortress is investigating as well. This Clown is a highly dangerous criminal, extremely dangerous!"


    Song Gengzhao rarely heard Li Wanye emphasize someone''s danger with such intensity.


    He asked confusedly:


    "How dangerous is he? Right now, there''s no way to halt the hunting festival. Only our three families know about this, right?"


    "Qi doesn''t know yet, but Lincoln Fortress is aware. That official member is still alive; he''s just crazy and can''t explain anything. As for the Clown¡ª"


    Li Wanye paused slightly.


    "This person''s talents are not high, only five in number, but the abilities he transforms into are very peculiar, capable of awakening the evil thoughts within people''s hearts."


    "Sounds really mysterious, but if his combat strength is weak, my son and your son should be able to kill him in a few moments, right?" Song Gengzhao was somewhat underestimating the threat. Hearing that the opponent was just a five-talent, he was even more dismissive.


    The Song family had even managed to recruit Lao Lei, a nine-talent.


    But Li Wanye remained stern-faced. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thoughts... cannot be killed by knives and guns."


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian was starting to miss Qing JiuYu.


    But it wasn''t because of Qing JiuYu''s enchanting body; rather, it was when she turned back into a fox, her broad and soft back.


    Qing JiuYu''s speed surpassed his own by far when running on all fours.


    Tang Suoye looked at Tang Xian with suspicion on several occasions during their journey.


    Tang Xian felt somewhat sheepish and realized after some thought that he still needed to find himself a mount.


    Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang were, after all, just a translator and a cat-shaped icebox. Most of the time, their role was just to fill up space.


    No different from Tang Xiaojiu.


    The cry of the golden fierce bird echoed from the distant sky.


    As Tang Xian ran towards the battlefield, he thought of the ideal candidate for a mount.


    The golden fierce bird was stronger than the night vulture, and although its flight speed was slightly slower, it was close, and most importantly, it had stamina.


    He needed to figure out how to obtain a golden fierce bird to keep. He had already thought of a name for it: Tang Feiji.


    (One more chapter to come tonight.)

 Chapter 103 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 2)

    The golden firebirds were screeching, their cries like thunder.They circled in the night sky, looking down upon humanity.


    Countless speckled monkeys jumped up and down on the branches of red-tailed trees in the distance, watching the excitement.


    These creatures of the mining areas clung tightly to their defensive lines, seeming to only attack humans if they approached their range.


    Or perhaps the self-annihilation of humans seemed so irrational to them.


    As seconds and minutes passed, the already chaotic situation became even more tumultuous.


    Apart from the cries of birds and beasts, the air was filled with hair-raising laughter.


    These chuckles became more and more prevalent, like a flame burning away humanity, growing fiercer with time.


    Song Que''s original plan had been to wait for reinforcements.


    Everyone had delved deep into the territory, not just for internal strife but naturally to investigate and discover what was happening in the depths of the Red Earth Forest.


    Moreover, without reinforcements, relying solely on his and Gu Luo''s team, they simply couldn''t breach the second defense line.


    Let alone the third defense line formed by forty Zudun Giants.


    But the reinforcements never arrived, and they encountered an unimaginable number of enemies.


    No matter how powerful a hunter, it was impossible to face an alliance formed by the world''s finest hunter teams.


    These people with malevolent smiles seemed to have forgotten national boundaries, missions, and even their humanity.


    Chaos finally converged into one place, becoming a more lethal threat than the beast tide¡ªthe Fallen Legion.


    Lin Jue swung his hockey stick, the air filled with the nauseating stench of blood.


    He cursed loudly,


    "Damn it, I didn''t die to those bulls outside or get stomped to death by those big guys inside, only to be killed by my own people?"


    "What the hell are you laughing at, you son of a bitch, I recognize your face! You''re on the hunter''s list, right? Don''t come any closer, or I''ll break your skull!"


    "Fuck, you''re still laughing after being beaten to this state? Cry for me! Cry!"


    Lin Jue''s noise and activity were actually intentional.


    He had felt that he needed to keep thinking constantly to fend off these strange laughs.


    And when he yelled at the top of his lungs, his teammates seemed to snap out of it instantly.


    Several times, he saw two of Gu Luo''s team members'' mouths slowly stretching into a grin.


    He would immediately shout over, and it genuinely seemed to have the effect of enlightenment.


    "This won''t do, boss. If we keep fighting like this, sooner or later we will become like them, laughing like freaks. Look at Cyclops, his laughter is disgusting."


    "Damn you, Lin Jue, when did I ever laugh? It''s you who laughs like you''re crying," snapped Cyclops, his aim unfailing, even as he bantered with Lin Jue, his hands didn''t falter.


    Gu Luo said,


    "No matter how strong we are, two teams can''t face nearly half the world''s hunters. Among these hunters, there are those whose strength matches ours."


    Wielding his greatsword, Gu Luo was still relatively lucid, the laughter affecting everyone to some extent.


    But Gu Luo and Song Que, deserving of being the leaders of their teams, remained the most clear-headed from beginning to end.


    Ye Feng, although he possessed a strong eye talent, had a weaker strength and struggled to withstand this kind of erosion from the depths of his consciousness.


    He clutched his ears, appearing to be in pain. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In such a state, facing the enemy was even more arduous.


    Hunters from the Fallen Legion swarmed in, quickly surrounding Ye Feng.


    These hunters were already powerful, the strongest of each fortress.


    Now, under the Joker''s influence, they behaved madly, even losing their sense of pain, becoming even more difficult to deal with.


    Lao Lei''s fingertip strikes were frequent as he faced the increasingly clear laughter in his mind, simply frowning in response.


    Streaks of lightning fell, and the hunters around Ye Feng were easily defeated by Lao Lei.


    Xiao Shi followed Song Que, and anyone trying to get close to Song Que was taken down by the girl''s extremely clean and precise military spike technique.


    Her face expressionless, her gaze empty, Xiao Shi seemed even more immune to the laughter than Song Que and Gu Luo.


    "Your team is indeed filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. This girl on your side seems even crazier than those with the smiling faces," noted Gu Luo, still with some strength to spare as he fought and talked with Song Que.


    Song Que responded,


    "Xiao Shi... she''s a bit special. I can''t explain this to Brother Gu right now. Let''s deal with the situation at hand first."


    "How do we deal with it? Push forward or retreat? If we push forward, we''re no match for those creatures right now. If we retreat, we''ll have an endless stream of hunters to face, not to mention a bunch of wild bulls waiting for us in the outermost area!"


    Gu Luo''s expression showed resolve, apparently prepared for the worst.


    Song Que maintained his composure.


    He appeared simple-minded when he smiled but was in fact the sharpest of the three family heirs.


    "An extraordinary individual has joined the hunters. If we want to win, we must find the source of the chaos. Observe carefully; that person is definitely watching us from the shadows."


    The others nodded in agreement, Song Que''s words offering them a glimmer of hope.


    If they could find the source driving the crowd mad, everything could be quelled.


    At least... that''s what it seemed on the surface.


    ...


    ...


    The Joker didn''t hide.


    Convinced he possessed an invincible force, he himself joined the chaotic fray.


    He was just like the madmen around him, but he didn''t laugh as exaggeratedly.


    Occasionally, he found the laughter grating, frowning in annoyance, and would even kick those who laughed too hideously.

 Chapter 103 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 2)_2

    In the chaotic battlefield, it was nearly impossible to detect him.It was like hiding a sane madman among a bunch of lunatics.


    The situation in battle was changing.


    The chainsaw and the dwarf displayed terrifying combat power.


    These two, always guarding the clown''s side, received new instructions from the clown.


    Capture Song Que.


    The pressure on Song Que and his companions increased dramatically.


    Once the bulky chainsaw appeared, Lin Jue and Gu Luo joined forces to attack.


    The terrifying force of a baseball bat and a giant sword capable of slicing through steel struck the chainsaw head-on.


    But their feedback was as if they had hit a clump of cotton.


    The sharp blades couldn''t penetrate the body filled with fat, and the thick layer perfectly absorbed the force of the bat.


    The chainsaw''s mouth curved into a smile as he lifted his terrifying chainsaw and began to swing it wildly.


    Indiscriminately, all hunters who stood in his way of killing Song Que were severely injured by the chainsaw.


    Clouds of blood stained the air.


    Lin Jue, holding a baseball bat, tried to confront the chainsaw head-on but was instantly flicked away by a flick from Lao Lei.


    Lao Lei, who rarely spoke, said:


    "Lin Jue, this is an enemy you cannot overcome by force."


    Lin Jue quickly calmed down.


    He had no doubt about Lao Lei''s strength and grumbled:


    "It''s up to you now, old man."


    Lao Lei nodded and flicked his fingers repeatedly.


    Thunder struck once more.


    The chainsaw, who couldn''t be defended against even by the combined efforts of Lin Jue and Gu Luo, showed a painful expression and let out a furious roar when hit by the massive thunder.


    But Lao Lei paid no attention. His fingers continued to flick rhythmically, and the lightning followed one after another.


    Gu Luo and Ye Feng watched in utter shock.


    This was the ace of the top three families?


    A burnt smell emanated from the chainsaw.


    The big man finally fell.


    But before the crowd could even breathe a sigh of relief, a shrill sound like a monkey''s screech came through.


    Lao Lei looked around in shock as a claw pierced through his abdomen, where just a moment ago there had been no one, and now a skin-and-bones dwarf appeared.


    He emerged suddenly, his face contorted with a twisted smile, frenetic and evil.


    He made frantic squeaking noises.


    The claw that had penetrated Lao Lei''s abdomen began to stir wildly.


    Lao Lei coughed up blood.


    "My lord..."


    Lao Lei couldn''t finish what he wanted to say as his consciousness began to blur.


    The strongest combat power of the Song Family had been ended in such a manner, leaving everyone''s mind blank.


    The dwarf retracted his claw, and his figure started to fade slowly.


    Invisible.


    It was only then that everyone realized that this dwarf was the deadliest assassin.


    As consciousness was about to dissipate and vision grew cloudy, there was still a hint of fierceness deep in Lao Lei''s eyes. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He flicked his index finger one last time.


    A massive bolt of lightning fell, targeting Lao Lei himself.


    The terrifying thunder was deafening, instantly drowning out all laughter.


    Alongside the thunder, there was a piercing scream from the dwarf.


    The smoke rolled. Lao Lei died. Beside him was another charred corpse.


    The Cyclops was stunned.


    Lin Jue''s teeth bit through his lips.


    Doctor Qin walked up to Lao Lei''s body and shook his head helplessly.


    The battle of the hunters continued.


    It didn''t end because of anyone''s death.


    Song Que''s eyes reddened as he said:


    "Maintain the previous formation, keep fighting, don''t let Lao Lei die in vain!"


    The sudden tragedy filled the ranks of Gu Luo and Song Que with grief and anger.


    Grief and anger can bring about fighting spirit.


    But such spirit didn''t last long.


    As one wave subsided, another arose.


    After the clown''s two guardians, fat and thin, fell, Song Que and his people faced another wave of strong enemies.


    When Song Que saw that annoying smile on Qi Xun''s face, he finally realized something.


    Gu Luo was right.


    He had been too naive.


    The truly terrifying enemies were not the beasts, but the hunters.


    In this hunting festival, every team had their preparations, eager to make a big show.


    But from the very start of the hunt, they had all become prey to some evil existence.


    ...


    ...


    Fortress 39, Level 7.


    Li Wanye was going through the documents. These were the recent reports from the evolution zone.


    His expression was grave.


    Song Gengzhao still maintained an optimistic attitude.


    "Li, what are you worried about? Don''t have confidence in your own child?" Song Gengzhao asked.


    "I never liked cooperating with the evolution zone; my son thinks it holds the future for mankind. I knew the evolution zone would send people to attend the hunting festival. What I didn''t expect was for Lincoln Fortress to grant them such convenience."


    Li Wanye continued:


    "They even sent out the best test subjects from the evolution zone, one of them with the terrifying ability to turn thoughts into ice."


    "Also, the evolution zone''s deadliest assassin, code-named 004. But the evolution zone denies they dispatched the clown."


    "To them, the clown is an uncontrollable failure. Under joint pressure from Lincoln Fortress and our Fortress 39, they just sent us internal trial data from the evolution zone."


    "The clown originally was an evolution zone physician responsible for hypnosis experiments. He has an intimate knowledge of each test subject that was formed three years ago."


    "The clown fooled two evolution zone test subjects, or rather, he had provided psychological guidance to two test subjects before. So, the Hunter''s Group from Lincoln Fortress didn''t suspect a thing, or maybe they were all hypnotized by the clown."

 Chapter 103 Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch (Part 2)_3

    "Although the Evolution Zone is conducting crazy experiments, they are quite disciplined to the outside world, dealing only in the business of buying and selling experimental subjects. The Clown, however, is a taboo existence even the Evolution Zone doesn''t like to mention, known as the most dangerous SSS-level experimental body."Song Gengzhao observed Li Wanye''s expression and finally sensed the gravity of the situation.


    "According to the information from the Evolution Zone, the Clown''s greatest pleasure is to twist a person''s human nature, turning someone completely into a chaotic madman. The stronger the target, the more mentally steadfast they are, the more likely they are to be targeted by him."


    "In other words, Old Song, your son Song Que might very well be one of his targets!"


    Song Gengzhao was shocked but still harbored a sliver of hope in his heart.


    Lao Lei was the top hunter thirty years ago, and as time passed, not only did his strength not wane, but his power became even more refined.


    With such a person guarding his son, he should be safe, right?


    ...


    ...


    The Qi Family''s team made their appearance, and those hidden masters in the second fortress joined the battle, plunging the exhausted Song Que and Gu Luo''s team into their gravest crisis.


    Qi Xun truly was a prodigal in disguise.


    Neither Lin Jue, the best in close combat, nor the One-eyed King, the best in ranged attack, could suppress Qi Xun.


    The teammates beside Qi Xun were also experts the Qi Family had kept hidden over the years.


    The previous enemies, if killed, were just killed.


    If a scion of the top houses were to be killed, the entire political situation in Huaxia could become chaotic.


    The united top houses might even break apart because of this.


    Bearing this in mind, Song Que, Gu Luo, and others ultimately couldn''t give it their all.


    Before long, they all suffered injuries.


    The corner of the One-eyed King''s mouth began to involuntarily stretch into a smile.


    His consciousness gradually started to become unclear.


    "Lin, I might not be able to hold on much longer!"


    Lin Jue was stunned.


    The swinging of his bat stopped.


    "Damn it, keep your spirits up. What are you telling me this for?"


    "If I... do anything strange..."


    "Get lost, if you''re a man, fight with all your might, and ignore the laughter in your head!"


    After the shout, the One-eyed King sobered up a bit.


    Song Que and the others noticed this situation.


    A tremendous pressure enveloped everyone''s heart.


    No one knew who among them might be the next to emit an evil laugh, maybe even a comrade who once fought side by side.


    After the fall of Lao Lei, everyone realized how powerful the old man was.


    It was immediately evident that, without Lao Lei, each of them felt the pressure increase exponentially.


    "We can''t hold on much longer. All the people coming are enemies; there''s absolutely no reinforcement..."


    For the first time, Song Que began to panic.


    His gaze fallen despondently towards the front.


    There was a person in front, dressed like a clown, looking at him with interest.


    "I see sadness, anger, despair in your eyes, tut-tut, such a pitiable child. These things could all be turned into extreme happiness, yet you have no clue how to experience it. Let me teach you. You''re different from these people, you are the most delicious food."


    The Clown''s voice wasn''t loud, it should have been audible to him alone.


    But Song Que heard it.


    Like a whisper ringing in his ears. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The little girl beside you is interesting; a person without a heart. You''ve found out, haven''t you? The immense sacrifice others have made for you, because of your father. She will be your shadow for life. Isn''t that hard? Do you feel guilty?


    In pain? Self-blame? I can make you free from these troubles. Don''t worry, you won''t become a madman who only knows destruction and foolish laughter like they do. You will be my successor; you have intelligence that doesn''t lose to mine. Inherit my mantle, and I will let you experience unprecedented power."


    Song Que gradually retreated, and everyone realized that this was the first time Song Que had backed down.


    He covered his ears, looking even more in pain than Ye Feng.


    As if resisting something.


    "We''re so close. The world is filled with foolish hypocrites, absolute chaos is absolute fairness! I can give you the chance to kill me, just accept the voices in your mind, it will free your thoughts, and all beings will become equal in your eyes. Whoever you want to kill, you can kill!"


    With each step the clown took forward, Song Que took one back.


    An excited smile finally appeared on his face, which always remained calm.


    It was as though after wasting countless hours thinking the boring journey was at an end, he suddenly discovered a priceless treasure.


    The more righteous a person is, the more insane they become after their fall.


    It was the first time the clown encountered someone who could resist his erosion for so long.


    Bit by bit, Song Que''s mentality was crumbling.


    Lin Jue seemed unable to swing his baseball bat any longer.


    The One-eyed King threw away his sniper rifle in agony.


    Gu Luo was protecting Ye Feng, while a sinister smile occasionally crept across Ye Feng''s lips.


    Doctor Qin sealed his own hearing, but it didn''t seem to be working well.


    And like the Qi Family and the others, the rest of Gu Luo''s team had turned into chaotic monsters.


    They attacked their former teammates frenziedly.


    For the first time, Song Que felt terror coming from the clown-faced man.


    Despair kept surging forth.


    Song Que struggled to control his breathing, to steady his emotions.


    But the clown''s gaze and words were like mercury, seeping in everywhere.


    He was about to break down, yet he gritted his teeth and clung onto the last shred of his sanity.


    The clown was as excited as if he had discovered a new continent.


    "Perfect, you are a masterpiece of this world! You are even better than those subjects in the test area, even without any serum injections."


    "My child, despair is not to be feared. When madness becomes your servant, when chaos becomes your law, you will find that the whole world is your playground. Just like this."


    The clown twisted Lilith''s neck.


    The woman, who was obsessed with watching him, never expected to meet such an end.


    In her eyes lingered infatuation, but also confusion and sorrow.


    These emotions slowly buried themselves in the soil of the mines, never to sprout again.


    "See? Isn''t it liberating? Nothing in the world can restrict you anymore. You want to do the same, don''t you? Don''t deny it; the girl you''re protecting is tired. Just like I did, give her peace, will you?


    Hurry! Prove to me you have the talent to do so!"


    The clown''s tone intensified.


    It was like the beating of a heavy drum.


    Song Que shook his head in pain, but his fingers slowly clenched into claws.


    Evil and fervor surged in the clown''s eyes.


    As if his greatest work was finally coming to fruition.


    But suddenly, Song Que steadied his heart.


    There was light in his eyes, as if the absolute darkness of the previous second had finally been torn asunder.


    The clown only felt a terrifying force. His feet left the ground in an instant.


    Not just the clown, but everyone in his sight who had been eroded by him was in the same state.


    An invisible power, defying the law of universal gravitation, lifted them into the air.


    All laughter ceased abruptly.


    The sight of hundreds of powerful hunters floating in the air, unable to utter a word, astonished those still on the ground like Song Que.


    The originally gruesome battle turned bizarre and absurd in an instant.


    The entire world seemed to freeze suddenly.


    Footsteps trampled through the mud, sounding like wind chimes guiding souls towards sanctity.


    A little girl with blue glasses appeared in the sight of Song Que, Lin Jue, and the others.


    Next to her was a man wearing a mask and wielding a kitchen knife.


    "Oops, I''m late. Let me introduce myself, I''m the Masked Chopper Hero, your savior. And this is my partner, the Blue-eyed Witch."


    (Ending here, you guys are probably going to tear up, huh? 5555 I still have to sell a cute act, I wrote ten thousand words for the two chapters today!)

 Chapter 104 Natural Disasters and Man-Made Calamities

    The world seemed to have come to a standstill.At least, when Lin Jue and the others looked up at the starry sky, the group of hunters they were helpless against just moments ago, nearly half of the world''s top hunters...


    ...all remained in a strange state of immobility.


    The evening breeze was softly blowing the long hair of the blue-eyed girl, and in that stillness, one could see the traces of time flowing.


    This sight shocked everyone.


    Lin Jue, Gu Luo, the Cyclops King, and the others gaped, dumbfounded as they watched hundreds of people suspended in midair, unable to move an inch.


    Even though the girl''s eyes were hidden behind blue lenses, one could still see a brightness akin to sparkling sapphires.


    A battle that was supposed to end in a tragic defeat had ended in an instant.


    Masked Chopper Hero and the blue-eyed little witch were names that no one had ever heard before.


    Song Que only felt that the masked person''s voice seemed familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.


    For Gu Luo and his companions, the two with their faces covered were probably like deities descending from heaven.


    Tang Xian was actually uncertain how Tang Suoye identified who among these people were friends and foes.


    In the process just now, he quickly verified and discovered that every person Tang Suoye locked in the air with telekinesis had the same characteristics.


    He was surprised at how swiftly Tang Suoye reacted¡ªit was almost like some sort of animal with wild instincts.


    And the formidable telekinetic power Tang Suoye displayed, this terrifying force that instantly controlled hundreds of top hunters, even Tang Xian considered it to be at an inconceivable level.


    The girl seemed to have lost some human characteristics. But at the same time, her abilities had become even more terrifying.


    Not even Eden''s Deer might possess such fearsome strength.


    Perhaps it was the serum injected into her years ago, or maybe, after the last injection of a high concentration of Eden''s Deer serum, it began to slowly integrate and underwent some sort of mutation.


    Maybe even Eden itself hadn''t foreseen this possibility, and the experimental subjects they were now striving to improve might all be inferior to Tang Suoye.


    Blue light flourished in Tang Suoye''s eyes, and she appeared to handle it all with ease.


    She was like a humanoid, disaster-level boss creature.


    Tang Xian considered himself a man-made disaster-level boss. Now that the two of them were together, they were probably akin to a combination of natural and man-made disasters.


    Tang Xian still gazed at those motionless people in the sky.


    They couldn''t even make the slightest sound.


    Perhaps even their voices were bound by telekinesis.


    Tang Suoye turned her head to look at Tang Xian, her hands gesturing some actions.


    Tang Xian instantly understood, she was waiting for his command on how to deal with these people.


    This was a rather troublesome question.


    Tang Xian walked over to Song Que, crouching down to size him up.


    Song Que was also watching Tang Xian.


    His expression was haggard.


    Though he was almost uninjured, his complexion was paler than anyone else''s.


    He stared at Tang Xian''s mask, which also bore the image of a smiling face.


    A mix of loathing and fear rose in his heart.


    He instinctively wanted to shrink away.


    Song Que really hated this feeling.


    The clown didn''t look very strong at all. But why was it that with just a few words, he made him feel so fearful?


    "Don''t be afraid, I''m not the enemy," Tang Xian said as he discerned the fear in Song Que.


    And some other complex emotions as well.


    This surprised him.


    Reflecting on the people Tang Suoye held captive, Tang Xian asked,


    "Tell me, what''s the deal with these people."


    Song Que tried to speak, but humiliation and fear mixed with a nameless aggression prevented him from organizing his thoughts.


    Tang Xian gently patted Song Que.


    "Relax, relax. You are the eldest son of the Song Family, the leader of all these people here. No matter what fear you face, you must overcome it and tell me what happened here."


    Even though Akasi hadn''t been found just now, Tang Xian was certain that Akasi wouldn''t have perished here. But he was also concerned about this large-scale hunter melee.


    Song Que nodded and after a few gritted teeth, he raised his trembling hand, pointing in a certain direction.


    Following his gesture, Tang Xian then saw the clown.


    He furrowed his brow.


    His impression of this man was profound.


    All the data displayed in his eyes were erratically jumping.


    "I''ll take care of him. You won''t have to be afraid anymore. But before that, I have some questions for him," Tang Xian said, looking towards Tang Suoye and gesturing at the clown.


    Tang Suoye caught the hint.


    It was as if a bubble floating in midair suddenly burst, and the clown within fell to the ground.


    There was no chilling laughter, just a very deep, raspy sound like rusted metal scraping against a throat.


    The clown quickly assessed the situation and concluded that their side had no chance of winning.


    The girl with blue-lensed glasses was simply too terrifying in her display of power.


    "She''s a test subject, right?"


    "I heard about the attack on Eden not long ago, tsk tsk, they''re still desperately searching for Akasi, unaware that they''ve unintentionally created such a horrifying monster."


    The clown''s eyes shone with zeal.


    But unlike with others, he was formerly a psychological doctor in Eden. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He knew about those test subjects better than most people in Eden.


    "This is a genuine triple-S rank! Far more powerful than half-finished products like 004 and Black Snake! Ah, it''s such a pity, no chance to guide her now," the clown lamented.


    Tang Xian approached the clown.


    "Your face doesn''t look as good when you smile as my mask does. So many people imitating you must have something to do with your abilities, right?"

 Chapter 104 Natural Disasters and Man-Made Calamities_2

    The clown seemed to have already guessed his own ending, but he was not afraid.On the contrary, he was very excited.


    He sneered at Tang Xian, staring straight into Tang Xian''s eyes.


    As if he had discovered some kind of treasure.


    "So there is a better seedling than that child."


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows, and as the clown prepared to approach, Tang Xian kicked the clown away.


    "You''re filthy. Did I allow you to stand so close?"


    The force of that kick almost prevented the clown from standing up again, yet the clown''s laughter became even more exaggerated.


    "What a surprise. All my life, I''ve been looking for someone like you, and I never thought you actually existed."


    "Hahahahahaha..."


    Although his ribs were broken by Tang Xian''s kick, the look on the clown''s face was one of morbid joy.


    He struggled to his feet and said to Tang Xian:


    "All other people pale in comparison to you, and even in terms of talent, the difference is vast. You must often feel that the people of this world are idiots, right?"


    "It''s such a bore, you have such perfect qualifications, yet you live such a mundane life. But now it''s different, the chaos today is just the beginning of a great era of chaos."


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows.


    This guy sure talks a lot.


    He turned to look at Song Que, only to find Song Que was in great pain.


    Without delay, Tang Xian said, unable to discern the clown''s needs:


    "You are very interested in me?"


    "No no no, I''m not interested in you; I''ve realized I cannot assimilate you, but your existence will bring me much joy in the future." The clown''s smile began to slowly recede.


    He examined seriously the greatest surprise of the day once more.


    "Is there any possibility for these people to return to their original state?" Tang Xian asked.


    He really didn''t like this man, for one because he was unkempt. Another reason was the persistent feeling of being outmaneuvered.


    Tang Xian couldn''t quite place why he felt this way.


    The clown clearly hadn''t done anything.


    But Tang Xian always felt he had overlooked something.


    "Who knows? Wouldn''t it be nice for them to stay happy forever?


    Did you know, I can see your memories. Your childhood was quite interesting, but it''s a pity, you can''t remember it anymore."


    The clown showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.


    He looked at Tang Xian as if seeing something he had never seen before, even with a touch of obsession.


    It was rare for the clown to feel regret, and his gaze now occasionally revealed it.


    Song Que gritted his teeth and said:


    "Don''t let his nonsense affect you!"


    Tang Xian didn''t feel much and said:


    "He can''t affect me. But what about you, can you hold on?"


    Song Que did not respond; his mind was still filled with the clown''s previous actions.


    The clown glanced at Song Que and shook his head, saying:


    "Tsk tsk tsk, poor child. He is different from you; he is above you. A being equal to me."


    "You will never surpass him. The world is unfair; some people are born with the power to change the world. A narrow sense of justice won''t make you stronger. If you want fairness, accept my help."


    "Enough!" Song Que shouted angrily.


    This shout was full of fear and anger.


    Tang Xian frowned again.


    He was sure that the clown possessed an extremely terrifying ability to erode the mind.


    But perhaps because mental attacks originating from people were also something he was immune to, he never sensed the clown''s terror from the beginning.


    It was only through Song Que that Tang Xian was convinced of the power of this ability.


    Tang Xian said:


    "You sure are talkative. You and I are not equals. After all, you''re about to be gone."


    As Tang Xian''s words fell, the clown laughed even more exaggeratedly.


    "That child lacked something quite critical. He was so excellent, near perfect; I thought no one could make him have it."


    "But then you appeared. You are my greatest helper! The will of chaos has sprouted, and now, I will not die¡ª"


    Crack.


    Tang Xian stepped up quickly and twisted the clown''s neck.


    The clown didn''t get to finish his sentence before he was cleanly dealt with.


    His body went limp and collapsed to the ground.


    Tang Xian disliked the feeling and shook his hand, the annoying and sticky makeup powder made him very uncomfortable.


    "Blah blah blah, nothing but noise¡ªnow the whole world has quieted down. This is the first time I''ve encountered such a chatterbox lunatic."


    After the clown''s death, everyone felt the voice in their heads vanish suddenly.


    Even those who had fallen had the smiles gradually fade from their lips.


    The excessively long-lasting smiles contorted their expressions into something grotesque and odd.


    They then slowly closed their eyes and fell into a deep sleep.


    Maintaining such a high state of excitement, they all succumbed to deep slumber.


    Ye Feng felt this way, and even Gu Luo, Lin Jue, and the others felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue, although, compared to the rest, they could still barely hold on.


    Lin Jue helped up the one-eyed king, while Doctor Qin removed the needle near the ear.


    Gu Luo assisted Ye Feng.


    A difficult battle had ended.


    It was unlike other battles, with a calm start and a violent end.


    This battle had been extremely brutal from the beginning, but it ended as swiftly as a tempest.


    Just two people, just a few moves, and the catastrophe was quelled.


    Tang Xian approached Song Que and said,


    "Can you hold on? You look very poor."


    "I''m fine." Song Que didn''t look at Tang Xian but merely waved his hand, his gaze landing on the dead Lao Lei.


    Tang Xian''s expression grew serious.


    That uncomfortable feeling had returned.


    The clown was dead.


    All those whose wills had been eroded by the clown seemed to have been liberated.


    But it felt like the clown''s last words held a different meaning.


    Slowly approaching Lao Lei''s corpse, Song Que hung his head and looked at him.


    His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.


    His heart harbored boundless anger.


    Such anger he had not felt from his memories as a child until now.


    Yet when this destructive rage arrived, it seemed so natural.


    But in the end, Song Que did nothing.


    The voices in his mind had stopped.


    However, he did not feel relieved.


    Those voices seemed to have dissolved in his blood.


    After being lost in thought for a moment, Song Que suddenly came to his senses, stood up, and his expression gradually became calm.


    Seeing Song Que''s demeanor, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Anyone could see that the clown had fiercely attacked Song Que. But fortunately, the man had held on.


    Song Que turned and said to Tang Xian,


    "I guess even if I asked you to meet me with your true face, you wouldn''t agree."


    "Of course, that''s impossible. What are you planning to do now?"


    Tang Xian was uncertain whether Song Que remembered his voice. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed he would have to use a disguised voice next time. That was an oversight.


    "This year''s Hunting Festival can only end like this, unfortunately. Hunters across the Federation have suffered heavy losses, and now we''re all out of energy," said Song Que with some regret.


    "That''s fine, it''s just as I thought. Just stay here and get some good rest. Take care of your people. You wouldn''t be able to break through the wild bulls on the perimeter anyway. After resting for two or three days, we''ll try to break out together. Here''s a signal flare, take it."


    Tang Xian handed Song Que a signal flare that looked like a burning stick.


    Song Que understood the gesture.


    "If these people wake up with abnormalities, I''ll fire the signal flare immediately," Song Que said.


    Tang Xian nodded, then called out to Tang Suoye, who hurriedly followed.


    "By the way, how did you manage to penetrate this far in?" Song Que curiously asked.


    "Humans can fly in the sky, so naturally, those bulls can too," explained Tang Xian.


    Song Que chuckled lightly, shook his head, and said,


    "I really am a frog at the bottom of a well. I didn''t realize that in this world, there are hunters as powerful as you. I''ve learned something new."


    Tang Xian shook his head and replied,


    "Strictly speaking, the Blue-Eyed Witch and I cannot be considered ordinary humans, otherwise it would not be fair to you. That''s also why I don''t take part in the Hunting Festival."


    Looking toward the distant, hazy red light, Tang Xian said,


    "We need to keep moving, so we won''t stay here any longer."

 Chapter 105 The True Identity of the Masked Chopper Hero

    Tang Xian led Tang Suoye deeper into the red clay forest.But they were stopped by Song Que again.


    "The area ahead is not safe; there are many ferocious beasts in the mines, and deeper in, there are nearly forty Zudun Giants. To enter rashly would be extremely dangerous," Song Que called out.


    Without turning back, Tang Xian continued walking and said,


    "Don''t worry, although the Zudun Sage Tree is powerful, it ultimately cannot give chase. I''m not confident I can uproot it, but I have more than enough ability to protect myself."


    Tang Xian''s confident voice gradually faded into the distance.


    Song Que stared blankly into the distance, realizing the other party already knew about the existence of the calamity-class boss.


    "There is always a higher mountain. If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe that a human could do what just happened," Gu Luo exclaimed not far away.


    The Cyclops King nodded. Although the battle had ended, it still left him in disbelief.


    He looked at Lin Jue and said,


    "Lin, that little girl, how do I feel like she''s not on the same level as us? Isn''t she practically a humanoid boss?"


    Lin Jue retorted,


    "To speak of humanoid bosses, that Masked Chopper Hero might be even stronger. These two characters seem like they''ve just crossed over from a damn fantasy film set to our martial arts set."


    The ghastly battle, accompanied by the sorrow of parting, was momentarily forgotten in the joy of surviving the ordeal.


    Everyone''s tense nerves also relaxed. The fight that started with a jester had now come to an end,


    and Song Que and the others rested and took care of one another by turns.


    When Li Zheng''s team arrived, it was already half an hour later.


    The sight deep in the red clay forest left Li Zheng and his teammates at a loss.


    All they could see were hunters lying on the ground, not getting up, some still alive, others long dead.


    The scent of blood in the air was piercing.


    Seeing Song Que, Li Zheng couldn''t imagine what hardships such a favored son of heaven had endured.


    "What happened? Why are so many people... Could it be an encounter with a horde of beasts?" Li Zheng approached Song Que.


    Song Que looked very pale and shook his head.


    Qin Qian was very cautious. She was always attentive and soon noticed a detail.


    Many of the hunters lying on the ground bore that unforgettable smile. Experience new tales on empire


    But all of these people were already dead.


    Seeing that Li Zheng and his people were unharmed, Song Que also heaved a sigh of relief and said somewhat helplessly,


    "Zheng, you really are blessed by the heavens for not having to face this battle."


    "What in the world happened? What''s the situation? It seems all the hunters from the hunting festival have gathered here, right?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Almost, but it wasn''t a beast horde."


    Song Que began to slowly recount what had happened to Li Zheng.


    Li Zheng listened with mounting horror, piecing together what Qin Qian had told him on the way; he could begin to appreciate just how terrifying the Clown was as an adversary.


    He wasn''t like any ordinary person, or rather, the Clown''s will seemed like a virus.


    In terms of martial strength, he might not be terrifying, but his corrosion of people''s hearts was irresistible.


    However, when hearing about the Masked Chopper Hero, his reaction was the most intense.


    "Masked Chopper Hero? The little blue-eyed sorceress? They showed up here?"


    Li Zheng knew of the Masked Chopper Hero; he also knew of Tang Suoye.


    But he had never seen Tang Suoye''s eyes.


    He couldn''t imagine any human eyes that could shine with the light of sapphires.


    Nor could he imagine why a little girl would be able to unleash such powerful telekinesis.


    Qin Qian was also incredulous when she learned of this scene.


    Her abilities were also related to telekinesis; within her sphere of influence, biological speeds become extremely slow. Small objects would come to a standstill.


    But to control hundreds of top hunters at the same time? That was the stuff of fantasy.


    The crowd was already stunned, and upon reflection, they found this power all the more terrifying.


    The expression on Li Zheng''s face was complex.


    Tang Xian was Akasi''s teammate, and so was the Masked Chopper Hero, and now there was a little blue-eyed sorceress.


    With the wreckage spread before him, although Li Zheng had not witnessed the battle firsthand, he could imagine the horror of the sorceress.


    An earlier conversation with his sister suddenly came to his mind.


    "There are four more months. I hope the Li family can always act according to our own reasoning," she had said.


    "Always prioritize the interests of all humanity first?"


    "Yes."


    This dialogue made Li Zheng paused.


    At that time, forming an alliance with the Song Family and gaining their support was in the Li family''s best interest.


    He couldn''t imagine someone relying solely on their own strength, or that of a small team, to demonstrate greater value.


    But now this thought began to waver.


    At this point, Song Que lowered his voice and whispered,


    "Zheng, the Masked Chopper Hero, is he the Tang we met that day?"


    Li Zheng looked at Song Que with a face that was as if he was listening to a ludicrous statement, but his heart was tumultuous.


    He wasn''t certain if Tang Xian was indeed the Masked Chopper Hero.


    He had indeed considered it.


    "Why do you say that? Tang Xian is indeed talented, but he is hardly strong, quite weak in fact."


    "My mind was very confused before. I didn''t immediately remember his voice, but now I''ve cleared up some. Although Tang''s voice was rather serious last time, this time it seemed deliberately unserious, but I can tell it''s the same person."


    Li Zheng began to sort out his thoughts.


    Everything started with Tang Xian.


    At least, the only one who went back and forth to Fortress Thirty-Nine was Tang Xian.


    This Masked Chopper Hero had never appeared again after Tang Xian returned to Fortress Thirty-Nine.

 Chapter 105 The True Identity of the Masked Chopper Hero_2

    Akasi''s respect for Tang Xian had long caught Li Zheng''s attention.Throughout his contemplation process, Li Zheng''s expression remained unchanged, just as it always was.


    He had reached a conclusion¡ªTang Xian was very likely the Masked Chopper Hero.


    But ultimately, Li Zheng shook his head and said:


    "Although I''ve never seen the face beneath the Masked Chopper Hero''s mask, I can be sure it''s not Tang Xian. That kid has no talent."


    "Really?" Song Que was surprised.


    "Really. Before the Trial of the Chosen, we, the Li family, started to keep an eye on him. He is a genius with a wealth of academic knowledge, but sadly, he can''t even see life values, so he''s not the Masked Chopper Hero." Discover more content at empire


    Li Zheng paused, then continued in a very low voice:


    "Others may not know, but you should be aware. As one of the top three families, the Evolution Zone has collaborated with us. I was the most obsessed and I had thrown a lot of money into it, only for the Masked Chopper Hero to come and disrupt everything."


    "However, I should also thank him for saving your lives."


    Song Que did not speak, listening intently.


    "The power of a human cannot reach the level of the Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-Eyed Devil Girl you saw. They destroyed the Evolution Zone, perhaps because they are its most powerful experimental subjects."


    Li Zheng concocted a story, a mix of truth and fiction.


    He did not want to deceive Song Que, after all, this was his future brother-in-law.


    While the existence of the Masked Chopper Hero was not a secret to the Evolution Zone and the top families, his own relationship with the Masked Chopper Hero had to be tightly guarded.


    Song Que remembered what the Clown had said.


    Before dying, the Clown had expressed admiration for the Blue-Eyed Devil Girl as a true SSS-level entity, and thus, he nodded unconsciously, believing this statement.


    "And Tang Xian, for some embarrassing reasons, we have all his X-rays, health records, holographic scans. He is as normal as one can be, and he has always stayed within the Thirty-Nine Fortresses, never leaving."


    Song Que nodded and said:


    "It seems their similar voices are just a coincidence."


    Li Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject, "Is there something ahead? They continue to walk deeper; they''re not just strolling around on a whim, are they?"


    Li Zheng was concerned, especially since Akasi was still inside.


    Song Que''s response surprised Li Zheng.


    "Deep in the Red Clay Forest, there''s a calamity-level boss, which is likely the Zudun Sacred Tree. Maybe... they are heading for the Sacred Tree."


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Deeper in the Red Clay Forest.


    s004 and the Nvwa Snake were engaged in a fierce duel against Akasi, watched by a circle of beasts.


    The trajectory of s004''s bullets was so fast that even Akasi could not see them clearly.


    The speed of these bullets was frightening!


    Amazing speed, and the power was just as formidable. With the boost of telekinesis, a bullet the size of a fingernail could shatter a wall of ice.


    But he could not hit Akasi.


    Lei Xiao''s serum had long since fused into every cell of Akasi''s body.


    Especially here in the mining area where all of Akasi''s talents were awakened, focused entirely on speed.


    He was unable to dodge s004''s bullets, truly experiencing the strength of a top tier S-level experimental subject.


    However, the action of s004 pulling the trigger was enough for Akasi to react and evade.


    s004 was alarmed to find that he could no longer follow the silver-haired man''s speed with his eyes.


    Every time he tried to aim at Akasi, all that was left behind was an afterimage.


    This terrifying speed left both Nvwa Snake and s004 helpless.


    By continuously creating ice walls and firing bullets, the dual attack of ice and fire greatly hindered Akasi.


    But they could not harm Akasi.


    He was holding his own against two S-level experimental subjects, whose strength was even beyond that of the initial number one and number two experimental subjects, solely with his speed.


    "It''s endless like this, the noise from that group of humans seems to have disappeared. Something must have happened," said s004.


    Nvwa Snake nodded.


    Even though his ice spears couldn''t keep up with Akasi''s movements, they also prevented Akasi from attacking him and s004.


    "The leader said that Akasi was the only experimental subject who had compressed all his attributes into a single one. It seems now, while he may have a big weakness, it has placed him in an invincible position. Continuing like this will only waste our time," remarked Nvwa Snake, his eyes emitting a dim silvery-grey.


    "Hold him off for a while for me."


    s004 did not speak; he concentrated his energy, aiming at Akasi with even greater speed.


    The sound of gunfire became more intense, yet not a single shot touched Akasi''s shadow.


    Several times, without the help of the Black Snake, he nearly let Akasi break through to him.


    "What a tough guy."


    Facing Akasi, the usually calm s004 started to feel somewhat frustrated.


    It was like a game where against someone who didn''t care about winning or losing but pursued some extreme attribute, so they put all their skill points into fleeing and dodging¡ªthe trickster.


    Obviously weak, yet frustratingly untouchable.


    Even in the absence of some kind of suppression, s004 felt Akasi''s dagger almost pressing against him several times.


    This situation didn''t last too long. After holding Akasi back for a short while, a huge ice wall rose from the ground with impressive momentum.


    Akasi quickly retreated.


    The expression on Black Snake''s face showed weakness; releasing such a massive ice wall had almost drained half his strength.


    Akasi''s eyes widened as he looked at the ice wall that seemed endless at a glance, a scene that could almost be comparable to the icy breath he faced when confronting the Nvwa Snake.


    Akasi stood on the outside of the ice wall.


    While Black Snake and s004 stood on the inside.


    They did not delay at all, the huge ice wall spurred the scattering of numerous beasts, and the Golden Fierce Birds in the sky finally felt the polar cold, so they flew even higher.


    Akasi began to run around the ice wall, trying to get to the other side. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the ice wall was like a massive gate.


    It sealed off all the possible gaps leading to the heart of the Red Clay Forest.


    He raised his dagger and struck the ice wall fiercely, but even so, the effect was minimal.


    The ice wall was terrifyingly thick.


    It seemed to completely isolate the deepest part of the Red Clay Forest.


    "An S-class subject, actually able to release such a terrifying elemental force."


    Akasi felt a little scared; had he been hit by that bald man even once, he would have been dead.


    But he was not planning to retreat to Li Zheng''s side.


    "Knowing that there are endless fierce beasts inside, these two are still heading to the deepest part; it seems there is something inside that they must obtain no matter what."


    "I need to think of a way to get in."


    Stroking his chin, Akasi began to ponder how to break through the ice wall.


    But before he could think much, he immediately became alert.


    He didn''t have Tang Xian''s sense of smell, but Akasi''s senses were far superior to ordinary people.


    He assumed a defensive stance.


    Not until he saw the figure of the person who had come did Akasi stiffen, his eyes brimming with surprise and joy, and his hand holding the dagger began to tremble.


    "Don''t point the dagger at us; your girl is even stronger than you now,"


    Tang Xian appeared with Tang Suoye.


    After Tang Xian had caught Akasi''s scent, he had led Tang Suoye straight to where Akasi was.


    Just as they were about to meet Akasi, Tang Suoye took off her glasses.


    Tang Xian looked at the tear-filled eyes of Akasi and Tang Suoye and could imagine their excitement. This was the first time they had appeared in the mining area with their freedom since both had been fully conscious.


    Underneath the mask, Tang Xian''s face rarely showed a hint of a proud smile.


    It was a matter of pride to have rescued two subjects who had escaped from the evolutionary area and who had been dependent on each other since childhood.


    Although it was a pity that Tang Suoye couldn''t speak, and even Tang Xian was not sure if Tang Suoye would be able to speak in the future,


    a man like Akasi would only be gentler to this girl.


    Tang Suoye rushed into Akasi''s arms, her blue pupils full of mist.


    "Alright, we may be just the three of us, but no one is a burden. On the other side of the ice wall, there are countless elite and perfect level creatures, including forty perfect level bosses,"


    "And there is one extremely weakened calamity level boss seedling. This is also the most vulnerable calamity level boss creature we are likely to encounter at this stage."


    Tang Xian arrived in front of Akasi, ruining the mood as he continued:


    "So cut the lovey-dovey, you can hug all you want once we''re back. Since you''re here, we can''t return empty-handed."

 Chapter 106 The Fall Wont Kill Me

    Outside the ice wall, Tang Xian, the solitary figure, didn''t feel a critical hit looking at the two hugging each other. Read latest stories on empireHe just felt it was a bit of a waste of time.


    However, having already arrived at the deepest part of the Red Soil Forest, Tang Xian also wasn''t in a hurry.


    Now, he still needed to explain to Akasi that Tang Suoye was unable to speak.


    "There''s something I need to tell you. Your girl is unable to speak for some reason, I guess it''s due to a high concentration of blood serum, which led to the loss of her language function."


    Tang Xian said it very bluntly.


    Tang Suoye lowered her head, not letting anyone see her saddened expression.


    Akasi was stunned at first, then gently rubbed Tang Suoye''s hair and said softly,


    "It''s okay, I''ll try to be more in tune with you."


    Try to be more in tune with her. Guessing those thoughts she couldn''t voice.


    Tang Xian was slightly surprised; although he had known Akasi would be accepting, he didn''t expect him to be so calm and natural about it.


    This guy is born with killer instincts, right? Boldly venturing into the deepest part of the Red Soil Forest, yet beneath the assassin''s exterior lies a tender soul.


    Before the air began to fill with the sour stench of mental exertion, Akasi turned to Tang Xian and said promptly,


    "The two from the Evolution Zone are inside. I can''t break through this ice wall. Their goal should be the same as yours."


    "Let Tang Suoye do it," Tang Xian said.


    Tang Suoye nodded, and the young girl quickly came to her senses from the joy of reunion, without any delay, her blue pupils once again reflecting the light of the deep sea.


    The layers of ice that Akasi couldn''t break began to slowly show web-like cracks.


    The entire ice wall seemed to become disconnected, with small pieces of ice floating in the air like drift ice.


    These fragments were but a drop in the ocean compared to the entire wall.


    But it happened countless times in just a brief moment.


    The tiny drift ice, like stars, and above Akasi''s and Tang Xian''s heads was a galaxy.


    In just a matter of seconds, the entire ice wall was completely disintegrated.


    The petty ice scrap fell evenly everywhere, like hail.


    The fierce sound made numerous animals let out panicked cries.


    Akasi was astounded; he knew all too well what level Tang Suoye''s strength was before.


    Although destroying things is much simpler than creating them, it took Black Snake a lot of effort to create that ice wall; he was practically exhausted afterward.


    Yet Tang Suoye didn''t show the slightest discomfort.


    It seemed like a rather tedious and bothersome task that didn''t require much energy.


    After a long time, the sounds of beasts and falling hail both gradually disappeared.


    The depths of the Red Soil Forest returned to tranquility once more.


    "They''re gone."


    Akasi looked ahead, where those beasts clearly remained in place without shifting.


    Yet the figures of Black Snake and s004 had disappeared.


    Akasi was puzzled; although the two were S-class test subjects, how could they pass through such a massive herd of creatures?


    "The scent is gone too," Tang Xian said in a serious tone.


    He asked, "Do you have any other intel about these two test subjects?"


    "One can summon ice elements, but their other abilities are only at the level of ordinary test subjects. Another one is S-class; the bald one has terrifying shooting skills, and he''s somewhat similar to Ye. Both use Telekinesis; beyond that, they''re slightly stronger than ordinary test subjects. No additional abilities have been discovered, but they should have no reserves."


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "If they didn''t defeat you, they probably didn''t hold back. It seems they have some sort of camouflage ability. But such an ability won''t last long."


    High-tech stealth devices can''t be used in the mining area; Tang Xian believed the more powerful the method, the more stringent the conditions for its use in the mine. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Regarding the calamity-level boss, can we get our hands on it?" Akasi asked.


    "I''m not sure, but according to the records, when the Zudun Sacred Tree is a sapling, its Soul Crystal will be exposed on the tree trunk, like a heart grown on the trunk or a fruit borne by it. Unlike animals, we don''t need to kill them to extract the Soul Crystals. We just need to steal the Soul Crystal."


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Those two from the Evolution Zone must be thinking of heading to the same place."


    In the midst of the night, a faint red glow cast light upon countless eyes.


    Even with just a glimpse through the haze, Tang Xian could imagine the number of these creatures.


    Their individual strengths, the overall number, were far beyond those of the hunters they had faced before.


    Tang Xian wasn''t sure if Tang Suoye could control a situation like this.


    The development of the situation then completely exceeded Tang Xian''s expectations.


    As the three of them broke through the ice wall and were scheming on how to breakthrough the second line of defense formed by the herd,


    A voice echoed in Tang Xian''s mind.


    [Remnant of the First Civilization, did you bring these foolish humans?]


    The voice had an archaic tinge but also sounded somewhat weak.


    Tang Xian knew of only one situation where he would hear a voice in his mind.


    That was when facing a boss-level creature incapable of human form.


    Theoretically, Zudun the calamity-level boss Sacred Tree should be like Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu, capable of taking on human form.


    But it was a plant. Tang Xian speculated that this was why it couldn''t transform into a human.


    [Give me back my Soul Crystal! Otherwise, even if it''s you, I will launch an attack! Your people have stolen the opportunity for evolution from all beings! You are provoking a war!]


    Tang Xian remained silent.

 Chapter 106 Cant Fall to My Death_2

    ```The Zudun Holy Tree must have sensed me, but it cannot sense me in great detail.


    Tang Xian calmed down. Akasi and Tang Suoye, upon seeing Tang Xian''s expression, did not speak, thinking that he was calculating something.


    "The two test subjects have succeeded." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Soul Crystal of the Zudun Holy Tree has been stolen."


    Plants are different from animals; they do not need to be killed to harvest their Soul Crystals. However, also, plants will not die immediately after their Soul Crystals are removed.


    "The beasts haven''t acted out yet, it seems the Zudun Holy Tree hasn''t informed the beasts. Does that mean, even the Zudun Giants don''t know that two humans have infiltrated?"


    A disaster-level boss creature is about to go into a rage, yet Tang Xian''s focus at this time was entirely on something else.


    "These two guys must be dealt with. Equipment can''t be brought in here, which means they relied on their abilities to infiltrate the beasts and steal the Soul Crystal."


    [This is the last warning, respond to me! Otherwise, this land will be your burial ground!]


    The hazy red light began to flash more frequently.


    In an instant, Akasi and Tang Suoye could feel that the gaze of all the beasts was no longer wary but was tinged with a certain hostility.


    A dense intent to kill spread between heaven and earth.


    Tang Xian still did not respond to the Zudun Holy Tree.


    In the annals of history, the Zudun Holy Tree, though wise in its juvenile years, was not fully sound.


    It sensed me and thought that the ones who stole its Soul Crystal had been sent by itself.


    But it could not pinpoint my exact location.


    "These creatures are still restraining themselves, the flashing red light must represent a signal."


    "The Zudun Holy Tree is still capable of holding its breath, mostly because of me. Tsk, my face really is quite significant."


    Tang Xian discovered that the more powerful the boss, the more polite they were towards him.


    He then turned his attention to another point.


    Remnant of the First Civilization?


    This sounded like a certain race.


    The Zudun Holy Tree did indeed refer to themselves this way.


    Perhaps this name could explain some of the mysteries surrounding me.


    Like these bizarrely styled talents.


    But Tang Xian never opened his mouth. He was convinced that even if he did, the ancient tree would not be able to hear him at this distance.


    The other could communicate in my mind, but I was just a human.


    In primitive areas like the mining district, transportation was basically by foot, and communication was basically by shouting.


    "It''s a pity, I was determined to steal the Soul Crystal today. I can''t expose my position."


    [Foolish human! Greedy remnant of the First Civilization! Do you think you can escape? You will suffer the retaliation of the forest!]


    Tang Xian cleared his ear, whispering:


    "We don''t need to go any deeper."


    Akasi, puzzled, asked:


    "Why?"


    "The two test subjects have already triumphed, and the flashing red light is the precursor to the Zudun Holy Tree''s impending fury. A huge disaster will soon befall the Red Earth Forest, a real natural calamity."


    "Should we evacuate?" Akasi didn''t understand how Tang Xian came up with these conclusions.


    But he would not question them.


    Tang Xian shook his head, saying:


    "Of course not. If two test subjects can rob the Zudun Holy Tree, we''ll rob them."


    A myriad of thoughts flickered through Tang Xian''s mind at that instant, beginning to deduce the abilities of the two test subjects.


    It wasn''t simply invisibility.


    Because there was no scent.


    The Holy Tree could not sense me, but it couldn''t be that it didn''t sense its own Soul Crystal at all.


    "In this vast Red Earth Forest, with the two of them leaving no trace of their scent, how can we find them?"


    Tang Xian said:


    "Their abilities are very likely some sort of shielding barrier, such power drains quickly, they can''t hold out for much longer¡­"


    Tang Xian hadn''t finished speaking when the earth shook once again.


    Tang Xian, Akasi, and Tang Suoye, being very close to the source of the tremor, nearly stumbled and fell.


    Akasi reacted the fastest, quickly finding his balance.


    With one look, his eyes were filled with horror.


    The beasts began to stampede.


    Whether it was the enhanced creatures, the elite beasts, or the perfect beasts, all began to charge wildly in all directions.


    This trembling in part, came from the onslaught of the beast horde.


    ```


    On the other hand, the forty Zudun Giants arranged in a circular formation finally dispersed, moving their mountainous bodies as they began to rush in every direction.


    The violent tremors sent dirt and rocks flying.


    In Akasi''s line of sight were countless huge boulders floating in the air.


    Tang Suoye''s eyes blazed with blue light, as countless pebbles fell like torrential rain.


    But Tang Xian and Akasi were unharmed. The soil and stones, whether they were bulky, hard, or sharp, all stopped in their tracks and hovered in mid-air as they neared Tang Xian and Akasi.


    The three of them came back to their senses and realized that they were no longer standing on solid ground, but on a massive boulder, with an endless abyss beneath their feet.


    The world had been turned upside down.


    Now Akasi understood just how terrifying the true cataclysm Tang Xian had spoken of was.


    Mountains and rivers, dirt and wood, all began to break apart.


    Along with the very earth itself.


    And the beast herds seemed to have experienced such events before, as they sprinted among the floating rocks in the air, relentlessly hunting for prey.


    It was like climbing and leaping through a reversed space.


    But they weren''t aiming for Tang Xian and the others.


    Hundreds of black-spotted monkeys, accompanied by a troop of gemstone tigers and iron tree giraffes, whizzed past, completely ignoring Tang Xian, Tang Suoye, and Akasi.


    On the other side, spike pigs and iron can hogs collided furiously with blood howl panthers.


    In the sky, night eagles and golden fierce birds began to let out aggressive cries, the rulers of the sky angrily diving down!


    Tang Xian and the other two watched all of this from a rock covered with plant roots, as Tang Suoye''s terrifying telekinesis kept them, and the massive boulder they were on, suspended in the air.


    They did not continue to fall.


    But many fierce beasts had already begun to plummet into the abyss.


    Even so, the herds seemed utterly crazed.


    Suddenly, Tang Xian turned his head to look back.


    The cracking of the earth and the reversing of heaven and earth seemed to continue, spreading out toward the outskirts of the Red Soil Forest.


    Tang Xian shouted,


    "Song Que and Li Zheng are in danger, these people have no more strength, many are still unconscious, this level of collapse will take their lives! Akasi! Take good care of Li Zheng and Song Que! Tang Suoye, you and Akasi together, use your abilities to protect everyone else!"


    "What about you?" asked Akasi in surprise.


    "I won''t die."


    Tang Xian was very worried about Li Zheng and Song Que.


    Especially Song Que.


    In moments of crisis, people often lose their sanity, but there are also those like Tang Xian, whose minds work even faster the more critical the situation.


    He finally understood the meaning behind the clown''s words.


    The clown''s fearless gaze was because of Song Que.


    He had caused some kind of irreversible harm to Song Que through mental erosion.


    But thankfully, Song Que led a group of people to hold these beings at bay.


    Otherwise, the top hunters of the human faction might have been killed by the beast herds by now.


    The dragon-slaying heroes could one day become the evil dragons that people fear.


    Song Que was going through some kind of struggle.


    The clown believed he would ultimately fall.


    In the midst of the world collapsing and the cosmos reversing, Tang Xian suddenly thought of this.


    "Take care of Li Zheng and Song Que! Go!"


    Tang Xian had little faith in human nature, but he trusted Song Que, even if the road to redemption was perhaps more brutal than imagined.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s unchangeable resolve, Akasi no longer hesitated, scooping up Tang Suoye.


    At the fastest speed, almost as if possessed by Lei Xiao, he weaved through the floating rocks in the sky. He was like a streak of silver light, while the boulders were like mirrors reflecting light.


    In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from Tang Xian''s view.


    The massive boulders began to fall.


    Tang Xian watched the abyss beneath his feet, silently making calculations.


    "I''ve been hit by a bullet before, a UAF sniper bullet travels at 1400m/s. And a standard NATO 7.62*51mm bullet weighs around 24 grams. At that time, the pain it caused me was only slight. Assuming that the sensation of pain caused me 5 percent effective damage."


    "The gravitational acceleration in the mining area and that of the Pyramid World are actually the same. So, taking into account my current falling speed and air resistance ¡ª"


    "I probably wouldn''t die even if I fell from the atmosphere, right? At worst, I''d just lose an arm or a leg."


    "Not bad, I probably haven''t miscalculated, let''s give it a try by falling."


    Tang Xian''s expression became calm, as if falling into the abyss from mid-air was no big deal.


    But man''s calculations are not as good as Heaven''s. Just as Tang Xian prepared to find a comfortable position to fall,


    a gigantic foot, the size of a soccer field, appeared above his head.


    "Damn, I''ve only lived through 106 chapters, and it looks like I''m going to die."

 Chapter 107 Short and weak but persistent

    Zudun Giant.Only by seeing its full stature could one estimate its terrifying height.


    If Zudun Giants stood still and were observed from a distance, forty of them could compose a mountain range.


    For they stood nearly six hundred meters tall.


    The land was now churning, all living beings running through the flying sand and rolling stones.


    Facing the abyss below, they all desperately searched for a foothold.


    But the Zudun Giants were different... They were standing in the abyss, yet one could still see most of their bodies.


    Tang Suoye was seeing such gigantic creatures for the first time.


    Akasi recalled the massive beings Tang Xian had spoken about; it was hard to imagine how enormous the Sea Demons were.


    After all, next to the Sea Demons, the Zudun Giants, with their six-hundred-meter-tall figures, were like ants beside a giant elephant.


    If there really were creatures that could grow so huge, their mere existence, even just normal activities, could likely cause apocalyptic devastation.


    The look in Tang Suoye''s eyes was fraught with worry.


    A group of Zudun Giants spread out, standing in the abyss and continuously searching for something, their movements slow but each step heavy with force.


    She was truly afraid Tang Xian would be crushed underfoot.


    Akasi saw the concern in Tang Suoye''s eyes and said,


    "Don''t worry, he''s even stronger than us."


    Song Que, Li Zheng, and the others were still in danger. Akasi ran at full speed, with Tang Suoye barely managing to keep ahead of the speed at which the ground was collapsing.


    ...


    ...


    Of course, Tang Xian wasn''t so easy to kill.


    Though he was certain his maximum health had expanded many times, he probably couldn''t withstand a stomp from a Zudun Giant.


    Now, Tang Xian possessed the attribute of reviving the moment he wasn''t dead. But he would still die if he took damage exceeding his maximum health.


    Luckily, the Zudun Giant''s footpads were enormous, like a giant leaf descending.


    The powerful downward blast of air, once it hit the bottom of the abyss, would create a brief convection.


    Tang Xian quickly calculated the wind direction and, using the tremendous force of the Serpentine ability, ricocheted out from the convection layer along with the wind.


    The terror and speed of Serpentine gave Tang Xian a relatively safe initial velocity.


    When the shadow overhead was no longer a vast footpad caked with moss and dirt but instead the murky sky, Tang Xian realized he had narrowly escaped death.


    But before he had the chance to cheer, he was flung into the air by the updraft created as the giant''s foot touched down.


    After his consciousness was tossed and turned, Tang Xian grabbed onto a vine.


    He was battered senseless and had grabbed the vine in a daze.


    Then, he began to swing along with the vine.


    The swings were large, and as his mind cleared up a bit, Tang Xian looked up.


    Sure enough, this thick woven vine turned out to be the waist garment of a Zudun Giant.


    Tang Xian was like a speck of dust in a muddy rain, which after a sudden stomp could splatter everywhere.


    He had evaded one Zudun Giant''s stomp, but had ended up at the waist of another.


    He clutched the vine tightly, the thick vine seeming only like a strand of hair to the Zudun Giant.


    Amid the violent swaying, Tang Xian came to grips with the situation.


    "I can''t fall down!"


    What would the sight of forty giants trampling in the abyss be? A slight misstep could mean real death.


    In contrast, atop the giants were safe.


    After acquiring the Serpentine skill, Tang Xian''s arm strength had improved somewhat.


    But to grab onto the vine and climb a distance of about five hundred meters, especially during such violent shaking, Tang Xian admitted to himself that he didn''t have the strength to do so.


    Thinking of a possibility, Tang Xian began to shout loudly.


    He decided to take a gamble.


    Next to the giants'' backdrop, whether it was his shouting or actions, all seemed feeble and weak.


    But he was a man of endurance.


    After roaring hoarsely for a few minutes, his voice finally managed to penetrate through layers of interference and reached a Zudun Giant''s ears.


    "Why are you here?"


    A giant hand stretched out toward Tang Xian just as he was about to lose his strength.


    Tang Xian gave up struggling, allowed himself to free fall, and then landed on a palm harder than rock.


    He felt as if he heard the sound of bones displacing, but within two seconds, the pain disappeared from his body.


    He twisted his body, forcibly realigning the misplaced bones.


    He was like a monster that couldn''t die no matter what.


    "Acquired one point of Zudun Giant resistance."


    The message in his sea of knowledge left Tang Xian with mixed feelings.


    The palm slowly rose, as if he were riding an extremely large elevator.


    Not until the breath from the Zudun Giant''s lung chamber, carrying a nauseating stench, struck Tang Xian''s face did his gaze finally land on those massive pores. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His throat hurt a bit.


    Even the man with the greatest endurance would feel drained maintaining high-frequency activity.


    "I came here for a walk."


    Tang Xian knew that Zudun Giants were not very bright. Even though the Zudun Giants were supposed to deal with invaders, they hadn''t recognized Tang Xian as one.


    He was betting that without the Soul Crystal, the intelligence of the Zudun Sacred Tree would fade quickly.


    He also wagered on the notion that although creatures could sense each other''s location through a Soul Crystal, they could not convey voice.


    This should be a privilege only he possessed.


    At least when Qing JiuYu talked to others, she needed to open her mouth, not just let it echo in one''s sea of knowledge.


    "Now is not the time for a stroll, the ancestral totem is angry."

 Chapter 107 Small and Weak but Long-lasting_2

    The expression on the Zudun Giant''s face was even more naive than when Song Que smiled."Alright, I''ve got it."


    The Sacred Tree is the totem of the Zudun Giants? S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was hearing this for the first time.


    Although he could remember it in his mind, he still instinctively wanted to take out paper and pen to jot it down.


    Of course, now was not the time for a stroll or academics.


    [We are looking for the person who stole the totemic flame, have you seen them?] The Zudun Giant curiously looked at Tang Xian.


    Though his appearance was terrifying, his demeanor was definitely classifiable as that of a simple and honest character to humans.


    As naive as a child.


    "I know where they are, I''ll take you. But you have to let me sit on your shoulder first."


    Upon hearing Tang Xian''s words, the Zudun Giant was overjoyed and immediately lifted his hand, sending Tang Xian flying toward the mountaintop like a sesame seed.


    Fortunately, he landed securely on the shoulder, though the landing was less than graceful.


    "Head straight west. Fast! Don''t let those two get away!"


    [Okay!] Though the Zudun Giant agreed, each movement was still extremely clumsy.


    Tang Xian got up and squatted on what felt like the mountaintop of a shoulder, spitting out the mix of mud and vegetation that had gotten into his mouth.


    The wrath of the Zudun Sacred Tree. Herds of beasts in frenzy, spreading Zudun Giants. The world overturning, the sky and earth collapsing.


    On the lands of the red soil forest, a terrifying natural disaster was unfolding.


    No creature could escape unscathed; such was the fury of a catastrophe-level boss.


    The entire red soil forest, even the borders, would turn to ruins as time passed!


    The figures of s004 and Black Serpent finally emerged. They could no longer maintain their stealth in such harsh and even deadly conditions.


    The Zudun Sacred Tree had now fully entered a state of rage.


    It could no longer sense its own Soul Crystal; after all, it was just a plant.


    And the Zudun Giant, though it had the word ''human'' in its description, was considered a fool amongst the mining area''s creatures.


    Tang Xian could already smell s004 and Black Serpent.


    Their frantic escape couldn''t outpace the strides of the Zudun Giant, no matter how hard they sprinted.


    This massive creature, though cumbersome, covered great distances with each step due to its sheer size.


    The distance between the Zudun Giant and the two evolved beings was slowly shrinking.


    But Tang Xian was not satisfied with the rate of this reduction.


    s004 held a Soul Crystal glowing with a purple light; even he, always so composed, now showed a wild ecstasy in his eyes.


    The Soul Crystal of a disaster-level boss, amidst the current struggle between two fortresses for the rights to pioneer the eighth layer, was unimaginably valuable.


    "Put that thing away, into the equipment bag!" Black Serpent instructed.


    s004 nodded, even though it was his first time witnessing such a dazzling Soul Crystal, he was not overly attached.


    The two of them maintained their rationality and composure.


    Their speed was fast, though not faster than the collapsing ground, but with their agile movements, they could navigate between the broken and suspended earth and stone.


    Black Serpent even summoned a bridge made of ice crystals, crossing straight over the collapsed space.


    This cheat of a path had already taken them out of the disaster zone.


    Though the entire red soil forest was affected, the tremors and collapses were noticeably less severe in the outer region.


    Just a little longer, and this hunt would earn the two men honor for Lincoln Fortress''s first Hunter''s Group.


    And indeed bring an invaluable treasure to the evolutionary zone.


    Their footsteps quickened even more.


    Tang Xian watched from behind, calculating the time the Zudun Giant would need to catch up to them.


    "No, this won''t do. Although the distance is shrinking, by the time we reach the Zudun Giant''s attack range, those two would have reached the teleportation area!"


    Tang Xian was confident he could defeat the two S-rank test subjects, after all, they were still human.


    But under the current circumstances, they would certainly not choose to fight him.


    The crystal from a disaster-level boss was now the most valuable object in the world.


    In this situation, they would undoubtedly choose to escape the epicenter and head straight for the teleportation rift as quickly as possible, leaving the mining area behind.


    Participants in the hunting festival were not allowed to carry portable teleportation rifts.


    They all used automatic teleportation rifts set for six days and twenty-three hours.


    Besides, fleeing to the teleportation area was considered a forfeiture of the hunt''s remainder.


    But it wasn''t a disqualification, scores would still be tallied; they would just have fewer days compared to others.


    Yet the crystal of a disaster-level boss, that purple glow, could overshadow any score.


    And their current direction of escape was unmistakably towards the teleportation rift station.


    "Unless someone can stop them for a while, it''ll be too late even if the Zudun Giant catches up!"


    Tang Xian realized he was out of options.


    But then, he suddenly thought of a possible solution, albeit a painful one.


    "Throw me¡ª"


    Just as Tang Xian resolved to risk his life again, he abruptly stopped.


    For it seemed s004 and Black Serpent had halted.


    In the darkness of night, he couldn''t see what was happening so far away, but his sense of smell told him the two had stopped.


    ...


    ...


    Zhong Xiuran felt he was particularly unlucky today.


    He had already settled in an outer position, too lazy to participate in the hunt.


    But he hadn''t expected to encounter such a massive earthquake.


    No, this was more than an earthquake, it was like the heavens were shuddering.


    Half of the traps he had set up were destroyed by the quake, and half as many traps meant half as much money!

 Chapter 107 Small and Weak but Persistent_3

    They had expected these people to be driven out by the beasts, yet they played a bigger game than anticipated.A catastrophic-level boss creature appeared, and though they hadn''t seen the Holy Tree, the massive silhouettes at the end of their sight still sent shivers down the spines of Zhong Xiuran''s team members.


    Zhong Xiuran also guessed some clues.


    He couldn''t bear to abandon his traps and hesitated for a long time. Just as the ground fissure was about to expand to his area, he was about to issue the command to retreat.


    At this moment, s004 and the Black Snake appeared.


    By a stroke of bad luck, they triggered the remaining traps set by Zhong Xiuran.


    Feeling the vibrations under their feet, the team members yelled and ran for their lives.


    But Zhong Xiuran refused to run.


    The hunting festival was likely not going to continue, with a catastrophic-level boss creature appearing, who would dare stay on the third day?


    Yet the competition had to go on.


    You couldn''t return empty-handed after all.


    Vines and branches intertwined, sand and soil clustered; Zhong Xiuran''s traps were simple, but with his power to manipulate the environment, the traps became inescapable.


    In a sense, he was more like an elite-strength Zudun Holy Tree.


    "Hand over your prop bag and tell me the prop password, or you''ll die here!"


    The lazy young master didn''t scare anyone when he played the villain; both his lines and acting were somewhat lacking.


    A fierce killing intent surged in s004''s gaze. His face, devoid of hair and eyebrows, had an intimidating presence in itself.


    This glare only made him look more ferocious.


    But Zhong Xiuran''s first response was to slap him twice.


    "This is a robbery, know your place."


    Of course, s004 wouldn''t hand over his prop bag. He just silently stared at Zhong Xiuran.


    The gap in strength between the two men was huge, and even though he was the one trapped, his aura still overwhelmed Zhong Xiuran.


    Meanwhile, the huge silhouettes in their line of sight became clearer and clearer.


    Everyone was convinced that a Zudun Giant was running their way.


    "Captain! We''ll lose our lives if we don''t leave now!" The team members dared not delay.


    They barely had the strength to fight against perfect-level creatures, but the sheer size of the Zudun Giant, towering six hundred meters tall, often made people subconsciously forget its level.


    The severity of the earthquake grew stronger, like the power emanating from the center of the termite mound had finally reached the outskirts.


    The pressure in Zhong Xiuran''s heart also increased gradually, and he gritted his teeth and said:


    "Retreat!"


    The breath of death was slowly blowing their way.


    Zhong Xiuran could no longer concern himself with his traps and led his team in a swift escape.


    Without Zhong Xiuran''s telekinesis, s004 and the Black Snake quickly broke free from these traps.


    They extricated themselves from the mud and sand.


    Despite the delay, it hadn''t messed up their plans.


    The two of them made some quick adjustments and prepared to leave again.


    They were almost under the giant shadow of the Zudun Giant.


    At this time, s004 sensed an unknown presence and revealed a puzzled expression.


    The Zudun Giant couldn''t possibly attack from such a distance.


    He turned around with a mix of shock and suspicion, only to freeze instantly.


    A figure was descending in a parabolic trajectory from the sky.


    Like a precisely aimed missile.


    He didn''t know who the incoming person was, but that smiling mask was already known to every high-ranking official in the evolution zones.


    Tang Xian felt the first half of his entrance was absolutely as cool as an Indian movie.


    But the second half of his entrance was a bit nonsensical.


    Luckily, with the mask, there was no real face-plant.


    Having plummeted from hundreds of meters in the air twice, Tang Xian had completely gotten used to the pain.


    He quickly got up, straightened his mask, and said:


    Continue reading at empire S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hello, this is a robbery."

 Chapter 108 The Villain with a 40-Meter Long Sword

    Based on Tang Xian''s landing posture and timing, as well as that beautiful parabolic trajectory.s004 and Black Serpent thought of an outcome they couldn''t believe.


    But they had seen it with their own eyes. They had to believe it.


    "Are you human, or a creature from the mining area? Did you ride over here on a Zudun Giant?"


    Black Serpent looked incredulously at the mask.


    Tang Xian found this question rather difficult to answer.


    Because of his abilities and certain traits, he had become the "good friend" in the eyes of the bosses, and the coveted prize in the eyes of humans.


    He shook his head and said,


    "That''s a good question, and I don''t really know how to explain it at the moment. Let''s handle things one by one, starting with finishing up this robbery."


    Bang!


    s004 was not like Black Serpent with a thirst for knowledge; he was an emotionless shooting machine.


    His shot was aimed straight at the face.


    The bullet flew with a speed that humans could not react to.


    Even Akasi could only dodge before s004 fired; otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to avoid the terrifying bullet either.


    Tang Xian was hit, without any suspense.


    The bullet lodged in his cheek, knocking out one of his teeth.


    Spitting it out along with saliva, Tang Xian twisted his head.


    The immense force nearly dislocated his neck.


    He looked at the mask with distress and said,


    "Can you not hit the face when you punch someone? This mask is made of carefully chosen materials, crafted from medical lipids and silicone. It''s oil-resistant, doesn''t age easily, has a smooth not rough surface, and is very elastic."


    Black Serpent and s004 exchanged glances, their eyes filled with horror.


    This was the first time s004 had encountered someone who took a direct bullet to the face and acted as if nothing happened.


    Their expressions became grave in an instant.


    Once the mask was gone, Tang Xian''s face was exposed.


    "It''s you!" s004 recognized Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian did not produce a second mask; there was no need to cover up after being recognized.


    At the stadium, anyone with a bit of perception would have noticed they were being watched.


    s004 had been specially noted by Tang Xian that day, and similarly, Tang Xian had also been observed by s004.


    "So the Li family is in cahoots with the Masked Chopper Hero!" s004 glared at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "The partners of the Masked Chopper Hero currently only include the Silver-haired Dagger Hero and the Blue-eyed Little Witch. There''s no relation to the Li family."


    Akasi, who was at a distance helping Tang Suoye rescue the hunters, obviously didn''t know he had suddenly become the Silver-haired Dagger Hero.


    "Alright, enough talk. You can''t defeat me; although I''m not fast, my arms now give me some combat advantage."


    Tang Xian continued to say, S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hand over the Soul Crystal of the ancient tree, and I can spare your lives. I''m a trustworthy and honest person."


    s004 and Black Serpent did not respond, instead replying to Tang Xian with a barrage of bullets and ice spikes. Discover hidden content at empire


    But the bullets couldn''t penetrate Tang Xian, just as before, and even his reaction to the attacks was becoming more and more nonchalant, as if he was starting to become immune to them.


    Ice spikes that flew like arrows were simply shaken off by Tang Xian with a wave of his hand; touching him turned these powerful ice spikes to mush.


    Due to repeatedly deploying Snake Stance, the skill level had risen to the second tier.


    The attack range and activation speed had once again increased.


    Before landing, Tang Xian had precisely calculated the position of the parabolic descent.


    Black Serpent and s004 were right within his attack range.


    The two had been fighting together for years, always believing the area immediately before them was their absolute domain.


    It wasn''t until Tang Xian launched his attack that they realized they had made a grave mistake.


    s004, being a top experimental subject, could see from Tang Xian''s movements that the man was very slow.


    But he had an explosive force that defied the laws of physics!


    In an instant, Snake Stance struck them both.


    Black Serpent and s004 finally experienced the terror of someone who single-handedly brought down the second fortress evolution zone.


    Their blood churned as if their souls were struck out of their bodies by the serpentine palm.


    Nevertheless, the two had vast combat experience, their strength still above the Samurai and Ninja of the Sky Guardian Fortress, and they started to retreat, dodging back repeatedly by relying on their combat skills.


    Tang Xian did not pursue further.


    His role in this fight was simple; he just needed to make his opponents believe that he had a speed they couldn''t escape.


    His last Snake Stance aimed for utmost speed, so the moves were concise and he struck only once.


    That one hit made a deeply profound impression on Black Serpent and s004.


    Tang Xian seemed to be an existence even more terrifying than a disaster-level boss.


    Everything went as Tang Xian had planned.


    The two realized they couldn''t win and tried to avoid the fight by retreating from the battlefield.


    But Tang Xian stood in their way.


    Having witnessed Tang Xian''s methods, s004 and Black Serpent no longer dared to rely on their instincts to gauge him.


    They started to flee backward.


    Tang Xian did not chase; instead, he began to run in the opposite direction.


    Black Serpent and s004 were a bit puzzled.


    "Why isn''t he pursuing us?" wondered s004.


    Black Serpent suddenly had a realization, looking up uneasily towards the distance.


    The Zudun Giant was still hundreds of meters away; its massive steps should not be able to reach him and s004.


    He breathed a sigh of relief internally.


    Black Serpent sneered,


    "He wants to force us to retreat into the attack range of the Zudun Giant. He''s playing his cards too well."


    s004 nodded, still puzzled by why Tang Xian wasn''t chasing and instead retreating.


    Soon they knew the answer.


    It was an answer the two could think of too, but they could hardly believe that a creature from the mining area would coordinate with a human like this.


    The Zudun Giant didn''t raise its foot to stomp down. Black Serpent and s004 were not within its attack range.

 Chapter 108 The Villain with a 40-Meter Saber_2

    ```It chose another way to attack.


    The entire gigantic body, reaching six hundred meters in length, fell straight down!


    Like a mountain collapsing, an overwhelming force akin to Mount Tai''s pressure!


    Black Snake and s004 experienced a state of stupor for the first time.


    It felt as if the enemy was brandishing a ten-meter-long broadsword, chasing them.


    Though the enemy''s sword strikes were fierce, they never hit the pair.


    But just when they thought they were safe, the broadsword suddenly extended to forty meters.


    s004 glanced back at the Masked Chopper Hero, whose presence terrified him.


    As if he heard Tang Xian saying from a distance, "I''ll let you run 39 meters first."


    And Black Snake''s last thought: This guy is not human!


    The enormous shadow loomed over them, and despite their speed, they ultimately couldn''t escape hundreds of meters within a few seconds.


    Even Tang Xian, who had retreated quite a distance, still felt a gust mixed with numerous rocks and mud hitting him.


    The earth shook again, a total of three times.


    The first was from the giant body pressing down, and the second and third were as the Zudun Giant propped itself up with its left and right hands.


    The land at the very edge of the Red Soil Forest was compressed into a humanoid shape.


    A six hundred meter long humanoid shape.


    It wasn''t until after the Zudun Giant stood up that Tang Xian slowly approached where Black Snake and s004 had been.


    The massive pressure, amounting to billions of tons, had flattened the two into a state of such detail that describing it might cause this story to meet a 404 error.


    In the darkness of the night, Tang Xian could not clearly distinguish them from the soil, but the scent of the Soul Crystal guided him.


    The night was illuminated with a subtly pulsating purple glow.


    The Soul Crystal of a calamity-level creature, of course, hadn''t been destroyed by the Zudun Giant.


    The prop bag also shattered under the extreme pressure.


    Inside were many leading-edge items from the Evolutions Zone, but they had all become deformed and unusable.


    Only this crystal remained intact.


    Tang Xian had noticed it quite early on.


    After he landed, the earthquake in this area had stopped.


    He looked up around him.


    Some hazy red glows, as if alive, slowly began to spread this way.


    Tang Xian held the Soul Crystal in his hand. Even he, who always viewed such items indifferently, couldn''t help but be a bit obsessed.


    The rich purple luster was much purer than the previous Nvwa Snake crystal.


    This was the genuine crystal of a calamity-level boss creature.


    Even though his team was in no way capable of battling such a boss, he had become the biggest winner in this hunting festival.


    Now, all he needed to do was to open the portable teleportation crack and return to the Pyramid.


    Tang''s hand was already on the switch of the portable teleportation crack.


    This would be the most valuable mining haul he had obtained since entering the mining area.


    After all, can the dealings of a scholar be called plunder?


    Tang understood the value of the crystal better than the people in the Evolution Zone.


    But looking at the surrounding hazy red light, he didn''t leave immediately.


    "[Very good, my partner, you have found the flame of the totem!]"


    The Zudun Giant cracked a smile, revealing a simple and honest grin.


    Tang felt the unrest still present beneath the earth at his feet.


    But the ground he was on no longer suffered the exaggerated fissures from the beginning.


    "Yes, but the sacred tree is dying. Your totem has been separated from the Soul Crystal for too long and is about to wither. Even if I bring back this totem, it will be of no use," Tang said.


    The Zudun Giant was taken aback.


    He couldn''t hear the sacred tree''s call and simply trusted Tang.


    In the Zudun Giant''s view, Tang was a good friend who fought side by side with him to reclaim the flame of the totem.


    His joyful face from one second before turned sad the next.


    "[The forest is gone... The forest is gone...]"


    Muttering to himself, the Zudun Giant staggered back a few steps, sad like a three hundred million-ton heavyhearted person. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang wasn''t just fooling the Zudun Giant.


    Because in his sea of knowledge, there were two other voices.


    One was about the powers acquired from killing s004 and Black Snake.


    Tang didn''t pay attention to this notice; he now had to deal with the sacred tree.


    The red-glowing moss seemed to be the Zudun Sacred Tree''s organs for sensing the world.


    Only, they sensed not Tang but the bead in his hands.


    ```


    They slowly spread to Tang Xian''s feet.


    [I am about to die, the forest is about to wither, and you, the remnant of the first civilization, have committed a sin.]


    Because the voice echoed in the sea of consciousness, Tang Xian could feel the weakness of the Zudun Sacred Tree even more.


    Although the plant could continue to fight for a while after being separated from the Soul Crystal, it would die after a certain amount of time.


    The earthquake was so violent that it accelerated the energy depletion of the Zudun Sacred Tree, hastening its death.


    It was on its last breath, wanting to curse Tang Xian, the thief.


    Tang Xian bent down, his expression sacred with solemnity and solemnity mingled with sorrow, and he said to the red glow:


    "I am terribly sorry, I didn''t arrive in time. If I had gotten here earlier, perhaps I could have prevented those two thieves from taking your Soul Crystal."


    The ground suddenly trembled again.


    Tang Xian didn''t get distracted but continued in his best actor mode:


    "I live in the Sea of Trees. Speaking of which, we could have been neighbors. I fully understand the importance of the forest to animals. How could I allow so many creatures to be displaced for the sake of this Soul Crystal?"


    "Upon learning that your Soul Crystal was stolen, I chased along with your offspring, overcoming numerous obstacles, and finally found the two people who had stolen your Soul Crystal. They have already been punished. Although you mistook me for being in league with them, I don''t blame you."


    "I only blame myself, for not being capable enough to return the Soul Crystal to you sooner."


    "In the end, I still want to say, I am not your enemy, if you don''t believe me, you can ask your people."


    Tang Xian appeared grief-stricken, looking up to the sky with a long sigh as if mourning an old friend beyond salvation.


    The red glow dimmed.


    Tang Xian didn''t speak anymore, patiently waiting.


    The Zudun Sacred Tree seemed to be verifying the truth of Tang Xian''s words.


    Not until a long time later did the voice of the Zudun Sacred Tree once again come through Tang Xian''s sea of consciousness:


    [Would you be willing to rebuild the forest?]


    "Of course, every Arbor Day, I plant quite a few trees in the mining area," Tang Xian casually said.


    The intelligence of the Zudun Sacred Tree saplings was not very high.


    [I must undergo devolution in order to survive. Please keep my Soul Crystal and my body safe.]


    Tang Xian had never experienced such a thing but felt something fading away.


    Of course, he could have just walked away, not caring about the Zudun Giant or the Zudun Sacred Tree at all.


    After all, the Soul Crystal was his goal.


    However, it felt like achieving the same reward with different ratings for the completion.


    Although he didn''t know what the Sacred Tree was planning to do, eliminating the animosity between them also seemed like a good thing.


    Tang Xian looked around and suddenly found that both the earthbound trees and the red-tailed trees, whether already broken or stubbornly surviving this disaster, were withering at a rate visible to the naked eye.


    Yet, the red moss in his view glowed ever brighter.


    The red light surrounded Tang Xian, and the red moss seemed like a serpentine snake.


    It stopped only when it reached his feet.


    At the same time, the red glow completely dimmed.


    No more voices of the Sacred Tree came from the sea of consciousness. The Zudun Giants began to wail together in unison.


    Their wailing sounded like hundreds of whales singing at the same time.


    At Tang Xian''s feet, there was now a red Xiao Hua.


    From sprout to full bloom, it happened in just a mere ten seconds.


    From bloom to wither, equally brief.


    He bent down to closely examine the flower.


    The red petals wilted, falling one by one.


    In the center of the stamen, only a tiny seed remained.


    It emitted a purple glow, as if creating some kind of resonance with the Soul Crystal in Tang Xian''s hand.


    Tang Xian carefully picked the seed and placed it in the finest compartment of his bag. Continue your adventure with empire


    From weed to flower, then from flower to tree.


    This was the path of growth and evolution for the Zudun Sacred Tree.


    Countless weeds were trampled and eaten, and no small number of flowers were picked and broken.


    To endure the long years and grow into a Sacred Tree, Tang Xian could imagine the hardships the Zudun Sacred Tree faced.


    His expression was one of compassion.


    He decided to hand the flower seed over to the state, to have Shang Lu nurture it properly.


    To plant on a large scale using plant cloning technology.


    When it came time to bloom¡ª


    He''d use the petals to brew wine.


    Upon this thought, Tang Xian''s expression finally cracked, and he smiled like a villain who had stolen honey.


    (Today, may we... just have a single update?)

 Chapter 109 I Really Want to See Tang Xian

    All things in nature follow their own destiny.In this world, what is absolute justice? The mining district is a world in turmoil.


    In this chaotic world, humans do not have much say, facing real monsters, they are no more than wild grass before a natural disaster.


    In this chaotic world, foxes can go to war with snakes, lions can ally with antelopes, grass-eating wild oxen have shell-like armor, and nocturnal wild dogs can grow three heads. Grass that doesn''t want to be eaten starts to emit a scent that wards off all creatures.


    This is a world where every species is scrambling to evolve, yet lives in fear.


    Tang Xian did not disbelieve in the existence of pure creatures in the mining district world, like the Zudun Giant, which, in a sense, was as naive as Tang Xiaojiu.


    But he was also well aware of the dangers and deceptions of this world.


    Humans stole the Soul Crystal from the sacred tree.


    Yet it was the sacred tree itself that destroyed the entire red soil forest.


    All creatures chose to protect the sacred tree only because its fruit might bring them the chance of evolution in the future.


    As for the forest?


    The forest was not destroyed by humans, who had little say.


    From the moment the Zudun sacred tree turned into a flower seed, Tang Xian saw everything clearly.


    All surrounding plants, regardless of life or death, had their vitality taken away and wilted.


    All of this was just the sacred tree forcibly extracting vitality to survive.


    There was no possibility of the forest being rebuilt, nor was there any need to rebuild it.


    This sacred tree evolved from a wild grass to a flower, and from a flower to a sapling.


    Finally, it took advantage of the ancient traditions of the Zudun Giants, utilizing these simple creatures to migrate to the red soil forest, the place most suitable for plant growth.


    The fruit of the sacred tree could bring evolution, and by making good use of this temptation, it got all creatures to start protecting it.


    Everything seemed incredibly sacred, if not for the withering of all things, if not for the fact that the catastrophe of the red soil forest originated from the sacred tree itself, Tang Xian might have felt sympathy for the sacred tree.


    He had read some underground publications, and in novels, there were often stories of people turning into trees.


    Most of the stories were fascinating.


    This sacred tree also had the charm of the trees in those novel stories.


    Tang Xian could imagine it evolving step by step until it finally gained its own wisdom in the ruthless mining district.


    It went from being a producer to becoming a predator.


    However, Tang Xian still decided to cultivate this flower seed carefully, he had never seen such a flower before and wanted to know all of its characteristics.


    What kind of plant could evolve into a disaster-level boss? These unmastered pieces of knowledge were all of interest to him.


    Of course, he was also curious about how the wine made from its petals would taste.


    ...


    ...


    Deep in the red soil forest.


    The night was already muddied by the torrential sands and stones.


    The herds began to die off in groups.


    The running wild beasts, the wild oxen on the outskirts, all ended up falling into the hundreds of meters deep abyss for lack of footholds.


    In the vast night, they were no longer visible.


    The hunters were destined for the same fate, facing such a collapse of heaven and earth, they couldn''t even protect themselves.


    Luckily, at the crucial moment, Tang Suoye arrived.


    Tang Suoye floated in the air, telekinetically holding up a huge chunk of rock.


    In this disaster of upheaval, it was this huge rock that gave the hunters a place to stand.


    The most Tang Suoye could do was to keep such a large rock suspended in the air.


    It was unbelievable to the people, comparable to a disaster-level creature.


    But against a true disaster-level boss creature, all Tang Suoye could do was save everyone.


    She was unable to make the huge rock leave the red soil forest with telekinesis.


    Anxiety showed in Akasi''s eyes.


    The rampage of the disaster-level boss creature had lasted too long.


    If the disaster continued without end, Tang Suoye would soon be unable to hold on.


    Qin Qian, with her powerful telekinesis and known as the Female Devil, was shocked at how the young blue-eyed witch had instantly controlled all the hunters'' actions.


    But at this moment, standing on this huge rock and sensing its vastness, she felt truly shaken, ashamed that she could not help at all.


    Such telekinesis was terrifying. She too realized that Tang Suoye was close to her limit.


    Li Zheng was supporting Song Que, and they looked into the distance.


    The rock was suspended thirteen hundred meters in the air, and from such a height, the entirety of the red soil forest could be seen.


    Li Zheng was initially skeptical that a disaster-level boss creature could appear in such a blue zone.


    After seeing the destruction of the land beneath them, he truly believed it.


    And he felt even more that the road ahead for humanity was exceedingly difficult.


    For they would eventually have to face those most fearsome beings.


    If mere natural disasters were so formidable, what would cataclysms be like?


    "Are we really not going to save him? You''ve seen the destruction this monster can cause," Song Que was still very concerned about the Masked Chopper Hero.


    Li Zheng shook his head and said, sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We are standing one thousand three hundred meters in the air right now, how do we go down? And although those beasts cannot be seen, their hide is thick and tough, not necessarily all swallowed by the abyss, it''s too dangerous down there."


    After pausing, Li Zheng continued,


    "As for the Masked Chopper Hero, he probably isn''t foolish enough to challenge the disaster-level boss. I believe he''s not that naive."


    "Really?" Song Que was skeptical.


    Li Zheng had his own thoughts.

 Chapter 109 I Really Want to See Tang Xian_2

    The crimson earth forest below, aptly called Asura Hell, is a test even for the Masked Chopper Hero in all his strength¡ªhow could he alone confront an apocalyptic-tier boss?If it were merely an apocalyptic-tier creature, Li Zheng might actually have some anticipation, but an apocalyptic-tier boss leaves no room for hope at all.


    This type of boss with wide-ranging destructive power is also what human forces least wish to encounter.


    The Masked Chopper Hero, or rather Tang Xian, is ultimately just a mortal.


    "I wonder how much longer that girl can hold on," Song Que said with concern, glancing at Tang Suoye floating in the air not far away, her right eye flickering with a blue glow.


    The light was still dazzling, but Song Que was sure that it had dimmed a lot since the beginning.


    If the disaster doesn''t end soon, once the Blue-Eyed Witch''s stamina runs out...


    Song Que didn''t dare to continue that thought.


    But the situation continued to deteriorate, step by step growing more grim.


    The always-stable rocky mountain began to tremble slightly.


    Tang Suoye''s breathing also started to become rapid.


    Everyone''s hearts rose to their throats.


    Lin Jue and the Cyclops King came to the edge of the rocky mountain, looking down at the red earth forest that had turned into an abyss from thirteen hundred meters up.


    "What a huge coffin; dying here wouldn''t be a loss," Lin Jue said boldly.


    The Cyclops King then raised his sniper rifle, peering into the distance through the scope.


    "Old Lin, does it seem quieter now?"


    "What do you mean, quieter?"


    "Down there, the red earth forest seems to have gone silent?"


    Hearing this, Lin Jue snatched the sniper rifle from the Cyclops King, pressing his eye against the scope.


    All he saw was pitch darkness.


    But indeed there were no signs of further collapse.


    "Damn. Don''t mess with me, did that masked guy actually take down the apocalyptic-tier boss?"


    Lin Jue was astounded by the scenes of calmness that shouldn''t be within his sights.


    The Cyclops King then ran to inform Li Zheng and Song Que of the news.


    Soon, Qin Qian, Akasi, Gu Luo, and others also realized that the collapsing red earth forest had quieted down.


    Li Zheng looked at Song Que and said,


    "That girl can''t last much longer. Now, do we keep her holding on, or do we take everyone down? You decide."


    Song Que did not shirk the responsibility, nor did he hesitate.


    "Land."


    Song Que looked at Akasi, who nodded in agreement.


    Some admired the man''s decisiveness and courage.


    Afterward, Tang Suoye received a prompt from Akasi. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had been suspending this gigantic rock in the air for too long, her power nearly depleted.


    ...


    ...


    The huge rock slowly descended.


    As people moved closer to the disaster zone during the descent, they felt anew the terror of the apocalyptic-tier boss creature.


    The red earth forest was gone.


    Instead of calling it a forest, it would be more fitting to call this place a red earth canyon.


    Or a red earth abyss. The air was filled with the foul stench of various creatures that had perished.


    All that could be heard was the howling wind.


    Only at about four hundred meters above ground could one occasionally hear the cries of a few Golden Fierce Birds.


    Their calls were mournful.


    This battle had no victor; these creatures that had hoped to evolve by relying on the Zudun Sacred Tree had also become funeral offerings in the wake of the tree''s rage.


    When the rocky mountain finally touched the ground, Akasi''s figure flashed, catching Tang Suoye as she fell from the sky.


    Tang Suoye couldn''t speak, her lips slightly moving with a smile.


    Then she passed out, falling into a deep sleep in Akasi''s arms.


    Akasi immediately left with Tang Suoye in tow.


    It was safe here; Li Zheng no longer needed his protection.


    If he stayed here any longer with Tang Suoye, it would cause some trouble.


    Without a word, Akasi disappeared into the night, bearing Tang Suoye with him in just a few leaps and bounds.


    Li Zheng didn''t say anything. Having Akasi and Tang Suoye stick around indeed wouldn''t be easy to explain. Song Que was smart, and even though they were allies, some secrets could only remain known to oneself.


    He just gazed upon the devastation before him, and the tranquility permeated with the scent of death, involuntarily stepping back.


    The Blue-Eyed Little Witch was Tang Suoye. Although Tang Suoye wore big glasses and her flowing hair sometimes covered her face in the wind, Li Zheng still recognized her at first glance.


    This confirmation made Li Zheng believe that Tang Xian was indeed the Masked Chopper Hero.


    Occasionally, at the pitch-black bottom of the canyon, animals could be seen frantically fleeing in panic.


    But the hunters had forgotten their initial intention to hunt.


    It was only a long while later that the howling wind through the valley began to disperse the smell of blood.


    Li Zheng and the others finally came to their senses.


    The battle of the night had finally ended.


    Among the humans there were no victors, and the Red Soil Forest could no longer continue its hunt, making the continuation of this grand hunting event unnecessary.


    Each person''s face was etched with a hint of bewilderment.


    Ye Feng of Gu Luo''s team opened his eyes; he was utterly exhausted and weakened.


    Even just observing from afar with his extreme vision had taken a considerable toll on his strength.


    After looking for a long time, Ye Feng finally spoke slowly,


    "The calamity-level boss entity, the Zudun Sacred Tree, is dead. The silhouettes of the Zudun Giants are moving westward. It looks like they want to leave this land."


    Song Que and Li Zheng were shocked.


    Even though they had speculated a possibility when they learned that the chaos of the Red Soil Forest had ended, the confirmation still left them stunned.


    "The calamity-level boss is dead?" Li Zheng asked incredulously again.


    "It should be dead. The surviving beasts are also leaving with the Zudun Giants. The only ones left in this valley are the wounded and the disabled." Ye Feng closed his eyes.


    Li Zheng felt his whole body stiffen.


    Tang Xian had defeated a calamity-level boss creature all by himself?


    Li Zheng didn''t know the actual process, but even just the outcome was enough to instill fear.


    He and Song Que exchanged glances, both thinking about the same thing.


    Crystals.


    Both of them tacitly chose not to speak.


    "What do we do now?" Gu Luo asked.


    "You head south to the frontier, and return through the transfer station," Song Que said.


    "And you?"


    "I and my team will stay here, wait for everyone to wake up, then leave. Some of them are already awake, and I expect that by morning, everyone will be."


    Li Zheng nodded and said,


    "I don''t want to leave you here without regard for loyalty, but the matter of the mines must be explained by someone with authority."


    Gu Luo looked at the valley floor covered with animal corpses and said,


    "All these are Soul Crystals, Soul Crystals scattered all over the ground, elite, perfect grade, and many boss-type creatures. What''s the deal? Shall we divide them up?"


    Song Que and Li Zheng were stunned; indeed, this was a big problem.


    The disaster in the Red Soil Forest had caused a great number of creatures to fall and die. Though the sum of these creatures'' Soul Crystals wouldn''t match that of the calamity-level boss''s, it was still an unimaginable fortune.


    Everyone fell silent.


    It was then that Li Zheng showed his mettle.


    "These Soul Crystals will belong to the Song Family."


    Gu Luo didn''t speak, his expression inscrutable.


    Song Que was also taken aback. He didn''t expect Li Zheng to say that.


    Li Zheng continued,


    "Without Song Que and Gu Luo''s efforts to turn the tide, the hunters might have gone mad and started fighting with the beasts, and even without today''s disaster, we all would have been in a tough spot."


    "But Gu Luo, you can''t handle so many mines. Giving these mines to the Song Family is beneficial for all strongholds."


    "However, I won''t let you suffer a loss; you will always be friends of the Li family. Whoever offends you is opposing us."


    Song Que said,


    "My Song Family feels the same. I have always gotten along with Brother Gu, and if one day you no longer wish to be a hunter, you will always have a place in my Song Family."


    Gu Luo laughed boldly,


    "The heirs of two of the top three families are indeed extraordinary people. I''m not at a loss today, having made friends with two so powerful."


    Thus, ownership of the vast quantity of Soul Crystals was decided.


    Song Que and Gu Luo''s teams stayed behind, while Qin Qian and Li Zheng hurried to the frontier to return to the Pyramid and relay the events that transpired in the Red Soil Forest to the organizers of the hunting festival.


    This much-anticipated hunting festival was forced to an early end due to the emergence of a calamity-level boss creature.


    ...


    ...


    Li Zheng''s pace was swift.


    Having confirmed that Tang Xian had killed the calamity-level boss creature, and that Tang Xian was the Masked Chopper Hero¡ª


    Li Zheng had no mind to care about anything else.


    The most important thing now was to find Tang Xian.


    That was precisely why he had so decisively given all the Soul Crystals to the Song Family.


    After all, Song Que was not his brother-in-law; why would he be so generous? It was merely because there were greater interests at play.


    He was all too aware of the significance, at this critical juncture, of a calamity-level boss creature''s crystal. It was of immense importance to the Li family and to the world at large.


    Li Zheng felt an urgency even greater than his sister Li Xiaoyu to see Tang Xian.

 Chapter 110 Heroes and Thieves

    Tang Xian did not participate in the hunting festival, as he was not restricted from carrying portable teleportation cracks on him.After bidding farewell to the honest and straightforward Zudun Giant and telling it that the totemic fire of the Zudun Giants must be kept by himself, he gained the friendship of the Zudun Giant and affectionately called it Tang, he left the mining area directly.


    Upon returning to the Pyramid, Tang Xian did not hesitate; he stepped outside and headed straight for Shang Lu''s Hua Science Academy.


    It was deep into the night, the time when men and women''s hearts are most stirred, so Shang Lu would surely choose to stay with the plants, he must be at the Hua Science Academy.


    On the way, Tang Xian noticed that the surveillance on him had indeed ceased, Li Xiaoyu was obedient, and his efforts to snatch the crystal weren''t in vain.


    Thanks to the token from the Li family given by Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xian''s journey was unimpeded.


    As he passed through the third level, he could faintly hear the sounds of distant singing and dancing.


    The hunting festival was ongoing, where hunters were responsible for the hunt and the lords of the various strongholds were in charge of the festivities, as was always the case. Even though it was now in the wee hours, the festival was still filled with countless revelers.


    The Pyramid, in its peace and festivities, remained unaware of what had happened.


    Tang Xian didn''t stop but continued on his way up, heading for the fourth-level Hua Science Academy.


    He had already become the hero of the night, leaving the remaining scenes for Song Que to handle.


    ¡­


    ...


    As expected, Shang Lu was at the Hua Science Academy.


    His clothes were filthy, his hair a mess like a bird''s nest, and his eye sockets sunken.


    He looked haggard but was also strangely excited.


    Upon receiving a call from Tang Xian, before Tang Xian could speak, Shang Lu promptly invited him to see his experimental research.


    He didn''t even notice that it was already late at night.


    Tang Xian accepted with a smile.


    Only when he reached the door to let Tang Xian in did Shang Lu suddenly realize, oh, it had gotten dark.


    But he didn''t mind and, pulling Tang Xian along, he ran toward the laboratory.


    The laboratory was maintained at a constant twenty-seven degrees with moderate humidity and had two ventilation ducts.


    In the lab, Tang Xian saw an eggplant that was two meters long.


    "This is the mining area soil that the organization had someone bring back. Remember we discussed this topic last time? I mentioned it to the group later, and they found it feasible, so they had regular troops bring some mining area soil."


    "We found that the native plants of this world grow even faster in the mining area soil than the plants of the mining area itself. This discovery surprised and delighted every one of us!" Shang Lu didn''t stop but continued:


    "In these past days, through many experiments, I have tested these giant plants and found that their composition has not changed at all! That is to say, the tiny mineral elements in the mining area soil could almost mutate our world''s plants, yet this mutation is unrelated to the genetic level and material elements!"


    Shang Lu''s excited expression was like that of a child.


    Tang Xian didn''t have the heart to interrupt him.


    Fortunately, after about eight thousand words and several minutes of rambling, Shang Lu stopped and asked excitedly:


    "Xian, what do you think?"


    "What do I think about what? These plants?"


    "Yes! Perhaps we can provide people with pre-calamity material experiences within the limited Pyramid, vegetables and fruits will no longer be exclusive to the rich!"


    Tang Xian had not expected Shang Lu to start moving in the direction of becoming a modern-day Yuan Longping.


    It was a good thing.


    He stroked his chin and gave a serious suggestion: S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think it''s good, but you should also introduce some smaller ones."


    "Ah? Isn''t food always better when it''s larger?"


    "Small has its uses too. Big, of course, is correct, but if it''s too big, it will be uncomfortable for people."


    Tang Xian patted Shang Lu''s shoulder; he probably wouldn''t understand.


    "I''ll find you a career planner, or rather, an agent to help promote your giant foods in the future."


    Shang Lu nodded in half-comprehension before finally asking:


    "Right, Xian, what brings you to me so late?"


    Tang Xian opened his bag of props, getting to the point:


    "Take a look at this flower seed."


    Tang Xian brought out the flower seed that had transformed from the Zudun sacred tree, glistening with a faint purple light.


    Shang Lu''s eyes immediately lit up.


    It was probably like Lin Jue seeing a beautiful woman about to divorce.


    He picked up a magnifying glass and began to examine the seed.


    Soon after, he exclaimed in amazement:


    "Amazing! Truly amazing! Did you see, Xian, the crystalline surface of this seed looks like a mineral, no... like a Soul Crystal! Exactly, like a Soul Crystal! Yet it also has signs of life!"


    Shang Lu, calling him Xian, was practically fixated on the flower seed.


    It was as though he was talking to himself rather than to Tang Xian, venting his excess excitement.


    Tang Xian seriously listened again for several minutes as Shang Lu rambled about the seed''s miraculous and unfathomable nature.


    Then Shang Lu turned around, somewhat embarrassed, and said:


    "Xian, where did you get this from?"


    "This is a flower seed from the Zudun sacred tree; although it is currently a flower seed, it could potentially evolve into a tree seed as it sprouts and grows."


    Shang Lu was stunned.


    "The Zudun sacred tree? Isn''t that a disaster-level..."


    Before Shang Lu could finish, Tang Xian raised a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.


    "The main thing is that you are an expert in this field and someone I trust, so I''m entrusting this flower seed to you. Just take care of it."

 Chapter 110 Hero and Thief_2

    "For me?" Shang Lu was overjoyed."Of course, first try to see if you can get it to germinate, but it''s best not to use soil from the mining area. Use your artificial cultivation liquid instead."


    Shang Lu asked, "Why is that?"


    "To control its growth rate. Evolution requires the absorption of a large amount of energy, possibly that of other plants'' vitality."


    Tang Xian''s face turned serious as he continued, "So you need to ensure it is in a sealed environment, isolated from other plants."


    "At the same time, find a way to clone it. There''s a lot of risk involved, and for the next few days, I''ll be with you fiddling with this flower seed."


    Shang Lu understood the gravity of Tang Xian''s words and knew this plant was extremely dangerous. He nodded and said,


    "I''ll give it a try. Will you help me, Xian?"


    Tang Xian nodded and said, "Due to certain reasons, I''m being sought after by the whole world, but I can''t show up now because that would reveal my identity."


    "I''m also helping you out. In the field of botany, your expertise is no less than mine. If there''s a problem, then I''ll step in. Consider my coming here as finding a place to lay low."


    Shang Lu could sense the situation might be serious and couldn''t help but ask,


    "Xian, what''s this about? Are you in trouble?"


    "Just a little trouble."


    "What if people from the Li family come looking for you?"


    Tang Xian frowned, that was precisely the troublesome point.


    Even though he wasn''t present at the scene, Tang Xian could easily guess that Li Zheng would associate him with the Masked Chopper Hero.


    Tang Xian didn''t want to expose himself now, as each identity had a different mission.


    "I will see no one but Li Xiaoyu. If anyone comes looking for you, I''m not here unless it''s Li Xiaoyu, understand?"


    "Should I inform Miss Li?" Shang Lu asked.


    "No need. Just continue as usual, not leaving the lab unless you''re starving. She''ll figure it out and come to you on her own. Of course, she can''t figure it out just yet. You''ll have to wait."


    Shang Lu was completely bewildered, thinking that Xian always had too many thoughts in his mind.


    He decided not to ponder further and prepared to continue his research on plants, but then another question suddenly occurred to Shang Lu.


    "Xian, this is a seed from a boss-level creature, how did you get it? Did you kill a boss-level creature?"


    "I didn''t kill it, but it doesn''t matter; it all counts towards me anyway."


    Shang Lu was even more shocked than when he first saw the seed:


    "Then... what about the crystal from the boss-level creature?"


    "I have it here, do you want to see it?"


    Shang Lu nodded, finding his whole body slightly stiff.


    Tang Xian looked natural, and with a casual touch, he brought out a purple glowing bead.


    Shang Lu staggered back several steps, nearly losing his balance.


    "This... With this bead, isn''t it... isn''t it..."


    Even the academically obsessed Shang Lu knew the value of this bead.


    He didn''t understand Xian''s thought process.


    Why not take the bead straight to the Li family, instead of coming here to study plants?


    Shang Lu asked in a trembling voice,


    "How... How did you get it?"


    Tang Xian replied with a smile,


    "Calm down, although this thing is precious, it''s also hot property. I snatched it from a wanted criminal. To avoid being considered a fugitive myself, I need to wait for the right opportunity."


    Shang Lu was confused. After a long while, watching Tang Xian play with the Soul Crystal of a boss-level creature as if it were a mere glass bead, he gradually calmed down.


    ...


    ...


    For the next three days, Tang Xian really never left Hua Science Academy.


    He turned off his phone. He holed himself up inside Hua Science Academy, keeping the company of flowers and plants, occasionally picking a giant aubergine to barbecue.


    Hua Science Academy seemed no different than usual, but the staff there realized that Shang Lu had broken his own record.


    His previous record was four days without leaving the lab, now it was the sixth day.


    He had already been there for three days before Tang Xian''s arrival. Continue reading on empire


    During these three days, although everything seemed normal to Shang Lu, many significant events had occurred outside.


    The first was the forced cancellation of the hunting event.


    When people learned that a boss-level creature had appeared in the blue zone, all reactions were of disbelief.


    Everything was as Tang Xian had said, humans like to give themselves a psychological comfort zone.


    As long as they are within this zone, they feel safe.


    This sort of mental comfort zone is also reflected in many aspects of life.


    This is why, despite knowing that mining areas shouldn''t be simply divided by color for safety levels but should be defined according to the actual situation, people still insist on this categorization.


    Because of the sudden emergence of a boss-level creature, the hunting event was cancelled, and the public accepted this reason.


    But for the average citizens, finding out who would have been the "best hunter" of the event was still of greatest interest. They wanted a resolution, even though the event lasted less than three days.


    So the second significant event occurred.


    It was confirmed who led the battle on the Yuepela Plains.


    Song Que, the eldest son of the Song Family, a genuine chosen one with ten talents, performed outstandingly in this hunting event. He turned the tide and saved all the hunters in the fortresses.


    All hunters of the Human Federation were deeply grateful to Song Que.


    Especially when Song Que revealed that the hunting area had almost tons of crystals, the entire human camp went wild.


    Since ancient times, people have been willing to worship heroes. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They didn''t witness the battle firsthand, didn''t know how brutal it was.


    But the outcome was clear, Song Que returned to the human world with treasures from another world.

 Chapter 110 Hero and Thief_3

    He also saved all the hunters and preserved humanity''s greatest fighting force.Carrying the clown''s corpse, he alleviated the concerns of all the fortress leaders.


    The people of the Evolution Zone were astonished as well for they knew best how terrifying the clown''s abilities were; no S-class could compare with the clown.


    Song Que''s performance, in the eyes of the public as well as the leaders of the various fortresses, was impeccable.


    Yet standing at the pinnacle of glory, Song Que''s expression never held a trace of joy.


    In the center of the great stadium, facing the insane shouts of a hundred thousand spectators, next to him the proud smiles of his comrades, Song Que couldn''t feel any happiness at all.


    His smiles seemed somewhat mocking and bitter. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Is this the apex of glory?


    The stories he heard as a child, were they also like this, the truth so far from what he saw?


    But for the dignity of the Song Family and to meet everyone''s expectations, Song Que still stood here, like a king tired of power.


    The ones who were still conscious during that battle included the Li family''s team, the Song Family''s team, Gu Luo, Qin Qian, and others.


    They all knew the truth.


    Yet, each of them chose the version of the story that would more easily elicit cheers and shouts from the people. Your next chapter is on empire


    Song Que never thought of himself as less clever than others, but only now did he realize that this world does not operate solely on intelligence and courage.


    Behind the enormous glory, the leaders of the more than two hundred fortresses around the world quickly promulgated two immediate edicts.


    The first one restricted Lincoln Fortress from participating in the next Hunting Festival, also requiring the Evolution Zone and Lincoln Fortress to pay substantial compensation to the hunters who perished in this festival.


    Song Que had no objections to this one.


    What truly disappointed him was the second.


    This was a piece of news only known to the fortress leaders.


    Masked Chopper Hero, convicted of the crime of stealing top-tier mines, became the most wanted criminal of the entire federation.


    But although he was the most wanted criminal, his warrant was classified. It was not known to the general public.


    There was also a clause of amnesty. As long as the Masked Chopper Hero handed over a Calamity-level boss Soul Crystal within the time limit by any means, he would be pardoned.


    In the conference room where this warrant was issued, Song Que fought hard against it, and his opinion received some support.


    For instance, Qin Qian who participated in the Hunting Festival, Lin Jue, Gu Luo.


    But in the end, the decision made by the higher-ups remained unchanged.


    Song Que was not foolish and quickly understood why they had made such a decision.


    It was nothing more than a desire to seize the crystal.


    While also leaving a way out.


    But the more this was so, the dirtier he felt the world was.


    That man was clearly the true hero, why must he be forced to play the role of a criminal on the stage of power?


    ...


    ...


    On the sixth day, Shang Lu had spent nine days at Hua Science Academy, earning the nickname "Plant Madman" from his colleagues there.


    That day, Li Xiaoyu shed her usual gothic long dress for a set of plain civilian clothes¡ª


    She came to Hua Science Academy.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    (Forgive me for using official chapter space to discuss some important matters. Before the previous book was banned, there was initially just one chapter that was in violation, but I didn''t take it seriously at the time, and then the whole book was gone. Last night after one, this book also had one chapter censored.


    As someone who firmly adheres to the core socialist values, if there''s a problem, I will reflect deeply and correct it. Hence: "Shanghai" has been changed to "Xianghai City". From now on, the highest leaders of each fortress will uniformly be referred to as "lords". I hope everyone takes note.


    Additionally, there will only be one update today, and it''s not because I''m being lazy, but as of now, I''m still revising previous chapters. Comparing and reviewing them one by one. I strive to continue maintaining an update of 8,000 words per day starting tomorrow.)

 Chapter 111 The Second Miss Who Doesnt Want to Get Married

    Find more to read at empire sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Under the joint efforts of Tang Xian and Shang Lu, they finally managed to control the length of some vegetables at a consistent thirty-six centimeters at both ends.


    As for why it was this shape, Shang Lu had no clue, and Tang Xian''s explanation was quite vague.


    "There are many things in this world that are more enjoyable when shared with others. This is a ''for two'' length eggplant, growing evenly at both ends. It symbolizes the joint construction of material and spiritual civilization. You don''t understand, those people in the higher echelons, they may seem honest, but the games they play behind closed doors are huge."


    Shang Lu seemed to understand but not really, anyway, what Xian said must make sense. Although he still felt that a two-meter-long one would be more fulfilling.


    When Li Xiaoyu arrived, the two were observing flower species.


    Neither Shang Lu nor Tang Xian had seen this type of flower before, so they thought they should name it.


    Due to certain reasons, Shang Lu insisted on having the final say in naming it.


    The name Tang Xian had originally thought of could no longer be used.


    "You''re indeed here," Li Xiaoyu made her way to Hua Science Academy without any obstacles.


    Simply asking around, she was told which lab Shang Lu was in.


    No one would have imagined that a top fugitive on the federal most wanted list was in such an intellectual research base, studying plants with others.


    When Shang Lu heard a woman''s voice, he was startled.


    Mainly because his first thought was that the plants had become spirits, but when he turned around, he realized it was Miss Li who had come.


    "Miss Li, why have you come?"


    Clearly, Shang Lu had completely forgotten what Tang had said before.


    He was that kind of person, thinking that these big oafs would only obstruct the progress of science.


    Although Shang Lu was quite refined in appearance, with a touch of academic madness, he was quite attractive to some female colleagues at Hua Science Academy, and many girls wanted to ask him out.


    But there were several times when Shang Lu put up a sign saying "Please don''t disturb my studies, ladies" at his own door.


    After that, female colleagues gradually stopped looking for Shang Lu.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Shang Lu, you go back first, take a nap, have a shower."


    "Ah? I haven''t come up with a good name for this flower yet," Shang Lu was somewhat reluctant to leave.


    Tang Xian said:


    "If you don''t go back now, you''re going to drop dead from exhaustion."


    Shang Lu was startled, and after a while, he sulkily Uh-huh''ed.


    Thinking that Xian was there and Miss Li wouldn''t mess up his lab and beloved plants, he left.


    Once Shang Lu was far away, Tang Xian closed the door to the lab and pointed to a chair, saying:


    "Sit there, that''s the only chair in this lab that''s still somewhat clean."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t sit down. She wasn''t there for idle chat with Tang Xian, and went straight to the point:


    "I''m getting married. The groom isn''t you."


    Tang Xian calmly replied:


    "You''re getting married, the groom naturally shouldn''t be me."


    Li Xiaoyu bit her lip and said:


    "I want to elope with you."


    "Idiot."


    Tang Xian was squatting in front of a 22-centimeter cucumber that looked like a mace, observing it while saying:


    "First tell me about the recent events. Have I become a wanted criminal?"


    "You know?"


    "Of course, the three big families and the various fortresses all want to recruit the Masked Chopper Hero and can''t stand others recruiting him. So on the surface, they unanimously came up with a righteous solution, making me a wanted criminal, while trying to pressure me with the threat of making me an enemy to the whole world to hand over the Soul Crystal."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, Tang Xian''s words echoed her own thoughts.


    She finally confirmed:


    "So you are the Masked Chopper Hero, you took down the evolution zone all by yourself. I should have known from that ridiculous name!"


    "This is complicated to explain, and you need to keep it a secret."


    Tang Xian touched the cucumber, noting that the hardness needed to be improved; it was too brittle. Though the flavor met the standard.


    "Do you think my brother is stupid? He probably guessed your identity a long time ago."


    "Li Zheng is of course not stupid. Among the scions of the three great families, he may not be the smartest, but he is the most scheming. The sneakiest good guys are the most sinister. It''s fine that he knows. He won''t speak of it, and neither will you, nor will Song Que."


    "Song Que will know?"


    "Not now, but he will soon. He''s different from your brother; he''s truly honorable."


    Li Xiaoyu said unhappily:


    "Is it appropriate for you to talk about my brother like that in front of me?"


    "You must have already asked Li Zheng, right?" Tang Xian asked, leaving Li Xiaoyu somewhat confused.


    After some time, Li Xiaoyu finally understood what Tang Xian meant.


    Earlier on, she had asked Li Zheng.


    If someone could bring the crystal of a calamity-level boss creature to propose marriage, could the engagement be called off?


    Li Zheng''s answer was very much like a brother who doted on his sister:


    "If you are willing to marry him, the Li family can''t afford to offend a Song family."


    Li Xiaoyu had always remembered this sentence.


    But yesterday, when the Song family brought Song Que to the Li house to set a date for the wedding, Li Xiaoyu brought this up again to Li Zheng, only for him to change his mind.


    That was because Li Zheng never expected that someone could kill a calamity-level boss creature by themselves.


    And also because of saving face.


    Li Xiaoyu''s expression chilled as she spoke:


    "This is the first time he has lied to me."


    Tang Xian nodded:


    "When people are poor, they mostly exchange dignity for money; once they have money, they use it to buy dignity."


    Picking the cucumber, Tang Xian snapped it into two halves and tossed one to Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian perplexedly.

 Chapter 111 The Second Miss Who Doesnt Want to Marry_2

    "It''s tasty; give it a try.""Crazy," she said, but Li Xiaoyu still took a small sip.


    And she found it quite good.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind and continued:


    "It''s like the women on Decay Street, who, no matter the client, are willing to smile and flirt. But even if they could stay young forever and do this job for life, most would choose to settle down with a decent man when they have enough money."


    "The Li family and the Song Family have indeed done many face-losing things, all the dirty jobs, but that''s all behind the scenes. When it comes to matters in public, they never lose face."


    Li Xiaoyu probably understood.


    "Your metaphor is really¡­ vulgar."


    "The Song Family wants face, the Li family wants face. If I''m not mistaken, the son of the Song Family should be taking home a grand slam, right?"


    Li Xiaoyu nodded and said irritably:


    "Yes, the hero of all humanity."


    "You seem unconvinced?" Tang Xian found it amusing.


    "I just know it''s not that simple."


    "Actually, it''s that simple. What you''ve heard might be slanted from the truth, but Song Que is indeed a decent person, no, a very outstanding person."


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Song Que has earned his merits; he truly deserves to be the strongest huntsman at the hunting festival. Now, marrying you is a face-giving matter for both families. If you were to call off the marriage now, it would be terribly embarrassing. Li Wanye might still be the lord of the strongest fortress, but he wouldn''t do something to dampen the spirits of people across all fortresses."


    Li Xiaoyu furrowed her brows, sensing something was off:


    "This isn''t what I thought."


    "Tsk, how did you imagine it? Me, making a grand entry at your wedding, ''if God stands in the way, kill God; if Buddha does, kill Buddha,'' and peak the event as the crowd cheers nonstop, then leave behind a Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystal saying, ''I fancy this little lady; this king shall take her!'' and departing amidst the stunned silence and laughter?"


    Tang Xian was clearly jesting.


    But Li Xiaoyu seriously said:


    "I think that''s not bad. Why don''t we do just that?"


    "Idiot."


    "Why do you always curse me with those two words?"


    Tang Xian decided to skip this question. Expecting Li Xiaoyu to think straight was like hoping Dong Ran could increase her IQ without hiding her chest, which, of course, had no effect on IQ.


    He paused before continuing:


    "Life is life, a story is a story. Even stories must abide by some basic rules. The last person who wholeheartedly believed her destined one was a world-saving hero coming to rescue her on a rainbow cloud has already fallen to her death. And her man is living like a dog."


    Li Xiaoyu had not seen movies from over a thousand years ago; she couldn''t catch Tang Xian''s references.


    Indeed, she had thought about Tang Xian boldly whisking her away at her own wedding.


    But every time she entertained the notion, it ended with a forlorn, wry smile.


    Because in reality, she had to consider saving face for her father and brother, as well as the reputation of the Li family. She might be the willful Miss Li, but she still had to follow the rules of high society.


    Most importantly, the person she liked¡­ would not do such a thing for her.


    After a few seconds of silence, Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian and said:


    "I don''t want to marry Song Que. You promised me. Now you should keep your promise; you have the ability to do so now."


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "What I''m going to talk about next is the solution. We don''t need me to intervene. The Li family can''t afford to call off the marriage, but the Song Family can."


    "What do you mean?"


    "This is for you." Tang Xian produced the Soul Crystal.


    The Soul Crystal emitted a purple glow that made Li Xiaoyu, who had seen plenty of treasures, gasp for a second.


    "Is this the Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystal?"


    "Yes, it is. Pretty, isn''t it? It''s yours now, but you''d better give this thing to Song Que before your wedding arrives."


    "Why give it to Song Que?"


    "The Li family can''t call off the wedding, but the Song Family can. If the Song Family calls off the wedding, they need to give the Li family an explanation, showing up with a dowry but not marrying off is considered giving enough face."


    Tang Xian tossed the Soul Crystal to Li Xiaoyu, unconcerned. He then began to mess around with the bitter melon again.


    Li Xiaoyu looked at the bead, thoughtful, and said,


    "You mean to persuade Song Que not to marry me?"


    With his back to Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "I remember that the first time Song Que saw you was at the big stadium that day, right? In this world, what is love at first sight? It''s nothing but lust at first sight."


    "So you can simply make your intention clear. Ask for Song Que''s help, and with my understanding of Song Que, he will agree to your request. After all, there''s no emotional attachment between you. Without emotion, it''s merely a transaction and nothing more than superficiality."


    "Your marriage is just a way for both families to manifest a cooperative attitude and to jointly oppose Lincoln Fortress. And this matter can be resolved through a Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystal."


    "These lords will easily guess where Song Que''s Soul Crystal comes from, and the younger generation''s ideas and tactics will also be recognized. After all, they are your parents and would not completely disregard your wishes."


    "As a result, the Song Family will likely propose a compromise. Chances are they won''t directly call off the marriage but will say to wait until after the conflict on the Yuepela Plains is over. However, once the conflict is over, this matter can be eased down and considered in the long term."


    Tang Xian turned around, looked at Li Xiaoyu with a smile, and said,


    "As long as both families secretly understand each other''s thoughts, it''s settled, and there''s no damage to the relationship or loss of face. The Song Family offering a Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystal as compensation for breach of promise, Li Wanye will surely give them a way out."


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian''s consistently detached expression and said,


    "I remember you once said that you didn''t want to get involved in my marriage because you regretted not being able to be friends with Song Que."


    Tang Xian did not speak.


    "So I''ve been thinking that maybe for my sake, you would offend Song Que. But during these days here, you''ve come up with a plan that offends no one."


    Li Xiaoyu felt that the plan Tang Xian gave was the right one.


    But it was not satisfying. After pondering for a while, she finally understood what was unsatisfying.


    It was probably that the person in front of her would not do something impulsive for her. Although she had known this all along, it still made her heart ache.


    Li Xiaoyu now understood why Tang Xian had said Song Que too would know his identity.


    Because if she went and persuaded Song Que to retract the marriage proposal, Song Que, upon seeing the Soul Crystal, would be able to guess all of these things.


    Tang Xian was still the same, speaking calmly,


    "Song Que did indeed contribute a lot to all the hunters of the fortress at the hunting festival. Others don''t know what he''s going through, but I can somewhat feel it." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu asked in confusion,


    "What do you mean? Is he injured?"


    "No, it''s more complicated than that. In any case, I don''t want to be his enemy. Not because I''m afraid, but because that would result in humanity having two more enemies."


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows, as if he had come across a difficult problem.


    Li Xiaoyu did not understand, nor did she know how far into the future Tang Xian had calculated in that second.


    She didn''t ask further, and Tang Xian did not offer more explanations.


    Tang Xian said,


    "If there''s nothing else, you can go back. When the eighth layer of the fortress is being developed, you can call me. Oh, right, are you into doing business? Instead of letting so many people pretend to be your besties and sell stuff through social media, you might as well join the fray yourself and help me sell cucumbers."


    Li Xiaoyu felt that Tang Xian was talking all sorts of nonsense today. She didn''t mind; whatever he meant to say, he would make clear.


    Today, by seeking Tang Xian, she got the clever plan she wanted.


    But looking at Tang Xian''s nonchalant demeanor, she unexpectedly felt really annoyed.


    Li Xiaoyu did not leave but said,


    "Tang Xian, you miscalculated one thing."


    "What is it?"


    "What if Song Que likes me? What if there is such a thing as love at first sight in this world? What if he doesn''t want to cancel the marriage? What if I tell him the person I like is you, and he gets furiously embarrassed!"


    Li Xiaoyu''s tone was charged with anger, and if her voice had been louder, it would have seemed like a hysterical questioning, likely a release of emotions built up over time.


    Tang Xian looked at Li Xiaoyu and gradually realized why the girl was angry.


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    His indifferent manner unchanged, yet he said something that stopped Li Xiaoyu in her tracks,


    "Why the panic? When that time comes, I''ll just steal the bride. Life isn''t a story, but it can surpass stories, right?"


    Li Xiaoyu was stunned and suddenly shut her mouth, no longer sure whether to be angry or amused.


    It was so annoying, just when she was coming on strongly, she got made to laugh by this person again.

 Chapter 112 New Abilities and New Equipment

    All women in love may throw a tantrum for all sorts of bizarre reasons, most of which leave their boyfriends utterly confused. But at their core, these outbursts stem from a lack of security.Forgetting birthdays, anniversaries, or the number of days since meeting her. Forgetting the things she likes.


    Of course, they know these are trifles, but once they start thinking it means you don''t love them, it becomes a big deal.


    Li Xiaoyu''s sense of security was no different, she didn''t expect Tang Xian to actually fight for her in a bridal contest, but he at least needed to show he was willing.


    Just as women ask men to reach for the moon, men know they can''t do it, but must show their determination to accomplish the task.


    After all, she doesn''t really care about that particular moon.


    Similarly, if she starts asking for a diamond ring or a house¡­ sorry, that probably means she actually cares. If you can''t afford it, you''re done for.


    Tang Xian wasn''t worried about the money; Li Xiaoyu''s wealth could probably buy an entire row of diamond processing factories.


    But emotional issues are tricky. Rather than delve into the headache of tangled emotions, he was more concerned about his cucumbers.


    After Li Xiaoyu left, he still couldn''t help but promote his cucumbers.


    Buy my cukes, forget that bloke.


    He had even come up with a slogan for the cucumbers, which was utterly out of character for Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu cheerfully responded with "idiot" before leaving with the Soul Crystal of a catastrophic-level boss creature.


    She didn''t go far before calling Li Zheng. She didn''t tell him about acquiring the crystal, only that she felt unsafe.


    Minutes later, a squad of regular soldiers, led by Eve, arrived at Hua Science Academy.


    The onlookers outside the Hua Science Academy thought there was some sort of chaos happening inside, speculating what major event had occurred.


    Accompanied by the regular army and a group of top-notch bodyguards, Li Xiaoyu returned to the sixth floor, somewhat nervous.


    Carrying an artifact that could drive every fortress lord in the world insane, even such a short journey made Li Xiaoyu quite tense.


    Remembering how Tang Xian casually handled the Soul Crystal, and thinking about these past days when he conducted cucumber research in the lab as a most-wanted criminal, Li Xiaoyu laughed again.


    After all, the abnormal have a unique attraction to one another.


    ...


    ...


    After Li Xiaoyu left, Tang Xian didn''t leave Hua Science Academy but first turned on his phone.


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    Having been off for so many days, the person who called the most was Li Xiaoyu.


    It''s worth mentioning that trying to contact someone in the mining area would result in a "number does not exist" message.


    Once back in the mining area, if the person didn''t answer, it would say that the user was either switched off or busy.


    Only a handful knew Tang Xian''s phone number. It was for this reason that Li Xiaoyu deduced that Tang Xian had not met with any mishap; he was just wandering around somewhere inside the Pyramid.


    She initially thought Tang Xian was staying with his teammates, until she invited Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, and also Akasi Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu, and then she realized the truth.


    That night, Akasi took Tang Suoye home and discovered Tang Xian wasn''t in the tree house. When they left, they woke Tang Xiaojiu.


    So, a group of them returned to the Pyramid, contacted Tang Xian on the phone, and confirmed Tang Xian had returned to the Pyramid but couldn''t be found.


    Li Xiaoyu began to speculate about Tang Xian''s intentions.


    Eventually, they found Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian immediately deleted all messages and call logs from women like Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and Li Xiaoyu.


    Then there were only the call logs and messages from Ke.


    There were seven messages in total, related to the gloves. When leaving Fortress Fifty-One, Tang Xian had given glove designs to Ke Ye.


    In the final design, Ke tried adding several energy links on the fingertips of the gloves.


    The gloves had many functions, giving a great advantage to an ordinary person like Tang Xian, making high-difficulty maneuvers like hand-climbing possible.


    They also contained a hidden hook for long-distance sliding. Moreover, the fingertips could pick locks, and due to the special material, they were excellent at insulating heat.


    Of course, Ke Ye ultimately thought these features were still too negligible.


    His message from twelve days ago requested some ultimate improvements to the gloves.


    Ke Ye''s second message was about the improved plans for the gloves.


    But Tang Xian was in the mining area at the time, and without waiting for a response, Ke Ye boldly began the design.


    The third to the sixth messages were all about the glove design process and seeking suggestions for improvements.


    The seventh message informed Tang Xian that the gloves were complete, and the goods had been sent to the storage area on the second floor of Fortress Thirty-Nine, passing on the retrieval account and password to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian looked at the final design, and the gloves looked something like this.


    Each finger sheath, at the bone, had a groove, which was the energy link.


    There was also a groove on the back of the glove.


    Six grooves in total, each able to hold the Soul Crystal of six different creatures.


    He mentioned a theory, such as creatures from cold regions being able to exhale frost breath, so would the energy from their Soul Crystals be freezing?


    Creatures like hellhounds from the subtropics could spout flames, so was the energy from their Soul Crystals intense fire?


    Previously, heat-blazing weapons used armed ores that contained no attributes for energy attacks, but Soul Crystals were different.


    Soul Crystals contained the creatures'' own energies. Perhaps the same weapon with different Soul Crystals could turn into an entirely different weapon. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 112 New Abilities and New Equipment_2

    Although no definitive scholarly proof had been secured, Ke Ye had already submitted his final answer.Ke Ye''s ultimate answer was something that looked pretty cool, like snapping one''s fingers to unleash a powerful skill.


    Tang Xian looked at the finished product image attached to the text message, deep in thought.


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    "Ke really gets to the core of things quickly. His design concept of using Soul Crystals as energy sources for weapons hasn''t even become mainstream yet, and he''s already elevated it to the pinnacle," he said.


    Tang Xian was very satisfied.


    Six Soul Crystals, corresponding to six different creatures, therefore, corresponding to six different abilities. Or perhaps the same creature, amplified six times?


    If these gloves ever become widespread, combined with human talent, they will probably make the already diverse human combat professions even more varied.


    It might even allow ordinary people without special talents to gear up, significantly enhancing humanity''s overall adaptability to the mining zones.


    Of course, they''re very expensive.


    Initially, Tang Xian just wanted to make a pair of gloves suitable for climbing in some harsh environments of the mining zones, but unexpectedly, Ke designed a piece of warfare equipment, and the style suddenly became Marvel-esque.


    However, this glove concept is too ahead of its time, and there are still many places that need to be tested, such as whether the alloy made from his own formula can withstand the power of six Soul Crystals resonating together.


    At the end of the text message, Ke Ye had excitedly named the gloves ¨C "Extreme Gloves."


    Tang Xian did not delay any further and prepared to go to the second floor to retrieve the gloves.


    As for Li Xiaoyu and Song Que, he didn''t bother to think about them for the time being. If something came up, Li Xiaoyu would naturally contact him.


    Before he left, Tang Xian left a note for Shang Lu, instructing him to report the growth status of the plant species daily.


    In the end, he threw the "Please female colleagues, do not disturb my study" sign that Shang Lu had hung on the door into the trash bin and replaced it with a new one.


    "Female colleagues are welcome to study my new plants with me."


    ...


    ...


    By the time Tang Xian retrieved the gloves...


    When he finished everything and returned to his residence on the ground floor, it was already noon


    After turning the key and unlocking the door, Tang Xian discovered that the place was empty.


    He didn''t think too much about it and took a shower first. Feeling refreshed, he called Qiao Shanshan.


    After hearing a response that the number did not exist, Tang Xian knew what had happened ¨C she had returned to the Mining Continent.


    But there was a minor mishap; he didn''t appear in the treehouse.


    The portable teleport fracture had taken him to the outskirts of the Red Clay Forest. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In just a few short days, the Red Clay Forest had completely turned into a wasteland.


    Tang Xian looked around, and the place seemed to be a desolate canyon. Or perhaps the canyon was no longer an adequate description; it was more like a scar on the Mining Continent.


    The smell of decay in the air had faded significantly since before.


    It must have been dealt with by the human regular army over the past days.


    Crossing such a huge canyon was almost impossible for Tang Xian.


    It was a momentary oversight; he forgot to switch the portable teleport fracture with the coordinates set in the item bag, resulting in his return to the place he had escaped from the battlefield last time.


    Tang Xian was not in a rush. He put on the Extreme Gloves and began attempting to cross the canyon.


    Although the gloves still lacked Soul Crystals, their basic function could be used.


    With the tiny grappling hooks launched by the Extreme Gloves, he could swing through the canyon like a monkey swinging on vines, much faster than his own speed.


    While testing the gloves, Tang Xian also began testing his new abilities.


    Tang Xian surmised that this was the ability he gained from killing s004.


    After s004 and the black snake were crushed into an unspeakable mess by the Zudun Giant, Tang, a prompt rang out in Tang Xian''s mind.


    [You have acquired a special combat skill: Graceful Throw]


    [This ability is a unique drop from a special target, and cannot be improved by killing similar creatures. Upgrade method: Frequent use.]


    [Upgrading the level of Graceful Throw will increase the size and range of the objects thrown.]


    Regarding this new skill, in short, it allows one to precisely control small objects to reach exactly where one wants them to go.


    For example, the launch point of a grappling hook. Or tossing a small pebble at random, like blowing a paper airplane, could make it land precisely where needed.


    It''s a very practical ability, hitting the mark every time.


    This ability allowed Tang Xian to feel even more at home while swinging.


    Because the grappling claws always seemed to be thrown at the most supportive points among the rocks.


    During this attempt, as well as several previous hunts, Tang Xian had already noticed that his kill judgment was very peculiar.


    For instance, the hellhound that died due to his strategies, but the kill was still credited to him.


    Many creatures I encountered afterward didn''t drop any skills, but no matter how they died, as long as it was my own plan, even if I didn''t lay a hand on them, the resistance rewards after their death were fixed.


    So although s004 died from Tang''s overwhelming force, Tang Xian was still the beneficiary.


    He just didn''t understand why.


    Tang Xian felt some regret that he didn''t question the Zudun Sacred Tree about the remnants of the first civilization before it completely degenerated back into seeds.


    A plant goes through stages of grass, flower, tree, and this kind of leap in evolution might take far longer than people imagine.


    It''s rare for a plant to produce a Soul Crystal. Even if it does, the plant has lived for a very long time, possibly thousands or even tens of thousands of years, belonging to extremely long-lived creatures that may have indeed witnessed the origin of the world and the most ancient wise beings.


    I might not be a remnant of the first civilization, but perhaps I really am connected to the Mining Continent itself.


    With the gloves, Tang Xian climbed at an extremely fast speed, which indirectly was akin to flying without touching the ground.


    From the south side of the red soil forest to the north side and then from the north to the edge of the forest of trees, this journey took Tang Xian a total of seven hours.


    By the time he got back to the wooden house, the sky had already darkened.


    In the courtyard under the wooden house, smoke from cooking fires rose, and Tang Xian smelled the fragrance of fish soup.


    This time Akasi didn''t add any perfumed oil, so the taste wasn''t so peculiar.


    Tang Xian hadn''t even entered the wooden house when Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Suoye, and Akasi sensed his presence.


    So along with Dong Ran, who was holding Tang Bingxiang, and Qiao Shanshan, who was attempting to teach Tang Gazi tongue twisters, they all ran out to greet him.


    "Tang Xian, you''re finally back!"


    Tang Xiaojiu happily trotted with little steps into Tang Xian''s arms.


    Tang Xian naturally picked up Tang Xiaojiu and, seeing everyone''s slightly surprised faces, said,


    "Did something happen?"


    Qiao Shanshan asked, "Why was your phone turned off?"


    "Turning it off is an effective way to save on the phone bill."


    "..."


    Dong Ran said,


    "The second miss was really worried about you."


    "I''ve met with her."


    Qiao Shanshan then asked,


    "How did you get here?"


    The red soil forest was originally adjacent to the forest of trees, but now it has been overturned and hollowed out.


    It''s as if the humans'' path to the border of the forest of trees has been severed.


    Tang Xian thought it was not bad, no longer having to worry about people running to the forest of trees house in the future.


    "Climbed up here."


    Dong Ran was shocked.


    In her memory, Tang was weak, a person without any talent.


    An ordinary person would have no way of crossing such a large ravine.


    Tang Xian looked at everyone''s expressions and realized something.


    His strength appeared different in the eyes of each team member.


    For instance, Dong Ran, who followed him from the earliest time, but back then, he indeed had no ability at all.


    Qiao Shanshan, due to the matter of being the captain of the White Rose Team, imagined him to be a master.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye on the other hand, because of the identity of the Masked Chopper Hero, even considered him to be some monster with a hundred percent synchronization rate.


    But Tang Suoye also had her own doubts. The serum had changed Tang Suoye''s perception, and she always felt that Tang Xian didn''t possess the physique that a strong creature should have.


    After many days apart, seeing each other again made Tang Xian quite happy.


    The Shengtang team was about to assist the Li family as Guest Elders in the battle of the Yuepela Plains.


    That was a real fight against the creatures of the Mining Continent, only knowing both the enemy and oneself ensured there would be no peril in a hundred battles.


    About the Mining Continent, even Tang Xian didn''t dare to claim he knew the enemy, let alone his teammates.


    But at the very least, there should be a correct understanding among each other. It was time to share some secrets.


    Tang Xian said,


    "There are some things I need to tell you all."


    "What things?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "About my abilities. And some of my secrets."

 Chapter 113 A More Deadly Fox and Snake than Last Time

    Tang Xian did not immediately return to the cabin. Some things could not be explained with words alone; they required a personal demonstration.He let go of Tang Xiaojiu and, holding her hand, said,


    "Did we not mention last time that Qing JiuYu is a nine-tailed fox demon and Bai Mansheng is the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon?"


    Everyone was taken aback, especially Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, who recalled their experience in the fox den. Although it seemed peaceful, they couldn''t help but feel lingering fear.


    Akasi nodded. Even though Tang Xian had mentioned some things, his abilities were still very mysterious to him.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "You all must be curious about how I could become friends with Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu. Today, I will make it clear to you."


    The group was at a loss for words.


    For them, the idea that Tang Xian could be friends with disaster-level and catastrophe-level boss creatures, or that such creatures could transform into humans, was completely unheard of.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Today, I will tell you all there is to know. Let''s start with Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng. I don''t know yet why they can turn into humans; this might be a special ability that high-level creatures'' Soul Crystals possess."


    "The human form might be seen as the most perfect creation in the eyes of the creator. After all, this world does not seem to me to be filled with the randomness of our Pyramid World. It seems more like a world created afterwards."


    As for his own words, Tang Xian purely speculated without any definitive arguments to prove them. He simply voiced his thoughts.


    "The powers humans can acquire in the mining areas are also recorded in the original documents of the Pyramid, so it''s very possible that this ability is a new genetic sequence that humans acquired after settling in the Pyramid, influenced imperceptibly over time."


    Dong Ran was utterly baffled.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye also did not quite understand. Qiao Shanshan, on the other hand, listened intently and found it quite interesting.


    "But with the knowledge I currently have, I cannot confirm these views. I can only presume that this viewpoint is an objective fact to discuss some special cases, such as myself."


    Tang Xian said,


    "There are some aspects of my ability that I cannot yet disclose to you; I need to understand the causes and effects by myself before I can explain them to you. But what I can tell you now is that humans cannot harm me."


    The group was stunned once again.


    "Instead of putting it that way, which may not give you a feel for it, let''s do a practical exercise so you''ll understand."


    Tang Xian pointed at Dong Ran and said,


    "Do you remember the first time we encountered the fox demon when you pushed me?"


    "I remember." Dong Ran would certainly not forget. Although Tang Xian often criticized her for being slow, he rarely got angry.


    But that time, Tang Xian was genuinely angry.


    "You can try again now, attack me with your strongest force."


    "Wouldn''t that hurt... a lot?" Dong Ran still thought it was absurd.


    Recalling how Tang Xian had faced off against Huang Jie of White Rose, and connecting it with what he had said today, Qiao Shanshan suddenly understood.


    "You can try. He won''t be hurt," said Qiao Shanshan.


    Dong Ran did not understand. Why would even the doctor say so?


    She still remembered that Tang Xian was not strong; she was the one who had carried the carcass of the hellhound back.


    How could such a fragile body seem capable of withstanding her strike?


    Dong Ran concentrated her energy in her palm, but did not use full strength. Even so, her palm strike was formidable.


    As the palm wind approached, Tang Xian simply raised a finger, much like the scenes in bottom-tier comics that depict disparities in strength.


    That single finger stopped Dong Ran''s palm force from advancing even slightly.


    Dong Ran was shocked and tried to increase her strength, but it was still in vain.


    Tang Xian said,


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    "You don''t have to hold back. Use your full force."


    "But I am using all my strength..."


    Dong Ran stopped trying and withdrew her hand in disbelief.


    This scene baffled even Akasi.


    "This is how humans can''t harm me. Akasi, your attacks would be the same, and even Tang Suoye, your Telekinesis has no effect on me."


    "If I were to demonstrate, it seems that my strength is great. But to be honest, I might not even be able to lift a 300-pound Dong Ran."


    Dong Ran: "???"


    Why am I measured in ''only''? How did I become 300 pounds? I''m only 100 pounds at most!


    Dong Ran remembered someone saying that a girl over 90 pounds is considered fat, but she couldn''t slim down to less than 90 unless she could look down at her shoes without her line of sight being blocked.


    "It''s just an example, don''t mind it. Simply put, this is the power of my defense. As for offensive power, it''s also strong, of course, only in relation to humans. Once that factor is removed, I''m no different from an ordinary person, except... I can take a beating really well." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian went on to say,


    "There are some abilities that I won''t list one by one because they have not yet completed the process where quantitative change triggers qualitative change. At a certain stage, I will tell you all about them."


    Akasi, puzzled and somewhat concerned, said,


    "You''re the same as revealing your weakness. Why?"


    Tang Xian laughed and said,


    "I can judge a person''s attitude and feelings towards me; you all are worth my trust. In the battles to come, knowing my strengths and weaknesses will allow for better teamwork."

 Chapter 113 A More Deadly Fox and Snake than Last Time_2

    "But this is still one of my biggest secrets, so you all have to keep it confidential just like last time when we encountered the humanoid nine-tailed fox and the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon. Understand?"Everyone nodded their heads. Tang Xian wasn''t worried about the loyalty among his teammates. Throughout these days, whether it was Dong Ran or Qiao Shanshan, the level of frankness and fondness had been within a safe range, which was why he felt comfortable sharing this today.


    Then Tang Xian began to describe how he met Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, and he also mentioned another one of his abilities.


    "I can hear the words of boss-level beings. And they can understand my responses as well. This is why I became friends with the little fox and little white snake."


    After his explanation, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan finally understood the many questions they had previously.


    The group also cleverly guessed the true identity of Tang Xiaojiu.


    But no one voiced it out loud.


    Tang Xian saw this and understood everything in his heart.


    He didn''t mention the unique talent he saw. Regarding that matter, Tang Xian had no plans to tell anyone.


    He was subtly instilling a new concept in his teammates.


    People without talent might not be unable to awaken abilities.


    Because of their trust in Tang Xian, everyone accepted this assertion.


    As for his strength displayed in the Pyramid and the evolutionary zone, Tang Xian directly used the evolutionary zone''s concept of synchronization rate.


    Akasi accepted it easily as well.


    Some things were not about deceiving his teammates, but rather that Tang Xian hadn''t completely figured them out himself yet.


    What he could do was to make his teammates have a roughly accurate assessment of his strength.


    It also established the combat and problem-solving style of the Sheng Tang Squad for the future.


    For instance, when facing boss beings, fighting wasn''t always necessary. Cooperating with Tang, the Shadow Emperor, in acting might bring unexpected rewards.


    ...


    ...


    Previously, due to the destruction caused by the Sky Guardian Fortress Hunter''s Group, the Hundred-Handed Wood outside the wooden house broke, and the fence was also damaged.


    The very next morning after Tang Xian returned, he urged the hardworking model Dong Ran to repair and build the treehouse courtyard.


    Dong Ran was very reasonable and incredibly diligent. With Tang Suoye''s telekinetic assistance, the work became incredibly simple.


    They even added several more rooms to the wooden house.


    Each person now had their own private room.


    Tang Xian inquired with Qiao Shanshan about the reason Tang Suoye couldn''t speak.


    Qiao Shanshan explained that Tang Suoye''s language nerves had changed.


    This was the result of erosion by the blood serum of a calamity beast, but the erosion had stopped.


    Whether it might mutate again in the future or improve was still unknown.


    This was a complex medical condition that was irreversible by current human medical science.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    Some things cannot be forced.


    By noon, Dong Ran and Tang Suoye had almost doubled the size of the treehouse, giving it quite the fortress-like appearance.


    To reward them for their great achievements, Tang Xian also took a few of the tastiest Dragon Spine fish from the small pond.


    Afterward, he went to check Tang Bingxiang''s storage and discovered that all the meat in the ice cellar was gone.


    Just as Tang Xian was feeling somewhat regretful, Qing JiuYu came to visit.


    Bringing with her the meat of a Mountain Taming Beast.


    Although Dong Ran and the others were still very frightened of Qing JiuYu, even Tang Suoye felt afraid.


    But they had already shared a meal together before, so they were all much calmer than last time.


    Tang Xian should have felt very happy, but the scent in the air made it hard for him to feel joyful.


    Because, inconveniently, Bai Mansheng had also arrived.


    The two formidable women, one from the due north and the other from the northwest.


    Tang Xian guessed that they had sensed each other from a certain distance.


    But neither of them stopped their steps or acknowledged the other.


    Qing JiuYu''s pace was nevertheless much faster.


    She arrived first.


    Upon seeing Qing JiuYu, Tang Xiaojiu happily threw herself at her.


    Especially upon seeing the meat wrapped with hemp twine that Qing JiuYu had brought.


    This was a technique Tang Xian had taught her, where the best pieces of meat with an even distribution of fat and lean, were typically tied into neat, square bundles with hemp twine.


    Tang Xian remained calm. He had bluffed his way through a dangerous situation like the one before, so the heavens probably wouldn''t play him again with an even tougher deadly question.


    With that thought, he asked:


    "How come you''re here?"


    "The distance between the wilderness and the forest ocean isn''t far for me. I felt like eating meat, so I came over," she replied.


    Tang Xian took the mutton that Qing JiuYu handed him.


    "Let''s get one thing clear, this mutton is mine," he blurted out without any context.


    Qing JiuYu responded:


    "Fine then, if you say it''s yours, then it''s yours."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t quite understand what was going on, and Tang Xian said nothing.


    At this time, Bai Mansheng also arrived.


    Bai Mansheng''s arrival wasn''t for the sake of eating meat.


    It was because that damn Tang Xian had, yet again, cut the story off at the most captivating part!


    "Different from Qing JiuYu, Bai Mansheng appeared furious.


    How could the world tolerate such a story-cutting cur?


    Carrying the discs that Tang Xian had given her, Bai Mansheng even ignored Qing JiuYu and demanded,


    "Xu Xian, come out here!"


    Tang Xian obediently came out, looking at Bai Mansheng with a puzzled face.


    "What''s the matter? Could it be that the player is broken? It shouldn''t be, even though it''s an antique, I made sure to buy the real deal."


    Tang Xian feigned ignorance as he spoke.


    Qing JiuYu was also curious, Bai Mansheng had called for Xu Xian, and she remembered that this white snake treated Xu Xian much better than Tang Xian.


    Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, Tang Suoye, Akasi, and others all went back to their own cabins, showing no intention of coming out.


    Compared to the fearful expressions they had last time, everyone seemed to be relishing the excitement after Tang Xian''s explanation the night before.


    "I''m asking you, these stories were clearly almost over, so why did they cut off right at the crucial part again?"


    Bai Mansheng managed to restrain her temper. Qing JiuYu became even more curious about what Bai Mansheng was holding in her hands.


    Tang Xian spread his hands and explained,


    "These stories are actually merchandise, and all merchandise experiences times of abundance and shortage. What I gave you is top-quality stuff, not the kind that you can finish in one go. The last time I gave you stories, those authors were still writing them. You came at just the right moment this time; I''ve just received the endings."


    As Tang Xian spoke, he went inside the cabin and rummaged underneath the wooden bed for those discs.


    He came out holding the discs and nonchalantly said,


    "Your timing is impeccable, I just got them this morning and was thinking about when to deliver them to you."


    Bai Mansheng''s expression eased slightly as she took the discs from Tang Xian''s hands and asked,


    "You''re not deceiving me, right? This time it''s really complete, right?"


    "Of course, I guarantee they are finished."


    "Okay then."


    The two women in the cabin shook their heads in unison, feeling somewhat sorry for Bai Mansheng.


    Because of those stories, they too had listened to the audio content found in the cabin during their free time.


    The stories were indeed concluded.


    But those authors had written open-ended conclusions, leaving them half-told.


    Some even ended abruptly, leaving the listener infuriated.


    After Bai Mansheng got the discs, she didn''t leave but just stood there quietly, glancing at Qing JiuYu.


    Tang Xian instinctively wanted to frown, but his actor''s nature allowed him to calmly suggest, Explore new worlds at empire


    "Since you''re here, why not have a meal before you leave?"


    "Sure."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t refuse at all.


    Qing JiuYu was about to have an outburst, as it was her meat, after all. Why should she give it to this white snake to eat? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as she was about to erupt, the words on her lips, she remembered Tang Xian had just said that this meat should be accounted as his, Tang Xian''s.


    Thinking of this, Qing JiuYu laughed angrily.


    Tsk tsk, this white snake hadn''t even arrived yet, and he was already worrying about someone else, plotting against me.


    With a twinkle in her beautiful eyes, Qing JiuYu chuckled and said,


    "Miss Bai is holding some interesting things; Tang Xian, why don''t you get a set for me too?"


    Tang Xian didn''t pay much attention as he responded,


    "Sure, I''ll arrange some for you later."


    "These should be items from the human world, right?"


    Tang Xian suddenly realized something and shook his head as he said,


    "They were taken from someone else."


    "Didn''t I hear you just now saying you bought them? Have you been to the human world?"


    Tang Xian remained silent.


    Qing JiuYu then pinched Tang Xiaojiu''s face and asked, "Xiao Ni, tell Qing, is the human world fun?"


    "It''s fun, yeah, but the food isn''t tasty." Tang Xiaojiu replied without thinking.


    This was bad.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    He anticipated that things might really develop in some unpredictable direction now.


    Bai Mansheng also realized something.


    She said,


    "You''ve been to the human world? Do you know how to get there? I''m worried you''ll give me more half-finished stories, so why don''t you just take me to the human world instead?"


    "Hehe, I''d like to take a look too," said Qing JiuYu.

 Chapter 114 Impulsive Individual Xu Xian

    In the Pyramid World, if a cataclysm-level boss creature or a disaster-level boss creature were to appear,Tang Xian couldn''t imagine the tragedy that would ensue if both creatures rioted.


    Even a plant that couldn''t move was enough to turn an entire red soil forest from woodland into an abyss. If the white snake made it to the human realm, it might be capable of even more horrific deeds.


    As for the cataclysm-level boss of the Qing JiuYu...


    Human civilization describes the historical blank text as a great cataclysm.


    Even if Qing JiuYu were to get angry, it might not cause an extinction event of the great cataclysm level. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire


    But it could probably set civilization back a few hundred years.


    Tang Xian was not afraid to try; Tang Xiaojiu was the most terrifying creature he had ever smuggled.


    But Tang Xiaojiu was very young and had not yet harbored hatred for humanity.


    It was harder to say with Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng.


    "The world of humanity is too dangerous for you," Tang Xian also began to think on his feet.


    "What do you mean?" Qing JiuYu really couldn''t imagine what danger humanity could pose.


    Many versions flashed through Tang Xian''s mind.


    He sorted out his logic.


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng both had thoughts of going to the human world.


    Even if he rejected them this time, they might still go to the human world through other hunters.


    So he must completely extinguish this notion for them. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The likes of Dong Ran, Akasi in the room also broke out in cold sweats.


    Don''t look at the current atmosphere as seemingly peaceful and serene.


    Two beautiful women, one holding a cute child, a man busying himself with food.


    Warm, peaceful.


    But Tang Xian was now essentially saving the world.


    Although the biggest disaster of this world was caused by him.


    "Before you want to enter the human world, I must tell you a rule," said Tang Xian in a casual tone, but without appearing to be perfunctory.


    Bai Mansheng inquired with curiosity, "What rule?"


    "Have you ever wondered why humans always disappear every so often?"


    Bai Mansheng nodded; she had heard the ancient long-eared ape say that humans possessed magic and could reach another source world.


    They always returned every few days.


    Qing JiuYu then said,


    "Is it because they can''t stay in this world indefinitely?"


    "You know?" asked Tang Xian, curious.


    "Of course, I told you, I had a few human slaves. I locked them up, planning to raise and learn some of the human culture, but they died in a few days, and not in a pretty way."


    Tang Xian gave a wry smile; if not for his special attributes, he might have become one of Qing JiuYu''s slaves the day he hunted the tri-tailed fox.


    However, given Qing JiuYu''s curiosity about humans, he might still have survived.


    He organized his words and said,


    "Humans can''t stay in our world for more than seven days as this world rejects them. They have their own world and should not have come to the mining area. So once they stay for seven days, their cells are disturbed by an unknown force field, resulting in massive necrosis and ultimately a death full of holes."


    "So? What does this have to do with you taking us to the human world?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    Tang Xian fanned the flames beneath the stove and said,


    "Of course, it''s related. Every world has its independence, humans have their territory, so when they overstep their authority and come to this world, their power is greatly weakened, and they will die if they stay full seven days."


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Don''t underestimate humans. My power is not inferior to yours, right? In the human world, there is a clear hierarchy. The stronger the creature, the higher the level they live at, but I can only live on the very bottom level."


    Just in time, Tang Xiaojiu chimed in helpfully,


    "Brother Tang Xian''s house over there is very small, not even half the size of this one."


    Tang Xian decided to give Tang Xiaojiu more meat later, even though Tang Xiaojiu had just caused a big mess.


    "Really?" Bai Mansheng was still somewhat confused.


    "Haven''t I often told you to learn more from humans? What for?" said Tang Xian.


    "What for?" asked Qing JiuYu, also puzzled.


    "Of course, to take you to the human world as soon as possible. You may look like humans, but that doesn''t mean you are human. Human thinking is very complex, while yours is simple."


    "Are you implying that I am stupid?" Bai Mansheng glared at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said, "How could that be? You are indeed clever. It''s just that humans have different habits from us. You could be exposed for not being human due to various details."


    "I see," Qing JiuYu unconsciously nodded her head.


    "Think about it, when humans come to our world, their power is significantly weakened. If we go to the human world, our power will naturally be significantly weakened. With one increasing and the other decreasing, do you still think that world full of humans is fun? Miss Bai, to tell you the truth, every story I brought you, I wagered my life for it."


    Tang Xian''s face showed a look of fear as he spoke with trepidation,


    "Let''s take the book ''Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai,'' for example. To get that book, three cataclysm-level human units were ready to fight me for it. If I hadn''t been familiar with human laws and language habits, you might not have even seen the ending of that book."


    Bai Mansheng''s expression softened somewhat.


    Seeing Xu Xian''s words were filled with the fear of a narrow escape from disaster, she couldn''t help but believe him.


    Qing JiuYu, thoughtful, said,


    "I see. It seems we need to know more about human habits before going to the human world. You are quite impressive, managing to navigate there for so long."

 Chapter 114 The Sentimental Xu Xian_2

    Explore more at empireTang Xian waved his hand and said:


    "The Human World is too dangerous; at every moment I think of returning to the mines. The reason I go over there... is just because there are some interesting and novel things, that''s all."


    "For example, stories?" Qing JiuYu, seeing that Bai Mansheng''s anger had subsided, thought those stories must be interesting.


    "Mainly for Miss Bai''s stories, and also some other things."


    Bai Mansheng said softly:


    "You''ve worked hard."


    The fire gradually flared up, and Tang Xian estimated the lamb would take a little while longer.


    "It''s not hard. I can understand your desire to go to the Human World. Who wouldn''t be curious about another world? However, you still need to learn how to be human."


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Otherwise, just taking you there with the situation being so unstable nowadays, what would happen to the Snake and Fox tribes if you two left and were bullied?"


    This statement struck a chord with the two women.


    After all, both of them were leaders of their respective tribes.


    "Alright. Since you''ve said so, I won''t go either. But I also want to see those stories," Qing JiuYu said.


    "Next time I''ll get them for you," Tang Xian promised first.


    After all, those broken stories weren''t worth much.


    Qing JiuYu asked, "Do they include all kinds of stories?"


    "You could say that."


    "Are there those kinds of stories... you know, the really... racy ones?" Qing JiuYu asked with a teasing smile.


    "Shameless, Xu Xian put a lot of effort into these stories, it''s not your place to be picky," Bai Mansheng coldly told Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu laughed, "I am shameless, but Miss Bai, you should know, if one is too modest, men might just run off with someone else."


    "Besides, I haven''t even mentioned what kind of stories I mean."


    Bai Mansheng was particularly sensitive about the topic of stealing men; the chill in her eyes and brows immediately intensified.


    Tang Xian felt a headache coming on. The last thing he wanted was for the two women to end up fighting.


    Otherwise, it wasn''t impossible for the entire forest to be gone.


    "Let me show you something. Follow me."


    Bai Mansheng turned her head away and stopped looking at Qing JiuYu, who also stopped taunting Bai Mansheng, and asked:


    "What is it?"


    Tang Xian didn''t answer but instead walked to the opposite cabin, pushed open the door, and said to Qiao Shanshan inside:


    "Qiao Shanshan, bring out your makeup."


    Qiao Shanshan, who was originally wondering why Tang Xian was walking this way and thinking that she and Dong Ran were supposed to play the part of silent lambs, realized that a woman''s pettiness knew no occasion.


    "Why should I bring out my makeup?" she demanded in a suppressed voice, her tone conveying an unequivocal refusal.


    "Think of it as saving the world."


    Tang Xian went straight to the wooden table in Qiao Shanshan''s cabin where she kept all kinds of makeup.


    Foundation, perfume, nail polish, face masks, lipstick, facial cleanser, primer, eyebrow powder, setting powder, eyeliner, eyeshadow, etc., he grabbed them all in one go.


    Qiao Shanshan felt so heartbroken she was nearly falling apart, but Tang Xian selectively ignored her.


    Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu were curious about all the bottles and jars Tang Xian was holding.


    Tang Xian himself didn''t really understand these items.


    But he was familiar with the instructions for use on the luxury goods from the Champs Elysees on the third layer of the Parisian fortress that Qiao Shanshan had bought.


    "This is perfume. Here, Qing JiuYu, try it. Yes, press here, and it will release a spray."


    The beauty of Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng was natural.


    Men often say that the most beautiful women don''t need makeup. In fact, no matter how beautiful a woman is, makeup can always enhance their beauty.


    Straight-man Tang Xian wasn''t initially inclined to ponder such things, but a business opportunity was another matter entirely.


    Qing JiuYu pressed the perfume bottle, and immediately, Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu caught the scent of blue lemon, Capim-Lime, musk, and applewood blended together.


    This artificial fragrance quickly delighted the two women.


    Only Qiao Shanshan watched, numb with heartache, as two devastatingly beautiful women sprayed her Nina Ricci perfume in a manner resembling children recklessly playing with toys.


    Perfume was just the start; next came the lipstick.


    Tang Xian took out a lipstick and said,


    "This thing¡ªlook at my human servant over there, the one who''s in profound grief. Although she''s not as pretty as you all, pay attention to her lips. Don''t they look more luscious and vibrant than yours?"


    Bai Mansheng looked closely and indeed found it to be true.


    Qing JiuYu exclaimed in amazement,


    "Humans are really ingenious, to think there is such a treasure."


    "Exactly, it''s for the lips, but how to apply it is a skill. I advise against applying it recklessly. Usually, you should test the color before using it, and it''s also important to make sure it matches with your makeup, clothing, and even your shoes."


    Qiao Shanshan thought to herself that Tang Xian was right, but could he not use her lipstick like a chalk to demonstrate!


    Although these products can be bought, it''s just how girls are¡ªsometimes taking their makeup away hurts more than taking their money.


    Tang Xian paid no mind to Qiao Shanshan''s expression.


    But Bai Mansheng said,


    "That human seems to be in a lot of pain." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Because these things are ten times more precious than stories in the Human World, they''re almost priceless. Think about it, how could something that can make you beautiful be cheap?"


    Given the market monopoly and scarcity of supply, coupled with the high demand from customers, Tang Xian felt his exaggeration was not too far-fetched.


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng both nodded seriously, agreeing that his statement made a lot of sense.


    After all, both of them were so renowned among the myriad beasts mainly because of their near-extreme beauty after transforming into human forms.


    If beauty could be enhanced by other means, or even made more exquisite, it was naturally of the utmost importance.


    Tang Xian then began to fiddle with the primer. Although he had never used it before, Master Tang understood it instinctively after reading the instructions.


    "As the saying goes, ''A fair complexion hides many flaws.'' This stuff prevents you from tanning and keeps your skin moisturized and whitened. Its main use is to even out skin tone and protect from the sun."


    "Next, this is the foundation. It''s used to even out and conceal the entire face. Don''t underestimate it. Paired with eyeshadow and lipstick, it can work wonders in changing your appearance, making your skin look more delicate and refined from a distance."


    Although unsure if Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu could fully understand, he made sure to emphasize the effects after each product, thinking it would be of interest to them.


    Indeed, Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng were very interested.


    Tang Xian went through each makeup product one by one, exaggerating their functions considerably.


    But to prevent beginners from applying makeup recklessly and ending up looking worse, Tang Xian called Qiao Shanshan out to demonstrate personally.


    He simultaneously started to explain the skills and steps of makeup application, such as cleansing, priming, foundation, eye makeup, contouring, and lip makeup, as if he had self-learned them.


    Knowing that Tang Xian was set on getting the disasters and calamities addicted to human trinkets, Qiao Shanshan, despite her heartache, began to demonstrate enthusiastically.


    Her beauty, although not as extreme as Bai Mansheng''s and Qing JiuYu''s, was indeed pleasing to the eyes.


    Qiao Shanshan usually wore light makeup, and had many makeup products she hadn''t used before.


    It''s just how women are¡ªwhether they prefer a natural look or a heavy one is a matter of personal preference, but no matter the style, they can''t do without the corresponding cosmetics.


    Qiao Shanshan directly applied a rather bold and bright makeup look, instantly transforming from a fresh, professional image to one of enchanting allure.


    This astonished Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian took the opportunity to say,


    "These items are very hard to come by, and they are extremely scarce in the Human World too. But I heard some news not long ago about where I might be able to obtain them. I thought maybe you''d be interested?"


    Bai Mansheng liked the eye makeup and perfume, but considering the items were overly precious, she felt embarrassed to ask for them.


    Qing JiuYu said,


    "I remember you mentioned that humans value profit. You''re offering me such good stuff, there must be a catch, right?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "Humans also operate on feelings. Sometimes when the feelings are there, they won''t care about profit at all."


    Seeing Qing JiuYu''s and Bai Mansheng''s approval rating increase a few points, Tang Xian added,


    "I just want six decent quality Soul Crystals."


    "What constitutes decent quality?" Bai Mansheng asked.


    "The best Soul Crystals you can get would suffice."


    Qiao Shanshan was stunned on the spot.


    This guy really dared to ask! All these cosmetics combined couldn''t compare to a single perfect-grade creature''s Soul Crystal.


    And the best Soul Crystals that the disaster-level bosses and calamity-level bosses could obtain would at least also be at the disaster level, right?


    Qiao Shanshan thought Tang Xian was being too greedy, but then she saw him speak with a generous tone,


    "Don''t feel like you''re taking advantage of me. I, Xu Xian, am a man of sentiment. Making two beautiful friends like you doesn''t bother me if it comes at a small loss. I''m not like Tang Xian, reeking of money and vulgarity."

 Chapter 115 Buying Clothes

    Tang Xian''s bargaining technique was the most common and effective one.It reminded Qiao Shanshan of the days when she went shopping with her father, strolling through the second-floor fruit market to buy melon and fruits.


    "Sir, how much for the melon?"


    "Ten yuan for three jin."


    "Why''d the price go up? Can you make it cheaper?"


    "No way, it''s always been this price. This is the lowest it goes. Elsewhere, this melon could cost you five yuan per jin!"


    "Look at your age, why do you keep lying? Last time I bought from you, it was ten yuan for eight jin!"


    "Nonsense, how can you make up such things! When have I ever sold it for ten yuan for eight jin! The most I''ve gone down to is ten yuan for five jin!"


    "Alright, here''s ten yuan, give me five jin."


    "..."


    To this day, she could remember the fruit vendor''s expression, caught between wanting to speak and wanting to hold back.


    Although Tang Xian used a different method of bargaining.


    In Qiao Shanshan''s eyes, Tang Xian and her father had certain similarities.


    Qiao Shanshan''s father was known as the most famous local doctor at the fortress and had published many important papers in the medical field.


    He was regarded by many as a high-level intellectual, yet he also had a life experience that seemed to stem from the lower rungs of society.


    Tang Xian was similar, sometimes giving Qiao Shanshan a sense of profound mystery.


    Other times, he just seemed utterly insufferable.


    Of course, these thoughts could only be her internal musings.


    Right now, she had to play along with Tang Xian''s act. Qiao Shanshan looked at her cosmetics with a heartache, immersing herself in the performance.


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng both nodded, joyfully agreeing to Tang Xian''s request.


    Bai Mansheng even felt a little guilty and said:


    "Is there anything else you want? If I can provide it, I''ll give it to you as well."


    Tang Xian replied:


    "Miss Bai, please don''t be so polite. I don''t want anything, just come by and visit when you have the time."


    Although Bai Mansheng''s face remained as calm as usual, her heart couldn''t help but rejoice.


    However, her happiness didn''t last long, as Qing JiuYu interjected:


    "What about me? Little brother Tang, you''ve invited Miss Bai, aren''t you going to invite me?"


    Bai Mansheng looked at Qing JiuYu with disdain.


    "Miss Bai, why are you looking at me like that? You should know, I was the first to come here, hehe," Qing JiuYu giggled.


    Tang Xian had expected this outcome. Bai Mansheng couldn''t beat Qing JiuYu physically, and she was no match for Qing JiuYu in a war of words either.


    In Tang Xian''s view, both women were not to be trifled with, and Bai Mansheng actually had even more potential to reach further.


    But for now, that was a very vague and indefinite matter.


    "Everyone gets a share. Don''t worry, no one will be left out."


    After quelling the impending visit of two terrifying women to the Human World and completing the most profitable trade ever with just a set of cosmetics¡ª


    Tang Xian enjoyed a delicious lunch with everyone.


    This time, Tang Xian prepared hand-pulled lamb.


    As the name suggests, it involved eating lamb with your hands, holding a lamb bone in one hand and stripping the meat with a knife in the other.


    However, since the meat from the mountain beast provided by Qing JiuYu had no bones, Tang Xian turned it into a hand-shredded style. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Large chunks of lamb were placed into the pot with just a sprinkling of spices, some cumin on the surface, a touch of ground black pepper, and a special dip to go with it.


    It was a very robust way of eating.


    So, the women ate somewhat hesitantly, not wanting to appear unrefined.


    After teaching Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng how to use a knife and fork, especially influenced by the relatively elegant manners of the humans Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran, the two bosses were reluctant to eat too crudely.


    In stark contrast, the group of children and men ate with abandon.


    Akasi and Tang Xian didn''t care about appearances at all, for with this type of cuisine, not just the eating, but the joy of eating heartily, was important.


    Just like drinking kumis or vodka, if you sip it like wine, you''re likely to be criticized by the locals for lacking vigor.


    Thus, the second lamb dish, also a similar eating style¡ªroasted lamb chops.


    This dish required precise control of the heat. For any flame-cooked dish, controlling the fire is crucial. The chops should be grilled until the skin turns a savory red, indicating that the meat inside is at the perfect level of tenderness and juiciness.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye had already started their ultimate showdown.


    This time, Tang Xiaojiu was determined to reclaim her dignity as a little foodie.


    After losing her voice, Tang Suoye had become a relentless eating machine.


    Their duel showed no flashes of knives, just mouths greased with fat.


    However, in a blink of an eye, the lamb chops were devoured clean.


    Tang Suoye took twenty-seven seconds.


    Tang Xiaojiu took thirty-three seconds.


    She looked in shock at the mute girl across from her.


    A look of self-doubt appeared on her little face.


    She felt pity for herself, being a worthless six seconds slower than the others¡ªthose six seconds could mean a lot more food.


    ...


    ...


    As evening approached, Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng left one after another.


    The usually quiet Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The two children, Tang Suoye and Tang Xiaojiu, were tasked with dishwashing.


    As Dong Ran reflected on the day''s events, her mind was still a bit foggy.


    She then approached Tang Xian, who was sitting in a rocking chair, enjoying the rare shade on a summer''s day.


    Experience tales at empire


    "Tang, I''ve noticed that you can lie without batting an eye. You managed to¡­ uh... I don''t even know how to describe those two ladies. Anyway, for me, it''s hard to tell when you''re speaking the truth and when you''re telling lies."


    Dong Ran was somewhat troubled.


    Tang Xian regarded Dong Ran with interest, noting that she had indeed gained a little weight.


    "You don''t need to concern yourself with whether my words are true or false."

 Chapter 115 Buying Clothes_2

    Tang Xian understood this kind of distress.As a member of the Li family, Dong Ran had always known since childhood that she only needed absolute obedience and belief, and never had to question anything.


    This girl was quite foolish, possessing a rare form of blind loyalty.


    This quality could not necessarily be said to be good, but those who possessed it definitely didn''t have bad intentions.


    However, for Dong Ran, Tang Xian was largely a friend.


    "Why?"


    "Because I would not hurt you. As we live, we always have our unspeakable difficulties, sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for others, and we cannot always tell the truth. Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng are not human. If one day I am no longer human, perhaps I would tell them the true nature of humanity."


    "How could you not be human?"


    "Just an example."


    "What if one day, they became your friends and then went to war with humans? What would you do, Tang?"


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "Isn''t what I''m doing now trying to prevent that? Although Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu are beasts, they understand human nature. Eventually, they will become as real to you as to countless others. What I am doing is to try to get them to accept humanity."


    Tang Xian paused, then smiled and said,


    "At least, I am not the only one who has had lunch with a calamity-level boss, am I?"


    Dong Ran nodded, realizing it was indeed so.


    But she always felt that with Tang running between both sides in the future, some chaos might ensue.


    She couldn''t figure out why, just curiously asked,


    "But Tang, what if one day, the humans and the beasts you''re familiar with are bound to go to war? Whom would you help?"


    Tang Xian looked at Dong Ran.


    He probably understood it was a question that had crept out of a woman''s intuition.


    He did not brush it off, but seriously pondered the question for a long time before slowly saying,


    "I suppose... I would help humans."


    Tang Xian realized he actually couldn''t come up with an answer immediately.


    He furrowed his brows slightly and then shook his head.


    Dong Ran did not continue to ask. She felt she was just being fanciful.


    Some even worse ideas had popped into her head.


    Tang Xian, witnessing Dong Ran''s pensive expression, felt it did not fit her style.


    "Remember this, people don''t hate lies, but lies that can be found out."


    Dong Ran was even more puzzled and simply stopped thinking about it, nodding and saying,


    "Right, before coming to the mining area, Miss Li reminded me to tell you to attend the ball on the third floor. It seems to be the closing banquet of the Hunting Festival."


    "A ball?"


    Tang Xian thought back. Li Xiaoyu hadn''t said anything about it last time, he figured she had either seen the disaster-level Soul Crystal or had forgotten because of something he said.


    "Yes, the hunters from various fortresses, along with the emissaries, will leave the day after the banquet," said Dong Ran.


    Tang Xian more or less understood and asked,


    "Will all the hunters who participated in the Hunting Festival attend?"


    "Yes."


    "When will it be?"


    "Tomorrow night. Are you going?"


    "I will. There are a few people I want to meet."


    "Then I will go back and report to Miss Li first. She will be very happy."


    Tang Xian nodded, and Dong Ran went off to prepare.


    ...


    ...


    The next day. Akasi and Tang Suoye stayed in the mining area as they didn''t like overly crowded places. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian left with Tang Xiaojiu and Qiao Shanshan.


    Upon returning to the residence, Qiao Shanshan planned to take Tang Xiaojiu to her villa on the third floor.


    However, before leaving, she looked at Tang Xian and suddenly remembered something important.


    "To attend the ball, you need to change your clothes. With that outfit from the lower levels, no girl would want to dance with you," said Qiao Shanshan.


    Tang Xian replied,


    "With Li Xiaoyu there, no girl would dance with me no matter what I wear."


    Qiao Shanshan seemed to think of something.


    From some information Dong Ran had previously leaked, and from Miss Li''s enthusiasm towards her, she suddenly understood.


    She looked at Tang Xian in disbelief.


    "What are you looking at me for?"


    "I don''t think you''re particularly handsome, so how come Qing JiuYu, Bai Mansheng, and Miss Li are all quite fond of you? I think even Dong Ran believes in you a lot."


    Qiao Shanshan found it incredible.


    Tang Xian seriously considered it for a moment. He couldn''t see his own status panel, and the mirror wouldn''t show his charm value.


    So he couldn''t be sure whether he was indeed handsome.


    Women look in the mirror and always feel they aren''t beautiful enough. Men look in the mirror and usually think they look handsomer.


    Of course, reality is often cruel.


    Tang Xian felt that any evaluation of his looks could probably be gleaned only from Liu Lang''s previous teasing.


    "The owner of the smithy is called Liu Lang, a rather handsome guy, known as Jin Chengwu of the thirty-nine fortresses. It''s said his ancestors had similar honorary titles, like Chen Guanxi of Baichuan City. He thinks I''m quite handsome too, fit to be called Chen Guanxi of the thirty-nine fortresses. But that might be an insult, considering that young Chen Guanxi turns into old Zhao Benshan. Stay updated through empire


    Assuming I''m still young, I must be pretty handsome."


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t recognize these names and said,


    "Shameless. No matter how handsome you are, if you go up in those clothes, you might not even be allowed in the door. No matter how poor a man is, he should have at least one suit of his own. It doesn''t need to be expensive, but it must fit well and look proper."


    Tang Xian nodded, agreeing with Qiao Shanshan, although he had never done so before.

 Chapter 115 Buying Clothes_3

    Of course, he wasn''t poor either."You go pick out a suit for yourself, I''m also taking Xiaojiu to buy clothes."


    Based on all the straight male comments Tang Xian had made before, Qiao Shanshan thought he still had some understanding of upper-class aesthetics, so she didn''t think too much about it and left with Tang Xiaojiu.


    Tang Xian indeed didn''t ponder much about his own attire.


    Instead, he had other things in mind.


    "That is an excellent idea, a woman''s wardrobe and shoe collection are historically known to surpass cosmetics in both value and quantity. The channels with Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng are already open, why not expand on that?"


    "But how to spin clothes and shoes into unique treasures of the world requires some careful consideration..." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian stroked his chin, deep in thought.


    It was later, after noon, when he finally called Li Xiaoyu.


    Over the phone, he explained that he was going to buy a suit and asked if Li Xiaoyu had any recommendations.


    Li Xiaoyu, feeling bored, suggested Tang Xian head to the third floor, ready to take him shopping for clothes.


    When Li Xiaoyu saw Tang Xian, although she still had the unenthused expression of old, like a black cat sizing up a stranger from a windowsill,


    Tang Xian could clearly sense that she had relaxed quite a bit.


    Tang Xian didn''t ask further, guessing that Li Xiaoyu had already talked to Song Que.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t bring up the topic either, just saying:


    "I originally asked Dong Ran to tell you because I thought you wouldn''t attend, as such events must be boring for you."


    "They are quite boring. But occasionally attending one isn''t a problem."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, and since Tang Xian didn''t reveal his real motive, she didn''t inquire.


    She just felt that tonight''s dance would probably be very interesting.


    The place Li Xiaoyu took Tang Xian to was Cesare Attolini''s branch at Italian Fortress 39.


    Aside from the Italian Fortress''s third floor, only Italian Fortress 39 had one.


    As Li Xiaoyu approached the doors of Cesare Attolini, the golden scissors Franco respectfully waited on the side and, after a kiss-hand greeting, arranged for an assistant to bring the clothes.


    Tang Xian was surprised:


    "They''re ready?"


    He wasn''t surprised that Li Xiaoyu would bring him to a luxury bespoke shop to buy a suit, but given the time constraint today, he figured only ready-made was an option. Bespoke likely wouldn''t be ready in time.


    Yet unexpectedly, Li Xiaoyu directly picked out a suit.


    "Try it on?" Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian expectantly.


    "When was this made?"


    "A very long time ago."


    "You didn''t even need to take my measurements? You knew it would fit me?"


    "I have your physical examination report, I get it every year. Every bone, every muscle, even the chart of your body''s growth changes, I''ve got it all. Why would I need to take your measurements to make a suit?"


    Tang Xian fell silent. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What she said made sense, but it still sounded a bit like a scene from a horror movie.


    After looking around, Li Xiaoyu said with satisfaction:


    "I''ve also prepared all your future clothes. If you run out of clothes, just come over and pick them up, no need to feel bad about it."


    Franco had only seen such storylines at the Italian Fortress, where a princess brought a poor boy to the Royal Suit Shop to make clothes.


    He loved witnessing such scenes, transforming a poor boy into a noble gentleman in an instant¡ªthat was the charm of Cesare Attolini. Even the position of each button was precisely calculated according to the client''s body data to achieve ultimate refinement and beauty in the overall appearance.


    "At tonight''s event, there will be many women who will try to strike up a conversation with you."


    "So you''re going to drive them all away?"


    "No, if you like them, I can buy them for you."


    "No thanks, tonight I will only dance with one person."

 Chapter 116 The Third Young Miss of the Li Family

    Li Xiaoyu didn''t say anything. She just stared at Tang Xian for a long time.She couldn''t quite believe that the person Tang Xian was referring to was herself. At tonight''s ball, with people from the Song Family and from all walks of life present, it was even less likely that Tang Xian would invite her.


    But Li Xiaoyu was still full of anticipation.


    Tang Xian looked at Li Xiaoyu with puzzled eyes.


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and said, "It''s nothing, let''s go."


    Then Tang Xian followed Li Xiaoyu as she left.


    Next, they went to a shoe store.


    They bought Boludi leather shoes and then an earl''s wristwatch. After that, they went to a beauty salon, where the most fashionable stylist gave Tang Xian a makeover.


    She thought, even if she wasn''t that person''s girl for now, she wanted him to show up in the most dazzling way possible.


    There''s truth to the saying, "Clothes make the man."


    After Li Xiaoyu had Tang Xian dressed up inside and out, the two of them walked on the street.


    Usually, more passersby would look at Li Xiaoyu, even if they were women. But today, most women''s gazes were attracted to Tang Xian.


    Even quite a few turned their heads for a second look.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know whether to be happy or not.


    But then she encountered someone who made her unhappy.


    Li Xiaonian.


    This was also the first time Tang Xian had seen Li Xiaonian.


    Li Xiaoyu frowned. She hadn''t expected to run into her least educated younger brother in the third-floor shopping district.


    Li Xiaoyu had always resented her younger brother, wondering if her father had wanted another child because he felt that she, being a daughter, wouldn''t be of much use in the end?


    Yet to all outsiders, Miss Li, although notorious, seemed to possess the talent and intellect of a family head in conducting business.


    In contrast, the third son, Li Xiaonian, was genuinely dissolute and uneducated, spending his days tinkering with all kinds of strange things.


    Li Xiaonian immediately smiled upon seeing his sister and waved to her.


    That smile was bright and sunny.


    Anyone who saw such a smile would think this young man very cheerful, carrying the unique vibrancy of a sixteen-year-old boy.


    If... one ignored the fact that Li Xiaonian was standing in a women''s clothing store.


    Especially while holding the latest LV bag, and also ignored how Li Xiaonian''s appearance was nearly as delicate as a woman''s.


    The scene was so bizarre that even Tang Xian felt a great shock.


    Because his eyes could display gender, he originally thought this was one of Li Xiaoyu''s distant cousins. But his vision showed the gender as male.


    On Li Xiaonian''s panel requirement analysis, Tang Xian saw a great option.


    [Current Requirement Analysis: Dress up as the most dazzling woman at tonight''s banquet (51%)]


    Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    As ridiculous as it looked, Tang Xian didn''t laugh, nor did he find it shameful.


    There was a lot of information on Li Xiaonian''s panel.


    For instance, likes: family members.


    There was quite a bit of information here. After pondering over it, Tang Xian asked,


    "Is that your brother?"


    "How did you know?"


    "A normal person wouldn''t dare to cross-dress and wave to you with that attitude. I know you''ve had quite a few impressive achievements in the past."


    "What achievements?"


    "If I were to give you a nickname, you''d be called Li Xiaoge."


    Li Xiaoyu was silent for a few seconds, then realized the implication in Tang Xian''s words.


    "What are you thinking? Li Xiaonian is my brother, even if he offends me, I wouldn''t possibly... anyhow, he likes to dress as a woman, but that has nothing to do with me."


    Tang Xian was stunned for a moment; he had thought perhaps this third son had been emasculated for offending his sister when younger, leading to his feminization.


    His gaze grew complex, but then he shook his head and said,


    "Not necessarily. Let''s go and meet him."


    "Why would you want to meet him?"


    "He''s quite good-looking. His charm value is over 80."


    "You! You''ve been playing too many games."


    Although Li Xiaoyu said this, she still let Tang Xian go to the women''s clothing store.


    It wasn''t a luxury store. Just some local brand shops, probably with names pieced together from various famous brands, yet offering a wide variety and mostly pretty styles of women''s clothing.


    The prices were very affordable, and many students liked to shop in such stores on the third floor.


    Seeing the princess-like Li Xiaoyu enter with Chen Guanxi, clad in a sharp suit, many girls were star-struck.


    Some noticed Tang Xian''s wristwatch, and others noticed Li Xiaoyu''s gothic princess dress, which clearly wasn''t cosplay prop quality.


    However, they also noticed that the short-haired girl standing next to them was quite cute as well.


    "Sister, what are you doing here?" Li Xiaonian exclaimed in delight.


    "What does it matter to you where I am?" Li Xiaoyu didn''t give her brother a warm reception.


    Tang Xian found it amusing.


    "Is this brother-in-law? Wow, I haven''t met the eldest son of the Song Family yet! He''s quite handsome!" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Li Xiaonian''s gender wasn''t known, probably any man who was praised by Li Xiaonian would feel a bit elated.


    Tang Xian calmly shook his head and said,


    "I''m not your brother-in-law. I''m just someone running errands for your sister, a gofer. My name is Tang Xian, ''Tang'' as in ''Song'' and ''Xian'' as in ''leisure''."


    "Eh?" It was Li Xiaonian''s turn to be stunned.


    Not a future brother-in-law? Yet he could stroll so closely with his sister in public?


    Li Xiaonian didn''t catch on for a moment but still politely said,


    "My name is Li Xiaonian, and despite how I look, I am a real man."


    "Although a real man should take on the responsibility of protecting his sister and brother, there are many ways to protect family members," said Tang Xian with a smile.


    Li Xiaonian was stunned again, his expression turning odd.

 Chapter 116 The Third Young Miss of the Li Family_2

    Li Xiaoyu was reluctant to stay any longer and said,"The banquet is about to start, let''s go."


    Tang Xian nodded and waved at Li Xiaonian.


    After leaving the women''s clothing store, Li Xiaoyu led Tang Xian towards the fifth floor. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The banquet was held on the fifth floor, and for many of the hunters participating, it was an opportunity that might come only once in a lifetime.


    Li Xiaoyu said,


    "You must find it quite ridiculous, right? Having a brother like that. Unambitious, ignorant, and with strange habits."


    Tang Xian replied,


    "The greatest, most enduring, and most universal art in our country is that of men dressing as women."


    "Who''s spouting nonsense."


    "Lu Xun."


    Li Xiaoyu paused, then said,


    "He''s actually not stupid, but he insists on messing with those bizarre things. Especially for a grown man to enjoy dressing as a woman."


    "Are you angry with him?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Yes."


    Seeing Li Xiaoyu''s look of distaste, Tang Xian could guess what might have happened.


    He shook his head and said,


    "When he was still a child, did you think that Li Wanye had him because he felt that you and Li Zheng weren''t good enough? And did you feel that your father was dissatisfied with having a daughter?"


    "Yes, what of it?"


    Tang Xian stopped in his tracks, looked earnestly at Li Xiaoyu, and said,


    "Your brother cares most about familial affection between you. Okay, let''s assume that''s true. Then think, have you always been troubled by the possibility that Li Wanye wanted another child because you were a daughter? But could it be that Li Xiaonian, not wanting you to worry, decided to dress as a woman to make you happier?"


    Li Xiaoyu trembled slightly.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Perhaps he has a better mind than you and Li Zheng, but never wanted to take what should belong to you, so he wishes he were a girl, your sister, rather than your brother. His feigning ignorance and idleness every day, tinkering with other things, could it be just to let the world know that the future of the Li family can only rely on you and Li Zheng?"


    Li Xiaoyu was completely stunned.


    She had never thought about it that way before.


    Tang Xian could understand, after all, some most vital data could only be seen by himself.


    This world needs some lies, and Li Xiaonian told a big one.


    The things he loved were his family; the things he hated were seeing his family hurt.


    He was very smart, and from the beginning, he knew the purpose of his existence.


    So, for the happiness of his brother and sister, he became what he is now.


    Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "There''s no proof for what you''re saying."


    "Indeed, there isn''t. Seeing isn''t always believing. What I see is just a piece of the truth''s puzzle; until the last piece is found, lies and truths are both lies. But the rest, you have to verify for yourself, maybe... try being a little nicer to your brother."


    Li Xiaoyu bit her lip, without responding.


    Tang Xian didn''t say anything more.


    He was not certain his judgment was entirely correct.


    ...


    ...


    The evening party was held at the Li Family Fortress. It was a luxury establishment built by the Li family on the fifth floor to entertain distinguished guests.


    The so-called evening party was the last opportunity for significant figures from various fortresses to engage in trades before they left.


    To avoid suspicion, Tang Xian didn''t enter first.


    After Li Xiaoyu, in a long dress, made a stunning entrance, Tang Xian slowly entered after about ten minutes.


    When Tang Xian stepped into the Li Family Fortress, many daughters of the envoys from wealthy families brightened at the sight of him.


    They were already thinking about how to strike up a conversation with Tang Xian.


    The first person Tang Xian saw was Li Xiaoyu, sitting gracefully on a sofa on the west side, with Eve, dressed as a waitress, next to her.


    No one was around, Li Xiaoyu sipping her wine as always, her face showing no signs of joy or sorrow.


    Although she was very young, having just come of age, she carried the air of an empress.


    On the other hand, Qiao Shanshan, pulling Dong Ran along, was whispering quietly.


    The current demand analysis had exposed the fact that Qiao Shanshan was a leftover woman of advanced age.


    Although she had rejected several blind dates arranged by her parents, she was now scanning the room at this dance party, where the youngest talents from various fortresses and top hunters from various Hunter''s Groups were present.


    However, judging by how frequently she shook her head, Qiao Shanshan evidently had not found anyone satisfactory.


    She seemed quite disheartened.


    As members of Shengtang''s team, Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran naturally had the right to attend, even though Shengtang had not registered to participate in the hunting festival.


    But for some reason, this team had already caught the attention of the major fortresses.


    Tang Xiaojiu was not far from Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, occasionally stuffing a few grapes into her mouth.


    The supply of fruits, for Tang Xiaojiu, was the only pleasure of the banquet.


    Tang Xian''s gaze moved on and finally landed on Song Que.


    His purpose in attending the banquet was to meet Song Que.


    Without delay, taking advantage of the dance, various social gatherings, and boring negotiations before they began, Tang Xian walked directly towards Song Que.


    Unlike Li Zheng and Qi Xun, everyone knew about the matter between Miss Li and the Song Family''s young master, so no woman dared to annoyance Song Que thoughtlessly.


    There weren''t many men, either.


    After all, Miss Li had a fierce reputation.


    Song Que, like Li Xiaoyu, was sitting in a corner, looking rather solitary, like a monarch.


    Until Tang Xian''s arrival.


    "Chat for a bit?" Tang Xian said.


    "Have a seat," Song Que gestured with his hand.


    "You look like you knew I would come to find you."


    "Your identity hasn''t been revealed yet; there aren''t many people you could approach, and I''m the only one worth approaching," Song Que opened the red wine, pouring glasses for both Tang Xian and himself.

 Chapter 116 The Third Young Miss of the Li Family_3

    "Actually, I have a way to deceive Li Zheng, but I can''t deceive you. I understand the mind of a genius. So even if you''ve only heard my voice once, I believe you would recognize me," Tang Xian said."Yu has already told me everything. I know why you''re here, don''t worry, I won''t say anything," Song Que said.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "The identity of Masked Chopper Hero, if revealed, would only cause me some minor trouble, and the Evolution Zone isn''t too much of a hassle for me. I''m not here for that."


    "Then what are you here for?" Song Que frowned.


    His tone was always cold.


    "I need you to tell me about some of your special conditions these days."


    "What special conditions?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian spoke directly:


    "The influence the Clown had on you, I looked into it afterwards. The Clown can twist a person''s character, change a person''s will, but what he did to you was most unique."


    Song Que was startled.


    No one else noticed this detail, but Tang Xian did.


    "How did you know?"


    "I don''t like to ignore problems, allowing them to grow, and eventually become an unsolvable trouble. Especially if that trouble is you."


    Listning to Tang Xian''s words, Song Que mockingly said:


    "He nearly drove me mad with a few words, but you can easily defeat him. The strength you''ve shown means you don''t need to worry about me."


    "Besides, I like Li Xiaoyu. Although I agreed to her request, I haven''t given up pursuing her. I just refused a loveless arranged marriage, but it doesn''t mean there''s no possibility between her and me in the future."


    Song Que stared at Tang Xian:


    "I am your rival in love. Moreover, among those who declared Masked Chopper Hero a wanted criminal, I was one of them. No matter how you look at it, you shouldn''t be sitting across from me."


    Tang Xian smiled and said:


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "The Clown indeed changed some of your traits, the first time I met you, you seemed a bit shy."


    "As for convicting Masked Chopper Hero, the version I know is different than what you''ve said. I''ve heard that when everyone, even Li Zheng agreed to put out a warrant for me, it was only you who was struggling against it."


    Song Que fell silent.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Song Que, if the world is as I suspect, I will face many enemies in the future, many terrible creatures. But among them, I don''t wish to include you. There is something I wanted to be clear on before coming to you."


    "What is it?"


    "The Clown said that because of my existence, you''ve gained something you lacked¡ªjealousy. What I want to tell you is, I''m not worth your jealousy."


    Song Que''s eyes were complex as he looked at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Every ten-gifted individual in human history has made significant contributions to human civilization; they are true heroes. To me, you will undoubtedly be one of them."


    Tang Xian''s words caught Song Que by surprise. For a moment, he didn''t know how to respond.


    After a long time, Song Que slowly said:


    "I can feel a voice in my mind, getting clearer and clearer. Tang Xian, what if you''re wrong about me?"


    "Then I would be... very sad. After all, you''re the first friend I wanted to make an effort to befriend."


    Song Que showed a look of surprise.


    Tang Xian''s tone was calm and serious, speaking as if revealing a minor, yet inevitably true, triviality.


    After a while, Song Que started to laugh softly, with a bit of the silly naivety he hadn''t shown in a long time.

 Chapter 117 Dance, Girl

    ```If a person changes, it often manifests in their smile. There are generally three kinds of crying in this world, but the meaning behind laughter is difficult to articulate.


    "I''m willing to be your friend."


    Song Que said:


    "You''re the only one who can sense something unusual in my mind, so if possible, please keep it a secret."


    "This is not something that should be known to a third party. Essentially, you should be extra cautious and never take it lightly. Other hunters'' abilities usually disappear once they leave the mining area, but clowns are different; their mental powers are particularly hard to guard against," Tang Xian said.


    Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I will."


    Song Que and Tang Xian clinked glasses.


    Tang Xian remembered something else:


    "Absolute justice can cause you a lot of trouble under certain circumstances. Although it feels odd to say this to a human, you should try to get used to the way this world handles issues."


    "What way?"


    "Of course, the way that puts interests first. You have a sense of justice that hates evil; that''s not a bad thing. But the position you''re in doesn''t allow you to be too idealistic."


    Tang Xian said seriously:


    "From the fact that you argued on my behalf, it''s clear that you''re disappointed with some of the world''s rules. This disappointment will gradually turn into disdain, and those feelings of disdain, violence, and so on will become the nourishment for that voice inside your head."


    Song Que was startled; Tang Xian seemed to be able to see through people''s hearts.


    "But should I just let myself gradually accept these rules?"


    "That''s the answer you need to find for yourself. The clown has indeed left you with a nearly insoluble quandary. What I can do to help is simply to awaken the courage in you to resist this will."


    Life coach offline; Tang Xian couldn''t come up with anything else. He just had confidence in Song Que.


    Tang Xian downed his pricey wine in one gulp and said:


    "Let''s not talk about this anymore."


    At this moment, Li Zheng and Qi Xun came over.


    Qi Xun had been hypnotized by the clown on the battlefield that day, and his memories of the process were blurred and distorted.


    Thus, he was unaware of what had happened after the Masked Chopper Hero arrived.


    The expression on Li Zheng''s face was more complex.


    Among the top three families, he had always believed he was the most likely to win over Tang Xian, but now Tang Xian was sitting and drinking with Song Que, seemingly not in lively conversation, yet they appeared harmonious.


    "You two are actually sneaking drinks here; that''s not very nice," Li Zheng and Qi Xun sat down on the other two sides.


    The positions of the four people resembled those of players at a mahjong table.


    "Didn''t you also rush over here soon after?" Song Que said with a smile.


    "The battle at Yuepela Plains is about to begin, and this might be the last chance for the few of us to hang out. Shall we drink to our heart''s content?" Qi Xun said.


    Li Zheng nodded and said: S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My old man has also been frantic these past few days because of various matters, and in a couple of days, all these annoying tasks will fall on my head. Today we have to enjoy ourselves; otherwise, there won''t be another chance."


    "By the way, who is this brother?" Qi Xun noticed Tang Xian.


    After all, Tang Xian was dressed no less impressively than the three young masters this evening.


    "My name is Tang Xian. I''m a businessman."


    Qi Xun found it interesting. How could an ordinary merchant sit opposite Song Que?


    "What kind of business? Surely not that kind of... business?"


    Tang Xian realized the young master of the Qi Family was quite the playboy.


    "No, I sell perfumes, clothes, and shoes."


    "That''s still women''s business, the scale must be quite large, right?" Qi Xun said.


    Song Que and Li Zheng knew Tang Xian was a hunter, so they just watched with amusement as Tang Xian bamboozled Qi Xun.


    "It''s quite large. I run back and forth between two worlds, providing luxury goods for the bosses at the disaster and cataclysm levels in the mining area. I might expand into other businesses in the future, mainly depending on what else they like."


    "Hahahahaha... This guy is funny, really funny, and witty. Here, let''s drink to that!"


    Tang Xian and Qi Xun clinked glasses and officially got acquainted.


    Li Zheng said:


    "Tang, your talents make me very envious. When are you planning to come work for the Li family?"


    Qi Xun was taken aback, thinking that Tang Xian was no ordinary person.


    Song Que looked at Li Zheng and for the first time noticed how deep this man''s schemes ran.


    But Tang Xian didn''t mind at all and proactively raised his glass to clink with Li Zheng.


    "I''ve already promised Li Xiaoyu that I will help the Li family as a Guest Elder in the battle at Pelar Plains."


    Upon hearing the name Li Xiaoyu, Qi Xun subconsciously looked at Song Que.


    "When are you planning to get married?"


    Song Que shook his head with a smile and said:


    "It''s hard to say. Let''s not talk about that. Tonight is about men drinking; let''s not bring up women."


    Qi Xun retorted:


    "A night without women is incomplete. But I think our three families are too boring. Shouldn''t we advance or retreat together? If we''re making marriage alliances, let''s do it together."


    Qi Xun said with a mischievous smile:


    "Li, do you have any other sisters? Why not introduce one to me?"


    Li Zheng smiled bitterly and shook his head.


    "I only have one sister. However, Song has two older sisters; perhaps you should ask Song what he thinks?"


    Qi Xun nodded thoughtfully, actually pondering the idea seriously.


    As the four began to drink and chat, the party was also heating up.


    The dance floor already saw many older men and young women starting to dance.


    Tang Xian watched with interest at several other spots.


    An Italian man, probably having a short circuit in his brain, thought to invite Li Xiaoyu to dance.


    But within a few seconds, he left with a pale face.


    Li Xiaoyu remained as she was, sitting in her spot, swirling her wine glass, her gaze deep as she looked ahead.


    ```

 Chapter 117 Dance, Girl_2

    This air, it seems, only lacks a "Keep Out" sign hanging about it.But she still attracted the eyes of many men.


    Beautiful women and crimson wine are enough to give men courage beyond reason.


    The second to invite Li Xiaoyu to dance was a man from a French fortress.


    Curly long hair, elegant demeanor, Tang Xian could even smell the scent of rose petals on him, and especially with his innate melancholic expression, few women could resist such charm.


    But he fared worse than the first, as Eve broke the hand he tried to extend to invite Li Xiaoyu to dance.


    Tang Xian felt it looked painful just watching.


    Soon, a third approached.


    These foreign dignitaries just don''t take a hint.


    But they never considered, why such a beautiful Oriental beauty was never invited by any man from her own country.


    Eve really was impressive.


    There are two types of pain in this world, one that makes you cry out, and one that leaves you speechless.


    Her technique was precise, causing nerve-ending pain yet silencing her victims.


    Of course, their gentlemanly decorum also prevented them from exclaiming aloud.


    Tang Xian no longer looked at Li Xiaoyu.


    At this moment, Qi Xun downed his drink and excitedly said:


    "Hey, hey, look over there, old Li, old Song!"


    Qi Xun pointed towards a stunningly gorgeous girl outside the dance floor.


    The expressions of Li Zheng and Tang Xian instantly complicated.


    "Don''t you think this young lady looks quite similar to Li Xiaoyu? She seems rather shy. You guys keep drinking, I''ll go and dance."


    Qi Xun immediately stood up straight and approached the pitifully beautiful and delicate Li Xiaonian by the dance floor.


    "This..." Li Zheng wanted to stop Qi Xun.


    After all, family scandals should not be publicized.


    He hadn''t expected Li Xiaonian to appear at the ball in this manner today.


    Tang Xian laughed and said:


    "Sometimes, men think they are obsessed with legs, or breasts, or collarbones, but in reality, they''re just obsessed with beautiful women. However, facts have further proven that men are only obsessed with beauty, regardless of whether it''s a woman."


    Li Zheng''s face was covered in black lines.


    Song Que understood.


    He had already found the girl unusually similar to Li Xiaoyu, and Tang Xian''s comments surprised him, so he asked:


    "Could it be that she''s the... third young master of the Li family?"


    Li Zheng nodded heavily, not wanting to speak.


    Tang Xian jokingly said:


    "Isn''t this just perfect? The tri-family marriage alliance finally won''t fall on the Qi family. Qi Xun might open the doors to a new world thanks to getting to know Li Xiaonian, right?"


    Li Zheng said indignantly:


    "How do you know my brother?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I met him this afternoon. He''s a pretty good guy," Tang Xian replied.


    Li Zheng was a bit surprised, as he gradually came to see Tang Xian''s capabilities on par with those of a top-tier noble family.


    Someone like him praising Song Que he could understand, but complimenting his good-for-nothing brother, he really couldn''t fathom.


    Qi Xun returned quickly.


    He was shivering, looking doubtful about life.


    "What''s with you, looking so distraught? Got turned down by a cute girl?" Tang Xian asked.


    Qi Xun shook his head:


    "He didn''t turn me down, quite the opposite. He seemed pleased, but then he asked me... if I minded that he''s a guy..."


    "Why would such a beautiful person be a man? Even though his voice sounds so feminine, he actually has an Adam''s apple!"


    Qi Xun ranted:


    "Do you guys realize, how can a man be so handsome?"


    Tang Xian stopped laughing.


    He suddenly realized that Qi''s pain perhaps wasn''t actually about Li Xiaonian, but about himself¡ªhe might be... confused because he knew the other was a man, but didn''t feel repulsed, which made Qi Xun doubt himself.


    Li Zheng seemed to notice this too, took a swig of his drink, and looked away in pity.


    Fortunately, Qi Xun had been a playboy for quite some time.


    When a girl approached and invited Qi Xun to dance, he promptly forgot all his troubles.


    Perhaps he urgently needed to prove that he was a straight man.


    Tang Xian shook his head and started to chat casually with Li Zheng and Song Que.


    There were also many invitations for Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, but both women gracefully declined.


    This somewhat surprised Tang Xian.


    It was understandable for Dong Ran, but didn''t Qiao Shanshan attend the event specifically to find an outstanding man?


    Yet it seemed Qiao Shanshan didn''t think any of these men were worth her attention, even though they were from the upper echelons of various fortresses.


    He wondered when she had become so choosy.


    Then, Tang Xian glanced at Tang Xiaojiu. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    She was still good, finishing grapes and moving on to cantaloupe and watermelon.


    But she stopped after a piece of watermelon.


    Tang Xian guessed that Tang Xiaojiu probably realized that eating watermelon involved spitting out seeds frequently, which greatly hindered the efficiency of eating.


    After all, ever since losing to Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu had unconsciously sped up her eating, imagining she was in a race against him.


    Li Zheng and Song Que also cleverly refrained from discussing business, only sharing personal affairs instead.


    One openly the son-in-law of the Li family, the other a married man. Although many girls cast frequent glances at Song Que and Li Zheng, none dared to invite them to dance.


    They were only occasionally attempting to convey some other meanings with one or two glances.


    But soon, they noticed another person beside the two gentlemen.


    This person, with a leisurely gaze, slowly surveyed the ballroom, exuding a unique elegance.

 Chapter 117 Dance, Girl_3

    The most critical aspect was that the girls here all had sharp eyes, capable of recognizing that the suit was the handiwork of the Golden Scissors Award winner. It wasn''t something money alone could buy, and sitting beside the sons of the top three families, he was surely a person of noble status.As such, the girls had a new target.


    "Sir, may I have the honor of dancing with you?" The practice of women inviting men to dance was less common in ancient times.


    But in this era, it was quite normal, and not as many people found extreme male or female dominance repulsive.


    A social system like the Pyramid had people inherently accepting the rules of enslaving others and being enslaved by others.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "I don''t know how to dance."


    "I can teach you," the girl from the eleventh fortress persisted, where the ruling lord was a woman, and where girls were mostly passionate and unrestrained.


    "Oh, then do you know how to dance ''The Eagle''s Call'', the eighth set of radio calisthenics?"


    "What?" The girl was taken aback.


    "It seems you don''t. That''s a pity."


    Tang Xian dismissed the girl.


    But soon, another girl approached.


    "You look a lot like my boyfriend, may I dance with you?" This girl was even bolder than the last.


    Tang Xian touched his face and said,


    "Is that so, it seems my face must be misplaced."


    "¡­"


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    This girl was directly blocked and sent back.


    Song Que knew the reason why Tang Xian didn''t dance. But Li Zheng knew that although his sister liked Tang Xian, Tang Xian didn''t really like his sister that much.


    The three men most favored by the girls sat and chatted leisurely, with neither Li Zheng nor Song Que saying much.


    Especially Li Zheng, who had noticed his sister Li Xiaoyu''s gaze starting to drift in this direction.


    He had a bad feeling.


    After all, in his eyes, Tang Xian might actually accept the invitations from these girls.


    He watched Eve bow and listen as Li Xiaoyu said something, pen in hand, taking notes.


    Li Zheng then guessed that his silly sister was probably up to some shocking behavior again.


    Some of these girls were business elites, others were daughters of industry magnates, and some were members of fortress ruling families.


    All were of high worth, but Li Zheng knew that when his sister got hot-headed, she was capable of buying out these families, elites, and magnates in one go.


    And this was not something she hadn''t done before.


    Like the incident when Tang Xian cheated, didn''t she directly spend a huge sum of money to buy off the teachers'' futures?


    Luckily, Tang Xian had declined them all.


    Having declined, there probably wouldn''t be a big problem.


    Li Zheng broke into cold sweat.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    As time ticked away, Li Xiaoyu watched as girl after girl got turned down by Tang Xian. She felt a bit pleased but still had a faint sense of loss.


    The crowd on the dance floor slowly dwindled.


    Tang Xiaojiu returned to Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, with a full belly, almost spherical in shape.


    Gradually, men led women away, or women led men away.


    Before long, Song Que was called away by Song Gengzhao, and Li Zheng was called away by Li Wanye.


    Before leaving, Li Xiaonian approached Li Xiaoyu and said,


    "Sister, the ball seems to be losing its charm, shall we leave together?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No need, you go ahead¡­ be careful."


    Li Xiaonian was stunned; it was the first time he heard Li Xiaoyu speak to him with such a gentle tone.


    "Then I will leave first." Li Xiaonian left happily.


    Li Xiaoyu continued to watch the slowly emptying ballroom.


    When Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan left, Tang Xian also took the full and satisfied Tang Xiaojiu with him and left.


    Now, only a few scattered people remained in the ballroom, discussing business, wrapping up their conversations.


    After a while, these individuals also gradually departed, leaving behind a disheveled mess from what had been a grand ball.


    Only the cold lights still shone on the empty dance floor.


    It was then that Li Xiaoyu let her gaze fall on the dance floor. Her delicate features still showed no expression.


    Recalling the bright smiles and elegant steps of the men and women before, a trace of wistfulness finally appeared in Li Xiaoyu''s eyes.


    Fortunately, she did not know how to dance the social dance, so she couldn''t truly consider it a missed opportunity, could she?


    That''s what Li Xiaoyu thought to herself.


    But when Dong Ran told her that Tang Xian would attend the ball, despite not daring to hope too much, she still spent an afternoon learning to dance.


    She was graceful and intelligent, but she just couldn''t learn it. After all, the social dance wasn''t something one could practice alone.


    However, Li Xiaoyu had made peace with this. Many things in life aren''t necessarily usable just because you attempt to learn them.


    It was just like the time she played chess with Tang Xian not long ago.


    So perhaps not learning was actually a good thing.


    The ballroom was now quite empty.


    The Li family''s ball, held on the brink of Li Xiaoyu''s departure, naturally didn''t see the staff and service personnel leave.


    But now, only Eve and Li Xiaoyu were left at the site.


    "Let''s go back, Eve."


    "Alright. Should I have someone pick you up?"


    "No, I''d like to walk back."


    Li Xiaoyu remembered the last time she was in the forest, it had started to rain. In fact, that was the first time she ever experienced a pouring rain. It was the first time she realized that the world outside the fortress could change so much.


    She then discovered that she was probably like those fortresses, devoid of seasons, day and night, clear or cloudy skies, and without rain or snow.

 Chapter 117 Dance, Girl_4

    He was a very uninteresting person living in a very boring world.Just like when he was a child, and his father brought him fresh flowers from the mines, he would find the flowers beautiful, but they would wither very quickly.


    So he had someone make a crystal-clear, never-withering flower out of glass. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was only when she grew up that Li Xiaoyu realized that the glass flower, while delicate in appearance, was quite uninteresting, and it too would wither, only that ordinary people couldn''t see it.


    Li Xiaoyu slowly made her way to the exit of the dance.


    The sound of her crystal high heels on the floor was clear and crisp, and in the empty dance hall, there seemed to be an echo. But the two sounds were different.


    She looked back in confusion and realized it wasn''t an echo but the footsteps of another person.


    Then, when she saw the person at the entrance,


    Li Xiaoyu froze as if time had stopped.


    "Good thing I''m not too late. I was thinking of waiting until most people left to ask you for a dance. But Little Nine said fruit alone wasn''t filling, so I took her to Dong Ran''s residence first to make dinner. The kid is so greedy; her belly has rounded into a ball, and yet she can still keep eating..."


    Tang Xian''s voice was light, but to Li Xiaoyu, it felt like a dazzling spotlight suddenly shining on a dark stage, stinging her eyes and blurring them with tears.


    Tang Xian approached Li Xiaoyu and asked,


    "Shall we dance?"


    "I can''t..."


    Li Xiaoyu suddenly regretted not learning properly; she should have, even if finding a teacher to dance with her would have sufficed.


    "I can, though. I might not be very skilled since it''s learnt on the spot, but since there''s no one watching, there''s no need to worry about being laughed at."


    "Why did you... come back after everyone left?"


    "This attire is quite expensive. If this were in the mines, it could have been a huge deal. I couldn''t just take it for nothing, right?"


    Tang Xian extended his hand, inviting Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu held Tang Xian''s hand, her face instantly flushed with a light layer of rouge.


    "I thought when you said you''d only dance with one person... it wasn''t me."


    Sensing the tentative probing in Li Xiaoyu''s words, Tang Xian laughed and replied,


    "Who else could it be?"


    Li Xiaoyu''s face turned even redder, fortunately, the lights above the dance floor were constantly changing, now they had softened.


    This dance was very awkward, one being too unrestrained, the other too inhibited, neither of them proficient.


    But to Li Xiaoyu, this uninteresting day began to take on meaning. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian remembered his father once pulled his mother into a dance. Back then, Tang Xian thought it looked awful.


    However, his father left behind a deep impression with his words.


    "When you are dancing, you have to look into the girl''s eyes. If she truly likes you, you will see the change of all four seasons and the blooming of flowers in the dance''s elusive steps."


    Li Xiaoyu''s emotions were as clumsy as her dance steps, uncertain.


    Only the intoxication and joy in her eyes were like the music accompanying the dance, prolonged and melodious.


    Tang Xian saw all this and felt perplexed within.


    There are many things in this world that can be logically figured out, yet some things become more confusing the more you think about them.


    He stopped thinking about it, just as a pair of figure skaters would, even if their performance was truly terrible, trying their best to dance well was all that mattered.


    As the lights and music subtly changed with their shallow dance steps, Li Xiaoyu was like a bloom of crystal clear flowers opening up once again.


    Although her dance steps seemed awkward, if there had been an audience, they would surely find her more beautiful and stunning than any woman on the dance floor that day.


    ...


    ...


    When the music ended, Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu also finished their dance.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t feel like it wasn''t enough, on the contrary, she was somewhat surprised by what she gained today.


    Tang Xian, however, still appeared the same, his expression a mixture of smiling and not, indifferent.


    "Well, the first dance experience wasn''t too bad. It''s time for me to go back now. It''s getting late; you should head back too."


    Tang Xian really got up, ready to leave.


    Li Xiaoyu called out to Tang Xian and said,


    "Tang Xian, I want to ask you a question.


    "What question?"


    "The girl you used to like, what kind of girl was she?"


    Tang Xian stopped in his tracks, not surprised by Li Xiaoyu''s knowledge of this.


    He remained silent without speaking.


    Li Xiaoyu paused, then said,


    "It''s okay if you don''t want to talk about it."


    After saying this, Li Xiaoyu felt it was inappropriate and added,


    "I don''t mean I''m going to investigate afterwards, rest assured." Although she had already looked into it, Li Xiaoyu was sincere in her words.


    Tang Xian chuckled and said,


    "Come on, let''s go to the third floor."


    "Huh?"


    "Generally, stories happen in places far away, but this story took place very close by."


    "Now?"


    "Next time, I might not want to tell you about it."

 Chapter 118 Fish

    Level Three. District 669.Returning to the school where he had once spent time, Tang Xian felt little in the way of sentiment. His greatest sentiment was towards the wealth of the Li family, seeing from afar that the school district seemed to have gained several additional buildings donated by the Lis.


    No wonder Li Xiaoyu had been able to transfer to the sixth year class at the age of twelve.


    At this time, there were no people in the school. He could vaguely see some lights outside the students'' dormitory buildings.


    When Tang Xian brought Li Xiaoyu in, they didn''t encounter anyone and passed through without issue.


    Li Xiaoyu''s identity card, in the context of the Thirty-Nine Fortress, was equivalent to a master key.


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    They arrived at the school''s artificial lake.


    It was a large lake area. In the current era, with no distinction between universities and middle schools, all school districts were on the scale of ancient universities.


    This kind of freshwater lake was not much different from a real lake, with an observation deck set up not far away.


    Tang Xian brought Li Xiaoyu to the observation deck.


    Li Xiaoyu actually remembered some things about this place. Back when she was at school, lacking friends, she often came here.


    Whenever she came here, people around would stay far away.


    She looked at Tang Xian''s profile. For the first time, she felt that there was something different in his eyes as he gazed at the lake.


    "I heard from Dong Ran that the girl transferred to another school district during her third year?"


    Tang Xian did not answer Li Xiaoyu''s question and just stared into the distance.


    Li Xiaoyu did not continue to ask, and quietly waited for Tang Xian.


    After a long while, Tang Xian slowly spoke with a tone that traced back long-ago memories:


    "I used to be a very annoying person, with a really nasty personality. Really nasty."


    "At the beginning of the first year, when everyone had just arrived at the district, we were all children around the ages of eleven or twelve. The teacher would ask everyone to introduce themselves. People like Ke and Shang Lu, they were far from how they appear now. Back then, Ke still had snot bubbles, and Shang Lu was so shy he stuttered.


    On reflection, childhood seems distant to us, yet looking back, it''s always just a bit ahead of our youth, never changing.


    During the introductions, everyone talked about what they wanted to be in the future, about their dreams.


    Some people really achieved them, while others missed by a mile. Like Yu Xiaozhe, for example, who lives days unrelated to his dreams. Some started out excellent but ended up in the lower tiers with their fate unknown, while others who seemed foolish ended up living clearer lives than anyone else.


    I remember one child said he wanted to grow up to be Santa Claus. I can''t remember his name now, but back then... I found it annoying, wondering how anyone could be foolish enough to make something nonexistent their dream.


    I didn''t hold back, thinking I heard a joke and started laughing.


    When the teacher asked me what was so funny, I said, S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''There''s no such thing as Santa Claus in this world. It''s just a marketing strategy of foolish adults and toy manufacturers and an act of self-gratification. So-called Christmas gifts are nothing more than parents tiptoeing in to place them while their children are fast asleep. How foolish does one have to be to take such a fantasy as an ideal?''


    The kid started crying, and I got reprimanded by the teacher.


    Due to the bad first impression, I became a very disliked presence.


    But I didn''t think there was anything wrong. Maybe it''s because I lacked some emotions.


    Many behaviors they exhibited seemed so foolish to me.


    It was the same with academic work, simple subjects that they took so long to learn.


    Even their methods of cheating were clumsy.


    The reasons for boys getting into fights were childish and laughable.


    The reasons for the girls'' secret conspiracies against each other were just as idiotic.


    I never hid my disdain for them.


    In academics, when someone asked for help with a problem, I would tell them the answer and the thinking process, but when I realized they still didn''t understand, I also directly pointed out their foolishness.


    All in all, in the first year, even Ke and Shang Lu didn''t get along with me.


    Because I really was someone who did not consider the feelings of others.


    It was also at this time that I met Yan Xiaoling."


    "Yan Xiaoling?" Li Xiaoyu felt that this was probably another protagonist of the story.


    She seemed to have some impression of this name but couldn''t quite recall it at the moment.


    Tang Xian continued saying:


    "Yan Xiaoling was probably the most idiotic among these idiots. She had an intellectual disability. She looked very silly when she laughed.


    She was one of those who showed no talent during the Trial of the Chosen and was destined to be demoted to the lower tiers; if she went to the lower tiers, given her mental capacity, she would find it difficult to survive. Usually, people also didn''t like to play with her.


    I often used very venomous words to describe Yan Xiaoling''s intelligence. The difference was, if it were someone else, I would be faced by a group of angry stares, but when I insulted Yan Xiaoling, some of them would ridicule her with me.


    Seeing everyone laugh, Yan Xiaoling would often laugh along. Those who mocked her became even more unrestrained in their mockery.


    Once, when I couldn''t stand it, I scolded Yan Xiaoling saying, ''They''re laughing at you, what are you laughing for?''


    Yan Xiaoling saw that I was somewhat angry, so she showed me that signature silly smile of hers.


    I really couldn''t understand, so I kept insulting her. At first, she was still smiling, but later, as she saw I remained angry, she couldn''t smile anymore and started looking at me uneasily."

 Chapter 118 Fish_2

    Li Xiaoyu also despised stupid people.But this story sounded somewhat strange.


    "I don''t understand, what do these behaviors represent?" Li Xiaoyu asked.


    Tang Xian gently shook his head and said,


    "This idiot, every time she laughs, she sees the mockery of others. She can''t distinguish those emotions at all, as if all laughter and all crying are the same. Laughter represents joy, crying represents sadness, and anger represents displeasure. The world is as simple as having only three kinds of emotions. She thinks that if she laughs, the people around her will feel happy."


    Li Xiaoyu''s eyes widened.


    "Yan Xiaoling is very dumb. She can''t do most of the lessons the teacher gives her.


    Nobody knew what Yan Xiaoling''s family background was like, but the rule of the Pyramid was such that children who turned twelve, regardless of their ability or mental health, were all sent to the third layer to study for six years.


    For most people, those six years are the most comfortable of their lives.


    Yan Xiaoling was a person doomed to be eliminated; her brain simply couldn''t keep up with the learning pace in the district, and she would probably be unable to adapt to the social system of the Pyramid in the future.


    But there are many fools in this world who like to make futile efforts. In private, Yan Xiaoling always came to me with questions that she might not understand even after a few more years, and naturally, she received my ridicule, along with the usual mockery from many others.


    During the midterms of the first school year, as expected, she ranked last in the class.


    In the face of everyone''s mockery, Yan Xiaoling still smiled like an idiot.


    It wasn''t the kind of bitter smile, nor did she smile through tears. Her emotions were as purely simple as a freshly built white wall.


    I was probably one of the two people most deserving of ridicule.


    But those who tried to do this to me would be ridiculed back in an even more harsh manner before they could accomplish their goal.


    Before long, no one dared to trouble me anymore.


    As a matter of course, everyone turned to bully Yan Xiaoling. Once, her face was swollen from a stone hit. Her face swelled on one side, looking very ridiculous, and wherever she went, she was mocked. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wanted to smile, but found that every twitch of the muscles on her face was painfully sharp.


    In fact, it was discovered by the people in the school that as long as you smiled at Yan Xiaoling, she would definitely return the smile.


    So they came up with this idea, wanting to see if Yan Xiaoling would still smile like an idiot when she couldn''t smile.


    Yan Xiaoling truly did not disappoint everyone''s expectations. Bearing the pain, she smiled in an exceedingly ugly and twisted manner, like our souls that had started to mold.


    Of course, there were also people who were nice to Yan Xiaoling.


    Those who bullied her mostly came from the lower strata and had nasty characters. Those who tried to help her were often children from the second and third layers.


    However, once they found out that Yan Xiaoling always loved to be around me, they too gradually distanced themselves from her.


    That''s how children''s rules are. Being seen associating with someone disliked will get you disliked as well.


    Even though I despised Yan Xiaoling too, she loved to follow me.


    Because I was convinced that teaching her would be futile, I didn''t want to waste my time on relationships that would not yield any benefits.


    One afternoon in the latter part of the school year, Yan Xiaoling came to me with a box full of food, wanting to give it to me.


    So I asked Yan Xiaoling, "What the hell is wrong with you, always following me around? Do you think if our IQs mix, you''ll have a normal person''s IQ?"


    And there was a burst of laughter from the crowd.


    Yan Xiaoling also laughed and said, "Because there''s no one around Tang Xian."


    Suddenly I sort of understood something, this girl probably had some kind of delusion.


    Deep down, she could vaguely understand that everyone hated her and also vaguely understood that they hated me, so she felt that she was the same kind of person as me.


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    This laughable connection made her always want to be around me.


    She gave me the lunch box with a smile.


    Because of my distaste for the school''s disgusting nutritional meals, I often snuck out to look for food, and thus I was frequently reprimanded by the teachers.


    This was no secret, and later in the third school year, Ke, Shang Lu, and others often followed me out to scrounge for food.


    In Yan Xiaoling''s understanding, it was probably that I was always hungry. So, she brought food, wanting to give it to me.


    I did not accept this presumptuous behavior.


    Yan Xiaoling didn''t mind; she brought the lunch box every day, or perhaps she simply couldn''t comprehend and still idled around me. Occasionally, I would mock her, and I was still too lazy to answer the questions she asked countless times.


    But strangely enough, I wasn''t that annoyed by her anymore. I started thinking to let her be; she would eventually realize that she was wasting her time.


    She was still making useless efforts, often seen flipping through books on mining knowledge by herself.


    When I passed by, sometimes I would notice the page numbers. An entire school year passed; while others almost finished a whole book, she only progressed about a dozen pages.


    At the end of the first school year, naturally, she remained at the bottom.


    This was something that wasn''t going to change, and until the third school year when she left, she was always at the bottom.


    At the beginning of the second school year, she was still like how she was in the first. When ridiculed, she also smiled.


    Those who once enjoyed bullying her didn''t seem to love doing so anymore. Probably because they had grown tired of it. It doesn''t matter, people''s interests always slowly change.

 Chapter 118 Fish_3

    But those who bullied her never decreased in number.In District 669, having an "idiot" was no secret.


    New students would still bully her, especially since she was a second-year school sister. This status made it more exciting for those in lower grades to bully her.


    Yan Xiaoling would still smile at these people, confirming the rumors about the district.


    She was a person with incomplete emotions, just like me.


    I had grown a bit more accepting of Yan Xiaoling, and when she was with me, I would occasionally speak a few words to her.


    I didn''t care whether or not she could understand, since her reaction was always the same anyway.


    But towards others, I remained as impatient as ever.


    Don''t be fooled, even though I got along with Shang Lu Xiaoke and the others, I had scolded them before, scolded them until they blushed and their ears turned red.


    It was only because of something that happened in the second year that I began to get along better with them.


    Still, there was no one else by my side, only a fool who kept trying to stick close to me.


    There was another time when a group of kids surround Yan Xiaoling, slapping her while watching her laugh foolishly.


    I never helped Yan Xiaoling; when she moved closer to me, I just saw it as her wishful thinking. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    However, that one time, as I watched Yan Xiaoling cover her swollen face with that idiotic grin, I felt somewhat annoyed.


    When she came to me with her swollen face, carrying her lunchbox as usual, I said to her,


    "If next time someone bullies you, you could stop smiling silly, then I''ll accept your gift."


    I will always remember Yan Xiaoling''s expression. When I thought she would either smile and agree with me or smile and shake her head, she actually cried.


    She cried while nodding earnestly.


    Since then, I accepted food from Yan Xiaoling. Even I found it funny. Sometimes, I felt like I had become someone else.


    It was after that, Yan Xiaoling really didn''t laugh anymore when others bullied her.


    I gradually realized that she probably knew, as the year changed, that because she could never fit into other people''s circles, she had learned that not all smiles have the same meaning.


    I thought when Yan Xiaoling no longer smiled foolishly like before when she was bullied, no one would bully her again.


    After all, it wasn''t fun anymore, right?


    But that wasn''t the case; Yan Xiaoling was bullied even worse.


    On the fourth day, she was sent to the school infirmary.


    That day, I found an unusual quietness around me. It was quiet to the point of discomfort.


    This discomfort was like a spot of mosquito blood on a clean, flawless wall.


    I grew more and more irate until, eventually, I went to the school infirmary and saw the battered Yan Xiaoling.


    When Yan Xiaoling saw me, she still wore a smile.


    After asking, I was able to piece together an answer from her muddled and broken responses.


    It turned out that first-year students bullied her again.


    But this time, Yan Xiaoling didn''t show them a smile. Like a prey that should have been wailing in the grip of its hunter, they crazily wanted to make Yan Xiaoling laugh.


    But a fool can be as stubborn as an ox. No matter how they tormented her, her expression was always the same.


    She said to me with a smile, "Tang Xian, I didn''t laugh or cry when people bullied me."


    Only then did I realize that the day I accepted Yan Xiaoling''s gift was the first time she had cried.


    No matter how others tormented her before, she never cried.


    I understood the reason behind Yan Xiaoling''s actions, she was just afraid of breaking the promise she made with me and of me refusing her goodwill again.


    For the first time in my life, I lost my temper with this fool for some reason other than dislike.


    Yet when I wanted to scold Yan Xiaoling, I found myself unable to open my mouth, lost for words.


    She was indeed too foolish; getting angry with her seemed pointless, probably like that.


    In the children''s war, there existed an unspoken, laughable and juvenile rule.


    That was, "Don''t tell adults."


    I used to sneer at such an inefficient principle, but this time, I found that taking matters into my own hands was rather fun.


    I got in touch with Shang Lu and his friends, promising to help improve their grades in exchange for their help in punishing those first-years who bullied Yan Xiaoling.


    I hadn''t held much hope, thinking that they wouldn''t want to help Yan Xiaoling.


    After all, I was someone people disliked.


    But unexpectedly, they agreed.


    Quite a few were prepared to cause trouble, most of whom I had scolded before. For a moment, I thought they might be suffering from Stockholm syndrome.


    Later, I found out that these people had all bullied Yan Xiaoling before and felt guilty.


    It was probably a rebellion. What started with a small group of people soon escalated, with half of the boys from two grades getting involved and fighting fiercely.


    Such a fight was meaningless, ridiculous, and stupid; it was the first time I felt somewhat liberated. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Yan Xiaoling returned, no one mentioned anything.


    She still couldn''t fit into any circles and could only follow behind me, like my shadow.


    What annoyed me was that I had even lost the little disgust I had left. Seeing her foolish smile was like encountering something to which I had grown inured.


    Others noticed that Yan Xiaoling was gradually changing.


    It wasn''t that she had become smarter, but that she stopped trying to approach others. She no longer smiled at anyone.


    Only when looking at me did she still smile like an idiot.

 Chapter 118 Fish_4

    I asked her why later on.She said vaguely,


    "Because only Tang Xian allows me to follow him. I can''t get close to anyone else."


    I thought to myself, so be it. Even if there was a burden following me, a complete idiot, it wasn''t something extraordinary. It was just two annoying fellows together.


    So I let her follow.


    Indeed, in everyone''s eyes, Yan Xiaoling liked me, but she was like the blood of a mosquito on the wall. Even though I loathed her, I couldn''t wipe her away, so I just let her be.


    No one would say anything.


    Only Ke Shang Lu and his friends knew that the riot between the second and first years was caused by me standing up for Yan Xiaoling.


    So in the second year, Yan Xiaoling becoming my sidekick gradually became something everyone got used to.


    The number of people bullying Yan Xiaoling also lessened a lot.


    Yan Xiaoling, however, did not change her style. She still smiled only at me.


    She had become a bit wiser and could see that some things were not worn on people''s faces, but hidden in their eyes.


    Eyes filled with a mix of sympathy, superiority, and disdain ¨C she gradually recognized them, so her smiles became even rarer.


    But every time I looked at her, she still smiled like an idiot.


    I asked Yan Xiaoling, what if, in the sixth year, there was no talent? Without talent, one would be demoted to the bottom.


    She said, "I can follow Tang Xian. Wherever you go, I''ll go."


    I said, "What if I don''t let you follow? I don''t know what my talent is, but I will surely have one. The place I''m meant to go in the future is somewhere you absolutely can''t reach. In this ''Pyramid'', the distance between people is not confined by mountains but by the hierarchy between them." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I didn''t know if Yan Xiaoling understood.


    But for the first time, that idiot showed a frightened expression.


    It was as if the sand she carefully held in her hand was still slipping through her fingers.


    Seeing Yan Xiaoling looking scared, I felt irritated again and said, "If you try harder, I might let you follow."


    She began to smile again. As simple as when we first met.


    I couldn''t be bothered to calculate the future. I thought, even if I took a drag along, I could still live well.


    Yan Xiaoling indeed tried very hard. Sometimes she no longer followed me and was alone, buried in a pile of books in the classroom.


    But it was useless. Her grades were always at the bottom, even the new juniors were not dumber than her.


    So, the second year slowly came to an end. Yan Xiaoling, with her stagnant grades, faced the third year.


    The third year was not as long, at least for Yan Xiaoling, it was very brief.


    That year, I began trying to reconcile with others, slowly improving relationships with everyone. Of course, there were still many who hated me. Some even hated me more after I reconciled with Ke Shang Lu and the others.


    But it was strange, something I thought impossible to change in the first year inexcusably began to slowly shift.


    It was as if another personality was being born within my soul.


    That year, my relationship with Ke Shang Lu and the others gradually improved. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    I tried to be less harsh in my perspective towards others.


    But I still didn''t believe in Santa Claus.


    It was also that year when Yan Xiaoling''s constant presence behind me caught more and more attention.


    Perhaps it still had some novelty. Like the smartest person always being accompanied by the dumbest one. The gossipers increased as well.


    In Yan Xiaoling''s eyes, fear began to take hold¡ªshards of locked-up fear. I didn''t care, thinking it was just her troubling herself.


    But not long afterward, she did something very foolish..."


    As the rather lengthy story reached this point, Tang Xian stopped.


    It was only after some long pauses that Li Xiaoyu came back to her senses.


    She remembered the name Yan Xiaoling; she knew it.


    It was a name she had overlooked.


    She saw it while checking the transfer student list for the third year.


    Because of her poor grades and stupid manner, Li Xiaoyu subconsciously judged that Tang Xian couldn''t possibly like such a person.


    But things turned out completely different from Li Xiaoyu''s expectation, with the smartest person always having the dumbest person by his side.


    "What happened... why did she transfer?"


    "She didn''t transfer; she just left," Tang Xian said in an even tone, maintaining this flat emotion throughout the story.


    Li Xiaoyu, however, did not quite understand.


    "Where did she go?"


    "Yan Xiaoling was very foolish. She believed whatever others said, without ever changing.


    She wanted to become smarter because only by being smarter could she stay by my side.


    Not knowing where she heard it from, someone told Yan Xiaoling that in the center of the lake, there was a fish, and finding this fish would make her smarter.


    Clearly, they were deceiving her, but she lacked the ability to discern. Especially when a group of people scared her, saying I didn''t want her anymore.


    So Yan Xiaoling swam toward the center of the lake.


    After she swam to the center, she looked at the distant people shouting:


    "Where''s the fish? Where is it? I can''t find it..."


    The laughter grew louder, and people on shore were eager to see Yan Xiaoling scramble ashore in a sorry state.


    But it did not take long for their laughter to die down.


    Because Yan Xiaoling had no intention of swimming back to shore.

 Chapter 118 Fish_5

    She kept searching, her energy visibly draining bit by bit to those in the distance.In the man-made lake, inside the Pyramid, how could there possibly be fish?


    But how would Yan Xiaoling know?


    She began to falter, to drown. Even when she was drowning, the sounds she made were not cries for help.


    Rather, she called out in a lost voice:


    "Where are the fish? Where are the fish?"


    She kept calling like this, her voice growing more and more piercing and angry.


    Yet, she just didn''t think to swim back.


    The group that bullied her were terrified. It was only after Yan Xiaoling choked on water several times that they began to scream for help.


    When I arrived, I could barely make out Yan Xiaoling, struggling for breath in the water.


    I rushed into the lake like a madman, shouting her name.


    Upon hearing my voice, Yan Xiaoling tried her utmost to stay above water a while longer.


    Her voice was already very weak. At such a distance, no one could hear her anymore.


    But I just could.


    She was telling me, "Tang Xian, I can''t find that fish."


    Her hands gradually lost their strength.


    When I last saw her, she was crying in fear, that was the second time Yan Xiaoling wept. Realizing she couldn''t swim back, she kept thinking she had to find that fish.


    But seeing how frantic I was, she tried to smile to comfort me.


    It wasn''t just a smile, there were many complex emotions. It was as if she couldn''t stand the thought of not finding that non-existent fish.


    That face, which always bore just one emotion, for the first time showed so many emotions.


    What exactly was that expression? It''s truly strange, we hide so many emotions within ourselves every day, I should have seen it before, but I felt as if I had never encountered such a face.


    Never before..."


    It was only when Li Xiaoyu heard this that she finally understood where Yan Xiaoling had gone.


    She looked at Tang Xian, his tone consistently flat, just staring blankly into the distance of the lake.


    To Li Xiaoyu, people like Tang Xian had long been accustomed to living alone.


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    But looking at Tang Xian''s profile, she felt for the first time that this man was drenched in unprecedented loneliness.


    She didn''t ask about the ending, because if Yan Xiaoling were still alive, there would probably be such a follower by his side now.


    She also didn''t ask if those who deceived Yan Xiaoling received their punishment, because it all meant nothing.


    But the story didn''t end there.


    Tang Xian laughed silently and said,


    "But I don''t love Yan Xiaoling."


    Li Xiaoyu froze.


    "I was sick for a long time afterward. In that process, I realized a lot of things. If Yan Xiaoling were still alive, I would treat her like family. But I don''t love her."


    "Later, everyone gradually forgot about her. Because of my subdued reaction to this event, when mentioning Yan Xiaoling, most people just thought she turned from an annoying tag-along into my friend."


    "She was just from a vile family at the bottom of Fortress Thirty-Nine. The incident subsided quickly, and those kids were punished as they deserved. And I continued my life as before. I didn''t act particularly sad or sorrowful, after all, there was no point."


    "But later on, when I was with Ke, Shang Lu, Yu Xiaozhe, and those I met in the lower layers, like Liu Lang, Luo, or some old miners, that''s when I understood who Yan Xiaoling really was."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t understand.


    Tang Xian looked up and said,


    "Who was Yan Xiaoling really? Nobody cared about her, nobody remembered her. She always smiled at me on her own, followed behind me, like my shadow.


    For a long time, I thought that she probably was my shadow, after all, I was the only one who remembered her."


    Tang Xian then shook his head and said,


    "I later realized, she wasn''t my shadow. It turns out there is a Santa Claus in this world. He brought me my incomplete emotions through another girl with incomplete emotions."


    For some reason, hearing this made Li Xiaoyu''s chest suddenly feel tight.


    Tang Xian''s gaze fell on Li Xiaoyu again:


    "Because of Yan Xiaoling''s existence, I was able to become less dreadful, and then later on I had many friends willing to help me."


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "And because someone like her once liked me, I dare to confidently believe that even someone like me can be loved by others."


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian, seeing his eyes for the first time so clear. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She suddenly remembered, this was the first time she was in such close proximity, making eye contact with Tang Xian.


    That mosquito blood eventually became a cinnabar mole in Tang Xian''s heart. But Li Xiaoyu couldn''t feel even a bit jealous.


    In this story, she heard about two emotionally incomplete individuals slowly changing each other.


    If it hadn''t been for that pitiable girl, perhaps the present Tang Xian would have a completely different personality?


    "The story is finished, and it''s late, you should go back."


    "I''ll sit for a little longer..." Li Xiaoyu didn''t want to leave.


    Tang Xian didn''t insist, nodded, and said,


    "Oh, and this story, I''ve never told anyone else."


    "I won''t tell anyone."


    "That''s not what I meant."


    "Then what do you mean?"


    "The distance of mountains and waters, the distance of social classes, both can be reached. Only the divide of life and death is difficult to bridge. So, it''s best to live a little longer."

 Chapter 119 The 8th Level of the Pyramid

    After telling the story, Li Xiaoyu didn''t go straight back but sat at the observation deck for a while. Discover stories at My Virtual Library EmpireNothing particularly interesting happened; she often did this, quietly thinking about all sorts of things.


    Later, accompanied by Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu left the third level.


    Tang Xian himself returned to the ground floor. The time was approaching midnight.


    The Pyramid had neither curfew nor night patrols, those ancient rules.


    Tang Xiaojiu was staying at Qiao Shanshan''s house, which was a relief since he felt at ease with the girls living together.


    After all, the security on the third level was much better.


    After washing up, Tang Xian took out his diary and started recording some information.


    Having fulfilled Li Xiaoyu''s request, Tang Xian was sure that the moment for humans to directly engage with the creatures of the mining area was imminent.


    He planned to write a detailed account of the weaknesses and strategies for dealing with the creatures of the mining area in a short period of time.


    Based on his combat experience with many creatures in the mining area, Tang Xian was now convinced of one thing: his theoretical knowledge of the creatures wasn''t purely theoretical.


    It was as if some battle memories were etched into his genes; he always knew what to do right away. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it was almost impossible for other people to have this kind of practical ability.


    This might have something to do with his own talents.


    But now was not the time to research talents. The Zutton Holy Tree wouldn''t be the only one, and there were other creatures that had lived longer or knew more.


    For instance, the Endless Turtle, originally thought to be a creature of myths and legends.


    Tang Xian was very interested in this mysterious prophetic turtle and had listed it as his next target after the events on the Yuepela Plains.


    Of course, a primary reason was that turtle soup was highly nourishing.


    The tip of his pen moved rapidly across the pages of the diary, and by the time Tang Xian had listed the possible calamitous and perfect creatures that might appear on the Pelar Plains, the sky had already begun to brighten.


    Not long after he put the pen down, Tang Xian fell into a deep sleep.


    The events of the day were not plentiful, but they made him feel somewhat exhausted.


    Tang Xian slept soundly.


    Yet his consciousness entered a firmly-rooted dreamscape.


    ...


    ...


    Memories of many things might be forgotten, but that doesn''t mean they''ve disappeared.


    They might show themselves as the tip of the iceberg in some bizarre dream.


    Tang Xian was walking with his father in an unknown part of what should be the mining world, asking, "Where are we going?"


    "To a place that humans have yet to name," his father''s voice carried a wisp of vagueness.


    Tang Xian realized no matter how much he quickened his pace, he couldn''t keep up with his father''s steps; he could only see his father''s back.


    Something occurred to him faintly.


    Half a year before he was sent to the third level, news had come that his parents had gone missing in the mining area.


    Missing, never to return.


    Unlike other adventurers'' disappearances, going missing in the mining area was tantamount to death, without exception.


    Because if you couldn''t return to the Pyramid within seven days, it was all over.


    By relying on his wits and the identity of a child, he had weathered the bottom level for half a year, accustomed to the wicked side of human nature, before finally getting the opportunity to move to the third level.


    The dreamscape was tinged with a silvery gray.


    It seemed to carry the implication of death.


    Tang Xian found the surroundings in his dream to be incredibly chaotic.


    There were many plants he had seen and had not seen before. These plants were giant, yet they clung to the remnants of human constructions.


    These buildings were familiar to him; they didn''t belong to the Pyramid, they came from beyond the Pyramid.


    In the distance, figures that resembled humans came and went.


    Yes, shadows. They looked just like humans, but only had black silhouettes.


    There were also many strange and dangerous animals.


    Suddenly, a dragon''s roar came from the sky.


    Tang Xian looked up and saw a huge figure weaving through the clouds in the sky. Its scales resembled crystals.


    In the distance, the long howl of a fox could be faintly heard.


    "Father, where is this?" he asked.


    "This is the borderland between two worlds."


    Although he ought to have asked other questions, in the dream, his consciousness was focused on the dream itself.


    Tang Xian just felt that this place was utterly different from the mining area he was familiar with.


    He had never had such a dream before; even in dreams, everything tended to follow logic, and almost always involved familiar things.


    But this dream was too strange.


    Humans who were like shadows.


    Weird and dangerous animals.


    Unknown plants and the ruins of buildings.


    The distant fox howl and the dragon''s roar in the sky.


    All these gave him an incredibly foreign feeling.


    His thoughts were interrupted by the cry of a baby.


    For some reason, Tang Xian felt the baby''s cries were tinged with unease and panic.


    He was unusually afraid.


    Everything in his eyes disappeared abruptly; the guide that was his father, the surrounding scenery, the mighty creatures¡ªall seemed to be dust blown away by the wind.


    In the blank white world, only the headless statue remained.


    The style of the statue had some resemblances to Ancient Greek sculptures. But judging by its sheen, it didn''t seem like a typical plaster sculpture.


    A headless bust, an intact body, and within its arms, a baby was cradled.


    The baby let out bursts of crying.


    Tang Xian felt the crying to be so familiar.


    He approached the statue step by step.


    Yet, the crying became weaker and weaker.


    Until he stood in front of the statue and took the baby out of the statue''s arms, the baby had already quieted down completely.


    It quietly looked at Tang Xian.


    Its lips moved slightly, but instead of crying, it spoke in a language familiar to Tang Xian.


    That voice was even more ethereal than his father''s had been. It seemed to resonate at the tips of countless nerves simultaneously.

 Chapter 119 The 8th Level of the Pyramid_2

    Tang Xian suddenly let go, feeling an intense stabbing pain in his mind.The baby did not fall, but floated in the vast white space, which seemed like a sea.


    "Do not go to the eighth level."


    This sentence was like thousands of monks hitting wooden fish and chanting at the same time.


    It began to continuously bombard Tang Xian''s consciousness.


    But Tang Xian still clenched his teeth and asked with difficulty,


    "Why? What''s on the eighth level?"


    "Do not go to the eighth level."


    "Tell me! What''s on the eighth level?"


    "Do not go to the eighth level."


    The usually rational Tang Xian began to grow somewhat frantic, his eyes bloodshot.


    He glared fiercely at the baby.


    "Do not go to the eighth level."


    The voices still swirled in Tang Xian''s mind.


    But gradually, the many scattered, fragment-like voices began to coalesce into one grand voice.


    "Do not go to the eighth level, unless you are ready."


    The stabbing pain in his mind gradually faded away.


    Tang Xian''s expression also relaxed a bit.


    "Tell me, what exactly is on the eighth level?"


    "Enemies. Do not go to the eighth level."


    It began repeating again, and the stone statue actually began to slowly move, gently picking up the floating baby.


    In the following scene, the statue and the baby began to disappear bit by bit.


    It was like the previous visions.


    But Tang Xian could see the baby''s face, it seemed to be giving a final warning:


    "Unless you are prepared."


    Tang Xian suddenly felt that the baby''s gaze, was very much like his own.


    "Otherwise, do not go to the eighth level!"


    He woke up.


    The intense pain had not awakened Tang Xian, but as the baby''s face dispersed with the wind, he suddenly came to.


    His clothes were soaked through with sweat.


    Tang Xian gently shook his head and pondered, his mind flashing with various interpretations of the dream.


    But in fact, most of them were fragments of consciousness, not very valuable for reference, and even Freud''s "The Interpretation of Dreams" was of no use here, since nearly seventy percent of the great psychologist''s theories were related to sex.


    Tang Xian didn''t believe that the bizarre dream had any connection to that matter.


    It couldn''t be suggesting that he wanted to have a child, could it?


    The warning naturally still related to the eighth level.


    But what was it about the eighth level that his subconscious feared?


    Why was there a baby in the dream telling him not to go to the eighth level?


    "What a strange dream."


    ...


    ...


    The next day, news came from all over the world.


    These pieces of news were so important that even the people on the lower levels were given a day off, and many gathered in front of the various Vision Towers on the lower levels to watch the news.


    For most of the people on the lower levels, this was the only channel to get information from other places.


    The messages displayed in the Vision Towers were indeed unprecedentedly shocking.


    First was the change in the mining area map.


    The Red Soil Forest, though devoid of any creatures, was classified as a red zone and merged into the Sea of Trees.


    It served as a natural moat for the Sea of Trees.


    And the signposts at the southern border of the Red Soil Forest had also been changed, urging hunters not to go there to hunt.


    Tang Xian found this news on his phone; now, all entertainment and current affairs apps were reporting these things.


    He was currently preparing food, busily working while watching various news items.


    "It looks like the Li family and the Song Family orchestrated this, is this their indirect way of trying to please me?"


    Tang Xian chuckled wryly. His own face really did carry weight.


    The second piece of news was that a month later, once all the hunters had recuperated, this time the hunters, regular armies, and global fortresses would join forces and gather in the southern part of Yuepela Plains to launch a decisive battle against the entire plains.


    There had been reports about this previously, but the timing had not been set.


    This time, it was an official announcement.


    Many people were missing from last night''s ball, such as Song Gengzhao, Li Wanye, and other fortress lords.


    The ball ostensibly served as a ball, but in reality, it was a cooperative meeting between the leaders of the various fortresses.


    And the human overall commander for the Yue Pella Plains campaign was to be Song Que.


    Tang was not surprised, Song Que''s popularity in the hunting festival, as well as his own status, made him a more suitable choice than Li Zheng and Qi Xun.


    But some things are not sufficient just because they seem appropriate.


    He could foresee that, even for Song Que, there would be quite a few who would not acknowledge his authority. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian continued browsing the next message.


    This message finally took Tang Xian by surprise.


    [The 39th Fortress enters the countdown to the opening of the eighth tier!]


    The bold headline also indicated the importance of this news.


    It was the last and most crucial piece among several announcements.


    About the method of advancing fortress tiers, actually, most residents within the Pyramid, like Tang Xian initially, were oblivious.


    Even though this announcement was published, it did not disclose the precise method to advance to the eighth tier.


    "This must be news released by the Li family themselves, it looks like a victory declaration." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was certain that he had given the Li family a Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystal, and coincidentally, the three-tailed dragon spine crocodile that the Li family had been grinding down for forty years in the western part of the mining area, the Blade Forbidden Ground, was also killed around this time.


    Although the species of the creature wasn''t mentioned in the news, the Li family provided the exact location, indicating that they had successfully acquired it, and even if Lincoln Fortress intended to compete, it was too late.


    This was the advantage of the mining area.


    Humans were unable to establish networks and communication equipment in the mining area; they were living in an era where travel was mostly on foot, and communication was primarily by shouting.


    If a weakened Cataclysmic Boss Creature was found somewhere sparsely populated, it wouldn''t be surprising for it to be guarded for decades.


    The twenty Cataclysmic Boss Creature Soul Crystals had been gathered, a development that Tang Xian hadn''t foreseen.


    He had thought that only after the conflict on the Yuepela Plains would the opening of the eighth tier be witnessed, but it looked like it would happen in these next couple of days. The 39th Fortress was about to become the first fortress in the world.


    All the previous messages were trivial in comparison to this one.


    The last piece of news was that the Song Family announced the postponement of their marriage alliance with the Li family, mainly to prepare for this war.


    People weren''t surprised by this because the explanation was quite reasonable.


    This war was described by officials as extremely sacred and brutal.


    A deep sorrow arose from thoughts of generals falling in battle and stout warriors returning after a decade.


    No one could say for sure if they would survive this war.


    With the shock of the news that the Li family was about to open the eighth tier, what the eighth tier contained and the kind of technology it would bring to humanity were of utmost concern to everyone.


    As one topic dominated, others naturally diminished.


    No one would have thought that it was their neighbor Tang who had dodged Miss Li''s affection, right?


    Everything was moving towards a satisfactory conclusion.


    After pondering for a moment, Tang Xian thought that as long as he made some contributions for the Li family in the war on the Yuepela Plains, then he could consider his promise to Li Xiaoyu fulfilled.


    After that, life should be peaceful, collecting resistance against various creatures in the mining area and living a life focused on contemplating eating meat.


    Suddenly, his phone vibrated.


    Checking the caller ID, it was Li Xiaoyu; Tang Xian answered.


    "What''s up?"


    "We got the last Soul Crystal."


    "I saw the news. You must have gotten it a few days ago, right?"


    "Yes, should I send someone to pick you up?"


    "Pick me up for what?"


    "To go to the eighth tier, of course. It''s opening soon, and I thought you might be interested."


    "Why would I go to the eighth tier?"


    "Aren''t you interested in historical documents? Much of our knowledge about various creatures and technologies comes from the documents provided by unlocking tiers. Perhaps the things you''re curious about are in the eighth tier."


    Tang Xian said:


    "Based on previous rewards, what the eighth tier is likely to offer will probably be some kind of high-tech rather than historical or cultural items."


    "So are you going or not?"


    "..."


    Tang Xian was actually very curious.


    But to go or not to go, that really was the question.


    If it weren''t for that peculiar dream, he would have immediately agreed.


    As for achievements like being the first to witness something, to Tang Xian, these seemed meaningless.


    "If you don''t say anything, I''ll take it as you agreeing. I''ll send someone to pick you up," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Tang Xian was silent, recalling the content of the dream.


    Unless he was ready.


    What counts as being ready?


    Was it awakening a talent?


    Tang Xian was uncertain, but relying on a dream for proof also seemed absurd.


    Eventually, his thoughts landed on the word ''enemy.''


    When he asked about the eighth tier, the baby told him it was the enemy.


    Tang Xian thought carefully; if it indeed was the enemy, then whether or not he went to the eighth tier, as the levels were unlocked, they would find him anyway.


    It might be better to take the initiative and see for himself.


    After deliberating, Tang Xian said indifferently:


    "Alright then."

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-Level Creature Tang Xian

    Civilized beings, when going through many significant events, all seek a sense of ritual.This ritualistic sentiment is manifested in small ways, perhaps as in the various rules of courtship between men and women, or setting off firecrackers for a store''s grand opening. In larger ways, it is reflected in various customs of festivals or the ancient emperor''s ascent to the throne.


    Rituals gradually give rise to rules. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    The same applies to the excavation of the Pyramid''s hierarchical layers, an event comparable in significance to an emperor''s coronation for the people.


    Those who have the privilege to witness it will also leave their mark in the entire history of humankind.


    That was Li Xiaoyu''s intention in inviting Tang Xian.


    "By the way, I''m feeling a bit uneasy, can I bring a child along?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Tang Xiaojiu?" Li Xiaoyu inquired.


    "That''s right."


    "Bringing a child makes you feel at ease?"


    "Yes, she''s my lucky charm," Tang Xian came up with an excuse.


    "Fine, I''ll take her directly to the entrance of the eighth level."


    "Then I''ll see you later. Calls are quite expensive, I''m hanging up."


    The busy tone from the phone made Li Xiaoyu stamp her feet in frustration.


    Li Xiaoyu''s people were efficient, and they soon arrived at the bottom level.


    They were a group of fully armed regular troops.


    The leader was someone Tang Xian had seen before, the same person who had guided him when he was promoted to a full-time employee.


    Tang Xian felt it was quite a ceremonial occasion. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Tang, please. The people you asked for, including your team members, will meet you on the seventh level," the leader said.


    "Thank you."


    Thanks to knowing Li Xiaoyu, the restrictions between levels had lost their meaning for Tang Xian.


    Yet today, he still felt as if he had suddenly returned to the recent past when he was just a temporary employee waiting for promotion.


    His gaze through the reinforced glass no longer reminisced about the experiences of his youth during school days but reflected on the many world-upending events of recent days.


    Even with his extensive knowledge, during this mining zone journey, he had seen many things that were hard to explain and unrecorded.


    Tang Xian suddenly felt nervous.


    He also anticipated finding answers to many questions on the eighth level.


    ...


    ...


    Starting from the sixth level, the scenery was already distinctly different from the previous five levels.


    It was reflected in the colors of the floors and ceilings. It was as if the first five levels were in the Industrial Revolution era, while the sixth and seventh levels were postmodern.


    The architectural style here no longer resembled the commercial buildings that many people were accustomed to.


    It looked more like the concept buildings in science fiction films.


    The seventh level''s architecture was not much different from that of the sixth level.


    To Tang Xian, it felt like the first five levels were the surface,


    And the sixth and seventh levels were the inner layers.


    As for the eighth level, he would only be able to see it later.


    ...


    ...


    At the entrance of the eighth level.


    About a hundred people were waiting here.


    These were the elites from various industries within the thirty-nine fortresses, including Shang Lu. Most of them belonged to the education sector; they would update future teaching plans based on the knowledge acquired from the eighth level.


    However, the specifics of these activities would take a long time to implement, and the relevant knowledge had to await authorization from the Li family.


    When everyone reached the entrance of the eighth level, they all signed a confidentiality agreement of the highest level, with extremely severe penalties for breaches.


    Tang Xian did the same.


    When Li Zheng saw Tang Xian, he teased,


    "Tang, you''re finally here. Your little girl really isn''t well-behaved, insisting on calling me ''uncle'' when I wanted her to call me ''brother.'' Do I look that old?"


    Standing next to Li Zheng was Tang Xiaojiu, Dong Ran, and Qiao Shanshan. Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan were visibly nervous.


    Tang Xian laughed,


    "The child isn''t wrong; sometimes men are stranger than women. They don''t like to be called ''uncle'' by a teenage girl, but they enjoy being called ''daddy'' by women in their twenties."


    Li Zheng''s face turned red, thinking, my father is still here, does this man not consider the occasion when speaking?


    Li Xiaoyu nodded emotionlessly and said,


    "My brother is just like that."


    As soon as these words were spoken, Li Zheng and Mrs. Li both blushed.


    Li Wanye cleared his throat and said,


    "Alright, stop fooling around."


    In front of Tang Xian was a door that looked like it was made of bronze, about thirty meters high and ten meters wide.


    The patterns on the door were akin to geometric designs far more complex than integrated circuits, filled with a faint purple glow. A sign in front of it read level 8.


    To the right of the bronze door was a dial with a scale of twenty, which emitted a much brighter purple light compared to the patterns on the door itself.


    It was like a river, its purple light flowing like water, nourishing the entire bronze gate.


    In the center of the dial was written the rules for opening the gate in the local fortress language, as well as the severe consequences of attempting to open the gate by force.


    There was also a percentage number, representing the progress in opening the gate.


    The current progress was ninety-nine point seventy-five percent.


    The staff continued to verify and test energy fluctuations, reporting to Li Wanye from time to time.


    Long before Tang Xian''s arrival, the Li family had already begun the tedious customs.


    For Li Wanye, the pinnacle of this Pyramid was inhabited by a deity capable of bestowing blessings upon humanity.


    It granted humans shelter, divine power and technology, and would ultimately lead humanity beyond the barriers of the mining zone, allowing humans to once again become rulers in that bountiful world.


    So while others were not expected to partake, the Li family had various rituals similar to praying to a deity, including actions such as three kneeling bows and nine head kowtows.


    These were the customs established by the ancestors of the three great families.

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-level Creature Tang Xian_2

    Tang Xian did not witness this scene.It was probably because Li Xiaoyu deliberately avoided it, not wanting Tang Xian to see her foolish side.


    It is worth mentioning that before entering the eighth layer, there was an extremely cumbersome lord confirmation ceremony.


    The lord is the highest responsible person at the top level of a Pyramid, but the confirmation of the lord is not just from the recognition of the people of the Pyramid.


    There was also an official procedure.


    On the dial, Li Wanye needed to personally complete the claiming of the lord''s authority.


    After completing this ceremony, an extra scale appeared on the ring that Li Wanye wore on his hand.


    But these things, other people did not know. Even Li Xiaoyu and Li Zheng were not clear about it.


    Even for him, it was only when his father was at the point of death that he was told the secret of the ring.


    In everyone''s eyes, this ring was just a decoration with significant commemorative value.


    However, the distribution of power within the Pyramid, and the transportation of core equipment, were all dependent on this tiny ring.


    ...


    ...


    The purple light slowly engulfed the entire gate.


    The numbers on the dial finally turned to one hundred percent.


    The light from the dial instantly dimmed, while at the same time, the entire bronze gate shone dazzlingly. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    People covered their eyes, able to hear the sound of the gate slowly opening.


    This process lasted for about a minute, and gradually some people opened their eyes, including Tang Xian.


    Then, exclamations and cheers from the people reached his ears, lasting a long time.


    Tang Xian, holding Tang Xiaojiu''s hand, calmly looked at the scenery inside the eighth layer.


    It was a vast space without visible boundaries.


    It was like suddenly stepping into a thick fog that obscured the view.


    If it weren''t for the indistinct sight of countless huge steles erected in the distance, everyone would have thought that this layer was actually empty.


    "Let''s go, everyone, today will be a day that goes down in history, let''s go in together and have a look," said Li Wanye.


    After all, Li Wanye was the master of the fortress, and his demeanor at this moment was the calmest and most composed.


    His tone was like inviting someone to walk around in his own yard.


    The crowd stepped through the gate.


    After Tang Xian walked inside the gate, he found that there were no uncomfortable sensations.


    This empty eighth layer seemed to have nothing wrong with it.


    It was just novel.


    Just like the pattern on the floor of the bronze gate, after entering the gate, one could see that the east and west borders stored a large amount of building materials.


    Li Xiaoyu walked by Tang Xian''s side.


    She knew that Tang Xian probably had many questions. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The others were also discussing topics they found interesting.


    "These are building materials. You see that the architectural styles of the first five layers differ from those of the sixth and seventh layers, because the building materials are very different, and there are blueprints for the buildings, too," she said.


    "Blueprints? I see," Tang Xian suddenly understood.


    No wonder there was such a huge difference in the architectural styles between the layers; it turns out that the expansion of the Pyramid not only left behind different building materials but also the blueprints for architectural styles corresponding to each layer.


    But something still felt strange.


    It was as if there was a deliberate intention for humanity to develop in a certain direction.


    And strangely enough, humanity did develop in that way.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s confusion, Li Xiaoyu said:


    "According to the records of our ancestors, when they were exploring the sixth layer, it was the same. There were many steles in the distance. These steles provided many clues about living organisms and some materials that were very useful to humankind in conquering the mining area.


    "But some steles did not display any text; the inscriptions only appeared after each style of building mentioned in the blueprints was constructed in the respective places."


    Tang Xian nodded, "So, these buildings are not just structures; they also act as keys. In this way, in order to gain more knowledge, one would inevitably construct buildings in the style recorded on the blueprints."


    "That is correct," said Li Xiaoyu.


    She pondered for a moment, then had another thought, adding, "It''s like deliberately creating a hierarchy between layers, and indeed, the architectural design ideas in the blueprints are much more advanced than our existing architectural concepts. So there is a clear, visually evident cultural difference between each layer."


    Tang Xian understood Li Xiaoyu''s point but became even more perplexed. What kind of existence was the owner of the Pyramid?


    What was the purpose behind this design?


    As the group discussed, they had already arrived in front of the steles.


    Only when they reached this point could they see the entire grand extension of the eighth layer.


    The group had walked for more than ten minutes and still could not see the end.


    Tang Xian roughly estimated that the eighth layer was at least not smaller than the seventh.


    When they reached the forest of steles and looked further away, what everyone saw was no longer the steles that unveiled knowledge.


    Instead, there was a row of standing figures.


    Everyone was shocked at this sight, and only with the help of long-distance viewing equipment could they see that these were merely statues.


    The statues looked like bronze terra-cotta warriors.


    Only unlike the terra-cotta warriors, the design style of their armor, such as the patterns on the armor, was very similar to the patterns on the floor and the bronze door.


    There were a total of twelve such statues.


    They stood silently in the distance as if they had been standing there for thousands of years.


    As for inanimate objects, no one cared.


    The focus of the crowd now returned to the steles.


    In this forest of steles, there were many steles. Tang Xian regretted that some of the steles were in a sealed state, which must be what Li Xiaoyu had said about the content in the steles being locked until the construction of the buildings on the blueprints was completed and reached the corresponding number.

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-Level Creature Tang Xian_3

    But even amongst the stelae that could be accessed, some of the knowledge inscribed upon them shocked him to the core.Tang Xian was looking at a stele with the serial number 003.


    ¡ª Above enhanced, elite, perfect, and cataclysmic, there exists an even more terrifying echelon, inhabited by seven of the most powerful creatures. Most of these creatures originate from Eden City, a domain of impurity and degeneration, home to countless monsters that threaten the essence of the primal world. Their power is sufficient to bring ruination upon the entire world.


    However, most of them have been eradicated by the Order. Even those still alive are but juveniles with erased memories.


    Above cataclysmic?


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu looked at the same stele, utterly astounded.


    At that moment, Dong Ran ran over and whispered,


    "Tang, Miss Second, come quick and look here!"


    Following Dong Ran, Tang Xian arrived at the stele numbered 17.


    ¡ª Only a select few species bathed in the light of Eden''s unclean crystals can endow their Soul Crystals with the ability to transform into humans. But not all creatures are qualified to obtain this ability. Only those above the level of disaster have the chance.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan opened their eyes wide and looked at Tang Xian, seemingly seeking confirmation of something. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian merely shook his head slightly. He made no attempt to hide from Li Xiaoyu and gestured for them to be silent.


    "Don''t think about anything. Just go on and look at the next stele."


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan chose to heed Tang Xian''s words. They didn''t say much, although both thought about Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng.


    Yet the content within the stele seemed extremely odd.


    What is Eden''s crystal?


    Tang Xian had vaguely noticed that these stelae mentioned two opposing species.


    Eden and Order.


    The proprietors of the Pyramid call themselves the Order. They protect humanity and wage war against creatures from the ore zones.


    Eden, on the other hand, seems to be a core area of the ore zones, where many extremely powerful species have appeared. Is there any connection with the ruins of Eden?


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian continued browsing onwards.


    In the series numbered 1 to 10, only 3 were unlocked. The remaining information requires the Li family to complete building requirements.


    The next series of stelae consisted mostly of various compendiums.


    Some creatures Tang Xian himself didn''t recognize.


    Mostly of the perfect and catastrophic levels.


    Only one was a cataclysmic level creature, named Thunder Phoenix.


    It was a bird, extremely rare. According to the records of the Order, only three had ever been found.


    Not a boss unit, but capable of posing a tremendous threat.


    Unwittingly, the group arrived at the last row of stelae.


    Here, there were only three stelae, which were spaced further apart from the others.


    They looked somewhat special, and all were in an unlocked state, available for direct perusal.


    The people formed a circle and began to examine the last three stelae they could see.


    Series x


    ¡ª We have named that level Apocalypse. The living apocalyptic-level creatures have fallen into an endless slumber in the Ashen Sea, becoming a kingdom beneath the sea and utterly forgetting their identities. But children of Order, when you become strong enough one day, please make sure to slay it.


    Apocalyptic-level creatures. Tang Xian quickly thought of stele number 3.


    If apocalyptic-level creatures truly existed in the ore world, humans at the current stage couldn''t hope to defeat them no matter how hard they tried.


    However, the Order still eradicated these creatures.


    Not really eradicated, Tang Xian could sense the dread the Order felt towards apocalyptic-level creatures between the lines.


    And they couldn''t kill the apocalyptic-level creatures either...


    Presumably, in an unimaginably distant era, apocalyptic-level creatures had caused unimaginable harm to the Order.


    Perhaps... this was why the Order no longer had any means to personally venture into the ore zones?


    With varying thoughts in their minds, Tang Xian proceeded to the next stele.


    Series E


    ¡ª You have arrived at the eighth layer, which signifies that you have the potential to travel to the ruins of Eden. Please make your way to the ruins of Eden as soon as possible. Although it has been destroyed by the great Order, it is possible that some have slipped through the net. On this layer, you will gain even more powerful war machines¡ªJudgement Knights.


    Judgement Knights?


    Tang Xian thought of the row of bronze statues in the distance instinctively when he saw this.


    At this point, Li Wanye also looked towards the distance with a satisfied smile.


    "It seems that these Judgement Knights are different from previous technologies. They must be very powerful war equipment."


    Thinking this, Tang Xian instinctively took Tang Xiaojiu''s little hand.


    He was an atheist who didn''t believe in things like divining good or bad fortune from dreams. But he knew much in dreams originated from memories.


    If there really was danger on the eighth layer, then bringing along a little fox just below the level of disaster creatures should be able to fend it off.


    Tang Xian''s deduction wasn''t wrong. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the most powerful war machines couldn''t match the level of disaster creatures.


    In fact, this was true, the information relayed back to Li Wanye by the ring informed him that these Judgement Knights, like the bronze statues, had the strength of ordinary perfect-level creatures.


    But they possessed a very strong vitality. Their creation process was highly intricate.


    And rather taboo, but that wasn''t an issue.


    As a lord, Li Wanye foresaw that the measure of strength for all future strongholds would probably depend on whose stronghold had more Judges.


    Having a lead over all the strongholds in the world, he wouldn''t let go of such an advantage.


    The next step in the plan was to manufacture Judgement Knights on a large scale.


    Everyone began to browse the last stele. It was also the answer to the question Tang Xian had been seeking all along.

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-Level Creature Tang Xian_4

    Sequence ¡ª¡ª N¡ª¡ª Apocalypse-level Creature: Eden Demon Child. This is an extremely terrifying human-like creature, possessing tremendous intelligence, inherently full of cruelty, and should never be allowed into the human world. Once it disguises itself as a human, it becomes undetectable.


    ¡ª¡ª Among all apocalyptic creatures, they are the weakest yet most powerful. They are born without any power. However, everything in the world can be utilized for their growth.


    ¡ª¡ª Like Order Keepers, Demon Children possess almost divine vision. They also have what is known as a talent. Great order can see the full combat abilities of creatures.


    ¡ª¡ª And the most gifted Eden Demon Children can see through the deepest secrets of creatures'' souls. They can even extract the unique abilities of other creatures by killing them.


    ¡ª¡ª Once they reach a certain stage of growth, there will be no creature in the world that can kill them; their growth is endless. The root of their evil, the destruction of human civilization, was caused by the Eden Demon Child leading the six Great Apocalypse Beasts.


    ¡ª¡ª All Eden Demon Children have been eliminated. But there may be some that slipped through the net, so please establish the Order of Judgment Knights promptly and head to the ruins of Eden.


    This was the longest stele, divided into several sections, solely to clarify the nature of a creature known as the Eden Demon Child.


    Shock was written on everyone''s faces.


    What was the calamity that brought human civilization into the Pyramid Era?


    This stele finally provided an answer.


    Though this answer was only a very general overview.


    Tang Xian''s expression was the most complicated.


    His initial surprise quickly turned into doubt. Then, the doubt turned back into horror.


    Tang Xiaojiu felt the sweat in Tang Xian''s hand as she looked up at him.


    Tang Xian began to control his emotions.


    The impact of this section on him was simply too great because the description of the Eden Demon Child, the instigator of the great calamity, was exactly like himself.


    Li Xiaoyu said,


    "Although it''s not detailed, this is the incomplete historical text, right?"


    Tang Xian didn''t speak. He wanted to say that this history was fake or raise some questions.


    But in the end, he said nothing.


    Li Xiaoyu felt it was strange but didn''t ask any further.


    "Let''s go. The content of these steles, according to the ancestors'' records, will vanish within a month after being read by humans. I will arrange for someone to record them. Now let''s go see those Judgment Knights. That''s our biggest gain this time. It will secure our position as the number one fortress."


    Li Wanye''s voice came.


    He was the first to recover from the shock. Many scholars were still in amazement because there had always been many theories about the great calamity, but now finally, there was a definitive conclusion.


    People began to shuffle their feet slowly.


    Heading towards the distant bronze statues.


    When the vaguely visible statues came into view, the group did not express the same astonishment as when they first saw the stele.


    After all, only Li Wanye knew what sort of capabilities these Judgment Knights possessed.


    "Don''t underestimate these things that look no different from statues. They''re quite something. Once activated, even within the Pyramid, they can exhibit power beyond that of a normal perfect-level creature."


    "Overly modernized things cannot operate in the mining area, but these Judgment Knights are different¡ªeven in the mining area, they can still function."


    With Li Wanye''s introduction, people began to realize the value of the statues.


    But Li Wanye did not mention how to produce Judgment Knights.


    Tang Xian carefully recalled all the information he had seen earlier.


    He confirmed there was no mention of what Li Wanye had just said. So how did Li Wanye know these things?


    Could it be that, like himself, he suddenly received messages in his sea of consciousness?


    Tang Xian didn''t think too much about it but vaguely guessed that the Li family, as the fortress'' lord''s family, must know more secrets of the Pyramid.


    The crowd continued moving forward, preparing to reach the end of the eighth level.


    Although the ninth level was still very far away for the people of the present, everyone was still curious¡ª


    What are the conditions for opening the ninth level of the Pyramid?


    The group slowly passed by the Judgment Knights.


    Tang Xian found no other scents in his breath; the entire eighth level only had a massive amount of construction materials piled up at the edge, and ahead was a vast expanse of white.


    He breathed a sigh of relief.


    But at that moment, from behind everyone, there came the sound of the Judgment Knights.


    Those lifeless, statue-like Judgment Knights began to move.


    The sounds of metal friction and engine driving came.


    People turned their heads back, puzzled and unaware. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Wanye was the most startled.


    He had learned how to drive the Judgment Knights during the lord''s recognition ceremony.


    As the strongest alloy equipment for the future fortresses, to activate the Judgment Knights required the lord''s personal authorization.


    There was only one situation in which the Judgment Knights would activate on their own.


    Their base code contained two lines: one to serve the lord, and the other to eliminate any existence that could threaten the fortress.


    ¡ª¡ª Mining area creature invasion detected.


    ¡ª¡ª Self-activation initiated.


    Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    A cold, emotionless synthetic electronic voice sounded,


    Every person in the eighth level fortress was horrified.


    Mining area creature invasion? At this very moment?


    Even Li Wanye''s mind was a bit foggy. Could it be that these Judgment Knights had been dormant for too long and malfunctioned?


    ¡ª¡ª Assessing the level of invading creature.

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-Level Creature Tang Xian_5

    The trial knights were fully awakened.The originally hazy-white eighth level, on the six-hundred-meter-high ceiling, those white lights began to change colors.


    Just like the eyes of the trial knights.


    The eyes were green at first, then blue, and immediately after, turned purple...


    The twelve trial knights were activated one by one. The eighth level was like a colossal temple, and they were like ancient gods awakening.


    The awakeners of order.


    The purple in their eyes turned to orange, and a massive beam of orange light landed on Tang Xiaojiu.


    Dong Ran was stunned, and so was Qiao Shanshan.


    Li Xiaoyu shook his head in disbelief, while Li Zheng''s eyes widened.


    Li Wanye started to scrutinize the little girl as he recovered from the shock.


    Ripples flowed stealthily on the ring on his finger.


    No one knew what these colors signified.


    But Li Wanye understood. These were the colors of the lights, distinguishing the rank of invasion creatures.


    He was sweating profusely.


    He hoped that the trial knights had made a mistake, because the orange glow represented... S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The rank of invasion creature ¡ª Catastrophic.


    Tang Xian only felt an extremely uncomfortable aura growing stronger and stronger.


    And Tang Xiaojiu, suddenly the focus of everyone''s gaze, fearfully clung to Tang Xian''s pant leg.


    "Brother Tang Xian, why are they all looking at us... I feel so uncomfortable..."


    The vast orange pillar of light enveloped Tang Xiaojiu. Tang Xian was also shrouded within it.


    This beam seemed to contain something that made Tang Xiaojiu extremely uncomfortable.


    And the hazy-white eighth level also seemed to be covered by a sunset glow, coated with a layer of faint orange.


    Tang Xian had already noticed that Tang Xiaojiu''s ears had become a bit sharper than before.


    He tried to run out of the beam with Tang Xiaojiu, but wherever he went, the light followed.


    There must have been some mistake!


    Li Xiaoyu looked towards Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye was also at a loss.


    The light in the eyes of the distant trial knights was still orange.


    They had all adopted battle stances, with the patterns on their armor constantly shifting.


    Every trial knight aimed their palms at Tang Xiaojiu, as if they were about to execute a horrifying technique that would annihilate everything.


    Li Wanye tried several times to use his consciousness to stop the attack of the trial knights, but it was to no avail!


    Tang Xian was certain that he couldn''t take Tang Xiaojiu out of the beam.


    He bent down, picked up Tang Xiaojiu, and said:


    "Little Nine, don''t be afraid."


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    Tang Xiaojiu''s face was buried in Tang Xian''s chest, and the orange pillar of light made it impossible to see it all.


    Only Tang Xian knew that by bringing Tang Xiaojiu here for safety, he might have endangered her.


    His heart was full of mixed emotions, and many thoughts flashed through his mind.


    But just then, the orange pillar of light abruptly vanished.


    It receded so quickly, as if it had never existed, it seemed as if the sudden descent had just been a fleeting mistake.


    The orange light in the eyes of those trial knights aimed at Tang Xiaojiu also disappeared suddenly.


    It was as if their energy source had been forcibly cut off by some means. The engine sounds came to an abrupt halt, as if the creatures that had come to life were turned back into statues.


    "It''s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding after all!"


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, who knew the truth, were almost in tears with relief inside.


    Although Li Xiaoyu didn''t know the real situation, somehow, she felt as if Tang Xian had just had a close shave with the Grim Reaper.


    Tang Xian also exhaled in relief. Because after the orange pillar of light disappeared, Tang Xiaojiu immediately returned to her normal self.


    "It''s okay, Little Nine, don''t be afraid, it will be over soon."


    Tang Xiaojiu nodded her head.


    Li Wanye also exhaled in relief and said:


    "It seems these machines are too old and have malfunctioned."


    Even though the ring''s feedback to Li Wanye suggested otherwise, he still cared a lot about Tang Xian.


    In his heart, he didn''t believe that a mining district creature could have infiltrated among their group.


    Seeing that it was a false alarm, everyone was relieved.


    The hazy-white eighth level, suddenly enveloped by orange light, had given everyone an extremely oppressive feeling.


    If the twelve trial knights with perfect-level creature strength really launched an attack, their group could not be sure to be safe from the impact.


    Li Zheng laughed and said:


    "Hahaha, it seems the AI in this iron thing needs improvement. Let''s dissect one later."


    "Since there''s no problem, let''s continue on. Let''s go see what materials we need for the ninth level," Li Wanye said.


    The crowd agreed and were ready to leave.


    But before they could turn around, the eyes of the trial knights once again flashed with light.


    A more intense engine sound and a more piercing alarm than before rang out.


    Everyone''s hearts leapt to their throats again.


    "Why is it happening again, isn''t this endless? Who is it this time?" Li Zheng cursed.


    Tang Xiaojiu clung to Tang Xian in fear again, trembling all over.


    Above the six-hundred meters, the ceiling lights began to change again.


    When the light turned orange again, the trial knights did not move.


    They stood silently as if waiting for the next instruction.


    The orange light did not fall.


    But Tang Xian didn''t feel any relief. An unprecedented sense of crisis hit him. He looked up at that distant ceiling.


    It was as if, high above, a being called the Orderer was scrutinizing him.


    Li Wanye''s face suddenly changed; he turned pale as death, staring at the ceiling in disbelief.


    The rest thought this was another malfunction.


    Because on that massive ceiling, the orange light began to slowly change again, eventually turning into a blood-red glow.

 Chapter 120 Apocalypse-Level Creature Tang Xian_6

    The Judgment Knight''s eyes also turned red. As the red light filled his eyes, they seemed to come to life once again.A chilling mechanical synthesized voice echoed in everyone''s ears.


    ¡ª¡ªIntruder lifeform level assessment complete


    ¡ª¡ªLevel¡ª¡ªDoomsday


    ¡ª¡ªTarget unit identification complete


    ¡ª¡ªTarget: Eden Magic Child.


    A massive red pillar of light instantly descended upon Tang Xian.


    For some reason, when the pillar of light fell upon him, upon hearing the words of the Judgment Knight,


    Tang Xian suddenly didn''t feel so panicky anymore.


    The previous orange light had fallen on Xiaojiu, and he had been frantic with worry. When the orange light vanished, he had thought they had escaped a disaster.


    But now, everything in his sight had turned blood-red, as if a painting had suddenly been splashed with a layer of scarlet paint.


    Tang Xian finally realized that today was his destined calamity, one he could not escape.


    Beneath the red light, Tang Xiaojiu''s body suddenly transformed, emitting a painful howl.


    The howl was like that of a fox''s long cry.


    Tang Xian''s hand was pierced by Tang Xiaojiu''s claws, but then healed instantly.


    He still held Tang Xiaojiu''s hand, his eyes showing a resigned look as he stared at Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan.


    In this instant, Tang Xian already had a strategy in mind.


    One thing was certain, all of his characteristics matched the description of the Eden Magic Child found on the Stele.


    However, he did not believe in the truth of the great catastrophe recorded on the Stele.


    He did not believe that beings like him, or rather, his own kind, were responsible for the destruction of the Human World.


    He didn''t even believe in the malicious term "Eden Magic Child."


    It was just a matter of whether humans would choose to believe in him or the Pyramid?


    "So that''s what it meant not to go to the eighth level. So this is the significance of the dream." Tang Xian''s expression had completely calmed.


    The red light became increasingly intense.


    The Judgment Knights once more assumed an offensive posture, their palms now gathering energy filled with destructive intent.


    Twelve rays capable of instantaneously melting perfect level creatures targeted Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s hand pressed upon the portable teleportation rift. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    At the same time, long fox tails once again overturned everyone''s cognition.


    The huge fox tails within the red light acted like barriers, protecting Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s view was blocked by the fox tails, only able to glimpse Li Xiaoyu through the faint cracks.


    Li Xiaoyu still had a look of panic on her face.


    It was time to say goodbye, Tang Xian suddenly realized.


    "Sorry, it looks like I won''t have time to do the third thing, I might have to leave now."


    Li Xiaoyu was unable to utter a word.


    The transformation into a fox of Tang Xiaojiu said it all.


    Li Wanye finally realized that the warning from the ring was real.


    This was not a malfunction.


    But among the crowd this time, there truly was a Nine-tailed Fox and... the legendary Eden Magic Child.


    "Do you remember what I told you? The distance between mountains and waters, and the distance between social classes are all reachable. Live well, and wait¡ª"


    He wasn''t able to finish his farewell, as at this moment, Tang Xian''s reflexes were even quicker than those of the fox-transformed Tang Xiaojiu.


    The portable teleportation rift suddenly opened.


    He entered the mining area with Tang Xiaojiu.


    The rift was like a door tearing through dimensions.


    And this door was twisted by the Judgment Knight''s destructive rays.


    The rays, potent enough to destroy everything, were absorbed by the rift in turn.


    The red pillar of light disappeared in an instant.


    The Judgment Knights also instantly turned into bronze statues.


    It was as if they had suddenly lost their souls.


    The events that had happened prior seemed like a dream. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But for Li Zheng, or Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan who had long known the truth,


    everyone''s souls seemed to have been sucked into the rift.


    Even after a long time, they were all in a state of tremor and confusion.


    Only Li Xiaoyu was biting her lips tightly.


    She kept thinking about a phrase Tang Xian had said among the trees ¡ª


    "It''s precisely because lies are plausible and the truth is absurd, that we need to be watchful against the unknown like the Pyramid."


    Li Xiaoyu clenched her fists, her eyes had shown panic, fear, discomfort, and pain.


    But they had never for a moment doubted Tang Xian.


    Her gaze turned to the empty top of the eighth level, looking up at the ceiling six hundred meters above.


    For the first time, Li Xiaoyu showed a strong sense of vigilance.


    ¡ª¡ªVolume One Ends

 Chapter 1 An Important Day for Li Xiaoyu (Part 1)

    ¡ª¡ªPreface to Volume Two: This story takes place in a fictional parallel world, and all content is purely for entertainment and does not allude to any reality.~~~~~~~~~Main Text~~~~~~~~~~


    Fortress No. 39, the eighth layer.


    A long while after the scene that was even more dramatic than a play had ended, Li Wanye was the first to come to his senses.


    His expression had changed the most.


    The Li family had always prioritized the interests of the entire fortress. As the lord of the Pyramid, Li Wanye had particularly embodied this principle.


    When Tang Xian was engulfed in the red light, he constantly tried to stop the judgment knight.


    But as those huge fox tails appeared, even though Li Wanye was shocked and filled with regrets, he knew he had to make the painful decision to eradicate all potential sources of disaster.


    He was the father of Li Zheng and Li Xiaoyu.


    The most insightful person in the Li family, he had been paying attention to Tang Xian since the incident six years ago when the Li family covered up Tang Xian''s cheating.


    Even earlier than Li Zheng. And he had always known the true thoughts of Li Xiaoyu.


    After the hunting festival had ended, Li Zheng had come to the study several times to suggest that he enlist Tang Xian. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although no one knew what had happened during the hunting festival, and no one mentioned Tang Xian,


    Li Wanye was convinced that Tang Xian might have performed as well as Song Que.


    Until today.


    Only after today''s events did he finally affirm that one of his conjectures was correct.


    ¡ª¡ªThe crystallization of the calamity-level boss creature had indeed come from Tang Xian.


    And with that, everything else fell into place.


    Li Wanye''s expression had completely changed, and with a cold glance at Li Zheng, he said,


    "I remember you telling me that Tang Xian has his own hunter team, and its members have also been invited here, haven''t they?"


    Li Zheng glanced at Li Xiaoyu with difficulty in his eyes.


    Li Xiaoyu did not speak.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan also did not speak.


    It was only now that they understood the apologetic look in Tang Xian''s eyes when he had left.


    He had foreseen this development.


    The events of today were also a bit too intense for Li Zheng, so much so that he still could hardly believe it.


    He opened his mouth anxiously, wanting to speak, but hesitant.


    "I''m speaking to you!" Li Wanye barked in a low voice.


    Li Zheng nodded helplessly.


    This was also when Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran stepped forward.


    Qiao Shanshan said,


    "My lord, I am a member of Tang Xian''s team."


    Qiao Shanshan could already imagine that her days ahead would be quite difficult.


    What was supposed to be a frightening situation didn''t seem particularly scary to her, though she could not explain why.


    Dong Ran looked at Li Wanye and said,


    "Master, I too am a member of Tang Da¡­ Tang Xian''s team."


    Li Wanye nodded and said,


    "I will give you as fair a treatment as possible, but for now, I must take you into custody."


    This statement made Li Zheng the most anxious.


    He wasn''t worried about the two outsiders. Even if Dong Ran was a servant of their house, to the Li family she was dispensable, and apart from being good-looking, Li Zheng saw nothing regrettable about her.


    He was worried about Li Xiaoyu.


    He had cast a glance at his sister just before; she was eerily calm.


    If anyone among this group cared the most about Tang Xian, it had to be Li Xiaoyu.


    So the more she behaved like this, the more Li Zheng felt there was a problem.


    The guards by Li Wanye''s side began to escort Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan to the interrogation room on the second layer.


    At this moment, Li Wanye said,


    "If there''s anyone else who is particularly close to Tang Xian, step forward voluntarily. I will seek justice for you as far as possible, but if you conceal something now, hoping to be lucky, don''t blame me for being ruthless!"


    His usual scholarly demeanor had vanished, and Li Wanye now stood as a merciless sovereign.


    Li Zheng did not think his father was wrong.


    Everyone had seen what happened inside the red pillar. Setting aside whether Tang Xian was a demon from Eden or not, the young girl by his side was definitely a creature from the mining area.


    If it had been him, he would likely have done the same as his father, thoroughly investigating the matter.


    Investigating Tang Xian''s entire background and connections.


    Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    To put it mildly, this was a responsibility toward the fortress; to put it significantly, this was a responsibility toward the entire human race.


    Soon after, Shang Lu also stood up and was taken away.


    Seeing no one else come forward, Li Wanye did not conclude the matter just yet.


    If an investigation was warranted, it had to be thorough.


    "Li Zheng, take your sister back to the residence on the sixth layer. Without my command, she is not to go out, nor is she allowed to see anyone," he said.


    Li Zheng looked at Li Wanye in surprise, while Li Xiaoyu calmly began to walk.


    "What are you standing there for? Don''t my words carry weight anymore?"


    "Yes..."


    Li Zheng walked beside Li Xiaoyu, followed by a judgment knight activated by Li Wanye.


    The knight''s clanking metal sounds made Li Zheng feel that his father was being somewhat harsh on Xiaoyu.


    Watching Li Zheng''s troubled face, Li Xiaoyu whispered,


    "Great families are concerned about face. Brother, father is not wrong in doing this. He has taught us since we were young not to make mistakes because if we do, we will be more easily subjected to harsh criticism than others. To silence the voices of criticism, we need to face more severe punishment."


    Li Zheng did not know what to say.


    The resolve to bear the pain and cut ties with the past, he believed Li Xiaoyu had that strength.


    After today, Tang Xian would probably become an enemy of humankind, and his sister must be very clear about this.


    Seeing the calm expression on Li Xiaoyu''s face, he felt a touch of relief.


    But that relief disappeared quickly.


    Li Xiaoyu continued,


    "Yet it is not for him to judge right from wrong. I haven''t done anything wrong."


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    Just as Li Zheng had thought, Li Wanye did not play favorites, because he couldn''t silence a hundred people.

 Chapter 1 Li Xiaoyus Important Day (Part 1)_2

    Anyone could inadvertently reveal the secret of the Eden prodigy.So, he straightforwardly made the events of yesterday public.


    This announcement had become a super headline that impacted over two hundred fortresses around the world.


    The existence of apocalypse-level creatures had also shocked the entire world for a time.


    The academic communities weren''t even focusing on the conclusive debate of the great catastrophe.


    Because the invasion of the Pyramid by an apocalypse-level creature carrying a calamity-level boss had nearly ignited everyone''s thoughts.


    Two worlds, separated by great distances, suddenly seemed to have no distance between them because of this incident.


    In less than two hours, the related news had spread to all the fortresses that had access to the network.


    Even the people at the bottom level of each fortress had received the news.


    A massive crackdown and indiscriminate searches had thus begun.


    All those associated with Tang Xian were on the search list.


    The old miners who had been close to Tang Xian in the lower levels had been dealt with as well.


    After hearing that Luo had been taken away for questioning, Liu Lang, the owner of the forge in Fortress Thirty-Nine, tidied up his shop.


    After busying himself with all this, he sat quietly on the rattan chair, sipping his lidded cup of tea. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The expression on his face was indescribably complex.


    After a long time, he spoke to himself to relieve his boredom,


    "I thought everyone was just boasting, but it turns out you really are the real deal. Hahaha... What an apocalypse-level creature, old man; I, too, am someone who has had dealings with an apocalypse-level creature now."


    Before long, Liu Lang had visitors outside his door.


    "They sure checked the meter quickly."


    Liu Lang walked out composedly.


    Sky Guardian Fortress.


    After Sky Guardian Fortress prepared to secede from the federal system, Yu Xiaozhe forged an identity and came to Sky Guardian Fortress to gather intelligence.


    As usual, he went for his morning walk.


    On the third floor of Sky Guardian Fortress, on Sky Tree Boulevard, Yu Xiaozhe saw the news playing on the giant TV tower.


    He frowned,


    "Tsk tsk, my bounty price suddenly doubled?"


    He''d been very well-behaved recently. He couldn''t figure out the situation. Was this another fraud case that couldn''t be solved and got pinned on him?


    Yu Xiaozhe searched on his phone, and what he found startled him.


    "Federal fugitive Yu Xiaozhe suspected of dangerous dealings with apocalypse-level creatures against all humanity?"


    Yu Xiaozhe quickly found out who the apocalypse-level creature was.


    When he saw Tang Xian''s ID photo, he burst out laughing, Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "It had to be you! Even your entry into the world of crime is far higher than that of ordinary people."


    He tightened his coat and pressed down the brim of his hat, and Yu Xiaozhe continued on his way.


    Bounty meant status in the underworld.


    Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t overly concerned with the increase in bounty, but to suddenly go from a financial criminal to one akin to colluding with aliens to persecute Earth was too fast of a leap in status.


    He worried that others might not agree to cooperate with him in the future.


    Fortunately, Yu Xiaozhe ultimately dodged a bullet.


    But Ke Ye wasn''t so lucky.


    The gloves he made for Tang Xian weren''t possible to produce en masse, but it was possible to succeed if a castrated version was made by removing some parts.


    Ke Ye, who had been trying this, ignored the outside world and focused on constructing the design.


    But because of the exaggeration by Wang Qi, the old academician from the House of Daedalus, those delivering parcels to Ke Ye were all regular soldiers, a whole platoon of them.


    When Ke Ye was taken away, Li Zhenjiang was furious, and he lashed out at Wang Qi.


    But Wang Qi''s rhetoric about the greater good of all humanity left no room for retort.


    Ke Ye''s charges sounded absurd, yet they were indeed serious¡ªproviding war equipment to the creatures of the mining area and leaking human war equipment formulas.


    On the way to Fortress Thirty-Nine, Ke Ye still had no idea what had happened.


    Luckily, as a master of weapons, Ke Ye quickly managed to get the soldiers escorting him to inform him about the situation by discussing weapon maintenance and modification, including some vulnerabilities that only the designer would know.


    This absurd charge, Ke Ye had never expected it to come from Tang Xian.


    After learning the full story, he didn''t take it as easy as Yu Xiaozhe and Liu Lang.


    Ke Ye tried hard to recall his past with Tang Xian.


    In their third academic year, although Tang Xian''s personality had suddenly become much softer, Ke Ye believed that this Tang Xian couldn''t possibly be the same being described as an extremely cruel prodigy.


    "There must be some mistake."


    When he learned that Tang Xian had gone to the mining area to flee, he wasn''t worried about himself, but about Tang Xian.


    ...


    ...


    Fortress One.


    After being confirmed as the human commander, Song Que''s schedule had been full. He attended the evening party at Fortress Thirty-Nine the day before and spoke with Tang Xian, then hurried back to Fortress One the next morning.


    After that was a series of tedious matters, which Song Que dealt with seriously.


    Tang Xian was a mountain he considered worth surpassing for a lifetime.


    He was full of expectation to compete with Tang Xian in terms of military achievements on the Yuepela Plains.


    These days, the voices in Song Que''s mind had become much quieter.


    People are like this; once one has friends willing to share certain burdens, even the most pervasive chaos seems surmountable.


    Until one day, when the news of the apocalypse-level creature invading Fortress Thirty-Nine spread.


    When Song Que saw the news, he was more shocked than anyone else.

 Chapter 1 Li Xiaoyus Important Day (Part 1)_3

    He did not have a longstanding acquaintance with Tang Xian.But whether it was Yu Xiaozhe, Shang Lu, or Ke Ye, or Tang Xian''s friends from the lower levels, when they learned of this news, none had as intense a reaction as Song Que.


    The friendships in this world pay attention to compatibility.


    Some friends need a long time to adjust before they can trust each other, while some hit it off immediately, cherishing the kindred spirit.


    In Tang Xian''s eyes, Song Que was just so, and in Song Que''s eyes, Tang Xian was the same.


    He stared at the various reports on the screen.


    After learning the ins and outs of the entire incident, Song Que''s expression became more conflicted than ever before.


    In an instant, that voice in his mind began to emit a sneaking smile and whisper:


    "Isn''t he supposed to be the hero of this world? He''s the true savior who saved all the fortress hunters! Look at what''s become of him, all his achievements denied, his very existence defined as a monster. His friends, all treated as dangers to the world, enduring injustice!"


    It was only after a long while that the voice slowly faded away, and Song Que gradually recovered, his back already soaked with sweat.


    He recalled the conversation he had with Tang Xian at the party the night before.


    "You feel disappointed with some of the rules of this world. This feeling of disappointment will slowly turn to loathing, and loathing, hostility, among other emotions, will become nourishment for that voice in your mind."


    "But should I let myself gradually accept these rules?"


    "That''s the answer you need to find. This is an almost insoluble problem left by the Joker."


    Should he let the anger and disappointment towards unfair rules consume him, or become numb, and gradually adapt to such rules like everyone else? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He finally understood why Tang Xian said this problem was insoluble.


    Because no matter what he chose, he would change, for the worse.


    Either become someone he hated, or become a madman.


    Song Que stared blankly at the mirror. The face in the mirror was full of fatigue, unease, anxiety, anger, and questioning.


    He suddenly felt amazement; when had his face shown so many emotions?


    Song Que tried to smile, but this smile lacked its usual silliness and seemed weird and twisted instead.


    Just like a mask.


    He suddenly thought of something.


    He found some paper and pen and began to doodle.


    As an absolute human genius, Song Que had remarkable skills in every field he had studied.


    Drawing was exceedingly simple for him.


    A white paper quickly depicted a mask with a bizarre smile.


    He looked engrossed at the mask in the drawing, his mind flickering with numerous thoughts.


    He seemed to sense an answer to avoid his downfall.


    ...


    ...


    Fortress Thirty-Nine, one week after the apocalypse creature invasion.


    The Li family estate was now under strict guard, and all personnel related to Tang Xian were detained in the second layer''s interrogation room.


    But Li Wanye knew that many among these people were talented.


    He showed an attitude of significant importance, yet he did not wish to aggrieve these people.


    As he said before, he tried to be as fair as possible to them.


    Later, he transferred these people to the sixth layer of the Li family estate, making sure they were well settled.


    No one had any objections to Li Wanye''s approach.


    Even Liu Lang and those from the lower layers could feel the cautious attitude of this lord.


    Being imprisoned turned into house arrest, which was the most humane treatment Li Wanye could offer.


    The courtyard where Li Xiaoyu was located had the strictest guards.


    During these days of confinement, Li Xiaoyu had been unable to leave or talk to anyone.


    Some information from the outside world was personally disclosed to Li Xiaoyu by Li Zheng.


    Officially, Li Wanye did not allow anyone to approach Li Xiaoyu. But throughout the week, Li Zheng still saw Li Xiaoyu several times, and Li Xiaonian had also visited once; as sons of the Li family, the servants always found it difficult to stop them. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Wanye turned a blind eye to this.


    The courtyard gate slowly opened,


    Li Zheng brushed aside a group of people behind him and whispered in the courtyard:


    "Later, when father asks, Yu, you know what to say. It''s better to get out sooner."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded. She had been waiting for Li Wanye to summon her.


    Li Zheng was still somewhat concerned, afraid his sister would say something foolish when the time came.


    He ended with a final reminder:


    "Pretend that person is dead. That''s better for everyone. He''s been gone to the mining area for a week now. This week, every teleport station''s checkpoints were manned, and the places where portable teleport fissures were used were patrolled around the clock."


    "The nerves of the entire federation are tense right now, everyone''s movements into and out of the mining area are being recorded, and new laws have been urgently enacted to strictly forbid the trading of teleport fissures, with all portable teleport fissures being temporarily suspended. Tracking within the fortress has been activated."


    "Dad is probably going to talk to you about your marriage. Just go along with him."


    Li Zheng said a lot, and Li Xiaoyu calmly agreed to everything.


    "Marriage is a major event in life; maybe you won''t be satisfied, but dad will definitely not wrong you. Today might also be a very important day in your life."


    Li Xiaoyu smiled faintly.


    Li Zheng found that he rarely saw his sister with such a smile; it was quite beautiful.


    Completely different from the usual appearance of discontent, it was as if she had become a different person.


    "A very important day in my life? Hmm¡­ That''s what I think too."


    "It''s good that you think so. Let''s go."

 Chapter 2 An Important Day for Li Xiaoyu (Part 2)

    Li Zheng, accompanied by a team of guards, took Li Xiaoyu to the place where Li Wanye was.The Li family''s estate was very large. Even though it accommodated many people related to Tang Xian, it still seemed spacious.


    Only after walking through a long corridor with the style of a 16th-century Italian church could one catch a glimpse of a house hidden beyond the garden.


    That was where Li Wanye usually worked.


    When Li Zheng reached the yard outside the house, he stopped and, seeing Li Xiaoyu also sizing him up, wanted to say something.


    With just a glance, Li Zheng felt a moment of bewilderment, unconsciously sensing that his sister seemed very distant from him.


    "What is it, staring at me like that?" Li Xiaoyu said.


    "Did you remember everything I warned you about?" Li Zheng said.


    "I remembered, yeah. Don''t worry about me. As for yourself, you should be more careful in the future."


    "Me? I may have some acquaintance with Tang Xian, but our father can see through it all. He knows I can handle things clearly and keep a safe distance. It''s you he''s worried about, afraid that you still have feelings for that boy."


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and said:


    "I''m talking about other aspects. You''ll have to shoulder the heavy responsibilities. You also need to be more subtle in your thinking."


    "An irrelevant answer. Alright, go inside," Li Zheng waved his hand.


    Li Xiaoyu said no more, nodded, and walked into the house.


    ...


    ...


    Li Wanye''s study room had a piece of calligraphy hanging in it, a sight seldom seen these days.


    It wasn''t some Zen master''s profound inscription, just a simple and familiar proverb.


    "Family harmony brings prosperity to everything."


    Beneath this calligraphy, he looked over the various messages that had come in those days. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu sat quietly opposite him.


    "Not speaking? Being locked up these past few days, you must have a lot of pent-up grievances, right?" Li Wanye closed the document in his hands and looked at Li Xiaoyu with a smile.


    When Li Xiaoyu saw Li Wanye stop his work, she said:


    "I was waiting for you to finish your business."


    "Do you know what I was busy with?"


    "My marriage."


    "Yes, the Song Family has offered the Li family an opportunity to unlock the eighth layer, but what they want in exchange is not my precious daughter, but rather to end that marriage contract. Indeed, it''s troublesome."


    Li Wanye continued:


    "Song Que is a good child, just a bit naive. But that''s not necessarily a bad thing. When he comes of age, he will understand how things are. It''s just a pity."


    "I don''t like him."


    "We''re looking for someone else, after all. What about the Zhong Family''s boy? That boy is a bit lazy, but other than that, he''s not bad."


    "Dad, I don''t want to get married. If I must marry, then it can only be to Tang Xian."


    Li Xiaoyu''s tone was very calm, without any hint of agitation, as if she were simply reporting work to Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye still remained smiling.


    "Actually, life is life, and feelings are feelings. Look at those on the second floor who are matchmaking; once they are together, they often go further than those in love marriages."


    Picking up a file casually, Li Wanye flipped through it and continued:


    "There are many things in this world that are just like that, where liking alone isn''t enough."


    "But if you don''t like it, it''s certain you can''t."


    Li Xiaoyu''s sudden statement seemed normal to Li Wanye.


    "That''s not wrong. At least for the first thirty years of one''s life, it should be correct. I don''t wish for you to live too maturely too early."


    Li Wanye''s words were heartfelt.


    The older people get, the more they tend to favor what''s suitable over what they like on the scales of choice.


    His daughter was still young. Whether she liked Tang Xian, Song Que, or even silently rejected several marriage proposals from young men, Li Wanye was willing to let go.


    But Tang Xian was no longer just Tang Xian, and some issues had become serious.


    "He is a creature from the mine zone; he doesn''t belong to this world. He has lurked in the Human World for so many years, and his purpose and intentions are unknown. If a lie could deceive you for a lifetime and fool everyone in the world, then that would be another matter."


    Li Wanye looked straight at Li Xiaoyu and said:


    "But he hasn''t achieved that. Listen to your father and forget him early."


    "A creature from the mine zone?" Li Xiaoyu asked calmly.


    "Yes, the content on the Stele has been guiding us. Without these steles, without the technology inside the Pyramid, we would have starved to death long ago. Tang Xian and that little girl were deemed aliens by the Pyramid, which is evident to all."


    Li Xiaoyu''s reaction remained calm as she shook her head and stated:


    "Tang Xian is just Tang Xian; he''s not some demon child from Eden. Maybe most of the Stele''s inscriptions are true, but at least the judgment about Tang Xian is false."


    Li Wanye did not get angry.


    The opinions of father and daughter were completely opposite, yet both were very amicable.


    Expressing one''s determination and confidence sometimes doesn''t need to be hysterical; being calm and composed can be more resolute.


    Li Wanye found that Li Xiaoyu was very much like himself.


    "If it weren''t for that little girl who became a fox, I might believe you. Have you ever thought about the disaster a calamity-level creature could bring within the Pyramid fortress?" Li Wanye said.


    "I have. Tang Xian did something wrong there. But this doesn''t mean he is an enemy of humanity. Since creatures from the mine zone can become human, then they must have human traits. Perhaps what Tang Xian is doing is a bit too ahead of its time, but isn''t he making the creatures from the mine zone feel a sense of affinity towards the Human World? Towards humans?"


    Li Xiaoyu was unwavering and ignored everything Li Zheng had told her.

 Chapter 2 An Important Day for Li Xiaoyu (Part 2)_2

    "What you''re saying is complete nonsense that turns black and white upside down,"Li Wanye''s expression finally became more serious,


    "I am pleased that my daughter dares to argue with me for the sake of someone she likes, because your brother doesn''t have the courage to do it, but you can''t forget the entire history of humanity just for one man!"


    "Do you know how many people die every year from creatures in the mining area? And how many attacks these mining creatures have launched against humanity? If it weren''t for the Pyramid, how long could humanity have lasted after the great catastrophe?"


    Li Xiaoyu stood up, her expression turning serious as she said:


    "But what wrong did Tang Xian do? He saved hundreds of hunters; that''s the secret Song Que and my brother have been keeping sealed. He brought to the Li family a Soul Crystal powerful enough to lead all the world''s fortresses. If he really is some demon child from Eden, why would he choose to leave like this?"


    Li Wanye shook his head and said:


    "It seems I can''t persuade you."


    "I know, and I can''t persuade you either," Li Xiaoyu calmed down again. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then do you know that if today you fail to persuade me, or are not persuaded by me, you won''t be allowed to step out of Li''s house until you marry into another family?"


    "I know," Li Xiaoyu didn''t back down.


    Li Wanye looked at Li Xiaoyu, silent.


    After a long pause, he sighed deeply and said:


    "You sound as if you''ve been brainwashed by that person."


    "Even if I have been brainwashed by him, I love him¡ªmadly in love with him."


    "If one day, the Li family faces a crisis, I firmly believe he is the one who could lead the Li family out of it, and if one day, the world also falls into disaster, I also believe he is the one who could save the world."


    Li Xiaoyu had not forgotten the words Tang Xian had said.


    The last woman who awaited her fated hero, arriving on a magical cloud to marry her, had already fallen to her death.


    She didn''t understand the story behind it. She just wanted to know, did that unsurpassed hero have that woman in his heart?


    As long as he did, she''d jump, even into an abyss.


    It was the night before the apocalyptic creatures invaded the fortress, on the viewing platform of the third layer''s school district where she saw the softest side of that man''s heart.


    For six whole years, Li Xiaoyu had never come so close to Tang Xian''s soul.


    She didn''t believe such a person was some demon child from Eden, nor did she believe he was a monster that would destroy the world.


    Li Wanye, having dealt with countless people, knew the determination in his daughter''s eyes.


    He had always known his daughter''s almost crazed attitude towards life.


    He waved helplessly and ordered:


    "Bring her down, do not let her out without my command!"


    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t angry, she bowed to Li Wanye, her voice gentle as she said:


    "Father, I am leaving."


    "Go, go back and think it over."


    Li Xiaoyu turned and left.


    Watching his daughter''s retreating figure, Li Wanye suddenly felt as if it might be the last time he''d see her.


    ...


    ...


    Li Xiaoyu returned to the courtyard; she was always quiet by nature, like a lethargic black cat.


    She was accustomed to this kind of grounded life.


    During the week she was grounded, only Li Zheng visited her every couple of days.


    Li Xiaonian also came once, seemingly to cheer his sister up.


    All of Li Xiaoyu''s means of contacting the outside world were cut off.


    Even if she sneaked out, she couldn''t escape the sixth layer.


    Her identification card had been completely locked by Li Wanye through the authority of his ring.


    Now, Li Xiaoyu was just a canary in a luxurious cage.


    Stripped of her status as Miss Li, her current usable permissions, including transit privileges, were even worse than those of a commoner.


    Later, Li Zheng came over.


    After talking with Li Xiaoyu, the only result was no result at all. Learning of Li Xiaoyu''s defiant confrontation with their father, he was furious too.


    He was angry at his father for being too harsh, and at his sister for being too stubborn.


    Li Xiaoyu sent Li Zheng away.


    Late at night, when the ceiling of the fortress began to simulate nightfall, Li Xiaonian came.


    The guards recognized Li Xiaonian; they had been quite startled the last time he visited.


    Despite the rumors of Li, the third young master of the Li family, being prodigal, having no inclination to study, and addicted to side tracks,


    they did not expect him to have a penchant for cross-dressing.


    Today, Li Xiaonian was dressed in a light yellow floral dress, wearing beige high-heeled sandals, with his hair dyed in pink waves, resembling the real-life version of a 2D cartoon character beloved by second-layer otakus.


    The guards didn''t dare stop him for long, but they only gave limited time for the siblings to meet.


    Now, Li Xiaoyu was no different from a prisoner.


    When Li Xiaonian entered the inner courtyard, Li Xiaoyu was writing a letter. In the distance, one could see a pale yellow envelope.


    Seeing this, Li Xiaonian spoke softly:


    "Sister, I''ve come to see you."


    Li Xiaoyu''s body shook slightly, she stopped writing, turned her head, and looked at Li Xiaonian with wide eyes.


    ...


    ...


    Ever since she was old enough to understand, Li Xiaoyu had always been wary of Li Xiaonian.


    Because her father wasn''t satisfied with having a daughter, that''s why he had a son.


    Such thinking made her, as the older sister, never care about her younger brother.


    Lately, whether it was academics or in other aspects of life, Li Xiaonian performed extremely poorly, absurdly, even worse than an ordinary person.


    Li Xiaoyu grew even more disgusted, as if she had been full of vigor, ready to defeat a predestined opponent, only to have him give up outright.


    She hated her brother.

 Chapter 2 An Important Day for Li Xiaoyu (Part 2)_3

    It wasn''t until that day when she went shopping for clothes with Tang Xian that she saw Li Xiaonian.Tang Xian mentioned a possibility she had never considered before.


    Li Xiaoyu instinctively rejected such an idea.


    But whenever she reflected on the past, she realized Xiaonian always looked at her with such a tender gaze.


    During the period when she was under house arrest, her older brother would always tell her to give up.


    But Li Xiaonian was different.


    She still remembered their conversation from a few days ago.


    "Sister, don''t be sad. I''ll make a funny face to cheer you up."


    "Childish. You need to grow up soon, and stop dressing as a woman."


    "I don''t want to. If I grow up, I''ll have to be as busy as our older brother. As for dressing as a woman, you can just think of me as your little sister."


    It was a somewhat shameful thing to say, but because of Tang Xian''s words, Li Xiaoyu didn''t get angry.


    "Sister, do you really like Tang Xian that much?"


    "Yes. I really like him."


    "I heard he was forced into the mining area. You must really want to see him, right?"


    "Have you not heard that he might be a monster who endangers this world?"


    "I''ve heard it, but I don''t believe it."


    "You don''t believe it?"


    "I definitely don''t believe it. Someone who can make my sister like him so much must be an outstanding person."


    Li Xiaonian''s face beamed with a brilliant smile as he said:


    "And, ever since meeting him, I''ve noticed that you''ve been treating me better! He must have said something nice about me, right? A person like that could never be a heartless monster."


    Li Xiaoyu was struck dumb at the moment.


    The feeling was as if she had suddenly found herself standing in a vast, untraversable wilderness, thinking she was alone, to suddenly discover a traveling companion.


    Throughout those days, Li Xiaoyu had also not shed a single tear.


    Yet, upon seeing Li Xiaonian''s bright and certain smile, she burst into tears in an instant.


    She hugged Xiaonian, continuously apologizing to him.


    Li Xiaonian was originally very happy, but when his sister started crying, his tears began to flow as well.


    Li Xiaoyu finally became certain of everything, just as Tang Xian had said.


    Many ridiculous things had respectable reasons behind them.


    Just like the story Tang Xian had told her earlier, about the handsome boy who disguised himself to cheer up a middle-aged woman.


    Li Xiaonian was like that boy, with a soul so tender it made you ache.


    Thinking about it all, Li Xiaoyu felt even more that she had not been a good sister.


    Li Xiaonian, wiping away his tears, said joyfully:


    "I believe in my judgment. Tang Xian must be human. Sister, you really want to see him, don''t you?"


    Li Xiaoyu nodded.


    "I''ll help you; you go see him!"


    "How will you help me?"


    "Just pretend to be me and you can leave. Take my ID card and the portable teleportation rifts. With these, you can go find Tang Xian. But you have to come back! If you take too long, they''ll find out."


    Li Xiaonian''s idea was simple, but upon reflection, Li Xiaoyu found it surprisingly feasible.


    They, the siblings, looked alike already, and if they swapped outfits, it really might be possible to walk out.


    So, after discussing the matter, they arranged the meeting that took place today.


    And when night fell today, it was the moment when the younger brother helped his sister escape her confinement.


    Li Xiaonian, watching his sister stop writing the letter and then continually looking at him, suddenly felt uneasy.


    But Li Xiaoyu was calm as usual; everything was normal. She placed the letter in the envelope and sealed it.


    Li Xiaonian then changed into another set of clothes, wearing the black gothic long dress that Li Xiaoyu used to wear frequently.


    Seeing his reflection in the mirror while wearing his sister''s clothes, he found he truly resembled her quite closely.


    Li Xiaoyu had also changed into the clothes Xiaonian had arrived in. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is a portable teleportation rift I stole from another courtyard, it belongs to Dong Ran. It will take you directly to the Forest Sea," Xiaonian handed the teleportation rift to Xiaoyu.


    "Sister, you must come back. Tang Xian might not be in the Forest Sea, and if you can''t find him there, you should return. The stronghold in the Forest Sea might have been exposed by now."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, and before she left, she hugged Li Xiaonian softly.


    "Xiaonian, thank you."


    Li Xiaonian was a bit at a loss.


    After a simple goodbye, Li Xiaoyu confidently walked out of her own confined courtyard.


    The lady-gangster outfit she wore, which was actually her own, combined with the cover of night, caused the guards to indeed fail at recognizing her.


    After leaving the Li residence, Xiaoyu did not head directly to the mining area.


    After the prohibition on using portable teleportation rifts, activating one would immediately trigger a location feedback.


    This meant her real-world location would be exposed.


    Li Xiaoyu, who had a brain second only to Tang Xian during her time at school, did not act recklessly.


    Right now, she needed an ally who could shield her presence in the real world.


    ...


    ...


    Li Xiaonian, somewhat bored, fiddled with his sister''s expensive cosmetics.


    Thinking about how to pass the evening, he decided to try writing, following his sister''s hobby, as his own interests were quite diverse, despite not excelling academically.


    Looking for paper and pen, he found an envelope lying on the desk, addressed to Li Xiaonian in person.


    Li Xiaonian found it peculiar. He had just been there, so why would his sister leave him a letter?


    That feeling of unease returned, and Xiaonian shook his head as if conjuring some thought.


    He hurried to open the letter, a lengthy missive, but upon reading the first line, his whole body suddenly froze, and the letter dropped to the floor.


    ¡ª Xiaonian, I''m sorry, I deceived you. The journey is too long, and it would take too long for him to come looking for me. I''m going to find him: return not without seeing.

 Chapter 3 Starting with an Island

    Li Xiaonian was in a daze for a long time before picking up the letter again and carefully reading each paragraph.It included many business details, how to manage, which employees could be trusted but not placed in high positions, and those who could be placed in high positions but not befriended. Then there were those who could neither be trusted nor given high positions, but had good reputations; it was necessary to maintain a superficial harmony with them.


    Li Xiaoyu had always been responsible for handling the various businesses of the Li family, though they were peripheral businesses. It was Li Zheng who handled the core affairs of the family.


    But the difficulty of managing these businesses was even greater than that of the family''s own.


    Only then did Li Xiaonian understand what his sister had experienced and borne over the years.


    In the envelope, there was also a strand of hair.


    This was also mentioned in the letter.


    "The identity of the Li family is too high-profile, and I could only choose this way to leave. From this day on, I no longer consider myself Miss Li."


    Li Xiaonian''s feelings were complex. He blamed himself for not observing carefully enough but also admired his sister''s courage.


    Because the man she liked was the enemy of this world, or at least that''s what the world believed.


    Not to let the Li family fall into disrepute, nor to compromise to such obstacles.


    So in the end, she made this decision.


    If he went to tell his father now, perhaps it would still be on time.


    But in the end, Li Xiaonian just sealed the envelope again. He placed it in the drawer, in the deepest compartment.


    The next morning.


    Li Zheng came early to visit Li Xiaoyu. No matter what, he was still very concerned about his sister.


    But upon entering the inner courtyard, he saw Li Xiaonian instead. Li Xiaonian had not slept all night. He looked very tired.


    "Why are you here?"


    Li Xiaonian didn''t speak.


    "Where''s your sister?"


    Li Zheng looked at the silent Li Xiaonian, at the black gothic dress he was wearing.


    He of course knew some of his brother''s quirks, but he also knew that Li Xiaonian would never deliberately dress very similar to Li Xiaoyu, because that would upset her.


    In an instant, Li Zheng thought of something and said disbelievingly,


    "She... ran away? Are you pretending to be her?"


    Li Xiaonian did not conceal it and just nodded.


    Li Zheng, infuriated, demanded, "Where did she go? The mining area?"


    "Perhaps... She didn''t say, only that she was going to find Tang Xian."


    Li Xiaonian didn''t know where his sister had gone.


    Li Zheng laughed angrily and exclaimed,


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    "Do you know how dangerous the mining area is? Do you know the forest sea is a red zone?"


    Li Xiaonian nodded and said,


    "I know."


    "You know? Then do you know, in the Pyramid, your sister is the revered Miss Li, but in the mining area, she is nothing!"


    Li Zheng turned to leave, but at that moment, Li Xiaonian raised his head and said,


    "This is my sister''s own choice. Maybe it''s only outside of the Pyramid that she truly feels like nothing."


    Li Zheng stopped and looked at Li Xiaonian in amazement.


    Li Xiaonian said,


    "Li Xiaoyu is my sister, your sister, and Father''s daughter. But now, she is no longer a part of the Li family. Brother, help me delay a few more days. In a few more days, with my sister''s intelligence, she''ll definitely find a way to ensure we can''t find her."


    "Do you realize what you''re saying?" Li Zheng stared at Li Xiaonian.


    "From today on, I will learn how to manage business. I will become someone Father can entrust with confidence. I''m certain I can fill the vacancy left by Sister in the shortest time possible.


    We''ve been taught from a young age what kind of people to be, to accept what plans. Just like you didn''t truly love your wife once, I can also accept marrying someone I don''t love in the future. But among the three of us siblings, shouldn''t at least one person... be able to live for themselves?"


    Li Xiaonian looked at Li Zheng earnestly, every word heartfelt.


    Li Zheng suddenly stiffened, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity with this younger brother, who was known for being indolent. It was as if overnight, the boy had become aware of the responsibility he had to bear for the Li family.


    Li Zheng lit a cigarette and squatted down in the yard, not minding the dirt.


    Li Xiaonian stood as before.


    "You''ve grown up. What you just said, that''s like a man of the Li family. But life isn''t about saying beautiful words alone."


    Li Zheng took a deep drag on his cigarette and said,


    "Father once said that only a father understands the helplessness of only being able to give his children the best, yet not what they desire. I don''t understand that helplessness, but I''m willing to believe his words. I want to give Xiaoyu the best. Maybe it''s not what she wants, but someday in the future, her life will not be too bad."


    "But Sister, she''s crazy! She''s different!"


    Li Zheng was stunned again.


    Li Xiaonian''s words, he could refute each one. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the final statement that she''s crazy, left him speechless.


    After a long time, when the cigarette had burned out, he finally came back to his senses, showing a helpless, bitter smile.


    Li Xiaonian watched Li Zheng anxiously.


    Li Zheng stood up, flicked off the ash from his cigarette, patted the dust off his trousers, and said,


    "Everyone loves in a different way. Someday I will become someone like Father, who just wants my family to be alive and well. Even if that well-being is at odds with spiritual satisfaction, it doesn''t matter. Because however beautiful the words, they''re meaningless if you''re dead."


    "So¡­ Big Brother, you''re still unwilling to let Sister go?"


    Li Zheng shook his head, his face full of helplessness. He even didn''t know why he hadn''t immediately gone to report to Li Wanye.

 Chapter 3 Starting with an Island_2

    "Remember, this is the only time. If Yu dies in the future, I''ll hate myself for the rest of my life, and the same goes for you."Li Xiaonian looked at Li Zheng in surprise, naturally understanding the underlying meaning of his words.


    However, although Li Zheng had agreed, he wasn''t as joyful as Li Xiaonian; he couldn''t muster any happiness.


    "You siblings are both crazy. Listen well, in three days, I''ll come to see you again, and then I''ll expose you. Be prepared to face severe punishment from father, and at the same time, prepare your defense."


    "What defense?"


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    "Prove to father that you can do better in the family business than your sister!"


    "I understand!"


    Li Zheng said, "That''s not all. I promised you, but it doesn''t mean I''m not worried about Yu''s life and death. I want her to live. So next, I''ll have someone release Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, but you''ll have to take the blame when the time comes."


    Li Xiaonian, confused and feeling wronged, asked:


    "Why me?"


    "If it wasn''t for you letting your sister go and convincing me, would I do such a foolish thing?" Li Zheng said irritably, looking at Li Xiaonian.


    "Well... it does make some sense!"


    "The matter of Tang Xian at the Forest Sea base has already been found out by father through the coordinates of Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran''s transfer fissure; it''s no longer a secret now. I guess your sister also anticipated this. She might not go to the Forest Sea. But sooner or later, she will. Before that, I need to find a way to dispatch away the patrol forces in the Forest Sea."


    Li Zheng looked at Li Xiaonian again, speaking further.


    Once bitten, twice shy, the younger brother immediately took the initiative and said:


    "I understand, that''s also on me."


    "Good that you understand."


    Li Xiaonian realized he still wasn''t on par with his older brother, who thought of every aspect more meticulously once he decided to do something.


    For instance, he had neglected that the Forest Sea had already been occupied by the Li family, yet he still gave his sister Dong Ran''s transfer fissure coordinates.


    Li Zheng continued:


    "Akasi and Tang Suoye, only when Yu is with them can I trust that she is safe, but both of them have disappeared. Considering that the Forest Sea is surrounded by the Li family''s people, they won''t show up. Once I withdraw the Li family''s forces and release Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran, Akasi and Tang Suoye should return to the Forest Sea."


    "Are they very powerful?"


    "Team mates chosen by the Eden devil-child, the two girls are probably cheerleaders, but Akasi and Tang Suoye, they are genuinely on a monstrous level."


    "Okay..."


    "Lastly, I previously leaked some information to your sister, she definitely won''t ignore it, portable transfer fissures are temporarily banned for everyone. Only a few people can use them, and even if they do, there will be a positioning feedback.


    She is human, will return every seven days, and she will definitely find someone to help with this trouble, but it might not be someone from Fortress Thirty-nine. The most likely ones who can do this..."


    Li Zheng vaguely thought of the Song Family, but since he wasn''t sure, he didn''t say it out loud.


    "Nevermind, Yu is not any dumber than the two of us, so I can''t be bothered to think about it, but I will reduce the visa inspection strength for entering and leaving the fortress in these few days."


    "I understand, I''ll take the fall!" Li Xiaonian was even more proactive this time.


    "Very good, you''re teachable."


    The two brothers then discussed many more details, the goal being to ensure that Li Xiaoyu had the lowest possible chance of encountering pursuit in the mining area, and to increase her chances of encountering the Shengtang team.


    After roughly ten minutes, the two had drawn up a rough plan.


    Li Zheng was ready to leave. Just as he was walking out, he turned back and scrutinized Li Xiaonian carefully, saying word by word:


    "The Li family has two sons and one daughter, not two daughters and one son. Remember that."


    "I remember... thank you, big brother."


    ...


    ...


    This major incident that began with the sudden disappearance of someone and shook the world was gradually subsiding.


    About three days later, in the evening, everyone in the Li family compound could feel Li Wanye''s unbearable wrath.


    Even from a distance, one could hear the lord''s roar of fury as he smashed his cup.


    The Li family''s servants didn''t know what had happened, only seeing the usually unambitious Third Young Master kneeling outside the lord''s study, stubbornly refusing to get up.


    And nobody dared to persuade him.


    In these three days, the outside world was finally slowly digesting the matter of the apocalypse creatures'' intrusion.


    But within the Li household, unrest began again.


    On the sixth day, the third son, who almost ruined his knees from kneeling, finally fainted and was taken to the hospital on the fourth floor. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The servants also heard some rumors.


    It turned out that the Third Young Master took advantage of his position and released some of the people who were still under interrogation.


    Using the lord''s authority to do so.


    Those who were released were not easily recaptured.


    That could have been overlooked, as those people, even though detained, were being well provided for in the Li household.


    The lord would naturally release them after a while anyway.


    But then the Third Young Master did more ludicrous things.


    For example, he relaxed the visa policy, which might bring some confusion between Fortress Thirty-nine and other fortresses.


    There were also some baseless rumors, such as the third son withdrawing some of the Li family''s forces from the mining area, recalling these troops for very absurd reasons, and sending them elsewhere.


    And that the third son wanted to compete with the eldest son and the second daughter for power. To take over the second daughter''s business.


    These rumors seemed like they were deliberately spread by someone. After a while, it was as if they were deliberately squashed. Nobody talked about them anymore.

 Chapter 3 Starting with an Island_3

    The master of the Li family seemed to age ten years overnight.People realized that the second young missus was nowhere to be seen, although it was rare for her to go out in the first place.


    Meanwhile, the formerly idle third son became increasingly diligent, as if possessed.


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, a place of the unknown.


    Tang Xian lay on the beach, listening to the faint sounds of the tide, sunbathing face-up with a satisfied expression.


    However, the posture he assumed was like that of a dead man. He was motionless, as if dead.


    Not far away in the underbrush, Tang Xiaojiu lay prone, anxiously watching Tang Xian.


    Seagulls circled overhead in the sky.


    Tang Xian adopted a spread-eagle sleeping pose.


    His eyes fixed on the seagulls, he silently counted the numbers in his mind.


    "45 now. It''ll be 46 soon!"


    "Eh, it jumped to 49 in an instant!"


    "I bet that at 52, it''ll definitely come down."


    The data in his eyes reflected the seagull''s current needs.


    [Eat the unidentified creature on the beach (51%)]


    [Probe the unidentified creature on the beach (44%)]


    [Other (5%)]


    Three seconds later, the massive seagull could no longer resist. After circling three times, the need to eat the unidentified creature on the beach rose to 52%.


    Changing its flight direction, it dived like an arrow toward Tang Xian.


    In the moment the seagull was about to succeed, S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian shouted, "Now!"


    The seagull halted abruptly. Such a bird typically moves in flocks, but for some reason, its companions had vanished one by one these days.


    Faintly, it sensed danger!


    It immediately tried to change direction and ascend.


    But then, it saw a blast of fox fire heading its way.


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    The brief bird life came to an abrupt end.


    Tang Xian, frowning at the bird smoking from being scorched, said,


    "Xiaojiu, next time you need to hold back a bit, that fire was too strong. I''ve told you before, a high flame is suitable for stir-frying; ''grilling'' implies a slow cook, not meant for high heat."


    "But Tang Xian, if I make it any smaller, I can hardly spit it out," said the humanoid gas stove, Xiaojiu.


    "Would you rather eat a charred seagull or a fresh, juicy one that isn''t burnt?"


    "A fresh, juicy ''duck''!"


    "Then try to make your fox fire a bit gentler."


    Tang Xian looked at the seagull pityingly.


    If Tang Xiaojiu didn''t get a handle on her fire control soon, the sword-beaked gulls would all be burnt to a crisp.


    Not long ago, a flock of sword-beaked gulls had passed by. After days of eating vegetarian, Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu finally saw the chance for meat.


    But the birds could fly.


    Whether it was a calamity-level or an apocalypse-level event, the two of them, wingless, could only watch helplessly as the sword-beaked gulls flew away.


    Tang Xian collapsed in a fit of self-abandonment, but to his surprise, a sharp-eyed sword-beaked gull spotted him and took him for food.


    Sword-beaked gulls are elite-level creatures, and Tang Xian couldn''t subdue one barehanded; he might even be dragged into the sky.


    Thus, he devised the ploy with Tang Xiaojiu that had just unfolded.


    This bird species, the most sociable among all creatures in the mining area, would fly back to the island when they noticed a companion had fallen behind, searching for their missing member.


    Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu were touched to tears. As the saying goes, a token gift sent from afar conveys deep regards.


    But given Xiaojiu''s fiery blasts, after peeling off the outer charred layer and removing the innards, there wasn''t much meat left to eat.


    Tang Xian looked at the sky and calculated the time. It was the hour when monsters on the island became active.


    He stroked his chin, contemplating,


    "How about we don''t eat this bird and instead use it to bait something bigger?"


    "Can I have a bite first? Just one bite, and then I''ll give it back to you," Tang Xiaojiu pleaded, her eyes fixed on the sword-beaked gull, saliva dripping.


    Last time, Tang Xiaojiu had said the same thing. After mastering her fox transformation and relying on her large body, she gobbled down the whole seagull in one bite.


    Tang Xian watched, flabbergasted; duped by the little girl before, he was fooled yet again.


    Tang Xian shook his head and retorted, "Not even one bite is allowed."


    Tang Xiaojiu reluctantly nodded, her face the epitome of obedience to Tang Xian''s wishes, looking like nothing more than a pitiful child deprived of meat.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll have meat soon, guaranteed to taste better than bird meat," Tang Xian reassured with a chuckle, gazing towards the distant woods.

 Chapter 4 The Self-Cultivation of an Actor

    Finding a mountain cave where they could hide on an island where the territories were clearly divided, without any Redline Grass or protective measures, and with the little fox gravely injured had taken Tang Xian quite a bit of effort.The cave was located at the mouth of a tidal area.


    It was extremely comfortable to live in when the tide was out, although it was slightly damp. When the tide came in, it was uninhabitable as the sea would fill the cave entirely.


    Fortunately, the rise and fall of the tide were as inconsistent as Tang Xiaojiu''s concentration when Tang Xian was teaching her to read that morning, fluctuating over and over again.


    Of those ups and downs, two were because the words Tang Xian taught directly related to food.


    In any case, Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu mostly had a place to stay.


    During high tide, Tang Xian would take Tang Xiaojiu with him to wander around. Using the sense of taste in his breath, he avoided the wild animals on the island.


    When Tang Xian arrived on the island half a month ago, he happened to encounter a battle between two groups of beasts.


    The leaders of both sides were Catastrophe-level boss creatures.


    One group was the Golden Patterned Leopards and their leader, the Golden Armored Leopard. The other was the Hell Flame Wolves and their leader, the Great Tengu.


    The Golden Patterned Leopard is considered an evolved form of the Blood Roar Leopard, with the Golden Armored Leopard at the pinnacle of this species.


    The Hell Flame Wolf is an evolved form of the Cerberus, with the Great Tengu at the pinnacle of canines.


    Of course, dog meat is delicious, and leopard meat also stimulates saliva and fortifies the spleen. The problem is that the leaders of both groups are Catastrophe-level boss creatures.


    And both the Golden Patterned Leopard and the Hell Flame Wolf are perfect-level creatures.


    Tang Xiaojiu was injured, so Tang Xian had to restrain himself for the time being.


    The only thing Tang Xian was sure of now was that he was on the southern hemisphere of the mining zone world, on an island to the south of the farthest point humans had set foot on the southern continent, beyond which lay a vast sea.


    He was now on one of those islands.


    This place was unexplored by humans, and although Tang Xian knew about the creatures here, he had no idea exactly where he was.


    The reason he landed here via the portable transportation rift was that it was disrupted by the Judgment Knight before the transfer was complete.


    Those powerful rays were sucked into the transportation rift, and the intense energy fluctuations caused instability in the rift.


    Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu were thrown far away to a southern island, distant from the Rainforest.


    Starting with an island surrounded by the sea, the primary task for Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu was to survive.


    Of course, it had to be survival with meat.


    Only then would they think about how to leave the place.


    No one can imagine how many terrifying creatures there are in the mining zone''s ocean.


    If underwater photography existed in this world, the scenes from the waters of the mining zone would probably cause anyone with deep-sea phobia to faint instantly.


    In the deeper seas, the bigger the monsters that exist.


    To cross the sea and reach the other side of the world, Tang Xian could only wait for an opportunity, such as... a bird.


    But this island was not simple either; with two Catastrophe-level boss creatures, Tang Xian was also waiting for an opportunity to communicate with them.


    Mainly waiting for Tang Xiaojiu''s injuries to fully heal.


    The Judgment Knight''s strange rays indeed caused some trouble for Tang Xian.


    Tang Xiaojiu was ultimately a Calamity-level boss creature, still a young sprout, but her various attributes had already far surpassed humans and most perfect-level creatures.


    Yet the damage caused by these rays was healing very, very slowly.


    Tang Xian was certain that the attack power of these rays was not great, but they could remove or suppress the "life recovery" talent.


    When they first came to the island, the poor girl''s face was pale, and part of her body still showed signs of beastification, which really made Tang Xian feel a mix of distress, concern, and guilt.


    Fortunately, Tang Xiaojiu pulled through in the end. Her condition improved every day, and the influence of the Judgment Knight''s bizarre rays gradually faded. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she still couldn''t display the formidable combat strength she had in the past.


    It didn''t matter. Without Xiaojiu for hunting, Tang Xian could still protect both of them without any problem.


    ...


    ...


    After hunting a Sword-beaked Gull, Tang Xian took Tang Xiaojiu back to the tidal cave.


    Walking around the island with a bundle of aromatic roasted meat was very dangerous.


    So Tang Xian chose to return to the cave first to try and process it.


    To turn it into bait.


    Tang Xiaojiu was playing boredly on the side.


    "Tang Xian, how long do we have to stay here? I really miss Big Sis Suoye and Qiao, and also Ga Zhi and the fridge."


    "I don''t know, but as soon as the island''s natives figure out how to cross the sea, we might understand how to get back today."


    Tang Xian wrapped the well-done bird meat with leaves from the island''s King Fat Tree, making it like a cabbage roll.


    He then said,


    "Don''t you miss Akasi and Tang Suoye?"


    "Suoye eats more than me, I don''t miss her," Tang Xiaojiu replied righteously.


    "Qiao said that when I see other girls eating delicious food, I should also think about eating, and when I see other girls shopping, I should also go shopping. That''s how to live exquisitely!"


    Tang Xian chuckled and asked,


    "So what if you saw another girl who was delicate and cute, not picky with food, and good at studying?"


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    "I''d pretend I didn''t see her," said Tang Xiaojiu, covering her eyes.


    Tang Xian laughed heartily and said,


    "Let''s go fishing."


    "Will we have fish to eat?"


    "Not fish, leopard."


    "Does leopard meat taste good?"


    As soon as Tang Xian stepped out of the tidal cave, Tang Xiaojiu immediately followed.


    "In ''Other Records,'' it''s described as sour, neutral and non-toxic. ''Qianjin: Food Therapy'' also mentions sour, warm and non-toxic. ''Medical Forest Compilation'' is the simplest with two words: sweet, warm."

 Chapter 4 The Self-Cultivation of an Actor_2

    "I haven''t tasted it myself, and not many people in the history of human society have either. Whether the authors of these medicinal books have truly tasted it is also unknown, after all, in ancient times, the odds of eating a leopard or being eaten by one were even. But practically all records describe it as sour in taste and warm in nature. So I guess it''s probably similar to cat meat.""Cats are so cute, how can we eat them?" Tang Xiaojiu looked at Tang Xian, surprised.


    "If prepared well, it''s tastier than lamb," Tang Xian said.


    "Oh... then... then I''ve decided cats are not cute anymore." Tang Xiaojiu first shook her head, then nodded, and then shook her head again.


    Tang Xian tapped her little head and said:


    "You really are a silly and stupid child. Just let cats remain cute, I didn''t say we were going to eat cats, this time we''re going for dog meat."


    Tang Xian chatted with Tang Xiaojiu in this intermittent manner.


    Before long, they arrived at a dense forest in the middle of the island.


    This was a forest made up of Great King Fragrance Trees. These trees were tall, with large branches and leaves, somewhat similar to the coconut trees in the Human World.


    With a sense of smell stronger than even the Cerberus from Hell, Tang Xian cautiously avoided these beasts and stealthily moved through the undergrowth like an unwelcome guest in the bushes.


    It wasn''t until he reached this place that he stopped and began to observe carefully.


    He surveyed back and forth between two trees for a long time and also took a while to match the scents.


    He was certain this was the boundary line between the two species on the island.


    Since arriving on the island, although Tang Xian hadn''t hunted the island''s leopards and wolves, he constantly observed their habits.


    Approximately every five days, the two clans would fight near here, starting at dusk.


    Tang Xian deduced that these creatures would become active around the afternoon.


    He and Tang Xiaojiu had arrived early. Moreover, today wasn''t the day of conflict between the two clans.


    Based on the understanding of the two creatures and the reasons behind animal fights, Tang Xian was convinced it was probably a territorial war.


    The bloodbath between the two clans would take place tomorrow, and by all rights, they should be preparing today.


    However, Tang Xian''s reason for taking action today was not this.


    It was because only today did Tang Xiaojiu''s current luck value show as superbly auspicious.


    Prior to this, it had always been slightly ominous.


    Tang Xian couldn''t see his own attribute panel and could only speculate through Tang Xiaojiu.


    After all, the two of them were now reliant on each other for survival, and their luck should be similar.


    This island''s battle, to put it plainly, was a fight between feline and canine animals, a cat and dog dispute.


    Dog meat naturally tasted better than cat meat, so Tang Xian was not going to side with the Great Tengu or the Hell Flame Wolf.


    After all, their degenerate form was the Cerberus from Hell, which was top-notch in deliciousness.


    It was just that Tang Xian was convinced that he had uniquely good luck in some aspects.


    So he chose to kill the leopard first.


    After confirming that the Great King Fragrance Tree on the right was the Golden Patterned Leopard''s territory, and the one on the left belonged to the Hell Flame Wolf,


    Tang Xian scattered the leaves of the Fragrance Tree and took out the bird meat hidden within.


    He tossed it into the territory of the Golden Patterned Leopard.


    He and Tang Xiaojiu then hid in the bushes not far away.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s presence, as one of the top creatures in this world, was the biggest amulet for Tang Xian and herself.


    Although Tang Xiaojiu was currently weak, first due to her youth and second due to her injuries, having her by his side meant that as long as they kept a low profile, many creatures, even if they discovered them, wouldn''t actively provoke them.


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    "The Hell Flame Wolf''s sense of smell is about three times that of the Golden Patterned Leopard, while the leopard''s speed is faster than the wolf''s. They will catch the scent of seagulls one after another. The Hell Flame Wolf should cross into the leopard''s territory, which will inevitably lead to an early fight between the two animals," Tang Xian said.


    "This is so complicated, what should I do?" Tang Xiaojiu asked.


    "Just like before, at the moment they are entangled and inseparable, unleash your fire to the fullest and burn them to death."


    "What if they get scorched?"


    "That''s not our concern."


    "Then what is?"


    "We should worry about whether we will attract a group of Hell Flame Wolves and Golden Patterned Leopards. If too many come, then our offering of bird meat would have been in vain. But today, your luck is better than ever before, perhaps the heavens will bless us!"


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t understand, and Tang Xian didn''t explain further, just made a shushing gesture.


    Although both cats and dogs within a certain range would smell them, the predominant scent in their sniffles was still that of the savory bird meat.


    What relieved Tang Xian was that only one creature from each camp had arrived.


    Everything matched his expectations.


    The Hell Flame Wolf hesitated upon reaching the border, but unable to resist the incredibly fragrant bird meat - particularly since Tang Xian had added spices to it - its urge to eat grew stronger, and it crossed the boundary.


    Yet, from a great distance, the Golden Patterned Leopard charged toward the Hell Flame Wolf with the speed of lightning.


    The battle between cat and dog thus commenced.


    The wolf''s abilities mainly revolved around flames and had high resistance to fire.


    Qing JiuYu could easily melt the Hell Flame Wolf, but Tang Xiaojiu wasn''t capable of that just yet.


    Even if she hadn''t been injured, she couldn''t instantly kill a creature of the same flame type. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she could weaken it.


    Especially now, the attack of the Golden Patterned Leopard was very aggressive.


    The position of this leopard was interesting; it first blocked the Hell Flame Wolf''s retreat instead of attacking,


    Trapping it on one side of its own territory.

 Chapter 4 The Self-Cultivation of an Actor_3

    Tang Xian knew that the companion of the Golden Patterned Leopard was about to arrive.He just didn''t know whether the newcomer would be the one he was thinking of.


    The battle between the two perfect-level creatures began.


    Although they lacked the terrifying destructiveness of a cataclysmic-level creature, Tang Xian, as a frail human, still took extreme care to avoid being affected.


    After detecting another scent in his breath, Tang Xian''s eyes became instantly sharp. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xiaojiu also perked up, ready to spit foxfire.


    The Golden Patterned Leopard''s momentum in attacking was obviously stronger than that of the Hell Flame Wolf.


    However, in terms of various resistances, defensive power, and life regeneration speed, the Hell Flame Wolf significantly outperformed the Golden Patterned Leopard.


    It was like a high-health, high-defense fire warrior battling a high-speed, high-explosive glass-cannon assassin.


    In the instant that the two creatures clashed, Tang Xian said:


    "Attack!"


    Although Tang Xiaojiu was silly and gluttonous on regular days, through the practices of bird-catching these days, it didn''t drop the ball at the critical moment.


    A powerful purple foxfire burst forth.


    As the Golden Patterned Leopard''s claws dug into the body of the Hell Flame Wolf, both the cat and the dog turned their heads at the same time.


    Feeling the approach of an extreme high temperature.


    They only saw purple flames in their vision, and far away, a tall man holding a little girl''s hand.


    The Golden Patterned Leopard died instantly.


    Tang Xian didn''t even have to look because the notification of ''Golden Patterned Leopard damage +1'' appeared in his sea of consciousness.


    However, no skill dropped.


    He felt somewhat regretful. Even a skill to climb trees would have been fine.


    Too stingy.


    The Hell Flame Wolf was also at its last gasp, staring at Tang Xian with wide eyes.


    It''s worth mentioning that although the Hell Flame Wolf was an evolved breed of the hellhound, it had transformed from a boss unit to a common one.


    Even though its strength had increased, it did not have the ability to communicate with Tang Xian.


    This was also the reason why Tang Xian found it troublesome.


    There were many creatures on this island, but only two could communicate through speech.


    One was the Golden Armored Leopard and the other was a Tengu.


    Seeing that the Hell Flame Wolf was not dead, Tang Xiaojiu went to deliver another blast of foxfire but was stopped by Tang Xian.


    "Don''t speak now, and if someone asks you anything, just nod your head. Got it?"


    Although Tang Xiaojiu didn''t understand what Tang Xian was going to do, it obediently nodded its head.


    "Good."


    Tang Xian took out a kitchen knife and approached the Hell Flame Wolf.


    The Hell Flame Wolf wasn''t dead, and a dying counterattack could be terrible, but Tang Xian didn''t care; he was confident that with his current health, the Hell Flame Wolf couldn''t easily kill him.


    This weak posture was just to increase his resistances.


    But what he wanted was not resistance.


    He stood between the Hell Flame Wolf and the Golden Patterned Leopard, holding up the kitchen knife as if he were a warrior who had tried to save the Golden Patterned Leopard but failed.


    Some things become very familiar once experienced.


    For instance, the first accidental killing of a three-tailed fox brought about a calamity-grade nine-tailed fox.


    After the second killing of the Nvwa Snake, it attracted a cataclysmic-level White Scaled Snake.


    The second time was much smoother for Tang Xian compared to the first.


    Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is mastering the art.


    This time, Tang Xian didn''t even need to explain why he killed the Golden Patterned Leopard.


    Because he was playing the part of a hero who tried to save the Golden Patterned Leopard but couldn''t succeed.


    Feeling the scent in his breath getting closer, Tang Xian thought to himself:


    History is always strikingly similar. Did he possess some kind of setting that ensured a 100% chance to spawn a boss after killing a minor monster?


    The figure of the Golden Armored Leopard appeared.


    Tang Xian''s expression immediately became complex.


    His eyes conveyed anger, within which were traces of sorrow, and overlaid with a sense of regret and reminiscence.


    When the Golden Armored Leopard saw that Tang Xian was actually a humanoid creature, it slowly began to change.


    Her body suddenly became petite, but that''s only when compared to her beast form.


    Compared to humans, she would be considered very tall.


    Some of her leopard print clothing might excite men, and leopard print intimates were traditionally used only in special circumstances.


    However, the leopard print clothing that covered only the indescribable parts did not make the famously renowned Leopard Queen of the southern islands appear vulgar.


    She had a charm completely different from both Qing JiuYu''s enchantment and Bai Mansheng''s coldness.


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    What Tang Xian saw was a woman of great tension and wild beauty, especially her wheat-colored skin, which had the beauty of an ancient Australian woman.


    "Who are you? Who killed my subjects!"


    This time, Tang Xian did not introduce himself with a smile. An actor''s self-discipline is shown by not stopping acting until the affection level reaches a joyous meeting.

 Chapter 5 Teasing the Cat

    For answers that were too obvious, Tang Xian generally didn''t bother to respond. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.But it seemed that the leopard queen might be even denser than Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng. Tang Xian said,


    "I''m just a traveler passing by accidentally. If your kin is the adorable little cat behind me, then I must tell you, this Hell Flame Wolf is utterly ruthless¡ªjust to eat bird meat, it heartlessly killed a cute little kitty."


    Tang Xiaojiu''s mouth hung open.


    Thinking, Tang Xian, why are you so adept at this?


    However, the leopard queen did not believe him easily. She said,


    "Ailsa is one of the strong within our tribe, how could the flames of a Hell Flame Wolf easily kill it? If that were the case, why would our leopard tribe still be fighting with the wolf tribe?"


    Tang Xian was taken aback; this little cat woman was not silly after all.


    He glanced at the leopard queen, and in that moment, her profile flashed before his eyes.


    Gender: Female.


    Alignment value: 53.


    Greed and lust index: 34.


    Favorability: 1 (Strangers).


    Financial evaluation: 31 (Small savings).


    Liked things: Dog meat.


    Disliked things: Hell Flame Wolf.


    Fears: Sea God.


    Current honesty level: 45 (Down-to-earth).


    Charm value: 81 (Stunning beauty).


    Current luck value: 25 (Needs caution).


    Current needs analysis:


    [Investigate clan member''s cause of death (41%)]


    [Test the man before her (35%)]


    [Prepare for the Sea God festival (19%)]


    [Other (5%)]


    Tang Xian wasn''t flustered. Looking at the likes and dislikes, the relationship between the cat and dog tribes was already very hostile.


    Each was all too eager to devour the flesh and drink the blood of the other.


    With this level of relation in place, everything else should be negotiable.


    The leopard queen spoke again, saying,


    "Where do you both come from? I''ve never seen you on this island!"


    "We came from somewhere else, just passing this island by chance," Tang Xian casually said.


    The leopard queen paused.


    Swam over?


    She shook her head, then angrily said,


    "Do you know what waters this is? It''s impossible for anything from the shore to swim across these waters!"


    The hidden implication in her words made Tang Xian frown.


    Impossible for anything from the shore to swim across?


    What does that mean?


    Is there something special about these waters?


    Tang Xian said,


    "If you can''t trust us, why don''t we kill this Hell Flame Wolf first? Then you can take us back for questioning?"


    "Staying here wastes time, and its scent could travel to more distant places. Those detestable wolf tribe members have sharp noses. If reinforcements arrive, it wouldn''t be good for any of us."


    Tang Xian paused, then added,


    "As for how my sister and I got here, I can explain that to you in front of your tribe. I have no ill intentions."


    After finishing, Tang Xian raised his hands, adopting a position indicative of his willingness to be dealt with.


    This time, the leopard queen did not refute. She scrutinized Tang Xian more carefully, faintly sensing a powerful presence.


    It was like the natural misjudgment Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng had towards Tang Xian.


    The leopard queen was actually quite hot-tempered. The fact that she restrained herself from attacking immediately was already quite controlled.


    Tang Xian clearly noticed this too.


    Facing bosses capable of taking on human forms for the third time, Tang Xian had summarized some patterns.


    Regardless of whether they were cunning or honest, seductive or aloof, these boss creatures generally had high alignment values.


    Such an alignment value, if placed in the human faction, would essentially be at Jiang Ming''s level.


    But this level of alignment value referred only to their own kind. When it came to other species, they could still be ruthless and kill without hesitation.


    It''s probably just like the ''good people'' in the human world, who wouldn''t have any psychological barriers when killing mining area creatures or some small animals.


    Tang Xian himself was the same; he felt no guilt for killing the Golden Patterned Leopard.


    Just as a butcher doesn''t reason with pigs.


    As an outsider, Tang Xian did not expect highly aligned bosses to be friendly towards him.


    But one thing was common: the higher a person''s alignment value, the more reasonable they are.


    So Tang Xian''s choice was to yield to the other party.


    There was another thing Tang Xian observed¡ªthat was clothing.


    This clothing was clearly also an illusion created by Soul Crystals.


    Clothing also revealed the true nature of the bosses. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qing JiuYu was dressed in red palace attire, seductively gorgeous, fiery with passion.


    Bai Mansheng, on the other hand, was in a pure white dress, cool and detached from the world.


    As for this little cat woman, she looked like a seasoned forest dweller, a woman hunter who had lived there for a long time.


    This kind of attire, in certain scenes of the human world, was very enticing. But to Tang Xian, it signified wildness, dominance, and straightforwardness.


    "Oh, by the way, my name is Tang Xian, and this is my sister Tang Xiaojiu."


    "Jin Lu."


    Indeed, both gold and dew. Tang Xian nodded in acknowledgment.


    The next second, Jin Lu''s claws swept through the air. Tang Xian only felt a gust of wind pass by, without even seeing her move.


    A disaster-class boss facing a weakened perfect-class creature¡ªthe outcome of this battle was inevitable.


    The Hell Flame Wolf didn''t even get a chance to struggle before the light in its eyes completely dimmed.


    "You''d better not play any tricks."


    "Of course not, I''m very friendly. By the way, what should we do with this poor little cat, and this despicable little dog?"


    Tang Xian, who was hoping to eat dog meat, certainly wouldn''t let go of this enormous Hell Flame Wolf.


    Jin Lu did not speak. She instantly reverted to her Golden Armored Leopard form.


    She picked up her tribesmate''s body, shook her neck, and the charred Golden Patterned Leopard fell onto her broad back.


    Then she grabbed the Hell Flame Wolf in her mouth.


    [Follow me, and don''t even think about running away.]


    The voice of Jin Lu echoed in his mind.

 Chapter 5 Teasing the Cat_2

    Apart from a terrifying creature like Lei Xiao, very few other land animals could outrun a Golden Armored Leopard in terms of speed.Tang Xian had never even thought of running away and nodded, saying:


    "You''ll have to go slower, my sister and I are afraid we won''t be able to keep up with you."


    A man, a leopard, and a fox began to move forward.


    Even with a huge beast in its mouth, the leopard deliberately slowed down. For Tang Xian, keeping up meant jogging the entire way.


    The Golden Armored Leopard''s enormous size in no way hindered its speed. At times it even seemed to move with a lightness that defied the laws of physics.


    Moving along the path nearly soundlessly, it was just like an assassin who had perfected their qinggong to the extreme.


    The party traveled for about ten minutes or so.


    Only then did Tang Xian see a place that looked like ancient ruins.


    Many caves, just like the buildings mentioned in the Human World affiliated with the Mayan Civilization.


    Most of these buildings were square and stood tall, with the outer engravings being extremely old symbols and designs. They were covered in various plants, but for the Golden Patterned Leopards, they were the most suitable living spaces.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that he must bluster his way into staying here, as it would be much more comfortable than living in a damp cave.


    From a distance, he saw several steles with inscriptions on them!


    This could definitely not be the work of these cats and dogs.


    Nearly a hundred Golden Patterned Leopards, either walking or lying down, surrounded these ruins.


    When Jin Lu entered carrying the corpse of a Golden Patterned Leopard and dragging a Hell Flame Wolf, all the Golden Patterned Leopards let out strange howls.


    Tang Xiaojiu, a little scared, clutched at Tang Xian''s trouser leg.


    Tang Xian looked around and saw no significant problems.


    Most of the Golden Patterned Leopards'' feelings towards him fluctuated between -5 and 5.


    A Golden Patterned Leopard leaped over Jin Lu''s back and took away the charred remains of its companion.


    Jin Lu once again transformed into a smaller figure, taking human form.


    She made unintelligible notes with her mouth. Upon hearing these sounds, the surrounding Golden Patterned Leopards stood their tails straight up, becoming alert.


    They were no longer lazily wandering or lying down, but each returned to their posts, some hiding among the branches of the King Fragrance Trees, watching the distance.


    Tang Xian could tell from the current demands that Jin Lu had issued a command for martial law.


    Without speaking, he watched quietly.


    The history of this island was clearly much longer than that of these cats and dogs.


    Jin Lu looked sorrowfully at her dead kin for a long time, then turned around and said:


    "Give me a reason not to kill you, outsider."


    "Well, first you need to give me a reason why you would."


    Tang Xian replied calmly.


    "Are you saying that the death of my kin has nothing to do with you?"


    "It does."


    Jin Lu then fixed her fierce gaze on Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian didn''t know exactly how these bosses evolved their ability to transform, but they all looked quite attractive in human form.


    Even angry, they looked good.


    He spoke sorrowfully:


    "I did not act in time to save it, leading to its tragic death in the flames of the Hell Flame Wolf, so naturally, it has something to do with me."


    Jin Lu said:


    "A Hell Flame Wolf can''t kill Ailsa!"


    "Do you know this Hell Flame Wolf then?"


    "I don''t."


    "Well, that settles it. I''ve seen an evolved hellhound show the strength of a Hell Flame Wolf, along with some unique traits of the hellhound."


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "What I''m trying to say is, did you notice the burns on this Hell Flame Wolf''s body?"


    Jin Lu glanced over and indeed, the Hell Flame Wolf bore signs of having been scorched.


    "During the Hell Flame Wolf''s evolution into a Tengu, it undergoes the ordeal of Black Flame Consumption, which is why the Tengu is entirely black, hideous in appearance, and surrounded by troublesome flames."


    "In the process of evolution, the Hell Flame Wolf also temporarily gains some of the abilities of its evolved form. Therefore, it''s not surprising that it killed your kin, but your kin was also brave and injured it seriously. It''s just a pity that I was still one step too late."


    Tang Xian looked up and sighed deeply, filled with a sense of loss.


    "What you''re saying... is it true?"


    "Could this be false? However, Miss Jin, you should grieve appropriately. Ailsa was a warrior, a pride of the leopard tribe. It was because of Ailsa that you managed to kill a Hell Flame Wolf on the verge of evolving into a Tengu. You also spared your kin from a formidable enemy."


    Tang Xian timely shifted the topic to commemorating the brave.


    The straightforward Jin Lu did not question Tang Xian this time.


    She bent down to look at the dead Ailsa, spoke with sorrow and anger:


    "Tomorrow I will surely seek justice for you."


    Tang Xian saw the favorability increase to eight points.


    Although it was small, it indicated that everything was starting to move in a safe direction.


    He took out a cleaver, ready to cut up the meat of the Hell Flame Wolf. Tang Xian cut the stomach.


    Jin Lu asked,


    "What are you doing?"


    "I''m going to cut its meat to eat. Do you want some?"


    "I didn''t allow you to touch it!"


    Tang Xian felt it was time to take a firmer stance.


    "As the future Island Master of this island, you should know it''s first come, first served. Although I wasn''t able to save your clansman, I''ve made my attitude clear."


    "If you hadn''t come, this Hell Flame Wolf would have died by my hands. It was supposed to be mine, but now I just want to slice open its belly and take a bit of the meat from there. That''s not too much, is it?"


    Jin Lu didn''t speak.


    This time, Tang Xian''s gaze was more domineering; he thought to himself that since he could keep Qing JiuYu in check, it shouldn''t be that he couldn''t handle a little kitten in the South.


    He said,


    "Besides, if I really were your enemy, do you think you could have returned here safely?"


    Jin Lu was taken aback.


    The man''s aura had shifted in an instant, from gentle and amiable to suddenly profound and unfathomable.


    She nodded slightly; the sense of danger emanating from the depths of the Soul Crystal was enough to show that this man was very powerful.


    Powerful in a way that she couldn''t see through with a single glance.


    Tang Xian was very satisfied.


    He had a commanding presence, along with a certain hidden aura, which made his success rate soar when it came to pretending to be a boss.


    He then revealed a smile, as comforting as a spring breeze,


    "So relax, we could say that fate has brought us together. How about we become friends?"


    Jin Lu still regarded Tang Xian warily.


    When Tang Xian extended his hand, she didn''t respond.


    After a moment of confusion, Tang Xian understood and said,


    "This is a ritual among my people, shaking hands means you''re one of us, from now on sharing weal and woe, weathering storms together." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Really? What kind of creature are you?" Jin Lu asked, though she did extend her hand.


    However, her casual question made Tang Xian ponder for a moment.


    His eyes glazed over briefly.


    What species did he really belong to?


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    To answer the question and fool the kitten before him would be easy.


    He could concoct any species at all.


    But unlike when he was dealing with Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, Tang Xian had been convinced he was human.


    Now he still thought so, but wasn''t quite as certain.


    The Stele left by the Orderer on the eighth layer, describing the demon child of Eden, made Tang Xian begin to doubt his true identity.


    But there were also many doubts.


    If he really was a creature of the mining district, how could he have almost died there the first time he completed seven days in the mines?


    The most confusing thing for Tang Xian was that warning dream.


    In that dream, Tang Xian believed that the child held by the stone statue was the demon child of Eden.


    He felt more like an observer.


    This was an issue Tang Xian had been contemplating these days.


    After reaching the continent up north, he could return to the world of the Pyramid, but then, how would humans view him?


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian stopped thinking about it and said,


    "I am a Taotie, and this is my sister Tang Xiaojiu; yes, she is one as well."


    Tang Xiaojiu realized all these lies were for that piece of wolf meat.


    She accepted the change in her identity smoothly and nodded with all due seriousness.


    As they say, it''s best to start working on one''s acting skills from a young age.


    Tang Xian was comforted.


    When Jin Lu was very young and the sages of the Court of Thousand Beasts came here, she had heard of such creatures, but knew little about them.


    She was somewhat convinced by Tang Xian''s words and accepted his explanation.


    But she remained curious about how Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu arrived there.


    "How did you two get here? This sea is home to Lord Sea God. Once a creature from the shore enters the water, it quickly gets sucked into Lord Sea God''s esophagus by powerful currents. No matter how strong, in the sea, they are no match for it."


    Sea God?


    Tang Xian suddenly thought of the Sea Demon.


    Could this place be... the Ashen Sea mentioned on the Stele? That legendary place?


    Tang Xian remembered that Jin Lu''s most feared creature was this Sea God.


    There really was something unusual about this island. Could it be that these cats and dogs were not originally from this island either?


    Tang Xian asked,


    "What exactly is this Sea God?"

 Chapter 6 The Last Apocalyptic Creature

    Jin Lu''s wariness towards Tang Xian relaxed a bit, but since the two of them were still outsiders, she kept her eyes on Tang Xian without speaking.Seeing through Jin Lu''s thoughts, Tang Xian furrowed his brows and said,


    "I''ve told you, I''m not your enemy; I just want to leave this place peacefully. Without the aid of the giant birds, my only choice is to cross the sea. Indeed, I am an outsider, but on normal days, I do love cats the most. Right, Xiaojiu?"


    "That''s right, that''s right!" Tang Xiaojiu nodded vigorously.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "What exactly is the problem with this sea area? I just want to know this answer, and for this, I am willing to help you with some things."


    Jin Lu became somewhat interested and asked,


    "What things?"


    "For example, helping you take down the Great Tengu."


    "You have no grudge against him; why would you want to take him down?"


    "From the moment I knew how delicious dog meat was, I had made him my enemy."


    "Yeah, yeah, dog meat is so delicious!" Tang Xiaojiu was like the one in a comic dialogue who keeps the joke going.


    Jin Lu could accept this reason, but she had her doubts,


    "Although the Great Tengu and I are both of Purple tier, his strength is slightly stronger than mine. Do you really have the capability?"


    Tang Xian pointed to the corpse of the Hell Flame Wolf.


    "I have once cut open the bellies of the three-headed dog of hell and the Hell Flame Wolf, confirming that their stomach structures have not changed.


    That is to say, even if three heads were merged into one, in terms of the digestive system, canine creatures would not evolve further." Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "What does that prove?"


    "It proves that you can send me down its esophagus, and I can survive in its stomach."


    Jin Lu still didn''t understand; was this guy a fool? Did he like to eat dogs or to be eaten by them?


    Once in the stomach of the Great Tengu, how could one survive?


    The more powerful the creature, the stronger its stomach acid''s corrosive power was.


    A Calamity-level creature swallowing a Disaster-level being would need stomach acid capable of penetrating the skin of the Disaster-level creature. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was a monster known as the Stomach of the Devil, which resembled a bat, could fly in the sky, go under the earth, and dive under water. A perfect-level boss creature.


    But even Disaster-level creatures were unwilling to face it. Because the ability of this creature was to spew stomach acid.


    The stomach acid, once strengthened in its corrosiveness, could suppress the life regeneration of creatures from the mines.


    Jin Lu shook her head and said,


    "You want to enter its stomach to defeat it? This is your plan?"


    "Yes, just find a way to get me in, and I can kill it. Maybe even... tame it."


    "Delusional talk."


    "Why not give it a try? If I really die, I''m just an outsider anyway, you wouldn''t lose anything. All I''m asking for in exchange is some information."


    Jin Lu pondered carefully, and indeed it was so.


    This leopard queen was not the kind to dilly-dally, and Tang Xian could understand that.


    It was just that he and Jin Lu were not compatible. Trust would take some effort to build.


    It was like the two of them had a common enemy, but their affinity was only up to ten points.


    After pondering repeatedly, Jin Lu finally nodded and said,


    "I can tell you what I know. It''s not really a secret anyway; everyone in the islands knows about Lord Sea God. Tomorrow we are preparing for the Sea God festival."


    Tang Xian got to the point and asked,


    "Firstly, what exactly is the Sea God?"


    "No one has seen Lord Sea God''s true face."


    "How''s that possible?"


    "Some say Lord Sea God is a colossal squid, with hundreds of tentacles capable of extending throughout the deep sea, easily capable of tearing apart the islands.


    Others say Lord Sea God is a massive sea dragon, that can soar in the skies and sleep in the deep sea, and there are even rumors of an Undersea City at the sea bottom, said to be the sea dragon''s treasure trove."


    Tang Xian didn''t expect the descriptions of the Sea God to be so inconsistent.


    "I do hope it''s a dragon, I''ve been thinking about riding dragons."


    Suddenly, Tang Xian had the same thought as Qing JiuYu.


    Mainly because squids can''t fly, but dragons can.


    Jin Lu gave Tang Xian an angry look,


    "You must show respect to Lord Sea God!"


    Tang Xian fell silent but thought to himself that if it were truly a dragon, he definitely needed to ride it once to show the kitten girl.


    Jin Lu continued,


    "It''s not just that. On the islands further south, there are also rumors that Lord Sea God is actually a gigantic gemstone sperm whale. Its breath alone can cause tides that sweep across all the islands.


    The islands to the west also have different beliefs, thinking that Lord Sea God is a volcanic giant formed by numerous underwater volcanoes. When it rages, it can make the whole sea boil.


    There are also some scattered rumors that Lord Sea God could be a devilfish or shark, just on an abnormal scale. Immensely powerful. In the ocean, not to mention us Purple-tier beasts, even Orange-tier ones would undoubtedly die against them.


    In short... on this land surrounded by the sea, we are all survivors by the grace of Lord Sea God''s mercy."


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected the Sea God to have so many different forms.


    From Jin Lu''s tone, it appeared that the Sea God was the supreme existence within the islands.


    "How many islands are there around here?"


    "About over ninety. The island we are on is one of the smaller ones in the archipelago."


    "That exaggerated?"


    Tang Xian had observed the island; its size was already comparable to the no longer existing Red Earth Forest.


    Over ninety islands...


    Put together, even if the size of each island was standardized, it would probably be equivalent to half of the Southern Continent, right?

 Chapter 6 The Last Apocalyptic Creature_2

    He gazed out from the shore, unable to see any other islands.How vast was this sea area, then?


    Jin Lu said:


    "These islands are actually Lord Sea God''s territory. He can use his supreme power to change the positions of the islands."


    "Each year, for a month''s time, the creatures from each of our islands have to prepare for the Sea God Festival, which is when we provide food to Lord Sea God. During this month, we fight with the other strongest species on the island every few days."


    Tang Xian grew more and more convinced that this Sea God was the Sea Demon that people spoke of.


    The transition from demon to god also represented the attitude of the creatures in this region towards the Sea Demon.


    "What happens if we don''t prepare the food?" Tang Xian asked.


    "It would provoke Lord Sea God''s wrath. Whirlpools would appear in the ocean, and the entire island would be sucked in. There once was an island where an orange-tier creature resided. It was dissatisfied with being trapped here and didn''t want to sacrifice its people to Lord Sea God, so it refused the sacrifice."


    Fear surfaced in Jin Lu''s eyes.


    "That day, the entire sea was raging in anger. Lord Sea God didn''t even need to show himself¡ª the ocean itself was his weapon. With tremendous waves, he instantly devoured the entire island. Despite the orange-tier creature''s desperate struggles, how could it alone contend with the sea?"


    "The island perished, all creatures on the island were consumed by a massive vortex, and even the creatures on the other islands could feel the usually blue sea turn pitch black.


    It was as if countless indescribable gigantic creatures were lurking and rising from the ocean depths. Those creatures were the tyrants of the deep sea; once we fell into the water, it was as if we had invaded their territory. In the sea, nothing could stand against them."


    Tang Xian furrowed his brow.


    He still was not clear on what exactly this Sea Demon was.


    But the way the Sea Demon dealt with these creatures seemed familiar to him.


    The vast sea islands were like so many Pyramids.


    The difference was, humans acquired Soul Crystals to power the Pyramids.


    While the creatures of the islands were directly sacrificed to the Sea God.


    This process had also gradually developed a certain ritualistic aspect over the centuries.


    Like the Sea God Festival to appease the Sea God''s anger.


    But nobody wanted their own people to be the sacrifice, so in the sacrificial month, they would battle the other forces on the island every five days.


    Strength and honor would determine whether they could survive or not.


    The creatures that died were then, along with their bodies and crystals, turned into food for the Sea God.


    In a year''s time, the resource-rich islands were more than enough for the creatures on each island to thrive.


    The Sea God was farming them, but from a humanistic perspective, as long as the reproduction rate was higher than the sacrificial rate, the Sea God indeed was protecting them.


    Combining this with the text on the eighth Stele, Tang Xian had a speculation.


    This Sea Demon might be the last doomsday creature of this world.


    It must have been gravely injured by the Orderly, now recuperating. And after staying here for hundreds of long years, it also came up with the idea to obtain a steady supply of food by mimicking the Orderly''s way of dealing with humans.


    Building islands, introducing creatures, establishing food chains, shaping ecosystems, cultivating life, and ultimately consuming them.


    It was almost as if it considered itself a sort of Supreme God, playing a god-building simulation game.


    In this series of processes, it even used myths and creeds to glorify its own image, such a strong yet cunning creature.


    Tang Xian gave a wry smile. It was just like what the Pyramid did to humans. Even now, how many people regard the Pyramids as gifts from the gods?


    One day in the future, perhaps the Orderly of the Pyramids will tell humans that they need living people as sacrifices.


    And the attitude of the humans might very well be like that of Jin Lu and the Great Tengu: Though resistant internally, they ultimately comply with fear and gratitude.


    Tang Xian said:


    "How many of your people are lost each month of this year?"


    Jin Lu, not expecting Tang Xian to suddenly ask such a question, showed a sorrowful expression and said:


    "About twenty percent¡­"


    Tang Xian did some calculations. So many islands, with each providing about forty perfect-level creatures as food.


    All told, the Sea Demon''s annual food intake was a staggering number of thousands of perfect-level creatures, even including some calamity-level ones.


    Merely to recuperate at the bottom of the sea, it required such enormous energy.


    He was gradually beginning to understand how fearsome this creature was.


    "If the Great Tengu were to die, would this island then be under your control?"


    "Of course."


    "And then, would it be solely up to you to decide who would be sacrificed, rather than a struggle between your two species?"


    "Yes."


    "I have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"


    "Go ahead."


    "We kill the Great Tengu, and then I can use a special plant reagent that can erase the memories of these Hell Flame Wolves. You could then allot them a portion of the island to farm them."


    Jin Lu was puzzled:


    "Farm?"


    "Yes, let them breed peacefully. Then when the time comes for the festival, trick them into thinking they are returning to the embrace of the Sea God, so they go to their deaths willingly and joyfully. And your people can avoid being sacrificed."


    Tang Xian looked intently at Jin Lu, as if he could see through the fear and resistance deep in her heart:


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    "You don''t want your people to be sacrificed either, right? If you had the chance to flee this island, to get away from the Sea God, you would definitely take your people and leave, wouldn''t you?"


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 Chapter 6 The Last Apocalyptic Creature_3

    Jin Lu shook her head uneasily, not daring to acknowledge such blasphemous words against the Sea God.Tang Xian was sure he had voiced Jin Lu''s most desired thoughts.


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    But the creatures of the apocalypse were too powerful, so powerful that Jin Lu didn''t dare to resist.


    Moreover, it seemed that she had some objections to the way Tang Xian dealt with the Hell Flame Wolf.


    Tang Xian noticed and chuckled.


    "Do you think it''s cruel?"


    Jin Lu said:


    "Not really... It''s just that the method you''ve thought of, called ''domestication'', makes me uncomfortable."


    "Why uncomfortable? Do you feel like you and your people are being ''domesticated'' by the Sea God?"


    Jin Lu suddenly became angry, glaring at Tang Xian with wide eyes.


    But Tang Xian didn''t back down.


    He said:


    "I''m merely discussing business with you. I can erase the memories of these Hell Flame Wolves, I can also help you kill the Great Tengu, and make you the ruler of this island. As for domestication¡ª"


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Xiaojiu, knowing that the little girl was actually concerned about having killed the Golden Patterned Leopard and then blaming it on the wolves. Tang Xian believed it was time for Tang Xiaojiu to develop the awareness of a top predator.


    "In this world, we all have things we love, like our own kind. We even like many other living creatures across species.


    But for the things that keep us alive, we must have a few things we do not love and can treat without any compassion. Without these things, and if we choose to love everything like saints, we won''t be able to survive at the basic level."


    Just as humans preach boundless love for other humans but can arbitrarily domesticate creatures like chickens, ducks, fish, pigs, cows, and sheep.


    Some people even do the same to cats and dogs. In the ancient dog meat factories, sales were always substantial.


    Others, who love more things, become vegetarians. But there is always something they do not love and can treat as they wish.


    Carnivorous humans, omnivorous humans, vegetarian humans¡ªnone have any difference in terms of morality, ethics, or humanity. This is not hypocrisy.


    Tang Xian''s thoughts were even simpler, why domesticate Hell Flame Wolves? Because they''re delicious.


    He is an extreme being who, aside from humans, loves nothing. As long as it''s not human, doesn''t have a humanoid form, and is edible, it could be food.


    If it weren''t for his new identity as the demon child of Eden, Tang Xian believed his ancestors were probably unemotional Guangdong People.


    Jin Lu understood what Tang Xian meant. Yet she still found it difficult to accept such overly rational reasoning for a moment.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Domesticate them, and from now on your people will live safely on the island. Or give them a fair chance to compete with your people, subjecting your people to nearly twenty percent of families suffering from the loss of spouses and children year after year. The choice is yours."


    Respect for food is fine, but pity is not necessary. That was Tang Xian''s attitude.


    After much thought, Jin Lu had made her decision:


    "Why do you want to do all this for me?"


    Upon hearing the previous conversation, Tang Xiaojiu suddenly wondered, could it be that brother Tang Xian thinks cats are not as tasty as dogs? So he decided to raise dogs?


    If Tang Xian knew Tang Xiaojiu''s thoughts, he would be relieved that the simple-minded child was finally getting it.


    Of course, that''s the reason, but it''s not something that could be said outright. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My sister and I want to leave this island, but I might come back here in the future. By then, having a Tang''s Dog Meat Restaurant on the island would be a delightful thing," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Jin Lu did not quite understand, but said uncertainly:


    "Can you really do all those things you talked about?"


    "If all goes well, you''ll become the queen of this island by tomorrow."

 Chapter 7 May There Be No Tang Xian in Heaven

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    Jin Lu looked at Tang Xian so certain and decided not to say anything more.


    There was indeed a powerful aura about Tang Xian, difficult to discern its boundaries.


    She didn''t feel any malice, and thus, their cooperation was tentatively established.


    Tang Xian''s knife didn''t stop as he processed the dog meat.


    Soon, another bonfire was lit.


    He took out the remaining seasonings from his props bag, not too distressed to use them, as they were meant for eating, and frugality wouldn''t create more.


    He smeared the meat with a mix of black pepper, chili powder, salt and pepper, cumin, and a dipping sauce made with garlic and various seasonings, then applied the chili oil evenly onto the fatty wolf meat. The aroma quickly aroused Jin Lu''s appetite.


    This rich fragrance also made Tang Xiaojiu''s mouth water.


    A whole Hell Flame Wolf was laid out there, and Tang Xian said,


    "I don''t have much seasoning left, but we''ll have enough for tonight. You have sharp teeth and claws, so why not help me cut the wolf meat? Try to cut it as finely as possible, in chunk-sized pieces, and I''ll handle the cooking?"


    Jin Lu nodded, unable to resist the unprecedented rich aroma, and said,


    "I didn''t expect this meat could be eaten this way."


    Tang Xian couldn''t cut the meat into the tiny granules, then eat them skewered on sticks.


    Skewered eating like this is actually quite enjoyable; if you deliberately remove the skewers and place the food on dishes, it loses some fun. The real pleasure comes from eating from the top to the bottom of the skewer in one go.


    However, at the moment, Tang Xian really couldn''t do this.


    He had cutlery and forks in his props bag.


    When it was time to eat, he used a fork to cut the meat, and Tang Xiaojiu followed suit.


    Jin Lu was not as particular as the two of them, whether drinking water or eating meat, her posture was quite bold.


    Tang Xian noticed that his favorability finally reached seventeen points; with a little more effort, it would enter the range of twenty.


    From twenty to thirty points, they would hit it off as if they had known each other for a long time¡ªI imagine that would be a safe zone.


    He could still stay here tonight.


    He didn''t eat much, so he started looking at the surrounding steles.


    Tang Xian didn''t recognize the characters on these steles, so he asked,


    "Does every island have these steles?"


    "Some do, some don''t," Jin Lu answered, chewing on the meat.


    Tang Xian nodded and asked,


    "Do you know what is written on them?"


    "Not sure, but a long time ago, when I was a child, the wise men from the Beast Courts said these are ancient Eden words, recording the history of the world."


    The Beast Courts? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian felt something was off¡ªif the Beast Courts knew about this place, did it mean that this organization approved of Jin Lu and the others being bred by the Sea Demon?


    "Do you know the content of the stele texts?"


    "It seems like a prophecy¡ªabout the overlord of the seas waiting for its master."


    "The Sea God?"


    "How could Lord Sea God possibly have a master."


    Tang Xian didn''t speak. According to the Pyramid''s Stele description, if the Sea God was the Sea Demon, then it indeed had a master.


    That would be¡­ an ancestor of his own.


    Thinking this, he felt a bit out of his depth as the Eden progeny for not even being able to understand the Eden language.


    Tang Xian shook his head in self-mockery.


    Someone must be able to understand it, so he noted down every symbol. Although he couldn''t grasp their meanings, he could memorize their order forcibly and write them down later when he encountered creatures from Eden or ancient beings.


    So, Tang Xian used this rote memorization method to imprint all the characters from the stele into his mind.


    Jin Lu suddenly thought of something and asked,


    "How do you plan to leave this island? Even if you kill the Great Tengu, you can''t leave."


    "I don''t expect to leave right away; we''ll take it one step at a time. You mentioned before, right, that these islands can move?"


    "Yes. Sometimes, we can even see other islands, the distance between them unprecedentedly short, as if they are about to join together."


    Tang Xian considered for a moment¡ªif that was the case, the closest description to the Sea God would be the squid with hundreds of deep-sea tentacles.


    It lifted large islands with some of those tentacles.


    In any case, according to Jin Lu''s description, no matter which form, the Sea God is enormous, without any doubt.


    In human legends, the ocean is just a swimming pool for the Sea Demon.


    Tang Xian stopped pondering and asked,


    "Can my sister and I find a cave to stay at your place tonight when the tide comes in?"


    "Will there be meat like this at night?"


    "Of course."


    "No problem. Actually, even if there''s no meat, it''s fine. If you really help me defeat the wolf pack tomorrow, you''ll be my friend forever."


    Tang Xian smiled and said nothing.


    It wasn''t long before Jin Lu took Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu to a dwelling place amid the structures reminiscent of Mayan ruins.


    Tang Xian eventually chose a cave.


    He didn''t ask for more and lay down quietly to rest with eyes closed.


    Tang Xiaojiu occasionally asked some naive questions.


    "Tang Xian, are we trapped here? I understand now that there''s a big monster under the sea, preventing us from leaving."


    Tang Xian replied,


    "That''s the situation for now, but that big monster might not be our enemy."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I can''t say for sure, but I will take you out of here, and we will go back to our Treehouse. Trust me, it won''t be too long."


    Tang Xiaojiu nodded.


    Tang Xian wasn''t just comforting a child.


    ```

 Chapter 7 May There Be No Tang Xian_2

    Whether it was the seven-day rule that led to his expulsion from the mining world, or being expelled by the Judgment Knights in the Pyramid, both worlds rejected him, but in the end, there was this little girl who helped him.Although he was very curious about this sea area and its underwater creatures, Tang Xian still planned to return to the Forest Sea as soon as possible.


    He also wanted to know how Li Xiaoyu and Akasi were doing now.


    He thought of Bai the little white snake and the enchanting fox spirit who had run out of cosmetics and stories; they had both come looking for him, too.


    Tang Xian took out his smartphone. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the mining area, it was of no use, but back in the Human World, his phone was probably blown up with notifications, right?


    By now, humans must have started their offensive on the Yuepela Plains, and the battle was bound to be fierce.


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    Tang Xian woke up early, then watched Jin Lu make pre-battle arrangements for the Golden Patterned Leopards. He offered no advice.


    After getting sorted out, the afternoon arrived, and Jin Lu appeared in front of Tang Xian''s stone cave.


    She had already transformed into her beast form, the massive frame of the Golden Armored Leopard now covering the entrance of the cave.


    [Come with me, the battle is about to begin.]


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Let''s go."


    Tang Xiaojiu pricked up her ears and said,


    "I want to go too."


    "You stay here. Don''t go anywhere until I return," Tang Xian said.


    "But I can protect you, Tang Xian," Tang Xiaojiu said, sounding reluctant.


    "This battle is special, just wait here for me."


    Tang Xiaojiu pouted, unwillingly looking at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian bent down, rubbed Xiaojiu''s head, and tweaked her little nose, saying,


    "Your injury hasn''t healed yet. Don''t worry, I''ll bring you roasted dog meat when I come back."


    In terms of combat, the nine-tailed fox spirit didn''t lose to the Golden Armored Leopard or the great Tengu. But Xiaojiu''s powers were mostly related to flames.


    Tang Xian didn''t want Tang Xiaojiu to be exposed.


    After settling Xiaojiu, the urging voice of the Golden Armored Leopard rang in Tang Xian''s sea of consciousness.


    [Come on, ride on my back.]


    Upon hearing he could ride Jin Lu, Tang Xian cheered up.


    The first time was like this, it was quite tense and exciting, but after mounting, he found the back was hard and not at all like the soft, comfortable, smooth ride he had imagined. Soon he lost interest.


    Just as its name suggested, the Golden Armored Leopard''s skin was rough and its flesh thick like armor, almost insensible to the slight weight of Tang Xian, a human being.


    After mounting, Tang Xian felt the solid armor and said,


    "I''m on."


    "Don''t move around too much up there. I am very fast," Jin Lu warned.


    "Alright, I''m ready."


    Tang Xian tightly grabbed onto the fur that was as stiff as iron wires.


    As his words fell, they suddenly rushed forward so fiercely that the air gushed into his nostrils, nearly suffocating him.


    Everything before his eyes flew backward. Tang Xian held on to the Golden Armored Leopard desperately, feeling like at any moment he might fly off as if he were on a drop tower or a roller coaster that suddenly accelerated during a steep dive.


    In just a couple of minutes, the Golden Armored Leopard had brought Tang Xian to the battlefield.


    The Sea God''s ritual had already begun.


    The so-called ritual was just a beautiful disguise for cruel slaughter.


    On a certain beach where the wolf tribe and the leopard tribe''s territories met, the scent of blood had already reached Tang Xian''s nose.


    There was no stench of rotting flesh yet in his olfactory feedback.


    But the battle between the two sides was already taking a brutal turn. Many Hell Flame Wolves and Golden Patterned Leopards were injured.


    The terrifying flames raised the temperature of the entire island.


    [The great Tengu is covered in black flames on the outside, and every time I attack it, I get hurt. You better transform; otherwise, getting close to it will burn you alive.]


    Tang Xian knew Jin Lu meant well but still found an excuse to refuse,


    "Once I transform, my size will be too large, and it won''t be able to swallow me."


    The howls of wolves and the roars of leopards reached him.


    Tang Xian crouched down and from a distance, he saw the colossal black hound encased in black flames amidst the pack of wolves.


    This was the catastrophic, boss-level creature, the pinnacle form of canine creatures.


    It was about twice the size of the transformed Jin Lu.


    The black flames clung to it like a layer of fur.


    Even its eyes flashed with black firelight.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You''ll have to risk getting hurt to get me close to the great Tengu. When it opens its mouth to try to devour you, I''ll take the opportunity to dive in."


    [Fine! But you better make sure you survive!] Jin Lu''s leopard''s eyes showed rage and madness. This was a gamble for her too.


    Tang Xian felt the scenery before him recede even faster.


    Although there were many Hell Flame Wolves obstructing the way, they were flung behind in an instant.


    The great Tengu let out a terrifying howl. The black flames surrounding it suddenly surged heavenward and earthward, attacking everything in sight.


    The monstrous beast, once in the far distance, now seemed to be right in front of them as Jin Lu charged forward at breakneck speed.


    The black flames had a strong burning ability, but Jin Lu, enduring the black flames, charged straight at the great Tengu.


    The great Tengu was pleased.


    [Foolish leopard! You dare to withstand my Sun Flames!]>


    In close combat, the great Tengu was no match for Jin Lu, but if Jin Lu got scalded by the black flames, she would surely be greatly weakened.


    The confrontations between apex creatures could end in an instant. It was all about calculation.


    The great Tengu didn''t retreat but instead opened its gaping maw wide, preparing to devour the Golden Armored Leopard.


    Seizing the opportunity, Tang Xian put on the ultimate gloves and used the abilities of ''S004'' to project a claw hook through a precise throw.

 Chapter 7 May There Be No Tang Xian_3

    The claw firmly wrapped around the teeth of the Tengu, and Tang Xian''s body instantly swung over."What are you? I''ll crush you!"


    The fierce voice of the Tengu echoed in the sea of Tang Xian''s consciousness.


    Tang Xian knew it was time to test his mathematical skills; he had to calculate the point where the Tengu''s teeth would crush him!


    And before that, he had to rapidly execute the snake move, using explosive force to shoot into the Tengu''s mouth.


    The black flames severely injured Jin Lu, who let out a painful roar.


    In her eyes, the insignificant human was running towards the enormous gaping mouth of a dog!


    "No matter what you are, die!"


    The feedback from the Soul Crystal made the Tengu slightly uneasy.


    Tang Xian had an unknown yet powerful aura.


    But the Tengu did not believe there was any creature in the world it couldn''t crush, especially once inside its stomach, which ensured certain death.


    Yet, as the massive biting force targeted Tang Xian, he burst out with astonishing speed.


    His entire body shot through like a bullet, thunderously piercing into the Tengu''s mouth.


    "I''m like non-recyclable trash, ready for indigestion?


    "This damn halitosis is even more uncomfortable than your black flames."


    Complaining, Tang Xian finally entered the Tengu''s mouth, with much relief and no harm.


    He dared not delay and, before it could chew with its rolling tongue, he traveled up the throat and along the esophagus headed north!


    The Tengu didn''t see what happened in that instant.


    It looked at Jin Lu provocatively.


    This time, Jin Lu''s foolish actions left her vulnerable to the black flame.


    There was already a slight difference in strength between them, and they were not evenly matched.


    Now the gap had grown even larger.


    Its haughty stance seemed to declare itself the victor.


    But the Queen of the Golden Patterned Leopards, with her exceptional dynamic vision, saw clearly what had just happened.


    In a defensive stance, she watched intently ahead, waiting with patience yet anxiety.


    ...


    ...


    Seemingly sensing an intrusion, these catastrophic creatures all had the ability to secrete stomach acid quickly.


    In the Tengu''s vast stomach, despite the presence of plenty of the Golden Patterned Leopard''s flesh and blood, only when Tang Xian entered did the secretion of gastric juices become fierce.


    Before long, Tang Xian''s shoulders and knees were soaked with stomach acid.


    The corrosiveness of this catastrophic boss creature was even stronger than that of the Nvwa Snake.


    Warnings kept coming from the sea of his consciousness.


    A one-time deduction of eleven percent of maximum health.


    Tang Xian felt like he was in a leaky straw hut on a rainy day, with stomach acid continually dripping onto him.


    There were a few times when the intense corrosion almost knocked him unconscious.


    But his terrifying recovery ability allowed him to bounce back to a robust state every time.


    After such a long ordeal, Tang Xian''s will was greatly tested.


    He couldn''t merely train his resistance and damage as he had inside the Nvwa Snake''s stomach; he had to ensure he wasn''t hit by too much gastric juice at once.


    Finally, as his resistance grew higher, Tang Xian felt the pain slowly subside.


    Throughout this process, the Tengu seemed to move violently, and new things, like the flesh and blood of the Golden Patterned Leopard, were occasionally added to the esophagus.


    It wasn''t until a prompt sounded in his sea of consciousness that Tang Xian gave a knowing smile and took out his kitchen knife.


    Such a knife could not possibly harm the Tengu.


    The catastrophic boss creature had extremely resilient walls even in its stomach.


    But Tang Xian was unconcerned; the traits of a devil child granted him almost a bug-like enforced damage.


    "Successful damage inflicted on the Tengu, increase damage against the Tengu by one point."


    Such damage, accumulated to a certain extent, would allow him to tear open the Tengu''s stomach even with bare hands.


    Just as the Tengu, together with the Hell Flame Wolf, was unleashing a fierce attack on Jin Lu, determined to become the master of the island today, it suddenly felt intense pain in its abdomen.


    The black flames, like ocean waves, abruptly stopped.


    The Great Tengu let out a pained howl. Those black flames instantly contracted.


    Jin Lu watched this scene in disbelief.


    "You actually did it!"


    Tang Xian heard these words, but he couldn''t respond. He didn''t bother trying anymore.


    The damage kept accumulating, and Tang Xian began to focus on swinging his sword.


    Once the Unparalleled Achievement included the Great Tengu, everything would be much easier to handle.


    At this point, the Great Tengu also realized that it had swallowed something troublesome.


    "Come out! Please, come out!"


    "I''m not coming out. It''s spacious inside."


    "What do you want me to do! I''ll agree to anything! Just come out already!"


    The Great Tengu wailed in agony.


    "Can you meow like a cat?"


    "You insult me!"


    "So dumb. Even my little fox can bark like a dog."


    Swing after swing, Tang Xian was like a wound-up robot, each movement precise and consistent.


    "Aaah! Come out! It hurts too much!"


    "I think you''re driving a car or something, stop screaming like that. I have my plan, and you must die today, heaven forbid I join you. Besides, you''re probably not going to heaven anyway."


    While spewing nonsensical talk, he continued slaughtering. His movements never stopped.


    Tang Xian indeed had his own plan. Gaining Jin Lu''s trust and helping her become the Island Master was just the first step.


    "Please! Come out quickly!"


    "I''m taking a shower, I''m tired, I''m not in."


    Tang Xian covered his ears with one hand, then realized that the voice was resonating in his mind and lowered his hand.


    "Do you think you can survive, get the hell out! This is your last chance!"


    Tang Xian ignored the Great Tengu. He patiently swung his sword, racking up damage.


    Suddenly, he realized that hiding inside the stomach of a giant creature, quietly boosting his attack and defense, was extremely effective.


    This was fair too, since he was about to eat its people, getting eaten by it first evened things out.


    "Despicable creature, I will make sure you die a horrible death! You have enraged me!"


    Tang Xian frowned.


    The stomach trembled unstoppably, and now the Great Tengu could no longer harm him. These must be just some fierce last words before death.


    But he felt like he was missing something.


    At that moment, Tang Xian felt an intense shaking, as if the creature had started running wildly.


    Tang Xian''s eyes widened as he considered a possibility.


    "Come out quickly! Tang Xian!"


    Jin Lu''s voice came through, sounding quite anxious.


    Tang Xian compromised, "Big Black Dog, let me out!"


    "Despicable creature, now that I am weak, letting you out would also lead you to a dead end! I''ll drag you down with me in mutual destruction!"


    The violent shaking made it hard for Tang Xian to stand steady. He gritted his teeth and began wildly swinging his cleaver.


    He wanted to kill the Great Tengu before it could make a crazy move.


    But the enraged disaster-level boss was now like one who ignored all pain, having turned into a true mad dog!


    When Tang Xian heard the sound of splashing water, his heart skipped a beat.


    The taste of seawater slowly began to permeate Tang Xian''s breath.


    Seawater started to pour into the Great Tengu''s esophagus.


    A voice resonated in his sea of consciousness:


    "Follow me¡­ together¡­ to meet the Sea God, despicable creature!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The seawater filled the Great Tengu''s stomach far more violently than any gastric juice could.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    A small oversight; he had forgotten this was an island! The seawater here was like lava, once you fell in, there was almost no hope of climbing back out.


    The seawater quickly submerged most of Tang Xian''s body, and many thoughts flashed through his mind.


    Eventually, as the seawater slowly rose to his neck, Tang Xian calmed down, tilted his head back, and said with a bitter smile:


    "It''s time to test whether the seawater can kill a child of Eden."

 Chapter 8 Big Fish Eat Little Fish

    Jin Lu was somewhat bewildered.From childhood to adulthood, she had never seen anyone who fell into these waters survive.


    The ocean was the cradle of life for the earliest creatures in this world.


    Many powerful animals had crawled onto land. Yet there were many creatures in the deep sea that evolved solely to adapt to the depths.


    They were the most fearsome predators.


    Even having evolved into the form of the Golden Armored Leopard, Jin Lu would still feel fear and awe when she caught a fleeting glimpse of the giant shadows in the deep sea from the high reefs.


    Tang Xian was probably gone.


    For a moment, she felt somewhat sad.


    She had never really believed in this outsider, but in the end, he had kept his word.


    Remembering that little girl in the cave who was still waiting for Tang Xian to return...


    Jin Lu didn''t know how to explain it to her.


    The power gap between the leader and the subordinates was too great. After the capture of the king, capturing the thieves proved to be too simple.


    The Sunflame of the Great Tengu had scorched Jin Lu, but against these calamity-class boss creatures, a Purple-ranked existence, with the assistance of the leopard pack, the fight was one-sided.


    The Hell Flame Wolves also surrendered, completely bewildered.


    They didn''t understand what had happened; they only knew that their leader, as if under some curse, was calling out in pain.


    And then he inexplicably jumped into the sea!


    The ocean was tantamount to Lord Sea God''s stomach; such a suicidal act astonished the Hell Flame Wolves.


    As Jin Lu fought more fiercely, the Hell Flame Wolves quickly lowered their tails.


    They exhibited a submissive posture.


    Jin Lu thought of Tang Xian''s mention of domestication, realizing that without Tang Xian, none of it would probably be achievable.


    The Hell Flame Wolves would not so easily accept that only their species would bear the burden of the Sea God''s sacrifices.


    Jin Lu then realized that what Tang Xian had described as domestication, as seemingly cruel as it was, actually was the most merciful approach.


    Compared to letting them know the truth, subsequently rebelling, resisting, being suppressed, and after a series of such events, facing the same fate, this seemed especially cruel and inefficient.


    Jin Lu let out a fierce howl. One of the leaders among the Hell Flame Wolves responded with a wolf howl.


    For a time, Jin Lu didn''t know how to deal with these Hell Flame Wolves.


    For a time, the Hell Flame Wolves didn''t know how to manage themselves either.


    Jin Lu couldn''t exterminate them completely, for if she did, the next ritual on this island would only involve her leopard tribe.


    She had no choice but to let the Hell Flame Wolves withdraw first, and then return to the ruins to consult her people on what to do.


    She didn''t feel joy over the day''s victory, even though she had won a great deal of territory.


    ...


    ...


    Sea God rituals were being conducted on every island, and today was the month when the Sea God needed to feed continuously throughout the year.


    Had it been any other day that he jumped into the sea, Tang Xian felt that he might have been able to tear open the Great Tengu''s stomach and swim back up.


    But not now. The sea was likely filled with countless predators now.


    He had already felt a powerful current pulling the Great Tengu and instantly absorbing it.


    The Great Tengu, which should have been sinking calmly to the ocean floor, was shaking even more violently than it had on land.


    Tang Xian was still inside its stomach, feeling dizzy and light-headed due to suffocation.


    His vision blurred.


    "Not able to hold out much longer... I wasn''t stomped to death by the Zudun Giant, not killed by brutal creatures like the Nvwa Snake and the Great Tengu, and now I''m going to drown?"


    His mind started to wander erratically.


    Tang Xian wasn''t overly anxious. Compared to drowning, being dissolved by stomach acid was more painful and fatal.


    But he could still rely on his extraordinary life recovery speed to survive.


    If there was one aspect of him that truly resembled an apocalypse-class creature, Tang Xian considered it to be his life force that refused to be extinguished.


    He ultimately couldn''t endure it any longer; his lungs felt as if they were about to explode from discomfort. He had no choice but to start breathing.


    Seawater filled the Great Tengu''s stomach and now began to pour into Tang Xian''s lungs.


    [Warning, essential survival elements detected missing, life value continuously decreasing.]


    This slow death was excruciating for Tang Xian, even more painful than being dissolved by the Great Tengu''s stomach acid.


    Although the loss of life wasn''t as rapid as that caused by the acid.


    But the ocean wasn''t some creature; Tang Xian couldn''t gain resistance to it. He wouldn''t experience a gradual reduction in damage until it became ineffective as it had been inside the Great Tengu''s stomach. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His consciousness alternated between clarity and chaos.


    Tang Xian was certain he couldn''t die.


    It was just the lack of oxygen that was causing his heart to supply insufficient blood, and inadequate blood supply to the heart would cause lack of oxygen to the brain.


    His ears were filled with piercing tinnitus, and it was unclear how long he had been submerged. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    It was unknown where he had sunk to.


    Affected by the turbulence or something else, he only felt a jolt.


    Due to the severe lack of oxygen, Tang Xian''s consciousness was in a state of three seconds of chaos followed by one second of lucidity.


    In the deep sea, he couldn''t see the disgusting organs of the Great Tengu.


    His eyes were filled with endless darkness.


    [I have long been dead]


    [But my seven servants will control my body. If you can hear my voice, you are the one I have been waiting for.]


    Just when Tang Xian felt too exhausted, wanting to fall into a deep sleep, two voices suddenly came from his sea of consciousness.


    The voices sounded incredibly ancient and elusive, as if drifting from ancient times, crossing time to reach the present consciousness.


    [I have long been dead]


    [But my seven servants will control my body. If you can hear my voice, you are the one I have been waiting for.]

 Chapter 8 Big Fish Eat Little Fish_2

    The voice came again.Tang Xian felt more awake. It was as if the voice had invigorated his will.


    "The person he''s waiting for?"


    Tang Xian realized that he couldn''t hold on much longer and would soon enter a dormant state due to the lack of bodily functions.


    He began to think hard about the meaning of this voice.


    Before long, a third voice came, followed by the fourth, the fifth, the sixth¡­


    These voices were like that of a tireless farmer, continuously tilling the barren field.


    "This must be the voice of the Sea God. I can hear it, but I can''t respond! Damn it!"


    Tang Xian wanted to break through the stomach of the great creature, only to find that his body no longer obeyed him.


    It was as if every other part of his body no longer belonged to him, with only the brain and a few scattered threads of consciousness being held together by the sheer will to survive.


    This sea seemed capable of sinking one''s soul as well.


    Tang Xian despaired to find that, after hearing this voice, he could not change his fate of sinking to the ocean floor.


    In his sea of consciousness, that voice still echoed.


    The voice of this self-proclaimed long-dead fellow now sounded to Tang Xian tinged with a forlorn and desperate quality.


    How long had it been waiting?


    Was it constantly calling out in the sea like this, without a moment''s rest?


    Tang Xian''s consciousness began to fade again.


    The heavy drowsiness felt even more ferocious than the turbulent deep-sea currents.


    Suddenly he realized¡­ it seemed not so turbulent anymore.


    But his mind was still groggy, and it was getting more and more so.


    Being unkillable might not be something to boast about.


    Because it meant that in certain situations, one would suffer almost eternal agony.


    In a daze, Tang Xian seemed to hear something being dissolved.


    The hissing sound of acid corroding an object.


    But he was too tired, and Tang Xian''s will finally could not withstand this prolonged hypoxia and he fell into a deep sleep.


    ...


    ...


    Innumerable herds of beasts and human hunters were engaged in a frenzied slaughter.


    Tang Xian had never been to the Yuepela Plains; the scene before him probably resembled the time on the bloodstained wasteland when countless herds of cattle and beasts were migrating.


    Except this time it wasn''t a migration, but a charge.


    He was still at the entrance of the low hill''s cave, watching a force of human hunters and regular army, numbering several times more than the beast herds, charge into battle.


    The two armies clashed, with the power of both worlds diminishing bit by bit.


    A dreamscape.


    In a dream, it''s hard to realize you''re dreaming; often, once you do realize it, you wake up.


    But if one is in a prolonged coma, in an anoxic environment yet not succumbing to death,


    unless there''s violent interference from the outside world, even if you realize you''re dreaming, you cannot wake up from it.


    Tang Xian watched everything in the dreamscape, then suddenly turned to look back.


    But Akasi, Tangsuoye, and the others were nowhere to be seen.


    He looked again from that low cave at the warring tribes.


    Song Que, with a face half black and half white, charged at the forefront of the humans, displaying incredible valor.


    Li Zheng and Qi Xun led their respective families'' forces to provide support.


    Countless famed chosen ones from the Human World exerted powers far beyond their usual capabilities.


    They were clad in powerful gear and wielded weapons of the Soul Crystal series, their strength greatly enhanced from before.


    Yet the battle was still a retreating one, with more and more beasts and fewer and fewer humans.


    A massive silhouette obscured the sky.


    Tang Xian could not make out its entire body; it was a figure several times larger than the Zudun Giant.


    Fearful wails began to emanate from the crowd. The previously fighting human army suddenly cast off their armor and helmets, starting to flee in all directions.


    Tang Xian wanted to step out of the cave to see clearly what this gigantic creature was and why it brought such great terror to humans.


    But he couldn''t leave the cave.


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    It was as if some force had sealed him in.


    ...


    ...


    Time trickled by bit by bit.


    Deep in the ocean, perhaps time did not align with that on the surface.


    Its pace ought to be chaotic, advancing erratically.


    Tang Xian felt as if he had been wandering through countless chaotic dreams for thousands of years.


    Or was it just a moment?


    The tumultuous dreams finally came to an end one by one, and Tang Xian slowly opened his eyes.


    His consciousness also began to return gradually.


    He shook his head, feeling soggy in his ears, a truly uncomfortable sensation as if his brain was waterlogged.


    The sizzling sound of the acid corroding returned.


    Tang Xian looked around in surprise.


    This seemed to be¡­ still inside the great creature''s stomach. He suddenly looked up.


    What he saw was the great creature''s flesh and bones, now scarcely remaining.


    Pupils constricting, Tang Xian instantly came to his senses.


    "Was the great creature eaten by another entity?"


    Tang Xian was certain his guess was correct.


    He was still in the stomach of the great creature, but its body had been partially corroded by the gastric juices of another creature.


    And that seawater had been drained out as well.


    Giant sea creatures would swallow food and seawater together, but the seawater was quickly expelled. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian looked out from the incomplete remains of the Cerberus and could vaguely see the vast space outside.


    "How large must this creature be?"


    From the size of the stomach, Tang Xian roughly estimated that it was a creature of a size comparable to the Zudun Giant, which could measure up to six hundred meters.


    At that moment, a drop of gastric acid landed on Tang Xian''s shoulder.


    [Warning, current damage taken is seven percent of maximum health.]


    [Successfully resisted the Dragon-horned Shark''s gastric juice damage.]


    [Acquired one point of Dragon-horned Shark resistance.]

 Chapter 8 Big Fish Eat Little Fish_3

    "Seven percent, not as high as the Great Tengu''s eleven percent, this must be a disaster-class creature."The Dragon-Horned Shark was a creature even Tang Xian did not recognize.


    It had not been explored by humans, nor recorded on the steles of the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian pondered for a while and soon understood.


    The Sea Demon was most likely the only apocalypse-class creature still alive, though only in body.


    Tang Xian still remembered the voice in his sea of consciousness; if that voice belonged to the Sea Demon, it would mean the Sea Demon had died.


    And its massive body was the source of its power, which it entrusted to its seven servants to manage.


    That was Tang Xian''s deduction.


    "Judging from what''s mentioned on the stele, the ocean must be regarded as a very dangerous place by the Orderlies, so it''s normal that there are species not recorded on the stele."


    Observing the stomach of the Dragon-Horned Shark, Tang Xian committed all its characteristics to memory, planning to document them in his notes when he returned to the Forest Sea, thereby completing the mining area''s creature compendium.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t see its external shape.


    But in the depths of the sea, it was unlikely one could see anything clearly anyway.


    Gastric juices continued to drip. A disaster-class creature had swallowed a disaster-class boss creature. Although the Great Tengu was already on its last breath, even in its prime, it couldn''t possibly be a match for the Dragon-Horned Shark in the sea.


    Tang Xian now realized, judging by the rate of corrosion from the Great Tengu, he must not have been unconscious for long.


    Free from the pressure of the seawater, even though the gases inside the fish belly were foul-smelling and scarce, Tang Xian still felt gratitude for the fish.


    Worse than death was the prospect of being alive yet helplessly waiting for time to pass in the endless deep sea and darkness.


    If not for the Dragon-Horned Shark, Tang Xian guessed he might have succumbed to oxygen deprivation and sunk into an eternal slumber.


    Acid landed on Tang Xian, and he quietly began to build resistance. Seven percent max health damage was far less lethal than the Great Tengu''s eleven percent.


    Tang Xian did not attempt to increase the damage.


    The Dragon-Horned Shark was like a battleship right now, and he couldn''t sink his own ship just to increase damage against a certain creature.


    At that moment, new information came from the sea of consciousness.


    [Successfully killed an adult Great Tengu, acquired ability: Eclipse]


    [Eclipse: Can forcibly absorb all light within a large radius, creating utmost darkness.]


    [Initial favorability of canine creatures -5]


    [Initial prestige with canine creatures +90]


    [Total initial prestige with canine creatures exceeds one hundred, achievement unlocked: Dogs'' Dread]


    [Dogs'' Dread: Except for a few mad dogs, the rest of the canine creatures will involuntarily be overwhelmed with fear at your sight, their will to fight completely gone.]


    Tang Xian smiled.


    In the Pyramid World, foxes were actually considered part of the canine family.


    But in the mining area, according to Shi Wenbin''s "Foxology," the three-tailed and six-tailed foxes no longer fall under the canine classification; they have completely independent characteristics.


    Considering the innate fondness Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu have for him, this great scholar''s viewpoint appeared to be correct.


    Tang Xian stopped thinking about these trivial matters; gaining a new skill was cause for celebration.


    But he couldn''t be happy for long, as soon another drop of acid fell...


    [Warning, incoming damage is eleven percent of maximum health]


    [Successfully resisted damage from the stomach acid of the Ghost King Fish]


    [Acquired one point of resistance to the Ghost King Fish''s damage.]


    After finally maxing out his resistance to the Dragon-Horned Shark, a creature he had never seen before, he suddenly faced a Ghost King Fish?


    Tang Xian looked at the damaged body of the Dragon-Horned Shark; what he saw this time... was a creature several times larger than the Dragon-Horned Shark.


    Disaster-class boss creature, the Ghost King Fish.


    Yet another creature unknown to Tang Xian, who faintly considered a certain possibility. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was currently experiencing intense tremors.


    The vibrations, coming closer, had flipped him into the air several times.


    At the highest point, Tang Xian saw the enormous stomach of the Ghost King Fish.


    Then he fell back into the stomach of the Dragon-Horned Shark.


    These tremors convinced Tang Xian¡ª


    He was witnessing a big fish eat little fish, little fish eat shrimp scenario.


    Only here, the smallest shrimp was the Dragon-Horned Shark, nearly six hundred meters in length, comparable to the Zudun Giant.


    Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    He was curious... into which great fish''s mouth he would ultimately fall.

 Chapter 9 The Truth about Sea God

    Only in the absolute darkness of the deep sea can one witness those truly massive beings.Tang Xian thought of how the great Tengu was eaten, and that probably led to the Dragon Horned Shark descending deeper into the water.


    Then, without realizing, the Shark was swallowed whole by an even larger Ghost King Fish.


    Especially this ''swallowed whole'' part, Tang Xian was most certain of.


    Because previously inside the body of the Dragon Horned Shark, there was hardly any vibration, mysteriously, it was pierced by stomach acid.


    But inside the Ghost King Fish, Tang Xian felt a strong sense of shaking.


    After the Dragon Horned Shark was eaten by the Ghost King Fish, it likely disturbed some other monstrous creature of the seabed.


    Two creatures were battling it out.


    Tang Xian let the gastric juice fall on him as he anxiously looked up.


    "I hope it isn''t something smaller than you, ideally something that could swallow you in one bite."


    If the Ghost King Fish were to be eaten bit by bit, Tang Xian would once again be filled with water to the point of suffocation.


    The feeling was too uncomfortable.


    He could only pray that the Ghost King Fish was dodging an attack from some super-sized fish.


    The great Tengu was finally digested completely, leaving only a white skeletal corpse.


    Soon, even the Dragon Horned Shark was mostly dissolved by the gastric fluid.


    The gastric juice was like acid rain falling from the sky.


    Using the remainder of the great Tengu, Tang Xian slowly built up resistance to the Dragon Horned Shark.


    The secretion of gastric acid in seabed creatures is too fierce; if he were directly eaten by these fish, he wouldn''t have a chance to grow gradually and would instantly melt away.


    This time, using the body of the Dragon Horned Shark, Tang Xian began to build up resistance to the Ghost King Fish.


    Suddenly, when the Ghost King Fish came to an abrupt stop, Tang Xian felt like an unbuckled female driver smashing into a telephone pole at 200 kilometers per hour, his whole body slamming against the bones of the Dragon Horned Shark.


    He looked up, and a voice came from within his sea of consciousness.


    "Spare me!"


    "That probably isn''t meant for me."


    He remembered that the gastric acid damage from the Ghost King Fish indicated it was a calamity-level boss unit.


    He could actually converse with it.


    But given the current situation, the Ghost King Fish was probably close to its end.


    Tang Xian stared upward, as the massive body of the Ghost King Fish was finally melted by the gastric juice,


    In one bite.


    Although he hoped the Ghost King Fish would die by being swallowed in one gulp,


    when that scenario actually occurred, Tang Xian was once again astounded.


    How many giant monsters could there be in the depths of this ocean?


    The size of the Dragon Horned Shark was already close to the 600-meter-tall Zudun Giant.


    600 meters! That is the height of fifteen Ultramen stacked in a human pyramid!


    Tang Xian really couldn''t imagine just how enormous the Ghost King Fish was. At least for now the Ghost King Fish hadn''t digested the colossal Dragon Horned Shark completely, so Tang Xian couldn''t see its vast stomach.


    But now, the Ghost King Fish, capable of swallowing a 600-meter behemoth in one bite, was devoured by another unknown fish.


    The magnitude was changing again. Tang Xian was even thinking, this must be the largest creature in the sea, right?


    But he clearly underestimated the frenzied evolution of those creatures in the deepest parts of the sea.


    Sea Demons use the ocean as a swimming pool, their sizes reign supreme among sea beasts.


    In the deep sea, aside from an extremely small number of creatures whose power doesn''t correlate with their size, 95% of them grow stronger as they increase in size.


    Only when new damage and resistance alerts appeared in his sea of consciousness did Tang Xian know, such deep-sea creatures are called Mountain Movers.


    Catastrophic-level creatures, where the gastric acid damage could inflict up to 18% of his maximum health. Had the Ghost King Fish not blocked most of the surging acid, Tang Xian would have melted completely.


    He didn''t stay inside the Mountain Mover for long.


    Until Tang Xian fully adapted to the surging stomach acid of the Mountain Mover,


    the unimaginably large Ghost King Fish was also digested almost completely.


    At that time, it was the Mountain Mover''s turn to be swallowed.


    "How many more times do I have to go through this?"


    When he saw the innards of the Mountain Mover perforated by gastric acid, Tang Xian witnessed for the first time the power of a catastrophic-level boss creature.


    The terrifying gastric fluid was almost no different from magma.


    Tang Xian couldn''t help thinking, if one day he was swallowed by Qing JiuYu¡ª


    No matter how high his health points were or how fast his regenerative abilities, would he liquefy instantly before regenerating?


    Tang Xian chuckled bitterly. The damage prompts in his sea of consciousness had reached 25%. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, the Mountain Mover was truly gigantic; there were still many places for Tang Xian to take shelter and slowly build up resistance to the sea creatures. The stomach of such fish was actually quite small relative to their body.


    It''s like the sperm whale that seems huge, but its esophagus can''t even fit an adult human. It has to rely on consuming small fish and shrimp to survive.


    But even so, Tang Xian felt as though he was walking inside an enormously vast castle.


    When the Mountain Mover was halfway dissolved, Tang Xian finally maxed out his resistance to the creature known as the Sea God Beast.


    He had no sense of achievement whatsoever.


    These deep-sea creatures matched the calamity level beings on land, yet they were confined to the ocean depths.


    Hiding in the remnants of the Mountain Mover, Tang Xian wryly said,


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    "The greatest wish of my life is about to be fulfilled inadvertently."


    Tang Xian''s wish was to have a taste of catastrophic-level creature''s meat in his lifetime.


    Now he had the resistance against a catastrophic-level boss creature but had no appetite whatsoever for this Sea God Beast.


    The larger the creature, the more gastric juice it secreted.


    And higher-level species could almost instantly bring their prey to death.


    Tang Xian had found the limits of this "resistance-building by being eaten" method.

 Chapter 9 The Truth about Sea God_2

    One couldn''t be eaten by cataclysmic creatures unless they had already amassed a considerable amount of resistance, otherwise, they would be dissolved before their life could regenerate.This method of deliberately being eaten could only be applied to creatures like the Great Tengu, which were relatively large, with the upper limit being disaster-level boss units.


    If the creature was twice the size of the Great Tengu, this method couldn''t be used either.


    ...


    ...


    After experiencing the process from the Dragon-horned Shark eating the Great Tengu¡ªthe Ghost King Fish eating the Dragon-horned Shark¡ªthe Mountain-moving Fish eating the Ghost King Fish¡ªthe Sea-controlling Leviathan eating the Mountain-moving Fish.


    Tang Xian finally waited for the last link.


    This time, no creature in the depths had swallowed the Sea-controlling Leviathan.


    Even in the deep sea, the Sea-controlling Leviathan was a very powerful being.


    The creatures capable of killing it numbered only seven.


    It was the servant of one of these creatures, now on its way to its master''s palace.


    There were nearly ninety Sea-controlling Leviathans in the entire ocean.


    They could only operate in the deep sea, and most of the time, the Sea-controlling Leviathans wouldn''t pay any attention to the surrounding matters.


    Only beings that were also disaster-level boss creatures, capable of battling a Sea-controlling Leviathan, inhabited the deep sea.


    These beings were also aware of the Sea-controlling Leviathan''s master, and avoided making an enemy of this kind of monster.


    Only in a certain month of each year, these leviathans would become exceptionally active.


    But they would not leave the deep sea.


    Just like some creatures chose to evolve legs and limbs and crawled ashore.


    Others chose the deep sea, and the Sea-controlling Leviathan was such a being. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian silently calculated the time; after roughly four hours, he finally felt the enormous trembling sensation come to a stop.


    During this process, he had crawled out from the bones of the Mountain-moving Fish and witnessed another scene.


    Most of the creatures had been melted down to nothing but Soul Crystals.


    But, based on the sheer number, there were still bones everywhere, or rather skeletons, though they were also gradually acidifying and decaying.


    Tang Xian had never seen such a sight before.


    Before, when hiding in the remains of the Mountain-moving Fish, he was like a frog in a well, blind to how vast the stomach truly was on one hand.


    On the other hand, he had not seen how many other creatures were inside the stomach.


    It wasn''t until now that Tang Xian had some understanding.


    This place could be described as a burial ground hell.


    Aside from those massive skeletons, what was even more astounding was the vast number of Soul Crystals.


    The dazzlingly radiant Soul Crystals emitted light from every corner.


    Gazing at these Soul Crystals, Tang Xian merely took a quick glance and roughly judged that there must be hundreds of creatures'' crystals.


    He even saw some purple and even orange crystals.


    Apart from the Great Tengu, there were the Soul Crystals of several other disaster-level boss creatures. If these were brought to the Human World, it would be a huge fortune that could buy an entire fortress level.


    Tang Xian shook his head and quickly recovered from the shock of the scene.


    "No wonder there is light in what should be a pitch-black stomach... It''s all from the vast number of Soul Crystals," he murmured.


    This answer startled Tang Xian as well.


    The fact that the visual obstruction wasn''t significant in such a vast and dark space was enough to indicate how many Soul Crystals were gathered here.


    Being closest to the Great Tengu, he first picked up its Soul Crystal.


    His clothing had been reduced to tatters due to the acid, barely hanging on.


    But Tang Xian had always kept the Extreme Gauntlet in good condition, as it was his treasured escape tool.


    He placed the Soul Crystal of the Great Tengu in the gem slot on the back of the Extreme Gauntlet.


    A black light instantly covered the gauntlet. Tremendous energy surged, instinctively making him feel danger.


    Feeling the enormous energy and vibration coming from the back of his hand, Tang Xian immediately turned off the Extreme Gauntlet.


    "Seems it won''t work... This initial version of the gauntlet was the right idea, but mineral alloys can''t be used for the material. This gauntlet can''t temporarily accommodate the Soul Crystals of disaster creatures, or it will overload," he reflected.


    He placed the Soul Crystal in his item pouch and prepared to collect other disaster-level boss Soul Crystals.


    There were enough Soul Crystals here to form a small mountain, but since his item pouch had limited storage space, he could only choose the best ones to take.


    Tang Xian counted, and there were as many as eleven disaster-level boss creature Soul Crystals.


    Together with the Great Tengu''s, his Extreme Gauntlet could be set with two full pairs.


    But plans can''t keep up with changes, and as he picked up the Ghost King Fish''s Soul Crystal and was about to extract the orange cataclysm-level Soul Crystal from the brain of the Mountain-moving Fish, another incident occurred.


    It was as if the world had been flipped over. The Sea-controlling Leviathan seemed to suddenly want to expel something.


    All the bones, the Soul Crystals, everything inside the stomach, began to tilt towards a certain place.


    The massive force of the stomach''s contractions pulled Tang Xian with countless Soul Crystals back towards the esophagus.


    He shot the hook claw of his Extreme Gauntlet, swinging through the suddenly overturning space, amidst the remains of various creatures.


    In the distance, Tang Xian saw light.


    A light different from the dim glow of Soul Crystals.


    It was strong like the light on the seashore.


    His mind raced, and he quickly thought of a possibility.


    "The Sea-controlling Leviathan... is actually just a porter?" he speculated.


    Once that thought crossed his mind, Tang Xian immediately understood.


    These Soul Crystals couldn''t be corroded in a short time, and today was coincidentally the day of the Sea God festival.


    All the islands would cast various animal corpses into the sea to appease the Sea God''s anger or to seek the Sea God''s blessings.


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    And for the past few hours, the Sea-controlling Leviathan had been making its return.


    This being, the largest creature Tang Xian had encountered so far, was actually a servant of the Sea God!

 Chapter 9 The Truth about Sea God_3

    The seabed constantly staged the drama of big fish eating small fish and small fish eating shrimp, so as the ultimate reaper, the Zhennai Beast devoured all these offerings¡ªbig fish, small fish, and shrimp alike¡ªdigesting them and leaving behind only the Soul Crystals!Eventually, it would spit out these Soul Crystals¡­


    So, the spasms in its stomach earlier were actually this massive creature trying to regurgitate its food.


    The light grew brighter, and Tang Xian''s eyes adjusted to the intensity. He looked at the ground several kilometers away¡ª


    It wasn''t the seabed soil, nor deep-sea corals.


    It was more like the floor of a palace, with patterns on the flooring that conformed to geometric aesthetics.


    The reason he could see the patterns on the floor from such a distance was because the flooring was simply too massive!


    Waves of astonishment surged in Tang Xian''s heart.


    As his body continued to fall, he finally came out completely from the mouth of the Zhennai Beast.


    The surrounding sights were all hugely magnified buildings; during his rapid descent, Tang Xian saw that the architectural style of the buildings on either side resembled those island relics.


    Except these structures seemed magnified countless times over.


    This was indeed a palace, the palace of some titanic creature.


    Tang Xian also caught sight of the Zhennai Beast''s true form¡ª


    Unlike the fish at the bottom of the sea, the Zhennai Beast resembled an enlarged deep-sea version of a Zudun Giant.


    He had no doubt this massive creature could swallow an entire level of the Pyramid with its mouth wide open! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even after falling for nearly a kilometer, Tang Xian couldn''t see the creature''s entire face, which was like a curtain that covered the sky.


    "Truly, a ''big face''."


    Not knowing what would happen next but feeling certain he wouldn''t die from the fall, Tang Xian actually relaxed.


    He began to search for footholds in the falling skeletons using his grappling claws.


    Even though a direct fall would probably not kill him.


    After descending hundreds of meters more, some buildings that had blocked Tang Xian''s view no longer impeded him.


    He looked far ahead, his eyes suddenly wide open.


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    In front of Tang Xian, at the end of the palace, there was a creature minuscule compared to the deep-sea monsters.


    This creature, in terms of size, was actually larger than Qing JiuYu in her demon fox transformation.


    Even larger than the Nvwa Snake, a calamity-level creature he had encountered before.


    But compared to the Zhennai Beast, whose chin seemed like a mountain range of the northern continent covering the sky¡ª


    This creature resembling the white dragon described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas seemed very, very small.


    The closer he got to the ground, the more Tang Xian could feel the dazzling brilliance of the floor.


    Hundreds of giant pillars supported this most splendid palace.


    And on the floor of the palace, there were densely packed Soul Crystals. In the center of the grand palace, there was a furnace emitting red light.


    Tang Xian, just before landing, shot his grappling claws towards a pillar in front of the palace, and then he slowly climbed down, landing smoothly.


    Thousands of meters away, the Zhennai Beast made a bowing gesture; such a huge creature was unable to cause even the slightest tremor to this palace.


    The white dragon at the end of the palace glanced over indifferently, let out a muffled noise through its nostrils, and the Zhennai Beast slowly retreated.


    It wasn''t until it had nearly disappeared from sight that Tang Xian saw the full outline of the Zhennai Beast.


    When the palace doors opened, the seawater, as if sentient, did not surge into the grand palace.


    Tang Xian watched the palace doors slowly close and became convinced of a legend about the Sea God.


    The Sea God¡ªwas indeed a giant sea dragon, and there was indeed a palace at the bottom of the sea.


    This place was like the hoard of a greedy dragon species, everywhere lay the Soul Crystals of powerful creatures. Thousands upon thousands of Soul Crystals!


    But if this was the Sea God... Tang Xian had his doubts.


    When he was submerged by the sea, what was the voice that came through his sea of consciousness?


    The Sea God was dead, its body controlled by seven servants¡ªwhat exactly did that mean?


    As Tang Xian pondered these questions, the feedback from his sense of smell in his nostrils suddenly made him vigilant.


    The sea dragon, it suddenly moved.


    [I smell the scent of humans¡ªinteresting.]

 Chapter 10 Fighting the Dragon

    Although huge undersea pillars blocked the view, the palace¡ªor perhaps better described as a treasury¡ªwas simply too vast.Convinced he couldn''t escape, Tang Xian stopped trying to hide.


    The sea dragon capable of commanding the giant that subdued the sea might not be an apocalyptic being, but at the very least, it was a boss creature of the same calamitous tier.


    Tang Xian chose to emerge confidently.


    Jin Lu''s various descriptions about the Sea God, the words that resonated in the deep sea, the records in the Pyramid, and what he had witnessed today.


    All these allowed Tang Xian to piece together an answer he was eighty to ninety percent sure of, making him even more confident.


    When a tiny creature emerged in front of the enormous furnace full of Soul Crystals, a hint of bewilderment flickered in the sea dragon''s eyes.


    Its figure instantly arrived beside the huge pillar where Tang Xian stood.


    The immense body coiled and twisted, with each white dragon scale shimmering like crystal.


    It scrutinized Tang Xian, and Tang Xian scrutinized it in return. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene was reminiscent of a colossal dragon summoned by a Dragon Ball, ready to fulfill a mortal''s wish.


    Tang Xian was calm.


    He detected a hint of mockery in the creature''s words.


    Mockery indicated that there was room for conversation, and as long as there was dialogue, Tang Xian felt he had some leverage.


    "Hello, my name is Tang Xian."


    [The slaves of the Order masters have already spread to this place. But I shall ensure your journey is one way.]


    Probably because it was deep underwater, the sea dragon felt no fear when it mentioned the Order masters.


    Tang Xian found it strange that all the previous boss creatures were somewhat wary and took him seriously, assuming he was some fierce beast disguised as a human.


    But this sea dragon''s ability to perceive seemed especially unique.


    "Slaves of the Order masters, are you referring to humans? It''s not quite there yet, but as the hierarchical servitude gradually unfolds, humans will increasingly rely on the Order masters." Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Furthermore, rest assured that, based on the information I have deduced, the Order masters would not dare encroach upon the world''s seas."


    Tang Xian spoke with the dispassion of a scholar invited to elucidate history.


    [You shameless and deceitful human, do you think you can fool me?]


    "You probably have some special perceptive ability? But I am really not a human," Tang Xian said.


    [Your mind does not contain a Soul Crystal! Although you can emit fluctuations similar to a Soul Crystal, my dragon eyes can see through everything. You are just a skilled impostor! A pawn of the Order masters!]


    The sea dragon seemed proud to have foiled the trick.


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "I can''t be human, nor can I be a demon. This makes it difficult for me.


    I can hear a voice in the sea, and I think this should verify my identity. The Sea God is dead, and its corpse, the source of its power, has been left to seven servants to manage."


    The sea dragon''s breath carried a muffled dragon chant, its expression one of confusion.


    [You despicable wretch, how could you know that Lord Sea God is dead?]


    "Like I said, I can hear the voices in the sea."


    [There are no voices in the ocean!]


    The sea dragon roared in anger.


    Tang Xian was shocked to find that the ground at his feet had instantly frozen solid.


    The entire vast palace was enshrouded in a layer of Bai Shuang, far larger in scale than the lake where he had encountered the Nvwa Snake.


    The already cold hall abruptly dropped in temperature even further.


    Breath turning to frost, the only reason Tang Xian wasn''t a frozen statue was probably that the giant dragon wanted to hear his explanation.


    He suddenly felt uneasy.


    Compared to digestive acids, the true attacks of calamitous boss creatures were far more brutal, capable of killing him with ease.


    Even without a calamitous entity, a simple stomp from a Zudun Giant would mean instant death.


    He needed to steady the dragon.


    "If you can''t hear it, then let''s pretend there is no voice. But tell me, if I really were an Order master, how could I dive into such deep waters? Every sea beast here is stronger than I am."


    [How should I know! Your blood is human, do not think you can fool me! Ignorant ant!]


    Tang Xian was at a loss.


    Villains die because they talk too much, but a more accurate understanding is that villains die because the heroes talk too much.


    In his previous encounters with these calamitous and catastrophic tier bosses, he had relied on his gift of the gab.


    And that air about him that inexplicably made others believe he was some sort of powerful creature.


    But this dragon, it clearly wasn''t playing by the usual rules.


    The servant of the Sea God, yet unable to hear the voices of the deep sea?


    [I will douse your body with molten gold and turn you into a collectible statue!]


    [If you reveal your purpose, I might let you die a little easier!]


    While he had thought the dragon''s ability was to summon ice elements, Tang Xian suddenly noticed golden liquid forming in the air.


    Ice, fire, gold¡ªthese were all things that dragons cherished.


    Watching the increasingly dense droplets of golden liquid, he felt death drawing near.


    "I told you I am not human, and although I am not sure if the Order masters are truly on the side of helping humans, I don''t like them either."


    [Do you think you can deceive the noble Dragon Clan? Your blood is human, and even though you have a Soul Crystal aura comparable to my strength, you do not possess a Soul Crystal within your body! You may deceive other creatures, but you absolutely cannot fool me. Only those despicable Order masters can pull off such a disguise!]

 Chapter 10 Fighting the Dragon_2

    ["You might not be human, but you''re definitely not a creature of our world!"]The script is all wrong!


    Tang Xian''s pupils narrowed.


    The golden liquid that had been forming slowly suddenly turned into a tidal wave, surrounding him completely.


    He could even feel the super high temperature of the liquid gold.


    The Sea Dragon''s words carried a lot of information.


    Could Orderers disguise themselves as other creatures?


    In this situation, why did he feel even more like an Orderer?


    If he had met the Sea Dragon first instead of the steles on the eighth level, he might have more easily accepted the claim that he was an Orderer.


    Who am I, this philosophical question had suddenly become a matter of life and death.


    Tang Xian said:


    "You''ve been here for hundreds of years too, right?"


    ["So what, even though my Dragon Clan is scarce, we live for thousands of years!"]


    "The steles on the island, did you write them?" Tang Xian said.


    ["Understand your place, you lowly Orderer lackey¡ªyou don''t deserve to ask questions."]


    "So no matter what I say, you won''t believe me?" Tang Xian said with a bitter smile.


    ["Of course, I am a clever dragon! You, a lowly Orderer lackey, don''t even think of deceiving me!"]


    Feeling the information contained in the Sea Dragon''s panel, Tang Xian was certain that there was no need to continue this conversation.


    Gender: Male.


    Morality: 32.


    Greed and lechery index: 77.


    Favorability: -34 (disdainful contempt).


    Wealth assessment: 1 (destitute).


    Liked objects: Anything that can be called a treasure.


    Disliked objects: Orderers.


    Fearful objects: Sea God.


    Current honesty level: 20 (sometimes true, sometimes false).


    Charm: 34 (nothing special).


    Current luck: 11 (extremely unlucky).


    Current needs analysis:


    ["Kill the Orderer lackey (35%)"]


    ["Torture the Orderer lackey (35%)"]


    ["Count treasures (25%)"]


    ["Other (5%)"].


    With a bit of organization, these data points allowed Tang Xian to easily analyze the vile nature of this Sea Dragon.


    Arrogant and pompous, cruel and brutal, with an extreme craving for wealth. It loved treasures but feared the Sea God, showing it was not loyal to the Sea God.


    But to it, the Sea God represented an insurmountable and supreme fear.


    In short... this evil dragon was not amenable to reason.


    Its values differed fundamentally from Jin Lu, Bai Mansheng, and Qing JiuYu¡ªtheir moral values.


    The lower the morality value, the more unreasonable the person.


    This was extremely problematic.


    Tang Xian considered himself a weak ordinary person; facing a cataclysmic creature, if reason was not an option, then he had no choice but to resort to a feigned masochistic plot.


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "You really are a stupid dragon."


    ["You dare insult me, scorn the noble Dragon Clan?"]


    The Sea Dragon raised its head, its eyes looking down maliciously and contemptuously at Tang Xian.


    "With so many white scales, harder to chew than a little white snake, but luckily you have those antler-like things, which are nourishing and enhancing. Do you know what ''enhancing'' means? Oh, sorry, you''re just a dragon who''s been single at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years. Pitiable."


    Feeling the increasingly violent liquid gold around him and the anger swirling above him, Tang Xian said:


    "Anyway, it''s a death either way, you''d better not get caught by me, or I''ll torture you bit by bit, deliberately not killing you, making you wish you were dead and begging in agony. You stupid, greedy dragon who''s only fit to be a miser for the Sea God."


    The Soul Crystals in this palace could drive the Human World mad, and even if the top three families combined their resources, they could not match the number of Soul Crystals present here.


    Yet, unusually, this dragon''s wealth assessment read as penniless.


    Tang Xian boldly speculated that this dragon dared only to look at the Soul Crystals, not to possess them.


    Powerful creatures evolve by devouring Soul Crystals, but the Sea Dragon dared not do so. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps it all stemmed from the Sea Dragon''s fear of the Sea God.


    The roar of the dragon shook the heavens!


    The entire palace echoed with the unwilling and angry roar of the dragon.


    Watching the Sea Dragon''s expression, Tang Xian was sure he had hit a sore spot for the dragon.


    The Sea God had tasked it with guarding this palace, which was also a torture for it.


    A greed and lechery index of 77. This category belonged to those who would commit all types of atrocities for the sake of treasure.


    Along with a morality value far below that of a normal person, Tang Xian concluded this was indeed a malevolent creature.


    Yet it still didn''t dare overstep its bounds, which indirectly demonstrated the immense power of an apocalyptic creature.


    ["You foolish and despicable human, why provoke me! Very well, I shall make you beg for death, endure endless torture! The things you want to do to me, I will repay tenfold!"]


    The gold instantly encased most of Tang Xian''s body, and the scalding liquid gold caused his skin to blister and peel.


    The Sea Dragon purposely left his head unsealed to hear Tang Xian''s cries of pain.


    As Tang Xian began to wail in agony, the dragon thought of an even better idea, and the sound abruptly stopped!


    That was because Tang Xian''s head was instantly frozen, his pained expression captured in ice.


    ["Interesting, indeed you are an Orderer''s lackey; in such conditions, you can still survive."]


    The Sea Dragon let out a delighted laugh; torturing its prey was always a source of great pleasure for it.


    Tang Xian''s consciousness was overwhelmed by a series of blurs.


    Intense pain from the burning and cold threw him into complete disarray. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    And yet, he couldn''t move his body at all.


    All sorts of things popped up in his mind sea.


    ["Successfully resisted the Town Sea Canglong''s freezing attack, Town Sea Canglong resistance +1."]


    ["Successfully resisted the Town Sea Canglong''s golden flame attack, Town Sea Canglong resistance +1."]


    ["Warning, current maximum health damage, six percent."]

 Chapter 10 Fighting the Dragon_3

    The Dragon Clan''s unique elemental fusion, which combined gold and fire, along with the power of ice elements comprehended over many years in the deep sea, could cause extreme pain and torment.Tang Xian''s consciousness neared collapse numerous times, solely relying on the terrifying life recovery power of Eden''s demonic children.


    Only during the moments of recovery would there be brief periods of clarity.


    This sustained injury was Tang Xian''s intention.


    In the analysis of this Sea-Controlling Azure Dragon''s needs, torturing itself or killing itself were equivalent demands.


    As long as he didn''t die, he could turn the tables.


    But to kill him, a cataclysmic creature only needed a moment''s breath.


    After calculating this,


    Tang Xian began to provoke the evil dragon and finally used his words to subtly suggest that it continues to torture him.


    This was somewhat a desperate gamble, but without any companions to help, it was all he could do.


    Even Tang Xian felt lucky that day.


    Although the current pain was almost unbearable, everything was developing according to his plan.


    "Insects, do you acknowledge your sins?"


    The Sea-Controling Azure Dragon released the elemental forces it had applied to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s consciousness quickly began to recover.


    He also instantly understood why the evil dragon asked this question; it wanted to see him beg for mercy before killing him.


    He showed a mocking face, weakly saying, S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I did a divination for you¡­ The divination shows that you have an omen of great peril today¡­ I suggest you kill me now, continue to torture me, and you will surely regret it!"


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    "Hahahahahahahaha¡­ Truly arrogant and ignorant!"


    The onslaught of ice.


    Countless ice spikes began frenziedly slashing at Tang Xian''s flesh.


    If the previous experience was like being dipped in boiling oil and frozen, this time it was more akin to death by a thousand cuts.


    The Sea-Controling Azure Dragon had already seen that this enforcer of order seemed to possess some kind of powerful life recovery ability.


    But it didn''t mind; this just added some fun to the torment of the invader.


    Ice spikes continued to pierce Tang Xian''s body, penetrating his joints.


    The flesh could not heal, as the wounds were blocked by solid ice.


    Tang Xian initially struggled, but as more spikes pierced him, like severing his spine, his body no longer obeyed his brain''s commands.


    He was completely paralyzed.


    The sea dragon watched this scene, laughing wildly.


    "Weak and despicable inferior creature, beg for mercy now, and I might consider a swift end for you."


    Tang Xian clenched his teeth, blood dripping continuously along the icicles.


    He was like the dead, no longer able to speak.


    His eyes were lifeless, his arms limply dangling, appearing completely devoid of any sign of life.


    Like a flag pierced by icicles. Hanging upon the ice spikes, tattered and barely alive.


    The Sea-Controling Azure Dragon found it somewhat dull.


    "To lose consciousness so quickly, insects will always be insects."


    It still did not plan to kill the target; for those who had humiliated it, it would make them kneel and beg, then die in pain.


    Turning away, the Sea-Controling Azure Dragon prepared to return to the far end of the great hall, where the glistening Soul Crystal lay.


    Misers are such, finding more joy in counting money than spending it.


    Rather, spending money was as agonizing to them as if it were costing their lives.


    It was the richest pauper under the sea.


    But after only a few steps, the Sea-Controling Azure Dragon thought it heard something.


    It sounded like the cracking of bones when one tilts their neck.


    With some confusion, it turned around and saw the very insect whose eyes had been scattered, slowly regaining a gleam.


    Tang Xian stretched his arms a few times, then one by one, he began to pull out the icicles that had impaled him.


    It was as if he was undergoing a visibly miraculous recovery.


    The bleeding stopped, and the wounds rapidly healed.


    Only the bloodstains on his torn clothes indicated what had occurred earlier.


    The Sea-Controling Azure Dragon was greatly puzzled and felt a trace of caution.


    "Your vitality is indeed astonishing. But you will regret coming back to your senses."


    Icicles far harder and thousands of times sharper than before rained down on Tang Xian like a storm.


    This was the true attack method of a cataclysmic boss creature.


    A full-powered strike could instantly freeze this entire marine area, causing an unprecedented disaster.


    Watching the massive ice spikes fall like a sudden storm, the Sea-Controling Azure Dragon snorted coldly.


    It had meant to leave, but the entire dragon''s body halted suddenly due to the sound of the ice crystals shattering.


    Countless ice spikes disintegrated as they fell on Tang Xian, like fragile soap bubbles; he lightly waved his hand, easily brushing them aside as if they had no mass or force, and they instantly broke apart.


    These spikes, capable of penetrating calamitous creatures, were all crushed by what seemed like feebly flimsy hands.


    Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Tang Xian smiled genially and said,


    "Now it''s my turn to catch you."

 Chapter 11 Dragon Knight Tang Xian

    The ice crystal that could penetrate any creature''s defense suddenly became as if it had no mass.The Sea-Dragon of suppressive might thought of an impossible situation, and its dragon eyes emitted an orange glow.


    In the windless hall, a ferocious gale suddenly sprang into existence.


    To summon wind and rain is the dragon''s prerogative, and beyond the golden fierce flames and the icy breath, the Sea-Dragon, as the ruler of the depths, possessed the ability to alter the weather.


    But for a creature of cataclysmic level, every move it made possessed unimaginable destructive power.


    The storm seemed to be compressed into an incredibly small space.


    Tang Xian could see the air currents continuously converging, compressing at a certain point.


    A mass of black energy, like a tiny black pearl, slowly grew larger and larger.


    It wasn''t until it had reached the size of a dragon''s head that the Sea-Dragon suddenly exhaled a breath of Dragon Breath, spewing the terrifying energy towards Tang Xian.


    The whole process took only a few seconds, Tang Xian only felt the surrounding tiny Soul Crystals trembling slightly.


    The tumultuous storm was compressed into a tiny speck, then shot towards the opponent.


    When the dragon''s gaze dissipated, that storm would suddenly explode.


    Its power was sufficient to reduce the enemy to dust amidst the endless blades of the tempest.


    If this extremity-compressed storm were to burst, it would be enough to raise continuous, towering waves across a vastly expansive sea area.


    But what happened next was very fantastical.


    The moment the black energy hit Tang Xian, the Sea-Dragon''s dragon eyes dimmed, the orange light vanished, and the storm abruptly dispersed.


    Tang Xian stood in the eye of the storm, silently watching the Sea-Dragon.


    His expression was calm. If it weren''t for his current state of nudity, he would probably appear much more intimidating.


    Tang Xian also wished for something to cover his ''404 area.''


    The problem was that he didn''t have the kind of form-fitting clothes that Sun Wukong and the Hulk had.


    His clothes had first corroded quite a bit from stomach acid, and then were melted by the golden fierce flames.


    Now, the wind blew away even the last piece of loincloth.


    Fortunately, the material of the prop bag was special and thus preserved, but it wouldn''t withstand much more damage.


    Nonetheless, the way he stood firm within the tempest still brought quite a shock to the Sea-Dragon.


    [Impossible!]


    It let out a dragon chant tinged with fear.


    Golden fierce flames, ice spears, storm, and lightning¡ªall attacks were unleashed simultaneously.


    Tang Xian was like Nezha, facing the heavenly tribulation after a three-year term.


    While he thought this, he realized it was quite apropos.


    Right in front of him was a dragon, and he happened to be some sort of ''Eden demon child.''


    But he didn''t need to shout: ''My fate is in my own hands, not in heaven''s!


    He was neither demon nor immortal.


    Thinking this way, he felt rather desolate, as if he were a monster born at the confluence of two worlds.


    Belonging neither to humanity nor to the myriad beasts.


    Seeing that lightning, snow, storm, and flames¡ªall sorts of tactics¡ªhad no effect, not even a hair on Tang Xian''s head stirring¡ª


    the Sea-Dragon finally remembered. The fear of all beasts being dominated by the Lord of Eden.


    [Who are you exactly?]


    It circled fearfully in the air, the hall doors had already closed, there was no escape, and the Sea-Dragon no longer fled.


    Tang Xian slowly aimed the hook claws of his Ultimate Gauntlet at the Sea-Dragon and said,


    "Let''s finish the fight, then we can discuss this epochal dilemma."


    The Sea-Dragon was now ninety percent sure that this humanoid creature possessed the power of Eden.


    It didn''t understand. This person didn''t have a Soul Crystal, so how could he have such strength?


    It watched Tang Xian warily, still harboring hostility.


    Eden creatures possess extremely unique abilities, becoming stronger in battle and more adept at countering a single creature.


    But there were great drawbacks as well, as their offensive power and defensive power were both extremely weak. Moreover, the growth of offensive and defensive abilities was separate.


    If one recklessly faced an opponent with too great a difference in strength, one could easily be killed.


    The most critical point was that these creatures had no resistance to speed. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Realizing this, the Sea-Dragon felt somewhat reassured.


    This feeble creature might have gained resistance to its own attacks, but it would never even be able to touch it!


    Tang Xian watched as the Sea-Dragon''s current needs continuously underwent various changes, and he began to believe that the evil dragon knew his identity.


    But even so, it still refused to surrender.


    There was much information in this.


    "Is it one of the seven servants of the Sea God? But it seems, before the Sea God died, he didn''t tell it many things?"


    Thinking this within his heart, Tang Xian started to calculate how to hit the Sea-Dragon.


    The Sea-Dragon didn''t speak either; it was fully on guard against Tang Xian.


    Even though Tang Xian was now an opponent it could not possibly defeat, it had no desire to surrender.


    The Sea God of yore had been bewitched by the Lord of Eden, and soon all the creatures in the ocean had succumbed.


    In truth, the Lord of Eden alone could not have conquered the sea.


    Such powerful Eden creatures feared most having a capable assistant.


    It had no intention of following in the Sea God''s footsteps, it had only promised to guard this palace until the person the Sea God awaited appeared. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    But who exactly the Sea God was waiting for, no one knew, and the Sea God had never mentioned it.


    The Sea-Dragon had long decided not to leave this place, to kill whomever came.


    To it, living every day with so many dazzling, bright Soul Crystals was delightful beyond words.


    The Sea-Dragon blew up a series of ice walls, much like defense fortifications.

 Chapter 11 Dragon Knight Tang Xian_2

    Tang Xian realized that this dragon was really dumb, much less adorable than Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, and its brain could become a unit of intelligence just like Dong Ran''s.It was probably equivalent to 0.8 Dong, after all, Dong Ran is fiercer.


    While the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon was on full alert, Tang Xian suddenly smiled.


    The hook claw shot out.


    At the same time, the entire great hall, centered on the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon within a hundred-meter radius, plunged into darkness instantaneously.


    Absolute darkness, as if all sources of light had been devoured completely.


    Tang Xian couldn''t see anything, and the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon''s eyes tried to illuminate the area, only to find that any flicker of light would instantly be swallowed by the darkness.


    The skill of the Great Tengu, Solar Eclipse.


    After activating Solar Eclipse, relying on memory and smell, Tang Xian couldn''t see the scene before him, but he could accurately locate the position of the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon.


    The Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon tried to escape the darkness; it was a calamity-level creature, and a flying dragon at that, its speed, although not comparable to Lei Xiao''s, surpassed that of many other creatures in agility.


    Fleeing at full speed, it was beyond Tang Xian''s touch.


    But the most excellent part of the Solar Eclipse skill wasn''t creating darkness in a certain place but creating darkness centered on a certain object.


    Wherever the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon flew, the darkness followed its center to that location.


    It instantly flew a vast distance away.


    Tang Xian fired his hook claw into the empty air and could only watch from a stone pillar as the blind dragon crashed around.


    He adjusted his breathing to be as silent as possible.


    As the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon approached with the darkness, Tang Xian shot the hook claw once more towards the center of the darkness.


    Releasing his precise throwing skill, the hook claw quickly targeted the beast, and the clang of metal confirmed to Tang Xian that he had hit the malicious dragon.


    "Despicable humans! Despicable humans!"


    The Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon seemed to realize that something was off.


    It had no idea that Tang Xian had such a tactic up his sleeve, one that could deprive it of its sight.


    Especially when it heard a noise on a patch of dragon scales on its back, it was instantly seized by fear, and the speed at which it thrashed about increased exponentially!


    "Why run? Have you ever seen a fish netted and still able to leap out?"


    Within a mere two seconds, Tang Xian was dragged around the great hall several circles by the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon, but eventually, he managed to climb onto the dragon''s back as he retracted his hook claw.


    He fixed himself firmly onto the dragon''s back with the Ultimate Gloves, no matter how the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon struggled, whether simulating a roller coaster or a free-fall tower ride¡ª


    There was no way to shake Tang Xian off.


    "My Fat Tiger is about to start hitting people, you know."


    The Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon, knowing what this implied, grew even more frantic, wildly spewing ice spikes, lightning, and storms.


    But it was no use, Tang Xian clung to it like a dog''s skin plaster embedded in the skin, it would need to come off with layers of flesh.


    Even though his fists did no damage to the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon, to the extent that it couldn''t even sense them, Tang Xian was playing a psychological game. He didn''t throw a punch without counting a number.


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    Each count struck terror into the creature.


    It knew all too well the terror of Eden''s power; if it had been directed only against itself, it might have been fine, but if this youngster gathered enough power, it would be the entire Dragon Clan that would suffer later! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But no matter how it struggled, it was all meaningless to Tang Xian.


    "I''ve survived wave after wave of your torment; do you really think you can shake me off now?"


    "128!"


    "129!"


    "130!"


    ...


    ...


    "541!"


    "542!"


    ...


    ...


    In the hundreds of seconds that followed, every second was an agony for the Dragon of the Sea-Guarding Azure Dragon.


    It was full of regret.


    This despicable creature was actually telling the truth!


    In normal circumstances, statements like "you''ll regret it if you don''t kill me" would all seem like pleas for a quick end.


    But now it realized that this cunning creature from Eden was speaking the truth! These tacticians, all so underhanded!


    The Gem Sperm Whale King greatly regretted its actions and was also full of confusion. Why would creatures from Eden not have a Soul Crystal?


    The blood within its body clearly had the scent of humans!


    It was still trying to shake off Tang Xian, although it knew in its heart that it was probably going to meet its downfall here today.


    Suddenly, the Gem Sperm Whale King thought of something and let out a dragon''s roar.


    The palace''s gates suddenly opened.


    But at this point, Tang Xian said:


    "Do you know how I survived? I was first eaten by a great tengu, then the great tengu was consumed by a ghost king fish, which in turn was eaten by a mountain-moving fish, and so on through dozens more kinds of fish. In the end, they were all eaten by a sea monster."


    The body of the Gem Sperm Whale King trembled, and a look of despair appeared in its dragon''s eyes.


    "Good, you get my point, don''t you? It''s no use calling for reinforcements. There''s not a single creature in this sea that can fight me!


    However, this is the first time I''ve met someone who understands my abilities and weaknesses so clearly. If you had realized sooner what I was, you wouldn''t have ended up in this predicament, would you?"


    The Gem Sperm Whale King felt wronged, and the doors of the great hall slowly closed.


    It ultimately chose to believe Tang Xian''s words. How else could this person have come here?


    Tang Xian laughed, feeling that he had misspoken, as this dragon''s intelligence was at most half a one.


    The giant dragon flying in the palace''s sky suddenly fell to the ground due to the intense pain.


    Even after adding a new unit to his unparalleled achievements in the sea of consciousness, Tang Xian did not let go.


    He was still riding on the dragon''s back, looking every bit the majestic dragon knight.


    It''s just that this dragon was male, and as a dragon knight, Tang Xian felt he couldn''t compare to the little Taoist from the Quanzhen Sect.


    "Now, I can kill you with just ten punches, did you know?"


    The Gem Sperm Whale King didn''t know, only aware that Eden''s creatures would possess an attack ability that could not be defended against by a single species after making contact with an opponent.


    But the specifics of that ability were unknown to it.


    [Please spare me, spare me!]


    The severe soul-deep pain instantly made the Gem Sperm Whale King surrender.


    A greedy person naturally fears death, and Tang Xian was not surprised that the Gem Sperm Whale King suddenly changed its attitude by one hundred and eighty degrees.


    He still had one hand pressed against a huge dragon scale, and said:


    "Now we enter the ''I ask, you answer'' segment. If I enjoy this game, you won''t die."


    [Great Lord of Eden! Please ask away! I shall tell the truth!]


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, bullying the weak yet fearing the strong, arrogant beyond measure, savage and unreasonable, greedy and lustful, you really are the model of dragons."


    "I''m asking you, can you truly not hear the voice of the sea?"


    [The voice of the sea... How could there be a voice? Lord Sea God appointed me to guard the treasury for hundreds of years, and I''ve never heard any kind of voice.]


    "Okay, second question, what''s with those islands on the surface of the sea? Are they part of the Sea God''s body?"


    [Yes, after Lord Sea God died, parts of his body transformed into the islands. He had a body as massive as a continent when alive! Most of his body is buried under the sea.]


    "Why can the islands move?"


    [The parts of the body floating on the surface of the sea are managed by another servant of Lord Sea God, the Gem Sperm Whale King. It has hundreds of massive tentacles capable of piercing the deep sea. The movement of the islands is its responsibility.]


    "So, what other servants does the Sea God have?"


    [Apart from the great squid and me, there is a Gem Sperm Whale King that is bigger than the sea monster, a very old turtle in the icy seas of the northern continent is also a servant of Lord Sea God. Among the seven servants, the nine-headed Hydra and the demon shark have died. The last servant is the sea monster that Lord Sea God split from himself.]


    [These sea monsters only obey the commands of me, the great squid, and the whale king. They are responsible for managing affairs in the deep sea and also for transporting the offerings from the shore.]


    Tang Xian was shocked.


    From these fragments of information, he could sense the might of the Sea God.


    What mattered most was the vastness. When a creature''s size exceeds a certain threshold, simply existing is a deterrent to the world, even if it does nothing else.


    The volume of the sea monster was already challenging the limits of human imagination. So many sea monsters were just a fraction of the Sea God''s separate parts.


    This did not even include its dormant main body and the islands controlled by the Gem Sperm Whale King...


    He found it hard to imagine how Eden''s demonic child managed to take the Sea God to invade the Human World in the first place.


    Just how enormous must a complete Sea God be? Comparable to a moon?


    Such a terrifying creature has no place in the Human World for its existence.


    Tang Xian did not delve deeper into these thoughts and said:


    "Continue, this question... hmm, don''t be nervous, I''m just asking casually, can you transform into a human form?"


    The Gem Sperm Whale King shivered violently, not knowing why, but feeling that this question... was a matter of life and death for itself.

 Chapter 12 The Truth of History

    The Zhenhai Canglong shuddered nervously.Tang Xian said amiably,


    "Don''t worry, as long as you tell me honestly, it''s fine if you can''t transform into human form...that''s pretty good too."


    [I can...]


    The Zhenhai Canglong stared into Tang Xian''s eyes, deciding it would change its answer to cannot if anything seemed amiss.


    Tang Xian nodded his head, showing no sign of disappointment.


    If it couldn''t, in fact, having eaten the first calamity-level creature that was a dragon wasn''t too bad. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If it could, keeping it around had many uses.


    "Don''t be nervous, it''s not like I''ll eat you if you say you can''t. I''m not that kind of person," Tang Xian quipped effortlessly.


    [I''m...I''m not nervous.]


    Tang Xian found that this great evil dragon was truly cowardly without limit.


    After all, being suppressed by the deceased Sea God for so long, it had already shown its tendency to bully the weak and fear the strong.


    "Since you can, why not transform into a human form?"


    [My strength would weaken, and...I''m ugly.]


    Tang Xian wasn''t upset. Dragons were proud beings, and from the abilities of the Zhenhai Canglong, one could tell that this was a species favored by the creator.


    It was normal for them to think their true form looked better.


    [Have you finished asking your questions?]


    "No, it''s not your turn to ask questions. Next question, do you have any clothes here?"


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    [Clothes?] The Zhenhai Canglong was puzzled.


    "Yes, there are people waiting for me above the sea, all of them women. It wouldn''t be good to meet them looking like this."


    The Zhenhai Canglong looked at Tang Xian with uncertainty and said,


    [The ability of the Soul Crystal can create such external objects.]


    Tang Xian paused. He knew about this function of the Soul Crystal. Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu did it this way.


    They were creatures from the mineral area, so how could there possibly be human clothes?


    Tang Xian said,


    "I don''t have a Soul Crystal. Can you do it with your abilities?"


    The Zhenhai Canglong nodded but then added,


    [I can, but if you get too far away from me and I can''t sense you...]


    "Don''t worry, you''ll be following me from now on."


    The dragon''s body trembled once again; it had no desire to follow Tang Xian and quickly said,


    [Lord Sea God commanded me to guard this place and forced me to make a Dragon Origin Blood Oath. I cannot break this oath!]


    The Zhenhai Canglong thought that with this, it could escape Tang Xian.


    "What''s a Dragon Origin Blood Oath?" Tang Xian stroked his chin, pondering.


    [It''s a unique oath of the Dragon Clan. Once made, it''s unbreakable. If the oath is violated, I will be doomed forever!]


    "There''s such a good thing? Why didn''t you say so earlier? Make one for me too."


    The Zhenhai Canglong looked at Tang Xian, utterly baffled.


    Tang Xian smiled in a very friendly way.


    "I should''ve thought of this earlier. Given your nasty nature, even if there are so many treasures here, how could you willingly stay at the bottom of the deep sea? It would''ve been bearable if the Sea God were still alive, but it''s dead now. How could it make you guard this place for so long? It was all to save your life, wasn''t it? Tell me, what exactly was the oath you made at the beginning?"


    The Zhenhai Canglong wore an expression that screamed, "Why did I bring that up and trap myself?"


    Fortunately, the expressions of dragons differ from those of humans.


    But it was sure that it had just dug a hole for itself.


    "Stop dawdling, or I''ll pluck off each of your dragon scales one by one."


    [I''ll say it...I''ll say it...I promised Lord Sea God I would guard this place until the person it was waiting for arrived, without taking a single step away!]


    "Good, I am the person it was waiting for. You can''t hear the voices in the sea, but I can. Now I want you to make a Dragon Origin Blood Oath to be loyal to me forever and obey my commands."


    [Despicable...Great creator of Eden, I cannot leave this place, please spare me!]


    Tang Xian didn''t waste words. His hand, pressed against the dragon scale, exerted a slight force and instantly tore off a scale.


    The Zhenhai Canglong''s body soared into the sky in an instant, wildly thrashing about from the intense pain.


    Tang Xian''s expression remained calm. This same dragon had wanted to kill him just before.


    It was different from little creatures like Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang, and different from clan leaders such as Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng.


    This evil dragon was rotten from head to tail.


    Without saying another word, he plucked off another dragon scale.


    "Earlier, you slowly cut through my flesh with ice spikes. Now, I''m plucking your scales off one by one. It''s fair."


    The Zhenhai Canglong was still somewhat unwilling to submit. If Tang Xian was indeed the person the Sea God was waiting for, it would mean it had upheld the Blood Oath, finally gaining its freedom. How could it fall under the control of another now?


    [How can you prove it! How can you prove that you are the person Lord Sea God was waiting for! Ahhh! Stop it!]


    Tang Xian continued to rip off the dragon scales. After achieving his unparalleled accomplishment, the body of the evil dragon was as fragile as the ice crystals it spat out.


    "You only have the right to choose obedience or death, not the privilege to demand any explanation from me. Whatever I say, will be. When you join my team later, remember that, Student Tang Feiji."


    The Zhenhai Canglong felt a desire to die. What the hell was Tang Feiji? Such an unpleasant name; this despicable human being, even their aesthetics were so vulgar!


    [Please spare me!]


    "I am about to pluck out your dragon horn. No objections, right?" Tang Xian said.


    [Spare me, please spare me! I swear! I will follow you forever!]


    The Zhenhai Canglong became desperate. A dragon without horns was, in its eyes, as pitiful and lowly as a snake.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Fine, make your Blood Oath. Don''t try to deceive me; I can see through whether you are being honest."


    [I dare not... With my soul and flesh, I make this irrevocable oath. From this day on... I shall follow you forever! Obey your orders!]

 Chapter 12 The Truth of History_2

    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon returned to the ground, and once again, orange light surged within its eyes.After the vow was concluded, these lights slowly traced across each and every dragon scale.


    Tang Xian watched all this with calmness, nodding:


    "That''s good enough."


    He jumped off the dragon''s back.


    Seeing the current honesty level at a hundred for the first time, Tang Xian was certain that the dragon had not lied.


    [Current Honesty Level: 100 (Blood Oath)]


    He had been wondering why honesty levels over fifty could receive an assessment akin to sincere trust and promise fulfillment. It turned out that, in the realm of a hundred, there was also such an appraisal.


    Words are more valuable than life, so it seems.


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon''s eyes were filled with a sense of decadence.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Now that you''re one of us, there''s no need to be afraid. I will show you the benefits of following me in the shortest time possible. Now, help me with some clothes."


    [Yes¡­ What kind of armor do you need?]


    "It doesn''t matter, just something to cover the body."


    As the words fell, the Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon nodded, and with a flash of light in its eyes,


    Tang Xian felt an extremely light, almost weightless armor enveloping him.


    This suit of armor looked like the battle armor of an ancient general.


    Tang Xian wasn''t concerned where the Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon had seen such a design.


    He thought that Bai Mansheng''s pure white attire, Qing JiuYu''s crimson dress, and the armor on his own body all had an ancient style, likely associated with the Court of Thousands of Beasts.


    "Do you dislike transforming into a human form?"


    [Humans, unsightly.]


    "Quite good, I don''t fancy riding a big man anyway, too philosophical. Let''s stick to this from now on."


    [I will follow your arrangement.]


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon had resigned itself to its fate.


    Tang Xian nodded with satisfaction, his previous ordeal of drowning, enduring storms, thunder, ice, frost, and fierce flames had not been in vain.


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    This time he had actually acquired an apocalyptic-level boss as a mount.


    In the future, when traversing the mining area, there would be no need to push Xiao Jiu to the brink.


    Tang Xian''s gaze fell on the red furnace in the center of the hall and said:


    "What is this furnace for?"


    [This is Lord Sea God''s stomach.]


    "A stomach? Does the stomach of a dead creature still serve a purpose?"


    Tang Xian was shocked, growing even more curious about these apocalyptic creatures.


    [Of course, although Lord Sea God has already perished, its body is too massive, many parts are operating independently¡ªit can be said to be dead, but also, in a way, it is still alive.]


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon still spoke of the Sea God with much respect.


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "So, as its former servants, you must maintain the illusion that the Sea God is still alive? These Soul Crystals are what you feed into its stomach, right?"


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    Tang Xian roughly understood; the spirit had died yet had to keep up the facade of clinging to life with a broken body.


    All this was likely to withstand The Orderers.


    The content on the Stele in Level 8 of Pyramid 39 indicated that The Orderers greatly dreaded these apocalyptic creatures.


    Even though most had perished, they still did not dare to invade the mining area.


    When mentioning the Sea God, they only ordered humans to go.


    The power of apocalyptic creatures, perhaps true to their name, bore the divine abilities to bring about apocalypse.


    "How did the Sea God die? In the version I''ve heard, an Eden Demon Child led the Sea God in invading other worlds. What''s the truth, do you know?"


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon shook its head, its eyes filled with anger.


    [Those deceitful Orderers! Lord Sea God had no way of leaving this world. The technology created by The Orderers could indeed transfer some creatures, but absolutely could not move an existence like Lord Sea God!]


    [Master, you are not an Eden Demon Child; that is a blasphemous title The Orderers have given to the Sovereign of Eden. You are the Sovereign of Eden, one of the earliest lifeforms in this world!]


    Tang Xian nodded, easily understanding.


    Just like the Sea God is called the Sea Demon in another world.


    In this world, Eden Demon Child is probably a disrespectful title.


    Sovereign of Eden is the correct term for this world.


    "So that battle wasn''t about the Sovereign of Eden leading the Sea God to invade, but to repel an invasion?"


    [Of course! We don''t have The Orderers'' technology to cross into other worlds at all! Those despicable invaders, as the resources of their own world gradually depleted, set their sights on our world!]


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon appeared as if it had been a participant in that battle hundreds of years ago. Mentioning The Orderers, it was full of rage.


    "Before me, have you seen any other Sovereigns of Eden?"


    [Never seen. But I''ve heard.]


    "So, you didn''t recognize me at first glance because I don''t have a Soul Crystal? And creatures from Eden are supposed to have Soul Crystals, right?"


    [Yes.]


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon still seemed somewhat puzzled.


    Tang Xian fell into thought.


    "It seems my identity is quite complicated; this is troublesome. By the way, do you know anything about the Human World?"


    [I''ve never been there, but I know those despicable humans are controlled by The Orderers'' lies!]


    "I do agree with that point. Speaking of which, given the current resource reserves in the mining area, human mining operations are hardly significant. Humans cannot survive in this world for a full seven days, which greatly reduces their efficiency and progress in transforming the mining area."


    The Sea-Suppressing Azure Dragon suddenly let out a cold laugh:


    [Any creature can stay in this world! Only The Orderers, who have been banished by the crystalline power of the six greatest Beast Gods including Lord Sea God, can never enter this world.]

 Chapter 12 The Truth of History_3

    Tang Xian froze.The words of the Zhenhai Canglong instantly overturned his understanding.


    "Are you saying... humans cannot survive in the mine area for seven days, not because the mine area rejects humans?"


    "Of course, there are many weak species in this world that haven''t evolved Soul Crystals, but they can still survive."


    "Then what is the real reason that humans can''t stay in the mine area for seven days?"


    "Because humans are low-level creatures created by the Orderers!"


    Tang Xian recalled the previous conversation he had with Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu about why humans couldn''t stay for seven days¡ª


    Neither woman knew. Zhenhai Canglong didn''t know either.


    Tang Xian frowned, starting to think seriously.


    "Humans have nothing to do with the Orderers. Before the Great Catastrophe, humans knew nothing of the mine world; it was only after the Pyramid that, under the guidance of the Pyramid''s hierarchical information, humans began to reclaim the mine area. Of course, this was also for survival resources.


    Almost every element necessary for survival could be obtained through the transformation of various minerals in the mine area."


    "Humans once saw the mine area as a new world, a new home where they could live. As long as one could survive in the mine area for a long time, it would inevitably lead to a break from the Pyramid''s sway."


    "But due to the terror of the mine area creatures and the seven-day limitation, humans have been unable to reconcile with this world."


    It was like a light suddenly flashed through Tang Xian''s mind.


    Zhenhai Canglong didn''t speak; it simply silently watched its new master muttering to himself. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian said:


    "I see... So it''s not the mine area that''s rejecting us... but a method left by the Orderers that''s rejecting us?"


    As he began to think in this direction, he suddenly found that many problems could be explained.


    "The Orderers can''t enter the mine area, so they can only use humans to continuously weaken it.


    "And humans wanting to find a new homeland for survival, if this were achieved, it would mean escaping from the control of the Pyramid.


    So, in order not to let humans escape from the Pyramid, the Orderers endowed humans with a new genetic code¡ªtalents."


    Tang Xian suddenly froze; he had just let his mind race toward an extreme assumption.


    But when he came back to his senses, he was shocked by his own thought.


    His breathing became slightly rapid, and after quite some time, Tang Xian calmed down and continued his hypothesis.


    "The Stele says that talents are a vision granted by the Orderers to humans. Perhaps it''s exactly this bit of Orderer genetic code that prevents humans from livingsustainingly in the mine area."


    "But not everyone can activate this sequence... The people at the bottom have no talents; they are all forsaken... Maybe it''s because their genes reject the Orderers'' genes."


    "From childhood, we undergo many checks, injections of various resistance drugs; maybe the genetic modification starts at that time."


    Cold sweat covered Tang Xian''s forehead.


    "The people at the bottom, maybe they are the ones who can truly live in the mine area, but because of the Pyramid''s talent-based system that determines the value of life, they can only toil at the edge of the mine area."


    "Come nightfall... they are forcibly expelled from the mine area, so no one can truly verify."


    "Plus, the talentless ones have difficulty surviving in the non-green zones of the mine area... so has this grand deception gone undiscovered for hundreds of years?"


    Tang Xian understood that all his deductions were speculative, but his expression was grim.


    He seldom looked so compassionate, especially about something without evidence. All this stemmed from deductions based on the seven-day rule.


    But at this moment, he couldn''t avoid the thought¡ª


    Perhaps, in both worlds, humans are the most pitiable characters.


    After a long while, Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "I need to confirm some things. This will require you to take me away from these seas, back to the mainland in the north, and I may even go to the world of the Orderers. Some things I must verify for myself; once these matters are settled, I will grant you your freedom and will never harm you or your kin. Do we have a deal?"


    "At your command!"


    Upon hearing Tang Xian''s conditions, Zhenhai Canglong respectfully bowed its dragon head. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then let''s prepare to set out. We start for home today."

 Chapter 13 Return on Dragonback

    Island.The Golden Patterned Leopards of the leopard tribe began to celebrate their unprecedented victory.


    Jin Lu looked on with a furrowed brow at the little girl before her on the seashore.


    "Little sister Xiaojiu, your brother, he can''t come back anymore. He was our tribe''s benefactor, and I will take care of you. Come back with me¡­"


    The sea breeze brushed against Tang Xiaojiu''s petite frame, her face still marked by stubborn anger.


    "I don''t want to go back at all."


    "Tang Xian brother! Tang Xian brother!"


    Tang Xiaojiu started to shout again and again.


    It was as if she believed that by shouting at the sea, she would get a response.


    Jin Lu said:


    "He''s dead¡­ No one can survive falling into the sea."


    "You''re lying! Tang Xian brother! Tang Xian brother, it''s Xiaojiu, I don''t want to stay here! Take me back!"


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t turn her head, continuing to shout endlessly at the sea.


    Time passed by slowly, and the sky also grew gradually darker.


    Tang Xiaojiu stood on the beach where Tang Xian had sunk into the sea, repeatedly calling out tirelessly.


    "Tang Xian brother, Tang Xian brother, you promised me."


    Her expression slowly stopped being angry.


    It was like a child suddenly lost in a crowd¡ªthough only missing one person, the entire world seemed to become strange.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s expression became one of panic.


    "Tang Xian brother... Tang Xian brother... you promised me..."


    By nightfall, Tang Xiaojiu was still shouting.


    Her little face, filled with panic, slowly took on an expression of sadness and despair.


    She hadn''t moved an inch, standing there like a statue.


    Her throat was already hoarse, but she still kept repeating the few words for Tang Xian brother.


    But the sea did not respond.


    Jin Lu had never thought a child could be so stubborn.


    Several times she tried to pull Tang Xiaojiu away, but she couldn''t move her no matter what.


    "Little sister Xiaojiu, come back with me. It''s been so long, he''s been taken by Lord Sea God¡­" Jin Lu said with heartache. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I won''t go back, Tang Xian brother promised me, he wouldn''t die! He wouldn''t leave me behind..."


    Her hoarse voice carried an unprecedented sorrow.


    Jin Lu truly worried that if she continued shouting at the sea, she would become mute.


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    "Tang Xian brother, you promised me, I''m Xiaojiu."


    Tang Xiaojiu gazed blankly into the dark sea, then once again started calling out, over and over.


    Her voice grew more and more raspy, filled with a crying tone.


    Jin Lu shook her head, unable to comprehend how Tang Xian had such an important place in this child''s heart.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s voice grew fainter, as her tears became unstoppable.


    It was as if she worried that if she called too softly, the person in the sea wouldn''t hear her.


    Ever since she was small, those foxes always looked at her with disgust, as if seeing an unrecognized different kind.


    Qing was always busy, and there were few days she could spend with Tang Xiaojiu.


    When she watched other little foxes playing with each other, Tang Xiaojiu''s eyes were filled with envy.


    She often asked:


    Qing, why doesn''t anyone play with me? I''m so well-behaved.


    But Qing JiuYu was at a loss for words, simply hugging Tang Xiaojiu gently.


    She thought she would probably live alone like this forever.


    Until the day Qing brought Tang Xian to their nests in the forest.


    Some missing childhood pieces slowly started to become fulfilled.


    Even though she met many people later on, Tang Xiaojiu always felt that all these were given to her by Tang Xian brother.


    It was as if her life as an outcast among foxes ended, and with the name Tang Xiaojiu, she began anew.


    Thinking of this, Tang Xiaojiu wiped away her tears and continued to call out like a fool.


    Her calling could not even stir a splash in the water, so how could it reach the far depths of the sea?


    Even if that person could hear her, how could he climb back from the deep chasm-like sea?


    Jin Lu looked at the little girl with a pained heart.


    She had seen many departures in death and life, but seeing such an innocently childish kid with the sadness of having lost everything, shouting for someone who could not possibly respond, she felt an indescribable grief.


    But where in this world are there miracles?


    Jin Lu thought this and was about to pick up Tang Xiaojiu.


    Whether the child was willing or not, she couldn''t let her keep calling out like this.


    But at that moment, the sky suddenly became covered in thunderclouds, and the previously calm sea surface began to churn violently.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s voice was drowned out by the sudden surge of huge waves.


    A potent aura, never felt before, seeped through the deep sea and permeated around the island.


    Jin Lu felt an extremely dangerous signal coming from her Soul Crystal.


    It was far more terrifying than the orange creature she had faced many years ago.


    Thunder roared in anger, and the night was instantly torn apart by lightning.


    Countless thunderbolts fell on the nearby reefs, deafening.


    In the midst of the raging winds, a huge whirlpool suddenly emerged on the surface of the sea.


    Jin Lu shielded Tang Xiaojiu, watching in shock at these signs that had never appeared before.


    Because from a young age, everyone had always followed the rules of the island, and the Sea God festival had never been disrupted, so the sea had never been this angry.


    In her memory, only when the Sea God was enraged, such a terrifying whirlpool would appear.


    While Jin Lu was bewildered, another anomaly appeared on the sea.


    The whirlpool slowly shrank, yet towering waves rose in the distance.


    The Hell Flame Wolves and Golden Patterned Leopards on the island, all lay down on the ground.

 Chapter 13 Riding the Dragon Home_2

    A dragon''s roar, louder than all thunder, seemed to echo through the depths of their souls, instantly exemplifying the way higher-order spiritual beings suppress common creatures. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Upon hearing that dragon''s roar, Tang Xiaojiu had no particular reaction, but Jin Lu immediately turned deathly pale.


    A massive white dragon rose straight from the abyss!


    Thunder exploded, wind raged, rain poured.


    Towering waves instantly rolled into the vortex. The massive white dragon soared through the sky, and in the flashing lightning, all living creatures knelt in reverence.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s eyes were fixed on the dragon, disbelief written all over her face.


    Her voice raspy, she yelled at the top of her lungs:


    "Tang Xian, Tang Xian!"


    The sound of wind and rain was like steely hooves crossing a frozen river; Tang Xiaojiu''s voice was instantly overwhelmed, but Jin Lu, who was close by, heard her.


    She suddenly looked towards the head of the dragon, her eyes widening in shock.


    Indeed, there was someone at the brow of the massive sea dragon!


    The person wore ancient armor that shone through the thunderstorm, but the face was one Jin Lu recognized.


    "Tang Xian¡­ is actually still alive?"


    To everyone''s perception, the sea dragon was the manifestation of Lord Sea God.


    Jin Lu watched incredulously.


    As the giant dragon slowly came to a halt in the air, the waves and vortex also began to calm.


    Only the distant thunder continued to light up the night sky.


    The dragon''s eyes, aglow with orange light, dignifiedly surveyed the island.


    In the apocalyptic war hundreds of years ago, almost all end-time creatures had perished.


    Apocalyptic boss creatures became the most powerful existences in this world.


    Especially the Dragon Clan, favored by the creator, they were nearly immune to all elemental damage, yet could control wind, rain, lightning, and thunder.


    Although they too were categorized as apocalyptic boss creatures, dragons often proved an entire level stronger in combat than other beings of the orange tier.


    And there stood Tang Xian atop the dragon''s head, between its eyebrows, like an ancient deity.


    "Alright, let the storm cease and the sea be calm," he said.


    The sea dragon let out a roar.


    The orange glow in its eyes gradually subsided.


    The wind faded, clouds dispersed, rain stopped.


    The dragon''s massive body slowly descended; as its whiskers neared the ground, Jin Lu, shocked, watched the imposing holy beast a few feet away, unsure how to react.


    "Tang Xian¡­" Seeing Tang Xian, Tang Xiaojiu didn''t care about the dragon''s fierce gaze and started running toward him.


    [Inferior and despicable fox demon, dare not approach my master!]


    The Sovereign Sea Dragon was about to cause trouble but saw Tang Xian gently stroking its horn with one hand.


    "This is your future little master. If you dare harm her, I''ll skin you alive," Tang Xian said with a smile, yet the Sovereign Sea Dragon felt a chill down its spine.


    Jumping down from the massive dragon''s head, Tang Xian caught Tang Xiaojiu as she ran to him.


    After the storm had passed, he frowned at the sound of Tang Xiaojiu''s voice cracking with joy:


    "What happened to your throat?"


    "Big Cat Sister said you fell into the sea, that no one can come back from there, I was afraid you wouldn''t return, so I kept calling for you," Tang Xiaojiu said softly, her voice almost devoid of tone.


    "When did this happen?" Tang Xian looked toward Jin Lu.


    "Shortly after the big battle ended, we all thought you were dead, only little sister Xiaojiu ¨C she kept calling for you by the sea without stopping. I tried to pull her away, but she wouldn''t budge," Jin Lu was still in shock.


    Tang Xian let out a silent chuckle, teasingly flicked Tang Xiaojiu''s nose.


    As if seeing the shadow of someone on this foolish child.


    "I will never leave you behind. If I ever disappear, you don''t need to call for me, I will definitely come find you. Your brother will not lie to you."


    "But Big Cat Sister said you could die."


    "Remember this, your brother Tang Xian will never die."


    "Mhm! Brother Tang Xian will never die!"


    Tang Xiaojiu laughed happily, tears mingling with her laughter, her voice hoarse.


    Tang Xian, heart aching, rubbed her head and then put her down, taking her hand as he said:


    "Tomorrow, we can return to the Sea of Trees."


    Tang Xiaojiu started with surprise, about to speak.


    Tang Xian made a ''shush'' gesture, adding:


    "As a punishment for calling me all afternoon, and giving me callouses on my ears from it, you''re not allowed to speak from now on unless I give you permission to speak."


    Tang Xiaojiu promptly covered her mouth with both hands, nodding earnestly.


    "You want to ask how we are going to get back, right?"


    Tang Xiaojiu continued nodding.


    "This dragon will carry us across this sea. Its name is Tang Feiji; from now on, it will be our guard and mount."


    Tang Feiji felt very wronged.


    Humiliated, resentful, and a bit cowardly.


    It pondered over the fact that it was at least a dragon, and serving as a mount for the Lord of Eden was one thing, but why should a little fox also ride on its back?


    It originally wanted to protest, but then it saw the warning glance shot inadvertently by Tang Xian while holding the little girl''s hand.


    Tang Feiji immediately lost its spirit.


    The scales that had been plucked from its body hadn''t even grown back; it didn''t dare to provoke Tang Xian again.


    As the saying goes, you can either submit to intimidation for zero or countless times. Tang Feiji had no idea that in the future, the species riding on its back would become numerous.


    "Let''s go, stop standing there stupidly. Go to your territory, my sister and I still need to rest for the night."


    Jin Lu nodded blankly.


    She lifted her head several times and only when she saw that the dragon remained circling in the sky did she finally confirm the reality before her eyes.


    "This is the first time I''ve seen someone come out alive from these seas."


    "Then you must be seeing someone riding a sea dragon for the first time, too."


    "Yes... Is that dragon possibly¡ª"


    "It''s not the Sea God, but it might be considered the Sea God''s servant. The Sea God has acknowledged me and let it follow me, to ferry me across the sea."


    Tang Xian''s tone remained calm and light, as if such an event was nothing out of the ordinary.


    It''s not that he was intentionally showing off. In reality, when he was dragged into the sea by the Great Tengu, Tang Xian also had no confidence in what would happen.


    "You really... are quite extraordinary."


    Jin Lu didn''t know what to say and ended up with just that sentence.


    Tang Xian thought for a moment, then looking at the beautiful back of the cat-girl in front of him, he said:


    "I asked the Sea God about some things. The Sea God festival is indeed necessary. Initially, my plan wasn''t to cross the sea in one step, but to set up a few dog and donkey meat restaurants on each island."


    Jin Lu didn''t speak, just listened earnestly.


    "But now the situation has changed, and I''ve been quite lucky because I can leave this place directly. Moreover, for the time being, you indeed need the Sea God''s blessing."


    "Tomorrow, I''ll help you deal with those Hell Flame Wolves. With this dumb dragon and you, I think they should cooperate obediently."


    Tang Xian''s original plan was to be a major shareholder of the sea islands, with the Sea God ruling below the surface and him taking control of the seas above.


    This plan was a long-term one, requiring the implementation on one island after another.


    The reason for doing this was simply to gain some benefits from the Sea God.


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    After the experience in the Undersea City, however, he gradually came to agree with the Sea God''s approach.


    Indeed, the Sea God was farming these creatures, but it was also striving to protect them and even the mining area.


    The illusion of the Sea God still being alive couldn''t be shattered just yet; it still needed to be maintained.


    So much so that when Tang Xian was leaving, he didn''t take many crystals from the Undersea City, just picked up two or three at random.


    "What does Lord Sea God actually look like?"


    "He has seven faces, just like the legends you''ve heard."


    Jin Lu nodded, accepting this explanation.


    Tang Xian went on:


    "I''ll tell you some dog-raising methods from another world. Once wolves are tamed, they are very loyal creatures. In the future, if other islands approach yours, as arranged by the Sea God, these Hell Flame Wolves can also become a military force."


    "Thank you, it''s like you were sent by the Sea God to save our Leopard Clan."


    "You could say that," Tang Xian didn''t show false modesty.


    "After I''ve done all of this, I''ll take my sister and leave, heading north. We may meet again in the future, but at least for a short while, we won''t."


    Jin Lu wasn''t shy and said:


    "If you ever need help from my Leopard Clan in the future, we will surely assist you!"


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    Everything went according to plan, just like Tang Xian had arranged, and the Hell Flame Wolves would soon become livestock on this island.


    After explaining all the matters clearly, Tang Xian rode onto Tang Feiji''s dragon back with Tang Xiaojiu.


    When it came to saying goodbye, Tang Xian always kept it simple.


    Just like the farewells to Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng.


    Or that day on the eighth level of the fortress, saying goodbye to Li Xiaoyu and Dong Ran and the others.


    He was always very calm, as if he never knew what parting sorrow was.


    It''s really just because there will always be another meeting.


    [Where to, my master?]


    The night before had been stormy, but today the sky was clear and bright.


    Tang Xian looked toward the distant clouds and said:


    "Northward. We''re going back to the mainland of the North."

 Chapter 14 Major Client

    After the invasion incident on the eighth level of the thirty-ninth fortress, people defined that day as "the birth of the demon child". S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Following the birth of the demon child, humans held many meetings in search of the child''s whereabouts.


    Adding to the already ignited battle of the Yuepela Plains, the lords of the fortresses and other key personnel all arrived at the thirty-ninth fortress.


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    Represented by Song Que, the Song Family served as the war''s general commander, while the Li family, represented by Li Wanye, was responsible for overseeing various war operations.


    This was one month after the birth of the demon child, the fifteenth day of the battle on the Yuepela Plains.


    The severity of this war far exceeded people''s expectations.


    It was originally believed that the human armies could at least reach the Yuepela Plains with minimal losses.


    But the reality proved to be a great disappointment.


    The armies of the gifted encountered many herds of beasts along the way. From the western Red Clay Canyon to the Yuepela Plains, nearly twenty percent of their combat power was lost.


    Many hunters and regular troops sacrificed their lives, even though none encountered a calamity-level creature along the way.


    Except for a few top experts like Song Que, Lin Jue, and Li Zheng, most hunters and regular troops were simply unable to withstand the attacks of perfect-level and elite-level creatures.


    Awaiting them on the Yuepela Plains was an even larger assembly of beast herds.


    Among them were several calamity-level creatures, and even a few calamity-level boss creatures.


    Before the war, some academicians who were pessimistic about the battle had analyzed that the intelligence of the mine zone creatures might be higher than humans had imagined.


    Perhaps there existed somewhere in the mining area something akin to a headquarters or a battle command center.


    Otherwise, why would the beast herds assemble on the Yuepela Plains?


    For humans, the region they aimed to conquer was essentially a red zone.


    And the human armies were being relentlessly driven back by the herds.


    Up to this point, not only had the war failed to yield any results, but the losses were also severe.


    The thirty-ninth fortress, seventh level, temporary war center for all fortresses.


    Around the giant circular conference table seating over two hundred people, the high-ranking officials of various fortresses were discussing matters concerning the war and other affairs.


    "Any progress on the search for the demon child?" asked Li Wanye.


    After Li Xiaoyu left home, Li Wanye concluded she had gone in search of Tang Xian.


    Despite the urgency of the war, the Li family never ceased their search for Li Xiaoyu.


    "We''ve already conducted simulations, but the conclusion is that if a teleportation crack is attacked during teleportation, it will either interrupt the transfer or result in an unpredictable crack in the space," responded a high-level official from the fifty-second fortress.


    The fifty-second fortress held a leading position in some of the auxiliary scientific and technological fields.


    Li Wanye said,


    "Does that mean the demon child''s location is now beyond the reach of the entire world?"


    "I''m afraid so."


    Li Wanye clenched his fist and fell silent.


    A person from Sky Guardian Fortress spoke,


    "Lord Li, I believe the search for the demon child can be put on hold for the moment. During the last retreat, we discovered that the Li family''s private guard possesses a super combat unit, comparable to perfect-level creatures, named Judgement Knights."


    "I think at this time, we should set aside the differences among fortresses and exchange the technologies we have. Our Great Tenshukaku Fortress is willing to provide our excellent armor technology in exchange for the manufacturing techniques of the Judgement Knights," they proposed.


    The speaker, named Yune Moru, was the lord of Sky Guardian Fortress.


    Upon hearing this, Zhang An from the fifty-first fortress laughed and said,


    "Everyone is worried about the war, but Mr. Yune is still thinking about the technology on the eighth level of the Li family at this time. It seems a bit confused to me and besides, trading your armor technology for the manufacturing techniques of the Judgement Knights feels quite a bit like a rip-off."


    As a weapons magnate and lord of the fifty-first fortress, Zhang An had always looked askance at the way Sky Guardian Fortress conducted itself.


    After the end of the Hunting Festival, Gong Kun and others had brought back the props of the strongest Hunter''s Group from Sky Guardian.


    Zhang An believed that with Ke Ye and others striving hard, they would grasp the core technology of Sky Guardian Fortress in the near future.


    However, everyone present was covetous of the formula to manufacture Judgement Knights.


    Especially Lincoln Fortress, whose lord, Kennedy, said,


    "Respected Lord Li, I believe our current forces are incapable of conquering the Yuepela Plains. Of course, we have no intention of stealing your fruits of labor. But could we do this instead¡ª"


    "In the face of our continuous defeat, perhaps you could sell some of the finished Judgement Knights? I believe every fortress would need such powerful and obedient combat units."


    Song Gengzhao gently shook his head. Qi Qinglian, the family head of the Qi Family from the second fortress, did the same.


    Not a single fortress was devoid of desire for the technology of the eighth level.


    Because by relying on the Judgement Knights, the Li family had the least casualties and the highest battle achievements on the battlefield.


    These Judgement Knights were like man-made perfect-level creatures, and even stronger than the creatures from the evolution zone with a synchronization rate of around ten percent!


    But the top three families thought differently.


    Being closely related, they all believed that this advantage could not be easily shared with other fortresses.


    Nevertheless, more and more fortress lords began to speak up.


    The federated fortresses also yearned to command a capable team of Judgement Knights, even if it meant paying a high price.


    These people had a simple idea: they were waiting to dissect the Judgement Knights and study their secrets.

 Chapter 14 Major Client_2

    Li Wanye cleared his throat and temporarily set aside the matters regarding the devil child and Li Xiaoyu. He said,"In this war, Song Que, as the supreme commander, has repeatedly relied on strong foresight, sparing our grand army from the fate of annihilation. He is the most outstanding commander."


    "However, this time, we are likely facing mining area creatures with an intelligence not inferior to that of humans. They are responsible for orchestrating the entire situation and can even discern our deployment with the help of birds, reptiles, and other creatures."


    "From the early assembly at Yuepela Plains, it is evident that our enemy is not just a horde of beasts that only know how to charge blindly. This is an unprecedented peril we are facing. At this moment, relying solely on the existing powers of the human-gifted, we will find it hard to breach the fortifications of Yuepela Plains, comparable to the red zones."


    Li Wanye paused, and both Song Gengzhao and Qi Qinglian sensed an unsettling shift in the conversation.


    Could it be that Li is really going to offer Judgement Knights?


    Li Wanye said,


    "I do not wish to hide from you all; I currently have approximately twelve hundred Judgement Knights at my disposal."


    The moment Li Wanye finished his statement, the entire room was shocked.


    Even Li Zheng''s heart was stirred by turmoil.


    Twelve hundred Judgement Knights? When did the old man come up with them?


    This military strength combined could possibly intimidate the entire federation, couldn''t it?


    It''s only been how many days? The formula obtained on the invasion day of the devil child has produced such an enormous number of Judgement Knights in just a month?


    These Judgement Knights possess the abilities of perfect level creatures, and what''s most terrifying is that their attack ray, once it hits the target, causes the target to weaken significantly. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The target''s life recovery speed is directly removed, and their defensive power also drops significantly.


    A single Judgement Knight may only handle an individual perfect level creature.


    But a hundred Judgement Knights might be able to wield strength far exceeding that of a hundred perfect level creatures.


    Li Zheng suddenly thought of the recent mass disappearance of the lower-class population.


    With this in mind, his expression grew even more complex.


    "I will set a price that I believe everyone will find acceptable for the Judgement Knights. Despite our gifted army being in constant retreat, I am confident that with the Judgement Knights, we will definitely be able to turn the tide of war. With this, are you all satisfied?"


    There were no objections; Kennedy was the first to clap his hands, expressing admiration for Li Wanye''s generosity.


    Soon, even the Yune Moru from the Sky Guardian Fortress began to applaud.


    Outside the huge round table, everyone involved in the meeting felt an unprecedented sense of excitement.


    Firstly, twelve hundred Judgement Knights could indeed reverse the course of the war.


    Secondly, these individuals were confident in their ability to dissect the Judgement Knights and obtain this technology.


    Although Song Gengzhao and Qi Qinglian were also very interested in the Judgement Knights, they always felt that Li''s actions were not characteristic of Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye did not explain further, merely smiling, seemingly pleased with everyone else''s happiness, aware that before the formula leak, the Judgement Knights were impossible to thoroughly research.


    He waved his hand, signaling for silence.


    The venue quickly quieted down, and Li Wanye continued,


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    "There''s another matter. In recent days, some of our operators have been killed, and a few Judgement Knights have been destroyed.


    I believe everyone is already aware that long ago, a very powerful individual proclaimed himself to be the Masked Chopper Hero.


    I had thought this person was the devil child, but now it seems to be someone else."


    Li Wanye paused, then continued,


    "Although some of the deceased operators had serious vices and stains, the law should be the one to deal with them.


    But the Masked Chopper Hero has overstepped the law, taking it upon himself to punish these people.


    He only acts within the mining areas, where he has instilled widespread panic; many people say that at night, they can hear terrifying laughter and screams.


    However, when they rush to the scene, all that''s left are the corpses of the operators.


    It isn''t just the operators who have been affected; even Judgement Knights have been inexplicably damaged.


    According to my setup, Judgement Knights do not attack humans. Therefore, before I proceed with the transaction of the Judgement Knights, I hope everyone will join together to investigate and uncover the true identity of this Masked Chopper Hero."


    After Li Wanye finished speaking, the room burst into commotion once more.


    Because the person he mentioned was no stranger to anyone.


    That person would specifically kill those high-ranking officials who were exceedingly corrupt and degenerate at night.


    But let''s not mistake him for a messenger of justice.


    That horrifying laughter that could cause nightmares, his utterly cruel methods, and the characteristic eerie smiling mask.


    All gave the impression that he was the embodiment of a demon.


    He has only appeared for a little over ten days, but the fear he has created is not minor.


    Every high-ranking official with a stain on their record is extremely worried, and these days, they''ve been busy trying to erase their stains, behaving more conservatively.


    For Li Wanye to single out this individual in such a meeting proves the danger this person represents.


    People began continuously providing information about where they had seen the Masked Chopper Hero, along with speculations and analyses about who it could be.


    Only Song Que, at this moment, stood up and said,


    "I do not believe this person is the Masked Chopper Hero."


    As soon as Song Que spoke up, the rest became silent.


    Li Wanye asked,


    "Why does Commander Song think so?"


    Song Que replied,


    "People from the evolution zone have seen the Masked Chopper Hero. But, in comparison to this demon being discussed by everyone, the Masked Chopper Hero seems quite mild."

 Chapter 14 Major Client_3

    "The most critical aspect is that the Masked Chopper Hero usually kills opponents directly, rarely leaving them to suffer agonizing torture,""But this new masked figure is different; his methods are extremely brutal, and some of our operatives at Sky Guardian Fortress have fallen victim to him. To spare you the details and not affect your appetite later, I won''t go into specifics. Suffice it to say that, inside and out, there''s not a single spot left intact."


    "We are still unclear about the Masked Chopper Hero''s motives, while the new masked figure''s style of crime has a very clear purpose¡ªpunishment.


    According to criminal psychology, this person likely harbors some sort of distorted sense of justice and is punishing evil with methods more evil than evil itself.


    So, based on these points, I believe it''s highly unlikely that this person is the Masked Chopper Hero."


    Song Que''s expression remained calm, as if he was indeed engaged in rational analysis.


    Li Wanye and the others nodded in agreement, saying,


    "Song is commendable in his analysis, as expected. It was an oversight on my part. Now that you mention it, the two masked individuals do seem quite different. However, this person is now a serious threat to us. Regardless of whether his targets are villains, he doesn''t have the right to do this."


    Song Que nodded in agreement, adding,


    "But as of now, we have no leads on him. We only know that he operates at night, is brutal, and wears a mask with an evil smile painted on it.


    His current targets are some fortress officials with clear blemishes on their records.


    Moreover, he''s extremely powerful. I''d rather not say this, but I think it would be wise for everyone to watch their own behavior.


    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    This sort of self-appointed law enforcer is very paranoid. He might, like Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, possess an incredibly strong ability to gather information. The best approach, until we catch him, is to abstain from evil. Otherwise, unless he''s arrested, everyone will have to live in constant fear."


    The people in the meeting room displayed vivid expressions upon hearing Song Que''s suggestion.


    Song Que quickly scanned their faces, still showing no emotion of his own.


    "Then why did he go after the Judgment Knight?" asked Li Zheng.


    Song Que shook his head, responding,


    "Who knows what goes through a madman''s mind? Maybe he''s just curious about how the Judgment Knight is put together?"


    As he spoke, Song Que glanced at Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye appeared unfazed, revealing no sign of change in his demeanor.


    After some more discussion, Li Wanye spoke up, S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s call it a day for this meeting. I will calculate the cost of producing the Judgment Knights as soon as possible and sell them to you at cost,"


    "The future world will surely belong to us humans, and the victory of the Yue Pella campaign will go down in history!"


    Following his morale-boosting speech, people gradually started to leave the room. Song Que and Li Zheng discussed the operational strategies for a while.


    As the room was nearly empty and Song Que and Li Zheng were about to leave, Li Zheng whispered,


    "Has my sister contacted you?"


    "No."


    "Zhe, even though you''re no longer going to be my brother-in-law, our friendship still stands, right?"


    "Of course, Zheng. Rest assured, if I get any word about Yu''s whereabouts, I''ll definitely tell you."


    "Good. And you should be careful too. Even though, as you said, that masked devil only targets people with stains on their records or bad behavior, who can predict a madman''s thoughts? He might target you too. You''re the federation''s supreme commander, after all, the finest eyes in the world, and we can''t afford an incident."


    Song Que looked intently at Li Zheng and said seriously,


    "Don''t worry, Zheng, if one stands upright, there''s no need to fear a crooked shadow. Besides... you and Mr. Li should be careful too. I suspect the masked man has discovered some secrets of the Judgment Knight, and he might be targeting you guys recently."


    "Secrets of the Judgment Knight?" Li Zheng looked puzzled at Song Que.


    Song Que continued to stare at Li Zheng.


    "Never mind, just be careful."


    "Alright, I''ll contact you tomorrow."


    ...


    ...


    Sky Guardian Fortress. Third level.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen have made a killing these days due to the new policies at Sky Guardian Fortress.


    In the bustling streets modeled after Tokyo''s Ginza, they lived in a top-floor hotel, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the view.


    Their days were becoming increasingly luxurious.


    "We should probably stop soon. Your tracking and counter-tracking technology have made you a fair bit of money, and my forged documents, counterfeit currency, and fake points have padded my wallet nicely. After this job, we can both retire and wash our hands of this business," Yu Xiaozhe said, looking out the windows.


    Lin Sen, on the other hand, fiddled with new phone components that looked quite small and somewhat resembled ancient integrated circuits, but more intricate. He wore twelve-times magnifying glasses and carefully examined the circuitry.


    While responding to Yu Xiaozhe, he said,


    "Don''t make me out to be as noble as you think. I''m a simple man, a tech geek, living off my handicraft. Money can never be enough for me. In this Pyramid, everything is a sham, only money is real."


    Yu Xiaozhe laughed but said nothing.


    "I''ve heard the Li family''s princess has gone missing," Lin Sen said squinting his eyes while closely inspecting the circuit board.


    "Li Xiaoyu? She''s missing? I haven''t heard any news about her lately. How did you find out?"


    "You think I have the same kind of ability as you, to pay with someone else''s identity anytime, anywhere? What allowed us to venture her to Sky Guardian Fortress and make a fortune is the last deal I made.

 Chapter 14 Major Client_4

    "Now that portable transport cracks have been banned, Miss Li is thinking of getting one for private use, and one that can''t be traced.""So she came to you?"


    "Yes." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "How long ago?"


    "About twenty days ago, by now she might have gone to some other fortress."


    Yu Xiaozhe remembered that the 39th fortress had suddenly lowered the scrutiny for fortress passage about twenty-some days ago.


    He mused for a moment and then said:


    "This is a big deal, but the Li family is keeping it under wraps."


    "Isn''t that the truth? Actually, I still added a tracker to Miss Li''s transport crack, only this tracker is for my eyes only," Lin Sen said proudly.


    Yu Xiaozhe frowned and said:


    "What are you implying? You plan to betray someone right after making a deal with them?"


    "How could I? I''ll wait a little longer, but not too long. If I wait too long, Li Wanye might find it himself. His Inquisitor Knights are a force to be reckoned with, and right now, they''re the hot commodity in the eyes of the whole world."


    Lin Sen continued to speak:


    "Anyway, Li Wanye must be desperate by now. If I sell Li Xiaoyu''s information to him at this moment, that''ll be another substantial income."


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded and said:


    "You do know how to do business, but Li Xiaoyu is a madwoman. Back in school, I''m glad I didn''t hang around Tang Xian too much, or I might not have been able to have kids in the future. I''m not close to her, but I still suggest you don''t do it."


    Lin Sen held up the chip-sized circuit board and said:


    "How come?"


    "She''s very smart, second only to Tang Xian. If you take advantage of her and she figures it out, you''re going to have a tough time."


    "Sending the daughter back to her father isn''t harming her, is it? I''m just making money and doing a good deed along the way."


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t say much more. If trouble did come, at most he''d help Lin Sen forge an escape plan.


    He indeed had no interaction with Li Xiaoyu. Even considering his relationship with Tang Xian, he wouldn''t have any qualms.


    Looking out the window, Yu Xiaozhe began to plan his life after retirement.


    He became more convinced that Tang Xian was right with what he said.


    Living in the Pyramid is just like being a monkey, isn''t it?


    He couldn''t grasp that feeling before, but having recently visited many fortresses, he found that deep inside, there was always a sense of being under surveillance.


    Just like a monkey in a zoo.


    Thinking the artificial hill is a real mountain, hiding inside it leisurely, not realizing that tourists have seen every part of their red bottoms. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it too much, so as not to add to his worries.


    At that moment, Yu Xiaozhe''s phone suddenly rang.


    He opened his cell, and seeing the call was from a public phone booth at the lower levels, he became cautious.


    The phone kept ringing.


    After three rings, Lin Sen glanced back at Yu Xiaozhe.


    "What''s up, why aren''t you answering?"


    "Judging by the area code, it should be a number from the 29th fortress, but I don''t have any clients or acquaintances there."


    "Just answer it. I just happened to tinker with a new anti-tracking communication chip," Lin Sen said, showing off the gadget in his hand with pride.


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded and said:


    "Alright then."


    He pressed the answer button.


    There was no sound from the other end of the call.


    After a few seconds of silence, Yu Xiaozhe said:


    "Speak."


    "It''s me."


    The phone suddenly slipped from his hand.


    This was the first time Lin Sen saw Yu Xiaozhe startled like this.


    "Who is it? You''re scared stiff."


    Yu Xiaozhe shook his head slightly to clear it and hurriedly picked up the phone:


    "Where are you?"


    "The 29th fortress, lower levels."


    "How long can you hold out?"


    "Don''t know. First, I need to confirm one thing. Do you believe me or do you believe..."


    Yu Xiaozhe cut off the voice on the phone, saying:


    "Stop the nonsense, 29th fortress lower levels, I''ll go get a visa now. Bring the gear. You better stay hidden until then."


    "Okay. Thanks. Calls aren''t cheap, I''m hanging up."


    The call ended.


    Lin Sen was utterly confused and said:


    "Who''s this big client, getting you all riled up like that?"


    Yu Xiaozhe took a deep breath and looking at Lin Sen, said:


    "Tang Xian."

 Chapter 15 Tang Xians New World

    Lin Sen''s expression instantly turned to panic.He had initially thought Yu Xiaozhe was overreacting. Now, he understood; receiving a call from a doomsday creature would unsettle anyone.


    Both he and Yu Xiaozhe were clever people, and they naturally understood the source of Yu Xiaozhe''s conflicted expression.


    "You seemed pretty agreeable over the phone," Lin Sen remarked.


    "We''re in it for life now. When I gave his old flame''s daughter a fake identity card, he saved my life in return and even uncovered a mole among us. If he asks for a favor, I can''t turn him down, not without losing face," Yu Xiaozhe shook his head solemnly.


    "Having regrets?"


    "A little. Do you think The Pyramid could be mistaken?" Yu Xiaozhe turned around.


    "Hard to say, but you used to think he was quite impressive when he was called the Child of Eden."


    Yu Xiaozhe, upon hearing Lin Sen''s words, replied with a wry smile:


    "If Tang Xian were dead, I''d always consider him a friend. Perhaps I''d grow old lamenting the unfairness of the world."


    Yu Xiaozhe''s tone shifted:


    "But he''s not dead, and not even a couple of months later, he''s back. That actually makes me more uneasy."


    Lin Sen said:


    "Betray him now, and you become a hero to all humankind. What a deal that would be."


    Yu Xiaozhe fell silent.


    Lin Sen continued:


    "It all depends on whether you trust the ones above or Tang Xian."


    As he spoke, Lin Sen pointed at the ceiling of the fortress.


    After a moment of thought, Yu Xiaozhe said:


    "I never considered betraying him."


    "Then what are you conflicted about?"


    "It''s just that... his identity is too special now. I''m afraid that by helping him, I might cause a disaster. If humankind suffered another great calamity, I''d be nailed to the pillar of shame."


    Lin Sen set down the circuit board, lit a cigarette, and looked at Yu Xiaozhe:


    "You''re acting like a woman. In our business, you sell what needs to be sold decisively, or you just throw caution to the wind and do it¡ªnothing to ponder over. But let me remind you one last time, betray him and the Federation might clear your record, and you could live cleanly ever after. If I were you, I''d definitely betray him."


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded; it was indeed a point.


    He didn''t know why Tang Xian would seek him out. Was it to live under a false identity?


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t quite think so.


    He always felt like Tang Xian had come back to do something big.


    This time, without much hesitation, Yu Xiaozhe said:


    "I''ll help, I can''t betray him. I''d never dare look at myself in the mirror again. After forging so many things and relationships, having a true friend isn''t easy. Bring your gear, we''re going to The 29th Fortress."


    "What? That''s a doomsday creature! Don''t drag me into this big mess," Lin Sen protested.


    "Fine then, I''ll expose you tomorrow. Your identity card was forged by me, and I wouldn''t even need to draft a report. Choose, go or don''t go¡ªit''s up to you," Yu Xiaozhe said lightly.


    "I''ll be damned."


    ...


    ...


    The next day, The 29th Fortress, at the bottom level.


    Known for its textile industry, even the poorest inhabitants of The 29th Fortress dressed somewhat lavishly.


    It wasn''t wealth, but rather that a lot of the refuse from The 29th Fortress comprised semi-failed designer pieces.


    The common people at the bottom lived harder lives than those at The 39th Fortress'' bottom levels, though they maintained a semblance of dignity on the surface.


    Even those at the bottom level didn''t look like the impoverished.


    During the war, the sights Tang Xian saw were even more extreme.


    Even at night, the streets at the bottom level were deserted, and shops selling daily necessities, usually bustling, were closed.


    Scenes characteristic of The 39th Fortress'' Decay Street, like tea houses and gambling dens, could also be found in The 29th Fortress, though their business seemed much less thriving. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was in one of the tea houses, dressed similarly to the nobles from the third or fourth level of The 29th Fortress.


    One could tell the taste of the upper classes from the design of the lower-level dwellers'' clothing.


    The commoners of The 39th Fortress typically wore factory-like uniforms, resembling those of ancient industrial workers.


    The 29th Fortress was much more fashionable, boasting designs that echoed ancient Korean styles from a millennium ago, and had the most women on its second, third, and fourth levels.


    The highest monthly wages went to the manual tailors.


    Such was the march of history; with the rise of industry, for a time, machine-made goods would be more expensive than handmade items.


    Over time, as machine-made products became more plentiful, handmade items became rare and valued. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian didn''t come to The 29th Fortress to chase women or learn tailoring.


    He was there because one of his robbery victims was from The 29th Fortress.


    And his clothing wasn''t stolen; he quickly brainstormed the design himself, then had Tang Feiji materialize it using a Soul Crystal.


    Tang Feiji now sat quietly beside Tang Xian, scrutinizing the bustling crowd with a disdainful look in his eyes.


    To help Tang Feiji blend into human society, Tang Xian gave him a normal-sounding human name: Tang Ao, which was convenient for introductions. The name pleased the Upper-Class Dragon Clan member immensely. It didn''t seem like something Tang Xian could come up with.


    But Tang Xiaojiu couldn''t kick the habit, always calling him Uncle Feiji.


    So most of the time, he was still called Tang Feiji.

 Chapter 15 Tang Xians New World_2

    Tang Feiji was also making his first trip to the Human World, where he viewed these humans as truly lower beings.Even though he now appeared in human form, it was undeniable that Tang Feiji, rated as charismatic as a dragon, did not fall short when seated beside Tang Xian.


    He carried an imperial demeanor that made it clear he was not of the lower strata.


    Next to Tang Xian sat a visibly anxious Tang Xiaojiu.


    Ever since the so-called demon child incident had occurred on the eighth floor, Tang Xiaojiu had taken a strong dislike to the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Don''t be afraid, and Tang Feiji, try to keep calm. Can you tone down that look of disdain for humans?"


    During the days crossing the Ashen Sea, Tang Feiji had learned some things about Tang Xian, including some background on the Pyramid World.


    In the Human World, his identity as Tang Ao was no longer Tang Xian''s servant but rather a distant relative.


    Tang Xian also disliked being called ''master'' by another man.


    It was like being called "big brother" by Meng Zhangfei and Li Kui¡ªenough to make one''s skin crawl¡ªso Tang Feiji had changed his form of address to Tang Xian''s real name.


    "I am keeping calm. It''s just that you... oh, no, they, the humans, are a despicable species, fond of betraying their own kind. You''re considered one of the original sins that destroyed the Human World¡ªdo you really trust them that much?" Tang Feiji said.


    Tang Xian gently caressed the lid of his teacup,


    "Even without the power of Eden and the Vision, I''m quite confident in my ability to judge people. Yu Xiaozhe might hesitate for a moment, but that''s a quality all intelligent people should possess. Absolute loyalty is pathological by nature. Even the best of friends should retain the rationality to question each other, as that''s the only way to coexist healthily.


    I believe he will choose to help me in the end."


    Tang Feiji said no more, his face still showing disbelief.


    Tang Xian had no expectations of a species with deep-seated prejudice against humans to change its views quickly. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    He silently calculated the upcoming arrangements, patiently awaiting Yu Xiaozhe''s arrival, for the plan could not proceed without the help of these tech enthusiasts.


    ...


    It had taken Tang Feiji, a member of the Dragon Clan, four or five days to fly across the Ashen Sea from the farthest southern islands.


    Afterward, Tang Xian went directly to the Forest Sea.


    It was no surprise to find the Forest Sea deserted, the cabin turned upside down.


    The fence was destroyed, the small garden dug up, and the pond damaged.


    Tang Xian was not angry, some things indicated traces of a fight.


    He knew the Forest Sea likely belonged to the past.


    Seeing that his collection of audiobooks had been taken and that there was a rotten piece of mutton stinking up the house made Tang Xian happy again.


    After all, he had brief yet joyful memories in the Forest Sea. Even now, there were other places he wanted to go.


    Later, Tang Xian visited the Blood-Red Wasteland, feeling a bit regretful for not meeting Qing JiuYu.


    But the lamb restaurant had expanded.


    In just a month, the young mountain beasts that looked like lambs had grown large and strong.


    Although he did not meet Qing JiuYu, Tang Xian discovered Tang Bingxiang and Tang Gazi.


    This delighted Tang Xiaojiu, and through Tang Gazi''s muddled and repetitive accounts, Tang Xian roughly understood what had happened.


    The fragrance of the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid given to Qing JiuYu had dissipated, so she had gone out to collect flowers, likely to be delayed for some days.


    Tang Xian did not wait.


    He asked further questions but still did not know where Akasi and his companions were hiding.


    However, he was quite relieved to learn that the Sheng Tang Squad, new though it may be¡ªand setting aside the special cases of Akasi and Tang Suoye¡ªQiao Shanshan and Dong Ran had every reason to betray him.


    Yet, the two girls had not betrayed him.


    This caused Tang Xian to feel quite moved for a moment.


    Whether or not this world welcomed him seemed less important now.


    Back at the Pyramid, he consulted a number of people and was assured that his companions had not been captured.


    So he did not delay any further and began working on the next steps, contacting Yu Xiaozhe.


    This master of forgery had an extremely secretive yet efficient network for gathering intelligence.


    The human conflicts and the secret news of recent days were all accessible through Yu Xiaozhe.


    Most importantly, to settle down in this world, he would need the help of Yu Xiaozhe and his friends.


    ...


    ...


    Time trickled by, and after about three cups of tea, Tang Xiaojiu, having regaled Tang Feiji with a few underwater legends, saw the arrival of Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    Yu Xiaozhe was dressed like a businessman, Lin Sen like an attendant.


    Tang Xian was not surprised by their disguises and said,


    "Sit."


    Yu Xiaozhe took a seat opposite Tang Xian, while Lin Sen still stood.


    "Never seen it, can it be trusted?"


    Yu Xiaozhe''s first words were directed at Tang Feiji.


    "Tang Ao, my friend, can be trusted."


    "This is Lin Sen, whom I''ve mentioned, the one who fiddles with little black-tech gadgets."


    Yu Xiaozhe then gestured toward Tang Xian and said:


    "Tang Xian, the Eden brat."


    Lin Sen''s expression was anything but calm, quite tense, and he lowered his voice:


    "Are you really an apocalyptic-level being?"


    "Yes, and this little girl beside me is transformed from a nine-tailed fox, and this distant cousin of mine is the Dragon King from the bottom of the Ashen Sea."


    Hearing Tang Xian''s nonsense, and then glancing at the quiet and cute little girl beside him, Lin Sen felt a bit better.


    Just like some inexplicable phobias, what Lin Sen feared most was that the world was not safe.


    He never went to the mining area because the black technology he researched was useless there.


    So, he always stayed in the Pyramid.


    If the creatures from the mining area appeared in the real world, it would cause him extreme panic.


    Yu Xiaozhe laughed:


    "This habit of yours, making up stories, hasn''t changed."


    Tang Feiji and Tang Xiaojiu looked at the two of them strangely, not understanding their reactions.


    "Speak up, what do you need help with? If it''s a fake identity, that''s easy to handle. With the war between the two worlds, many have died. Some died in mysterious ways, and there are those who even look like you. I can sort out an identity in two days."


    Yu Xiaozhe got to the point.


    Tang Xian said:


    "I don''t need a new identity. I need to know what you can achieve."


    "What do you mean?" Lin Sen was interested.


    "What I want to do is not simply change an identity and then live safely in the Pyramid, nor is it about getting a fake visa to move to another fortress."


    Tang Xian paused, then looked at Yu Xiaozhe and said:


    "I want to go outside."


    "Outside? Where... wait, you''re talking about outside the Pyramid?"


    Tang Xian nodded.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen looked at each other, both with shock in their eyes.


    "Are you crazy? Going outside is certain death."


    "We''re different."


    "You really take yourself for an apocalyptic being?" Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "Let''s put that aside for now. I just want to know if you and your friends have a way to get me out. Trust me, I won''t have any problems," Tang Xian said earnestly.


    His plan originally consisted of three parts, but one of them was a bit complicated and would take seven days, so he chose to focus on that one first.


    Yu Xiaozhe said:


    "Can I ask why?"


    "Don''t ask. Asking is asking for trouble."


    "..."


    Lin Sen realized this guy was really something else and said:


    "You''ll need the identity of a transport officer and the authorization to use a flight vehicle. Those two things, I, and old Yu can help you with. But do you know how to fly a plane?"


    Tang Xian said: "I once discussed vehicle-based warfare weapons design with Ke, and I know how to use some alloy equipment. To make the equipment as user-friendly as possible, he and I also worked on some external control devices. With this device, any vehicle is easy to operate. If you want to learn, I can teach you all."


    Lin Sen clicked his tongue: "Hearing how mysterious you make it sound, I want to try it now. Where can I get this thing? Can you fly a plane? What about driving a tank?"


    "I''ll get Ke to send it over. As for tanks, it''s simple. Once you have the external device¡ª


    Just press the F key to enter the tank."


    Lin Sen was somewhat incredulous; as a black-tech expert himself, such a device seemed to him like a pipe dream.


    He wore a look that felt like he was calling Tang Xian''s bluff.


    Yu Xiaozhe burst out laughing, interrupting Tang Xian''s teasing of Lin Sen, and said:


    "You really should think it through, are you sure you want to go out? When?"


    "The sooner the better." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 16 The Hero Who Goes With The Flow

    Yu Xiaozhe was not very willing to help with this kind of favor, but seeing Tang Xian''s assured expression, he habitually thought that this man probably had a way."I''m going to say this one last time, brother, if you want to live a comfortable life inside the Pyramid, with my current ability, it''s not hard to achieve. But to leave the Pyramid, out of ten people, eleven would die," Yu Xiaozhe said with a grave face.


    "After I reach the place I need to go, we''ll definitely meet again," Tang Xian continued, pouring himself another cup of tea, unhurriedly.


    "Alright, since you''re so confident, Lin Sen and I will find a way to get it done in the fastest time possible over the next few days," Yu Xiaozhe said, no longer hesitating, seeing Tang Xian''s calmness.


    Lin Sen looked at the two of them and thought that these friends were truly cut from the same cloth, fiercely resolute when they set their minds to something.


    "I''ll need some materials."


    After reaching an agreement, Tang Xian began to submit a detailed plan.


    "What materials?"


    "Materials to build a signal tower. Don''t worry, I''ll assemble it. The signal frequency will be roughly between ninety-four and ninety-nine, during four o''clock in the morning. I will report my status through a code word at that time," Tang Xian explained.


    Lin Sen was astonished; this man''s knowledge was indeed vast, and he even knew about these old-fashioned signal towers.


    The communication network built by this frequency signal tower was easily intercepted; basically, nobody in any of the fortresses used it, but the advantage was its strong penetrating power.


    Only smugglers would set up such signal towers for emergency communication or to deliberately create a smokescreen.


    Yu Xiaozhe exclaimed,


    "What do you mean? Are you planning to establish a communication link with people inside, from outside, the Pyramid?"


    Tang Xian nodded, "That''s why I need the best materials to ensure that the signal can penetrate the Pyramid''s walls."


    Yu Xiaozhe shook his head, saying,


    "I don''t think that''s going to be possible. I still don''t understand the building principles of the Pyramid to this day; there could be devices inside the walls that block signals."


    Tang Xian smiled,


    "Zhe, have you ever thought that if it is possible to survive outside? What if the Pyramid is merely the stomach of some huge monster?"


    Having been on journeys through the stomachs of various deep-sea creatures, Tang Xian easily came up with this comparison.


    He continued,


    "The Pyramid detected that I''m an Eden demon child, and indeed, there are some things about me that are different from ordinary people. Perhaps humans won''t readily believe what I say. But whether your first reaction is to believe or not, I still have to tell you, there''s definitely something wrong with the Pyramid. Some of the fundamental common knowledge we have may be incorrect."


    Yu Xiaozhe was stunned, as was Lin Sen.


    But the two had subtly different expressions. Lin Sen disliked the mining area and felt that the Pyramid was the safest place.


    Yu Xiaozhe, like Tang Xian, believed that the Pyramid had its issues one way or another.


    It was like living in a cage.


    Lin Sen wanted to say something, but Tang Xian first noticed Lin Sen''s unease and anxiety:


    "I know those who rely on technology would trust the Pyramid that provided humanity with technology and reject places like the mining area that are anti-technology."


    "Yes, I do not believe there is any problem with the Pyramid. If the Pyramid wanted to harm us, why wait so long? It could simply refuse to appear. If it didn''t show up, humanity would have gone extinct long ago, right?"


    Because it needs humans, because the Pyramid itself cannot unlock and the Orderers are waiting for humans to awaken it.


    Tang Xian did not voice his thoughts; he smiled and said,


    "You''re very nervous, but there''s no need to be afraid. Even if I truly am an Eden demon child, we''re all sitting here after all, we''ve finished our business, and everything is amicable, isn''t it? I don''t want to change your views; I just want to offer you a new choice."


    "What choice?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "Humanity should have a world that truly belongs to them.


    If I prove that it''s possible to survive outside the Pyramid, I will share this news with those who can believe me in the shortest time possible. For example, you, Zhe," Tang Xian said.


    "You mean you''re not planning to come back?" Yu Xiaozhe exclaimed.


    "Perhaps. A part of the history inside the Pyramid is false, and it''s precisely the part I''m most concerned about. To look for the true history and continue to stay inside would be a waste of time.


    The outside was once the home of humanity; there might be clues. If it''s truly possible to survive, I at least have to find a way to contact you all.


    In time, you will understand that a part of the education you''ve been given from young to old is false."


    Yu Xiaozhe did not speak and, after thinking for a long while, said,


    "What else do you need?"


    "When I leave, I will send you the codebreaking chart for the code words. In the future, I will communicate with you through these code words. Besides, before I do this, I still need to wrap up some matters."


    "What matters?"


    "Where has Li Xiaoyu gone? Do you know?" Tang Xian asked.


    Yu Xiaozhe was taken aback and glanced at Lin Sen again.


    Lin Sen gave a wry smile, realizing that this second deal was not going to happen. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He said helplessly,


    "Some time ago, Miss Li came to me. I helped her disable the tracking system for the portable transport rift."


    Tang Xian quickly guessed that it was because of him that the portable transport rift was banned and location tracking activated.


    "But you kept something up your sleeve, right?" Tang Xian smiled.


    Lin Sen looked at Tang Xian in surprise.


    Lin Sen was one of those rare individuals who appeared mild-mannered, but had a decency value hovering around thirty, and a greed and lust index around sixty.

 Chapter 16 The Hero Who Goes with the Flow_2

    People like him would generally offer a smiling face, but for the sake of benefit, they could betray their business partners without much of a burden on their conscience.Yet, they were not the same as those absolute evildoresses.


    Deep down, there would still be a friend they were unwilling to betray.


    Take Yu Xiaozhe, for example.


    "I did keep a trick up my sleeve," he said.


    Tang Xian nodded and spoke:


    "Li Xiaoyu ran away from home. That woman is truly foolish. To avoid detection, she found you because your methods are recognized as ingenious in the industry, but you had a little trick in mind."


    "For instance, in a transmission crack that the lords of the Li Family Fortress wouldn''t be able to track, you left a locator that you could track by yourself, earning Li Xiaoyu''s money first, then Li Wanye''s money. After all, a daughter captured by her father isn''t likely to result in any big trouble."


    A feeling of being dissected on the spot surged into Lin Sen''s heart.


    His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, his face full of disbelief.


    Yu Xiaozhe shrugged and said:


    "I told you my friend here is as sharp as someone with the Mind Reading Technique. You''d better not create any trouble for him."


    Tang Xian laughed and said:


    "Don''t be nervous, I understand you, and I support your decision to betray Li Xiaoyu."


    "Hmm? What do you mean?" Lin Sen became increasingly unable to see through Tang Xian.


    "However, once there is a signal from her in the Pyramid, you must tell me first to ensure I know Li Xiaoyu''s whereabouts at the earliest. Then you can sell the information to the Li family. Whatever price the Li family pays, I''ll offer twenty percent more. You can earn from two sources.


    Don''t doubt my financial resources. Even though I am a public enemy, I also possess corresponding wealth," Tang Xian said.


    Yu Xiaozhe laughed.


    This was what he admired about Tang Xian.


    No matter how vile the business partner was, this man always managed to keep both sides in a pleasant cooperative atmosphere.


    Lin Sen loved money, enough to betray business partners. Such a person was cherished by Yu Xiaozhe, who could tolerate him.


    Most people would curse him as shameless and without integrity.


    But Tang Xian''s approach was just the right remedy.


    Lin Sen hadn''t expected the business he thought wouldn''t survive could actually net double the profit, and he immediately began to think better of Tang Xian.


    "Boss Tang! No wonder Yu often praises you, you really do suit my tastes," he said.


    He slapped the table:


    "It''s a deal, this is Miss Li''s locator. It will only work after she returns to the fortress. The last time she showed up was at Fortress Thirty-Nine. She''s pretty clever; during the visa relaxation period, everyone thought she left Fortress Thirty-Nine, but in fact, she never left."


    "If you want to go there, Yu and I will help you prepare the documents. As long as you keep a low profile, no one will notice you."


    Tang Xian nodded, accepting the device similar to a wristwatch from Lin Sen.


    Li Xiaoyu being in Fortress Thirty-Nine saved him some effort, then he continued speaking:


    "Thanks for this. There won''t be any more trackers inside, will there?"


    Lin Sen immediately shook his head and said:


    "That can''t happen! You are different from Miss Li, you have a relationship with Yu, I won''t scam you."


    Tang Xian nodded, convinced by Lin Sen''s sincerity, which he could see was fluctuating in real-time.


    Yu Xiaozhe spoke, "What''s the situation with you and Li Xiaoyu now?"


    Tang Xian was silent for a while, then spoke:


    "There''s no situation, just remembered something. I want to fulfill a small request of hers."


    "Tsk tsk. Brother, you''ve changed," Yu Xiaozhe said, looking at Tang Xian with a meaningful gaze.


    Tang Xian quickly changed the subject and said:


    "How are things going in the Yuepela Plains?"


    "Not optimistic, the war is increasingly urgent, with heavy casualties. But there''s news that the Li family has provided a new type of war machine, ready to be deployed on a large scale to the mining area. It might turn the tide of war."


    Tang Xian narrowed his eyes.


    He immediately thought of the Judgment Knights. The powerful machine units with rays that are extremely lethal to the creatures in the mining area.


    "Where is the main force?"


    "They''ve retreated from the Yuepela Plains to the Saint Dene Highlands, and the situation remains dire. They might even retreat further, and there''s news of a massive outbreak of calamitous creatures in the Yuepela Plains."


    "So, humans haven''t been able to take the Yuepela Plains?"


    "That''s right. What''s this for? Don''t tell me you''re planning to help?"


    Tang Xian didn''t speak.


    He wasn''t a saint and often didn''t return good for evil. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Intuition told Tang Xian that perhaps humanity was even a more tragic victim than himself.


    Regaining humanity''s trust and leading them out of the Pyramid wasn''t Tang Xian''s style of heroism.


    But he wasn''t devoid of compassion.


    Especially since leading humans away was equivalent to causing trouble for the Order, Tang Xian had this great idea and motivation.


    The objectives for the foreseeable future were thus determined¡ª


    Become a hero out of interest or simply because it was convenient.


    Lead humanity back to its ancient homeland and unveil the most evil secrets deep within the Pyramid.


    Then he asked for some details and got a general understanding of the events that had occurred in recent days.


    Including some bizarre tales from the mining area.


    "Mask demon?" Tang Xian was momentarily stunned when he heard these words from Yu Xiaozhe.


    Soon after, he smiled and said,


    "It seems the big shots don''t dare to enter the mining area anymore, do they?"


    "Exactly. I don''t dare to go either, after all, with all the fakes I''ve made, if that mask demon sets its sights on me, I''d be a dead man," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    Tang Xian nodded slightly, having guessed the identity of the masked person, thereby getting a clear grasp of the whole situation.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Feiji, bored, were almost dozing off listening to all this.


    Tang Xian also stood up and said,


    "Try to get the visa for the thirty-ninth fortress sorted out as soon as possible, we can talk about the rest next time."


    "This is your new phone, the previous one has been exposed," Yu Xiaozhe handed over a black box.


    The advantage of dealing with smart people is that they think of everything.


    It wasn''t long before Tang Xian bid farewell to Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    ...


    ...


    In the following days, it was all about waiting for Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe to create a new identity.


    And waiting for Li Xiaoyu to return to the Pyramid.


    During this period, Tang Xian didn''t go out at all, obtained a lease for half a year with a Soul Crystal, and lived in a house on the lower level.


    He carefully went over the subsequent plans and arrangements over and over again. He had to confirm them daily.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Feiji were well-behaved in the meantime.


    If there was anything that even a species supremacist like Tang Feiji had to acknowledge about humans, it was their way of handling food.


    The things that Tang Xian made were so delicious that they even elicited praise from the dragon species.


    The days passed quietly.


    Even after Tang Xian moved to the thirty-ninth fortress, all was calm.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen were very efficient.


    On the fourth day, they had already prepared the driver''s identity card for the fortress transfer vehicle for Tang Xian.


    The real driver had been bought off with a hefty sum.


    Three days later, a government official was scheduled to travel from the thirty-ninth fortress to the second fortress.


    This official was named Jiang Ming.


    When Tang Xian saw the list, he couldn''t help but smile unexpectedly.


    It''s a small world after all.


    At that moment, he was on the phone with Yu Xiaozhe.


    "In three days, you will take Jiang Ming away. He is a senior member from the House of Daedalus, and I, along with Lin Sen, will switch Jiang Ming out for you too, then disguise your cousin Tang Ao as Jiang Ming. I have already prepared the identity card.


    I will ensure the pilot and the passengers are all imposters. But I may not be able to complete this within three days... if I can''t, you''ll just have to keep waiting."


    Tang Xian silently took note.


    Yu Xiaozhe continued to instruct,


    "Also, once the flight vehicle deviates from the pre-planned trajectory, about thirty minutes later, there will likely be a large fleet of flying units searching for you."


    Tang Xian said, "Don''t worry, I can handle that."


    "Alright, wait for my message."


    Yu Xiaozhe hung up the phone.


    Tang Xian began planning the flight route. His previous experience with fortress transfers allowed him to quickly draft a feasible plan.


    He named this plan the Escape Operation.


    He didn''t know if he was the first person in human history who actually wanted to escape the Pyramid and was truly implementing it.


    He simply longed for that world which had long been abandoned.


    Before Tang Xian finished with his tasks, something else happened.


    A sharp alarm signal sounded from the locator wristwatch Lin Sen had given him.


    He knew what that meant¡ª


    Li Xiaoyu had returned to the Pyramid.

 Chapter 17 Untitled

    The thirty-ninth fortress, lower level.Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop had recently become deserted, with everyone in the lower level trapped in a state of panic.


    The frequent disappearance of a large number of people was one thing, but the patrols coming door to door to search was another.


    Such circumstances had persisted for almost a month.


    Under the pervasive anxiety, the efficiency of mining also declined.


    It was common to hear team leaders from the mining area venting their frustrations and complaints at Liu Lang''s place, and Liu Lang would just chuckle in response.


    After all, he too had only been released not long ago.


    Due to the demonic child invasion incident, many old miners who had associations with certain individuals had been taken in for questioning, until an event over twenty days ago, after which everyone was released back.


    But Liu Lang, just as familiar with the lower level as Tang, had noticed something else.


    A good number of the old miners had disappeared. Some of them knew Tang Xian, while others had never seen him at all.


    In the patrol teams, the regular military was no longer the sole presence; the bronze-clad knights were unusually conspicuous.


    Summer was nearly over, and even though the seasons in the fortress were indistinct, Liu Lang still had a premonition that a troubled autumn was looming.


    Looking out at the quiet today, even Decay Street across from him was silent, he knew business was going to be even tougher.


    Liu Lang lit a cigarette, but his mindset remained optimistic. After a short while, he went back to his smithy.


    There was actually a secret room within the blacksmith shop''s forging chamber.


    It chiefly stored some odd and interesting items which were components Liu Lang tinkered with in his leisure time. Rings, long swords, scepters, golden statues¡ªwhatever he thought of, he made.


    This secret room was very well hidden, concealed behind the furnace wall, and even during several thorough searches, Liu Lang''s secret room had gone undiscovered.


    Liu Lang shared a similar history with Tang, both scoring extremely high in their survival examination culture subjects, of course¡ªhe didn''t exaggerate by getting a perfect score.


    But his scores in all subjects were not low. It was just that he lacked talent, and in a system like the Trial of the Chosen, such individuals also had prospects. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If Tang Xian had not scored perfect marks but deliberately gotten a few wrong, perhaps Tang would also be having a decent life now.


    Of course, the difference in the level environment wasn''t important to Tang.


    Liu Lang could have developed on the third level; many design companies were interested in him.


    He had gladly accepted and stayed on the third floor, choosing a local self-employed business.


    But after he got to the third level, Liu Lang discovered a harsh reality.


    No matter how outstanding his work was in the company or how high his professional level, no one appreciated him.


    It was because he lacked talent.


    Even a subordinate with just one talent would often look at Liu Lang with disdain.


    This disdain was like the way some locals in a city look down on outsiders or the way people of different skin colors regard one another¡ªcontempt that comes from deep within the bones.


    Liu Lang wouldn''t deal with this condescension; his life was like his name.


    He resigned from the job many from the lower level envied and went down to the bottom.


    The lower level was chaotic, with people being beaten every day for no apparent reason.


    Like the incident in the Xiang Family casino, where a masked stranger, without any obvious reason, slapped the casino manager several times, then smashed up the place and drifted away.


    There was much of this senseless chaos.


    But Liu Lang adapted well.


    Compared to the orderly but coldly mechanical life on the third level, Liu Lang thrived amidst the chaos of the lower level.


    Although his blacksmith shop was not large, it was a rare place that seldom had trouble and, while business was not booming, it was certainly enough to get by.


    He didn''t have to mine; he could live off his craftsmanship.


    Most importantly, everyone here lacked talent. People didn''t distinguish between high and low, noble and humble, they relied on skill alone to speak for themselves.


    After he returned from the house arrest at the Li family, Liu Lang made some improvements to the secret room.


    Afterward, he met someone who should have had no connection to him at all.


    Li Xiaoyu.


    The intelligent Liu Lang quickly pieced together some facts.


    First was the release of himself and his group, followed by the relaxation of the visa requirements.


    Then, the patrols in the lower level intensified, with major searches happening almost daily.


    Subsequently, he saw the Miss Li, disheveled and disreputable, which led him to certain possibilities.


    He still remembered the words Li Xiaoyu had said to him.


    It was like a gambler who, at his wits'' end, staked everything on a final desperate bet.


    "I''ve looked into all the connections Tang Xian had over the past six years. There were twenty-six temps who could be called acquaintances, and five owners of various businesses on Decay Street.


    Among them, Luo and you are the ones he got along with most. But you''re different from Luo, at least later on my people couldn''t buy you off. I want to ask you something, and you''d better answer me honestly."


    "Ask away," Liu Lang was a bit baffled at the time.


    "Is Tang Xian still your friend?"


    Liu Lang smiled, watching the girl''s strained effort to hold back, which reminded him of his sister''s demeanor as a child.


    From Li Xiaoyu''s attire, her physical condition, and the dirt on her body, it was evident she had been to the mining area.


    What''s more, her condition was very poor; although she spoke coherently, her breathing was extremely hurried.


    Why would the noble Miss Li go to the mining area, and why would she be in such a sorry state?


    As these thoughts flashed through Liu Lang''s mind, he became even more convinced of his deductions.


    "Of course, Tang Xian is my friend. If there''s anyone in the lower level I can talk to, it''s him."

 Chapter 17 Untitled_2

    Li Xiaoyu heard this sentence and uttered only two words¡ª "help me."Then she passed out.


    Liu Lang did not find it troublesome. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Handing over the unconscious Miss Li to the Li family at this time would probably bring him a reward he could never earn in several lifetimes.


    Yet, Liu Lang still chose to hide Li Xiaoyu in a secret room.


    The girl had sustained some injuries, not severe, but due to being in a state of constant tension for a long time, her physical condition also declined after the sudden collapse.


    Liu Lang was sure that Li Xiaoyu was indeed at her wits'' end and her mind started to become unclear due to the injuries and fatigue.


    In the end, she made an unwise gamble.


    Luckily, providence favored her, and this smart woman, even when placing her last bet, chose the one with the highest chances of winning.


    Time flew, and three days passed.


    Li Xiaoyu''s physical strength recovered quickly. Living in Liu Lang''s secret room, she did not feel uncomfortable.


    During these three days, Li Xiaoyu did not go to the mining area, but simply focused on quietly recuperating.


    Besides that, Li Xiaoyu also asked Liu Lang for a detailed map of the bottom layers. In this period, she nearly studied the lower levels inside out.


    Liu Lang did not ask too many questions, and the two seemed to share an unspoken understanding.


    In the following days, once her body finally recuperated, Li Xiaoyu began to travel frequently between the mining area and Pyramid.


    Every time Liu Lang saw Li Xiaoyu return, he would only ask one question:


    "Found anyone?"


    Li Xiaoyu did not hide anything, sharing information with Liu Lang as if they were close friends for many years, just like she directly inherited Tang Xian''s connections.


    Two weeks ago, Li Xiaoyu found Dong Ran.


    One and a half weeks ago, Li Xiaoyu also got in touch with Qiao Shanshan.


    But most of the time, Li Xiaoyu''s answer was just a silent shake of her head.


    It was not until three days ago that Li Xiaoyu found Akasi and Tang Suoye.


    After Tang Xian disappeared, the wooden house in the rainforest was quickly destroyed.


    The members of Shengtang had also vanished.


    Li Xiaoyu was like another captain of the Shengtang team or the mistress of the wooden house in the rainforest.


    In the days without Tang Xian, she brought those scattered around the mining area back, one by one.


    Liu Lang did not inquire about the process.


    However, he was well aware of the harsh and dangerous experiences a gifted girl like her must have endured in the mining area.


    He grew even more respectful of this reticent girl in his heart.


    ...


    ...


    "Found anyone?"


    After smoking a cigarette, Liu Lang opened the door to the secret room, saw that Li Xiaoyu was awake, and asked her this question.


    "Everyone is gathered, we''re just missing him."


    Liu Lang knew who ''he'' was, so he did not ask further, but simply said:


    "Why not consider contacting them in the Pyramid?"


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and replied:


    "They, like you, have been placed under house arrest by the Li family. For some reasons, although you were released, I know my father''s methods. Whether it''s Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, including you, Luo, as well as those miners, all are under surveillance."


    "Now that we have finally converged in the mining area, we must disperse in the Pyramid. Everyone must live as if it''s business as usual, without showing any abnormalities, and avoid going places we shouldn''t."


    Liu Lang nodded, expressing agreement with Li Xiaoyu''s arrangements.


    "How long will you stay this time?"


    "I just came back to confirm the information; I will leave after two more hours, having completed ten hours."


    Liu Lang said, "Regarding the matter you asked me to inquire about earlier, the message has been passed on to him. He said he will start an investigation." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Xiaoyu was silent for a few seconds, then nodded and said:


    "I understand."


    After the battle on the Pelar Plains started, everyone knew that many hunters and regular soldiers would be sacrificed,


    but for the people on the lower levels, they were merely the manufacturers of war consumables, not combatants.


    Yet, these days, there were frequent disappearances among the lower-level personnel. About a week ago, Liu Lang casually mentioned this matter, but Li Xiaoyu took it very seriously.


    To bring Tang Xian back into this world, one had to prove that Pyramid was wrong.


    To expose the most evil part of this cage.


    Therefore, Li Xiaoyu calculated all aspects and eventually fixed her gaze on the Trial Knights.


    But with her current abilities, it was impossible for her to find out the truth of the matter.


    Li Xiaoyu had two choices before her: contact Li Zheng or contact Song Que.


    After escaping from the Li Mansion, Li Xiaoyu had also learned that for several days, visa applications for transferring between the thirty-nine fortresses were very easy to pass. Moreover, it was only several days after she left that patrols at the lower levels and on each floor began to tighten.


    Li Xiaoyu did not believe that Li Xiaonian could have kept it a secret for so long; thus, she quickly came up with a plausible explanation. Li Xiaonian had convinced Li Zheng to help her.


    For this reason, she wanted to ask Li Zheng to investigate the matter. The Judgement Knights were under the jurisdiction of the Li family, and Li Zheng was the future head of the family.


    So it was appropriate for Li Zheng to investigate.


    However, her final decision was very different from what she had anticipated.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t choose Li Zheng, but had Liu Lang contact Song Que instead.


    She was moved by familial affection, yet most of the time she was as cold and calculating as a machine.


    Her brother might act on emotion occasionally, but if it involved the core interests of the family, if their father''s reputation would suffer, her brother was very likely to change his decision in favor of helping their father.


    Therefore, she chose Song Que because Tang Xian trusted him.


    This simple logic was like a fanatical superstition.


    But it could help her turn danger into safety.


    Like Liu Lang, like Song Que.


    Li Xiaoyu asked, "Did Song Que say anything else?"


    Liu Lang knew what Li Xiaoyu meant and shook his head,


    "He didn''t ask who I was, nor did he ask where you are. He was very discrete, just saying that he would investigate personally."


    Li Xiaoyu was slightly stunned, realizing she was ultimately not as astute as Tang Xian.


    She had despised Song Que because of the marriage arrangement, loathed him so much that she wouldn''t even deign to be friends with him.


    But now she realized that Song Que really was a friend worth making.


    No wonder Tang Xian had made a point of meeting Song Que at the ball that day.


    "Let him investigate then, I trust him. Boss Liu, you need to be careful too. If the disappearance of the lower-level population really is related to what I suspect, then next, there will likely be a large number of people disappearing."


    "I understand, go rest. I will keep watch outside the shop," he replied.


    "Alright, thank you for your trouble," she said.


    Seeing Li Xiaoyu''s demure demeanor, Liu Lang couldn''t imagine that this was the same woman who, at the mere mention of her name, would make Luo tremble with fear.


    He closed the door to the secret chamber and returned to the shop, continuing to pass the time leisurely.


    But shortly after, Liu Lang heard a great commotion coming from across Decay Street.


    Liu Lang furrowed his brow. They had just patrolled in the morning, and they were back again in the afternoon?


    An ominous feeling grew inside him.


    Stepping out of the shop, Liu Lang looked towards Decay Street and his eyes widened in shock.


    A large contingent of regular army soldiers was approaching from Decay Street, and behind this well-equipped force were twelve Judgement Knights.


    The heavy engine noises of these humanoid combat units clad in bronze armor made them hard to ignore as they moved.


    Liu Lang had never witnessed such a show of force.


    After seeing that this large troop passed through Decay Street without any action, he immediately became vigilant.


    Then, almost immediately, the huge ceiling above the lower level began to flash red lights.


    The lower level was the largest floor of the fortress, but the sudden sound of the alarm spread to every corner of the lower level.


    Liu Lang hurried back to the smithy''s forge room and opened the door to the secret chamber.


    Li Xiaoyu in the secret chamber heard the alarm bell too.


    "This isn''t a normal patrol, Miss Li, you''ve probably been exposed. Run!" he urged.


    Li Xiaoyu had not expected this sudden turn of events.


    "Come on, leave through the back door!" Liu Lang led the way, hurrying along.


    The streets adjacent to Decay Street were arranged in a grid pattern. If Li Xiaoyu went out through the front door of the smithy, she would surely be spotted.


    Without hesitation, Li Xiaoyu picked up her portable rift device and prepared to escape.


    "What about you?" she asked.


    "I have a cheap life; at worst, I''ll just be taken back to the sixth level and taken good care of. As long as you aren''t here, they won''t have any evidence. Hurry up and go! The streets on the lower level are complex, just make sure not to be discovered for two hours and you''ll be fine!" he said.


    Feeling the increasingly distinct engine noises coming from afar, Li Xiaoyu nodded.


    She thought that she would definitely repay the forge owner''s kindness in the future.


    But as Li Xiaoyu stepped out the back door, her progress was abruptly halted by the scene before her.


    The sound of alarms thundered in her ears,


    And in the alleyway behind the smithy, another large troop of guards was approaching.


    She stood still at the exit, now with no way out.

 Chapter 18 The Third Wish

    The vast enclosure was gradually tightening, and the people at the bottom still hadn''t understood what was happening.The scene resembled the riots of the lower classes decades ago, and even seemed more exaggerated than that time.


    After all, back then, there weren''t these seemingly indifferent and frosty knights of judgment.


    Looking around, Liu Lang shook his head with a wry smile and said:


    "Miss Li, I''m sorry, but this time I can''t help you."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded calmly and replied:


    "Boss Liu, I hope to see you again in the future."


    Despite the large presence, it was merely a game for the rich.


    Liu Lang believed that in the end, Li Wanye and Li Zheng wouldn''t be too hard on their kin.


    Li Xiaoyu walked towards the back street.


    The usually somewhat empty main street now felt oppressive and grim due to the heavy guarding.


    Liu Lang headed towards the door of his forge, adopting an attitude of leniency through confession, hoping to suffer a little less.


    The time was two hours.


    Li Xiaoyu''s idea was simple; as long as she could stall for two hours, she could forcefully leave and, once reaching the mining area, think of a plan with Akasi and the others. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zheng seemed to see through his sister''s thoughts, and he shook his head as he said:


    "Yu, stop thinking about doing something foolish. The trouble has already been caused, and it''s time to go home. As long as you''re willing to go back, father won''t investigate further."


    In Li Zheng''s eyes, this was ultimately a moment of irrationality on his own part, causing some needless trouble alongside his brother Li Xiaonian.


    He thought he understood Li Xiaoyu.


    From fourteen or fifteen to eighteen or nineteen, everyone might go through a period of rebellion during those years.


    Clashing beliefs and worldviews with the adults at home, wanting to obtain freedom, recognition, or perhaps, love.


    But in the end, they still return to their family''s side.


    Some capitulate quickly. Others take years, even decades.


    But the outcome is always the same.


    "Come back," Li Zheng said.


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head:


    "Both of us know that once I return, regardless of whether father pursues the matter, I won''t be able to leave the Li family."


    Looking at Li Xiaoyu''s appearance with a touch of haggardness between her brows and eyes, Li Zheng said with heartache:


    "This is just a game. You''ll live the life you think you want for a while, but when you''re found, it''s time for the game to end.


    Look at you now, so bedraggled. Where is the little princess of the Li family?"


    Li Zheng then softened his tone:


    "I will plead with father to lift your house arrest earlier."


    Li Xiaoyu was aware she looked bedraggled, and she didn''t like that either.


    Dressed in dirty, old clothes, there were still some not yet faded wounds on her body.


    Like a well-cared-for Persian cat that had roamed the dirty streets for a month, gradually turning into a stray.


    "I know you''ve always indulged me from childhood. Brother, thank you."


    Li Xiaoyu thanked Li Zheng sincerely.


    To her, the fact Li Zheng could be persuaded by Li Xiaonian was already somewhat unimaginable.


    This might be the least rational decision of her brother''s life.


    "This time... I can''t indulge you. Come back with me, Yu, be good." Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I know. But I also know that father isn''t someone easily persuaded, and none of us can convince him. This departure has caused an irreparable rift between him and me unless I marry into some other family."


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head, resolute:


    "That''s why I won''t go back."


    "But this is your fate! Just a few months ago, didn''t you agree to such an arrangement? Whichever family you marry into, at least your future won''t be too bad."


    Li Zheng said with a serious expression:


    "If you''re unwilling to go back, I can only forcibly take you back. Every street in the lower levels is under guard blockade. This is Fort Thirty-Nine, how could you possibly escape?"


    Li Xiaoyu, already surrounded by guards, heard even more footsteps of guards approaching at that moment.


    Li Wanye had already arrived with additional guards.


    This man of the highest status in Fort Thirty-Nine, until no fortress could expand to the eighth level, could even be called the man of the highest status in the world.


    Upon seeing Li Xiaoyu, Li Wanye didn''t appear angry; on the contrary, he had a gentle smile on his face.


    Like a father playing hide and seek with his daughter, who had just found her.


    "Girl, come back with me. Don''t let so many people see this spectacle."


    Li Xiaoyu stood alone at the center of the guards.


    She suddenly smiled, but the somber atmosphere didn''t lift.


    "Father, I don''t want to end up like mother, living with someone I don''t love, merely putting on a show of respect in front of others and being insignificant behind the scenes."


    Her words were like a thorn.


    Li Zheng''s expression turned ugly in an instant, while Li Wanye remained unchanged, smiling:


    "Your mother, at least, lives without worrying about food and clothing and doesn''t have to worry about her children''s future, unlike these people who labor to death in the mines every day and might not even find enough to have three meals a day."


    "I''ve said it before, life in the end is only about suitability; liking or not liking isn''t important. You will understand eventually."


    Li Xiaoyu lowered her head, looking at her own blurry reflection on the floor:


    "You always say that with age comes compromise, but does compromise erase those regrets?"


    Li Wanye''s smile remained as he said:


    "A life without regrets is just a lie. The difference lies in whether it''s a minor regret or a lifetime of remorse."

 Chapter 18 The Third Wish_2

    "If in the future, the person I live with is Tang Xian, I won''t have any regrets,"Li Xiaoyu lifted her head and looked at Li Wanye with an unyielding gaze.


    The ever-smiling Li Wanye finally frowned.


    "Members of the Li family must swallow even the greatest regrets! No matter who you marry, it''s something you must accept as long as it benefits the family, as long as it benefits the fortress. What I can do is find you the best possible match."


    Li Wanye continued,


    "I will give you one last chance. I hope you will return with me with dignity, rather than being taken back."


    The stubborn conversation between father and daughter seemed to be coming to an end. The guards were also waiting for the arrest order. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu did not speak again.


    Fearlessly, she looked at Li Wanye, her hand resting on the portable teleportation rift with no hesitation; she firmly slapped it.


    But unlike the usual gentle orange color of the rift entrance, when it detected a user, the portable teleportation rift did not transport her away. Instead, the entrance showed an irregular distortion with a dangerous red hue.


    She stood resolutely at the entrance, lifting her slender arm, reaching straight towards it as if she would dive in at any moment.


    Li Zheng exclaimed urgently,


    "Yu, have you gone mad! You can''t enter the rift right now."


    Li Xiaoyu calmly felt the horrifying, vortex-like energy from the other side of the rift, as though it could cleave through anything.


    If one left the mining area for less than ten hours and forcibly used the teleportation rift, the danger was equivalent to staying in the mining area for seven full days.


    The initial version of the teleportation rift did not have a safety mechanism. If used under such circumstances, one''s body would be forcibly drawn in until it was shredded.


    The subsequent technological improvements added a safety mechanism to the teleportation rift. It would not transport if transportation was impossible.


    But it would still open that terrifying rift, like an entrance to the Netherworld.


    Li Wanye said in a deep voice,


    "Do you realize what you''re doing?"


    "Father, whether Tang Xian is a human or an Eden demon child, that is the biggest disagreement between you and me. Until you change your view, I will not return."


    Li Wanye finally became somewhat angry and shouted,


    "What did he do to you? Why do you like him so much?"


    This question made Li Xiaoyu pause slightly.


    What exactly did she like about Tang Xian?


    And why did she like him to this extent?


    Li Xiaoyu had considered these questions before but never arrived at an answer.


    Not until today, when her father, accompanied by a large team, forced her to make a choice, did she start to vaguely understand.


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and said,


    "Dad, ever since I was young, I''ve been doing one thing¡ªI''ve wanted to become better."


    "I started learning various survival skills at six because I knew I wasn''t as talented as my brother, so I had to do my best within the Pyramid."


    "When I was about ten, you started letting me get involved with various businesses. Although they were small matters, I always treated them as a test from you."


    "I wanted your approval, hoping to be like my brother, someone who could bring prosperity to the Li family. Not just a commodity that can be traded away for the friendship of another family."


    "I''ve been working hard for this. I''ve revived business ventures within the family that were nearly failures. Every day, I''ve been learning how to bring wealth to our family."


    "I often see my mother in tears, looking toward the north in the garden. The Pyramid is like a cage, cutting off all her sights and memories. She lives the most exquisite life every day yet remains unhappy."


    "She occasionally says to me, ''Yu, you need to work even harder, surpass your brothers, and become the best in the family. Only if you do that, you won''t end up like your mother someday.''"


    Li Wanye was slightly taken aback.


    Li Xiaoyu''s expression was so determined,


    "All my life, I haven''t had many friends, which relates to my personality. But on reflection, what''s the point of making friends?


    "How many times can one leave the Pyramid in their lifetime? Aside from the masters of fortresses, how can others stand the loss of lowering their social status just to meet a distant friend? Since that''s the case, why should I bother getting to know people?"


    "The older I got, the harder I worked, the better I did in business, the more I felt lost. No matter what I did, it seemed I couldn''t change my fate."


    "In my twelfth year, I went to the school district. It wasn''t necessary, just a formality, but I am grateful for the experience of that year."


    "Father, have you ever seen the spectacle when the students from the school district graduate?"


    As Li Xiaoyu asked this, her face showed a mix of despair and mockery,


    "Those who seemed so close on ordinary days, when they realized the differences in their talents, their relationships changed drastically as well.


    The disparity in talent can directly overturn one''s perception of another after six years. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Like a genius with full marks in every subject being a talentless waste, someone who is ten times stupider can freely ridicule him.


    Relationships from the past start to break apart, retaining only a very few connections.


    "Every person from the lower strata has dreamed of changing their destiny through the Trial of the Chosen.


    "But no matter how hard they try, in the end, even if they leave the lower strata, their fate of servitude remains unchanged.


    "It''s just a change of location."

 Chapter 18 The Third Wish_3

    I had thought about it too.If there weren''t the connection to the Li family, I would probably just be some ordinary employee on the third or fourth floor. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Living an ordinary life that might still be envied by many.


    But my boss could only be someone with higher innate talent, surveying me with eyes full of superiority.


    It seems that people like us were born to be despised by them.


    Do you know why those once-thriving family businesses declined? And why they were revived by me?


    It''s actually quite simple: many who could truly do the work were never valued because they lacked innate talent.


    Some talented people only know how to take credit for others'' work and are otherwise useless.


    All I did was drive those with innate talent away and give opportunities to those who could actually get things done. Grateful to me, those family businesses gradually came back to life, and even flourished.


    But that was all I could do for them.


    It seems likely that after I marry into another fortress, they will be replaced soon enough.


    Because all our societal standards of judgment put together cannot outweigh the slight difference in innate talent."


    Li Xiaoyu chuckled softly, and at just eighteen years old, her laugh carried the trace of weary experience:


    "It''s really quite funny.


    Humans are just like the animals in a fighting arena; all anyone cares about is whether it can tear apart its opponent. Who cares how much business it can conduct or the quality of its virtues?


    Although we are human, what measures our worth in this world is a power from another world."


    Li Xiaoyu''s voice gradually grew in strength.


    In the quiet street, it resounded emphatically.


    Her words also reached the ears of many from the lower strata.


    Liu Lang, who was restrained, felt a deep empathy when he heard this, and the blacksmith shop owner found himself moved to tears.


    "So I was wrong, and mother was wrong too. There''s no such thing as effort; I absolutely cannot change my destiny..."


    As she spoke to this point, Li Xiaoyu struggled to maintain her composure, but her eyes were still blurred with tears:


    "Big brother is destined to become a hero of the mines, a hero of humanity. And I, no matter how hard I try, no matter how well I do, am just a nobody with two talents.


    In your heart, I will always just be a piece of merchandise waiting to be married off for the benefit of the family."


    Li Xiaoyu took a deep breath, and her discontent surged forth like a tide:


    "Just like these people at the bottom. They laboriously swing their mining picks, hoping to chip away, little by little, at their destiny.


    They''ve spent thousands of days and nights with each strike and cut, naively believing that getting a regular position will change their fate, will change the fate of their families.


    But in the end, they''ve just traded one form of exploitation for another. Even if they reach higher levels, they won''t be recognized.


    Because in this world, what measures whether we are outstanding or not is not something we can change through effort! It''s something we are born with and cannot change!"


    Li Xiaoyu''s voice was like a cry, filled with pain and unwillingness.


    Li Wanye''s gaze became deep, and his expression turned colder.


    "Over the years, I''ve seen many people, each of them compromising with a system like this to their utmost ability.


    Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    But it''s precisely because of such regrets that I believe in our nature, we seek freedom and equality, not to be mere tools for the Pyramid to fight over the mines.


    You ask me why I like Tang Xian, because he lives the way I want to.


    He''s just a talentless temporary worker from the lower strata, but no matter where he goes, in the mines or at the bottom, or in the District 669, Tang Xian is always able to live according to his own beliefs.


    I can''t do it like he does, but at least I can choose to like him, to yearn for him, to want to be by his side, even if it means living a more humble life than I am now!"


    After Li Xiaoyu finished speaking, her hand once again moved closer to the crackling vortex.


    She could already feel the pull of the powerful force from another world in the crack, slowly absorbing her life.


    Her determination touched everyone.


    Li Zheng suddenly realized that he not only misunderstood Li Xiaonian but also failed to understand Yu.


    But he also knew that these words wouldn''t change anything, because his father''s convictions were equally unshakable.


    Li Wanye''s expression turned completely cold as he said:


    "Do you realize how many people heard what you just said? These words are no different from those of rebels decades ago. I thought you would be sensible, but you''ve really disappointed me.


    This is the social system that has survived for hundreds of years. Everyone has gotten through it this way, and as long as the mines exist for a day, talent will remain our most precious asset.


    You''ve already proven your value; I''ve seen all your hard work. There are some things I don''t wish to discuss here anymore. Now I want you to close the transport crack and come back with me."


    Li Wanye took a step forward:


    "Think of your friends. If you come back with me today, I can overlook their previous collusion with the children of Eden. But if you continue to act stubbornly, they will have a hard time."


    Li Xiaoyu trembled slightly.


    "The owner of this blacksmith shop is also your friend, right? Including Dong Ran, who has followed you for many years, and that doctor you met before.


    I don''t know whether they can change their destiny, but right now, their lives are in your hands. If they lose their lives, there''s no point talking about fate!"

 Chapter 18 The Third Wish_4

    Experience indeed is the best teacher. In just a few words, Li Wanye had shattered Li Xiaoyu''s determination.She suddenly felt weary.


    Actually, she had always known that no matter how loudly she shouted, she could never win acknowledgment and understanding.


    But she still felt somewhat unwilling to give up.


    It was as if all the rebellions of her life had culminated in this one day.


    If she couldn''t change anything even today, chances are she would become like her mother years later, living with a certain self-pity and resentment.


    After a while, Li Xiaoyu looked ahead blankly, her hand slowly retracted.


    Before long, she bowed her head and switched off the transmission rift.


    Li Zheng heaved a sigh of relief; at last, Li Xiaoyu hadn''t done anything foolish.


    "Take Yu back," Li Wanye commanded, and six guards began to move.


    The guards didn''t dare to get too close, and Li Xiaoyu was escorted in the middle, walking with a sense of loss and resignation.


    This farce was finally drawing to a close.


    Although Li Wanye was displeased that the incident had caused too much commotion, time would eventually smooth everything over.


    Years later, when people talk about Miss Li, they will probably remember this scene.


    But ultimately, they won''t remember the words she spoke. What they will envy is still the exquisite life she leads.


    They might even mock her, saying the young lady of the wealthy family is just too well-fed.


    In fact, Li Xiaoyu''s words today did move Li Wanye.


    It''s just a pity that the person his daughter likes is an Eden demon child. That''s the one thing he could never compromise on.


    The streets were deathly silent.


    Only the sound of the guards marching could be heard, which also gradually faded away after a while.


    It was only after the large group had been gone for a while that people from the lower layers started peeking out from all around, watching the distance with a somber expression.


    Their fates were different from that of the top floors'' rich young lady, and people from two different worlds could hardly understand each other. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But just now, when that girl loudly voiced her grievances, everyone was momentarily in a trance.


    There were parents silently weeping while holding their children, praying that their children wouldn''t end up as talentless and useless as themselves.


    There were also old folks, too old and frail, wanting to curse bitterly but only managing to cough hoarsely.


    And there were young people who had just left the academic district not long ago, their faces filled with anger and resentment.


    This group of people gradually emerged from the neighborhood. They weren''t many, certainly not as many as on a lively day on Decay Street.


    Just dozens of people, rustling about, all staring blankly into the distance.


    Watching the guards escorting Miss Li of the Li family, watching some figures gradually disappearing toward the entrance of the hierarchy.


    Their expressions varied, but mostly, they looked sad and repressed.


    But at that moment, someone suddenly shouted, as if they had seen something odd.


    Following that, the group of people began to exclaim in astonishment, each of them seeing something bewildering in their eyes.


    The Pyramid was always well-lit, twenty-four hours a day. Even when simulating nighttime.


    But at the end of people''s gaze, the large group of guards was suddenly enveloped by a massive darkness.


    It was like a brush soaked in ink, sweeping across, cleanly leaving a black streak in everyone''s view.


    This darkness was so absolute that it seemed the lights of the Pyramid couldn''t penetrate it at all.


    People panicked as they watched this scene in the distance, unsure of what to do.


    ...


    ```


    ...


    The sky suddenly darkened.


    In the Pyramid, where there was no day or night and no seasons, this had never happened before.


    All of the guards just stopped.


    Li Zheng looked around, but he couldn''t see a single person.


    He could only hear the guards'' breathing and the engine sounds of the Judgment Knights.


    Indistinctly, Li Zheng seemed to hear a sinister laugh.


    Li Zheng''s expression changed, and thinking of something, he shouted urgently, "Maintain formation! Enter defense mode."


    Li Wanye''s ring flickered as well, but like darkness that could swallow light sources, his vision was quickly consumed by absolute darkness.


    A terrifying sound came like the rending of metal, shocking Li Wanye, who also thought of the monster mentioned in the council; he said:


    "Protect Yu!"


    Sharp sounds of metal scraping and breaking sounded continuously.


    Li Wanye''s ring was constantly conveying information.


    He didn''t know what this absolute darkness was, but he knew, a monster was dismantling the Judgment Knights one by one.


    The dense darkness made the guards dare not act rashly.


    They could only leave it to some unknown being in the darkness, tearing the Judgment Knights apart bit by bit.


    The roaring sounds of the Judgment Knights were also diminishing steadily.


    That terrifying laugh began to invade everyone''s hearing.


    Yet the voice was so ephemeral, as if the person could move rapidly in a very short period of time.


    Such speed was simply impossible within the Pyramid.


    In just one minute, Li Wanye felt several Judgment Knights lose their connection with him; there were also cries of pain from some guards.


    The laughter gradually stabilized, as if the monster had stopped within a certain range.


    At the same time, a hand covered Li Xiaoyu''s mouth.


    Li Xiaoyu instinctively tried to struggle but then heard a familiar voice, very soft, right next to her ear:


    "I work only one day a year, yet I''m never laid off; I ride on reindeer, and my shadow is cast upon the moon. Who am I?"


    As if an exhausted soul was injected with vitality by this voice, Li Xiaoyu''s eyes instantly widened.


    "Shh, don''t speak, I''ll get you out first. Do you want to come with me?"


    Li Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, as tears she had stopped began to fall again.


    In the midst of the terrible laughter and the roaring sounds of the Judgment Knights, she took someone''s hand.


    She was at a loss just a moment before in the light, but now in the absolute darkness, she felt an unprecedented sense of relief. She didn''t think about what would happen next, nor did she need to worry about Dongran, Qiaoshanshan, Liu Lang, and the others, because this person had arrived, and all troubles would surely be resolved.


    She couldn''t hold back in the end:


    "I''ve said my goodbyes to the Pyramid, Tang Xian, take me away."


    A hook shot out, and an arm suddenly wrapped around Li Xiaoyu''s waist.


    That voice was still next to Li Xiaoyu''s ear, tender and teasing:


    "Is this the third wish then?"


    "Yes."


    "Good, this Santa Claus agrees."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    Tomorrow is Qixi Festival, everyone please be safe. Especially the single boys, learn to protect yourselves~


    ``` Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 19 Return to the Mining Area

    The grappling hook steadied itself in the groove between the buildings at the base level.Li Xiaoyu was instantly pulled away by a force.


    Then came blinding light.


    Suddenly running out from darkness, one might find their eyes a bit unaccustomed.


    It took Li Xiaoyu several seconds before she could open her eyes.


    The face that came into view bore the same smile as she remembered, as if everything were trivial.


    She stared a bit too long, and as Tang Xian continued to move between buildings with the help of his grappling hook, he said,


    "Is there something on my face?"


    "No, I was just wondering¡­ when did you get here?"


    "About a few hours ago."


    "A few hours ago? So you''ve been at the base level all this time?"


    "I found you as soon as you came back."


    "..."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know how to describe this feeling.


    It was probably like being carried by Tang Xian between buildings, a surreal feeling of sometimes falling and sometimes rising.


    "Then why did you wait until now to show up..."


    The guards gathered towards the dark fog incessantly. While swinging, Tang Xian looked for places to hide.


    Ultimately, he took Li Xiaoyu to the rooftop of a low building, Luo''s antique shop, where a large sign shielded them thoroughly.


    He didn''t answer Li Xiaoyu immediately but took out her portable transport rift instead.


    It was a disk-shaped precision instrument, and after fiddling with it for a few seconds, Tang Xian removed a tiny component that resembled a ladybug.


    "This is the reason you were exposed. Your portable transport rift had Lin Sen''s personal locator on it. In fact, your plan was quite thorough, but you should have listened to me. When I told you to wait for me, you should have just honestly waited at home for my return."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t react right away.


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "You''ve been calculated, but the person who calculated you was bought off by me. As for why I waited until now, it''s because I, too, wanted to see you play the fool."


    "Having the indifferent Miss Li speak like she did today makes me feel the money I paid Lin Sen wasn''t wasted."


    Li Xiaoyu opened her mouth but said nothing. Recalling the words she had spoken earlier and realizing that this man had heard them all, her face instantly flushed red.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Once you can enter the transport rift, I''ll take you to the mining area to hide out. In any case, you don''t need to worry about the arrangements coming up¡ªI''ll handle them."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded her head.


    Everything had happened too quickly, and even now she hadn''t calmed down.


    Looking at Tang Xian, hearing the chaotic sounds from the streets, she spoke softly,


    "The person who helped you¡­ Who is it? I heard there''s a masked weirdo in the mining area recently who also likes to laugh strangely. I heard it just now, that person''s laughter is really unsettling."


    "His name is Tang Ao, my new assistant. His abilities are far stronger than Akasi''s and Tang Suoye''s, strong in every aspect. But Tang Ao won''t be with me for long; I''ve promised him that once things here are settled, he''ll be released.


    As for the masked weirdo you mentioned, I''ve also heard about it in the few days since I''ve been back. The weirdo is a friend of mine, but he wasn''t here today. He can only appear in the mining area. I had Tang Ao pretend to be him."


    "Why pretend to be the masked person?"


    "There are many ways to stop evil in this world, and fear is also a good method. Unfortunately, the masked one''s influence can''t reach Pyramid World. So I gave him a hand, while also keeping the suspicions away from myself."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded her head, quickly making sense of the relationships involved.


    It was indeed a good strategy that killed two birds with one stone.


    "What about this black fog?"


    "A new cheating method, gleaned in the belly of a dog¡ªvery useful," Tang Xian said.


    Gleaned in the belly of a dog?


    Li Xiaoyu suddenly realized that in just one short month, Tang Xian seemed to have experienced quite an interesting adventure, his strength greatly improved.


    "What about your partner?"


    "Tang Ao? Don''t worry about him. The highest weapons of the current Pyramid hierarchy are only at perfect level, which pose no threat to Tang Ao. He''ll leave on his own.


    Things at the base level will be chaotic in the subsequent days. The entire Pyramid will quickly go into a state of martial law, not just the thirty-nine fortresses, but the others as well. The lords of these fortresses will probably come up with even more extreme methods very soon."


    "What do we do then?" Li Xiaoyu didn''t feel like thinking anymore.


    "There will always be places to go, but in the next few days, I need to act alone. There are some things I need to confirm first."


    "By the way¡­ Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan, and the others¡­"


    "You don''t need to worry about them either. Including Liu Lang, all the people related to me will be saved by Song Que in the end."


    "Why Song Que?"


    "Because he''s clever."


    Li Xiaoyu hadn''t figured out the connections here, but she didn''t ask any more questions.


    "So what should I do?"


    "Just stay with Akasi and Tang Suoye, and wait for my return."


    "Okay." Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Xiaoyu felt truly exhausted; her life had undergone major changes in this one month.


    She knew she should properly plan for what was next.


    But now, it seemed nothing else was important. It was best to just follow this man wherever he roamed from world to world, accompanying him.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Nearly two hours later, the black fog finally dispersed. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The absolute darkness that seemed to swallow all light, coupled with the bizarre laughter, draped a layer of fear over everyone''s heart.

 Chapter 19 Return to the Mining Area_2

    When darkness and laughter disappeared, real terror exploded.


    The guards who arrived subsequently saw a scene akin to what one would witness when the mining area faced natural disaster creatures.


    Twenty-four Judgment Knights lay torn apart, while the remaining nearly one thousand guards all collapsed on the ground.


    Li Wanye, the Lord of the thirty-ninth Fortress, had suffered only some minor injuries as he was a key figure meant to be protected.


    But Li Zheng was less fortunate.


    Within the darkness, all Li Zheng felt was a light touch from the opponent, but his ribs broke one after another.


    When Qi Xun, Song Que, and other Lords from the fortresses rushed over with a large force from the sixth level, each of them was profoundly shocked by the scene.


    Qi Xun asked for details of the incident, and from the still semi-conscious guards, he learned that all of this was the doing of the masked stranger.


    Because of that signature laughter, anyone familiar with this bizarre story believed without a doubt.


    For a moment, a sense of dread from deep within their souls gripped all the Lords of the fortresses.


    They had thought that as long as they did not go to the mining area, they would not encounter that strange person, but who would have thought that the masked stranger would be even more arrogant and unrestrained within the Pyramid.


    Single-handedly eradicating twenty-four Judgment Knights of perfect level strength...


    Such combat power had surpassed their imagination and overturned their understanding.


    Before long, Li Xiaonian also arrived, having heard that his father and brother had encountered a powerful enemy, he rushed over immediately.


    Fortunately, though his older brother Li Zheng had temporarily lost his ability to fight, he was not in mortal danger. His father, Li Wanye, was also not seriously harmed.


    Li Xiaonian heaved a sigh of relief, only to find out that his sister, Li Xiaoyu, had been kidnapped... He didn''t know whether to laugh or to worry.


    Song Que had the most peculiar expression.


    He looked at the guards strewn about and those incapacitated Judgment Knights, without saying a word.


    No one understood better than him that these people couldn''t possibly have been defeated by the masked stranger.


    Because only he could summon that fellow.


    Despite their close relationship, and his repeated cautions and restrictions on the other''s actions each time,


    The masked stranger only followed the agreement not to kill the good.


    All other promises were torn up by the masked stranger.


    His methods were cruel and vicious, and those he targeted could hardly escape death.


    How could it be possible that, like today, he would leave so many alive?


    Most crucially, all this happened two to three hours ago, but his own memories from that time were complete and continuous.


    He had not heard any voice from the masked stranger wanting to come out.


    And one more thing... in the Pyramid, even that individual would not be able to defeat the powerful Judgment Knights.


    In other words, this impostor was stronger than the real deal he knew.


    Song Que''s expression grew more complex.


    As the Supreme Commander of humanity, he had come to know some things about the Evolution Zone.


    He also learned that the Evolution Zone was researching super soldiers who could have tremendous power inside the Pyramid.


    Akasi, the blue-eyed witch, including the clown who had changed half of his soul, were all such beings.


    But although these individuals were powerful, they could not possibly be strong to this degree.


    Song Que quickly arranged for medical personnel; these people were just paralyzed on the ground and had no fatal injuries. With today''s medical methods, they could quickly recover and rejoin the battle.


    Afterwards, Song Que''s attention turned to another person, the owner of a smithy in the lower levels, who was also within the range of the black fog but was unharmed.


    Liu Lang.


    At this moment, Liu Lang had a dazed look on his face, wondering if his ancestors were showing their power from the heavens?


    Seeing Liu Lang''s expression, Song Que quickly revealed an almost imperceptible smile.


    Mask No. 2, why would only such a person be spared? He quickly thought of an answer.


    He also quickly figured out the real identity of the impersonator, along with the hidden message the impersonator had left.


    This was entrusting him to protect Liu Lang and others who were acquainted with him.


    Thinking of this, Song Que''s smile deepened. He suddenly realized that perhaps humanity does not need these Judgment Knights, burdened with some evil secret, to assault Yuepela Plains.


    Because Tang Xian has returned.


    ...


    ...


    Mining area, March Marsh. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Far to the west of the forest, by the lake, was the second new home chosen by Li Xiaoyu.


    This is what she thought. She could no longer go to the forest and at least needed to make a new dwelling place by the time Tang Xian returned.


    According to Tang Xian''s temperament, he would surely pick a place with an extremely beautiful scenery.


    With such thoughts, Li Xiaoyu also displayed her own talent in design.


    She discussed with everyone, and they built a small lake dwelling on Lake Heart Island in March Marsh. In terms of both aesthetics and standards, it surpassed the wooden houses in the tree forest.


    The heart of the lake was connected to the lakeshore by a long footbridge, which was quite nice for enjoying the view or fishing.


    From a distance, it looked as if one was waking in the morning, gazing across the wide lake, with spring rains gently soaking into one''s heart.


    With Tang Suoye''s telekinesis to help, all this became much simpler.


    After spending ten hours at the bottom of the thirty-ninth fortress, Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu each entered the teleportation rift.


    However, the tools given to them by Yu Xiaozhe and those of Li Xiaoyu did not share the same coordinates.


    Tang Xian went south of the crimson wastelands, while Li Xiaoyu returned to March Marsh.


    Although he had promised to arrive soon, Li Xiaoyu was still somewhat anxious at the moment.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan still had no idea what had happened.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye had gone hunting, and the two girls were chatting intermittently.


    Dong Ran was always worried, afraid that once Miss Li returned to the Pyramid, she would be captured and never able to return.


    Qiao Shanshan, although nostalgic for her brief life as a rich woman and longing for the luxurious life of mansions and limitless shopping, found her days under house arrest exceedingly uncomfortable.


    She and Dong Ran had witnessed firsthand how Li Xiaoyu used her intelligence to gather everyone and create a new stronghold.


    Without Li Xiaoyu, would everyone still be confined? sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially since she had abandoned her identity as Miss Li and come to the dangerous mining area to find Tang Xian, this act had greatly changed Qiao Shanshan''s impression of Li Xiaoyu.


    She genuinely liked this girl who dared to love and hate.


    Everyone also accepted her presence, considering her a part of the Sheng Tang Squad.


    Although Li Xiaoyu seldom communicated with them.


    After finding everyone, she often stood alone on the footbridge, gazing into the distant sky.


    From sunrise to sunset, with no end in sight.


    And so it was at this moment.


    But for some reason, today Qiao Shanshan felt that Li Xiaoyu''s spirit had changed.


    She watched Li Xiaoyu, not far away, staring intently in a certain direction, and noticed the young girl''s eyes were filled with anticipation.


    ...


    ...


    Akasi and Tang Suoye were hunting.


    March Marsh was only a blue region, but where there was water, there were often abundant animals.


    Even though they couldn''t make it as delicious as the meals Tang Xian made, Akasi had still become the chief cook after Tang Xian left.


    He had learned a thing or two.


    For instance, when in doubt, just burn first and ask questions later.


    As long as it was meat, grilling it would make it taste good.


    Today they intended to catch a spiny pig.


    But both of them felt something was off today.


    An extremely oppressive atmosphere was encroaching.


    "Ye, do you feel it? The animals today seem to be behaving much more docilely."


    Tang Suoye still couldn''t speak, so she nodded and looked around with a puzzled gaze.


    Suddenly, she turned her head, looking towards the east.


    Akasi followed Tang Suoye''s gaze.


    At the same time, a resonant and powerful dragon''s roar rang in their ears, like a massive thunderclap falling upon the earth.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye fixed their eyes on the distant clouds.


    Amidst the sea of clouds, something seemed to be appearing and disappearing.


    The next moment, both widened their eyes in shock, staring at the giant creature that emerged from the clouds.


    "Is that... a dragon?"


    The legend of Magic Dragon Valley was that of a calamitous boss creature, the magic dragon, but the dragon they saw was different from that one.


    With antlers like a deer, eyes like a rabbit, a neck like a snake, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, palms like a tiger, and ears like a cow.


    This seemed like a dragon species dormant in the deep sea.


    But what truly amazed them was that on the head of that dragon was a person they knew.


    (Another update coming this afternoon)

 Chapter 20 Homecoming

    The dragon''s roar was not only heard by Akasi and Tang Suoye.


    In March Marsh, where thousands of beasts bowed their heads, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan also ran out from the small building at the center of the lake.


    Even Li Xiaoyu didn''t expect Tang Xian''s entrance to be like this.


    When the huge dragon''s body landed on the lakeshore, looking at Tang Xiaojiu holding Tang Bingxiang on her shoulder with Tang Gazi standing atop, and a calm Tang Xian strolling towards the small building at the lake''s center, the girls finally snapped out of their shock.


    Qiao Shanshan was more baffled than Dong Ran. Dong Ran''s thought was that Tang really was impressive, returning on a dragon no less.


    She won''t even think about where Tang Xian got the dragon from. It seems she had already developed the habit of not finding anything Tang Xian did surprising.


    Qiao Shanshan is an intellectual after all, seeing such an unscientific creature for the first time, she was surprised but also wondered how this person vanished for a month and then somehow managed to trick a dragon into coming back with him.


    Wait, why did I say "again"?


    Qiao Shanshan shook her head, too lazy to think, and decided it would be better to wait for Tang Xian to explain himself.


    "This place is nice, more comfortable than my treehouse."


    Whether it''s leaving or reuniting, Tang Xian always reacted very calmly.


    As if he had never left.


    Before long, Akasi and Tang Suoye had also arrived.


    "Welcome back," Akasi said, carrying a huge pig''s head, smiling at Tang Xian.


    Whether human or beast, the little treehouse gang had finally gathered in one place.


    Tang Xian naturally took the pig''s head from Akasi''s hand and said,


    "Pig''s head meat is mild, sweet and salty in flavor, nourishing to eliminate deficiency, enriching yin, enriching blood, and moistening dryness. There are many ways to eat it."


    "In Huaiyang cuisine, ''braised whole pig''s head'' is of the utmost culinary refinement, considered a long-standing famous dish from Huaiyang. I''ll handle it. Xiaojiu, come over and assist me; the rest of you can rest."


    Seeing this scene, the girls were the happiest, their eyes lit up with excitement.


    Li Xiaoyu hadn''t eaten Tang Xian''s cooking many times, and was puzzled by Dong Ran and the others'' exaggerated reactions.


    But watching Tang Xian skillfully cut the pig''s head, she roughly understood why.


    "What should I do?" a strange voice asked.


    Everyone was stunned, only to see the giant dragon on the lakeshore disappear, the speaker with a full forehead and jade-like face exuded a domineering aura of reigning over the world.


    Those who were already privy to some of Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng''s secrets quickly guessed who the newcomer was.


    Without waiting to be asked, Tang Xian said,


    "You don''t need to help, you''re clumsy. Just be a good mount, that''s enough."


    "By the way, this dragon from the Ashen Sea in the south is known as the Guarding Sea Azure Dragon; he''s currently working for me. His full name is Tang Feiji, nickname Tang Ao."


    The crowd was first taken aback, marveling at what Tang Xian had gone through, then suddenly sympathized with this man with a dragon-like presence.


    Among the names Tang Xian had ever come up with, this one was surely the most embarrassing, even more pitiable than Tang Bingxiang, Tang Gazi, and Tang.


    In the ancient past, airplanes were a means of transportation, and tanks were too, although the latter was limited to battle-hardened nations and Syrian laborers.


    However, as internet culture evolved, battling with airplanes became a national pastime, and in the Abstinence Bar, many pilots repented their former flying ways, incessantly advising future pilots of the perils of excessive flight.


    Tanks weren''t simple either, shifting from a transportation tool of Syrian laborers and battle-hardened nations to a tonnage-class weapon of destruction for the middle-aged and elderly. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Fortunately, Tang Feiji himself didn''t understand any of this.


    The architecture of the small building at the center of the lake was basically modeled after modern villas, with everyone having their own room, as well as a living room, drawing room, and a kitchen.


    Although it was all built from nearby trees, the construction was extremely meticulous, and except in a natural disaster, it would not be in danger of collapse.


    Li Xiaoyu felt she should do something.


    After all, even a young girl like Tang Xiaojiu was helping out.


    But before she could enter the kitchen, she heard Tang Xian say,


    "Stay aside, although the pig''s head won''t open its eyes, I don''t want to find hair in my food, the kitchen is a serious place."


    So Li Xiaoyu was kicked out just like that, feeling quite discredited.


    Suddenly she remembered, Tang Xian liked girls who could cook, so she decided immediately to learn how to cook in the future.


    The braised whole pig''s head was quickly finished by Tang Xian.


    The table of people finally entered the anticipated phase of eating while asking questions.


    Enjoying the delicious food and listening to Tang Xian talk about his experiences over the month and answering everyone''s questions was a very interesting thing to do.


    Tang Xian knew the group had many questions, so he shared his experiences, from the island to the bottom of the sea, and then back to Pyramid.


    He mentioned his trip to the crimson wasteland.


    Li Xiaoyu frowned, her concerns differed from the rest; what mattered to her was¡ª


    There were too many women around Tang Xian.


    Temporarily disregarding Qiao and Dong Ran, Tang Xiaojiu was just a cute child, all of which she tacitly accepted.


    But as Tang Xian slowly unfolded his story, she suddenly realized there were many people she didn''t know.


    Like Jin Lu dressed in leopard print, the white-clad, literary snake spirit Bai Mansheng, and the true fox spirit Qing JiuYu whom Tang Xian mentioned at least four times.


    Li Xiaoyu felt the pig''s head meat was not tasty at all, sour even.


    Although she was troubled, she didn''t speak up.

 Chapter 20 Homecoming_2

    Tang Xian was an extremely efficient person and had basically explained all these matters over the course of a meal.


    Soon, everyone asked the question they were most curious about.


    "Tang, I''m really curious... is that Eden Demon Child really related to you?" Dong Ran asked.


    Tang Xian said,


    "My abilities indeed match the description of the Eden Demon Child. But I don''t think I am the Eden Demon Child, to be exact, I believe I possess the abilities of the Eden Demon Child, but I am human."


    From Tang Ao''s initial reaction, Tang Xian knew that his body was definitely a human one, but why he had the abilities of the Eden Demon Child remained to be explored.


    "Additionally, regarding the Sea Demon mentioned in the Order Stele, I''ve gained some understanding. In a certain sense, it''s not possible for the Eden Demon Child to bring six apocalyptic-level creatures to attack the Human World.


    In the world of the mining area, history is the opposite; they went from being invaders to the invaded."


    "Although I tend to believe the latter, there are things in the words of the Order that I am sure are false. Yet in the mining world, there are still many things waiting for us to confirm."


    "What do you mean?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "Perhaps the histories of both worlds are false? My philosophy in dealing with things is not to have absolute faith in anything because when the reversal comes, it will be quite disorienting," Tang Xian said.


    "So what are we going to do next?" Akasi asked.


    "For the next few days, wait here for my news. I need to resolve a trouble. Once this trouble is taken care of, we''ll also have a place to stay in the other world in the future."


    Although everyone was confused by his words, Tang Xian did not elaborate because there were some things that only a monster with extraordinary vitality could confirm.


    As evening approached, after some brief catching up with everyone, Tang Xian didn''t delay any longer, leaving only Tang Xiaojiu behind as he returned to the Pyramid with Tang Feiji.


    ...


    ...


    The night in the lower levels was the liveliest.


    Even now, when the thirty-nine fortresses were under martial law, the influx of a large number of miners after six in the evening made the guards'' patrols exceptionally difficult.


    Tang Xian walked naturally on the street, using the bustling crowd to avoid several guards and went to Liu Lang''s smithy.


    Upon learning of the turmoil in the thirty-nine-layer fortress, Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen quickly came over to meet Tang Xian.


    There were a total of six people in the smithy at this time.


    When Tang Xian and Tang Feiji entered the smithy, Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen were both startled.


    The two of them were international fugitives and had thought that by entering the smithy, they would meet Tang Xian but did not expect to see someone from the top echelon of the Human Federation¡ª


    The justice-loving Song, the commander.


    Upon seeing these two, why would Song let them go? Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen thought they had been set up.


    It wasn''t until Tang Xian walked in that the two of them suddenly realized and thought of something.


    Song said,


    "Long time no see."


    "Not that long, just a month or so."


    "You''ve already met, right?" Tang Xian looked at Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    Yu Xiaozhe was silent for a few seconds and then said,


    "Hold on, let me catch my breath. You, Tang Xian, the Eden Demon Child, the antithesis of humanity."


    Yu Xiaozhe then looked at Song,


    "You, Song Que, the future lord of the first fortress, the current commander of federal forces. Are you two actually friends?"


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "So you don''t have to be afraid. He won''t arrest you."


    "Won''t I? I do have a strong sense of justice," Song jested.


    Lin Sen looked nervous like a newbie shaking in the presence of a big shot.


    "Did you ask me here to give me these two number one fugitives of the Federation as a gift?" Song asked.


    "One of these men is my business partner and the other is my good friend, so I can''t give them to you." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian sat opposite Song and smiled,


    "Both are skilled workers. Your other identity knows a lot about the dark side and is good at dealing with these things. Maybe your other identity could use them in the future."


    Song''s expression was complex.


    Yu Xiaozhe, Lin Sen and even Liu Lang were all puzzled by their conversation.


    "You really guessed it was me."


    "To be honest, I was very surprised at first, but everything is within reason."


    "So you''re leaving these two here to help me? Are you sure my other identity won''t cut them open because of the evil they have done?" When Song said this, he glanced at Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    The two shivered feeling that his gaze contained some extremely evil thing, which was incredibly discordant with the Song who seemed so simple and honest when smiling.


    "Not for now, but I''ll have a chance to meet the other you at some point. As for Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, they are my technical consultants, and they are here tonight to help me with something."


    Song furrowed his brows, not quite understanding Tang Xian''s meaning.


    Yu Xiaozhe understood and said,


    "Are you taking action tonight?"


    "Yes. I will leave the fortress tonight."


    Song said,


    "Where are you going? I can make it easier for you, even though this is the thirty-nine fortresses."


    Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe now understood why Tang Xian had called for Song.


    Initially, the two of them planned to replace Jiang Ming, but now it was different; with the help of the commander of Human Federation forces, smuggling one person out would be very easy.

 Chapter 20 Homecoming_3

    The two only needed to provide Tang Xian with the previously agreed upon signal tower construction equipment.


    Tang Xian laughed and said,


    "I''m not going to another fortress, I''m going outside the fortress."


    Song Que was stunned.


    Even though he knew this man was crazy, he hadn''t imagined he was crazy to this extent.


    However, unlike Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen''s initial reaction, after thinking it over for a moment, Song Que then said,


    "You indeed have something different from us."


    "Yes, although I''m not one of those test subjects from the evolution area, I am stronger than them. The Pyramid can no longer contain me now."


    Song Que nodded and said,


    "I can help with this."


    "Thank you. In return, after I get through this busy period, I will take care of some troubles for you."


    Song Que did not demur.


    The battle in the Yuepela Plains was critical, and although he didn''t know what Tang Xian was capable of,


    he believed that the Masked Chopper Hero and the Blue-Eyed Little Witch from that night possessed strength that surpassed any current talent at this stage.


    Perhaps with the help of these two, the situation in the battle could change slightly.


    Humanity wouldn''t be forced into retreat at every turn.


    But the idea of capturing the Yuepela Plains didn''t cross Song Que''s mind.


    He didn''t believe that Tang Xian alone could claim a red zone for humanity.


    After discussing with a few people, Tang Xian then formulated an escape plan.


    Song Que would apply to use a vehicle under the pretext of returning to the first fortress, Tang Ao would pose as a servant, and Tang Xian would disguise himself as a pilot.


    Song Que would bribe the vehicle pilot, while Yu Xiaozhe provided fake documents, and Lin Sen supplied a large number of privately made portable transport fractures and tools for setting up the network signal equipment.


    As for the rest, Tang Xian would have to operate alone.


    Tang Xian and Song Que were both highly efficient individuals, and they immediately began to implement the plan once it was set.


    Lin Sen also went to the second layer through Song Que''s clearance, brought back his tools and materials, and Yu Xiaozhe had already forged all kinds of documents.


    The series of processes went very smoothly, and Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen enjoyed the ease of cooperation with those in power.


    Virtually all kinds of documents and procedures were given the green light.


    He even felt that there was no need for fake documents; it would be better to simply forge Song Que''s face in the future.


    Every station that Song Que visited, the inspection personnel would collectively pass him through.


    This feeling of smuggling the enemy of humanity alongside the top commander of the human camp was incredibly strange. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was just one problem that Song Que hadn''t thought of.


    Until after boarding, he still hadn''t remembered it, as his habitual thinking had made him assume this was just a regular smuggling operation.


    When the flying vehicle had traveled through the night sky for a while, with part of the Pyramid''s outline already visible in the distance, and looking at the shattered buildings on the ground¡ª


    Song Que suddenly remembered the issue.


    "Tang, how are you going to land? If we deviate from the flight path, we will soon be pursued."


    Tang Xian said, "You just keep the vehicle on your intended course. Don''t worry about me."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Because I''m about to jump."


    Song Que froze, asking uncertainly,


    "Wait, are you saying you''re going to jump from an altitude of five thousand five hundred meters?"


    "Yes, there would be a chance for you to join me, but not today."


    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian''s tone was indifferent as if he was just inviting Song Que for afternoon tea.


    Song Que was still a bit flabbergasted,


    "What about your friend?"


    "Tang Ao? He''s jumping with me."


    "..."


    "I''m about to open the cabin now."


    "Are you serious?"


    Song Que still found it hard to believe.


    But at that moment, warning sounds were already sounding inside the cabin.


    ¡ª¡ªWarning, hatch is now open! Turbulence detected, will forcibly close soon!


    Song Que turned his head in shock, incredulously watching the scene before him.


    The man named Tang Ao was kicked out of the hatch by Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian made a hand waving goodbye gesture, then performed a backflip with his face up.


    The torrential flow of air was abruptly cut off.


    The hatch had already closed by that time.


    Song Que couldn''t see the scene below. All he saw was lightning illuminating the night sky and the ground below.


    Clear skies just a moment ago had suddenly turned into the worst of weathers.


    Thunder followed by a downpour. The rain poured down like the milky way, a ferocity he had never seen before.


    This extreme weather seemed like the dying world''s roar.


    Between the peals of thunder, there appeared to be occasional dragon chants.


    Song Que found it hard to imagine the weather turning so foul, and he even had a feeling¡ª


    This lifeless wasteland of yore, the true homeland of humanity, seemed to have suddenly come alive.

 Chapter 21 The New Tenant of the New World

    What does it feel like to plummet from an altitude of 5,500 meters?


    As Tang Xian pondered this question, his mind conjured up sample answers.


    Laxatives, hanging mid-air, just off a plane, graduated from Massachusetts, 6''1", employed at the White House, well-versed in history and antiques, met Putin, met Trump, too many acquaintances, involvement in interests, it''s a secret.


    Naturally, Tang Xian had no time to write down these pointless things, feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation instead.


    Consequently, his mind began to wander uncontrollably.


    Because there were no indications of injury in his sea of knowledge.


    Because the raindrops didn''t bring any discomfort to him either.


    Because this world was exactly as he had imagined.


    All the rumors and descriptions about the source world were a conspiracy, all fake!


    However, he soon suffered massive damage.


    No matter whether he could survive falls, plummeting from over five thousand meters in the air would still turn him into a meat sauce.


    The white dragon pretended not to see Tang Xian.


    Who was it that kicked himself off the edge again?


    Tang Xian flipped the sky a middle finger, and not long after, a "plop" sound followed.


    He was smashed into meat sauce.


    The end of the book¡ªit''s not possible.


    Tang Xian did indeed fall from an altitude of over five thousand meters, originally he could have slowed the fall by hooking onto some of the abandoned buildings on the ground with his hooks.


    But he still gave it a try.


    Warnings echoed in his sea of knowledge.


    However, soon after, Tang Xian twisted his dislocated joints and bones back into place.


    A person whose entire body had shattered into pieces was up and lively again in mere seconds.


    The white dragon circled low around him. Tang Xian didn''t blame Tang Feiji; on the contrary, he found the fall quite amusing.


    Tang Xian looked at his own hands, letting the wind and rain fall upon him.


    "Turns out I really am a monster."


    This was not self-deprecation. Tang Xian suddenly became curious if he was now impossible to kill, in every sense of the word?


    For damage caused to non-living things, it could be offset by steadily stacking vitality and healing speed.


    And as for living beings, if the resistances were maxed out, it was simply impossible to inflict any harm.


    How about time then? S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And poisons?


    As he thought thus, he wanted to tempt fate again.


    Following a series of actions like high-altitude jumping, spending seven days in the mining area, leaving the Pyramid, voluntarily feeding himself¡ªand more¡ª


    Tang Xian felt he could give a try to simmering himself in an iron pot, chicken stew with poisonous mushrooms, dumplings filled with toxic substances, stir-fried pufferfish, and some other things that might taste good but shouldn''t be eaten.


    Of course, simmering himself in an iron pot wasn''t exactly food; that was more of an entertainment event.


    Tang Feiji laid down its dragon body, interrupting Tang Xian''s train of thought.


    [This place is in ruins, where should we go?]


    "That''s a question," replied Tang Xian, frowning.


    Breathing in the moist yet clean air, he turned around to look.


    Through the hazy night, he could still see the Pyramid in the distance.


    Some views look completely different from the foot of the mountain compared to midway up.


    It was then that Tang Xian realized that the base of the Pyramid actually delved deep into the ground.


    Like an upside-down leech sucking the blood from this planet.


    Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Apart from those mineral energies, it seemed that another part of the Pyramid''s energy source came from this planet''s geothermal energy.


    Feeling the temperature here, Tang Xian inferred that it was indeed much colder.


    Though it was still summer.


    The heavy rain continued to fall, and Tang Xian said:


    "Did you call this thunderstorm?"


    [No, it''s just a coincidence. The storm suddenly erupted when we left the vehicle.]


    Tang Xian nodded and recalled a theory he had once heard.


    It was said that on the day when the last human entered the Pyramid, time in this world coincided with the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, that is, Qixi Festival.


    "Some say that once there are no humans in this world, it stops changing. Even though time continues to pass, the world assumes it has completed its mission. Having seen off¡ªor rather destroyed¡ªthe last civilization, all human-defined eras of time become frozen. That could explain this downpour."


    Tang Xian looked around and found the place looked as though Qiyu and Saiki Kusuo had fought each other here.


    There wasn''t a single building intact. The ground was full of cracks, too.


    Unlike Xianghai City he had passed by earlier, which was relatively intact but desolate.


    Here, even the vegetation was sparse.


    It must be because it was closer to the Pyramid.


    [I don''t understand. How is this related to the downpour?]


    Often, Tang Feiji didn''t understand the meaning behind Tang Xian''s words.


    Tang Xian said with a laugh:


    "It means that it''s still Qixi Festival, July 7th, in this world. Do you know about Qixi? It''s said to be a festival with lots of rain."


    [Why would Qixi have a lot of rain?] Even as a dragon, it knew there was no day guaranteed to rain.


    Tang Xian shot out a hook and mounted the dragon''s back. He pointed southward.


    "Let''s find somewhere to take shelter from the rain first, fly south. As for why Qixi is associated with lots of rain, that''s a rather tacky story."


    The giant dragon soared, and with a thought from Tang Feiji, they began flying¡ªfast.


    [What''s the story?]


    "In human legends, there''s another world up in the heavens. Time rules differ between the two worlds.


    A day in the heavens is a year on earth. So, lots of people go to heaven, waiting for an author to update, waiting for the release of Mount & Blade II, and so on.


    And Qixi commemorates the story of a fairy and a cattle herder.


    For various reasons, they were from different realms¡ªthe cattle herder lived on earth, and the fairy in the heavens."

 Chapter 21 The New Tenant of the New World_2

    They could only meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.


    Seeing one''s beloved only once a year was truly touching, and the fairy in the heavens would shed many tears. Thus, it became rain."


    "Humph, what a boring story," Tang Feiji snorted.


    "Yes, people always enjoy dressing dirty things up as fresh and pure. There''s a huge flaw in this story. One day in heaven is a year on earth, but the time mentioned here is based on earthly time. Is the water that falls from the sky truly tears?"


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand again; if it wasn''t the fairy''s tears, what else could this rainwater be?


    Tang Xian didn''t say that an old underwater dragon that had lived under the sea for hundreds of years couldn''t comprehend the ancient humans'' grand imaginative power.


    The Zhenhai Canglong''s flying speed was very fast, even faster than flying vehicles.


    Shortly after, Tang Xian noticed that the massive Pyramid was no longer in sight.


    He flew over one set of ruins after another.


    The integrity of these ruins was gradually better. To Tang Xian, the way these ruins had been destroyed looked like they had been ravaged by a massive storm.


    Could it be related to some activities of the Pyramid?


    Eventually, after flying for a long time,


    he and Tang Feiji arrived at a city that seemed to be still in decent shape.


    For a moment, Tang Xian didn''t know where this was, but the buildings filled with roots and plants seemed like a good place to shelter from the rain.


    At Tang Xian''s command, Tang Feiji lowered its dragon form and transformed into a human.


    This had to be done; otherwise, its massive body wouldn''t fit.


    Even at night, under the distant flashes and rumblings of thunder, they could clearly see their surroundings.


    In Tang Xian''s understanding, this should be a business district of humanity.


    The tallest building was a department store, surrounded by various shops.


    There were also a few office buildings, all looking quite desolate.


    But perhaps because it was far from the Pyramid, this place seemed very intact.


    And judging by the architecture of the block, most of these buildings only appeared in top-tier cities.


    From afar, Tang Xian noticed a 5G signal tower. But it was deserted.


    However, as long as a network loop was established, it might still be reusable.


    Tang Xian found this place quite nice. Based on the high integrity of the buildings, all that was needed was to clear out the parasitic plants from outside and inside¡ªhuman civilization, which had completely decayed, could quickly revive a small district.


    Of course, whether this work would go smoothly would depend on some exploration progress tomorrow.


    "Let''s find shelter from the rain today and find a place to sleep. We''ll explore this place tomorrow."


    Tang Feiji had no objections.


    Tang Xian walked into a residential building opposite the department store.


    In a second-floor room, the door was open.


    From the smell in the air, it seemed that some creatures had been here, but mostly reptiles.


    Tang Xian took out a candle he scavenged from the Treehouse Woodhouse and lit it.


    He saw clearly the scene inside the room.


    It was a normal bedroom setup.


    But the room had thick layers of dust, cobwebs, some wooden chairs, and fabric, all gnawed to unevenness by rats.


    Underfoot, several cockroaches as long as a middle finger scurried about.


    Tang Xian frowned and smiled wryly,


    "If those girls were here, they''d definitely not stand it. Maybe Xiao Jiu would even ask if cockroaches are tasty."


    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "I can kill them," Tang Feiji said.


    "Never mind, let''s find another way to clear these residents. Right now, they are the masters here, and we are the outsiders. Besides, if you take action, I''m afraid it''ll be disastrous and ruin the city I finally found."


    Tang Xian visited several other places. Wherever furniture was densely piled, there would be all sorts of insects.


    So he gave up on the second floor and went to the eleventh.


    The advantage of being high up was that there were few reptiles and mosquitoes.


    Tang Xian found a vacant room that had only been decorated but had no furniture.


    Small insects and rats are like that; the denser the furniture arrangement, the more suitable for their survival.


    Due to the height and openness, Tang Xian found this floor habitable. He hardly saw any of those creatures.


    So he stopped fussing and, carrying the candlelight, checked the surroundings to make sure everything was safe before settling down in a corner.


    He took out paper and pen from his utility bag and began to record today''s notes.


    "The storm arrived just as I did, along with the dragon, dramatically welcoming me, I suppose.


    Because there has to be a world out there that''s meant for me.


    The vast ruins could be from the Pyramid, these massive structures like slumbering monsters. Maybe, occasionally, they even behave like living creatures?


    Sometimes I even think that humanity''s advancement into higher civilization is a journey towards self-destruction.


    As the Pyramid''s levels gradually activate, mechanical devices become ever more prevalent and human involvement ever less necessary.


    But I don''t think humanity is to blame. Without these unique experiences, I might have believed, like everyone else, that the Pyramid was the ultimate destiny of the Human World, right? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We are but participants without a god''s-eye view, choosing to believe what we do out of instinct, not calculated decision-making.


    The Beast Court and the ruins of Eden have yet to be found.


    The higher levels of the Pyramid remain locked. Whether the vast world of humanity hides any secrets is also unknown.


    This world doesn''t reject humanity, so before me, were there other humans here?


    After the great cataclysm, was there really not a single person left in this world?


    There are only a little over two hundred Pyramids, and between each Pyramid, there''s plenty of space¡ªis it possible that people are living alone in these gaps?


    Or even small civilizations thriving?"


    Tang Xian closed his notebook.


    The content of his notes might be somewhat heavy, but his mood was quite pleasant.


    The presence of spiders, reptiles, and rats proves that this world truly can sustain other forms of life.


    Despite the Pyramids constantly drawing geothermal energy, the growth of plants shows that this world is vivacious.


    The mining world is beautiful yet dangerous. It is a stage for the chosen ones to compete for glory, and no matter how much support is provided by those at the bottom, their names will never make it onto humanity''s roll of honor.


    But now it''s different, they have a more suitable place to go.


    Yet all of this still needs to be examined¡ªTang Xian is not one to set his sights too high.


    He sat quietly in the corner, closed his eyes, and waited for the day to come.


    ...


    ...


    When the sunlight streamed through the window, it was still cool.


    The storm had stopped, and a night of heavy rain had left many puddles on the roads, but the air felt fresh and cleansed.


    A freshness you couldn''t find within the Pyramids.


    The difference between day and night is significant.


    At night, those tiny creatures emerge in search of food.


    But by day, it is time for the larger beasts to frolic and hunt.


    Tang Xian quickly woke up.


    Woken by hunger.


    Tang Feiji was holding a rat.


    The rat was half-cooked and emitting a burnt smell.


    "You''re improving, at least you know to roast it before eating," Tang Xian joked.


    "Do you want some?" Tang Feiji was not a generous dragon.


    He was a miser, not inclined to share even a rat.


    But for Tang Xian, it was different, because Tang Xian knew how to make the food taste better.


    "You eat it yourself. There are many ways to cook a rat, and although I probably won''t kill myself by eating it now, I refuse this unclean way of eating."


    Tang Xian grimaced with disgust, thwarting Tang Feiji''s little scheme.


    Then Tang Feiji swallowed the remaining half of the rat in one gulp.


    Tang Xian was very hungry, as he said, rats weren''t inedible.


    But since he was living in a new world, addressing the food issue was essential. Bringing food from the mining area might solve an immediate issue.


    But what about when more people come? To solve this problem for the long-term, the key approaches would still have to be breeding, farming.


    Or hunting.


    The hunting targets couldn''t just be rats. Tang Xian wanted to see if, during the daylight in this city, he could encounter other animals.


    Preferably those with tasty flesh.


    ~~~~~~~~


    There is one more update tonight

 Chapter 22 The mastermind behind this incident has been found

    Unlike pioneering the mine area, in this world, even with his vast knowledge reserve, Tang Xian was far less adept.


    For instance, he was currently in a grocery store where, although the exteriors of items were covered in dust and some moss,


    it didn''t hinder identification, yet Tang Xian couldn''t recognize these items.


    Well... let''s just pretend he didn''t recognize them.


    Tang Feiji seemed to have smelled the scent of lubricating oil from a small package.


    He opened the bag and took out something resembling a balloon.


    "What is this?"


    "This is a type 0.1 ultrathin balloon, which has many uses. It can be used to store water, or you can blow it into a balloon for fun when bored."


    Tang Feiji seemed half-comprehending.


    Initially, Tang Xian couldn''t recognize those tools, but after seeing the "balloons" Tang Feiji unpacked, he roughly knew what the grocery store sold.


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian walked out of the grocery store.


    Although he was searching for food, he also needed to familiarize himself with this block.


    With his extreme sense of smell, Tang Xian had already confirmed that there were quite a few animals in the distance.


    He wasn''t worried about anything.


    Unlike pioneering in the mine area, where he was cautious, in the real world, he could crush everything in his path.


    The next stop was a supermarket.


    This huge supermarket named Marvo was also a famous enterprise in the ancient past a thousand years ago.


    After entering, Tang Xian first glanced at the elevator.


    Overall, the elevator seemed intact. It just lacked electricity. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    It was hard to imagine that some things were still undamaged after hundreds of years. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But some parts must have aged. However, taken apart, many things were still useful.


    Tang Xian continued to walk down, pondering over solving the power issue.


    Walking further down led to rows of shelves, which divided the supermarket into many areas; the food section hardly needed checking.


    Although Tang Xian thought he could eat the food that had been left for hundreds of years, without dying,


    not dying didn''t mean not getting sick.


    Tang Xian moved on to other goods sections. There were lots of pots and pans, ancient furniture, children''s toys, and the like.


    Some of these things were indeed usable.


    "They''re all antiques," Tang Xian said cheerfully.


    Take, for example, the pots in the area diagonal from him, they had all kinds of cuisine; wouldn''t they fetch a sky-high price if placed with Luo?


    With a working stove, the issue of whether the food was plentiful or not was solved.


    Although the variety of dishes made by the stove had a slight textural difference from real ingredients,


    Tang Xian was seeing so many different types of stoves for the first time.


    This feeling delighted him more than seeing a pile of Soul Crystals.


    "Truly beautiful, truly beautiful."


    Living in the present, it was hard for one to imagine that something they owned would become an antique in the future.


    Just like stamps from the ''80s, who would have thought that the price of some stamps would increase thousands of times over just twenty or thirty years?


    Suddenly, Tang Xian thought of something.


    Ignoring the stupid dragon on the side blowing up balloons as if discovering a new continent, Tang Xian figured the toys on these shelves could keep Tang Feiji occupied for hundreds of years.


    He went directly to the adjacent side of the food section.


    The goods on these shelves were basically just a sparse selection.


    Many food items had been taken to the Underground Shelter, and indeed, some things were left in this supermarket. It''s a wonder why they weren''t entirely scavenged.


    Tang Xian thought that perhaps the people at the time were hiding from something?


    He didn''t know the details about the great catastrophe.


    Thus, he didn''t think much of it, scanning every shelf until he found what he was looking for.


    Paper packaging had decayed quite a bit, but the liquid inside glass bottles was intact.


    Glass and ceramic were objects that could be passed down and withstand the test of time.


    In Tang Xian''s hand was a bottle of alcohol.


    If anything benefited from being kept longer, alcohol was certainly one of them.


    He didn''t open the cork. He simply placed it in his tool bag.


    Now, he was like a scavenger in a post-radiation world.


    Upon further inspection, Tang Xian found other alcoholic beverages; both red and white wines were suitable for collection, so he put them into his tool bag without hesitation.


    Actually, there was no need, Tang Xian suddenly thought.


    Though lacking evidence, it was now reasonable to assume that this world had only him.


    The resources of the entire world were his alone, with no one to steal or rob them.


    He could freely wear expensive clothes on the second floor, indulge in various luxuries on the third floor.


    But Tang Xian wasn''t interested in that, he wasn''t Qiao Shanshan.


    And Qiao Shanshan wouldn''t be interested in clothes that had been moldy for hundreds of years.


    Nor did he know how long cosmetics lasted; indeed, this knowledge wasn''t in his reserve.


    After wandering around, Tang Xian saw some useful items.


    Among the small items in the living area, he found a walnut-cracking device. Unlike many goods whose information was written on the exterior packaging, this walnut-cracking gadget had its manufacturing details etched onto the casing.


    Thus, even after hundreds of years, he could still decipher the information.


    "A Nokia-specific walnut-cracking phone case? Made locally in Baichuan City?"


    Tang Xian frowned, this place was Baichuan City?


    He had discussed it before with the blacksmith shop owner.


    A metropolis with a population close to sixty million, divided by a great river into northern and southern regions.


    In Liu Lang''s words, it was a city plagued by disasters, but he hadn''t expected it to retain such a high degree of integrity after the great catastrophe.


    Tang Xian was sure the city had not suffered physical devastation.

 Chapter 22 The mastermind behind this incident has been found_2

    ```


    It was simply stranded by time.


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    It was as if people had hurriedly left the place, probably believing in something.


    In any case, unlike other cities, this place did not turn into ruins.


    Having learned this piece of information, Tang Xian felt even more delighted, as a city by the river would not have to worry about food.


    It was like the rebirth of human civilization.


    The earliest human civilizations were also established alongside rivers.


    After roaming around for a while, Tang Xian headed to the toy section on the fourth floor and scavenged a few Sanjiu figures and Gundam models.


    He then left the supermarket contentedly, along with the dumb dragon who was playing with a Rubik''s cube but couldn''t solve it at all.


    "Where to next?" Tang Feiji had been trying for a long time and finally managed to get one face to be red.


    "See that office building over there? It''s quite tall, and I think I might find some of mankind''s documents on the higher floors."


    Tang Xian walked straight toward the commercial office building.


    In ancient times, such office buildings were generally leased to internet business companies.


    Selling insurance, financial products, and so on, most of these jobs were related to sales, belonging in the finest offices, to earn the most money for the company, and then to be squeezed dry.


    Computers here were used frequently, and there were many document backups, so perhaps some information could be found.


    Tang Xian arrived on the ninth floor.


    The floors below were in complete disarray, with spider webs, mouse droppings, cockroaches, and remains of various animal carcasses, as well as dirty and sticky moss.


    The only thing that brought Tang Xian joy was that the sun had fully risen, and the birds had begun to stir.


    After all, as long as one can hear birds chirping in a place, it''s not too desolate to live in.


    This floor housed an advertising agency.


    Although it was also messy inside, it was not as dirty as the floors below.


    Some remnants of paper could indeed be seen, but any text on them was no longer legible.


    There was nothing inside the printer either.


    As for the computers, Tang Xian had no way to turn them on.


    Tang Xian searched through cabinets and drawers for quite a while, but most documents recorded on paper had disintegrated over the centuries of exposure to the elements.


    Those computers or other multimedia tools could not be turned on either.


    Even if they could be turned on, it was unlikely that he would discover anything.


    That''s what Tang Xian thought. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Baichuan City was so intact, and its resources seemed as though they had been looted. All this indicated that the catastrophe must have struck suddenly, and humanity had evacuated unprepared.


    It was very likely that these computers contained no documentation of the catastrophe.


    But there should have been something unusual.


    Human civilization should not just suddenly disappear without cause.


    There could have been many signs before that.


    "We need electricity."


    "Lightning? I can do that."


    Tang Xian took the Rubik''s cube from Tang Feiji''s hand, solved it in no time, and then said,


    "We might need lightning, but these devices can''t withstand it. We need to find a power station first."


    Without electricity, the boiler couldn''t be used, and these computers couldn''t be turned on.


    Even though there''s a high chance the computers wouldn''t work even with electricity. But what needs to be attempted should be attempted.


    Tang Xian tossed the Rubik''s cube back to Tang Feiji.


    Tang Feiji looked stunned, his face filled with amazement as he looked at the neatly solved Rubik''s cube in his hand. Suddenly, he dared not play with it anymore, afraid he would scramble it and not be able to get it back to its solved state.


    After scanning the room, Tang Xian was ready to leave for the garage to see if the cars still worked.


    But as he looked up, he noticed something in the desk lamp.


    A thick layer of dust had accumulated on the lampshade, so much so that Tang Xian hadn''t seen it before.


    Tang Xian climbed onto the desk and shook the desk lamp forcefully.


    After a while, there was a clatter as something hard fell to the floor.


    He looked down and his eyes widened instantly.


    "A phone?"


    A black cell phone lay on the ground. Tang Xian picked it up and examined it for a while.


    ```


    "Why would someone hide a smartphone in a lamp? It''s truly miraculous that it hasn''t fallen out in hundreds of years."


    Tang Xian couldn''t recognize the brand of the smartphone and didn''t pay much attention to it. He fiddled with it for a while, took the back cover off, and confirmed there was no secret compartment.


    "It surely can''t still turn on, right?"


    Tang Xian pressed a button and was startled; an exciting vibration coursed through him!


    The smartphone actually turned on!


    The boot-up screen was bizarre¡ªit showed a girl with gray hair, wearing overalls, playing basketball.


    But no matter, Tang Xian quickly tinkered around with it.


    The apps on the phone were all those popular with young people. It was clear that the phone''s original owner had been quite young.


    Some apps were still in existence, like B-Hu, B-Station, B-Snap, DouYin, and so on.


    Tang Xian scrolled through for a while and first checked the photo gallery. It was empty.


    So was the video section.


    And without network access, he couldn''t view any past messages in the chat software.


    Despite finding it incredible that the phone had preserved data for hundreds of years, Tang Xian felt it was all in vain.


    The device was filled with useless information.


    But this greatly energized Tang Xian¡ªthe possibility of obtaining information about this world was there, as long as he could solve the problem with electricity.


    Tang Xian prepared to turn off the phone, noticing that the battery was below five percent.


    But just then, the phone suddenly vibrated.


    Of course, it wasn''t a phone call.


    Tang Xian glanced at it and realized it was an alarm. The alarm was set to remind every ten minutes, which was pretty excessive.


    It didn''t trigger previously because the phone was turned off, but after Tang Xian played with it for a bit, the alarm went off.


    Next to the alarm, there was a note: Open the notes, Password: 145******


    Tang Xian then realized he had missed something.


    He hadn''t checked the notes.


    He opened the notes app.


    It contained only text information, no video or audio records.


    But this information was precisely what Tang Xian was looking for!


    "I''ve been saying for a while that it wasn''t a prank, the warning on that website was real, those Terracotta Warrior-like guys, and those strange beasts, they are not from this world and definitely not some crap ancient relics!


    But these damn fools wouldn''t believe me. The trolls on the forums mocked me, saying I''ve gone crazy from movies, how could statues move? How could machines talk?


    How could a dog possibly have three heads? Wouldn''t the owner of a dog meat factory make a killing?


    They called me a dog, and even said if the apocalypse really came, I''d be the mastermind behind it.


    I argued with them for three days and nights, and though I was spitting out ten posts a second, and defended my dignity with my keyboard, I couldn''t stand the sheer number of idiots.


    But the day has finally arrived, much faster than anyone could have imagined.


    The news of many cities being destroyed reached us, and those huge fortresses in the north might just be our refuge! The world is beyond saving now! I''m off to seek shelter in a fortress too.


    The reason I''m leaving this message is to prove that I won! I was right! To those who scorned me, time will prove your ignorance!"


    The last line had only a few words, the signature of the phone''s original owner¡ªby: Sun Xiaochuan, Not the Mastermind.


    There was a second note too, but before he could open it, the phone ran out of power.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    The information revealed in this message was quite substantial, but it seemed a bit chaotic.


    "So there were anomalies long ago. But it looks like humanity didn''t pay much heed?"


    "Bronze Terracotta Warriors? Are they Judgment Knights? But what''s with the three-headed dog?"


    Tang Xian stroked his chin in thought, contemplating the talking machine, the three-headed dog from hell, and the bronze Terracotta Warriors.


    It was as if elements from several different worlds had been mixed together.


    He still had no clues, and it seemed he could only wait for the restoration of power for more information.


    Without electricity, whether it be for food or shelter, everything would be inconvenient.


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Feiji, who, refusing to be daunted, had turned the Rubik''s cube a few more times, only to find he couldn''t restore it.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Let''s go, we''ve investigated everything here. Next, we''ll head to the outskirts of the city."

 Chapter 23 Yu Shengs Hardships

    Baichuan City, on the outskirts of the East District.


    Even after hundreds of years, the chaos of the past is still evident on the outskirts; countless vehicles haphazardly piled up.


    Even on the widest main roads, the congestion was severe.


    But not a single car had anyone inside.


    Why the last of these vehicles were left here, and how people departed, remains unknown.


    When Tang Feiji brought Tang Xian here, the sunlight had a hint of summer warmth.


    It no longer felt as cold as earlier in the morning or the previous night.


    The number of buildings in the suburban areas of the East District was noticeably reduced.


    The plants at the periphery of the city grew as if they had been mutated by radiation, more vigorously than those in the mines.


    It was hard to imagine that these camphor trees could attain such imposing size, their branches and leaves reaching the sky.


    But it was these trees and weeds, along with the congested vehicles around, that formed something akin to a city wall in the eastern outskirts.


    On their way here, Tang Xian and Tang Feiji had traveled on foot, which took quite some time, only stopping upon reaching this wall of vegetation.


    This place seemed like the dividing line between the city and the countryside.


    Tang Xian noticed how intelligently these trees grew wildly along the city''s edge but abruptly stopped where buildings densely stood, as if consciously leaving space for humans.


    From high above, the city looked like it wore a garland.


    Its exterior was a protective web, formed by countless plants.


    After hundreds of years, Tang Xian wasn''t much interested in the reasons for how these things came to be.


    But with some pruning, Baichuan City would be quite suitable as a cradle for the new sprouts of human civilization.


    Starting with six or seven people, then slowly establishing a community, evolving into blocks, towns, and cities.


    With the framework left by ancestors thousands of years ago, returning to the homeland to open a new civilization would actually progress much faster.


    He fired a grappling hook and began to climb the tree wall. He wanted to see what lay beyond this barrier.


    Surprisingly, the trunks of the wonky, giant camphor trees also seemed to have undergone changes in their toughness.


    "It seems there really have been some biological mutations here," Tang Xian said as he climbed.


    Tang Feiji floated in the air with his human form, puzzled as he looked at Tang Xian, and said,


    "If you can fly, why climb?"


    "Because if you turn into a dragon, the nearby animals will be scared away. And if you don''t turn into a dragon¡ª


    riding on your back would be more ridiculous and embarrassing than you just now inflating a centuries-old Duracell."


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand. Wasn''t he just playing with a balloon and that enigmatic box? What was there to be ashamed of? Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    Without elaborating, Tang Xian climbed to a certain height and finally saw beyond the tree wall.


    As he suspected, on the city outskirts, the plants grew more extravagantly, but always left enough gaps.


    In these vast gaps, numerous small animals scurried about.


    It was like all the cages in the zoo had been unlocked, and various creatures had crazily run out overnight.


    The outskirts of this city were like a huge natural pasture!


    Wild deer, rabbits, monkeys, and even wild boars, sheep, pheasants, and other creatures roamed here.


    Further out, some large predators were visible.


    Tang Xian looked at the tranquil, leisurely posture of those animals in the distance and felt a sense of quenching his thirst with plum visions.


    "Fantastic, this city is terrific! Tang Feiji, we can go back tonight."


    "Go back where?"


    Tang Feiji wasn''t interested in the outer animals, which didn''t even qualify as enhanced creatures.


    He saw no point in killing creatures that couldn''t produce Soul Crystals.


    "I''m a frail ordinary person; cleaning up this city is a job for strong people like Qiao Shanshan, Dong Ran, and Li Xiaoyu. They should move in today."


    "Frail? You''re a pretty cunning young man. I trust your... you''re right!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under Tang Xian''s friendly smile, Tang Feiji realized that Tang Xian was indeed frail.


    Though there was much more to explore in this city, the biggest difference between modern cities and ancient ones lies in information and electricity.


    Without these two things, this city was but another mine to Tang Xian.


    However, resolving these issues was not something that could be accomplished overnight.


    Tang Xian did not continue toward the periphery; he simply verified the abundance of wildlife outside and ceased his probing.


    These creatures were odd; they stayed out and did not come in.


    Initially, Tang Xian''s thoughts were dark.


    The tree wall was a fence, penning humans inside.


    The small animals and humans at the outskirts were food.


    Bred by even larger wild beasts further out.


    But then Tang Xian realized this was not the case.


    To obtain reliable results, he lay in wait atop the tree wall for several hours, observing closely.


    From a great distance, he could vaguely make out Bengal tigers, African rhinos, American jaguars, and predators from various places.


    Indeed, they would attack and chase after small animals in the shallower periphery.


    The earlier scene of many herbivores coexisting peacefully and at ease was incredibly brief.


    Before long, the small animals on the outskirts began to be hunted, frantically scattering much faster than Tang Xian had imagined.


    And Tang Xian also became certain that the predators were larger than those he read about in ancient texts.


    While these observations were worth pondering, what really caught Tang Xian''s attention was that the small animals did not run towards the fence!

 Chapter 23 Yu Shengs Hardships - Part 2

    "Interesting, what exactly happened hundreds of years ago? The evolution of organisms requires a long period of behavioral and conscious guidance, yet habits only need a few hundred years or even just a few years to form."


    Tang Xian took out his notebook, he rarely recorded anything during the day, but since arriving in this world, there were too many things he found novel.


    "The cities during the day are silent, but outside the cities, one hunting scene after another unfolds.


    I''m certain these camphor trees have mutated, woody plants have mutated, and the herbaceous plants they rely on for nutrients may have mutated even more drastically.


    But when did these plants mutate? Did those vehicles on the periphery stop here because of the wildly growing plants?


    I don''t yet have enough information to conclude whether these tree walls are protecting the city or fencing it in.


    However, no matter how much the small animals on the outskirts run, they never run into the city.


    There shouldn''t be anything in the city that instills fear in them.


    Otherwise, such a vast food chain wouldn''t exist so close to the city.


    All the animals from different regions are here, which excites me because they all look very tasty.


    It is worth mentioning that the animals also exhibit minor mutations, with herbivores mutating in the direction of escape speed, and carnivores possibly mutating towards physique and strength.


    But the extent of their mutations is far less exaggerated than that of plants, perhaps because the mutations originally came from plants, which were consumed by herbivores, who in turn were consumed by carnivores.


    I hope I won''t mutate after eating them. I am quite satisfied with the size of every part of my body and don''t need them to get any bigger."


    Tang Xian closed his notebook with satisfaction.


    The presence of a natural meat market on the outskirts delighted him.


    He had been observing for several hours, thoroughly enjoying it, while Tang Feiji played with a Rubik''s cube beside him for hours.


    Seeing this, Tang Xian said:


    "This thing is called a Rubik''s cube, a highly treasured item in this world. As long as you solve all six sides so they are of uniform color, you can obtain the treasure of this world."


    Tang Feiji was astonished:


    "Really?"


    "Of course. We''re family, would I lie to you?"


    "Humans are really too cunning. Why make a treasure map so complicated? Wait, didn''t you just solve it?"


    "I solved it, but the treasure map''s information is only in my mind. You have to solve it yourself."


    Tang Feiji had an expression of sudden realization.


    "I am from the Dragon Clan, where wisdom and strength coexist! I will definitely be able to solve a human treasure!"


    Tang Xian nodded in satisfaction and said:


    "I must take the opportunity to get to know your clansmen better."


    Convinced that Tang Feiji could be occupied with that damn Rubik''s cube for a few hundred more hours, Tang Xian started walking back.


    The dragon''s aggression was still quite strong, and as the saying goes, toys are another teacher for children.


    Tang Xian tricked him with the intention of enlightening a dragon, and for the rise of humanity. Can such a matter of national and public concern be called deceit?


    He had originally wanted to explore more areas, but the city was simply too large. Even after spending the morning there, Tang Xian had indeed found quite a few things, but the exploration progress was still minimal.


    So, he wasn''t in a hurry to explore further.


    He was preparing to return to the mining area.


    The portable transport fissure could be used independently of the Pyramid, otherwise it would not be functional in the mining area.


    This was also the reason Tang Xian recruited Lin Sen. Because only Lin Sen and a few others could manage such an unlicensed and untraceable device, akin to the black cars of ancient times.


    Even understanding the principle, Tang Xian himself couldn''t make one without the necessary materials.


    Back to the residence he had found the night before, Tang Xian set up all the portable transport fissures with the residence as the return coordinate.


    Afterwards, he returned to the mining area with Tang Feiji.


    ...


    ...


    Mining area, March Marsh.


    Li Xiaoyu was learning how to cook.


    Her first dish was fish soup because March Marsh was naturally a pond of Dragon Spine Fish.


    Both Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye liked to drink fish soup, especially Tang Xiaojiu who said Tang Xian could eat fish for a lifetime.


    Li Xiaoyu decided to learn how to make fish soup first.


    Akasi, the only man other than Tang Xian with a slight knowledge of cooking, became her teacher.


    This was also why Li Xiaoyu decided to learn cooking.


    Because Qiao Shanshan told Li Xiaoyu:


    "Tang Xian and Akasi always seem to be quite ''gay.'' Akasi is Tang Xian''s lapdog, and Tang Xian treats Akasi better than he does the girls."


    After hearing Qiao Shanshan''s words, Li Xiaoyu subconsciously thought of her medical surgical scissors.


    But it was just a thought. After all, this was the mining area, and she was no longer Miss Li of the Li family. Li Xiaoyu decided it was time to kick this habit she had developed since childhood.


    Besides... Akasi probably wouldn''t be so easy to handle.


    ```


    This solidified Li Xiaoyu''s determination to learn culinary arts. She remembered that in the past some girls got very close to Tang Xian because of cooking.


    However, those girls were all physically discouraged by Li Xiaoyu later on.


    Even though she received sufficient compensation and was severely reprimanded by her father Li Wanye, including being disliked by Tang Xian for a long time,


    but you, Li Xiaoyu felt that this was her attitude, that if she liked and was determined about something, she would fight for it.


    It''s just that the change of heart happens subtly, just like Tang Xian gradually being able to reconcile with the people of this world.


    Li Xiaoyu herself was also changing little by little, a ton of intimate people around Tang Xian, mostly women, would have been unacceptable to her in the past.


    But now she felt accustomed to it.


    While seeking advice from Akasi, Li Xiaoyu silently assessed who posed a larger threat, Akasi or Qing JiuYu.


    When Tang Xian returned to the mining area, he smelled the aroma of fish soup.


    He frowned and looked at Akasi.


    Akasi was somewhat stunned; this scene seemed familiar. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you touch my sesame oil? My limited edition, specially brewed, Daming Mansion''s sesame oil!"


    Akasi shook his head and said, "No, I didn''t?"


    After all, Akasi didn''t have Tang Xian''s sense of smell. He couldn''t even detect the aroma.


    But as soon as Tang Xian mentioned it, Akasi suddenly thought of something and said:


    "Miss Li is in the kitchen, she said she wanted to learn to make fish soup."


    Tang Xian headed towards the kitchen.


    His limited edition, specially brewed, Daming Mansion''s sesame oil, half of it was poured out.


    "Is there no justice in this? Is there no law in this?"


    Tang Xian looked at the fish soup floating with grease with a pained heart.


    Li Xiaoyu said somewhat gleefully:


    "I learned to make fish soup today."


    "Why don''t you try it yourself first?" Tang Xian said grumpily.


    Seeing that Tang Xian looked a bit off, Li Xiaoyu took a sip.


    After a while, Li Xiaoyu poured out the fish soup.


    She cast a reproachful look at Akasi.


    How could there be something called sesame oil in this world that, when poured into soup, makes it taste so bad?


    Not fragrant at all!


    This man must have deliberately not told her, too scheming.


    Akasi was truly innocent, because the seasonings he taught were all from Tang Xian, but the sesame oil was Miss Li''s own spontaneous addition.


    Tang Xian wasn''t too angry. After thinking for a bit, he said to Li Xiaoyu:


    "From now on, you''ll be working as my assistant with Xiaojiu."


    Li Xiaoyu immediately felt her status rise just a bit.


    Tang Xian had once held Tang Xiaojiu in his arms in front of four beautiful women, declaring Xiaojiu his favorite girl.


    Of course, this was what Qiao Shanshan told Li Xiaoyu.


    This highly intelligent Miss Li, in some aspects, is actually quite naive.


    A woman who dares to love and hate may be liked by men, but how to love someone has always been worth studying and nagging about from ancient times to the present.


    Li Xiaoyu was like a newbie in the village in this regard.


    So the intellectual Qiao Shanshan became the dog-headed military advisor for Miss Li.


    Although this dog-headed military advisor only had one or two blind date experiences.


    Li Xiaoyu watched as Tang Xian was scaling fish in the kitchen, and Tang Xiaojiu was adorably watching the fish in the bucket, and asked a question with a bizarre train of thought:


    "Although you left the Federation, you still have to follow the Federation''s laws, right?"


    "Hmm, I generally abide by those that govern morality, except in extreme circumstances," Tang Xian replied.


    "Then, the Federation''s law stipulates that women under eighteen are not allowed to marry, do you abide by that?" Li Xiaoyu thought her question was flawless.


    Tang Xian stopped what he was doing and glanced at Li Xiaoyu:


    "Idiotic. I am not an eighteen-year-old girl, why would I abide by that?"


    Li Xiaoyu went aside to chop green onions.


    She decided to sulk for a while.


    She decided to wait until this person realized she was angry, then she would talk to him again.


    Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Just that a few minutes hadn''t passed before she changed her mind, better she talk to him herself, otherwise the kitchen would be awkwardly quiet, how embarrassing for him.


    "What did you do at the Pyramid?"


    "I went to the outskirts of the Pyramid."


    ```

 Chapter 24 Bai Manshengs Insightful Judgement of People

    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian in surprise, almost cutting her own finger.


    But she quickly calmed down, as Tang Xian was in a fairly good mood today.


    She''d poured out half of the long string of fragrant oils he described herself, and he didn''t seem too angry about it. This suggested he had a rather fruitful time outside the Pyramid.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have returned to the mining area so early.


    Li Xiaoyu settled down.


    She figured this matter would be the main topic at the dinner table later.


    After the fish soup was served, Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye quickly prepared for their contest on who was the champion eater.


    But Tang Feiji sat next to Tang Xiaojiu, and the clicking sound of him twisting his Rubik''s Cube temporarily made Tang Xiaojiu give up the showdown with Tang Suoye.


    "Uncle Feiji, what is this?"


    "Hmph, stupid little fox, as if I would tell you that this hides treasure."


    "What kind of treasure? Is it something delicious?" Tang Xiaojiu got excited.


    Tang Feiji suddenly froze, realizing he''d let something slip.


    Dong Ran said: Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Isn''t this a magic cube?"


    Tang Feiji gave a wary look towards the person with the closest IQ to him among the group.


    Qiao Shanshan, seeing Tang Feiji''s vigilant look, suddenly remembered what Tang Xian had said about the cosmetics he was selling to Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng before.


    She felt a bit sorry for the dragon. Even Dong Ran, who wasn''t particularly bright and had only a winter''s worth of intelligence, quickly caught onto the situation.


    But Tang Xiaojiu was very curious.


    "Uncle Feiji, let me play with this for a bit, and I will give you my fish soup."


    "Stupid fox, do you think you can solve it just by getting your hands on the cube?"


    Tang Feiji wasn''t a generous dragon; he just wanted to prove that this little fox wasn''t very bright, so he handed over the Rubik''s Cube to Tang Xiaojiu.


    Although Tang Xiaojiu''s Chinese language skills weren''t great, this didn''t mean she was lacking in other areas.


    Having had a meal with Tang Xiaojiu, Tang Feiji believed that without her, he would be able to enjoy more fish soup to himself.


    But a minute later, Tang Xiaojiu completed the Rubik''s Cube with each side matching in color and gave it back to Tang Feiji.


    "Not fun," Tang Xiaojiu said.


    Struck by these three simple words as if by lightning, Tang Feiji began to question his dragonhood.


    Akasi thought to himself that this guy was supposed to be the strongest in the group, able to soar to the skies, dive into the seas, summon winds and rain, a disaster-level boss creature.


    He then smoothed things over, saying, "Let''s have soup."


    Tang Feiji didn''t speak any further, quietly sipping the soup.


    Now his heart ached as two people knew the secret of the treasure.


    As everyone started to eat, Tang Xian also revealed his discovery from outside the Pyramid.


    He''d found a new habitat, an ancient ruin that had stranded.


    And some of his personal findings and thoughts.


    Everyone was shocked.


    Tang Xian''s actions had once again overturned their understanding of the world.


    Li Xiaoyu sat gracefully, looking as if she had long been aware of all this.


    But still, she showed a few looks of surprise.


    "If that''s the case, what about the people who were banished outside before?" Dong Ran asked.


    This question intrigued everyone.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Have you ever seen the fortress''s flying vessels deviate from their course?"


    The only one who could answer this question was Li Xiaoyu.


    She shook her head and said, "The flying regulations and the vehicle codes mention serious consequences if one deviates from the flight course."


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Have you ever seen these serious consequences unfold?"


    "No..."


    "That''s my point. It means the flight path has never deviated, so how were those people exiled?"


    Everyone understood.


    These individuals might have long perished or indeed survived the banishment.


    But falling from thousands of meters'' altitude, the only one who could survive was Tang Xian himself.


    After gradually digesting this shocking information, Tang Xian began distributing tasks.


    "So we''re moving to that place?" Akasi asked.


    "Some of you can still return to the mining area. Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran, you two go back to the mining area first. I will list the materials we need and let you know. After you bring them back, use the teleportation rift I left to get to the new location."


    Li Xiaoyu asked, "What about me, what should I do?"


    "I still have some things to deal with in the mining area for now. The rest of you, once you get there, just follow Akasi''s arrangements."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t understand. She had found each person one by one, and she had designed the stronghold in the mining area herself.


    Why should they listen to Akasi?


    The fish soup turned sour again.


    This time Tang Xian saw Li Xiaoyu''s expression.


    He added:


    "Follow Li Xiaoyu''s lead on major matters, and Akasi''s on minor ones."


    No longer sour, Li Xiaoyu thought to herself as she ladled another bowl halfway through.


    Although a safe area like that would hardly have any major issues arise.


    But she was still pleased with these arrangements!


    As these thoughts occupied her, she ladled up another bowl.


    "Tang Xiaojiu, you follow and protect everyone too,"


    "Okay, Brother Tang Xian. Is there anything tasty over there?" Tang Xiaojiu asked.


    Tang Xian replied with a smile:


    "The meat of animals over there is much more tender and delicious than here."


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye immediately perked up their heads.


    After giving some more specific tasks, the meal ended, and Tang Xian had finished explaining everything.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye conscientiously went to wash the dishes. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu asked:


    "What are you going to do?"


    "I will probably be delayed in the mining area for a couple of days, dealing with some matters."


    "Is it related to the conflict on the Yuepela Plains?"


    "Yes."


    "It''s very dangerous," Li Xiaoyu said as she tilted her head looking at Tang Xian.


    "Humans cannot conquer the mining area by force. There''s another very powerful force in this world, possibly no weaker than the Eden Tribe I''ve come to understand. This force is called the Court of the Myriad Beasts. Even a disaster-level boss creature would have a hard time defying the Court''s commands."

 Chapter 24 Discerning Eye, Bai Mansheng_2

    Tang Xian paused and said,


    "Among them, there are beings with intelligence comparable to humans, and even some that have... successfully infiltrated human society."


    "The defeat at Yuepela Plains was mainly due to the unequal distribution of information. Birds and fish could provide intelligence for the legion of beasts, while even with excellent spies, humans are highly likely to be killed by beasts without the skills of someone like Akasi."


    "It''s not just that. With the intervention of the court of all beasts, the yellow-zone areas turned into red-zone areas. At this stage, even with the entire Federation''s gifted individuals combined, it is difficult to conquer. Most people have never battled with disaster-level creatures, let alone boss-level or cataclysm-level creatures."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, understanding that the events at Yuepela Plains were just as such.


    But she added,


    "What can you do, though? I''ve heard from Akasi and the others that you have very unique abilities, but when faced with unknown creatures, you are quite vulnerable, aren''t you?"


    "The man of the path receives much help, I have many allies."


    Li Xiaoyu finally asked with some profound meaning,


    "Tang Xian, if human beings are the servants of order, whose side would you take between the legion of beasts and humanity?"


    Tang Xian replied calmly,


    "Do you find the humans inside the Pyramid detestable?"


    Li Xiaoyu frowned, even though the question was her own.


    She pondered for a moment and said,


    "I don''t like most people, but I seldom hate anyone."


    "Then it seems we do have something in common."


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "Whether it''s the people at the top, those at the bottom, or even your father, or you and me, we are all humans with limited perspectives.


    Everyone in society has their role. Each person understands different things, and makes different choices. No one has a god''s eye view.


    I don''t blame them, and it''s not about being kind-hearted. It''s just that they might become my assistance in the future.


    The survival of human civilization relies not solely on the Pyramid, but more on the choices made by human beings themselves.


    Some choices weren''t available to them before, which has led to certain habits.


    Even with new choices, these habits are hard to change, but if we persist, we can slowly pull those people out of the Pyramid."


    Li Xiaoyu understood that Tang Xian ultimately intended to help humanity, but she said uncertainly, S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You want to bring them back to the world as it used to be?"


    "Yes, but I must clarify, I''m not arrogant enough to think of myself as a savior, nor do I possess the great compassion to relieve suffering. My saving humanity might simply be my way of causing some trouble for the world of the Pyramid."


    "That''s going to be difficult," said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Hence the journey is fraught with obstacles and the mission is arduous."


    If neither the legion of beasts nor the Pyramid was the right choice, and neither welcomed him, then he would create a new faction.


    This was Tang Xian''s thought.


    ...


    ...


    Before long, Li Xiaoyu, Dong Ran, Akasi all went their separate ways to the places Tang Xian had arranged for them.


    They began to formally prepare for establishing a new force in the ruins.


    Tang Xian then left with Tang Feiji.


    They traveled northward, heading towards the Tianque Plains.


    The speed of the Azure Dragon of the Sea was still no match for the Golden Fierce Bird or Lei Xiao, but the difference wasn''t much.


    A journey of several days could be covered in just two or three hours.


    This time, Bai Mansheng was present.


    She was still dressed in white, dabbing and smudging by the brook on the plain.


    The expensive cosmetics of Qiao Shanshan were about to run out, but even as they were running out, Bai Mansheng still did not know the correct way to use these things.


    Make-up is a technical skill.


    Therefore, Tang Xian felt there was justification in saying that civilization had regressed.


    Ancient people could press the F key for an instant beautification.


    But the people of today could only rely on advanced make-up skills to achieve beauty.


    Although a woman like Bai Mansheng needed no make-up to command men''s adoration, being unskilled in applying it, or messing it up, was still quite amusing.


    This meant that Bai Mansheng could only dab and smudge by the little brook, washing it off with the brook water if not satisfied.


    She quickly became alert and, with some of her make-up still unwashed, this usually aloof woman seemed to take on a certain child-like charm.


    It was like the sight of a child who had been caught playing with their parents'' make-up.


    She stared straight at the distant woods.


    After a long while, when two figures emerged from the woods, Bai Mansheng was slightly stunned but then spoke coldly,


    "How could you bear to come here?"


    The two figures that walked out of the woods were Tang Xian and a man. That man elicited an indescribable fear in Bai Mansheng.


    It was like an innate suppression.


    But with Tang Xian there, she showed a look of complaint and proceeded to wash the make-up off her face.


    "Of course, I would come."


    Noticing Bai Mansheng''s line was "How could you bear to come," Tang Xian felt something was off.


    "Heh, you left the tree sea without a word, and it wouldn''t matter if you didn''t go anywhere, but you just had to visit that vixen''s place not long ago."


    Tang Xian understood.


    It turned out Qing JiuYu had come to show off.


    Women are like that.


    Makeup can bring them closer together.


    And since he had visited Qing JiuYu a few days earlier but had not looked for Bai Mansheng, this became material for Qing JiuYu to taunt Bai Mansheng with.


    "Tedious."


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "Next time, I''ll have Qiao Shanshan teach you makeup."


    "No way... When?"


    "How about in a few days?"


    "Then would you let her teach Qing JiuYu?"


    "I won''t."


    "Fine."


    Bai Mansheng''s expression relaxed considerably and she said,


    "What are you here for?"


    "Just paying you a visit, seeing that I''ve been gone for over a month."


    Bai Mansheng nodded, carefully packed away the makeup, and walked towards her cave abode.


    Tang Xian and Tang Feiji followed after.


    Although Tang Feiji looked down on the lower snake species, being a dragon himself and thus an evolved form of snakes within the beast race,


    he had to admit that this white snake had impressive aptitude, perhaps even the potential to evolve into a dragon.


    Upon arriving at the cave abode, Bai Mansheng did not inquire about the identity of the person accompanying Tang Xian.


    In the North Continent, she had not seen this individual before, and although there are Calamity-level boss creatures that can transform into human shapes, few made her feel this sense of dread.


    But her nature was cold and indifferent, all her emotions subdued.


    "Are you Tang Xian now, or Xu Xian?"


    "Xu Xian."


    Whenever he met with Bai Mansheng, whenever requests were involved, whenever there was a purpose, Tang Xian decided he would always be Xu Xian.


    "Good, you must have something to talk about?"


    "Indeed, there is something. Humans are marching into Yuepela Plains."


    "Yes."


    Bai Mansheng guessed Tang Xian''s intention and said,


    "The snake tribe hasn''t joined, I excused myself with tribal affairs."


    Tang Xian breathed a sigh of relief; if the Catastrophe tribes got involved, the humans would have almost no chance of victory.


    "I promised you I''d keep my word," Bai Mansheng said.


    Tang Xian nodded, still feeling somewhat guilty. After all, in his dealings with Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu, he had always been somewhat deceitful and coaxing. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "One of my purposes for coming today is to confirm this matter. Without the snake tribe, I''ll be more at ease when the time comes."


    "And the second purpose?"


    There was no second purpose. Tang Xian originally planned to visit Qing JiuYu later, and after confirming that neither the snake nor the fox tribes would participate, he would proceed to the Yuepela Plains battlefield to assist Song Que.


    He concocted one on the spot and said,


    "Do you want to go to the human world?"


    "Didn''t you say that place was very dangerous?"


    "Times have changed."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Previously, the place where I lived was not safe for you, but now it''s different. If you want to go, I can help you."


    Tang Xian wasn''t exactly making it up; the world today could indeed accommodate an invitation for Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu.


    Surprised, Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian, thought for a moment, then nodded and said,


    "Of course, that''s great. Are there many stories over there?"


    "A lot. So many you won''t be able to finish them all."


    "Are they complete? The stories you gave me last time almost all ended abruptly. Did you do that on purpose?"


    Bai Mansheng remembered this point, and her tone cooled.


    "That was Tang Xian''s doing, what does it have to do with me, Xu Xian?"


    "Coincidentally, you said the same thing last time."


    "Pah, that despicable and sly Tang Xian, he''s impersonating me!" Tang Xian exclaimed righteously.

 Chapter 25 The Assassin Group of the Beast Court

    Bai Mansheng nodded slightly. He did not pursue the matter further. When no new stories were forthcoming, Bai Mansheng figured it out on his own.


    After all, those stories were still quite interesting, or at least some parts were interesting, though the endings were not always satisfactory.


    But often times, that''s just the way stories are, having presented their most interesting parts, perhaps at that point they were already complete.


    Just like some women in novels, who forever live in the readers'' memories as young women.


    The stories do not record their aging, but to age is to die.


    When Tang Xian saw Bai Mansheng''s expression had eased a lot, he said,


    "I should be going. After I tidy up a bit on the Human World side, I will invite you to visit."


    "Good, I''ll be waiting for you."


    Then Bai Mansheng added another line,


    "Actually, without Xu Xian or without Tang Xian, it''s not a problem, being deceived by you once or twice is quite interesting, but don''t keep deceiving me."


    Tang Xian was stunned.


    He turned around and looked seriously at Bai Mansheng.


    "Those humans have many entanglements with you, and perhaps your identity is more complicated than I thought. But you are not my enemy. I am not that narrow-minded, I hate Qing JiuYu, not you."


    So, this woman had seen through it.


    Tang Xian did not say much, only nodded earnestly.


    Bai Mansheng was also very calm; she did not take the previous deceits too seriously.


    After all, she was not foolish.


    The game Tang Xian played as Xu Xian was quickly figured out by the literary young woman.


    It only took thinking it over once or twice to understand.


    "You should come to see me more often. Go ahead," Bai Mansheng said.


    Tang Xian, feeling somewhat apologetic, said,


    "I will bring you some more interesting stories if I get the chance."


    "Good."


    Bai Mansheng was still cool and detached.


    Tang Xian and Tang Feiji then left.


    In Tang Xian''s eyes, Bai Mansheng, Qing JiuYu, were ultimately guests.


    No matter how familiar they were, they could not compare to his own teammates.


    He was never truly open with the beast races.


    Tang Feiji, Bai Mansheng, Qing JiuYu, Jin Lu¡ªhe might meet many other beast races in the future.


    Perhaps he would keep many secrets from them.


    The only exception was Tang Xiaojiu.


    Yet after today''s conversation, Tang Xian realized that he could, in fact, be nicer to the creatures of the beast races.


    After leaving the Tianque Plains, Tang Xian did not go to the Blood Wasteland.


    He knew that Qing JiuYu''s fox tribe had not participated in the war, as he had realized during his last visit.


    Without any delay, he flew straight to the Saint Dene Highlands.


    That was the stronghold where humans had retreated after their defeat at the Yuepela Plains.


    If the Saint Dene Highlands were to fall, humans would be forced to withdraw, bringing the war to an end.


    Because the environment outside the Saint Dene Highlands was extremely harsh and no camps could be established there.


    This battle could be fought because humans could leave the mining area at any time.


    Many battles with harsh conditions were avoided.


    But now that some transfer stations had been destroyed and portable rifts were banned,


    everyone anticipated that a more prolonged battle with the beast horde was imminent.


    It would surely be a very fierce battle.


    While thinking about this, Tang Xian took out a kitchen knife and a mask from his bag of props.


    ...


    ...


    Saint Dene Highlands.


    The federation''s higher-ups had realized early on what to do if the Yuepela Plains were not taken.


    So, even before the war officially broke out, defensive structures were already being built on the highest point of the Saint Dene Highlands.


    Walls, fortresses, arrow towers.


    In the mining world, even though many elite Hunter''s Groups had powerful equipment, the defensive structures they could build resembled those of the sixteenth century.


    More than thirty thousand temporary workers and over nine hundred talented individuals built them over six months.


    The construction materials were made of the harder minerals from the mining area.


    It can be said that this was not only a defensive fortress but also the most sophisticated civil construction in the Human World in the mining world. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While repeatedly attacked by the beast tide, the fortress and the terrain of the highlands allowed humans to hold their line despite a huge disparity in combat strength.


    But they were increasingly tired.


    Song Que and Li Zheng were in the front-line camp, surrounded by officers from various units.


    "This time, there are about sixty different species in the beast horde, with a number of around six thousand. Most are elite-level, with a few perfect-level. There are roughly four hundred air-assault units."


    The one reporting this was the eyes of the Gu Luo team, Ye Feng.


    In this war, Ye Feng''s extreme vision occasionally proved even more effective than Song Que''s precognition.


    It was thanks to Ye Feng and Song Que that humans could repeatedly avoid battles that they could not win.


    "We can fight, and we can win," said Li Zheng.


    "In previous battles, the number of beasts hadn''t changed, but perhaps because we have been retreating, they have reassessed our combat strength?" said Yu Shengzhi.


    He was the commander-in-chief of the regular army at Sky Guardian Fortress and was no less a powerful human master than Li Zheng.


    "I think we can strike. This horde is indeed not easy to handle, but it''s our best chance to win," said another governor of the fortress.


    Although there were many feuds among the leaders of the fortresses on regular days, when facing the beast hordes, all factions were very united.


    Song Que did not speak, silently looking at the chart that Ye Feng had written.


    It detailed the distribution of the various beast races.

 Chapter 25 The Assassin Group of the Beast Court_2

    "Give the order, we need an inspiring victory!"


    The crowd began to urge.


    Beast charges were common these days, but this time, although the scale of the beast charge was unchanged, there wasn''t even a single calamity-level creature among them, which gave people hope.


    As long as they weren''t facing those calamity-level creatures with tremendous destructive power, they were confident they could defeat the beast horde.


    Song Que felt uneasy, but under the urging of everyone''s high spirits, he still issued the command to meet the enemy in battle.


    Once again, a fierce battle unfolded between the Human Federation and the myriad beasts.


    All those with talents and combat power were fighting on the front lines.


    It was difficult for humans to engage the beast kind head-on in combat.


    But they had an advantage that the beasts could not catch up with.


    That was numbers.


    The beast horde numbered in the thousands, while the talented ones were in the tens of thousands.


    to ensure the maximum reduction of casualties, Song Que still preserved the combat system of small teams.


    Each team, by relying on medics and scouts, also greatly reduced casualties.


    ...


    ...


    Between the Saint Dene Highlands and the Yuepela Plains, there was a hundred-mile stretch of the Sun Maple Forest.


    These Sun Maple trees were among the tallest trees, with dense branches and leaves.


    This originally unnamed border area was now known as the Death Jungle.


    Because the branches and leaves were too dense, they always obstructed people''s vision. When the human armies passed through here previously, numerous beast hordes ambushed and killed them.


    To survive here required extremely keen observational skills.


    Song Que''s team, Gu Luo''s team, and Li Zheng''s squad, the three teams joined forces. They did not engage the beast horde in a direct confrontation on the vast wastelands behind them.


    "Why have we come here?" Qin Qian asked.


    Qin Qian, known as the witch, had lost all her teammates in a previous hunting festival. After Lao Lei died in Song Que''s team, Song Que had poached Qin Qian.


    "I am somewhat uneasy," Song Que said.


    "Uneasy?" Gu Luo asked, puzzled.


    "We have battled the beasts for over ten days, their strength clearly overwhelming us. If it weren''t for the defensive fortifications of the highlands, we would have retreated long ago. Their previous attacks have been fiercer each time, but this time, they suddenly decreased their intensity."


    Song Que looked towards Ye Feng and asked, "What did you see?"


    Ye Feng furrowed his brow; his extreme vision could see through all obstacles.


    Just like Song Que, he also felt there was something wrong with this beast charge.


    But for some reason, he just couldn''t find the source of the problem.


    "No anomalies...If there''s anything abnormal, it''s that those woods up front are unusually quiet, even I find it strange."


    Ye Feng''s words quickly made everyone alert.


    In fact, others also felt that, deep in the vast Sun Maple Forest, it was as quiet as a painting.


    Meanwhile, where their group was,


    Song Que said, "Keep your spirits up, let''s continue to explore ahead."


    The group moved cautiously through the eerily quiet Death Jungle.


    As they walked, Ye Feng suddenly said,


    "Stop!"


    "What happened?"


    "The Sun Maple trees in the distance moved."


    People did not understand.


    Ye Feng could not explain this strangeness.


    It was like there was a vast domain where everything within it was frozen in time.


    But now, that domain was slowly moving.


    If he hadn''t visually seen this change, he wouldn''t even have been aware that the domain was moving.


    The distant trees began to gradually regain motion, but those closer to the group suddenly stopped.


    "Gu Luo, try slashing toward the distance with your sword."


    "Hmm," Gu Luo, seeing Ye Feng''s expression for the first time and having been partners with him for a long time, did not ask any questions but directly swung his greatsword, unleashing a heavy blow of immense force!


    The massive sword qi stirred up the wind.


    The wind affected the trees dozens of meters away, but as the wind blew farther, beyond where the others could see, those distant trees also changed as a result of the wind, only for those changes to suddenly disappear¡ª


    While the branches were still swaying, they abruptly came to a halt.


    Only Ye Feng saw this scene, and with widened eyes, he exclaimed, S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Retreat! We must retreat quickly!"


    Song Que was confused; he activated the Scales of Balance, attempting to see the near future.


    But what he saw was still the unchanging scene.


    Ye Feng said, "It''s Shiling. We don''t have much time, let''s fall back quickly! Find a way to tell everyone to leave!"


    "Shiling?"


    Gu Luo still did not quite understand, but Li Zheng seemed to have heard of it vaguely.


    However, Qin Qian and Song Que''s complexions drastically changed.


    "Is it really Shiling? The legendary creature?" Song Que now understood why he couldn''t see the future.


    Because time in this area had been stopped.


    "Retreat!"


    Qin Qian, without any hesitation, began to withdraw alongside Song Que.


    Lin Jue, the one-eyed king, the team''s medic, Gu Luo, and others also started to retreat.


    As they retreated, Gu Luo asked, "What exactly is Shiling?"


    Song Que, while retreating, answered,


    "Among the calamity-level boss creatures, it has the least destructive power but is the most difficult to confront. In the data unlocked from the tier system, it''s known as the strongest assassin among all beasts!


    Ye Feng, are you sure you didn''t see wrong?"


    Ye Feng shook his head and said,


    "I can''t be certain, but Gu Luo''s slash, it''s like it was devoured. I can sense a kind of barrier where time seems to stand still."


    Li Zheng recalled it now, saying in disbelief,


    "Is it that creature that can stop time within a small area?"

 Chapter 25 The Assassin Group of the Beast Court_3

    "Yes."


    "Such creatures actually exist?"


    Some of them looked back but couldn''t see anything at all. Everything was still tranquil.


    Only someone with extreme vision like Ye Feng could catch faint traces.


    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    The group began to retreat rapidly, their mission now changed to escorting Song Que to the defensive stronghold, to light the signal fire for retreat.


    The participation of catastrophe-level creatures in the battle made it almost impossible to turn the tide.


    Yet, they hadn''t considered that hidden within the horde of beasts was a cataclysmic boss monster.


    And it was the most terrifying kind.


    No matter what kind of enemy they faced, humans could always retreat to the transmission station.


    But without time, there was no way to retreat.


    During the rapid retreat of Song Que and the others, suddenly, ten streaks of lightning-fast light flashed by.


    The speed of the light was so swift that Song Que and the others couldn''t even see it clearly.


    Even Ye Feng, with his superior vision, only caught a glimpse, because it all happened too fast.


    So fast that his brain couldn''t come to a conclusion before the beams of light disappeared.


    "What was that just now? Did you see it? I felt like several streaks of light passed by!" the one-eyed king said.


    "Yes, a total of ten," Ye Feng said.


    The group was about to leave Sun Maple Forest, and Ye Feng could even see the vague hordes of beasts in the distance.


    Humans were battling with the horde of beasts; without the catastrophe-level creatures, the powerful Human Federation was finally suppressing the enemy for the first time.


    "We might be too late," Ye Feng said somewhat desperately.


    "What''s wrong?" Gu Luo asked.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the ten or so streaks of light just now... must be the lightning-fast, super catastrophe-level creature, Lei Xiao!"


    The group fell silent and quickened their steps even more.


    Song Que finally understood that the beasts were not showing weakness, but had changed their strategy.


    They no longer sent out those huge creatures but dispatched units like assassins, with lesser destructive power, but incredibly fast offensive capabilities.


    Lei Xiao, the creature with unmatched speed among the beasts.


    As a catastrophe-level species, its destructive power was only about the same as elite-level creatures, and its vitality was at the level of ordinary perfect creatures.


    But it possessed a speed that even cataclysmic creatures couldn''t compare with.


    Akasi, who had been injected with Lei Xiao serum, had become the fastest human.


    Even Akasi, however, only had a synchronization rate of less than twenty percent. If it were Lei Xiao itself, how much faster could it be?


    This was already an utterly unknown realm.


    Song Que could even be certain that a single Lei Xiao could assassinate any human target.


    Ten Lei Xiaos deployed into a battle involving tens of thousands of people seemed inconsequential, but they had a fatal impact on humans!


    Song Que and the others, in full retreat, could already hear the sounds of the Human Federation and beasts clashing.


    Countless hunters and regular troops were fighting desperately.


    The ten streaks of lightning were like light bouncing off countless mirrors, traveling through the entire battlefield at an unbelievable speed, untouchable by any creature, even invisible to sight.


    But where the lightning passed, there were continuously humans fatally slashed by their sharp edges.


    All of them were the most talented, at the forefront of the human elite!


    Song Que and the other top talents finally rushed back to the battlefield, but even Song Que and Ye Feng, two exceptional "eyes," were completely unable to keep up with the speed of Lei Xiao.


    The situation changed in an instant.


    The kill count of Lei Xiao was small, one at a time, but ten Lei Xiaos were like a frenzy, incessantly slaying the talented without pause.


    No matter how powerful the doctors'' treatments were, under the terrifying speed of Lei Xiao, they were pale and ineffective.


    The ten streaks of lightning continuously sliced through the battlefield.


    Song Que could not imagine that ten catastrophe-level creatures could deliberately reach such a horrifying degree.


    Their threat was far greater than the previous gigantic catastrophe-level creatures.


    The hunters gradually felt fear as well.


    These lightning-fast creatures remained unseen by anyone until now.


    This was akin to a death ray. Wherever it passed, life was doomed to wither!


    And as the quiet behind them grew heavier, Song Que began to have an ominous premonition. He thought of a terrifying possibility¡ª S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zero! It was heading for the transmission station!


    (There''s one more chapter, I''m rushing it, should be out around seven.)

 Chapter 26 Reinforcements on the Dragons Back

    Gu Luo swung his greatsword amidst a dense horde of beasts that surrounded him.


    The degenerate species of the Gem Tiger, the Black Rock Saber-Toothed Tiger, bone hyenas that looked as though they crawled out from the Netherworld, irritable wilderness oxen, spike pigs, White-Eyed Giant Bears¡ªall once formidable creatures that required a squad to hunt even individually¡ªnow appeared in herds as if they were cloned.


    Li Zheng, Gu Luo, Lin Jue, and others were skilled in close combat, and without a word, they tacitly took on the role of Song Que''s personal guards.


    Qin Qian''s ability was telekinesis, and she was also doing her best to protect Song Que.


    Lin Jue''s baseball bat had started to bend, and his arms were gradually losing sensation. The rest were not faring much better either.


    Facing such a large horde of beasts head-on wasn''t their first time in these days, but it was always extremely lethal.


    They had to choose a path where there were fewer people but more beasts so they could avoid the deadly beams that crisscrossed the battlefield.


    The route toward the fortress''s signal was incredibly difficult to navigate. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    All along the way were various ferocious beasts. Even though the lightning did not strike here, everyone was on high alert.


    Ye Feng had seen it just half a minute ago. Several elite hunters from Sky Guardian Fortress had been sliced to death by Lei Xiao in just one second.


    The true strength of those hunters was not inferior to Gu Luo''s.


    Facing a calamity-level creature, they had no chance to fight back.


    It might still be possible to focus fire on the gigantic calamity-level creatures.


    But against such sensitive creatures, they were utterly unsolvable!


    Fear was like a silent and swift plague, spreading rapidly.


    In the face of gigantic calamity-level creatures, the world''s finest eyes would gather, able to detect and retreat early.


    But in the face of Lei Xiao, these creatures about the size of humans did not draw much attention when they first entered the battlefield.


    Only a few strong ones were astonished by the speed of these creatures.


    But as more and more people died suddenly, a sense of wrongness gradually took hold.


    They were like the most terrifying assassins.


    The movements of the ten flashes of lightning were unpredictable, with no way to determine their trajectory.


    The gifted fighters struggling with the fierce beasts often found their comrades suddenly falling to the ground without warning.


    They had no idea what had happened.


    In the previous second, the person full of vigor and fighting spirit would suddenly collapse after a terrible streak of light passed through.


    Such events occurred two or three times every second, and these phenomena were happening in ten places at the same time.


    The Human Federation''s chosen ones, who held the advantage, suddenly fell to the ground.


    It was as if a gentle breeze had blown by¡ªcomfortable for some, soul-snatching for others.


    How terrifying are these calamity-level creatures?


    Even though they can only kill one person at a time,


    With the fastest speed of all beasts, within just one short minute,


    Nearly a thousand gifted individuals had been killed.


    In less than five minutes, those flashes of lightning, which had not initially caused much concern, had become the greatest fear in everyone''s hearts!


    The assassin squad formed by ten Lei Xiaos dismantled the human defenses even faster than those terrifyingly huge calamity-level creatures did before!


    No matter the talent, no matter the equipment, where the lightning flashed, death was certain!


    This horrendous power caused people to shiver with fear.


    Morale dissipated, and in those few minutes, countless gifted ones started to flee.


    But to Lei Xiao, their speed meant there was no possibility of escape.


    Gifted individuals with speed-based abilities were practically snails in the face of Lei Xiao''s terrifying velocity,


    Not to mention the others.


    There was still a great distance to the teleportation station.


    Song Que and others despondently realized that igniting the retreat signal was no longer necessary.


    Because no one else had the will to continue fighting.


    He could not imagine... almost forty percent of the Human Federation''s combat power, arguably the strongest human assembly, had been completely dismantled by just ten Lei Xiaos.


    Many gifted ones tried to stop Lei Xiao,


    possessing all sorts of strange abilities.


    For instance, Zhong Xiuran, the eldest son of the Zhong Family, was a notorious trap aficionado.


    It only took him a few seconds to set up a trap. In some ways, he was similar to the witch Qin Qian.


    Qin Qian could manipulate tiny objects with telekinesis, while Zhong Xiuran relied on telekinesis to twist the environment around him. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    But his traps were useless against absolute speed; the traps failed to close before Lei Xiao had already moved on to the next target, or even the one after that.


    The commanding officer of the regular army at Lincoln Fortress, with the ability to summon swamps, had set up many of the previous defense lines.


    But Lei Xiao was too fast. Marshes were irrelevant, and even stepping over a water surface was instantaneous.


    "This exaggerated speed is simply impossible to counter!" Gu Luo watched the distant scene of carnage.


    More of their familiar human experts were relentlessly cut down by flashes of lightning.


    Faster than sound, despite all other data seeming weak, that singular, heaven-defying speed made them invincible.


    Song Que said,


    "We''ve lost. Although Lei Xiao are calamity-level creatures, that is defined by their comprehensive value."


    "In the world of beasts... who knows how many such terrifying beings exist. It looks like Saint Dene Highlands might fall this time."


    Everyone felt a heaviness in their heart.


    Song Que was right; with the current state of humanity, there was no way to fight such creatures.

 Chapter 26 Reinforcements on the Dragons Back_2

    Catastrophic-level boss creatures took nearly a century for humankind to complete the tier development needed to hunt and kill them.


    They had never faced a double-digit number of catastrophic-level creatures at once.


    Watching numerous comrades fall to the ground, watching the quiet approach of distant breaths drawing closer and closer.


    Song Que suddenly turned around and said,


    "There''s no escape, let''s fight bravely, everyone."


    Lin Jue wiped the sweat from his brow and said,


    "People die and birds fly back to heaven, even if I die, Laozi will take one of those catastrophic creatures down with me today!"


    "You''ve troubled so many girls in this lifetime, dying isn''t a loss for you¡­" The one-eyed king raised his gun, preparing to predict Lei Xiao''s path. He had tried many times but never once hit his target.


    Gu Luo and Ye Feng exchanged a glance, both ready to fight to the death. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the army began to cast off their armor and abandon their gear, Song Que and the others had already foreseen the outcome of the battle.


    The figure of Shiling drew nearer and nearer.


    Behind the ten catastrophic creatures was an even more terrifying beast.


    Shiling was very similar to Lei Xiao.


    Both had stats that were lower than those of beasts of the same tier, yet they both possessed heaven-defying abilities.


    The fleeing crowd suddenly stopped in their tracks.


    Evaporated sweat, splattered blood, and dust in the air, all were frozen in place.


    It was as if time was chasing the footsteps of these people, and as soon as it caught up, everyone was instantly immobilized.


    Regardless of whether they were humans or beasts.


    In the center of Shiling''s domain, everything stopped.


    The domain was so vast that Song Que couldn''t even see what Shiling, at the center, looked like.


    He just watched as more and more beasts suddenly halted in their tracks.


    Humans in mid-run were frozen, maintaining their running poses.


    Even creatures and humans that were knocked into the air did not fall down.


    Because falling down also required time, and they were now in a domain without time.


    Even Song Que and the others, who just a moment ago had high fighting spirit, instantly felt chills upon seeing such a sight.


    What kind of monsters were these?


    If the meaning of a bloody and fierce battle included a glorious death and making the enemy pay a price, then the appearance of Shiling completely erased that possibility.


    The one-eyed king started firing into the distance, but when the bullets entered Shiling''s domain, they too were stopped.


    As the domain gradually enveloped the battlefield, Song Que and the others had no choice but to retreat.


    The last bit of fighting spirit was subdued by a terror so powerful that even time had to compromise.


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    The domain continued to expand, more and more creatures lost the concept of time.


    They were like statues.


    Finally, Song Que and the others saw the true face of Shiling.


    It was, surprisingly, a creature resembling a Qilin.


    Its eyes carried disdain.


    In terms of size, Shiling was not large among the myriad beasts, even quite small.


    But the domain it displayed was definitely worthy of a catastrophic-level boss creature''s strength.


    Song Que suddenly didn''t know what to do.


    There were tens of thousands of gifted individuals here, amounting to forty percent of human talent currently known.


    These people were very likely not going to survive the day!


    He watched everything with despair.


    But more despairing circumstances awaited him.


    Ten Lei Xiaos blocked the human army''s escape route.


    These ten lightning-like creatures formed a massive blockade line.


    The blockade line forced the retreating human army to turn back.


    Shiling continued to walk forward steadily.


    With Lei Xiao''s death blockade in front and Shiling''s massive Time Stop Domain behind,


    eleven creatures had managed to encircle tens of thousands of humans on this vast battlefield.


    There was no escape.


    The beasts started to scatter because Shiling didn''t distinguish between human or beast.


    But the beasts were much luckier than humans, as they weren''t obstructed.


    In Shiling''s barrier, although creatures were only frozen, seeming harmless, Song Que and the others witnessed a strange phenomenon.


    All life within Shiling began to drain away bit by bit.


    "We''re done for. I thought we were going to have a good fight, but the creatures that showed up are ones we can''t even touch.," Lin Jue trembled with anger and fear.


    It was both rage and terror.


    For the first time, Song Que saw fear in the eyes of Lin Jue, who had always been fearless.


    He felt fear as well.


    No one was not afraid of such a being.


    This was a type of monster that, even if you went into battle determined to die heroically, you would ultimately be subdued and watch your life drain away quietly and without dignity.


    The power of a catastrophic creature finally shattered the last vestiges of morale among the few passionate individuals.


    People were forced by the blockade line of Lei Xiao to keep retreating until they finally fell into the still domain of time.


    The Qilin-like Shiling Beast still wore that arrogant expression.


    As if up to this point, it hadn''t even expended an ounce of effort.


    It just walked slowly, step by step. In its wake was desolation and decay.


    It didn''t need to do anything; with a leisurely stroll, the largest human-initiated battle had already ended.


    All was lost.


    The space for tens of thousands of people to move became smaller and smaller.


    Within Shiling''s Time Stop Domain, the health of both beasts and humans continued to dwindle.


    That suffocating sense of oppression was like watching two walls covered in iron spikes slowly squeezing closer.


    Death was not the greatest fear; the scariest part was the process that led to its arrival.


    The two walls of calamity and catastrophe made that process painfully clear.

 Chapter 26 Reinforcements on the Dragons Back_3

    Finally, someone couldn''t bear such psychological pressure and charged towards one end.


    The result was predictable.


    Lin Jue gave a bitter smile and said,


    "We lost, these monsters are damn tough to deal with. The only thing I can probably do before that thing covers me is strike a cool pose?"


    He joked in an attempt to comfort himself.


    But no one found it funny. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Song Que swore that if he survived, he would do everything in his power to prevent humanity from launching such a war again!


    But he knew... perhaps today was his last day.


    As one of the finest ''eyes'', his duty should have been to lead the team out of danger.


    It''s just that he had no way of doing so.


    Even Song Que was struggling to endure the gradual approach of death. In the end, he decided to charge towards Lei Xiao.


    At least in dying that way, it would seem like he had put up a fight!


    But just as he was ready to rush forward, Song Que was suddenly pulled back by Ye Feng.


    Song Que turned to look at Ye Feng.


    Ye Feng looked bewilderedly into the sky, as if there was something more distracting than death up there.


    Song Que followed his gaze but discovered nothing.


    "Dragon!" Ye Feng suddenly exclaimed.


    "What are you talking about?" Gu Luo asked anxiously.


    "A dragon... a dragon is coming!" Ye Feng''s voice began to tremble.


    His eyesight was far superior to anyone else''s.


    Lin Jue gave a bitter smile and said,


    "The Qilin leads and the Azure Dragon follows? Are they worried we won''t die off completely?" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Que felt that something was off; he could detect a hint of excitement in Ye Feng''s voice, as if he had seen hope.


    "No... it''s not that!" Ye Feng said, looking at the sky.


    Shock, joy, and bewilderment flooded his face, a complex mix of emotions.


    But the original air of despair slowly dissipated.


    "It''s that person! The one with the mask on! He''s riding the dragon here!"


    Song Que was shocked and stared intently into the distance. Lin Jue, Gu Luo, and the others also looked far off.


    The advancing line of death squeezed everyone''s living space smaller and smaller.


    And humans are such creatures; when one person looks up into the sky, even if there is nothing, many others will subconsciously imitate.


    More and more people took notice of Commander Song Que''s group.


    More and more people raised their heads.


    There wasn''t nothing in the distance.


    Among the roiling clouds thousands of meters up in the sky, a huge dragon revealed its head.


    The distance was too great for people to see the figure on the dragon''s head.


    Only those with sight as superb as Ye Feng''s and Song Que''s could see the figure atop the enormous dragon''s head.


    Even so, everyone could see the majestic body of the dragon, with its crystal-like scales and the dignified orange eyes exuding an aura of majesty.


    The dragon''s roar echoed for miles, its sound thunderous.


    The originally clear sky instantly filled with ominous clouds.


    What was most astonishing were the fleeing sacred beasts all around, each bowing their heads in submission.


    The ten Lei Xiaos in front finally stabilized their form, revealing appearances akin to lions, only their bodies were entwined with red lightning, especially their fur, which looked like bolts of lightning.


    Unlike the prostrating fierce beasts around them, the Lei Xiaos'' faces showed a solemn expression.


    And the Shiling Beast that had been slowly advancing also finally halted its steps. When it turned and saw the giant dragon flying in the sky, it frowned in disgust.


    The dragon above the clouds dived swiftly.


    It wasn''t until it reached the low altitude of a hundred meters that it stopped.


    This time, tens of thousands finally saw the person standing between the dragon''s horns, atop its head, a person wearing a mask, holding a kitchen knife, wearing mismatched armor.


    He waved in a certain direction.


    Song Que, watching Tang Xian''s wave, felt hope rise within him.


    "Since when did the proud Azure Dragon clan actually allow lowly humans to ride atop them?" the Shiling Beast frowned in disgust.


    Though the Qilin''s countenance always looked as if it was frowning.


    "None of my business." Tang Feiji commented while also finding the Qilin quite repulsive.


    "Do your two species have a grudge?" Tang Xian asked.


    "No, but as a being of the sacred beasts, I just find him unpleasant." Tang Feiji said.


    Tang Xian nodded, looking down at the creature that resembled the Qilin, and surmised the situation around him; he guessed that this creature was the legendary Zero.


    Also called the Shiling.


    A sacred beast species that feeds on the lifespan of other living creatures.


    Tang Xian was indifferent and said to Zero,


    "Before we start fighting, I have a little question for you, don''t be nervous, I''m not close with those humans, I have no ill intentions. Can you transform into a human?"

 Chapter 27 The Ordinary, Weak, and Kind Humans

    Tang Feiji felt that this sounded vaguely familiar. With a great battle imminent, he didn''t dwell on the thought.


    The Shiling Beast did not answer Tang Xian''s question.


    "Lowly humans, what right do you have to question me?" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian nodded in understanding.


    It seemed to him that the several species of holy beasts probably all held a certain disregard for others.


    Even when facing beings of the same rank as themselves, they regarded them as nothing more than ants.


    Characters like Bai Mansheng and Qing JiuYu would be very careful. While Tang Feiji might not necessarily be much stronger than Qing JiuYu, he just wouldn''t take Qing JiuYu seriously.


    He guessed it would take getting ridden by Qing JiuYu one day for Tang Feiji to learn the ways of a dragon.


    Shiling probably felt the same; once in the pot, it would behave.


    "I''ll just assume you can''t then."


    "Why would I want to become a weaker species? Only those ugly creatures would possess such an impractical ability."


    "Much appreciated." Tang Xian''s gratitude was sincere.


    The Shiling Beast found the conversation somewhat nonsensical.


    As for the humans around, they were even more perplexed.


    They couldn''t hear the voice of all beasts.


    In the crowd, a team seemed to recognize the voice of the Masked Chopper Hero.


    They had once gone to the Red Clay Forest to hunt a gigantic Cerberus.


    But had the rare encounter with a nine-tailed fox and a human riding it!


    Now seeing a human riding a giant dragon and hearing this voice again, the memory connection made them instantly remember.


    "Captain, it''s that person!"


    "Yes... the one riding the nine-tailed fox!" The captain responded quite calmly.


    Riding a dragon, naturally one could also ride a fox.


    However, the people around them found it rather shocking.


    The content on the eighth layer''s Stele had not been fully disclosed.


    Li Wanye, in order not to incite panic, had concealed the fact that certain creatures could transform into humans.


    To the onlookers, the person on the dragon''s head was undoubtedly human.


    Riding a Calamity-level boss creature, and not just any, but a holy beast at that.


    This shock left their minds blank.


    Just like before, Tang Xian seemed to be talking to himself.


    But the captain wasn''t stupid; he quickly realized that this was not self-talk.


    "Is this man still human? Is he talking with those monsters? Could this be some kind of innate ability awakening?"


    The captain''s question mirrored the doubts of many, and his speculation provided a plausible explanation.


    Song Que looked at Tang Xian, also puzzled.


    Could it be that Tang Xian wasn''t really human?


    But he soon shook his head slightly.


    Perhaps the question wasn''t that important.


    In the world of humans, there were plenty of two-legged demons and beasts.


    Unlike Tang Xian''s view that if you wear human skin you count as human, no matter how vile your soul,


    Song Que believed that beasts would always be beasts, and sometimes humans might not be human.


    Tang Xian had saved humans. That alone made him worthy of the identity.


    He stopped dwelling on it. Meanwhile, the crowd suddenly cried out in alarm.


    For the friendly exchange had ended just a second ago, and the giant white dragon and masked oddity swiftly began their assault.


    From within the dark clouds, instantly, more than a dozen bolts of lightning struck down!


    The earth trembled, and everyone felt a tingling in their bodies.


    Yet, the lightning did not strike. The immense power of a dozen thunderbolts was indeed vast, but these bolts of electricity had all come to a stop.


    For the first time, people witnessed lightning that was frozen in place!


    But they finally saw another anomaly.


    When the fearsome thunder entered the Time Stop Domain, the lightning was not entirely motionless!


    The tremendous, terrifying energy was slowly falling at a pace so sluggish that it took several seconds of observation to notice any change within the Time Stop Domain.


    Tang Feiji snorted coldly.


    The Shiling Beast mocked:


    "Stupid dragonkind, this is why you were not chosen by the tribunal. None of your abilities can hit me, the master of time!"


    Watching the lightning almost negligibly descending, Tang Xian''s face grew grave.


    He still remembered the event when the Ancestral Holy Tree got angry and overturned the entire Red Clay Forest.


    Such was the power of a Calamity-level boss. Although the Shiling Beast wasn''t a destructive Calamity-level boss, if it went all out against Zhenhai Canglong¡ª


    Even just the remnants of the fight were enough to doom the humans nearby.


    Tang Feiji breathed golden flames, frost, storms, thunder.


    Elemental strikes of utmost intensity rained down.


    But the Time Stop Domain dissolved all these assaults.


    Attacks that could have devastated a battlefield were now suspended over the head of the Shiling Beast.


    It impassively watched the energy entering its domain as if seeing the most nourishing of foods.


    Tang Xian''s expression grew even more serious; although wearing a smiling mask meant people couldn''t see his face, some from afar felt the masked man''s predicament.


    The creature like a Qilin had what could be described as the strongest defense.


    Tang Xian said:


    "There are ten Lei Xiaos over there. Tang Feiji, you go and handle the Lei Xiaos. No problem, right?"


    "I want to kill that self-righteous Qilin!"


    Tang Feiji''s voice carried anger. It seemed to have been provoked by the Qilin''s gaze.


    Tang Xian commanded:


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    "This is an order."


    Observing Tang Feiji''s attacks slow to a crawl and dissolve, Tang Xian was convinced the domain was not simply stopping time.


    He wasn''t underestimating the challenge.


    After all, no human could currently match the existence of a Calamity-level boss creature.


    The capabilities of the Shiling Beast were almost unsolvable.


    Jumping straight off the dragon''s head, Tang Xian used his grappling hook to swing to the forefront of where the humans were.

 Chapter 27 The Ordinary, Weak, and Kind Humans_2

    Facing the Shiling Beast.


    Tang Feiji glared at Shiling, but eventually turned his head to look at the ten lion-like Lei Xiao.


    "Foolish and arrogant Azure Dragon, you''re willing to let me crawl on your back and face me alone, it seems you''re no ordinary human."


    The Shiling Beast was indifferent to the dragon; it had been hundreds of years since any creature had gotten close to it. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This confidence allowed it to look down upon the world.


    "Everything is relative, and relative to you, I am just an ordinary human, plain and mediocre, weak and kind," Tang Xian said.


    "You have many secrets within you. You may rely on your powerful methods, but against time, all of your methods are ineffective."


    "Is that so? The common understanding of time, or rather the widely spread belief, is that reaching the speed of light, one can witness time come to a halt, and if one were to surpass the speed of light, then time would flow backward. In reality, that''s impossible. It''s just the scenes before one''s eyes moving in reverse, but time continues marching on.


    It never stops; the transformation of matter doesn''t reverse either. So, unfortunately, even if you run around a tree faster than light, you can''t do any unspeakable things to yourself."


    Tang Xian casually joked.


    The Shiling Beast didn''t understand what was regrettable about this and didn''t know about these things; it just sniffed the scent emanating from Tang Xian:


    "Interesting, you indeed have human blood flowing within you. I think the long-eared ancient apes in the court will find dissecting you very interesting."


    "So you come from the Court of Beasts. I''m quite curious about that place; I initially thought the world of the Eden Civilization and the Court of Beasts was a single power, but it seems not. This world is more fragmented than the human world."


    Tang Xian deliberately spoke quite loudly; he didn''t want to explain but hoped Song Que and Li Zheng could hear some key elements.


    Of course, most people were still derailed by Tang Xian''s recent self-deprecatory remarks.


    "I am one of the Judgment Chiefs. You''re lucky. Your body may contain the secrets the ancient apes covet the most. I will not drain you dry."


    After uttering these words, Shiling took a few steps forward, and with each step it took, the large crowd behind it took several steps back.


    But soon, the people were blocked by a huge ice wall.


    The smaller the battlefield, the higher the likelihood for Tang Feiji to hit the Lei Xiao.


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    The combined attacks of the ten Lei Xiao also struggled to inflict damage on it.


    But just like flies, despite their weakness, they were extremely annoying.


    If possible, Tang Feiji would rather face the Shiling Beast, which was dozens of times stronger.


    This ice wall not only reduced the range of activity for the Lei Xiao but also served as protection for the humans.


    Because any attack from a calamity-level creature would cause immense destruction.


    With no room to retreat, everyone stopped under the hundreds of meters tall and seemingly several tens of meters thick ice wall.


    They could feel the destructive energy ravaging the other side of the ice wall.


    But everyone''s gaze was fixed on Tang Xian.


    As the crowd retreated, Tang Xian did not. Instead, he took a step forward.


    "I have an aversion to the word ''judgment.'' If it is a machine, it should be properly used by people, and if it is a wild beast, it should be properly domesticated by people."


    Tang Xian took another step forward. But this step was not completed.


    He lifted his right foot but before it could land, his figure was frozen in place.


    The Shiling Beast sneered:


    "You indeed have a vast life force, but unfortunately for you, you''ve met me, and all of these lives shall be mine! Once I''ve drained them, I''ll deal with that dragon. And I will ravage you to show the dragon what it means to be an enemy of the Master of Time!"


    Calamity-level boss creatures are rare.


    Now Tang Xian understood the reason for the pride of the holy beast species.


    The Azure Dragon possessed nearly the power to control all elements, and its resistance to the elements was also extremely high.


    And Shiling could slow down the movement of objects.


    Tang Xian was now immobilized.


    However, the information transmitted in his mind convinced him that the existence of this domain was to his advantage.


    But he needed a bit of time. Just a little bit.


    Currently, all he could do was hold this posture and watch the Shiling Beast.


    Tang Xian was somewhat annoyed.


    Because he couldn''t speak. As a member of the Analysis Faction, a qualified trash talker, this agony was worse than having his sesame oil stolen.


    But this Shiling was too arrogant.


    It disdained to kill the people within the domain by other methods, instead slowly torturing them.


    Even though Tang Xian couldn''t see their lifeforce, after so long, he still noticed some people become more haggard than when he had first seen them.


    Perhaps their bodies were already very weak.


    But within this domain, the trajectory of things was so slow that although they were nearly drained, they seemed normal from a distance.


    "Warning, the current damage sustained is 5 percent of the maximum lifeforce."


    Every once in a while, this message came from his mind.


    Tang Xian could feel his vitality slowly slipping away but then forcefully regaining strength.


    This was not new to him.


    But those enveloped within the Time Stop Domain were not so lucky.


    Tang Xian made a calculation and realized that within this domain, one would die in roughly five minutes.


    And since his arrival, five minutes had already passed.


    Tang Xian wanted to shake his head but couldn''t move.

 Chapter 27 The Ordinary, Weak, and Kind Humans_3

    These people are already dead.


    It''s just that their bodies still retain the appearance of when they were alive.


    Because the changes of death need time.


    In this domain, everything is quiet, Tang Xian can''t even hear the sounds from the outside world.


    The voice of Zero can resonate in the sea of consciousness, so it can still be heard, but the noise of the crowd outside the domain, on the other side of the huge ice wall, and the battle between Tang Feiji and Lei Xiao, he can''t perceive any of it.


    The sense of smell is also completely blocked.


    Because the volatilization of flavors also needs time. Only those tiny modules of information within the neurons are still moving at high speeds.


    That is one''s own consciousness.


    "This is a terrifying domain. It''s like a gigantic stomach, but much more troublesome than a stomach, mainly because it immobilizes people. Within a few minutes, the opponent slowly dies. Although I hate the words ''judgment'' and ''trial,'' this Shiling Beast is indeed the best judge, or assassin."


    Tang Xian thought to himself.


    This calamity-level boss creature can approach any being silently and unnoticed, and everything that comes close to it will be frozen, not limited to energy fluctuations or physical matter.


    But he didn''t believe this was time stopping.


    He also didn''t like being mocked by food.


    So, just as the hope that humanity had so desperately kindled was about to be extinguished again¡ª


    Tang Xian twisted his neck.


    The creaking sounds from his bones shouldn''t have been transmitted, but just like the sounds he made, they were not controlled by this domain either.


    The Shiling Beast, hearing this faint sound, suddenly turned around.


    Its eyes, black as holes, contracted and expanded.


    The crowd on the periphery also let out exclamations. The talented individuals who had fallen into despair once again all showed looks of astonishment.


    Song Que was the same; he couldn''t imagine how Tang Xian could accomplish such a thing.


    Especially since those thunderbolts in the sky were still suspended within the domain.


    If even the fury of the great dragon couldn''t break through this domain, how did Tang Xian do it?


    Tang Xian couldn''t hear people''s voices.


    He could emit his own voice, but he was also unable to receive others'' voices in this domain.


    He calmly looked at Zero and said,


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    "Tang Feiji is stupid, and very reckless, but compared to you, he''s rather modest. The battles in this world are not simply a contest of numbers; they also involve mutual restraint. Your power almost counters all creatures, but unfortunately for you, you are the one who is most restrained by me."


    [Impossible... How could you possibly defeat time?] The Shiling Beast looked at Tang Xian incredulously.


    "That is where you are arrogantly ignorant. Time is the horizontal axis of all rules, space is the vertical axis of all rules; in any world, any physical rule, even those supernatural rules that can''t be understood, all require the support of time and space; they are the beginning of everything, the cradle of laws."


    Tang Xian took a step forward and continued,


    "At the same time, they are the most rigorous logic of this world. The time at any place is a related whole; it''s fundamentally impossible for time to stop in just one place, otherwise the whole world would experience a catastrophic feedback."


    "So your ability isn''t stopping time at all; you just slow down the trajectories of all matter infinitely with the mysterious power in the Soul Crystal. You are just a mere beast, and when you''re dead, you will be nothing more than garbage to be sorted -- an animal corpse. With what do you change time?"


    The Shiling, shocked, watched Tang Xian approach step by step, having never encountered a creature that could move within the Time Stop Barrier!


    Never!


    But it had heard from the ancient apes of the Beast Court that there exist beings in this world that could resist the Time Stop Barrier.


    Or rather... there once were.


    [It''s impossible, such creatures have been exterminated by the court! Impossible!]


    That''s the way of Zero.


    It possessed an unbreakable domain, but once the domain was breached, its threat level was not even as great as that of a catastrophe-level creature.


    Hearing the words of Zero in his sea of consciousness, Tang Xian started to feel a bit confused.


    Meanwhile, the huge ice wall behind the humans suddenly dissipated, and the dragon''s roar of the Coiled Dragon of the Ocean resounded through the earth once again.


    The huge dragon body appeared in front of everyone again, and the ground on the other side had turned into a deep pit.


    In the distance, people caught a glimpse of Lei Xiao''s corpse.


    [A few got away.] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Feiji felt somewhat ashamed; to fight against blue-tier creatures and let them escape.


    But Tang Xian didn''t reprimand him; on the contrary, he thought Tang Feiji did quite well this time.


    He hadn''t harmed any humans, and managing to kill Lei Xiao was no easy feat, especially since they are creatures that become untouchable once they decide to flee.


    "Good job. As a reward, I will let you taste a meat in this lifetime that may not be the tastiest but is definitely the rarest."


    As he spoke, Tang Xian revealed a "let me take a look" expression, gazing at the disoriented Zero.

 Chapter 28 Despicable, Ignorant, and Utterly Ugly Humanity

    The ice wall emerged once again, carving along the boundary of the barrier and cutting off the human view towards Tang Xian.


    The massive ice wall was akin to a fortress.


    In just a fleeting moment, the icy fortress had been erected.


    The enormity of these ramparts, comparable to a fortress, made everyone feel insignificant and humble.


    The breath of a calamity-level creature possessed such terrifying power to destroy and create; how arrogant must humans be to try to level it?


    Tang Xian looked around at the surroundings sealed by ice and chuckled,


    "You see, my vehicle might be stupid, but it still has a standard intelligence of 0.8 winters. Now, it can kill two birds with one stone, preventing the humans from seeing our duel and also blocking your retreat. You can''t break through this ice wall, so now you must face me."


    Shiling Beast watched Tang Xian warily, no longer showing any trace of contempt.


    "You... who are you really?"


    "You''ve already asked that question. I couldn''t tell you before, and now there''s no need to tell you. After all, you''ve already guessed half correctly."


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    Tang Xian stared at the Shiling Beast, ready to blind it using the power of ''Swallow the Sun'' and come into contact with the creature.


    Once touched, he could stick to it like a plaster, ultimately subduing it.


    But before that, he had some questions to ask.


    "I''m a man of my word; if you honestly answer my questions, I might consider letting you go," Tang Xian said with earnest sincerity.


    The Shiling Beast spoke,


    "Are you the remnant of the Eden Tribe?"


    "That''s the thing," Tang Xian replied. "The way you phrase it makes it seem like the court has some grievances with the Eden Tribe? Answer my question. You should know by now you cannot escape."


    Tang Xian moved two steps closer.


    "The Eden Civilization thinks it owns this world, but the court is the epitome of fairness and justice, you remnant of Eden!"


    The proud Shiling Beast did not wish to submit so easily.


    Tang Xian was not angered and said,


    "I have never thought about being the master of this world, and I don''t believe the court embodies justice either. With someone as powerful as you, how many more are there in the court of beasts?"


    "Ignorant remnant of Eden, had the Eden Tribe still existed, you could have caused disturbances, but faced with the court, even if you possess the power of Eden, you will still be no more than a dog with its tail between its legs," the Shiling Beast retorted.


    "So, as one of the Judgment Chiefs, you must be some sort of cadre, right? Surely you must know how many cadres there are?" said Tang Xian as he looked at the Shiling Beast with feigned contempt.


    The Shiling Beast was not fooled and replied,


    "The power of the court is not weaker than that which enslaves these humans, but I will not tell you!"


    "Stingy," Tang Xian muttered, stroking his chin and pondering before saying,


    "Seven?"


    Observing the Shiling Beast''s reaction, Tang Xian shook his head.


    No.


    "Nine?"


    Again, incorrect.


    "Ten?"


    Still wrong, but he was getting closer.


    "Eleven."


    The Shiling Beast showed significant change at this number, and its willingness to speak the truth surged.


    Tang Xian remarked,


    "Your desire to lie has increased, signifying you''re trying to cover something up. It seems to be eleven, so including you, there must be twelve Judgment Chiefs. Hmm, that''s a common combination number, similar to the twelve zodiac signs and the twelve animal signs."


    While he spoke, Tang Xian nodded.


    The Shiling Beast found it unbelievable¡ªcould this man read minds?


    Tang Xian then asked,


    "Where do you rank in terms of strength within the group?"


    "Stop trying to pry more words from me!"


    "Alright, let me rephrase the question. If I were to kill you, what level do you think the next one sent by the court will be?"


    "Arrogant Eden dweller! You are simply a remnant of the purges. Do you think you can contend with the court?" the Shiling Beast said.


    As Tang Xian stepped forward again, the Shiling Beast grew cautious.


    In its memory, such beings were very weak, their greatest vulnerability being their fear of destructive power.


    The worst thing to do to these creatures was to torment them with neither severity nor gentleness, as this could bring disaster to their entire species.


    "You certainly have spirit, but pity your flesh is too valuable. I can''t appreciate it," said Tang Xian.


    "I''ve never thought about contending with the court. What am I, after all? Even though I may seem stronger than humans now, I still need to be careful facing the natural calamity-level and cataclysm-level creatures of this world."


    "I''m still unclear about the truth of the past, especially since the Eden forces and the court were adversaries¡ªthis wasn''t part of my previous knowledge. So, I''ll investigate further."


    The Shiling Beast was somewhat perplexed; this remnant of the Eden Tribe seemed to have forgotten many things.


    "In any case, I am humble and weak. I''m not so arrogant as to believe I can change the world. But if any force in this world intends to destroy me, they''ll have to pay a significant price."


    Explosive speed was unleashed.


    The Shiling Beast had never expected that this being, with its faint presence, would suddenly erupt with such terrifying velocity.


    What was even more terrifying was that the sky suddenly darkened.


    All sight vanished from its eyes, leaving only absolute darkness.


    From within the darkness, Tang Xian''s voice came through, so close that the Shiling Beast was struck by fear, as if the voice was right beside its ear.


    "This process will be tedious; at first, you might not feel much, but it will gradually become apparent. Don''t resist, the more you struggle, the more excited I become," Tang Xian voiced in a dreadful tone. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Saying these terrible lines, Tang Xian''s fist landed on the Shiling Beast''s back.


    "Everything I said is true, except that I would let you go. After all, your flesh looks quite tasty."

 Chapter 28 Despicable, Ignorant, and Utterly Ugly Humanity_2

    "Additionally, I''m not interested in the courtroom, but I am interested in the turtle of the courtroom. The Endless Turtle is also fated with me, I''ve heard it''s a skilled fortune teller. Given the chance, I definitely want to give it a try, oh no, I mean to meet it."


    Tang Xian lay on the vast back of the Shiling Beast, continuously launching attacks.


    He slowly counted the accumulating damage within his sea of consciousness.


    It was like the footsteps of death.


    He was absolutely not a fraction too fast, nor a fraction too slow.


    The entire person controlled the rhythm like a machine.


    This gave the Shiling Beast a feeling of death gradually closing in.


    When faint pain finally came through, when the pain became increasingly severe, the Shiling Beast completely fell into fear.


    It formed two blockade lines with Lei Xiao, like two walls studded with spikes, making humans feel the suffocating sensation of their chances of survival being squeezed away little by little.


    Now, Tang Xian used similar methods to return that kind of lingering pain back to them.


    ...


    ...


    People outside the ice wall didn''t know what had happened inside.


    Only Ye Feng saw it.


    His extreme vision could see through cover.


    In fact, as early as when the Masked Chopper Hero appeared last time, Ye Feng had seen through the true identity of the Masked Chopper Hero.


    He recognized Tang Xian.


    On the day of the hunting festival''s registration, he and Tang Xian had made eye contact. As keepers of keen eyes, both acutely felt the other''s existence.


    But he loyally did not reveal Tang Xian''s identity.


    Even after Tang Xian''s portrait had been engraved into the warrant for the most wanted criminals.


    The specifics of the battle, Ye Feng couldn''t see clearly, because that darkness was impenetrable.


    When the darkness dispersed, all he saw was Tang Xian riding on the back of the Shiling Beast, which had a very low health bar.


    Many thoughts flashed through Ye Feng''s mind.


    "Before, someone mentioned he rode on the back of a nine-tailed fox demon. Today, he''s riding on the back of a dragon and a Qilin. These are all catastrophe-level boss creatures... It seems he really is the Eden demon child."


    Ye Feng felt puzzled for a moment.


    Is the Eden demon child truly an evil creature?


    The lords in the Pyramid wouldn''t deceive them, but what if even the lords only knew falsehoods?


    He didn''t know what abilities the Eden demon child possessed.


    But the first time, Tang Xian saved the Federation''s finest hunters.


    The second time, he rode in on a giant dragon, saving nearly forty percent of humanity''s gifted ones!


    If he truly wished to destroy the Pyramid, who could stop him? If he truly was humanity''s enemy, why would he do these things?


    For the first time, Ye Feng began to doubt the education he had received from childhood.


    The extreme ice shattered, and everything began to slowly collapse.


    The vast darkness finally dispersed as well.


    Those huge lightning bolts and flames that had been suspended in the air were all canceled by Tang Feiji.


    Not long after, dust began to swirl in the low sky, all life within the Time Stop Domain started to rapidly decay, showing signs of having been dead for a while.


    Everything that had been frozen started to fall in even more chaotic trajectories.


    The Time Stop Domain had actually shattered.


    Riding the dying giant Shiling Beast, Tang Xian looked like a savior.


    He straightened his mask, looked at Song Que, and said,


    "I came from the direction of the Yuepela Plains, there are many wild beasts there, but none are very strong. I can join you in the fight across the plains, and in the next two days, we could take down the Yuepela Plains."


    Upon hearing these words, a cheer erupted from the crowd.


    After escaping death, if they could experience an overwhelming victory, there was nothing more exhilarating.


    But Song Que did not speak.


    He knew Tang Xian hadn''t finished speaking.


    "But you can also choose to report to the lords of the Pyramid another matter, that a power known as the Court of Endless Beasts opposed you today, and they did not exert even one-tenth of their strength, yet they could easily destroy you."


    Tang Xian continued to speak,


    "Should you consider retreating to the previously secured human areas, to regroup properly? Another war like this will only lead to destruction, because even I am not sure I can deal with the enemies that will come next time."


    Song Que nodded and said,


    "I will order a retreat."


    A murmur arose; even with the explanation from the Masked Chopper Hero, many people still wanted to rush out and battle.


    They had already suffered too much humiliation today and desperately wanted to achieve military honors!


    So, someone instantly looked at Song Que with incomprehension.


    "Good. You are the supreme commander of humanity and the future lord of Fortress One. Some words, you may consider."


    "Go ahead."


    "We humans, are just lowly, insignificant, and even ugly creatures. What we are best at is domesticating creatures weaker than us, keeping them in captivity. We grant them the conditions to survive, letting them exchange their flesh and blood for it. Remember, along with humans, any animal can be tamed.


    When facing beings stronger than us, we must learn to be parasites. The relationship between a parasite and its host is symbiotic. The host wants to kill the parasite, but the wisest thing for the parasite to do is to remain humble. As long as it is small enough and does not show any threat, it will not provoke the host''s rejection.


    If you have not found the next world to parasitize, do not attempt actions that would destroy yourself." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The analogy Tang Xian used stunned everyone.


    The principle within these words seemed to be suggesting that humanity should temporarily remain dormant and conserve strength.


    At the same time, they should learn to use their intelligence to control some weaker creatures.


    Yet for some reason, it sounded so repulsive to hear.


    Song Que felt there was another meaning in these words.


    He stared at Tang Xian and said:


    "If we are parasites in the mining area, what about the Pyramid then?"


    Tang Xian didn''t speak anymore.


    He jumped down from the gigantic back of the Shiling Beast.


    The azure dragon then bit into the barely alive Shiling Beast, while also lowering its body to let Tang Xian climb onto its back.


    Though it was a dragon, it was as docile as a cute pet.


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    Seeing this scene, Song Que suddenly realized the meaning of Tang Xian''s words.


    Remember, along with humans, any animal can be tamed.


    In these words, there were only two relationships: the weak parasitize the strong, the strong domesticate the weak.


    If humans are parasitizing the world of the mines, does that mean the Pyramid is domesticating humanity?


    Is this what Tang Xian wanted to convey?


    He had no time to think further, nor to ask.


    Because the azure dragon had already taken to the sky, carrying the corpse of the Shiling Beast without affecting its flight.


    Tang Xian looked back at Song Que, his face hidden by the mask, making it impossible to see his expression.


    But that look in his eyes seemed to offer Song Que an answer.


    The battle at the Yuepela Plains was over.


    This battle, if judged by the outcome, was an unprecedented victory.


    The sacrifice of fewer than ten thousand people, in exchange for the death of several calamity-class creatures and disaster-class boss creatures.


    No matter how you look at it, humanity should be happy.


    But no one felt happy.


    Song Que and Ye Feng, on the defensive fortress of the highlands, looked at the mess below the fortress, watching people busily tally up the battle results and losses.


    Both were somewhat bewildered.


    "Whom exactly are we fighting for?" Ye Feng finally asked the question.


    Only, Song Que had no answer for him.


    "Is it for glory? Or for something else? Like a higher social status?"


    "It''s for the future of humanity," Song Que said.


    "You can''t even convince yourself of that reason, can you?" Ye Feng said with a bitter smile.


    Song Que did not respond.


    Ye Feng continued:


    "Do you know? A few days ago, I had drinks with Gu Luo and Lin Jue, as well as the One-eyed King. We asked Lin a question."


    "What question?"


    "I asked, ''Lin, you''ve been with so many girls, how come you''ve never thought about getting married? Ever thought about having kids?''"


    "What did Lin Jue say?" Song Que was indeed a very cooperative listener.


    "He said, ''Dare to have a damn kid, but what if he''s born talentless, a waste? To watch him go to the lower levels to work as a temp? Temp is just a polite term. To put it bluntly, isn''t that just a mine slave? Isn''t the meaning of living just to provide a sense of superiority for those above?''"


    "That''s a bit extreme," Song Que said.


    "Extreme? Then you definitely wouldn''t believe that Gu Luo, the One-eyed King, and I were all stunned because that''s what we were thinking too," said Ye Feng, his tone becoming grave.


    "Song Que, no matter how hard we try... those people don''t have a future, do they?"

 Chapter 29 The Guest and the Host

    ```


    The crimson wasteland.


    Qing JiuYu was herding sheep.


    There''s a torture in this world known as seeing but not being able to eat.


    Ever since her previous visit to see Tang Xian, only to find his wooden house in the sea of trees destroyed, Qing JiuYu had been longing for Tang Xian''s appearance.


    After learning about the delicious cooking methods for the meat of these mountain-managing beasts, she didn''t want to just chew hastily with her fox-fire, feeling it wasted the meat.


    Luckily, the two had a strong connection.


    After learning from Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang that Tang Xian had been by, Qing JiuYu was certain that Tang Xian would come again.


    And indeed, Tang Xian came.


    When he arrived, Qing JiuYu frowned, showing a slight look of disgust.


    Because there were three auras.


    Two of which made her uncomfortable.


    As an orange-tier creature, there are few on this continent who could match Qing JiuYu in a fight, and she faced every creature with ease.


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    That ease came from confidence.


    But seeing the dragon and the qilin appear, even though the qilin was on its last breath, she still felt averse to them.


    The dragon quickly turned into a handsome man, but Qing JiuYu didn''t even give him a proper look.


    She knew this was an arrogant race. Perhaps Tang Xian was an exception, but when she saw Tang Ao''s eyes, Qing JiuYu could feel that sense of superiority inherent in his divine beast bloodline.


    "You''re here and you''ve brought two stinky men with you?" Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian.


    "I''m pretty stinky too, not having had a bath for several days," Tang Xian said truthfully, showing no concern for his own image.


    After all, Qing JiuYu''s fondness for him had already reached the point of heart-fluttering, which he felt somewhat uncomfortable with.


    Bringing those feelings down to just happy to see each other wouldn''t be too bad.


    Qing JiuYu glared at Tang Xian.


    "Hmph, a stinky fox, daring to call me stinky? My whole body exudes the fragrance of a dragon," Tang Feiji spoke, who was after all a single dragon for hundreds of years.


    "The stench of a single Dragon Clan member, oh how it has ruined my nose," Qing JiuYu had no respect for this dragon and turned to Tang Xian, saying,


    "You''re here to bring me trouble, aren''t you? The one lying half-dead on the ground, is that Shiling?"


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Yes, thank you for taking care of my two pets. So, as thanks, I plan on treating you to some meat."


    "What meat?" Qing JiuYu''s interest was piqued.


    Pointing at the Shiling Beast lying on the ground, Tang Xian said,


    "In the Primordial Era, qilin meat was eaten too. According to records in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the first person to eat qilin meat was named Cai Jing. He wasn''t a high official or a lofty royal, he could eat qilin meat only because he knew an immortal.


    The immortal borrowed Cai Jing''s house to entertain his sister, and thus served the secret recipe qilin meat. As for the taste of the qilin meat, Cai Jing couldn''t really tell; he only noted it was made into jerky, so it smelled of jerky." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian paused, then said,


    "But since ancient people didn''t have so many seasonings, being able to taste the meat flavor means the meat quality was indeed not bad."


    Tang Feiji snorted coldly, "Hear that, despicable Shiling, you are nothing but food to be eaten by humans."


    Tang Xian shook his head, looking at Tang Ao who didn''t have a clue, and said,


    "There are records of people eating dragon meat too, named Kong Jia, an emperor of the Xia Dynasty. He reigned for only nine years, but during those nine years, his power was unmatched. However, Kong Jia was not foolish, since no records mentioned any special effects from eating dragon meat, he wouldn''t take the risk himself.


    According to him, he wished the two little dragons would grow up safely, have a wedding ceremony, and then give birth to eight or ten little dragons.


    Unfortunately, this beautiful wish was ruined due to a mistake by Liu Lei, the zookeeper of the Imperial Royal Zoo. Because of his blunder, one of the little dragons inexplicably lost its life."


    The expression on Tang Feiji''s face darkened instantly, showing a face that screamed ''don''t you care about my dignity?''


    "In order to eradicate the evidence, Liu Lei came up with a brilliant solution, which was to turn the dragon into dragon soup and serve it to Kong Jia. But sadly, Kong Jia only noted the dragon meat tasted extremely fresh, not realizing it was filled with dragon meat in his bowl.


    It''s unclear if this bowl of dragon meat had any side effects, but after all, Kong Jia fell ill and passed away after a few years."


    Tang Xian patted the face showing gloom, sorrow, and anger of Tang Feiji, saying,


    "This means, actually, your meat is more delicious than its meat, but we are good friends, right? How could I possibly eat you?"


    Qing JiuYu burst out laughing, finding the anecdote tremendously satisfying, seeing the dragon look so indignant, she felt relieved.


    Tang Xian suddenly wondered if all the calamity-level boss creatures in this world disliked each other. Qing JiuYu didn''t seem very fond of Tang Feiji or Shiling.


    Compared to them, Bai Mansheng''s reaction was very calm.


    As Tang Xian watched Qing JiuYu mock Tang Feiji, he continued,


    "Actually, fox meat can be eaten too. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, eating your meat can make one immune to all poisons and ward off evil. In fact, your meat should be more suitable to eat."


    Now it was Tang Feiji''s turn to be smug, waiting to see Qing JiuYu''s humiliated expression.


    But Qing JiuYu, with eyes like silk, said,


    "Then why don''t you eat me? I''ve been waiting for you."


    Tang Xian frowned and said,


    "You don''t look very tasty."


    Qing JiuYu''s expression also darkened as she said,


    "You''re really impartial and treat everyone equally, don''t you?"


    "I think so too," Tang Xian said, not sensing anything amiss.


    According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, fox meat is the most nutritious, and dragon meat the most delicious.


    ```

 Chapter 29 The Guest and the Host_2

    ```


    But the author of the Classic of Mountains and Seas was just blathering after all, if he had ever tasted fox meat, he would know that it''s fiery if you eat too much, even more so than dog meat.


    Qing JiuYu was still Qing JiuYu, even her anger was tinged with annoyance.


    "I must remind you that Shiling comes from the Beast Court, a place I''m not familiar with, but amongst the myriad beasts, no one dares to provoke the court."


    "Just like Kong Jia eating dragons, once it''s in the belly, who knows where it has gone? We all eat its meat, you don''t tell, I don''t tell, and it won''t be able to tell, how would the court know?" Tang Xian thought to himself that he was being quite righteous.


    Heading over to deliver meat personally, Bai Mansheng on the other side certainly didn''t have this treatment.


    Naturally, he had to give Qing JiuYu a heads-up, so she wouldn''t go off to show off to Bai Mansheng.


    After pondering for a while, Qing JiuYu said:


    "I can pretend I don''t know about this, but I can''t get involved in it."


    Tang Xian said:


    "Is the Beast Court that strong?"


    "Very strong. I only know that there definitely are beings within it that are more powerful than me. And the court''s control over this world is far beyond what you can imagine."


    Qing JiuYu still didn''t want Tang Xian to do something reckless.


    Tang Xian became serious and said, "Then it must be delicious. Otherwise, wouldn''t I be at a loss?"


    Qing JiuYu was taken aback, failing to follow Tang Xian''s train of thought.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Are you going to eat it or not?"


    "I won''t."


    "It''s tastier than a mountain-taming beast, and this time I will use the best seasoning. If you don''t eat it, I''m leaving."


    Tang Xian grabbed Tang Bingxiang by the back of the neck, and Tang Gazi was squatting on Tang Xian''s shoulder. After saying that, he was ready to walk out.


    Tang Feiji didn''t care about the danger of eating the Shiling, in its eyes, it was the number one in the world after the death of the Sea God.


    Upon hearing it was tastier than mountain-taming beast, Qing JiuYu felt a sense of craving and called out to Tang Xian, "Wait! Are you sure it won''t be discovered?"


    "Once it''s in the stomach, how can it be discovered?" Tang Xian smiled as he looked at Qing JiuYu.


    "I feel like you just want to drag me down with you."


    "Just say if you''ll eat it or not?"


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu half-smiling.


    After thinking it over for a while, Qing JiuYu nodded and said:


    "Then I¡­ will just have a little bit. When do we start cooking?"


    Now that she had decided to eat, Qing JiuYu was no longer reserved, immediately urging him on.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Good things should be shared with everyone. How about I take you for a stroll in the Human World?"


    "Why did you suddenly change your mind?" Qing JiuYu remembered that Tang Xian had opposed her going to the Human World last time.


    "Don''t ask so many questions, Xiaojiu really misses you."


    "Okay, I miss Xiao Ni too. By the way, did you call Bai Mansheng?"


    "No, don''t worry."


    "That''s no fun, I was looking forward to Miss Bai watching me being eaten by her man."


    Tang Xian ignored Qing JiuYu''s teasing and said:


    "If you go off bragging again, I won''t come looking for you in the future."


    "Tsk, Tang, you really are protective of Miss Bai."


    Tang Xian frowned:


    "You might as well stop calling yourself Qing JiuYu and just change your name to Tang Pinru."


    ...


    ...


    Baichuan City.


    When Tang Xian returned to Baichuan City, it was already the evening.


    Quite a few rats and cockroaches had started to wake up.


    Lights were shining from the top of the residential buildings.


    The Shiling Beast that had recently died was encased in ice blocks at Tang Feiji''s direction, just as Tang Xian had requested.


    It was to keep it fresh. The giant Shiling Beast was already blocking the street.


    Tang Xian was actually quite comforted by the sight of the Shiling''s iced corpse; not even rats could bite through the ice, and the meat wouldn''t rot.


    The commotion was considerable when Tang Feiji put it down.


    In the residential buildings, several people who were patiently waiting for Tang Xian to return and mess with the dinner started to stick their heads out.


    Then Tang Xiaojiu jumped down from the ninth story.


    Of course, Tang Xian knew that Tang Xiaojiu wouldn''t be hurt, but he still instinctively caught her a little.


    Immediately after, a notification of resistance +1 popped up in his head.


    At the same time, he suffered a certain percentage of life damage.


    Tang Xian was calm; after all, he was but a frail human being.


    It was normal for a falling little fox to inflict effective damage upon him.


    But he still said:


    "Tang Xiaojiu, you''re already so heavy at the age of six, are you aiming to become a tank in the future?"


    Tang Xiaojiu ran towards Qing JiuYu.


    After being scooped up by Qing JiuYu, she said in confusion:


    "I''m a little fox, Tang Xian, not a tank."


    Tang Xian didn''t bother to argue. Kids are cute when they''re chubby and plump anyway.


    The real trouble began after that.


    No woman could help feeling inferior when faced with Qing JiuYu.


    Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    This was the ultimate template of female charm, the peak of beauty.


    Seeing Tang Xiaojiu''s joyful expression, Li Xiaoyu knew who this woman was.


    Her expression was more serious than ever as if she had met the challenge of a lifetime. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In Li Xiaoyu''s view, this woman in palace attire, enchanting and stunning, was a bigger threat than Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu, Qiao Shanshan, Dong Ran, and all the others combined.


    The thought of Bai Mansheng, another woman of equal beauty, made Li Xiaoyu feel as if her journey was long.


    But she didn''t lose heart.


    "You''re back, huh?" Li Xiaoyu said gently, like a wife waiting at home for her husband after work.


    Dong Ran was shocked.


    Qiao Shanshan was shocked.


    Akasi was shocked too.


    This Miss Second, who usually didn''t put herself on a high pedestal, had never spoken to Tang Xian with such gentleness before.


    Her tone had always been cool, bordering on indifferent, never this tender.


    ```

 Chapter 29 The Guest and the Host_3

    She was never this coy.


    So gentle that Dong Ran almost felt goosebumps rising.


    Qiao Shanshan vaguely understood something, and as Miss Li''s dog-headed military advisor, she nodded in approval.


    Miss Li was still perceptive, knowing that the battle had already begun!


    Tang Xian touched Li Xiaoyu''s forehead and said, "Running a fever? Throat burnt out? Why does your voice sound so affected when you talk?"


    Li Xiaoyu felt so annoyed, but she still had to maintain a smiling facade.


    She even planned to hook her arm through Tang Xian''s.


    But Tang Xian pushed her away.


    With a face that said ''don''t touch me,'' Tang Xian spoke:


    "I''ve just come back from the battlefield, and I''m all dirty. Everyone stay inside the house. Tonight, I''ll take you all for some divine beast meat."


    Li Xiaoyu took a deep breath and looked at Tang Xian with a grievance.


    Qiao Shanshan froze¡ªcould Tang Xian be gay? Were these even human words?


    Tang Xian reacted just as always.


    But Qing JiuYu saw through the ruse; naturally a fox in human form, if she really tried to be seductive, she could make any man''s backbone turn to jelly.


    With a not-so-innocent giggle, she teased:


    "Tang, you''re quite the charmer. Having me isn''t enough; you''re also keeping all these young ladies hidden away."


    Sparks.


    Akasi swore he saw fireworks.


    Right at the intersection of the two women''s gazes.


    Qiao Shanshan thought, ''Oh no, Miss Li hasn''t even gotten out of the newbie village and she''s already facing the big boss. How can she withstand this?''


    The air suddenly filled with a hint of sourness.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu, puzzled, and said:


    "Have you lost your mind too? Xiaojiu calls you ''aunt'' and me ''brother,'' who''s your ''lord''? Am I that old?"


    Tang Xian''s tone was just short of adding the words ''stupid woman.''


    Qiao Shanshan wiped a cold sweat, relieved that the situation hadn''t tipped in the other''s favor.


    Yet she looked at Akasi and felt increasingly that there was something off about these two men.


    If it were any other man than Tang Xian, who apparently had to be blind, being sweetly called ''lord'' by Qing JiuYu in such a coquettish manner, surely they wouldn''t be able to resist? Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    But obviously, she hadn''t grasped Qing JiuYu''s intention.


    Qing JiuYu had long recognized that Tang Xian was a man who was as straightforward as they come.


    She never thought she could charm Tang Xian; she was merely trying to irk the young lady.


    Li Xiaoyu put away her aggrieved look, stopped gazing at Tang Xian, and gave Qing JiuYu a cold stare instead.


    Seeing Akasi and others constantly looking back as they walked away, Tang Xian also turned around and saw Li Xiaoyu and Qing JiuYu still standing there.


    At first, he didn''t understand what the two were doing. After a moment of thought, he figured it out.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    How had he missed this complication?


    After some thought, Tang Xian said:


    "Li Xiaoyu, what are you standing around for? Come and assist me." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu uttered an ''Oh'' and followed behind Tang Xian.


    "Brother Tang Xian, I''ll help too!"


    The more work one does, the more one can eat, and Tang Xiaojiu was eyeing that big chunk of Zero meat in the ice.


    Qing JiuYu also said, "Little brother Tang Xian, I want to help too."


    Li Xiaoyu was on the verge of exploding; her brows furrowed and fury welled up, ready to erupt.


    But Tang Xian''s hand gently patted Li Xiaoyu''s shoulder:


    "You''re a guest, and guests should stay in the living room. In ancient times, it was considered impolite for guests to enter the kitchen."


    Qing JiuYu did not speak, but wore a bitter smile, looking at Tang Xian with a wistful gaze.


    All of a sudden, Li Xiaoyu didn''t feel angry anymore. Her face blushed as she understood his words¡ªshe was someone who could enter the kitchen; she should show generosity towards her guests.

 Chapter 30 Li Xiaoyu and Qing JiuYu

    When Tang Xian stepped into the house, he thought to himself that he indeed came to the right place.


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan had taken quite a few components from the Pyramid.


    For instance, power lamps and power boilers.


    These devices all operated on Soul Crystals; they could be used directly and temporarily resolved an urgent need.


    The room with the lights was naturally much brighter than candlelight.


    Qing JiuYu looked at the various tools of humanity with great curiosity.


    During the day, a few girls had tidied up the house, including all the habitable rooms on the ninth floor.


    Tang Suoye''s abilities were much weakened in the real world, but her blue pupils allowed her to achieve a synchronization rate of over forty-five percent. Controling the small particles around her with telekinesis was a very easy task for her.


    With Tang Suoye''s help, an efficient Akasi naturally wouldn''t be idle.


    A large amount of the floor needed cleaning, and Akasi took on the role of a cleaner.


    The kind of highly efficient janitor who could scrub the corridors back and forth several times in a second.


    Li Xiaoyu was still in charge of design.


    But nobody dissented; arranging furniture is a profound art. Even in ancient times, excluding geomancy, people would consult with interior artists on how to place furniture.


    Li Xiaoyu had a great talent in this area.


    She had actually tried to do some of the physical work, but Dong Ran stopped her.


    In any case, including Tang Xiaojiu, within a day or two, this residential building, abandoned for hundreds of years, finally became tidy.


    Although only one floor was habitable.


    The bedsheets and covers were all articles that Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran had brought with them.


    The various kitchen utensils were the same.


    Tang Xian was very satisfied with such preparations.


    After Tang Feiji ripped apart the Shiling Beast and divided the meat into many portions, Tang Xian took one of them and was cutting meat in the kitchen.


    Li Xiaoyu was in the kitchen, helping Tang Xian while asking questions:


    "Didn''t you go to the battlefield? Did you win?"


    "I won, but humanity lost. Humanity retreated from the Yuepela Plains. They should be grateful for having a leader like Song Que." Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Oh, I''m starting to find Song Que rather agreeable too."


    "Regretting now? If you are, it''s actually not too late. I could still send you back." Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Li Xiaoyu glared at Tang Xian.


    "I won''t regret it. Song Que is very outstanding, but he doesn''t compare to you."


    Tang Xian paused while cutting the meat:


    "Without certain things, I might not be better than him. If you had met him back then, you would still have lost that game of chess."


    "But there is no ''if.'' Even if there was, I wouldn''t like Song Que."


    "Why not? Because he''s an honest man?" Tang Xian teased with a laugh.


    The sound of chopping meat resumed.


    Li Xiaoyu spoke seriously:


    "Song Que is a person who lives in his ideals; he''s too straightforward and can''t accept the dark side of this world. Such a person, even if smart, is just simple-minded. I like someone who is unpredictable. I don''t understand him nearly as well as you do, but I trust my intuition."


    Tang Xian was slightly surprised and didn''t refute.


    But inwardly, he still defended Song Que, thinking that it was precisely because everyone thought he was simple that he could become the Masked Freak, with the most complex split personality. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, these matters were Song Que''s secrets, and Tang Xian did not mention them.


    The kitchen fell into silence for a moment.


    All one could hear was Tang Xian chopping meat.


    "I''m going to look around the outskirts tomorrow." Li Xiaoyu tried to find a new topic.


    "I''ve been there. The outskirts are mostly overgrown plants and some slightly mutated animals." Tang Xian stopped chopping as the sound of sizzling oil came from the pot.


    Li Xiaoyu instinctively moved a bit further away and said:


    "I think differently from you. I''ve actually been there today, and I want to look inside those vehicles; maybe there will be something."


    Tang Xian did not object and nodded, saying, "Take Akasi or Xiaojiu with you. Or Qing JiuYu would be fine too."


    "Why would I take her?" Li Xiaoyu suddenly became spirited again; there were no others around now, and she didn''t want to pretend to be gentle.


    "They can protect you."


    "Would you fall for Qing JiuYu?"


    "No."


    "Really?"


    "Actually, I like Akasi."


    Tang Xian said seriously, with a hint of fear in his eyes, as if a forbidden black box was finally being opened in front of someone other than himself.


    "I love his silver hair, his muscular chest."


    Li Xiaoyu''s face instantly shifted through several expressions.


    This typically stoic person was making an extremely exaggerated, worldview-shattering face.


    Tang Xian, watching Li Xiaoyu''s weird expression, couldn''t help but start laughing, holding his stomach.


    "Hahahaha... Just kidding, you didn''t believe that, did you?"


    It was hard to imagine that such lame teasing could stun Li Xiaoyu.


    "You jerk! I''ll bite you to death!" Li Xiaoyu stomped her feet in anger.


    Tang Xian waved his hand to stop laughing, the meat was already in the pot, and he was stirring with a spatula.


    "So who do you like?" Li Xiaoyu reopened the topic.


    "Why are all the questions you''re asking today so strange?"


    "It''s not strange; since I like you, I want to know who you like."


    Tang Xian paused, stunned by the unexpected confession.


    Some issues, even for an apocalyptic-level creature, are just too tangled to deal with.


    That''s why he had never thought about how to handle it. When he saved Li Xiaoyu in the lower levels, he could pretend not to have heard certain things.

 Chapter 30 Li Xiaoyu and Qing JiuYu_2

    But this issue ultimately can''t be avoided.


    There was a faint sound of conversation in the living room, but it wasn''t clear. It seemed lively.


    Tang Xian said, "Why don''t you hang out in the living room for a while?"


    "I don''t want to, I''m learning to cook."


    Li Xiaoyu felt that this wasn''t a suitable place, in a slightly dim kitchen.


    The meat sizzled in oil, emitting a certain aroma, and the man silently sprinkled seasoning, as if he didn''t want to say anything. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Choosing this moment for a confession, whether a hint or an explicit one, seemed inappropriate.


    Should she find a brighter and more spacious place, pick a more leisurely time? Li Xiaoyu suddenly became nervous.


    Tang Xian still didn''t speak.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t urge him either, seemingly more patient than Tang Xian.


    After a few minutes, the aroma of the food grew stronger, and Tang XiaoJiu knocked on the kitchen door, saying,


    "Brother Tang Xian, is the duck ready yet?" After speaking, a sound of swallowing saliva followed.


    Then there was another knock on the door. But no words, just the sound of swallowing saliva.


    Tang Xian didn''t need to guess to know it was Tang SuoYe.


    Two gluttons were already urging him.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I like girls who can cook, and I won''t compromise on that, so you''d better practice well in the kitchen."


    Li Xiaoyu felt a bit disappointed with that answer.


    It felt like Tang Xian was dodging the question.


    But she quickly thought it over, this kitchen allowed only her to enter, didn''t that mean no one else had a chance?


    She giggled foolishly twice.


    ...


    ...


    The dishes were served on the table.


    Braised Qilin meat, stir-fried Qilin meat, steamed Qilin meat, boiled Qilin meat, charcoal-grilled Qilin meat.


    Those were probably the dishes.


    As everyone gathered around the dinner table, Dong Ran felt this scene resembled an illustration she had seen in a history textbook when she was fourteen.


    Ancient people used to gather in houses of this style, dining in the dining room.


    Back then, the dining table was filled with many things she had never eaten, but just looking at the pictures made her hungry.


    Not like in the Golden Pyramid, where it was mainly various fruits, but the staple food was still a nutritional meal.


    "Let''s take a photo!" Dong Ran suddenly said.


    "Why?"


    "It feels like we''re all like a family, and although there will be many more opportunities in the future, this is the first time, eh? It must be meaningful, right?"


    Tang Xian agreed, rare for Dong Ran to make a suggestion that wasn''t 1.2 Dong off the mark.


    So before dinner started, Qiao Shanshan took a photo with her camera.


    In this photo, every person was included.


    Among them were once temp workers from the lower strata, beasts from the mines, doctors and servants, and refugees who had experienced unspeakably brutal experimental childhoods.


    Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang were also in the picture.


    After the photo popped out, Dong Ran handed it to Tang Xian.


    While looking at the photo, Tang Xian smiled.


    He often smiled, but it was always enigmatic, or just teasing. Such a pure smile was actually quite rare.


    So the smile quickly faded away.


    Tang Xian passed the photo to others.


    Qing JiuYu was seeing this technology for the first time and found it miraculous.


    The photo didn''t delay the meal.


    Qilin meat quickly filled most people''s mouths.


    The gossip-lover Qiao Shanshan was engrossed in eating too, and Dong Ran didn''t speak.


    Tang SuoYe and Tang XiaoJiu were engaged in their peak duel.


    Tang Feiji was also enjoying his food immensely. But now back in the Human World, what he missed was the treasure within the cube.


    Tang Xian''s cooking skills were excellent.


    Li Xiaoyu ate the delicious food, replaying Tang Xian''s movements in the kitchen in her mind.


    She told herself that her memory was definitely perfect for reproducing them, and tomorrow she could astound Tang Xian and everyone else!


    After dinner, Akasi''s and Tang Xian''s gluttons naturally went to do the dishes.


    At this point, Akasi brought up another troublesome issue of the day.


    This residential building had only four apartments on each floor.


    Tang Xian''s group had nine people in total. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the four apartments were the same size, their layouts varied, and in short, there were only six beds.


    How to sleep nine people on six beds became another troublesome issue for the night.


    Li Xiaoyu came up with a solution:


    "Akasi and Tang Suoye will share a bed. Dong Ran gets one to herself. Qiao Shanshan gets one as well. Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu will share, Tang Ao gets his own, and I''ll share with Tang Xian."


    However, as soon as these words were spoken, the blue-eyed witch instantly turned into a blushing witch.


    Akasi wryly said, "That won''t do. Ye should sleep alone."


    Tang Suoye''s face turned bright red.


    But Qiao Shanshan looked at Li Xiaoyu, who wasn''t blushing at all.


    She thought to herself that her own skills as a strategist were useless, and the second young lady was still holding strong; today''s offensive was too fierce.


    Even for a titanium alloy straight man, with such obvious signaling, he should have capitulated, right?


    "But I also want to share a bed with Tang Xian, you know. How about Tang Xiaojiu and you, little Yu, squeeze in together? My little Xiaojiu likes you quite a lot," Qing JiuYu said.


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t mind at all; sharing with Yu or Tang Xian, or even Qing, or sleeping with the big-chested sister and Qiao were all fine by her.


    Qing JiuYu was not afraid to stir up jealousy.


    Li Xiaoyu instantly puffed up like an angry cat.


    Tang Xian frowned, wondering if this could be the first smokeless war of the New World civilization?


    He waved his hand and quickly came up with a new idea:


    "Me, Akasi, and Tang Feiji, the three of us together..."


    The women were shocked!


    Qiao Shanshan hadn''t expected Tang Xian to be like this!


    The three of them together? The image was too beautiful for Qiao Shanshan to even imagine.


    Seeing the expressions on everyone''s faces, Tang Xian explained:


    "The three of us together, taking turns keeping watch. Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu, you share. The other girls get their own beds. I''ll start first, and after three hours of watch, I''ll go to sleep, and then Tang Feiji takes over watch. After another three hours, Akasi will switch in."


    Tsk~


    So that was it.


    Women are such, hearing shocking news they first disbelieve, and once the truth emerges, they find it too bland.


    Qiao Shanshan thought that Tang Xian must have been blind, passing up on girls like Qing JiuYu and little Yu, choosing Tang Ao and Akasi instead?


    Her first instinct was to call him perverted.


    But upon hearing it was just the three men taking turns to keep watch, the doctor felt the plot was not thrilling enough.


    After considering distribution and safety, Tang Xian''s suggestion passed unanimously.


    Later that night, Tang Xian stood in the corridor, gazing at the night sky through the window at the end of the hallway.


    It was only after everyone arrived in this world that he truly settled down.


    The moon was full tonight.


    Tang Xian took out the photograph that was not long taken, looking at each person in it by the bright moonlight.


    He smiled faintly again.


    Being with these people, there would probably be many more days like today, filled with various mundane issues. Thinking about this, his smile brightened a bit more.


    But soon, he felt as though the photo was ultimately missing something.


    What was it missing?


    As he pondered this question, his smile gradually faded.


    After a long while, Tang Xian''s expression carried a trace of sadness.


    The first people who were kind to him in this world were his own parents.


    But where had those two gone?


    Sometimes Tang Xian also wondered, what exactly was he?


    This question became more frequent in his thoughts.


    Because he was somewhat afraid, he wasn''t even sure if he could be considered a living being.


    He felt as though he might be some kind of machine.


    The various data in his sea of consciousness were as precise as if there were a machine inside his head.


    He believed in the power of Eden, this magical and potent force.


    But whether it was the Lord of Eden or the Eden Demons, was their power of Eden really the same as his?


    Shouldn''t talents be something that orderers have?


    Just like the variety of talent data shown in human eyes, they were like some kind of living detectors.


    While thinking like this, Tang Xian felt restless.


    "You used to help me answer questions all the time, but where have you gone?"


    Originally, Tang Xian had thought his parents disappeared in the mining area, that after seven days, they were as good as dead.


    But perhaps the truth was not so?


    Maybe they, like him, discovered this world?


    Apparently, his parents knew far more than he had ever imagined.


    Unable to figure out these questions, Tang Xian simply stopped thinking about them.


    "I hope tomorrow''s exploration brings new discoveries."


    (I couldn''t finish by twelve... but I managed to rush this out. There should still be two more updates during the day. This one, although after twelve, counts as yesterday''s second update. Got held up by something.)

 Chapter 31 A Coffee Shop Suitable for Storytelling

    Three hours quickly passed, and Tang Xian woke up Tang Feiji before he himself fell into a deep sleep.


    When he awoke the next day, the weather was gloomy. But Tang Xian looked at the sky and confirmed that it was just overcast without any sign of rain.


    It turned out to be a suitable day for exploring outside.


    So Dong Ran, Li Xiaoyu, Qiao Shanshan, and Akasi formed one team. They were responsible for searching the outskirts to see if they could find any valuable information.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Xian teamed up together, planning to search around the city center to see if they could find other usable items or discover valuable information.


    Li Xiaoyu was very dissatisfied with this arrangement, but Tang Xian had the demeanor of a family head, and the matter was decided by him.


    As for Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu, and Tang Feiji, the three of them were considered the children''s group.


    Because they all chose to go play in the toy department store across the street.


    Tang Feiji was particularly fixated on the pile of Rubik''s cubes there waiting for him to solve.


    Having two foolish kids around was not a hindrance. As long as Tang Xian and the cunning humans didn''t follow, he could keep the treasure all to himself!


    ...


    ...


    On the outskirts of the East District.


    With Akasi''s assistance, the girls didn''t feel insecure.


    The sight on the outskirts shocked them, just as Tang Xian mentioned at dinner, it was as if there was a wall of plants surrounding the city.


    These wildly growing camphor trees had encircled the city.


    Tang Xian''s description was like a fence. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But when Li Xiaoyu saw this scene, she had a different feeling.


    Whether it was a fence or a wall, the most important thing was the reason why these overgrown plants suddenly stopped growing. Was it simply to pen in humans, or was there another reason?


    The many vehicles parked along the edge of the plant wall didn''t look like they had been hastily abandoned there.


    Relative to the exit of the eastern suburbs, these vehicles were mostly lying perpendicular.


    Women''s thinking is more emotional than men''s.


    Even though Li Xiaoyu did not exhibit such characteristics.


    But Dong Ran once again came up with a statement that exceeded her own value of 1.2 winters:


    "Second Miss, are these plants protecting us?"


    Li Xiaoyu was startled.


    Qiao Shanshan also nodded, adding, "These vehicles too, it looks like they were trying to block off some area."


    Following the two''s line of thought, Li Xiaoyu considered and found the idea quite possible.


    If these camphor trees had continued to grow inward, they would likely have covered the entire city in a complex, tangled network.


    But they only grew along the edges. After gradually becoming dense like a defensive barrier, they stopped growing.


    "Let''s go check the vehicles, maybe there will be some clues."


    Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan nodded in agreement.


    After hearing Dong Ran''s words, Li Xiaoyu became increasingly convinced there must be some clues to be found here.


    Akasi was responsible for patrolling nearby.


    There was nothing in this world that made him feel threatened, but staying alert had become his habit.


    ...


    ...


    In the city center.


    On the way to the city center, Tang Xian found that there were practically no vehicles, as if all the vehicles had stopped at the edges of the city.


    The roads seemed empty. Occasional rats could be seen next to trash bins.


    But they were also gathered around the bodies of some animals.


    As for garbage, after several hundred years, there was nothing left in this trash that was of interest to the "Gold Seekers."


    Qing JiuYu was very interested in the distribution and style of buildings on these streets, looking at the world of humans.


    "Humans do know how to enjoy themselves."


    "Yes. The species best at indulging and courting death is us humans."


    "Courting death?"


    "It''s recklessly probing the edge of death."


    "Do you do that too?"


    "Meeting you and Bai Mansheng, as well as most of my experiences in the mining area, were experiences of courting death."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t respond, thoughtfully parsing the meaning behind the words.


    It was at that moment that Tang Xian found a coffee shop. The calligraphy on the coffee shop''s sign was no longer legible.


    But judging by the shape of the neon lights, it was probably called Fresh Sense Caf¨¦.


    Tang Xian then went in to take a look, thinking of taking along a cleaned-up grinder for reuse if possible.


    In the Pyramid, coffee and tea were extremely expensive commodities. Even seeking Shang Lu, it was difficult to get cocoa powder.


    Because the Hua Science Academy was the only place growing plants, it also bore the responsibility for selling the fruit and various plant yields for the whole federation each year.


    A pound of cocoa powder, on the fourth tier, could buy several temporary workers.


    But the art of coffee grinding had been lost, and the taste of coffee never achieved the silky smoothness described in ancient books.


    Moving closer to the caf¨¦ to scan around, Tang Xian surprisingly found a wish wall.


    It was something left behind by the customers.


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    However, the wishes and blessings written on the wish slips were no longer legible.


    Still, everything inside made Tang Xian feel curious.


    The lifestyle of ancient people might have had its contradictions and oppositions.


    But it certainly wasn''t as clearly stratified as in the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian soon found the machine. Luo gave him two hundred billion weibos worth of information, much of which Tang Xian couldn''t remember.


    Even if he spent decades reading, he couldn''t possibly finish two hundred billion reads.


    So Tang Xian just checked instinctively, searching according to some professional keywords.


    Such as cooking, catering, fashion, architecture, photography, creation, and so on.


    He also searched by popularity.


    But the information found by searching by popularity was mostly trash.

 Chapter 31 A Coffee Shop Suitable for Storytelling_2

    For instance, some celebrity cheated, committed domestic violence, used drugs, caught a cold, and had a public spat.


    All sorts of things like that.


    The more useful the information, the lower the search temperature; the more boring the information, the higher the search temperature.


    This also gave Tang Xian a rough understanding of that era, an era where one could live to be satiated by entertainment.


    In other words, a very happy era.


    Of course, happiness is relative. Perhaps people from that era also suffered immensely due to the 996 work culture and poverty.


    But for those at the Pyramid, everything appeared so beautiful.


    Because there was always hope in life.


    After finding the machine, Tang Xian didn''t stop searching, he rummaged through the place, hoping to find other clues.


    Qing JiuYu spoke up at this moment:


    "How long do you plan to play with these humans?"


    Tang Xian didn''t stop what he was doing and just asked:


    "Play until when?"


    "They are humans, aren''t you a Taotie? I believe these people at best are your servants, or spoils of war. They all listen to you, too."


    Qing JiuYu chuckled and said:


    "I''ve also kept a few humans before, but later found it meaningless and let them fend for themselves. I don''t know if it''s my imagination, but you seem to care a lot about these people."


    Tang Xian knew that bringing Qing JiuYu into this world, or rather, as his acquaintance with Qing JiuYu grew deeper, many things inevitably had to be made clear.


    Tang Xian didn''t plan to hide anything and said:


    "I indeed care about these people."


    "Why? Because they have nice skins? You seem too biased towards that human called Li Xiaoyu. Of course, it''s not just her, the others too."


    Qing JiuYu''s tone was always suggestive, but the question in his voice was clearly evident.


    It was merely a question, without a hint of jealousy, purely coming from the enmity between species.


    Tang Xian found an album in the cabinet, which delighted him.


    Because if an album is well-preserved, it can last a long time.


    "Xiao Ni also likes these humans very much, you might as well ask her your question, I think she will definitely give you an answer."


    Tang Xian opened the album.


    Qing JiuYu said:


    "Her liking humans is understandable, but you liking them, I can''t understand, clearly you''re not human."


    "This question is troublesome, and explaining it is somewhat arduous, but I''m different from you, I don''t hold animosity towards humans, nor do I play with them. To answer why, it''s because I was actually raised by humans."


    The tone of Tang Xian was very calm. These words couldn''t have been said to Qing JiuYu earlier on; it was only proper now, and just let nature take its course.


    Qing JiuYu was stunned:


    "You were raised by humans?"


    "Whether I am a human remains to be verified, but I indeed grew up in an environment full of humans. When I lied to you saying that the human world was very dangerous, it was actually to protect humans."


    "You''re not lying now?"


    "There''s no need to lie anymore."


    "Why?"


    "Because we are friends, be it towards you or towards Bai Mansheng, I should be more honest. Friends shouldn''t make things difficult for each other."


    The three young people in the album appeared to be the joint owners of this coffee shop.


    Most of the photos were daily snapshots of the coffee shop and group shots with various customers.


    He flipped through further, and although he was surprised to find historical traces preserved by humans, unfortunately, the contents of this album couldn''t explain the Great Calamity.


    Qing JiuYu sneered:


    "That explains it, the impression you give does indeed seem very human. But just because you and I are friends, doesn''t mean your friends are my friends."


    "Even if Tang Xiaojiu had no friends since childhood and finally had people who cared and minded her, you still want to be hostile towards these people?"


    Tang Xian closed the album and placed it into his prop bag.


    Qing JiuYu scoffed and said:


    "The best thing this species knows how to do is to betray. But it''s all just feigned emotions and pretense."


    Tang Xian lifted his head and looked at Qing JiuYu.


    Qing JiuYu''s expression was still the same, showing no anger, but it was precisely because of this that Tang Xian felt somewhat at a loss. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It represented that she had etched certain views deep into her bones.


    "Xiaojiu''s background, you''ve never mentioned it before. We are friends, aren''t we?"


    "Of course, if it weren''t for the sake of your face, these people would have died long ago on the Tianque Plains. As for Xiao Ni''s background¡ª"


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    Qing JiuYu paused, gave a helpless smile, and said,


    "There''s nothing much to say about her background."


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Xiaojiu is half-human, right?"


    Qing JiuYu''s expression froze.


    "You noticed?"


    "Mm, actually, it''s just a guess. At first, I thought both her parents were creatures of the fox race, but for some reason, they were expelled by the fox race, which would explain her unpopularity."


    Tang Xian continued,


    "But later, I found out that Xiaojiu can sing human songs. Human memory is different from animal memory. Most humans don''t remember things from when they were in the womb, but animals are different."


    "Xiaojiu''s mother should be a creature of the fox race, and her father, a human?"


    "Yes," Qing JiuYu didn''t hide it from Tang Xian anymore.


    Tang Xian said, "Bai Mansheng doesn''t hate humans, so it seems that your hatred isn''t just about the opposition between humans and beasts, but it has something to do with Xiaojiu."


    Qing JiuYu retorted playfully, "Maybe I was just born heartless and cruel?"


    Tang Xian nodded,


    "Mm, that''s also a possibility. The enchanting femme fatale suits your persona. However, your affection for Tang Xiaojiu doesn''t support that theory. Why don''t you tell me about it?"


    "About what?"


    "A cafe is a place full of stories, and this one has been dead for hundreds of years. You might as well tell me about Xiaojiu''s background. I believe it''s a story that''s not very interesting, but one that has bothered you for a long time."


    "I''ve said it, there''s nothing much to say, it''s just that a human and a fox had a child, leaving a breed that the clan despise," Qing JiuYu''s tone was somewhat cold.


    Tang Xian stared intently at Qing JiuYu and said,


    "Xiaojiu would be very saddened to hear you say that. Don''t talk like that anymore."


    Qing JiuYu seemed surprised and laughed at herself,


    "I won''t let her know about her parents and her background. When her powers grow and she attains the true strength of a nine-tailed fox, the clan will eventually accept her return. Those unbearable pasts, that humiliating heritage, will all vanish like smoke."


    Tang Xian walked up to Qing JiuYu and frowned as he spoke,


    "There are two attitudes people have towards misfortune: one is to become decadent in sadness, and the other is to struggle against it optimistically. This applies to everyone, but do you know what causes this difference?"


    Qing JiuYu didn''t know why Tang Xian was suddenly talking about this.


    She shook her head.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Because of childhood. There are two types of people in this world: those who heal a lifetime with the fortune of their childhood, and those who spend their entire lives healing the misfortune of their childhood."


    "You''re my friend, and I don''t want to change your opinion. But don''t you try to change Xiaojiu''s view of the world. You should be glad she met Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, Tang Suoye¡ªpeople like them. It''s because of these interactions that when she looks back on the past, she won''t be engulfed by the despair of loneliness."


    Qing JiuYu found Tang Xian''s gaze somewhat frightening.


    Every time this man had seen her before, no matter how calm or articulate he was, he always carried a restrained aura.


    But when it came to Tang Xiaojiu and those humans, he seemed to become a different person.


    His eyes conveyed a warning.


    "Really, all this for a child? Do you have to be so fierce with me? I thought we had a good relationship,"


    Qing JiuYu''s smile always made any atmosphere instantly turn ambiguous.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Indeed, you are my friend, and if it weren''t so, I wouldn''t have brought you to this world. You also need to understand that Li Xiaoyu, Dong Ran¡ªthese people belong to this world. I hope that someday Tang Xiaojiu can also integrate into this world."


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian with a complex expression and said,


    "Your reaction today is different from what I imagined."


    "Don''t reject everyone with the same brush. There are plenty of scoundrels and villains among humans, our souls are execrably ugly, yet we also possess the kindness to heal others."


    Tang Xian said, "Talk to me, will you? I''m curious, before me, was there any other human who had such a close relationship with all these creatures?"

 Chapter 32 The Destiny of Tang Xiaojiu

    ```


    The lackadaisical sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows as if through a church.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind the dirt, casually wiping it away as he sat in the coffee shop that hadn''t had visitors for centuries, looking like a regular.


    Seeing Tang Xian looking this way, Qing JiuYu laughed and said,


    "Why have you gotten gossipy too? Are you really that eager to hear about the scandals of my fox tribe?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All the scandals in the world are but a person, in an unsuitable atmosphere, doing what their heart desires. Whether it is ridiculous or tragic, isn''t for the word ''scandal'' to decide," Tang Xian replied.


    "That''s an interesting perspective," Qing JiuYu mused.


    "A demon falls in love with a human because, in the views of both humans and demons, they inherently cannot love each other.


    This is the atmosphere. Each of us has our own mask, and most of the time, like chameleons, we become part of setting this atmosphere.


    But sometimes, for the things we yearn for, we follow our hearts and remove our masks. We live as oddities within the atmosphere."


    It was like many years ago, when he had that fool follow him around.


    Many saw it as scandalous, because that was the atmosphere at the time.


    Or like those higher-ups that Song Que killed, who appeared incorruptible and imperturbable in public, but privately engaged in all sorts of unsavory activities.


    The difference was that the latter was their true nature, while the former was because of the atmosphere.


    The foolish girl''s kind-hearted nature made the scandal seem tragic. Whereas the hypocrisy of the higher-ups made the scandal seem laughable.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu and said,


    "One day, your Xiao Ni will grow up, and she''ll start to question her origins and her past."


    Tang Xian''s expression softened considerably as he said lightly,


    "Qing JiuYu, some things are like flowing water; they pass over the heart, bringing a touch of cool sorrow, but this sorrow, like the water, will eventually fade away.


    But if you hide it away until it freezes into an icicle in the coldest part of your heart, when you eventually tell Tang Xiaojiu, it will pierce her heart into a bloody mess.


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    Tell me what you know. While she still absolutely trusts me, I''ll find the gentlest way to tell her the truth."


    Qing JiuYu was stunned; when she first met Tang Xian, she thought it might be dangerous for Xiaojiu to continue staying with the fox tribe.


    It was under these impossible circumstances that she met Tang Xian.


    It was also a rather strange thing, probably because she saw Tang Xian using Biphasic Orchid petals to hide the body of a dead fox, and she thought he was inherently kind.


    Of course, she didn''t know that all of that was just an act by Tang Xian. Yet this play ended up with her entrusting Tang Xiaojiu to Tang Xian.


    Qing JiuYu said with some gratitude,


    "You''ve been truly good to Xiao Ni."


    "I''m always good to my friends; it''s just a matter of when the timing is best to show it," he replied.


    Qing JiuYu nodded and smiled,


    "So you''re not a gluttonous monster after all."


    "Have you heard of the Eden demon-child?" Tang Xian asked.


    "No. But I do know there was once a civilization called the Eden Tribe, which seems like a very distant past," Qing JiuYu acknowledged.


    "I very well might be the Eden demon-child, but as far as I can remember, I''ve lived as a human. Until this summer, all of my life involved dealing with humans," Tang Xian revealed.


    Qing JiuYu froze, not expecting Tang Xian''s true identity to be from such an ancient race.


    Tang Xian paused before saying,


    "I understand better than you how twisted human nature can be, but I have also seen humans as pure and kind as Xiaojiu."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t argue; a sad look in her eyes, she finally said slowly,


    "Xiao Ni''s mother was once my trusted follower, a being who evolved into a nine-tailed existence, not born as one.


    Not long after she completed her evolution, the elders, through the court, gave her a name, Qing Jiuyun. Because of the similarity in names, I didn''t keep her as my subordinate anymore. Instead, we managed the fox tribe together like sisters.


    But Xiaoyun refused, choosing to remain the queen''s guard, claiming she didn''t understand how to manage a tribe and had no interest in such affairs.


    Nevertheless, I viewed her as my successor.


    Her nature was pure, and she spent her days patrolling the territory of our fox tribe without finding it dull.


    I taught her how to use crystals. With the power of crystals, she could also transform into a human form.


    She preferred this form more than I did; sometimes I even wonder why we foxes... have an aesthetic so close to humans.


    Xiaoyun''s vivacity and kindness won her the recognition of many tribe members.


    Everybody liked her, and sometimes I would teach her how to manage the fox tribe and handle tribal affairs, and the elders were happy to see it.


    I also planned for it; when I was gone, she would take charge of the fox tribe.


    At that time, we were still in the forests of the Tianque Plains.


    Everything was so perfect.


    Except that sometimes she was mischievous and would avoid dealing with tribal affairs. Perhaps Xiao Ni''s mischief came from her mother?


    One day, Xiaoyun told me that she wanted to see the outside world, and I didn''t stop her. She was already the most powerful creature on the continent, and our tribe was her support.


    The outside world posed no danger to her.


    Or rather, she was the danger in the eyes of all creatures.


    Going out to gain some experience would be beneficial to her, and we set a date for her return.


    ```

 Chapter 32 The Fate of Tang Xiaojiu_2

    She arrived as expected.


    During this time, she had wandered to the Northern Region and felt the tremendous and terrifying heartbeat beneath the Red Lotus Hell.


    She had also been to the Southern Territory to witness the many forms of life there that the Northern Region had never seen; she even left her footprints on the edge of the beaches of the Ashen Sea.


    "If it hadn''t been for that human, her life would have been fulfilled."


    Qing JiuYu''s expression was filled with resentment.


    Tang Xian had guessed what had happened. This was the turning point of the story.


    Qing JiuYu would never speak of any sweet aspects of that romance.


    Because the affair had reached its conclusion. No matter how tender and heart-rending the love between Qing Jiuyun and that human had been during the process, it was nothing but a handful of salt sprinkled on a rotting wound.


    "Xiaoyun took on the form of a human and traveled many places, and finally, she met a human. Na?vely, she thought they were of the same kind.


    The human was adept at deceit with sweet talk. They fell in love quickly.


    One could hardly imagine a human and a fox having a child together.


    In truth, during their time together, she came to know the identity of that human. She knew that they were from two different worlds.


    But she didn''t change her original intention; she still loved that human."


    Xiaoyun''s thinking was stupidly laughable. It was no big deal if she didn''t become a nine-tailed fox, she could just be human instead.


    Before Tang Xiaojiu was born, she had said this to me.


    She naively thought she could always pretend to be human. Oh, this silly girl... she didn''t know that during pregnancy, foxes simply couldn''t maintain a human appearance.


    After the joy, she showed her sharp teeth and claws; her beautiful figure became monstrous and terrifying in the eyes of her beloved.


    Xiaoyun, this idiot, thought humans were the kind of creatures that would reciprocate equally if one gave to them.


    But the man chose to flee in the end. Perhaps for the rest of his life, he felt disgusted by that event?


    Just as you said, they lived in two different atmospheres. Only, the one wearing the mask wasn''t Xiaoyun.


    Until the very end, the man never took off his mask.


    And so he left Xiaoyun to live alone, becoming a scandal of our fox clan.


    Inside her, she carried an impure life. She couldn''t lie nor had the ability to; under the elders'' questioning, she revealed her experience.


    The fox clan was outraged, she was the anomaly who lived contrary to the atmosphere.


    The elders consulted the tribunal, and the tribunal''s sages gave them the Heaven Star Grass.


    The elders said that by consuming this grass, the fetus inside her would die.


    As long as this impure life perished, Xiaoyun would no longer be a disgrace to our clan.


    But ever since the man fled in fear, Xiaoyun had transformed from a woman longing for love into a mother.


    No mother would abandon her own child.


    The elders wanted to enforce it forcibly, but Xiaoyun, risking a rift with the fox clan, insisted on saving the child.


    She begged me to ensure the child lived.


    I never thought my loyal guard of many years would be so foolish.


    She volunteered for exile, heading to the Ice Helmet Mountain Range of the Northern Region, never to return. This was one of our clan''s punishments all along; she only hoped her child could return to the fox clan someday.


    She had never asked anything of me before, and it was the first time I saw such an intense plea in the eyes of this silly sister.


    I thought to myself, enough was enough. Perhaps, my efforts couldn''t change the views of my own kind.


    But as long as Xiaoyun''s child grew up, once her offspring took over the clan, those humiliations would be forgotten by history.


    And her mother could then return from the Ice Helmet Mountain Range with her head held high.


    So, I agreed to Xiaoyun''s request and also convinced the elders to let Xiaoyun keep the child, on the condition that as punishment for the blasphemy against the fox clan, she would be exiled to the Ice Helmet Mountain Range.


    Although the elders were reluctant, they consented due to my insistence.


    In the months that followed, I stayed in the Ice Helmet Mountain Range, accompanying Xiaoyun.


    I only wished for more time.


    If only we had a little more time, any regretful past could be buried.


    But I miscalculated one thing.


    No matter how powerful a creature is, when it becomes a mother, it must go through a trial of death.


    Even though we are nine-tailed foxes, one of the most powerful creatures in the world, at the moment of childbirth, we become extremely vulnerable.


    The creator granted us powerful vitality and regenerative abilities, as if they were suddenly removed.


    Or perhaps, this process is what it means to pass on a legacy?


    On the day Xiao Ni was born, Xiaoyun''s life force was unprecedentedly weak, and it continued to wane.


    Her time had come.


    I''ve experienced the death of many clan members, but I never had to say goodbye to someone who gave life during the birth of a new one.


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    Xiao Ni was born.


    I thought I would despise this life, but when I saw how tiny she was, I seemed to understand the reason Xiaoyun and I had spent these few months together in this cold land.


    Xiaoyun, at death''s door, finally saw light in her eyes when she saw Xiao Ni.


    I''ll remember for the rest of my life what happened then.


    Xiaoyun probably knew she didn''t have long to live, and with her last breath, she transformed back into a human once again.


    She was still as beautiful, like a flower on the verge of wilting.


    Incredibly, Xiao Ni also transformed at that moment.

 Chapter 32 The Fate of Tang Xiaojiu_3

    The baby''s cry once made me think this was all a dreamlike illusion.


    But I clearly saw it, that child who should not even have formed a Soul Crystal yet, but she could transform into a human.


    She was so adorable, she would surely be as beautiful as her mother someday.


    I couldn''t understand what was happening.


    Perhaps she heard her mother''s heartfelt wishes? Because Xiaoyun tried to become human every day during her pregnancy.


    But she never succeeded.


    Until the last moment of her life, Xiaoyun finally transformed into the appearance she longed for.


    Xiao Ni kept on crying, her weeping unstoppable. It was as if she knew her mother was about to die.


    The words Xiaoyun spoke to me still often appear in my dreams.


    With her last breath, she said to me:


    ''Sister, if we and humans... are truly mortal enemies, then why would the gods grant us their appearance?


    Could it be that we are meant to protect them? You must think I''m foolish, right?


    But I truly... truly do not regret loving that man. I don''t blame him either.


    It''s just that in the future, I hope my daughter can change such a fate. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I hope she... can live in an era not despised by humans.''"


    Qing JiuYu''s eyes were clearly filled with intense hatred, yet they were blurred with tears.


    The story had come to an end.


    It was the first time Tang Xian saw this enchanting woman hide her coquettish smile completely, her face bearing an inconsolable sadness.


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian and said coldly:


    "My kin died without regret, but what about that human? When Xiaoyun died, he might have been whispering sweet nothings to another woman or boasting to humans about how he humiliated our fox race?"


    Qing JiuYu, who was always skilled at masking her emotions with seductiveness, couldn''t help but let her anger burst forth whenever she recalled this past event. She grabbed Tang Xian''s collar and demanded:


    "Because of humans, my kin will never like Tang Xiaojiu, and your humans have never stopped our world''s occupation. Tell me, how should I forgive humans?"


    Tang Xian pulled out a tissue and gently wiped away Qing JiuYu''s tears.


    His voice remained calm as he said:


    "I can''t change your mind, but Xiaoyun''s last wish before she died was probably for both races to coexist peacefully, right? It''s a difficult wish to fulfill.


    Such an atmosphere is also hard to change. She indeed was a very foolish woman.


    But Tang Xiaojiu was born with such an unrealistic desire. Offspring always carry their mother''s wishes.


    In the future, Tang Xiaojiu will become the leader of the fox race, and perhaps, I too might have considerable influence among humans. It might sound arrogant, but I think Tang Xiaojiu meeting me was a grand arrangement of fate? Maybe in the future... she could change such an atmosphere."


    Tang Xian spoke earnestly:


    "Although I may not necessarily be human, nor do I want to change your or the fox race''s view of humans¡ª


    As long as I live, I will ensure Tang Xiaojiu never experiences any betrayal."


    Qing JiuYu stared at Tang Xian, transfixed.


    "That doesn''t convince me."


    "I didn''t try to convince you, but why not stay in this world for a while, and try to believe that Dong Ran and the others are Tang Xiaojiu''s friends."


    Tang Xian stood up and walked towards the exit of the coffee shop. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    The sky turned even more overcast, and Tang Xian said:


    "Let''s go, to the next location to investigate."

 Chapter 33 The New Discovery in the Library

    Tang Xian planned to find the model worker Dong Ran later to help move the machinery of this shop. Or to simply tidy up this Fresh Sense Caf¨¦ altogether.


    Actually, there were many similar service places, such as Iceland and Starbucks right next door.


    But the words "fresh sense" made Tang Xian feel more comfortable.


    There were a lot of service industries in the downtown area.


    The amusement park was also in this area.


    Qing JiuYu followed Tang Xian, asking as they walked:


    "What do you plan to say to Xiao Ni when the time comes?"


    Tang Xian shook his head, "I haven''t thought it through yet, but I''ll try to be as truthful as possible."


    Guessing that Qing JiuYu might not understand, he added:


    "Actually, the same story can have a very different effect when told in different tones. To speak truthfully is to use the most neutral tone possible. It''s not just about the tone, but also not to add any subjective speculation."


    "Do you think I exaggerated?"


    "I believe that part of what Qing Jiuyun told you was distorted by your hatred for humanity. Xiaojiu''s father might have been a coward who didn''t dare to express his true feelings in an atmosphere where humans and beasts were irreconcilable, but whether he felt remorse, whether he later searched the world for Qing Jiuyun, you don''t know, right?"


    Qing JiuYu didn''t like this suggestion:


    "What do you mean? You''re making the aggressor sound like the victim?"


    Tang Xian walked toward the amusement park, which actually didn''t have much valuable intelligence.


    But he found this place novel and thought that in this group where girls were more prevalent, it could be prioritized for revival.


    "You need to understand one thing."


    "What''s that?"


    "The real aggressor was never Xiaojiu''s father; the aggressor has always been just one party, that is, the prejudice and traditional view of Xiaojiu as something impure.


    I''m not trying to whitewash a man who abandoned his woman.


    But loving a beast, in the eyes of humans, is something unimaginable and terrifying.


    And it''s this unimaginability that comes from such an atmosphere. What we may need to do in the future is to turn this unimaginability into something normal, even desirable."


    After entering the amusement park, Tang Xian realized that Li Xiaoyu, Dong Ran, and Qiao Shanshan might like these attractions.


    But Tang Suoye and Tang Xiaojiu, the two kids, might not.


    One could fly with telekinesis, the other could jump straight down from a nine-story building.


    To these kids, the drop tower, roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and rapid river ride were probably quite dull.


    The carousel, a slower-paced amusement ride, might be more interesting, right?


    Besides these outdoor attractions, there were also indoor ones.


    Tang Xian saw a real-life CS field, an ice rink, a go-kart track, and an arcade.


    Qing JiuYu didn''t understand these, but Tang Xian treasured them as if they were gems.


    He inspected them carefully, and after some equipment was lubricated with machine oil, there was a good chance they could operate. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    Of course, things several hundred years old were bound to have safety hazards.


    Attractions like roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and drop towers would definitely require a life-death agreement to be signed before anyone could use them.


    "What are all these things? You seem so happy," Qing JiuYu inquired.


    "This place will make me a lot of money in the future. But speaking of money, I need to prioritize establishing currency and revaluing goods first."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t understand.


    Tang Xian was happy to explain, saying:


    "After the great disaster, the value of goods came to be more reliant on their practicality. But production difficulty must also be considered. The prices of many goods need to be reworked.


    Setting fair prices and researching a new currency that''s not easy to counterfeit will greatly help the birth of a new civilization."


    "A new civilization, you certainly are ambitious."


    "Someone has to do these things. I''m not interested in being a faction leader, but right now with few people around, everything is taken freely. However, when more people arrive, if things continue in the same manner, it will quickly lead to internal strife."


    Tang Xian thought long term.


    Qing JiuYu understood somewhat.


    Yet she quietly noted some of Tang Xian''s statements, thinking he was much like a sage in a courtroom.


    He seemed to understand a bit of everything.


    After leaving the amusement park, Tang Xian arrived at Hua Xin Bookstore.


    This was also a key destination for him today. Tang Xian hoped to make some discoveries here.


    In bookstores from hundreds of years ago, there were already many auditory electronic reading materials.


    Movies, games, music, and fragmented smartphone app experiences diversified entertainment methods for people.


    But even if movies offered a more direct form of expression, many still felt a pure text reading experience provided more spiritual satisfaction. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet even this sector saw various developments as novel reading experiences gradually evolved towards multimedia.


    For instance, in the most expensive shelf area in Hua Xin Bookstore, the products were discs that looked like CDs.


    For the same book, the pure paper version, aside from first editions that held some collectible value and were pricier, the price of other paper versions was never as high as that of the disc versions, and their sales were much lower too.


    For example, the best-selling e-sports book "Ruthless Gun God Lubenwei" that Qing JiuYu flipped through casually, the paper version was cheap.


    But the auditory disc version was much more expensive because it featured the voice of the well-known host Ma Fei at the time.


    Latterly, when the tastes of the audience changed, versions narrated by Guo Degang, Wang Situ, and others appeared. Simply put, the voices in auditory reading materials always followed the trends.

 Chapter 33 The New Discovery in the Library_2

    Many second-dimension readings were completely set ablaze by voice actors.


    When reading a character who''s a loli, one could even hear the delicate voice of a loli voice actor, which instantly improved the reading experience.


    But there were also flops.


    For instance, book sales exceeded one hundred thousand, the voice actor made a public appearance, but their actual appearance was too hardcore, ultimately leading to the book''s death.


    Tang Xian put some basic classic texts into his prop bag, planning to bring them to Bai Mansheng next time.


    Although he also planned to invite Bai Mansheng to this world, after some thought, he decided to wait until Qing JiuYu returned to the mining area before doing so.


    After being slapped in the face a few times, he had stopped believing in fate.


    The library''s books had actually undergone a paper revolution seven hundred years ago,


    granting some of the more expensive books a longer preservation ability.


    Tang Xian found a complete set of the Twenty-Four Histories in the historical section, which excited him greatly.


    Qing JiuYu couldn''t share in this excitement, as she sadly realized she could only read picture books.


    She didn''t recognize a single word. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Many of the old paper editions can no longer be read, but the ones from the paper revolution can be, although they''re few. At least they can relieve some of the boredom these days,"


    Tang Xian said.


    "I want to read too, but I don''t understand your human script,"


    "You can have Xiao Jiu teach you, she just recently learned to write over one thousand three hundred common characters."


    Qing JiuYu stiffened. Although she had no shame in front of men, the idea of having Xiao Ni teach her to read still felt like losing face.


    "You can find time to teach me privately."


    "I don''t have time. With that effort, I''d rather read more books."


    Qing JiuYu fell silent.


    She was out of strategies for such a blindly obstinate man like Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian flipped through a few books and found one titled "Underground Shelter Design".


    He browsed through it and discovered that the book described how to construct an ecological circle suitable for human survival underground with the apocalypse looming.


    This book was able to be placed in Hua Xin Bookstore; therefore, its sales must have been decent.


    He knitted his brows, suddenly thinking of something.


    "Right, the fortress of Xianghai City is underground. Baichuan might have one too."


    Qing JiuYu asked,


    "Why is Xianghai City''s fortress underground? Shouldn''t a fortress be in the sky?"


    "Indeed, there are fortresses in the sky, but that''s from a movie released on August 9, 2019. It tells the lesbian love story of the heroine Xiaolu and the second female lead Su Qi. If you like, I can find it for you; this bookstore should have it," Tang Xian said with a straight face.


    "I like men," Qing JiuYu said, irritated.


    "In reality, shelters underground are much more scientific and reliable than those in the sky."


    "Really?"


    "Of course, in 2019, ancient humans did experiments with movies, and the underground shelter movie opened the door to this country''s science fiction films with both box office and critical acclaim.


    The fortress in the sky, however, closed that door again.


    But it wasn''t entirely without merit; it even held more significance for the era by telling industry professionals that people''s tastes were evolving, and the time of the traffic stars cashing in had passed."


    Qing JiuYu couldn''t understand these points¡ªafter all, she couldn''t read nor had she seen the two hundred billion Weibo likes given by Luo.


    As Tang Xian chatted aimlessly with Qing JiuYu, he continued to flip through "Underground Shelter Design" in his hand.


    He wasn''t too concerned with the content of the book because the catastrophe had passed, and humans could now return to the surface.


    What interested him was the author''s information.


    In the prologue''s notes and the epilogue''s acknowledgments, he finally found some relevant information.


    ¡ª¡ªI hope this book will be helpful in the construction of the underground shelter in our city.


    It was this single line that assured Tang Xian that this city had an underground shelter!


    Xianghai City''s underground fortress held out for the longest time, but that didn''t mean other cities didn''t have them; perhaps they were just slower to react to the disaster, which meant their underground fortresses were less complete.


    But in the underground fortresses, one could certainly discover more clues, right?


    Tang Xian got excited.


    The library really was a great place.


    "Let''s go, let''s see what else is around."


    "There are many books here; aren''t you going to take them with you?"


    "The city now belongs to just a few of us. Aside from a lot of pressing needs, everything else can just be left as is."


    "If only I could bring my people over," Qing JiuYu suddenly expressed a very bold idea.


    After seriously considering it for a moment, Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "No, that won''t work."


    "Why not?"


    "The creatures in this world, although mutated, are far from reaching the level of those in the mining area. The consequences of ecological invasion are terrifying. Creatures without natural enemies grow exceedingly rapidly and, if unchecked, it could even lead to ecological extinction. Your people better stay in the mining world."


    Qing JiuYu felt as if she had been given an eviction notice by this master.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You can come anytime. You will always be a welcome guest in this world."


    "No matter how welcome a guest is, they''re still just a guest,"


    Qing JiuYu hinted,


    "Tang, this girl here would like to enter the kitchen as well."


    "Why do you always want to cause trouble? Usurping the host is a big taboo; don''t think about peaches anymore."


    Tang Xian left the library with the books.


    Qing JiuYu stood still, questioning her own charm for the first time.


    Where the entrance to the underground fortress works was, Tang Xian still did not know. He and Qing JiuYu had strolled around just a small part of the city for the morning.

 Chapter 33 The New Discovery in the Library_3

    The book didn''t mention anything about it either.


    Tang Xian thought it might be worth checking out the metro station; perhaps, there could be some clues found there.


    Although the city had died, it seemed that fresh worlds always had something interesting to discover.


    ...


    ...


    Department stores, Toy City.


    Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Feiji precisely located the Rubik''s cube stall.


    He really went out of his way to get the treasure.


    Aside from Rubik''s cubes, there were also some metal music boxes on the display shelves.


    The operating principle was actually spring-driven; by twisting the music box in different ways, the trajectory of the spring''s rotation would change, and so would the music it played.


    Although the principle was simple and ancient, the benefit was that children could easily play with it without needing a power source.


    As early as 1950, this type of wind-up box had become widespread in Hong Kong.


    The music box was metal and appeared to be somewhat rusty.


    Tang Feiji wouldn''t let Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye touch the Rubik''s cube, so Tang Suoye just played with the music box instead.


    She casually twisted the music box, listening to various sounds coming out of it, and found it quite amusing.


    Tang Xiaojiu heard it and said,


    "Suoye, I can hum this song too, I''ll hum it for you."


    As a human, Tang Suoye had some common knowledge of humanity and was curious about how Tang Xiaojiu knew music from the Human World.


    She nodded her head, and Tang Xiaojiu started humming the tune.


    The melody was light and cheerful, truly matching the one from the music box.


    Seeing Tang Xiaojiu fixed on the box, Tang Suoye handed the music box to Tang Xiaojiu.


    "Thank you, Suoye. I''ll give you this in return."


    Tang Xiaojiu was holding a teddy bear in her arms.


    Tang Suoye smiled and made a gesture to show she liked it.


    Then Tang Suoye also began picking out gifts for Tang Xiaojiu, who continued to fiddle with the music box.


    She randomly turned it, listening to a variety of tunes inside, silently memorizing them.


    "Children will be children, even the toys they play with are so childish."


    Tang Feiji didn''t care much about the two little girls; he was just overwhelmed by the pile of Rubik''s cubes, unable to figure out which seven held the treasure, so he also glanced over at the two little girls.


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t mind either; as long as Uncle Feiji still let her ride with him, she''d play along.


    Although Uncle Feiji could be quite silly.


    Playing with the music box, Tang Xiaojiu thought it was too interesting; the songs it played were all different.


    She just casually twisted the box, no longer remembering the order, just turning it at will.


    Suddenly, the melody stopped.


    The sound from the box lost all sense of rhythm.


    It was ting, ting ting, not resembling any melody; it seemed more like meaningless tapping on something.


    Tang Xiaojiu originally wanted to change it; this song wasn''t pleasant at all to listen to.


    But the sound caught Tang Suoye''s attention.


    She made a gesture, signaling Tang Xiaojiu not to move.


    Ding, ding ding, ding ding...


    As a test subject from the evolution area, Tang Suoye didn''t have knowledge of the sophisticated spy techniques of the evolution area.


    But Akasi was the best scout in the entire evolution area, often infiltrating other strongholds to gather intelligence, which required some spy language.


    Such as Morse Code.


    The organization hadn''t taught Tang Suoye, but Akasi had.


    This ting, ting ting sound was clearly Morse Code.


    When all the sound had stopped, Tang Suoye sorted out her memories.


    And pieced together a sentence: Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The password for the stronghold''s gate is¡ª560205278."


    She didn''t know what the stronghold''s gate was or where it was located; she simply memorized the sentence silently.

 Chapter 34 The Last Human of the Old World

    Tang Xian''s next destination was the subway station.


    Right next to the gymnasium in the city center was the entrance to the subway station.


    Upon seeing the gymnasium, Tang Xian temporarily changed plans and chose to visit the gymnasium first.


    The gymnasium did not leave behind any notes or anything of the sort.


    As a metropolis, Baichuan City''s gymnasium, museum, and assembly hall were among the iconic structures of a city.


    Baichuan Gymnasium had hosted many grand sporting events.


    Soccer and basketball, still retained by Pyramid, are enough to illustrate their popularity.


    So a few hundred years ago, they must have been even more popular.


    The grass of a professional field wouldn''t be artificial turf, but ryegrass that was transplanted.


    This type of grass feels good underfoot on a soccer pitch, but the blades of grass are between fifteen to thirty centimeters long. Someone needs to be arranged to trim them regularly.


    After arriving at the gymnasium, Tang Xian didn''t witness the scene he had imagined.


    "It turns out that the wildly growing plants are only on the outskirts; other plants inside the city are still well-behaved."


    "That''s what you said, Tang Xian."


    "What''s this huge lawn for?"


    "This is where the ancients danced. In ancient times, people liked to dance on the lawn, to music like ''The Coolest Ethnic Trend'' or ''Little Apple,'' in stadiums of a hundred thousand people. It was lively. You should try it someday too," Tang Xian said teasingly.


    "I can''t dance."


    "It''s very simple, dancing is just for exercising the body, and for the audience, it''s a different way of appreciating beauty. As you are already beautiful, your beauty alone is enough to make dance skills unnecessary; just a little posturing will do." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing JiuYu felt a bit happier, thinking to herself that he wasn''t blind after all.


    The gymnasium confirmed some of Tang Xian''s thoughts.


    He led Qing JiuYu towards the outskirts to leave.


    Qing JiuYu then saw a basketball court.


    "Is this for dancing as well?"


    "Of course not for dancing. See the baskets on both sides? And the lines on the ground.


    This is a sport that combines high jumps, long jumps, and throwing, called dunking.


    As the name suggests, it''s all about leaping high and then flipping upside down to slam the ball into the basket.


    The one who dunks the most gracefully and from the farthest distance scores the highest. You can try it too if you get the chance."


    "Why do I feel like you''re fooling me?"


    "I''ve read many books; how could I fool you?"


    Qing JiuYu is not foolish, thinking to herself how could humans be so silly.


    But as she thought that, she still pictured herself with head down, diving into the basket¡ª


    So unsightly, I wouldn''t want to play such a sport.


    Frowning, Qing JiuYu shook her head.


    Having left the sports stadium, Tang Xian then headed straight for the subway station.


    The downtown subway station has many entrances and exits, which Qing JiuYu thought was hard to remember.


    Tang Xian knew to read the signs, but she did not. This cataclysmically powerful figure suddenly felt like sticking close to Tang Xian, lest she get lost.


    Above the subway station and in the city''s road center stood a huge tower-like structure with a disc-shaped metal on its top.


    After a glance, Tang Xian felt even more convinced that there were clues inside the subway station.


    He walked a great distance around, touring the entire subway station inside and out, and indeed made a discovery.


    There were passages beneath the subway.


    Normally, the second basement level is the bottom of the subway.


    But at the bottom, there were orange arrows pointing downward.


    Tang Xian finally found the entrance.


    What shocked him most was that although the entrance appeared pitch-black at first glance,


    Every few seconds, there was a flash of purple light.


    In this city, apart from the items Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan brought, he finally saw something that emitted light.


    "It seems this is the place."


    "Are you looking for that underground fortress?"


    "Yes."


    Tang Xian hadn''t brought anything like a flashlight for lighting during daytime expeditions.


    Although his eyes had long since adapted to the dark, the present darkness was still too much.


    Qing JiuYu snapped her fingers, and a ball of purple flame erupted from her fingertips.


    It instantly illuminated the place.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu approvingly; the leader of the fox clan finally showed some use.


    However, having flames burst from her fingertips could indeed be a deadly skill for her future man.


    Remembering that Qing JiuYu could also breathe fox fire made him even more concerned for the safety of her future man.


    With the light, Tang Xian quickened his pace, continuing down the passage.


    He observed the surroundings, constantly deducing what might have happened in the past.


    But time had passed too long, and many traces could no longer serve as material for deduction.


    In the end, a huge door blocked Tang Xian''s way.


    Every few seconds, a certain part of the door would light up with purple light.


    The light was not intense, just enough to be seen by someone above the passage.


    With the glow from Qing JiuYu''s fingertip,


    Tang Xian saw the full view of the door.


    In terms of material, although the alloy used for the door was not as good as the equipment of gifted miners, the size of the door indicated its sturdiness.


    The surrounding keypads indicated the method of entry. From the door''s patterns, Tang Xian noticed pressure sensors.


    He looked around and frowned.


    "It seems that forcing this door open is not very likely. It would trigger an alarm and defense mechanisms."


    Qing JiuYu said,


    "If you want to go in, I can break through this door. It''s quite easy."


    Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "Don''t do that," Tang Xian stopped her.

 Chapter 34 The Last Human of the Old World_2

    "I''ve seen the structure of the underground bunker; if this door is damaged, although it won''t affect the big picture, this is underground. Your strength is too great, it might cause a collapse."


    Qing JiuYu said with a seductive smile,


    "As the host, whatever you say, I¡ªas the guest¡ªwill do. Right, host?"


    Tang Xian replied with a wry smile,


    "What did you experience as a child? Both are nine-tailed foxes, how come Xiaojiu is so innocent, and yet you turned into a chauffeur?"


    "Chauffeur?"


    "We are preparing to leave. This city must hold other clues; this door must surely be able to open normally. We should head back now."


    "Are we going back just like this?"


    "Yes, let''s ask the other groups if they had any gains."


    ...


    ...


    East District.


    Not long after Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu returned to their residence, the team consisting of Dong Ran, Akasi, and others also arrived.


    Tang Suoye, Tang Feiji, and Tang Xiaojiu''s intellectually disabled children''s team had already sat in a row, waiting for the main chef to return to his position.


    The living room was filled with people; Tang Xian first took out some books.


    He then recounted the discoveries at the caf¨¦, the library, the gymnasium, and the subway.


    The crowd was shocked.


    "This means that after the Catastrophe struck, our ancestors actually had ways to deal with it. However, that door blocked my way. I think maybe we need to look for more clues. Did any of you find anything?"


    After Tang Suoye heard this, he suddenly thought of the contents of the music box. But at this moment, Li Xiaoyu took out a notebook. He didn''t rush to speak.


    "What you saw at the gymnasium, along with what is noted in this notebook, and the plants on the outskirts of the city, should be able to explain some problems."


    Li Xiaoyu passed the notebook to Tang Xian.


    "This notebook is still legible?"


    "Yes, the owner of the notebook had sealed it well in a bamboo box, and placed it beneath the shade of a tree. Some parts are blurred, but it is clear that the notebook''s owner wanted future generations to know her thoughts; she wrote the same contents many times over. Take a look."


    Tang Xian took the notebook and began to read its contents.


    "The anomalies started. One city after another brought bad news. Horrific beasts and machines began invading us.


    Baichuan City was actually not affected, but news had spread. In the cities of the north, messages had arrived.


    There was Noah''s Ark. People were waiting for us there.


    Images of huge towers kept incoming; they just stood quietly on the ground, their entrances wide open.


    People began to evacuate, to avoid the mechanical beings and the mythological beasts, and more and more headed to the Pyramid.


    But I didn''t go. I remembered a story I heard as a child.


    ''One day, a tear dropped into a fishbowl, and thus, the fish became smart. They were surprised to find themselves living in an environment full of coincidences, where every condition for survival was just right.


    The walls of the fishbowl were a protective shield, offering them the most basic guarantee for survival. Outside the shield was terrifying; they wouldn''t last even a few minutes. They didn''t want to leave, but now they couldn''t break free.


    There was also a water circulation and filtration system; the life-giving water would always flow into a mysterious black hole, returning free of germs and life-threatening impurities. The unstable temperature, the marvelous oxygen supply system, and an automatic feeder¡­


    In the fishbowl was a heating rod, made with technology far beyond the fishes'' comprehension. It constantly released energy, ensuring the temperature of the fishbowl remained constant, with energy so abundant that the fish had no way of imagining its process.


    Fishes kept dying, and new fishes kept arriving. But as fishes, their memories were so short. No fish panicked, no fish felt sad. The comfortable environment made them unwilling to escape the fishbowl; they even revered the owner of the fishbowl as a deity.''


    Looking at those huge tower fortresses, for some reason, I felt they were just a fishbowl.


    Sooner or later, we''ll all be eaten by the owner of the fishbowl.


    The appearance of the towers and the beasts and machines, the timing was too coincidental.


    But still, our fears drove us into the fishbowl.


    I called for everyone to stay in Baichuan City, confident that if we worked together, we could defend this city.


    Initially, there were people who responded to my calls.


    We parked movable objects, like vehicles, at the entrances to the city.


    A large number of vehicles were driven to the borders between the suburbs and the city districts. Relying on everyone''s strength, we could form a huge door from these steel vehicles.


    During the day we would go out looking for food, and at night, we hid in the underground bunkers."


    ```


    "As long as we''re careful enough, we could definitely have stayed in this city."


    "I tried to establish a city fortress that isolated everything. I didn''t want to leave Baichuan City, the place that raised me."


    "But when my companions saw the wildly overgrown plants, they all changed their minds, screaming that this world was going to destroy humanity."


    They started to panic and flee."


    "I shouted that this world wanted to protect us, that the rampant growth of these plants must also be the will of the world driving them!"


    "But they called me a madman."


    "The fact that the animals refuse to come in is the best proof: carnivorous beasts as well as tame herbivores, they all quietly stay on the other side of the plant wall, never entering the city."


    "It''s as if the will of the world is driving them to be the food for us humans in the future!"


    "The world is trying to keep us!"


    "Yet no one believed me, and more and more people began to flee into the enormous tower."


    "Many images came from the tower."


    "People were living happily inside, where there were enough resources stored."


    "They were eating semi-liquid food, which didn''t look appetizing at all, but everyone seemed satisfied."


    "More and more people entered the tower, but we could only ever see the images from the first floor."


    "I wonder, what about the second floor? The third floor?"


    "With more and more people, there must be some who have gone to the second floor, right? What kind of people would they be?"


    "The resources and energy in the Pyramid are also limited, so how will humanity obtain them when the time comes?"


    "For some reason, the more I think about it, the more terrified I become."


    "I try my best every day to keep the people of this city from leaving, but the population continues to dwindle."


    "I know I shouldn''t blame them. Waves of panic come, and many kingdoms and cities are destroyed."


    "Facing those powerful monsters, we are utterly defenseless."


    "At this time, when Noah''s Ark appears, how many people care whether it''s a fishbowl?"


    "Perhaps I really am the madman?"


    "I don''t want to go."


    "I started to have hallucinations."


    "I seem to hear the world crying, the Milky Way fractures in July, and the rain continues relentlessly."


    "My body is getting worse, and I so wish that there were still people in this world who would choose to stay."


    "But the city grows quieter and quieter, and at night I can only hear the sounds of reptiles and rats."


    "The plants have stopped growing. Those who once shouted that the plants would strangle the city can no longer witness this scene."


    "What is life like inside the tower?"


    "Will they ever come out in the future? Will the world accept them?"


    "It tried so hard to protect us, yet we betrayed it."


    "I feel an indescribable heartache; my family, friends, all have entered into a huge fortress like the tower."


    "What''s their final impression of this world?"


    "Is it endless destruction and ruin, or a hell filled with danger and death?"


    "It was so gentle in keeping us!"


    "I know my time is running out."


    "But I will stay here, I want to witness the truth, I want to die together with this world." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    "Either let the disease torture me to death, or be eaten by those fierce beasts."


    "But I know, there are no fierce beasts."


    "After everyone has entered the fortress, those fierce beasts and mechanical bodies must have disappeared, right?"


    "Books, documents, most of history has been left in this world."


    "Perhaps in hundreds of years, the fish inside will also think that only in the fishbowl is it safe, right?"


    The notebook doesn''t end there, there are some diaries afterwards, but they''re somewhat illegible. At the end of this notebook, is the name of this pitiful person.


    Signature: The last human of this world, Jing Jian.


    ```

 Chapter 35 For foreign affairs seek Tang Xian, for domestic matters consult Yu

    After reading this record, Tang Xian felt somewhat sad.


    There are many madmen in this world.


    In fact, this man named Jing Jian did harbor some conspiracy theories and persecution delusions.


    If it had been himself at that time, perhaps he would have been skeptical, but in the end, he still would have entered the Pyramid, right?


    Because only by entering the Pyramid could one truly find the irregularities within.


    Jing Jian''s many speculations about the Pyramid were just that, guesses.


    But he was the luckiest and unluckiest person in this world. God had given him prophet-like accuracy.


    On the ninth page of his diary, which was the ninth day after he wrote these words, Jing Jian died.


    He chose to die in the outskirts, letting animals eat his corpse.


    But he also wished that one day humans would be able to accept the grace of God.


    These herbivores would not leave, and these carnivores did not want to come in.


    The trees became like city walls, everything signified that perhaps the world realized that human civilization was on the brink of extinction and wanted to retain the last bit of civilization.


    It was like the initial stage in a survival game, with nothing at all, just the land to live on, and the food needed for survival.


    Nature had even domesticated this food.


    It compromised with humans for the first time, perhaps hoping that the civilization it had nourished for tens of thousands of years could repel those invaders.


    However, it was regrettable, just as Jing Jian''s resentful death was tragic:


    The appearance of the Pyramid, with almost no effort, led humanity to stray from this world.


    But the world never complained.


    It silently waited for hundreds of years.


    Until it finally saw humans return.


    Dong Ran, Li Xiaoyu, and the others were silent.


    At that moment, Tang Suoye gestured, sharing the happenings inside the mall.


    Only Akasi and Tang Xian could understand Tang Suoye''s gestures.


    Akasi and Tang Xian were both startled.


    The others, in a fog, saw Tang Xian''s inquiring gaze point towards a music box nearby.


    Tang Suoye nodded.


    Tang Xian said, "It seems that this exploration has yielded discoveries for all of us."


    "However, this code might also be incorrect, there could be danger. Akasi, you go execute this mission with Tang Suoye."


    Akasi nodded.


    Li Xiaoyu spoke up:


    "What''s going on?"


    Tang Xian picked up the music box, examined it for a while, paying attention to the hints on it.


    Then he began to twist the music box and, after a few seconds, the ding-ding-ding of Morse code rang out.


    Li Xiaoyu immediately understood and exclaimed in surprise,


    "Is this the key to enter the underground fortress?" Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "It might be, very likely. But there are risks, Akasi and Tang Suoye will just explore it, the main purpose of this exploration is to check for dangers."


    "Don''t worry, I understand," said Akasi.


    "What about you then? What should we do next?" Li Xiaoyu curiously asked.


    "For what comes next, I''ll be handling diplomacy, you take care of domestic affairs," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    "Diplomacy?" Li Xiaoyu asked, puzzled.


    Tang Xian nodded seriously and said,


    "This world is like a person, and we are like treasures. The treasures have now fallen into the hands of bandits, and the invaders who violated it have left.


    But to rebuild a civilization... that requires many people. With all of us here, even if we mated day and night, we couldn''t birth the bustle of a city.


    I need to steal back the money from the bag, and at the same time, I have to think of ways to prepare the defense against these bandits."


    "Tch! What''s this about mating day and night!" Qiao Shanshan spat.


    "It''s just an example. You few are land that can''t be worn out, whereas Akasi and I are two oxen that can be exhausted. Even if we truly need to preserve the seed of human civilization, you''d have to queue up."


    "You!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although doctors would tell racy jokes in private, when Tang Xian made them, it always infuriated Qiao Shanshan.


    Li Xiaoyu gave Tang Xian a glare, and he no longer teased further.


    Qing JiuYu furrowed her brows, she had come to understand a few things these days.


    Although she still did not consider these humans as friends, she had learned about the history of this world from their talk.


    She asked, puzzled,


    "What humans have experienced before, was it an invasion from another world?"


    "You could say that," Tang Xian replied.


    "Our world?"


    Even though Tang Xian was raised by humans, the feedback from the Soul Crystal still made Qing JiuYu feel that Tang Xian was on her side.


    "Yes."


    "Then how will you defend? Are you suggesting that if humans return to this world, they might encounter another invasion? If so, what can you do about it?"


    Qing JiuYu''s insightful eyes fixed on Tang Xian; she was an extremely intelligent being among the beasts.


    Following Tang Xian''s words, Qing JiuYu guessed the so-called ''diplomacy'' he referred to.


    Tang Xian did not beat around the bush, and directly said,


    "If there really comes a day when the home we''ve rebuilt is invaded again, I hope that you, as a friend, would lend a helping hand."


    "You probably don''t plan to rely on just one friend, do you? With Bai Mansheng, are you engaging in the same plan?"


    "Yes. The combination of human technology and the aid of the creatures from the mining zone. That is my plan, but it''s all still far away.


    The mining zone is controlled by the court, at least most of it is, and the allies I can find are limited. I might try to weaken the court as much as possible."


    At this, Li Xiaoyu said,


    "And at the same time, you have to contend with the Pyramid?"


    "Yes, where does man come from? Naturally, we must ''steal'' from inside the Pyramid."

 Chapter 35 For external matters, consult Tang Xian; for internal affairs, seek advice from Yu_2

    "How do you plan to steal them? Just as Jing Jian said, how would fish in a fishbowl jump out? They can''t jump out, and they don''t want to jump out," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "If they can''t jump out, we can scoop them out; if they don''t want out, it''s merely because they don''t see the fish outside," Tang Xian replied after a pause, seriously adding,


    "The defeat in the battle of the Yuepela Plains will definitely lead to an increased dependency of humans on mechanized units like the judgment knights. There must be great secrets hidden in the manufacturing principles of judgment knights.


    These secrets are malevolent. The lords in the Pyramid will increasingly focus on enhancing the combat capabilities of the mining areas, and the proportion between humans and machines will become severely imbalanced.


    Be it the efficiency of mining minerals or the efficiency of hunting creatures in the mining areas, how can humans compare with the judgment knights? Once humans lose their value, they will soon become replaceable fish."


    Li Xiaoyu, Qiao Shanshan, and the others were stunned; they hadn''t thought that far ahead.


    "What will become of these replaceable fish? Die in the mines? If, at that time, there is a new choice, not to mine day and night without a future¡ª


    But to gain social status based on human intelligence and hard work, unburdened by innate talents, I believe they will make the right choice."


    What Tang Xian didn''t mention was that, at the end of the war on the Yuepela Plains, the seed of doubt he planted with the words spoken to Song Que was beginning to sprout.


    Doubt leads to thought, and once humans begin to think, everything in existence ought to fear, for that is the greatest strength of humanity.


    These thoughts would shine through the dark walls like light, guiding them.


    Li Xiaoyu inquired,


    "Did you plan all this in advance, or is it something you just thought of now?"


    "After confirming that survival in this world was possible, I had thought about these things."


    Li Xiaoyu felt it was somewhat frightening; if it were anyone else, planning so meticulously for two worlds, she would find it extremely arrogant.


    But it was Tang Xian, and Li Xiaoyu believed that he might actually be able to accomplish it.


    The Fox Clan, the Snake Clan, and even the remote Leopard Clan from distant islands. There''s even a Dragon Clan member here. In the future, more creatures could become human guardians.


    As long as Tang Xian doesn''t die.


    And with her, Dong Ran, and others arriving in this world, the theory of survival outside the fishbowl now had compelling evidence.


    Maybe his befriending Song Que... apart from Song Que''s character, was also related to becoming the biggest human trafficker in history?


    As long as he could persuade Song Que, it would not be hard to bring some people up from the lower levels.


    "You''re going to be very busy, aren''t you?" said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Yes, although many things are not yet confirmed, it doesn''t hurt to start working on them. You, along with Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and Xiaojiu, don''t need to go to the mining area. I''ll bring a group of people I trust to meet you," Tang Xian replied.


    Rebuilding a civilization inevitably requires more than just one thing.


    The reconstruction of the mining area strongholds and the prosperity of the previous Li family business demonstrate Li Xiaoyu''s management capabilities.


    Tang Xian planned to entrust her with currency establishment, distribution of goods, price resetting, regional planning, and the distribution and reconstruction of secondary and tertiary industries in the city.


    His own task was to find more formidable allies for humankind.


    Li Xiaoyu realized this and, in a rare display of coquettishness, said,


    "Then you''ll have to come back and see me every few days. Otherwise, I might start working in a half-hearted fashion."


    Qiao Shanshan coughed,


    "Are you planning on not cooking and letting us eat dog food instead?"


    Dong Ran also covered her mouth and chuckled.


    Li Xiaoyu blushed slightly. Her position was directly opposite Qing JiuYu.


    Without overthinking it, Tang Xian had already planned to regularly visit Baichuan City, so he nodded in agreement.


    Not to be outdone, Qing JiuYu declared,


    "If you don''t invite me over on a regular basis, I won''t agree to help you. The combat ability of my Fox Clan is not weak."


    Li Xiaoyu''s mouth twitched.


    Without giving it much thought, Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "As an honored guest, you should certainly visit often."


    After saying so, seeing Li Xiaoyu looking somewhat dissatisfied, Tang Xian took her to the kitchen.


    It truly was a good place to soften the temper of a black cat girl.


    Once in the kitchen, Li Xiaoyu''s mood brightened.


    Especially these past days, when Tang Xiaojiu had been keeping Qing JiuYu company, it made her feel more like the sole mistress of the house.


    Indeed, it felt like, as long as she was not overthrown, all others would merely be concubines.


    No, not even concubines are allowed!


    ...


    ...


    Fortress Thirty-Nine.


    Liu Lang''s recent days have been miserable.


    The kidnapping of Miss Li from the Li family¡ªon that day, far too many people in the lower levels had witnessed it.


    The news quickly spread, leaving the Song Family and the Li family unable to save face.


    Luo, who had a certain acquaintance with Liu Lang on ordinary days, could not help feeling a little sigh when he saw the blacksmith''s forge closed for a long time.


    The biggest difference between him and Liu Lang was that Liu Lang had a sense of pride, but Luo had long seen through it. No matter how splendidly you live, you''re ultimately serving others like a dog.


    When the higher-ups want to make an example out of someone, don''t the people at the bottom just have to accept their bad luck?


    Although the eldest son of the first Song Family bastion had protected Liu Lang, and indeed Liu Lang had kept the forge open as usual in the past few days, they could not withstand the magnitude of this incident.


    The thoughts of those above had suddenly changed.


    These days, the lowly people were anxious, and many of the commoners who had witnessed the scene were filled with worry.


    But perhaps thanks to that masked stranger,


    the number of missing persons from the lower classes had decreased significantly these days.


    It wasn''t like before when several hundred people would inexplicably disappear.


    Now, there were still some missing person cases, but the number had reduced a lot.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Thirty-ninth bastion, second level, prison.


    Liu Lang was covered in injuries as a little girl, small in stature, arrived to visit him with food in tow.


    The girl appeared dazed. Song Que initially thought this girl named Buding was silly, but along the way, he found that she was actually very clever; it was just that her expression looked somewhat stupid.


    As Liu Lang ate, he expressed his gratitude to Song Que:


    "Sir, thank you for your leniency."


    Song Que didn''t know what to say when he looked at Liu Lang in the cell.


    Because he had just received a piece of news not long ago.


    "The day after tomorrow, you might be sent to the eighth level."


    Liu Lang did not quite understand what he meant, but Liu Buding raised her head and said:


    "He''s going to die, isn''t he."


    Song Que was stunned, for the girl had guessed correctly, although the scene seemed somewhat cruel.


    In the end, he slowly said:


    "I haven''t found out much, but these days, many of the lower-class people have gone missing, and all clues point to the eighth level. They probably can never return, and there''s a good chance... you will be the same."


    Liu Lang bowed his head and chewed the food in his mouth vigorously.


    The food was not a nutrient-rich meal but pastries made by Liu Buding for him.


    His smile was bitter; he had struggled in the lower levels for half his life, convinced he had not wronged anyone in his lifetime.


    Yet this was the outcome he received.


    Liu Buding could not accept this result. She looked at Song Que and said:


    "You can save him, can''t you?"


    Song Que shook his head with regret.


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    "Ultimately, this is not the Song Family."


    "No, you can save him! Since you''ve protected him these days, you should do it more thoroughly. If he dies, won''t your efforts be in vain? Sir, you definitely have the power to save him!"


    Song Que unexpectedly looked at the young girl.


    Her stubborn expression did bear a resemblance to Li Xiaoyu.


    He didn''t want to refute such eyes, but what could he do?


    In the end, Liu Lang was just an ordinary man. Unlike Tang Xian, even if Liu Lang were sent to the mining area and managed to escape from prison, he would only be able to hide for seven days.


    Suddenly, Song Que thought of Tang Xian; after all, the reason he had kept Liu Lang safe was because of a promise to Tang Xian.


    "I can''t keep you safe. The reason you are suddenly being moved to the eighth level is due to some evil secrets I can''t reveal to you. Whether you survive or not will depend on your luck."


    "Luck?"


    "Yes, even if you flee to the mining area, you won''t be able to survive for seven days. The dangers of the mining area are not something you and your sister can handle."


    Liu Lang did not deny it. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He rarely went to the mining area; he was just a man without any talent.


    And so was Liu Buding. One was a formidable blacksmith; the other, an exceptional tailor.


    These skills, within the Pyramid, were expendable.


    Song Que whispered:


    "But you''re not without options; it''s just whether you can meet that person will depend on your fate with him."


    "Who?"


    "Tang Xian."

 Chapter 36 The Bromance between Tang Xian and Song Que

    Tang Xian''s true identity, or should I say, the true identity of the masked freak, was already known to Liu Lang.


    That was one of his conditions for survival, as long as he spoke of what he knew.


    But in the end, Liu Lang didn''t speak up.


    During the smuggling plan that day, Song Que was also in the iron forge; he admired Liu Lang''s unyielding spirit and said:


    "Tang Xian went outside the Pyramid, and not long ago, I saw him again, which means he survived out there."


    Liu Buding was stunned:


    "Outside... Doesn''t going outside mean death by the harsh environment?"


    "I think so too, but maybe he has some other way?"


    Song Que paused then continued saying:


    "Anyway, I''ll try my best to contact Tang Xian. Before you are sent to the eighth level, if Tang Xian knows about this, he will surely come to rescue you. Without your help, Li Xiaoyu wouldn''t have lasted until then."


    "Who is he, even more formidable than you?" asked Liu Buding blankly.


    Song Que smiled and said:


    "He is much more powerful than me, the most miraculous existence in this world."


    "Then I want to go too. Wherever Liu Lang goes, I want to go there," Liu Buding earnestly said.


    Liu Lang said, "My lord... You probably can''t contact him, right?"


    Song Que nodded somberly, struggling to say:


    "That''s why I said you need luck. He does indeed carry a teleportation fissure to the Pyramid, but when he will return to the Pyramid or go to the mining area is unpredictable. Only he can contact me; I have no way to contact him."


    What Song Que could do now was to gather as much intel as possible within the Pyramid, through top technologists Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    But if Tang Xian doesn''t come to the Pyramid, Liu Lang''s life would not be spared. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He couldn''t just release Liu Lang by force.


    Even his other self couldn''t do it.


    Because here, he had no power at all, and his other self was nothing but a mad commoner in the Pyramid.


    Liu Lang ate all the food that Liu Buding brought, without leaving a crumb.


    It was time to end the visit, and Liu Lang said:


    "Go back, Buding."


    "I will come to see you again!" Liu Buding nodded reluctantly.


    Then Liu Lang turned to Song Que and said:


    "Life is but a big gamble. My lord, you have done your best. If I live, it''s the life you''ve given me. If I don''t, it has nothing to do with you."


    Song Que didn''t say anything more. Urged by the guards, he took Liu Buding and left.


    ...


    ...


    After the defeat in the Yuepela Plains war, a small number of voices accused Song Que.


    The Masked Chopper Hero appeared before too many people, which made it impossible to cover up the events of that day.


    The onlookers of the middle layers accused Song Que of cowardice, for missing a good opportunity.


    Some from the upper echelons lamented that Song Que had failed to keep the crystals of the disaster-level boss creature.


    Others regretted that humanity did not obtain the Soul Crystals of the disaster-level boss creature.


    Although the eighth level remained solely under the control of the Li family, their generous offering of Judgment Knight sales kept people from being eager to advance to new levels.


    After discovering the power of the Judgment Knights, the demand and orders for these mechanical bodies skyrocketed.


    Even Lincoln Fortress, a step away from the eighth level, purchased nearly a hundred Judgment Knights.


    People also eagerly hoped that the ninth level of the Pyramid would house even more powerful mechanical bodies.


    What the opening conditions for the ninth level of the Pyramid were remained unclear to many fortresses, but the Soul Crystals of the disaster-level boss creature could surely meet any condition.


    Thereby, some believed Song Que had caused humanity to lose substantial assets.


    But these were only a minority.


    Most people still supported Song Que. After all, humanity was mostly on the defensive during the war.


    As for the identity of the Masked Chopper Hero, some high-ups had figured it out.


    But everyone kept silent.


    How could an Eden demon child help humanity?


    And how could the prophecy on the Stele of the Pyramid be incorrect?


    In the federal meeting room of the seventh level, everyone showed a kind of unspoken agreement.


    They all pretended not to guess the connection between the Masked Chopper Hero and Tang Xian.


    Song Que also recognized these people''s true colors. He no longer said much. His words would not change their minds.


    After the war in the Yue Pella Plains ended, humanity obviously no longer needed a supreme commander.


    However, most people were still optimistic about Song Que, and his chances of being re-elected in the next war were high.


    When the next war would be, was precisely what these people were discussing now.


    The term "Beast Court" also appeared for the first time in the human councils.


    Interestingly, even after the deaths of thousands upon thousands of talented individuals, the upper echelons still didn''t realize the power of the Beast Court.


    In their eyes, that group of beasts might have intelligence, but it was still far lower than that of humans.


    A commanding group made of wild beasts?


    Some even snickered when they heard about it.


    Song Que didn''t bother to explain. Today, he was silent, merely to talk with Li Wanye.


    As the meeting came to an end and people gradually left the room, Song Que approached Li Wanye and said:


    "Li, I would like to talk to you."


    Li Wanye, not surprised at all, bluntly said:


    "My dear nephew, if it''s about that prisoner, we''ve already discussed it. He could live by giving up what he knows. I gave him a chance, but he wouldn''t speak."


    "Then you could punish him by sending him to mine, seizing and forfeiting his assets. But why send him to the eighth level? I don''t know what''s there."

 Chapter 36 The Bromance between Tang Xian and Song Que_2

    ```


    But Li, many people who went to the eighth level never returned. Many from the bottom layers are reporting a large number of temporary workers gone missing, could this be related to the Trial Knights? Will these missing temporary workers be able to come back?"


    Li Wanye looked at Song Que warily, but then smiled and said:


    "I don''t know where you got your news from, but those are all rumors. Nephew, this is my thirty-ninth fortress, not the first one. Don''t you think the question you''re asking is too presumptuous?"


    Song Que did not flinch, and continued to look directly at Li Wanye.


    "Uncle Li, as my father''s competitor and friend, I''ve always admired you and hope to manage the first fortress as well as you do the thirty-ninth fortress someday.


    The people from the bottom layer are our citizens too. Their role may not be as significant as that of the gifted, but they are the foundation. If you choose to sacrifice them for something, it would be disheartening!"


    A flicker of malevolence passed through his eyes, but then Li Wanye smiled again and spoke:


    "You are indeed a kind person, nephew. But I can only tell you that you are worrying too much. As for Liu Lang, the man has some skills, and going to the eighth level could mean better development for him. He can refuse to go, as long as he reveals the whereabouts of the man in the mask."


    Song Que didn''t really expect to anger Li Wanye enough for him to reveal the truth.


    This man was far more cunning than Li Zheng and Li Xiaoyu.


    He nodded and replied:


    "Just now I was presumptuous, Uncle Li, I''m sorry, I apologize to you."


    "It''s fine, you meant well. But I can''t help you this time. I have to find my daughter. I hope you understand, nephew, that even if I execute Liu Lang, I have the authority to do so, I''ve given him enough time."


    Song Que nodded, certain he couldn''t persuade Li Wanye, then after making some small talk, he left.


    It wasn''t until Song Que was far away that Li Wanye''s smile completely disappeared and his demeanour turned grim.


    Not long after the council meeting ended, the high-level officials from each fortress would return to their own fortresses.


    After the federation''s war has ended, they all have a pile of work to deal with.


    In the next few days, Song Que also had to figure out a way to quickly access the eighth level of the first fortress.


    Since he couldn''t get what he wanted from Li Wanye''s words, he''d have to investigate it himself. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After his conversation with Li Wanye ended, he returned to his lodgings. Soon after, Song Que''s mobile phone vibrated.


    It was a message from Lin Sen.


    [Meet me, I''m at the bottom level.]


    Song Que frowned, the message seemed quite abrupt.


    Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe should have already left the thirty-ninth fortress.


    After all, this place is currently the most heavily guarded fortress.


    Song Que had a vague idea of something, which suddenly excited him, and he replied:


    [Tang Xian?]


    [It''s me.]


    Without any further delay, Song Que immediately headed for the bottom level.


    He had been worried about Liu Lang, but now he suddenly felt at ease.


    ...


    ...


    There was no longer a safe place on the bottom level of the thirty-ninth fortress.


    All of Tang Xian''s acquaintances from his past were implicated.


    In the end, Tang Xian chose a place of pleasure.


    The girls here had a lot of gossip, but unlike certain organizations of ancient times, they did not establish a massive network of information.


    To survive at the bottom level, a few things were critical: not listening to what you shouldn''t listen to and not looking at what you shouldn''t see.


    If you accidentally heard or saw something, that wasn''t a big deal either, as long as you forgot what you ought to forget.


    And for those who come to these places, as long as they have ore, they are the most glamorous guys on Decay Street.


    When Song Que arrived, his face turned red.


    Because the girls inside were dressed very scantily.


    Especially with his handsome looks and opulent attire, the girls seeing him practically couldn''t wait to cling to him.


    Just leading him to Tang Xian''s private room, several girls volunteered to follow along.


    Each of them looked at Song Que''s innocent appearance and revealed a strange smile.


    "What are you laughing at?" Song Que really didn''t understand.


    "They say some men look decent on the surface but play big behind the scenes. Young master, you must be one of those guys, right?"


    Song Que was shocked; he never considered that possibility.


    Confused, he wondered, how did these women figure out that he played big behind the scenes?


    As someone with a dual personality, Song Que indeed felt that his other side played quite a big game.


    Seeing Song Que''s reaction, the girls laughed even louder.


    "Others might have one guy with several girls in a room, but you, young master, and the gentleman inside are two men."


    Song Que suddenly realized that''s what they meant by playing big. He said with a wry smile:


    ```


    "It''s not what you guys think,"


    he said without much explanation, because the place wasn''t big, and they soon arrived.


    Rows of girls stood before them. When Tang Xian saw this, he was suddenly reminded of some pictures he had seen on Weibo before and couldn''t help but sigh:


    "Beautiful appearances can''t survive the crackdown, and interesting souls are suspected of account violations."


    Seeing Song Que''s embarrassed face, Tang Xian took out a standard-sized purple organic ore and said:


    "Disperse, I want to spend some time alone with my friend."


    They had thought it was a venture of two men with multiple women.


    Turned out it was a one-on-one with two men.


    The girls'' eyes widened instantly, as they had never encountered someone coming to this place for such a reason.


    But since the other party was willing to pay, they took the money and were happy to have some leisure, dispersing cheerfully.


    Song Que wiped away the sweat from his brow and said with a wry smile:


    "Why choose such a place, Tang, you''re really..."


    "This place is suitable for talking. Don''t be so tense, you''re here as a guest, not to serve clients."


    Song Que was just about to take a sip of his tea and nearly spit it out.


    Tang Xian said:


    "I''m here to ask you for some people."


    "Some people?"


    "Song Que, I consider you one of our own, so I won''t hide this from you. I''ve been to the outside of the Pyramid."


    "I know that."


    "Yu, Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and others are also out there."


    Song Que was shocked.


    In fact, after seeing Tang Xian at the Saint Dena Highlands, he speculated that maybe it was possible to survive outside.


    But that was Tang Xian. His survival didn''t mean others could survive as well.


    Not until this moment did he truly believe it.


    Song Que was silent for a long time, even briefly doubting Tang Xian.


    Because this implied that centuries of human knowledge were wrong.


    Yet in the end, he believed Tang Xian, and said in amazement:


    "So it''s all been a lie?"


    "Can''t say it''s all a lie, but at least the descriptions of the outside world are," Tang Xian calmly replied.


    "You want to bring some people into that world?"


    "Yes, to rebuild the city, I need craftsmen of various trades. Relying solely on my team is too inefficient."


    Song Que looked at Tang Xian and said:


    "Doesn''t this amount to...betraying this world?"


    "How short is the life of a human? Decades from now you and I will both be dead. But the legacy of humanity is another form of life''s continuation. Do you wish for your descendants to continue living in this place after your death, or to return to the world that nurtured them for tens of thousands of years?"


    Tang Xian believed it wouldn''t be difficult to persuade Song Que.


    Because Song Que was a truly intelligent person.


    After pondering for a long time, Song Que said:


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    "I can''t bring you some people. You can only take away those who believe in you for now. The time isn''t right yet; I still need some time to help you."


    Song Que left his words unfinished.


    But Tang Xian understood.


    "Waiting until you become the Lord of the First Fortress?"


    "Yes, once I officially take over my father''s position, then I can better coordinate with you. Even if I wanted to help now, and even if I were able to assist you, it would certainly leave traces, and those traces wouldn''t be good for you, me, or that world."


    "Makes sense."


    "But you''ve come at just the right time today."


    "How so?"


    "The day after tomorrow, Liu Lang is going to be executed. I can''t save him right now; I can''t exert my power here. But you can,"


    Song Que revealed a smile and continued:


    "I hope this impostor can give this genuine article some promotion."


    "A jailbreak? I''m adept at that."


    "When do you plan to start?" asked Song Que.


    "No time like the present, today."

 Chapter 37 Becoming the Enemy of Thousands

    After devising a general plan, the two discussed some details of the prison break, with Song Que expressing concerns in certain areas:


    "I believe the fortress guards won''t trouble you, but the number of judgment knights has increased several times over.


    Moreover, unlike last time, Li Xiaoyu was there, and they didn''t dare act rashly. This time they have no such scruples."


    Tang Xian said, "I can''t beat the judgment knights."


    Song Que was startled.


    "And the one who impersonated you last time wasn''t me. It was my cousin, Tang Ao. His identity is as special as mine, you should understand what I mean now, right?"


    "Are you saying he''s one of the Ten Thousand Beasts?"


    "He is that dragon."


    Song Que''s mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.


    It took a long time for him to recover from his shock.


    "Your experiences in the mining area¡­ just how extraordinary were they? I even heard from the Highlands that you were seen near the red soil forest riding a nine-tailed fox demon?" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Those things did happen. When I get a chance, I''ll invite you to my place as a guest and tell you all about it."


    Song Que nodded and said,


    "With this, you two can operate separately."


    "That''s what I was thinking. I can handle humans with my abilities, but for those mechanical bodies, we''ll need to rely on Tang Ao," Tang Xian replied.


    Song Que responded, "So let Tang Ao cause a big commotion elsewhere to attract fire, while you go to the prison to take Liu Lang away¡ªbut by doing so, the identity of the Masked Chopper Hero would be as good as confirmed."


    Song Que continued with a wry smile,


    "The first time you took away Li Xiaoyu, the second time Liu Lang, both have close ties to you, people are bound to speculate that the Masked Chopper Hero is you."


    Tang Xian didn''t think there was anything improper and said,


    "Isn''t that perfect? I have no intention of clearing my name in front of these lords. Letting them fear me a bit more wouldn''t be bad either. Besides, this way, no one would suspect you."


    ...


    ...


    Just like the last stealth operation, as soon as the two agreed and discussed all the details, they did not delay and started taking action.


    The efficiency of the two was very high.


    Now that the security checks were strict, Song Que''s power in the thirty-ninth fortress had quickly diminished a lot after the war.


    However, it was not difficult for him to take Tang Ao and Tang Xian to the second level.


    After reaching the second level, Tang Xian and Tang Ao blended in with the crowd. They didn''t immediately split up to act, as Tang Xian still had some things to remind him of.


    Song Que went to the sixth level to have a chat with Li Zheng. Although he didn''t need to create an alibi, it would be good if he could get some information out of Li Zheng''s mouth.


    On the second level, plenty of hunters could be seen, and occasionally, Tang Xian''s wanted poster would flash on the surrounding TV walls.


    Tang Xian first went to a deserted corner.


    It was in a corner alley of the clothing street on the second level.


    "Nineteen minutes'' walk from the prison. Tang Feiji, from now on, you''ll be mainly responsible for causing chaos around the mission hall. There''s only one requirement, no killing allowed. But the judgment knights are fair game," Tang Xian instructed.


    Tang Feiji nodded and left; the creatures within the Pyramid were too insignificant for him.


    Not killing them was more difficult than killing them, but just as easy.


    ...


    ...


    The alarm sounded, but Tang Xian did not immediately head for the prison.


    When all the spotlights on the ceilings were lit up, when the roar of the judgment knights came from outside and gradually moved away.


    Then he quietly equipped his mask from his prop bag and withdrew a cleaver.


    Months ago, Tang Xian had wondered¡ªit would surely be problematic for the humans if he stood on their opposing side, right?


    But this was the first time he truly confronted humans.


    Hideous, exaggerated laughter sounded, and Tang Xian frowned; Tang Fei''s laugh was a bit too lewd, lacking the charm of a jester.


    But coupled with Tang Fei''s immense strength, no one would find the smile problematic.


    Running through the streets with a mask on drew a lot of attention.


    Especially as reinforcements were continuously heading towards the chaotic area.


    Tang Xian was like swimming upstream against the tide formed by the large number of guards and hunters.


    Gradually, people took notice of Tang Xian.


    "The Masked Chopper Hero?"


    This name was no longer just a secret known to the evolutionary zone.


    Almost all hunters knew this title.


    Now, two massive stones hung over the heads of the high-leveled and talented ¨C two masks.


    One comical, one sinister.


    Today, both masks appeared together.


    "Are you working together?"


    Tang Xian wanted to say how small this world really was.


    The person standing in front of him was Jiang Ming, along with Jiang Ming''s new team members.


    Apart from them, more and more hunters and guards were arriving.


    While they couldn''t exert their talents within the Pyramid.


    But thanks to the fifty-first fortress''s weapon reform, human combat capabilities had improved.


    For a moment, countless crossbows were aimed at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Don''t get in my way. I''m more ferocious than that masked freak over there for you guys."


    "Are you guys working together? What''s your purpose here this time?" Jiang Ming asked again.


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    Tang Xian did not respond and continued forward.


    The thirty-ninth fortress is now the gathering place for hunters from the entire Federation, with a small portion of the severely injured hunters having been transported back to their original fortresses.


    But even now, there are tens of thousands of talented individuals in the thirty-ninth fortress.


    While they are unable to use their talents in the Pyramid, every one of them is a force to be reckoned with.

 Chapter 37 Becoming the Enemy of Thousands_2

    The longer the delay, the more troublesome it became.


    Tang Feiji had already drawn the attention of a large number of Judgment Knights.


    Tang Xian thought for a moment and realized that he would surely fight these people in the future, or he would definitely experience a battle standing against humanity.


    Lin Jue, the One-Eyed King, Gu Luo, Zhong Xiuran, Qin Qian, and many other hunters began to appear.


    Despite their fondness for Masked Chopper Hero, his presence here, alongside the masked monster, meant that the hunters and the guards could not turn a blind eye.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I''m with him, so what can you do about it? Kill me? If you think you can, go ahead and try. But I must warn you, it will be very painful."


    Tang Xian did not want to dawdle on the second floor.


    Facing a formidable enemy was like this; if one side didn''t make the first move, it was difficult for the other to do so.


    Tang Xian made his move.


    He launched into the Snake Stance.


    "Don''t think I won''t hit you just because you''re handsome!"


    The explosive power of the Snake Stance knocked Jiang Ming to the ground in an instant.


    It was like the signal to start a battle.


    Despite fearing the terrifying strength of Masked Chopper Hero, once the fight commenced, people could not afford to be afraid.


    They thought simply: inside Pyramid, the power of Masked Chopper Hero should be greatly reduced.


    Lin Jue swung his baseball bat.


    The One-Eyed King took quick aim.


    Zhong Xiuran looked at the crowd and, rather shamefully, stepped back a few paces.


    This was not his style of fighting, so he decided to act as if he had not seen Masked Chopper Hero.


    Gu Luo''s great sword swung too.


    In an instant, a dense crowd of hunters and guards began their assault.


    Tang Xian revealed a smile that nearly matched the one on his mask.


    "Today, I shall be the enemy of ten thousand!"


    With a flick of his finger, Lin Jue''s bat flew from his grasp. Tang Xian reduced his force with precise strikes, pulling his punches.


    Lin Jue, Qin Qian, Gu Luo¡ªthey were among the elite of hunters, and he did his best to restrain himself.


    Despite this, in the span of a mere second, his seemingly gentle moves had sent them flying several meters away.


    Gu Luo''s great sword landed with a thud on Lin Jue''s bat.


    Tang Xian looked at them, raised his index finger, and gently wagged it.


    But before he could finish his cool pose, a gap opened up in front of him, and immediately several throwing knives hurtled his way.


    Tang Xian''s mind raced, and he caught the flying knives with blazing speed.


    Having seen Akasi''s skills, catching knives thrown at such speed was a piece of cake for him.


    After catching the knives, Tang Xian tossed them back.


    At the same time, he unleashed the ability he had obtained from s004.


    The knives, on an incredibly unscientific trajectory, quickly returned to their previous users.


    Only they didn''t return to their sheaths but instead embedded themselves in their shoulders.


    Bang! The sound of gunfire erupted.


    Tang Xian touched the painful spot on his shoulder.


    Though his dynamic vision had greatly improved, he still couldn''t defend against a bullet fired from a gun.


    The moment the gunshot sounded, the hunters and guards preparing for close combat with Tang Xian swiftly backed off.


    They all drew their firearms.


    Tang Xian frowned and removed the bullet that had left a mark on his arm.


    The greatest damage a human tool could inflict on him was thirty percent of his life.


    But long ago, Tang Xian knew that unless someone bombed him with a super-destructive weapon now, it would be difficult to launch an effective attack against him.


    Because his life points were very high.


    And when it came to the speed of life recovery, perhaps not even calamity-level creatures could compare with him.


    He took a step forward.


    The sound of gunfire rang out again. This time it was several shots in succession.


    Soon it grew more frequent and intense.


    The rapid gunfire was like a violent storm.


    There were not many who fired, only a few, mainly the guards.


    The hunters intended to test their strength against the Masked Chopper Hero, not to kill him.


    After all, this man had saved most of the hunters present on different occasions.


    So they aimed to wound, not to kill. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But with such a large number, even if only a small fraction was attacking with firearms, they could turn a person into a sieve in an instant.


    Tang Xian hadn''t become a sieve; he used his palm to block the mask, while his other hand tried to catch bullets empty-handed.


    And he actually managed to catch a few. The bullets that hit him did not riddle him with holes but just lodged into his flesh¡ªhowever, they were quickly shaken off by the moving Masked Chopper Hero.


    This sight stunned everyone.


    "What kind of body is this? Made of iron? No... made of titanium alloy?"


    "Monster! Monster!"


    "Even his clothes can''t be penetrated... Is it because of the clothes?"


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    "No... I aimed for the head with every shot..."


    The hunters and guards unfolding the attack were all shocked by Tang Xian''s action of blocking bullets with his body.


    Tang Xian''s steps were not fast; only within the range of the ''serpent stance'' would he suddenly accelerate.


    But after repeating this a few times, the circle surrounding Tang Xian was stretched apart.


    No one dared to get close to Tang Xian.


    All over the ground of the second-floor street, there were various types of bullet casings.


    The downpour of bullets gradually decreased.


    Because people finally realized that this was a monster that gunfire couldn''t kill.


    The smile carved into the mask seemed even more ferocious.


    This encirclement lasted for about ten minutes.


    Some smart hunters gradually guessed where the Masked Chopper Hero was heading.


    Jailbreak.


    But even when they realized his purpose and motive, no one could do anything about the Masked Chopper Hero.


    They had never seen such a hardcore jailbreak.


    Facing the firepower of hundreds of people, nearly a thousand encircled him, he proceeded to jailbreak unscathed and with blatant audacity.


    "I need to remind you that I''m only here to take one prisoner away. If you continue to follow me, it''s very likely that the civilians over there will all die."


    After a pause, the Masked Chopper Hero said,


    "Don''t get me wrong, my friend doesn''t kill the weak or insects, just like I won''t kill you. Conversely, if you know what gratitude means, you should remember that I saved you.


    ''Just because he doesn''t kill people doesn''t mean the Knight of Judgment won''t accidentally injure someone.


    ''So, do you want to continue cosplaying as human fences in front of me meaninglessly, or will you choose to evacuate the civilians as much as possible? Don''t make me regret having saved you before."


    Ever since his voice was recognized by Song Que, Tang Xian had started using a falsetto voice after putting on the mask.


    His falsetto sounded as if he were straining his voice, sounding quite sinister as if he were a mad scientist obsessed with evil experiments.


    Yet these words still persuaded the group.


    When Tang Xian approached the prison gates, the hunters with no path of retreat finally chose to clear the way.


    Perhaps they were not swayed by Tang Xian''s words but overpowered by the sheer strength the Masked Chopper Hero had displayed¡ª


    they were physically convinced.


    With grappling claws shot out, Tang Xian easily flipped into the prison gates, waving to the hunters outside the gate.


    A gesture of farewell.


    After all, once he picked up Liu Lang, he planned to use a teleportation rift to head directly to the mining area, and then back to Baichuan City.


    But at this moment, Tang Xian could never have expected a blond, blue-eyed, bearded hunter to raise an RPG launcher and fire a rocket.


    The rocket exploded, blasting the door open instantly, and the explosion''s blast wave swept through in an instant.


    As this happened, the hunters nearby the prison reacted quickly, taking emergent measures.


    But even so, their bodies couldn''t keep up with the speed of the explosion''s reach, and people in the distance suddenly saw a hail of flesh and blood, and some surrounding hunters were seriously injured.


    Alarm bells rang in the prison instantly.


    The hunters and guards all looked towards the prison gate.


    Through the flames, a figure emerged from the inferno, the mask burned and twisted.


    Although Tang Xian protected it with his hands, the high temperature melted it.


    He did not take off the mask but silently picked up a bullet.


    With a slight flick.


    The bullet instantly traversed the forehead of the hunter holding the rocket launcher at breakneck speed.


    "Ten seconds. If you are still here, I''ll kill you all."


    The bone-chilling voice instilled deep fear in the hunters'' souls.


    Tang Xian''s expression also completely changed, he paused beside the affected hunters, bent down, closed their eyes, and said:


    "Ten."


    "Nine."


    The crowd scattered abruptly, the person who emerged from the explosion and smoke still unharmed.


    Seeing this, no one had any courage left to oppose him.


    But by the count of four, everyone had already dispersed.


    Tang Xian stood up, eyes showing a hint of desolation, he twisted his neck, then turned and headed into the prison.

 Chapter 38 A Friendly Jailbreak

    The explosion drew the attention of the entire prison''s defenses to the change taking place at the main gate.


    However, the sight of the hunters retreating and the masked man emerging from the flames truly instilled fear in the prison guards.


    Tang Xian approached one of the guards.


    The guard was so scared that his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.


    Tang Xian said, puzzled:


    "Don''t be afraid, I''m a good guy. I just want to ask if you have the key to cell 446."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that although his mask was a bit melted, its smile should still be bright and sunny, and he was being so gentle and amiable, there was no reason for the other party to tremble.


    "I''m not some devil; I''m just here to break out of prison. Don''t be nervous, let''s be reasonable; I''m easy to deal with. Just give me the key."


    As Tang Xian spoke, he gently patted the guard, without adding any unsurpassable force.


    But the guard was still scared out of his wits, and tremblingly said: Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "There is... there is... with... with the warden."


    "Much appreciated. Where''s the warden?"


    "He''s... he''s patrolling the prison."


    "Alright, my friend, you look pale and your lips are white. Could it be that you''ve caught a cold? I''m someone who repays kindness. How about I carry you to the infirmary?"


    "I can do it myself! I can do it myself!" The guard stood up with a duang and ran off.


    As he ran, the other guards also fled.


    Tang Xian pondered that he had only killed one person just now.


    And that was because the person had misused a weapon of mass destruction and had harmed innocent hunters, so he got what he deserved.


    There was no reason for them to be so afraid of him.


    "Had I known I''d be this unpopular, I would have changed to Song Que''s mask," Tang Xian grumbled as he walked into the prison''s inner courtyard.


    Inside the inner courtyard, Tang Xian found that the two-story prison was built too complexly.


    It was like a maze, so he headed over to the command center. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Normally, there would only be two people on duty in the command center, but it was crowded with people.


    When Tang Xian pushed open the door, the guards almost wished they could huddle together.


    "Am I that scary? Folks, don''t be nervous. I''m just here to ask for directions, or does this place have a full surveillance map?"


    No one answered Tang Xian, and he felt a bit awkward.


    So he took a look at the command center''s monitors himself and, by adjusting the surveillance cameras, Tang Xian committed all the rough routes to memory.


    When he left, he remembered to nod slightly to show his gratitude and even closed the door politely behind him.


    Tang Xian thought that the Masked Chopper Hero should leave a good impression on the masses.


    Then, along the way, he encountered some obstacles. But after witnessing Tang Xian single-handedly driving away all the hunters of the fortress and emerging from the center of a rocket explosion, these people gave up resisting and struggling.


    The more polite Tang Xian appeared, the more they felt that the Masked Chopper Hero was a pervert.


    This left Tang Xian with a sense of powerlessness.


    He was just trying to break out of prison in a friendly manner.


    After scaring off guard after guard, Tang Xian finally reached the prison area with the key in hand.


    At last, he saw friendly and enthusiastic faces.


    And not just a few.


    "Brother, you''re amazing! Where''d you buy that scorched mask?" shouted a man with a scar across his face from behind the iron bars.


    "Hey there, little brother, can you open the door to this cell for me? Let me tell you, I have unique escape skills," said a bespectacled man with a sleazy appearance.


    "Give it a rest, you. The one who got caught and dragged back here last time you tried to escape was you," huffed a muscular brute.


    "Brother, how did you get here? Can you let me out? Just so you know, I''m actually a wealthy merchant from the fifth level. All my assets are hidden there. If you let me out, we can split it fifty-fifty!"


    "Fifty-fifty with whom? You think we don''t know about the stuff you had when you came in? Just a mining pickaxe, and now you claim to be a wealthy merchant from the fifth level? Blowing your own trumpet without a score. Big bro, look over here. That bunch of keys in your hand is for opening these cells, right? Let me out and I''ll reciprocate the favor by changing your life."


    Tang Xian just smiled wryly.


    In the second level cells, each prisoner''s crimes were actually quantified.


    That is, sinfulness and credit rating.


    At the entrance to the cells, there were two colored numbers: the red number represented credit value, and the black number represented sinfulness.


    All these people had committed very serious crimes. Of course, even without these numbers, Tang Xian could tell the nature of these people from the value of good and evil in their eyes.


    He felt gratified.


    Even if the labor reform hadn''t changed their nature, at least they had all learned to be humble.


    Such friendly and adorable murderers. In this passionate area of serious crime, Tang Xian finally felt welcome.


    It was just a pity that their values of good and evil still needed improvement, and Tang Xian couldn''t convince himself to let them out.


    After walking through the cell area for a while, Tang Xian saw Liu Lang, head down, writing the character for "correct" as a record of his days in the cell.


    "What are you doing? The character ''correct'' isn''t supposed to be written on the walls of a cell. It should be written on the thigh of the girl you love, constantly reminding her to be an upright and righteous person," Tang Xian chided.


    Hearing this voice, Liu Lang suddenly tensed up, turned his head, and looked incredulously at the masked man before him.


    "Tang¡ª"


    "Shh!" Tang Xian gestured for silence and smiled, saying:


    "Boss Liu, it seems our destinies are intertwined."


    Liu Lang was to be sent to the eighth level tomorrow. With each passing minute, he knew the possibility of being taken out of there diminished by a fraction.

 Chapter 38 Friendly Jailbreak_2

    Although Song Que had given him hope, Tang Xian lacked telepathy¡ªhow could he know he was in danger?


    The less time that remained, the more desperate he became. Yet now, the man in the mask looked somewhat disheveled, his mask scorched and twisted out of shape. But when he appeared, Liu Lang truly felt as if he had been given a shot of adrenaline.


    Knowing Tang Xian''s abilities, Liu Lang understood that seeing this man meant he had survived!


    "I need to go meet up with my partner soon."


    As he spoke, Tang Xian opened the prison door.


    He then handed the portable teleportation rift to Liu Lang.


    "You will be teleported to my base. I need to conduct an experiment, and I want you to stay there for seven days."


    "The mining area? For seven days? I''ll die."


    "The rules of the mining area won''t let a person die immediately, but indeed, you can''t return through the teleportation rift on your own when this world expels you."


    "What do you mean?" Liu Lang asked, confused.


    Tang Xian said in a low voice:


    "Your physical abilities will be restricted, and then you''ll wait for death little by little. But I will appear on the sixth day, and at that time, I will help you. If you too suffer backlash from the seven-day rule, I will take you to my world."


    "I don''t quite understand, what are you trying to test?"


    "I want to test if pure humans without gifted genes, the non-orderly ones, will be rejected by the mining area. I can ensure your safety¡ªplease trust me."


    Liu Lang was stunned, never expecting Tang Xian to have such a crazy idea.


    The mining area was a domain active with gifted individuals; this concept had taken deep root in people''s souls.


    No one had ever considered that non-gifted individuals could survive in the mining area for seven days.


    But since Tang Xian said so, Liu Lang didn''t hesitate and replied:


    "My life was saved by you, so what''s the harm in participating in a life-risking experiment with you? But I have a small request."


    Tang Xian spoke in a lowered voice:


    "I already know your girlfriend''s contact information through Song Que. Don''t worry, I''ll arrange for her to be picked up. Tsk tsk, such a lolicon."


    "Cough cough cough¡­" Liu Lang''s face turned red as he pretended to look around at the scenery.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "Take care, do not leave the house. Although the animals there are docile, you are still an ordinary person without gifts. There are enough food supplies in the house for you to last until I arrive. As long as you don''t leave the house, there will be no danger, remember that."


    Liu Lang nodded and said:


    "One does not thank for great kindness."


    The rift opened and then closed.


    After watching Liu Lang leave, Tang Xian had completed today''s tasks.


    It was time for him to leave as well.


    At that moment, an alarm sounded throughout the prison area.


    Prisoners had tried to escape through teleportation rifts in the past.


    Thus, although the prison area could not prevent the use of rifts, it could detect the energy fluctuations at the opening of a rift and respond to emergencies.


    Red alarm lights blinked throughout the prison area.


    The inmates, who had not seen such a scene in a long time, were blowing whistles madly, shouting excitedly. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But their excitement did not last long before they quieted down.


    "What''s happening? Red alert, an escape! Why haven''t the guards come?"


    "Hey you, the one over there, yes, you with the mask, how did you do it? Why aren''t the guards showing up?"


    There had been red alerts before. While the prisoners were undergoing their labor reformation, some would attempt to flee.


    Once an escape attempt was detected, the alert would be triggered.


    And then, within minutes, nearly a thousand guards would swarm in.


    The scene was always spectacular.


    But today, not a single guard showed up.


    Tang Xian said somewhat lonesomely:


    "Perhaps I am just not very popular with the guards... They don''t even bother with me when there''s a jailbreak. Life is tough for me."


    Tang Xian grieved deeply.


    The group of prisoners exchanged glances.


    ...


    ...


    The seventh layer.


    As the warning lights on the second level''s ceiling flickered, Li Wanye observed the entire second level through the surveillance cameras installed there.


    His expression was grim.


    The masked figure, the Masked Chopper Hero.


    These two masked individuals had become a major concern of his.


    Li Wanye was indeed an excellent fortress lord.


    He was deeply cunning, experienced in manipulation, and he thought of everything. Furthermore, he knew how to make use of various people effectively.


    He was not like Song Que, who abhorred evil so vehemently.


    He believed that if a person was too kind, they would have weaknesses that could be exploited by others.


    Similarly, a person who was too greedy could be exploited as well.


    Therefore, he liked those who were kind and honest but did not reject associations with those who were corrupt.


    The presence of the masked figure greatly impacted his connections on the other side.


    As for the identity of the Masked Chopper Hero, Li Wanye had already found out.


    The simultaneous appearance of the two masked individuals also convinced him that these two were working together.


    He furrowed his brows, his left hand touching the ring on his right hand as he issued commands.


    Li Wanye once had his own principles.


    He truly and sincerely wanted what was best for all humanity.


    That''s why, in the past, he did not like to deal with the Evolution Zone.


    But after the appearance of the Judgment Knights and, especially after acknowledging the method of their creation, he saw the power they wielded.


    Li Wanye began to change.


    No matter how intelligent a person is, they can be brought low and make mistakes due to greed.


    Even Tang Xian had moments when he risked danger for the sake of meat, and the "meat" that Li Wanye offered had even more value to make him take risks.


    Now, Li Wanye was focused solely on conquering the mining areas. He wanted to acquire as many resources as possible so that humanity could inhabit higher levels.


    Judgment Knights were continuously sent to the second level.


    At the same time, Li Wanye made a phone call.


    "Excellent, respected Lord Li, the world''s number one lord! I have seen the chaos on your fortress''s second level, and I presume you''re calling to agree to the cooperation we proposed earlier, right?" The voice at the other end of the phone sounded old but was cheerful and even manic.


    "I agree. But on the condition that you can prove your worth. The Masked Chopper Hero, I want to see his corpse," said Li Wanye calmly, in contrast.


    "No problem, though my little ones are all crazy. They are monsters sealed in cocoons with an overly high synchrony rate. Once I release them, they won''t stop killing until I retrieve them, which isn''t easy. After all, it''s simple to let the tiger out, but difficult to lock it back up. But for the sake of justice, for the future of humanity, you wouldn''t mind, prestigious lordly sir, would you?"


    "I will issue the order to disperse the residents, but you must also retrieve them as quickly as possible after the battle ends."


    "Deal, just watch."


    After hanging up the phone, Li Wanye''s eyes flashed with a touch of ferocity.


    He did not like the Evolution Zone; those people were like stepping beyond their bounds, attempting to do what only gods should do.


    Only the Orderlies had such power.


    Li Wanye hoped that these ultimate monsters from the Evolution Zone would clash with the Masked Chopper Hero, resulting in mutual destruction.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian walked out of the prison, politely returning the keys and once again, amidst the trembling crowd, expressing his amity.


    Tang Feiji could sense his presence.


    Tang Xian didn''t bother with him and let him dismantle the Judgment Knight on his own.


    He hadn''t left directly through the crevice because he wanted to contact Ke.


    Tang Xian speculated that the seed of the Zudun Sacred Tree must have undergone significant changes.


    Besides, he had to pick up Liu Lang''s little girlfriend who had struck it rich over three years.


    Things seemed to pile up.


    He didn''t want to delay, but just outside the prison, a row of things like cocoons appeared suddenly.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    The panel feedback indicated that these were humans.


    The fact that humans were sealed off like insect cocoons, this method reminded Tang Xian of the Evolution Zone.


    The cocoon threads slowly withdrew, and the creatures inside the massive cocoons started to stir.


    Tang Xian took out his cleaver and stood firmly at the entrance of the prison:


    "It seems there are still some leeks I forgot to harvest." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 39 False Monsters and True Monsters

    There were a total of twelve cocoons.


    The first one to break out of his cocoon was a tall and burly black man.


    He had no eyebrows or hair, as if he had undergone long-term chemotherapy.


    His eyes were filled with chaos, and his skin was covered with lash marks.


    There was a number on his forehead, ss-006.


    The second to break out was a man with silver hair like Akasi''s, slightly curly, with handsome features that made him look like a pretty boy straight out of a comic book.


    There was a faint sadness in his eyes, and he seemed somewhat panicked, presumably because the sticky liquid inside the cocoon made him uncomfortable, but he didn''t look angry; instead, he showed a face filled with fear and sorrow.


    Perhaps for the sake of aesthetics, his number was not etched on his forehead but on his arm.


    It was only when he swung his arm that Tang Xian saw the number, ss-000.


    The twelve cocoons gradually opened.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry.


    He saw a Middle Eastern man whose bones could be pulled out of his body.


    He also saw an old man holding a Tang sword.


    A man with a snake-face, and a man with hair like a lion''s mane.


    But among them, only the old man with the Tang sword had an ss-grade number.


    The freaks emerging from the other cocoons looked formidable, one after the other, but they were all part of the s series.


    Their eyes trembled incessantly.


    It was only after several seconds that they gradually recovered.


    Then their gaze focused on Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was certain that these people, like Tang Suoye, had mutated due to an overdose of serum injections.


    They all looked like offspring of monsters and humans.


    However, the three ss-grade subjects looked the most normal in appearance.


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    "When did the Evolution Zone start amassing so many freaks?" Tang Xian said.


    Tang Xian was sure these people all had serious mental issues.


    Unlike s-004 he had seen earlier, their being sealed in cocoons likely signified their uncontrollable behavior.


    There was no answer; the man with the silver curly hair crouched down, hugging his head, seemingly afraid of the upcoming fight. He was trembling, muttering to himself continuously:


    "Don''t kill me... don''t kill me... don''t kill me..."


    Responding to Tang Xian at this moment was the freak with arms like mantis scythes.


    His slicing was clean enough to cut through a building, and he approached Tang Xian at an extremely fast speed.


    Tang Xian looked like an unguarded lamb, oblivious even as the wolf bore down on him.


    The scythe glowed as though the Soul Crystal had been directly implanted into his scythe-like arm.


    The terrifying force combined with the sharp weapon made everyone wait for the masked man to be severed.


    But Tang Xian, calmly, caught the blade between two fingers.


    The onlooking subjects watched the scene in disbelief.


    The man with the scythe arm tried to break free but was horrified to find he could not.


    He laughed and said,


    "Attempting the impossible¡ªthis phrase couldn''t be more fitting right now."


    With a flip of his hand, Tang Xian snapped the subject''s bones.


    The agonizing howl made the other subjects halt.


    Tang Xian lifted the chin of the scythe man, making him meet his gaze, while also inspecting some of the wounds on his body.


    "Injected with Anai multiple times, but still, your ferocity hasn''t been erased; in other words, instability."


    Tang Xian then tore off the man''s scythe arm.


    Mechanical cables and blood tangled together.


    He frowned and said,


    "Forceful serum injections can lead to energy overload and death, yet the idea of redirecting energy into a mechanical vessel is a good one, albeit too anti-human." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The rest of the subjects were confused¡ªis this guy performing a dissection on the spot?


    Tang Xian wasn''t dissecting on the spot; regarding these subjects, he no longer had any secrets he wanted to uncover.


    So he kicked the mantis man away with one foot.


    The previously fearsome mantis man now looked like a scrapped piece of machinery.


    At that moment, the burly hairless giant made his move.


    The terrifying stature made Tang Xian think the giant was a brute force type, but his speed was shockingly fast.


    Not much different from Akasi.


    In high-speed movement, the black giant looked for Tang Xian''s weak points.


    The old man with the Tang sword gave a signal, and the snake-faced man, the lion-maned man, and the bone man all began their attack.


    The flexible-bodied snake-faced man tried to coil his softened and elongated body around Tang Xian.


    The bone man pulled out his own spine, which, though clearly human bone, had the luster of metal.


    The lion-maned man simply crouched, seeming to brew a beastly roar in his throat.


    At the same time, the Tang sword flashed.


    The black figure also closed in on Tang Xian instantly.


    In that instant, all kinds of lethal attacks landed on him.


    The snake-faced man''s body became even more distorted, wrapping Tang Xian up like a line, effectively locking him within a certain range.


    Metallic bones pierced towards Tang Xian''s chest.


    A punch forceful enough to rival a perfect biological strike hit Tang Xian''s neck.


    A succession of sword flashes, the overflowing sword qi even divided the prison gate behind Tang Xian into several parts.


    In a mere moment, Tang Xian faced an assault that was more than ten times stronger than the previous one from the scythe man.


    The group of monsters attacked swiftly, but they seemed to recognize Tang Xian''s strength as well.


    They were usually released in laboratories with the highest security and confinement; this was the first time they had engaged in combat outside the Evolution Zone.


    Especially after witnessing the mantis man''s crushing defeat, no one dared to take it lightly.

 Chapter 39 False Monsters and True Monsters_2

    They struck and immediately retreated.


    Swiftly withdrawing from the battlefield.


    Yet, the bone-man''s bones were still grasped by Tang Xian.


    "Is this high-speed regeneration? The serum injected into you, it shouldn''t be from an animal, but from a plant, the serum of Hundred-Handed Wood, right? Your bones are branching like twigs; it looks like you are extending your spine, but in fact, you are only using the spine as the main branch to grow other branches."


    As his words fell, Tang Xian, triggered by his serpent-stance, burst forth with astonishing speed.


    He appeared instantly behind the bone-man and then viciously smashed a punch into his spine.


    Crack.


    The sound of breaking bones was not loud, but every subject in the vicinity heard it.


    "Hundred-Handed Wood is a very tough plant, capable of surviving for a long time. Even if its branches are continuously broken, it can quickly regrow. But if the stump is cut, there is no coming back."


    The bone-man fell to the ground, convulsing continuously.


    A layer of fear shrouded the hearts of every subject. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The combined attack of two SS-level and several S-level individuals had just failed to harm the masked man, not even slightly.


    This made them wonder, could this masked man possess strength greater than that of a disaster-level creature?


    The snake-faced man rapidly constricted, binding Tang Xian like a rope.


    The lion-haired man let out a deafening roar.


    The sound waves were like an air cannon compressed to the extreme.


    Tang Xian did not dodge, as he was currently pretending to play a bound man.


    Even though the snakelike creature thought it had bound him tightly.


    But Tang Xian felt no pressure of being tied.


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    He was simply cooperating with the performance.


    What does it feel like to be hit by a fierce air blast?


    To Tang Xian, it probably felt like a gentle breeze brushing his face.


    Although the hapless prison gates behind him once again suffered destructive repercussions.


    After the lion''s roar ended, the others were still immersed in the lingering shock of the previous round.


    An S-level attack was not able to harm Tang Xian¡ªit was no longer surprising, after all, even the combined attack of these subjects had not injured him.


    The elder Tang with the sword spoke:


    "What kind of serum have you injected? Why do you possess such formidable defensive power?"


    Tang Xian nodded, giving the elder an appreciative look, and said:


    "Out of the three SS-level individuals, you seem much more lucid and normal than the others, it seems like a more perfect subject. If I''m not mistaken, the recovery of these subjects is your responsibility, right?"


    The elder was startled.


    Tang Xian continued, "But first I can''t answer your question, I need to deal with this bowl of wide noodles."


    Tang Xian then stretched out and freed himself from the snake-faced man binding him.


    The snake-faced man looked at Tang Xian in disbelief, then started to continuously soften his body.


    Tang Xian was surprised to find that he couldn''t tear apart this creature that resembled a bowl of wide noodles.


    Its body was too flexible, so no matter how much he pulled or tore, it would only stretch longer and never break.


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "This is a classic case of softness overcoming hardness. You are quite impressive."


    He felt somewhat troubled.


    But the snake-faced man was in more trouble, unspeakable trouble.


    Continuously softening his body was also a burden.


    The longer and more flexible the body became, the harder it was to control, because the body could be stretched indefinitely, but the mass would not change.


    The longer it became, the hollower it felt.


    Tang Xian seemed to have noticed this, kept pulling, and eventually, the snake-faced man passed out.


    His body, stretching tens of meters, was like duckweed in water, dandelion fluff scattered in the air¡ªblow gently, and it would drift far away uncontrollably.


    The rest had never seen the snake-faced man stretched to the limit and then faint.


    ...


    ...


    Lincoln Fortress, the sixth level.


    As an entity second only to the thirty-nine fortresses, Lincoln Fortress actually surpassed the thirty-nine in all aspects before the Li family began to develop the eighth level.


    Now that it became truly second, the people at Lincoln Fortress began to take risks.


    In the Pentagon on the sixth level, Kennedy looked at the data of these evolutionary zone creatures, his brow furrowed.


    He had not anticipated that the Evolutionary Zone could conduct such cruel experiments.


    Creatures with bones like tree branches, bodies that could grow at will, beasts like lions... and numerous others.


    And the Swordsmen who could cut through anything, the SS-level subjects perfect in strength and speed, and the telekinetics who could move heavy objects in the Pyramid with their minds.


    Kennedy was certain that without the Judges, the people of the Evolutionary Zone would sooner or later become a nightmare for all fortresses worldwide.


    The monsters they created were already formidable in the Pyramid; those few SS-level creatures were even stronger than the Judges.


    If they were to go to the mining area, it would be even more terrifying.


    While vigilant of the Evolutionary Zone, he was also somewhat relieved.


    As long as they possessed these monsters, they could confront the thirty-nine fortresses and weaken their control over the entire Federation.


    After all, living creatures are more flexible than Judges, which is a significant advantage.


    At the same time, this time, he believed that the creatures from the Evolutionary Zone would make an impact in the thirty-nine fortresses.


    He did not know who was truly behind the Evolutionary Zone, but as one of its biggest sponsors, Kennedy believed that the market for the strongest warriors would not be monopolized by the Judges after this battle.

 Chapter 39 False Monsters and True Monsters_3

    Kennedy continued to look at other projects in the Evolution Zone, those that were still in the conceptual phase of SSS-rank projects.


    Currently, only one experimental subject might have reached SSS-rank. That was the little girl who had been kidnapped from the second fortress.


    According to information from all sources, the little girl that appeared at the Hunting Festival was very likely that SSS-rank.


    Her abilities already bore the shadow of a disaster-level power.


    However, Kennedy wasn''t able to look much longer as his phone rang.


    "Dr. Chen, what is it that''s important enough for you to call me personally?"


    "Respected Lord, I''m afraid... I have to bring you some bad news."


    "What''s wrong? Did something happen with the experimental projects?"


    "No... it''s not that, it''s the experimental subjects we provided to Fortress 39..."


    "What happened to these subjects? Did they cause a lot of damage? Isn''t that a good thing?" Kennedy said with a smile as he rolled his cigar.


    "They''ve been wiped out."


    "What?"


    "I am very sorry, Lord... The experimental subjects were all wiped out by the masked man."


    The cigar, just placed in his mouth, fell to the ground as Kennedy said in shock: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Three SS-rank, nine S-rank... all wiped out?"


    "Yes... according to the feedback from the scouts at Fortress 39... the battle ended within a few minutes. All the experimental subjects... were torn apart... and there was no way to recover them. Furthermore..."


    Kennedy did not hang up the phone, but he also paid no attention to what Dr. Chen was saying afterward.


    This doctor was a senior member of the Evolution Zone, responsible for projects involving A-rank experimental subjects and above.


    Kennedy''s mood hit rock bottom.


    Although there were still many outstanding experimental subjects in the Evolution Zone, and a legion of monsters could be created by cloning these subjects,


    one most crucial subject had been sent out.


    This subject was the closest to an SSS-rank existence.


    He pounded the desk, cursing Dr. Chen''s incompetence.


    ...


    ...


    The Tang blade wielded by the old man was broken, and all the joints in his limbs were dislocated.


    The black giant had died after his neck was twisted 360 degrees.


    As for the other S-rank subjects, since none of them resembled humans, their manner of death was particularly gruesome.


    Relatively speaking, the two SS-rank subjects died in a more dignified manner.


    If someone had witnessed this battle, they might initially think that the masked man was facing a group of terrifying monsters. But soon, they would realize that the only real monster present was him.


    Tang Xian''s steps were slow, as Tang Feiji on the second floor''s opposite end was clearly more capable of attracting firepower. His sense of smell indicated guards were on their way, but they were still some distance from this location.


    Now only one experimental subject was still alive.


    It was the handsome young man with curly silver hair.


    He clutched his head, his teeth chattering, continuously repeating, "Don''t kill me... don''t kill me... don''t kill me..."


    Evidently, according to the code number, this young man should have been the strongest one, but he was extremely afraid and seemed as if he hadn''t taken any action from beginning to end.


    Tang Xian observed for a while and said, "Your ability is telekinesis, right? You probably used it on me from the start, but when you found out it was ineffective against me, you gave up. You are likely the most rational and powerful among all the experimental subjects."


    "But that''s also why you understand the fear of death, the gap in strength between you and me. That''s why after discovering that telekinesis didn''t work on me, you''ve been hiding here all this time."


    The young man froze, ceasing his trembling.


    He then began to chant the words "don''t kill me, don''t kill me" even faster.


    Tang Xian said with a smile:


    "Your level of evolutionary completion is the highest, your body retains every characteristic of humanity, only with pure strength enhancement. Perhaps the only thing off is this hair of yours."


    "You should feel lucky that you haven''t turned into a monster like them. I have a friend who is quite similar to you, only she''s worse off because her eyes have been monstrified and she has lost human language. Your physical changes should be similar to Akasi''s, with only your hair changed. Did you lose any other abilities?"


    The young man lifted his head, looking incredulously at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s gaze was not gentle, but it lacked any killing intent.


    "You don''t need to be afraid of me. I killed them in self-defense. Understand what I mean by justifiable self-defense?"


    The young man didn''t quite understand, but after a long while, he said in a trembling voice:


    "I... lost some emotions; I can''t feel anger or joy."


    This revelation took Tang Xian by surprise.


    ```


    To obtain the power of a monster, one must pay a price.


    Tang Suoye gained the Eye of Eden, yet he lost his ability to speak.


    This boy''s power must also be telekinesis, perhaps different from Tang Suoye''s, but his strength must be considerable. However, he too had paid a price.


    He had lost the emotions of anger and joy.


    "How old are you?"


    "Fourteen."


    "I won''t kill you, but I''ll give you a choice. You can continue to return to the Evolution Zone, let those people continue to experiment on you, and you might become even more powerful, but eventually, you will lose all your emotions one by one," Tang Xian said with a more serious expression.


    "The second option is to follow me. For a long time, you will be an enemy of humanity. But I will help you regain these emotions, and I will protect you. Anger isn''t a good emotion, but without it, life is very uninteresting, not to mention, your joy has been taken from you."


    The boy looked at Tang Xian, confused, and asked:


    "Why... do you want to help me?" He didn''t understand.


    As a monster of the Evolution Zone, he was the strongest of them all, and also the loneliest.


    Unlike Tang Suoye''s passive loss of speech.


    The boy''s emotions had been artificially removed.


    The people of the Evolution Zone originally intended to take away his shock and fear.


    To make him a fearless fighting monster.


    But they accidentally removed other emotions instead. The removal of these two emotions made the boy''s other emotions even more exaggerated.


    He easily became sad and frightened.


    But before the researchers in the Evolution Zone could operate again, someone proposed that fear could better dominate him.


    In the end, they didn''t further remove his emotions.


    Tang Xian didn''t know why he suddenly wanted to help the boy, perhaps it was upon hearing of the missing emotions.


    "Made up your mind? Before new guards arrive, it''s best to give me an answer. I''m leaving soon. Are you willing to come with me, or stay in the Evolution Zone?"


    The boy didn''t take long to think; he nodded and said:


    "I''ll go with you."


    "Do you have a name?"


    "I''m called Zero."


    "I mean, the earliest name in your memory. Can you remember it?"


    The boy was stunned, his eyes showing confusion.


    He began to recall memories of being locked in a cage.


    Those memories had grown very blurry. Under Anai''s influence, many painful and sinful past events were erased.


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    Including some very important people, who were also wiped away. Not just the memories, but truly eradicated.


    He had even witnessed such scenes.


    The small girl about to be cleaned looked at him quietly, her gaze as if it had the power to soothe the soul.


    Her synchronization rate couldn''t exceed four percent; being in the same zone as him, she was inevitably deemed defective.


    Beside her were a group of staff, and the boy didn''t know why the staff allowed him to watch the disposal of the defective products.


    The staff nearby were recording his expressions on documents.


    "Yuanwu, don''t cry," the little girl left just these words before she was thrown into the reactor.


    The boy didn''t cry. After all, he didn''t know the girl, and he was used to seeing the disposal of defects in the experimental zone, so there wasn''t much emotional disturbance.


    The staff seemed very satisfied with the boy''s reaction, convinced the memory wipe was successful.


    But the last words, Yuanwu, don''t cry, appeared in his dreams like a curse.


    His fear and sadness intensified.


    Those words took root and grew in the depths of his soul, always expanding in his dreams until they bloomed, and he dreamed of his past with the small girl.


    Sadness filled the boy''s eyes:


    "My name is Yuanwu."


    Tang Xian had intended to suggest that if he couldn''t remember his name, he might as well be called Tang Zheng, but knowing some of the things about the Evolution Zone, he understood how difficult it was to have a name in that place.


    What Tang Suoye was guarding was his name.


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "Yuanwu, from today on, you will be with me."


    (I''m busy tonight... If I don''t drink, I''ll come back and update, but if I do drink, there''s nothing I can do~)


    ```

 Chapter 40 Packed-Up Girlfriend and Tang Jikede

    Tang Xian didn''t expect the child to be very loyal, but a person who had been abused would quickly become dependent once they lived the life of a normal person.


    It didn''t matter whether Yuan Wu was motivated by fear or a genuine desire to escape.


    Tang Xian simply wanted to take the child with him.


    But Yuan Wu suddenly thought of something, shaking his head sadly:


    "I can''t escape... Sir, I can''t escape."


    Tang Xian frowned slightly, not having forgotten this particular issue, but it was troublesome to deal with at the current time.


    "There must be a tracker in your spine, right?"


    Yuan Wu nodded incredulously, looking at Tang Xian.


    "Good, I haven''t been to the 51st Fortress in a long time."


    Yuan Wu didn''t understand, and Tang Xian patted his shoulder, saying:


    "Don''t worry, with me here, the Evolution Zone won''t be able to find you. There were two people from the Evolution Zone before, but now they are safe and will never be found, living very freely."


    Tang Xian walked calmly, and Yuan Wu hurried to keep up, looking ahead, then said in panic:


    "Do we... do we have to kill these guards now?"


    In the distance, the shapes of guards could be seen coming in groups, but although Tang Xian and Yuan Wu had spotted them, they hadn''t noticed Tang Xian and were heading towards the direction of the prison.


    Tang Xian shook his head:


    "Different sides, just following orders, unlike those bounty hunters who are after the reward. Speaking of which, what is your ability?"


    Yuan Wu was still a bit scared, but he still said timidly:


    "My ability... it''s ugly, people will die."


    "Ugly?"


    Yuan Wu didn''t know how to explain why it was ugly, as he had no target to release his power on.


    After thinking for a moment, Tang Xian''s nose twitched slightly, and he pointed to a nearby house, saying:


    "There''s no one inside, can you demonstrate?"


    Yuan Wu asked, "Are you sure there''s no one inside? People will die... "


    "Try to trust me." Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Yuan Wu nodded. In the fortress without wind, his curly silver hair moved on its own, and his gaze focused on that box-like little house.


    The change in the house was simple.


    It was as if an invisible force was haphazardly squeezing the geometrically aesthetic object.


    Just like a piece of paper being crumpled into a ball.


    The house, made with ordinary reinforced concrete, should have shattered under pressure, but it didn''t.


    The moment it was enveloped by telekinesis, the building seemed to become malleable, maintaining its shape regardless of how much it was twisted and warped.


    When the telekinesis dissipated, the house had become an indescribable shape.


    Strangely, even though the material hadn''t changed, it maintained this peculiar form without collapsing.


    It was as if the house had originally been made in a similarly distorted mold.


    Tang Xian''s pupils constricted:


    "This is indeed a rare ability, impressive."


    He thought if it weren''t for his immunity to human abilities, would this child have crumpled him into a ball?


    Non-living things could change shape in any way, but living beings, if distorted, would suffer a fatal blow.


    Yuan Wu halted, feeling somewhat ashamed. In the Evolution Zone, no matter how well he did, it was never enough.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Can it be restored?"


    Yuan Wu nodded.


    Restoring the house was much simpler than randomly crumpling the structure into an unknown shape.


    He focused his telekinesis again, and soon the house was restored.


    As if a crumpled piece of paper had become as fresh as new.


    Everything was as if nothing had happened, the little house was back to its original state.


    "Incredible, really incredible."


    Tang Xian suddenly realized he had found a treasure.


    Tang Suoye''s telekinesis was good for transportation, while Yuan Wu''s was good for transformation.


    With more exposure to architectural design, outside the Pyramid, he would be an unrivaled builder.


    Yuan Wu stared blankly at Tang Xian, receiving praise for the first time, momentarily at a loss.


    He should be happy, but he just couldn''t manage to smile, becoming even more flustered. He wanted to explain that he wasn''t actually panicking right now.


    Tang Xian considerately said:


    "I understand what you mean. But the guards will arrive soon, let''s go."


    Lifting Yuan Wu, Tang Xian fired his grappling hook, moving through the second layer of towering buildings.


    On the other side of the second layer, Tang Feiji was vigorously tearing through the continuous stream of arriving Judgment Knights.


    His strength clearly surpassed these machines, like a tiger among sheep.


    But there were problems.


    The Judgment Knights kept coming from other places endlessly.


    Even though in Tang Feiji''s eyes attributes like strength, speed, defense, and so on were nearly negligible, the Judgment Knights still caused him some trouble.


    Those terrifying rays hit Tang Feiji twice. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Each time he was hit, Tang Feiji felt his vitality drop significantly.


    But what was most alarming was that the injuries, which normally would heal visibly to the naked eye, had suddenly stopped recovering.


    The rays were fast, Tang Feiji was faster, but it was problematic with Judgment Knights dying in one wave only to be replaced by another.


    And with so many, it was inevitable he would get hit occasionally.


    If he used his elemental abilities, he could easily eradicate these judges, as they were not on the same level.

 Chapter 40 Packed-Up Girlfriend and Tang Jikede_2

    ```


    But this was tantamount to creating a catastrophe. The upper echelons might be fine, but the second and first layers might be destroyed by an overwhelmingly terrifying force.


    This would cause a large number of non-combatant casualties. Tang Xian wouldn''t allow him to do this.


    Fortunately, Tang Feiji had felt some trouble brewing, and Tang Xian had arrived just in time.


    A vast darkness descended in an instant, as if the night had fallen from the sky.


    This was the signal. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Feiji unexpectedly felt a tinge of fatigue.


    Fighting with hands tied in a place full of humans was one thing.


    These Judgment Knights weren''t very strong, but even so, Tang Feiji, as a powerful member of the Dragon Clan, couldn''t bear too many hits from that ray.


    If it were any other perfect being, any attack wouldn''t even necessitate dodging.


    Yet the Judgment Knights'' offense made avoidance unavoidable.


    The darkness quickly dispersed, and when the guards and the Judgment Knights saw the light again, the invaders had already escaped.


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    Li Wanye of the top layer watched the surveillance footage.


    The lord of Lincoln Fortress also listened to reports from his subordinates.


    People around the second layer, as well as news agencies around the world, were reporting on the sudden invasion as fast as possible.


    The two masked men, one of them repelled all hunters of the thirty-ninth fortress with irresistible strength.


    The attacks from the hunters were like child''s soap bubbles, utterly unable to cause any harm to him.


    The other man shattered countless Judgment Knights with a terrifying and somewhat sleazy laugh.


    The strength of the Judgment Knights was well known to the gifted individuals across the lands and the lords of the fortresses. Yet they had never imagined that in the world of humans, someone could confront creatures on par with the fierce beasts of the evolutionary zone all by themselves.


    Although not all of the thirty-ninth fortress''s defenses had appeared, the two masked men seemed to have not shown their full strength.


    Just how strong were they?


    This question was rapidly published the next day like a tangible embodiment of fear.


    Was there really a monster out there with power so great that an entire fortress could not withstand it?


    And this monster¡­ unlike those past that seemed far away, it seemed could appear at any time in the places where humans lived.


    The masked weirdo''s modus operandi was known to the gifted ones active in the mining areas, and to the hunters and guards who participated in the Yuepela Plains battles.


    And these were no longer secrets. In the lower second layer, many ordinary people also knew about the existence of the masked weirdos.


    If the previous abduction of Miss Li was an appetizer supplementing the fear, then this time, the joint action of the two masked men was the main course.


    No matter where, every lord was hoping that these two plagues would not come to their fortress.


    Because every fortress had some evil secrets buried within.


    What made them most desperate was that the arrival of the masked weirdos was tantamount to being labeled a wrongdoer.


    ...


    ...


    On the third day after the prison break event.


    Tang Xian settled Yuan Wu and Liu Lang at March Marsh, and after having Tang Feiji keep an eye on Yuan Wu, he returned to the thirty-ninth fortress again.


    The fortress''s defenses had tightened significantly.


    However, the temporary workers in the lower layer seemed to be much more active.


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    Which allowed him to blend in with the crowd.


    The pleasure district was indeed a good place.


    Song Que, Yu Xiaozhe, Lin Sen.


    The cooperation of these three brought great convenience to Tang Xian.


    Song Que had already returned to the first fortress.


    Tang Xian had asked Song Que for a favor, hoping he could help investigate which of the more than two hundred fortresses in the federation had the most "simple and honest" folk customs.


    The best would be those who thought of throwing in the towel at the slightest disagreement, staging strikes every other day demanding a wage increase.


    Song Que probably guessed that Tang Xian now needed a large workforce and promised to take on the task.


    However, this matter unfolded in a way that even Song Que couldn''t have imagined later on.


    As a result, Song Que and Tang Xian truly developed a life-and-death friendship.


    So much so that Li Xiaoyu saw him as a threat surpassing Akasi.


    In that unnoticed fortress, a wickedness that no other fortress could imagine was festering.


    Having received Tang Xian''s request, Song Que quickly arranged his schedule.


    He took the step that would change the world.


    Just now, neither he nor Tang Xian knew the arrangement of fate.


    Beyond Song Que, Tang Xian also entrusted Yu Xiaozhe.


    The master of forgery had quite the skill, with document forgery actually being one of the lesser competencies.


    Truly transforming one person into another was his real forte.


    Grey-white sideburns, British curls, plus an expensive custom-made suit, and the soft leather shoes worn by a perennial limp, complete with a gold-framed pince-nez ¡ª


    In the pleasure district, the ladies clearly remembered two young men going in, but when they came out, there was only one young man, and the other was an old-fashioned British style elderly gentleman.


    "Remember the habits, Tang Jikede is a national of our country, but moved to the London Fortress since he was young.


    He worked on Thames Street but developed a leg defect in his youth due to mischief. He neither smokes nor drinks excessively, his only flaw is lust, but he is rather skilled with women, able to sniff out which shampoo and perfume a woman uses. From these scents, he can deduce the woman''s overall temperament and character quite accurately, almost always hitting the mark.


    This is why this man is the hardest to impersonate. But you also possess a similar knack for seeing through people''s hearts. As long as your act is convincing, nobody will suspect you.


    ```

 Chapter 40 Packed-Up Girlfriend and Tang Jikede_3

    "When you walk, make sure to limp with an air of dignity; he was a very respectable man in his lifetime."


    "No one knows about his death, and now you are him. But whatever you do, don''t go to crowded places. Your faces are sixty percent similar, but your wanted posters are all over the streets; there''s still a chance someone could recognize you. Oh, right, when he was deep in thought, he had a habit of touching the ring on his finger."


    Walking on the streets of the lower levels, Yu Xiaozhe whispered these instructions to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian had a few things to do at the Pyramid.


    To take Liu Lang''s little girlfriend, Liu Buding, with him, and to inquire about the growth progress of the Zudun Sacred Tree on the fourth level.


    Then, there was to prepare for the surgery at Fortress 51 to remove the hidden danger in Yuan Wu''s spine.


    All of these tasks required a new identity.


    And so, Tang Xian obtained a second identity, Tang Jikede.


    Silently, he noted all the habits of the original owner of his new identity that Yu Xiaozhe had mentioned.


    Soon, the award-winning actor Tang Xian took on the essence of Tang Jikede.


    Yu Xiaozhe exclaimed in amazement,


    "Even top-level spies are nothing compared to this! Is there anything in this world you can''t do?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Childbirth."


    After killing the conversation, Tang Xian was ready to say goodbye to Yu Xiaozhe, but before he left, he suddenly said,


    "By the way, have you ever considered coming to another world with me?"


    Yu Xiaozhe shook his head,


    "Maybe later. If you hadn''t shown up, I was planning to retire. But now, the things you are about to do, they need a lot of help. You can''t take on the force that has ruled and deceived us for hundreds of years on your own."


    Tang Xian nodded his head.


    "Only in the Pyramid can I be the one who turns black into white and confuses the real with the fake. Take care," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "Take care."


    After Tang Xian and Yu Xiaozhe bid farewell to each other, the two went their separate ways.


    Then, in a tailor shop mentioned by Liu Lang, Tang Xian found Liu Buding.


    The girl was trying to alleviate her sorrow with food.


    Because she didn''t recognize Tang Xian, Liu Buding refused to leave no matter what, even though Tang Xian told her many things about Liu Lang.


    Liu Buding also said cautiously,


    "Liu Lang told me that now, apart from Song Que, I can''t trust anyone!"


    With no other choice, Tang Xian packed Liu Buding into a box.


    "Let me out!" Liu Buding''s voice came from inside the box.


    Tang Xian ignored her, amused as he sealed the box and wrote:


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    "Your girlfriend has been delivered, please check."


    For some reason, Tang Xian felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to this girl he had never met before, much like he felt with Liu Lang, a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    So he didn''t care too much about it, just as he would carry Li Xiaoyu or Tang Xiaojiu out of the kitchen.


    Considering that, he thought she would surely understand being packaged in a box and shipped off.


    Tang Xian even felt a slight thrill of "Now you know how it feels."


    After completing this task, Tang Xian made a phone call to Shang Lu from a public phone booth.


    "It''s me."


    The call connected, and as always, these two words were exchanged.


    "Xian? You''ve finally shown up!" Shang Lu''s voice, weary but excited.


    As usual, he must have been toiling with plants day and night without rest.


    And then he had a new discovery.


    Tang Xian didn''t bother with pleasantries. He said,


    "I''ll come to find you in a bit, but my identity will be different; be smart about it."


    "Identity? Oh... I understand!"


    "Right, how''s that calamity-grade plant doing?"


    At the mention of this, Shang Lu instantly perked up:


    "Xian, you''re coming at just the right time, you better be quick."


    "What''s happening?"


    "This tree is growing so fast it''s scary... it''s fruiting!"


    Tang Xian was stunned; the fruit of a sacred tree could bring evolution to living beings.


    But even a Zudun Sacred Tree didn''t fruit easily, and he certainly hadn''t expected that after leaving the mine area, the sacred seed would grow into a fruit-bearing tree in such a short time.


    Tang Xian didn''t delay any further. Now, with his new identity and the fake documents provided by Yu Xiaozhe, he could move freely through the first four levels.


    After hanging up, he immediately headed for the fourth level.


    (I promised to have a 10,000-word explosion today, but I drank too much yesterday, woke up late, and my neck has been terribly sore recently, so I need to find a master to massage it later... I will definitely make up two chapters tomorrow, no pigeon).

 Chapter 41 Two Sacred Places (Major Section)

    After the two masked individuals wreaked havoc, the guards of the thirty-ninth stronghold felt no small amount of fear towards those two masks.


    The guards and the upper echelons of the stronghold feared the masked monsters, and the hunters feared the Masked Chopper Hero even more.


    After the prison provided the surveillance footage of the jailbreak, that charred and twisted mask became the new image of the devil.


    But because it left such a terrifying impression, the guards felt a stroke of luck.


    It couldn''t possibly be that the masked man would stick around the thirty-ninth stronghold and go nowhere else, could it?


    Although the stronghold''s defenses were rigorous, Tang Xian encountered no suspicion on his journey here.


    Even though his bounty poster hung on the walls of the tiered passages.


    Of course, this could be attributed to Yu Xiaozhe''s disguise and his own acting abilities.


    So, all in all, although the inspection procedures were strict, no one scrutinized Tang Xian''s face too much.


    ...


    ...


    The Hua Science Academy was always the most serene and peaceful place.


    As Tang Xian returned here and arrived outside Shang Lu''s laboratory, he noticed that the banner hanging by the door had changed¡ª


    Please, my female colleagues! Stop disturbing my research! Last time it wasn''t me who wrote it!


    Tang Xian held his forehead; this Shang Lu was truly a helpless case!


    From this banner, it was clear that he had his fair share of women''s favor. Seeing the pain expressed between the lines, Tang Xian could only say, too young, too simple. In the fifty-six strongholds of Huaxia, there were more than forty million single men.


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian pushed the door open.


    It was rare for Shang Lu to be asleep.


    A strange odor permeated the laboratory.


    Although he could control his sense of smell, Tang Xian could still detect the stench from Shang Lu who hadn''t left the lab for too long, and a burnt odor as well. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at Shang Lu, so weary that he seemed completely drained, one might think he had encountered a tank-like wealthy matron were it not known what kind of person Shang Lu was.


    The regular sound of his breathing reassured Tang Xian that Shang Lu was merely exhausted, so he decided not to disturb him further.


    Tang Xian walked into the inner room of the laboratory and immediately noticed the luster of the Zudun Sacred Tree upon entering.


    This was a Zudun Sacred Tree that resembled a potted plant.


    A fully mature Zudun Sacred Tree has a vast trunk like that of a world tree. But this one was incredibly tiny.


    Though small, it had all the essentials. The complexity of the miniature version of the Zudun Sacred Tree''s trunk and the clarity of the veins on its leaves were remarkable.


    It resembled a finely-carved sculpture.


    Tang Xian could even see a crown-like structure similar to that of a world tree.


    The fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree were not large, and were somewhat apple-shaped.


    But their colors were very complex.


    From different angles, one could actually see a variety of lusters.


    Blue, purple, orange, and even red.


    The Zudun Giants revere the Zudun Sacred Tree as a totem, crowding around it.


    They do so because of this kind of fruit.


    Though the fruits were small, like jelly beans,


    It was assumed that their effects would not be insignificant.


    The fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree, also known as the fruits of evolution,


    could change the strength of a Soul Crystal and even induce direct evolution in some beings.


    Tang Xian was quite satisfied, not knowing why the Zudun Sacred Tree had become potted, nor why it had such a short growth cycle.


    But all of this was good news, except that the only drawback was that there was just a single fruit, which resembled a jelly bean.


    He wondered if it would bear fruit again.


    Tang Xian did not pick the fruit directly.


    He wanted to learn more about other aspects of the process.


    Since Shang Lu was too exhausted, Tang Xian did not wake him. Instead, he found the documents Shang Lu had recorded on the office desk:


    "Those damn women invited me to watch a movie again, how annoying!


    How can I waste precious time and my life on a movie?


    The academician told me that Xiao Hui has the standard willow-shaped eyebrows, oval face, and cherry-like lips, a great beauty of our Hua Science Academy.


    I must admit I was indeed tempted.


    But when I met her, I was utterly disappointed.


    I didn''t see any hybrid of sunflowers, willows, or cherries.


    It was just a woman''s face after all, the academician is really getting senile."


    Tang Xian smiled bitterly, realizing that he had picked up the wrong document. This was Shang Lu''s diary.


    The man had actually recorded his diary on medical prescription sheets.


    Generally, few people keep diaries, and even those who do record them in elegant little notebooks.


    After some thought, Tang realized he needed to look the other way around.


    So, he flipped through it and found a nice-looking notebook, opening it up, and this time it was correct.


    "The Sacred Tree has undergone a mutation.


    This mutation has happened in my previous experimental plants as well.


    We''ve discovered that when plants from the mining areas arrive in the real world, they grow faster than they do in the mining areas.


    Conversely, if plants from the real world are cultivated with soil from the mining areas, they also grow faster.


    I have a few guesses about this, but no evidence. My biggest guess is that it''s a structural issue.


    Perhaps plants from the mining areas do not absorb minerals for nutrients; maybe the nutrient content of the soil there isn''t high?


    But maybe plants from the real world can absorb mineral elements?


    I''ll jot these down temporarily, to be proven later with data.


    For now, I must deal with this fruit properly.


    I dare not pluck it hastily. Humans have hunted calamity-level creatures but have never eaten a fruit from the Sacred Tree, making this, arguably, the only thing of its kind in the world.


    If a woman''s eyes were as beautiful as this fruit, perhaps I might accept her invitation.


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    What will it taste like? The records suggest that the Sacred Tree can cause evolution in beings; perhaps it is due to the fruit."

 Chapter 41 Two Holy Lands (Major Section)_2

    But unfortunately, the state of this fruit under the microscope was too bizarre; it consistently maintained the shape of a jelly bean, yet on the genetic level, it was constantly changing.


    Perhaps this was related to its shifting luster?


    I''m not sure.


    The only thing I can be certain of is that this fruit cannot be cloned.


    The Eden Tree can be cloned, but aside from the mother of the seed that Xian gave me, the other clones simply cannot bear fruit.


    Even the ones that grew were all deformed. I destroyed them all.


    I had no choice but to conclude: The genetic structure of the Eden Tree is in constant flux, and the Soul Crystal stabilizes its form.


    I can clone the plant parts, but how to clone a Soul Crystal? So, the fruit is the same.


    Despite constantly mutating, it still retains the form of the fruit. I''m convinced that within this tiny apple-like fruit, there must be something crystalline or extremely close to crystalline.


    I''m very curious...


    What would happen if a person ate the fruit?


    Or if I planted this fruit, could it possibly grow into a new Eden Tree of fixed form?


    The latter holds more research value for me.


    But if humans could evolve, what form would that take?


    Would their talents grow stronger?"


    Shang Lu''s record ended here. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Next, Tang Xian could profile how Shang Lu wracked his brains trying to figure out how to clone the fruit. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    A fruit whose genes were continually changing, what kind of change would eating it bring to a person?


    Tang Xian became curious as well.


    He could guess that this question was probably driving Shang Lu nearly insane.


    But Shang Lu mentioned a very interesting point.


    Unrelated to the Eden Tree.


    But earlier data from Shang Lu''s experiments indicated that plants from the mining area grew better in the Human World.


    The Eden Tree was difficult to cultivate.


    In the mining area, it took a long time to grow, which is why those herds were so protective of the Tree.


    Because the fruits were not easy to come by.


    But who could have thought, the seeds in the Pyramid could grow so rapidly and...


    Be as small as a potted plant.


    Tang Xian initially wanted to eat the fruit.


    Others should worry about the consequences, but Tang doesn''t have to.


    Because with an immortal body, he could eat anything.


    Charred poisonous mushrooms, cold arsenic salads, candied Monkshood, centipede and spider soup were all not beyond trying.


    But after reading Shang Lu''s notes, Tang was suddenly inspired.


    He decided not to eat the fruit for the time being; he needed Shang Lu to continue observing.


    "Plants with Soul Crystals can indeed stabilize their form. This fruit should be capable of being cultivated into another Tree.


    But this time, I want you to choose a larger patch of soil, not too big though. Just noticeably larger than the soil used for the previous one.


    You might find that the more the roots, the larger its volume.


    That''s why in the mining area it can reach the proportions of a World Tree.


    This is just my conjecture; I need you to help me verify it.


    Also, resist the temptation.


    The other name for the Eden Tree is the Tree of Eden, and stealing its fruit can lead to misfortune."


    The name Eden Tree did indeed exist.


    But this name did not come from the steles of the Pyramid, but from human scholars.


    So this Eden is different from the Eden of the demon child.


    Tang was very satisfied with Shang Lu''s capabilities.


    He thought that with Shang Lu''s thirst for knowledge, if he went to Tang''s world, he could achieve great things.


    Perhaps he could even unravel the reasons behind the plant mutations.


    But for now, he couldn''t take Shang Lu away.


    Just like Yu Xiaozhe, Shang Lu''s talents were better utilized in the Pyramid.


    Until departure, Tang didn''t wake Shang Lu up.


    Before leaving, Tang decided to replace the banner on the door.


    Shang Lu was now in a deep sleep, most likely from staying up late to research for a long time.


    Tang estimated that this man would probably wake up in about ten hours.


    After deliberating for a while, he decided to strike while the iron was hot. It was time to give Shang Lu something tough to chew on.


    And so, with a ruthless lack of conscience, Tang wrote the following sentence:


    "I have knocked myself out. Right now, I just want to say goodbye to virginity."


    After writing it, Tang left with a profound sense of humble pride, feeling utterly satisfied.


    ...


    ...


    For the next several days, Tang Xian remained busy.


    Even with Yu Xiaozhe''s fake credentials, getting to Bastion No. 51 was not easy.


    Without the help of the Li family, it was nearly impossible to obtain a visa under the current level of scrutiny.


    Left with no choice, Tang had to contact Li Xiaonian.


    This was not acting rashly.


    In fact, the reason Li Xiaoyu was able to escape and change her view of Li Xiaonian, finally having a sibling relationship that seemed normal¡ª


    All of it was thanks to Tang.


    Tang was perceptive and saw at a glance that the third son, who was looked down upon, was actually just too gentle with his sister.


    After taking Li Xiaoyu away from the depths of the bastion, she told Tang about everything that had happened that month.


    She also provided contact information, and Tang promised to check on her family''s situation within the Pyramid for her.


    And Li Xiaonian was waiting.


    As soon as a phone call was made and Li Xiaonian heard Tang''s voice, they quickly arranged to meet in a restaurant on the fourth floor.


    He happened to be there handling the Li family''s business.


    Since their last meeting, less than two months had passed.


    But the youth who dressed more beautifully than a woman had undergone earth-shattering changes in temperament.


    "I hope my arrival hasn''t caused you any trouble."

 Chapter 41 Two Sacred Places (Major Section)_3

    "I am familiar with Tang Jikede, brother-in-law, and you really do resemble the part you''re playing. Especially that paranoid feeling of his limping yet refusing to use a walking stick. And helping this gentleman won''t cause me any trouble," Li Xiaonian said with a smile.


    Tang Xian smiled and frowned, but did not correct Li Xiaonian''s mistaken appellation.


    "You''ve changed quite a bit, must be tough taking over for your sister."


    "Yeah, my sister¡­ she did handle many things really well. She had no prejudices against anyone, and for that reason, business was able to pick up. I''m trying hard to learn from her."


    Li Xiaonian paused, then asked worriedly:


    "Is she alright?"


    "She''s fine. Perhaps a long time from now, you''ll see her again, but rest assured, she''ll be happier during this process than when she was living in the Pyramid."


    "Alright, tell me, what''s the matter?"


    Li Xiaonian indeed had changed, just as Li Xiaoyu had also changed.


    The growth of a man is just like this, perhaps overnight, he can transform from an ignorant boy into a man capable of protecting his family.


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaonian began to talk business. Everything went smoothly. However, Li Xiaonian also mentioned some troublesome aspects, implying he was under strict surveillance and hoped that after accepting his help, Tang Xian wouldn''t stir up too much trouble.


    Tang Xian understood what he meant and felt even more that Li Xiaonian was quite clever.


    The next afternoon, Tang Xian and Yuan Wu arrived at Kaysen Fortress.


    The guards at Kaysen Fortress were much stricter than during Tang Xian''s last visit.


    But compared to the thirty-nine fortresses, it fell far short. He even scarcely saw a wanted poster of himself.


    Ke Ye came down personally to the lower level after receiving a phone call from Tang Xian, escorting him to the fifth level.


    Upon understanding Tang Xian''s purpose, Ke Ye did not delay as he knew Tang Xian couldn''t stay for long.


    Having undergone the surgery once, doing it again became much simpler.


    Ke Ye and Tang Xian were the only two responsible for Yuan Wu''s spinal alignment removal surgery, without calling for anyone else.


    At this moment, they were at the operating table. Tang Xian was in charge of making the incision while Ke Ye assisted and monitored the instrument data.


    The two worked together seamlessly, and the process appeared quite relaxed.


    "I heard you were locked up for a while?" Tang Xian initiated the conversation.


    "Yes, but it''s nothing serious. After I got out, Mr. Li Zhenjiang quickly promoted me within the House of Daedalus. Those who snitched on me were also ostracized by everyone," Ke Ye said. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "That''s good. It caused you trouble because of my matters, and I will make restitution for these things."


    "Since when did you become so formal?"


    Tang Xian and Ke Ye shared a smile.


    Tang Xian then said:


    "The last thing I need to do in the Pyramid is to bring my companion here to remove the hidden danger within him."


    Ke Ye asked:


    "Where will you go afterward?"


    "There are still many dangers I need to deal with in the mining area. I''ve also fully prepared regarding supplies, so I probably won''t be coming back to the Pyramid for a long time."


    Ke Ye nodded and said:


    "In any case, you know how to find me."


    The surgery was very smooth, and when Yuan Wu saw the chip taken out of his cervical spine, he actually cried.


    The usually restrained young man burst into loud crying, leaving Ke Ye somewhat at a loss. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian knew that Yuan Wu probably felt a surge of happiness, but just couldn''t laugh it out.


    His most intense emotions were all poured into sadness and fear.


    Watching this scene, Tang Xian thought that when he next returned to the Pyramid, he should consider taking down the Evolution Zone for good.


    Not long after the surgery was finished, Yuan Wu went back to the mining area alone.


    To compensate Ke Ye, Tang Xian wrote down some of his experiences with the use of the Limitless Glove, including its downsides and suggestions for improvement.


    Ke Ye was thrilled, but a bit frustrated for not being able to create a new set of Limitless Gloves on the spot.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry.


    It would be a long time before he returned to the Pyramid again.


    ...


    ...


    The first fortress.


    Song Que sat in his office, holding documents in his hand, carefully examining the information gathered in the past few days.


    Tang Xian had asked Song Que to inquire about the conditions at the bottom levels of some fortresses.


    Song Que had never really conducted such investigations before.


    After he spread out all of Yu Xiaozhe, Lin Sen, and his own the Song Family''s intelligence resources, he indeed found quite a few fortresses that met Tang Xian''s requirements.


    For instance, the eleventh fortress. This fortress had a disproportionate number of men to women at the bottom level, leading to a gender imbalance that resulted in a hostile atmosphere, turning people violent.


    Another example was Kaysen Fortress, located in Oceania, far from the national fortresses. However, internet research showed that the people in its lower levels often protested and struck, refusing to mine and demanding higher wages.


    There were so many such fortresses, and the oppression at the lower levels was an issue that went overlooked.


    Song Que didn''t know how to pick the worst among them for a moment.


    So he went through the bottom-level data of each fortress one by one.


    In doing so, Song Que noticed a fortress that unexpectedly caught his attention.


    Sacred Land Fortress.


    It is a fortress on the border of the national districts.


    The reason there is a federation is that not all fortresses stubbornly cling to national borders like the national districts or the Neon District.


    Many fortresses, at the beginning of the Pyramid''s arrival, were situated right on the borders.


    Many countries had no choice but to integrate, eventually forming the Fortress Federation.


    Sacred Land Fortress was a multi-ethnic fortress.


    However, most of the people there were Huaxia.


    Calling it the fifty-seventh fortress wouldn''t be incorrect.


    Such a fortress, with minimal presence and only having opened up its sixth level about thirty years ago, had very low production output and frequent riots. Yet, there had never been reports of the lower-level inhabitants causing unrest.

 Chapter 41 Two Sacred Places (Major Section)_4

    But in the last thirty years, it was as if a miracle had occurred, almost as if a saint had manifested. Although the fortress hasn''t opened up a seventh layer yet, the economic value of its mining production is exceedingly high.


    The lower-class citizens no longer rioted.


    Even in strongholds like the thirty-ninth fortress, there had been several large-scale disturbances.


    But the Saint Guro Fortress hadn''t experienced a single one.


    Song Que used a series of methods, both reasonable and unreasonable.


    The feedback received, however, was very scarce.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen had once visited Saint Guro Fortress and said it was a very strange fortress. Its lord seemed to have no concept of hierarchy, with the bottom layer being as prosperous as the second layer, so prosperous that there was no difference between them.


    It''s hard to imagine that the service industry on the lower levels is so abundant, as if these people didn''t need to mine at all.


    Everyone lives a wealthy life. This wealth pertains to both economy and time.


    On ordinary days, they just drink tea, chat, and play mahjong.


    The fortress is truly like its name, a holy land.


    It is said that the people on the lower levels all wear happy and content smiles on their faces.


    When Song Que heard this from Yu Xiaozhe, his first reaction was disbelief.


    But after inquiries from multiple sources, it all seemed to match what Yu Xiaozhe had said.


    The people of Saint Guro Fortress, especially those on the lower levels, have an extraordinarily high quality of life, although still not comparable to the higher echelons.


    Compared to other fortresses, the lower-class people of Saint Guro Fortress indeed live too happily.


    This left him feeling astonished.


    How could such a fortress exist?


    It''s not that he held any malice towards this fortress. Song Que even hoped that it was true, that the lord of the fortress had some sort of miraculous management strategy that could turn decay into a miracle.


    But years of learning about management told Song Que that when something defies the norm, there must be a trick to it.


    Perhaps the fortress had some special method that made the tertiary service industry extremely developed.


    But the lower level is the economic powerhouse. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No fortress could generate high economic revenue under the condition of scarce mining resources.


    But if the lower levels did create a lot of value, how could they possibly feel happy and satisfied?


    The economic base of the lower levels could only be exchanged with high-intensity mining workloads.


    And high-intensity operations are bound to be uncomfortable for people.


    This is a dilemma that numerous fortress lords have studied for a lifetime without solving.


    How did Saint Guro Fortress solve it?


    Tang Xian had asked Song Que to investigate the fortresses with the worst conditions on the lower levels.


    But due to a mix-up, Song Que found the fortress that probably has the highest happiness index amongst the lower-class people in the world.


    Song Que is a very efficient man.


    Once he decided to go to Saint Guro Fortress, he quickly took care of the visa procedures. As one of the top three families, he had considerable influence across the Federation, which made it very convenient for him to do these things.


    However, Song Que did not disclose this matter.


    He just made all the necessary preparations, supplies, equipment, and masks.


    After getting all these ready, Song Que flew directly to Saint Guro Fortress.


    Ready to lift the veil of its mystery.


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, March Marsh.


    Liu Buding, upon seeing Liu Lang, had not forgiven Tang Xian for packing her into a box.


    Not until Tang Xian made a pot of fish soup.


    She suddenly thought that one shouldn''t be so petty, that if there was someone to blame, it was Liu Lang for not making things clear. How could Tang Xian be blamed for this? Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    She decided to go back and give Liu Lang a good beating.


    With this thought, Liu Buding found the fish soup even tastier.


    Tang Xian sent both Liu Buding and Liu Lang to Baichuan City.


    But he himself did not return; he took Yuan Wu and Tang Feiji to visit Bai Mansheng.


    Their last conversation had made Tang Xian feel he should be nicer to Bai Mansheng.


    So before returning to the mining area, he brought her several books.


    But this time, they were educational books, basic human language texts that included literary components.


    After all, the library in Baichuan City mostly housed books that couldn''t be listened to, only read, making it necessary to teach Bai Mansheng these things.


    Bai Mansheng, as always, sat quietly by the small stream on the Tianque Plains without any makeup on, simply sitting there with a serene and untroubled demeanor as if time stood still around her.


    In reality, she''d just run out of makeup and had none to apply.


    When she saw that Tang Xian had brought a young man with him this time, she furrowed her brows and said,


    "Why is it that every time you come, you''re accompanied by someone different?"


    "Fate, wonderfully indescribable. I''ve brought you some books."


    "Books?"


    "Yes, reading makes a person wise."


    "Novels?" Bai Mansheng was currently more interested in studying cosmetics, but stories wouldn''t be bad either.


    "Not novels, but things that can improve your ability to express yourself and your reading comprehension levels."


    "What are those?"


    "For example, teaching you how to analyze why curtains are blue, why the sky is gloomy, why a hat is green, and so on."


    "Why do I need to understand this? The author probably didn''t give much thought as to why the curtains are blue or the sky is gloomy."


    Bai Mansheng immediately lost interest.


    "Good stories and text can always withstand interpretation from various perspectives. In fact, whether the author truly thought about these things at the time is not that important. Many sentences that provoke deep thought and reflection might indeed just be a stroke of brilliance rather than the result of deep contemplation," Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "But what we interpret is both the intention of the author and the charm brought by the text. This can greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of reading. Only with such a reading habit and mindset will you, in the future, be able to churn out witty remarks that are not only spontaneous but also worthy of deep reflection."

 Chapter 41 Two Sacred Places (Major Section)_5

    Tang Xian gave Bai Mansheng all the audiobooks from his prop bag, saying,


    "I''m planning to show you some reading materials that are more suitable for you. These stories are very simple; even if you can''t do as I mentioned, you''ll be able to understand them. But if you can achieve the expected level of reading comprehension, perhaps you''ll grasp the stories better."


    Qing JiuYu was of no concern to Tang Xian, Qing JiuYu loved to read, especially those adapted versions.


    It was possible to cultivate Bai Mansheng towards the direction of a literary young woman.


    Listening to Tang Xian say all this, Bai Mansheng nodded, seeming to agree.


    "The Japanese education critic and professor at Law and Politics University, Motohisa Nashiki, has researched and shown that people with poorer language grades are more likely to bully others. In the internet age of humanity, it specifically manifests as those with poorer reading comprehension are more prone to trolling and arguing. You should be an elegant girl."


    "You''re making it sound like I''m a little girl. Let''s not talk about that, I will read these books. Did you come to see me for something else?"


    "Can''t I simply come to see you?" Tang Xian asked with a smile.


    "Is that so? I thought the court had taken Qing JiuYu away, and you came here to ask about it," Bai Mansheng casually mentioned.


    Tang Xian was startled.


    The topic had suddenly shifted, and to something he had not anticipated, which left Tang Xian unsure of how to respond for a moment.


    "Qing JiuYu was taken away?"


    Looking at his reaction, Bai Mansheng, puzzled, said,


    "You don''t know? I thought you came after visiting Qing JiuYu."


    Her words carried a hint of jealousy, which Tang Xian selectively ignored, saying,


    "Of course, I don''t know."


    He had no intention of telling Bai Mansheng that he had invited Qing JiuYu to the human world.


    "You should have brought up this topic when I appeared," Tang Xian said.


    "Why should I talk about her? Qing JiuYu and I have a mortal feud. Though the court has mediated a ceasefire, I haven''t forgotten the grudge of her killing my clansmen," Bai Mansheng said.


    "Then I request you, tell me what happened."


    It had only been a few days since Tang Xian''s departure when Qing JiuYu was still in Baichuan City, and now he was suddenly hearing about her being taken away by the Myriad Beasts Court.


    Since Bai Mansheng was currently extremely forthcoming, Tang Xian also believed Bai Mansheng wouldn''t joke about such a matter.


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "Requesting me? You really care about her."


    "If it were you taken away by the court, I would have requested her too, if she were the only one who knew what happened."


    Listened to Tang Xian''s words, Bai Mansheng''s expression softened a bit.


    "I don''t know the details, but it seems they are investigating the cause of the Shiling Beast''s death. There are rumors of a powerful masked creature that killed one of the court''s Judgment Chiefs, the Shiling Beast.


    Somehow, the investigation led to the Fox Clan. Someone saw a dragon flying to the Crimson Wastelands with the Shiling Beast in its mouth.


    Then Qing JiuYu was taken away."


    Tang Xian was stunned, sensing an extremely bad feeling within.


    "Qing JiuYu is also a powerful orange-ranked creature. She was simply taken away by them?"


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "I''m not familiar with the court, but the elders of my Snake Clan have said that although the court doesn''t interfere with our daily lives, we must abide by the court''s rules.


    The strength of the Judgment Chiefs is not weaker than Qing JiuYu''s. Although she is one of the strongest creatures in the continent, she definitely wouldn''t be able to defeat two Judgment Chiefs.


    At least there were two who came for her."


    As Bai Mansheng talked about Qing JiuYu being taken away, she seemed to think of something and asked,


    "Does this have anything to do with you?"


    "A little bit."


    "Hmm?"


    "Because it''s Qing JiuYu they caught, so it''s related to me."


    "Huh," Bai Mansheng was left speechless.


    "I don''t have many friends in the mining area, aside from that insidious dragon behind me, there''s only you and Qing JiuYu. If you two are in trouble, I will help," Tang Xian said with conviction.


    Bai Man looked into Tang Xian''s eyes for a long time, then nodded and said,


    "I''ll tell you everything I know."


    Tang Xian asked,


    "Which direction did the court leave in? Do you know the location of the Myriad Beasts Court?"


    He had realized the gravity of the situation.


    In the Myriad Beasts Realm, there was too much he didn''t know. Even if he was the most knowledgeable among humans, he couldn''t afford to be arrogant when compared to the court.


    It was also uncertain whether there were any psychic attack methods that could make people unwittingly speak the truth.


    The secrets of Baichuan City, his own secrets¡ªthey could not be revealed to the court.


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "To the northwest, supposedly in the sacred land."


    "Sacred land?"


    "I''m actually not sure, this might just be a rumor. Legend has it that within the sacred ground, there is a deep pit that goes straight to the heart of the earth.


    And one of the bases of the Myriad Beasts Court is right above that deep pit."


    Tang Xian then asked,


    "What species are the two Judgment Chiefs?"


    "Ash Dragons. It''s my first time seeing them, dragons with red scales all over their bodies. Another one is the Plague Origin. Even though he is wrapped in a black robe, I could feel that his strength far surpassed mine. Especially that nauseating aura, I could not mistake it."


    Tang Xian frowned.


    The sacred land was a place he had never heard of; he only knew of a stronghold called the Sacred Fortress.


    The two were unlikely to be connected.


    Ash Dragons could be said to be the ultimate form among fire-attribute creatures. The power of their dragon flames is nearly on par with that of fox-fire. But what''s most terrifying is that flames cannot harm Ash Dragons.


    Rather, they can use fire to repair their bodies.


    Ash Dragons can be said to perfectly counter Qing JiuYu. Their destructive powers are nearly equal, yet Qing JiuYu would definitely not be able to defeat an Ash Dragon.


    Ash Dragons are the legendary creatures of Magic Dragon Valley, also members of the Dragon Clan.


    Humanity had not confirmed their existence until now, and Tang Xian had finally verified it. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    Within Magic Dragon Valley, there truly were magic dragons.


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Feiji, aware that the destructive ability of an Ash Dragon was too strong for him to contend against; he could only rely on Tang Feiji.


    The other Judgment Chief was also an exceedingly rare existence.


    Plague Origin.


    A beast resembling a wild boar, its body harboring endless viruses and plagues.


    No creature could touch it with their body.


    It always hid itself under a wide robe, but even so, staying close to it for too long would make one''s body wither like a dying flower, gradually starting to necrotize.


    Tang Xian began to take stock of his fighting power.


    Suddenly realizing, apart from Tang Feiji, he had none he could use.


    Furthermore, the opponent was also from the Dragon Clan. Would this sea dragon be willing to fight that fire dragon?


    "Tang Feiji, Ash Dragons are also part of the Dragon Clan. If you find it difficult, you don''t have to follow me this time," he said.


    Tang Feiji and Yuan Wu had been on the sidelines the whole time. But he understood what had happened.


    "Ash Dragons also dare to call themselves dragons? That''s just a lizard that can spew fire. I am the strongest and unparalleled dragon in the world."


    "Should I take that as a declaration of war?"


    "I''m going to eat it," boasted Tang Feiji, slapping his chest.


    "Good," Tang Xian said, feeling a bit more reassured now.


    Bai Mansheng spoke,


    "I can''t help you, Tang Xian, I''m sorry."


    Tang Xian nodded and responded,


    "No matter, I can understand your predicament."


    To directly confront the court, they could only rely on the beast tribes from the Eden forces. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian thought that after rescuing Qing JiuYu, it was probably time to visit the legendary ruins of Eden.


    The fact that Qing JiuYu had been taken away naturally had to be dealt with as soon as possible. Tang Xian prepared to take his leave when Bai Mansheng said,


    "I actually don''t like the way those people from the Myriad Beasts Court talk. Tang Xian, not for Qing JiuYu''s sake, but for yours, if you need me, I''ll help you in a personal capacity."


    Tang Xian did not know the resolve contained in those words, but he felt Bai Mansheng''s sincerity.


    He shook his head and said,


    "If I need help, I won''t hesitate to ask. But this time, I intend to rely on myself."


    ...


    ...


    After leaving Tianque Plains, Tang Xian originally planned to take Yuan Wu back to Baichuan City first, but Yuan Wu refused to leave.


    As the giant dragon soared through the sky, with the howling wind around them, Tang Xian said to Yuan Wu,


    "Do you know how powerful the enemy I''m facing is?"


    "I don''t... please don''t tell me... I''d be very frightened," Yuan Wu said, and for a moment, Tang Xian didn''t know what to say.


    Was this ostrich-like utterance the bravest thing a coward could say?


    Seeing the frightened look on Yuan Wu''s face, Tang Xian turned his head, crouched down to avoid the wind pressure, and laughed,


    "There''s nothing much to be afraid of; it''s just committing crimes against one''s own knowledge of the law."


    The battle with the Myriad Beasts Court came sooner than Tang Xian had anticipated.


    He rode the giant dragon towards the place known as the sacred land.


    At the same time, Song Que was also heading to a fortress known as the Sacred Fortress.

 Chapter 42 The Pit in the Holy Land

    The perspective from above the sea of clouds always tends to inspire a profound sense of insignificance in the face of the ancient mountains and rivers.


    The flight speed of the Ash Dragon was slower than that of the Azure Dragon, but it had ultimately fallen behind by a mere two days'' journey.


    For the first time, Tang Xian felt a bit anxious.


    He had originally thought that such restlessness would not befall Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps it was Akasi, Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xiaojiu, or even Dongran, Qiaoshanshan that would cause his emotions to become a bit uncontrollable if something happened to them.


    People are always changing. Many disasters occur abruptly, without warning.


    Just like parents suddenly disappearing. Like that idiot drowning. Like a hero''s fall from grace during the Trial of the Chosen.


    Or like not long ago, when life underwent another fusion and he suddenly became Eden''s demon child.


    It might be a splendid life, but it was certainly a life with a chaotic rhythm.


    Just when everyone thought his life was bound to be a mess,


    Tang Xian always managed to live out his own attitude. It seemed like he was the same no matter where he went.


    Tang Feiji would dive down through the clouds every so often to take in the view of the land below.


    During these dives, Tang Xian completely calmed down.


    The need for calm was due to unease. The once-distant Court of All Beasts was suddenly about to declare war. It was like a hero who still needed to hone his skills and survive by the skin of his teeth was about to confront the great demon lord.


    But he had now become tranquil.


    It was just another modulation in life.


    "There is a herd of beasts below with a leader," Tang Feiji suddenly spoke up.


    He disrupted Tang Xian''s train of thought.


    "Let''s go down and have a look," Tang Xian said.


    They had been flying above the sea of clouds for quite some time, and this was not their first encounter with a herd of beasts.


    Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian was an adequate actor, always able to imitate a member of the herd with his unique aura.


    It was by blending in with these herds that they verified the directions of the Ash Dragon and the source of the plague.


    But the previous herds they encountered mostly lacked leaders, or boss units, preventing Tang Xian from communicating with them.


    This time, the herd consisted of Steel Bone Ducks.


    They made a hissing sound when walking and were the size of gorillas from the Human World.


    They belonged to elite-level creatures.


    The one leading them was a Sword Feather Duck¡ªa perfect-level boss creature.


    [Ga! So scary, what are you, don''t come near me, I don''t taste good ga!]


    Tang Xian was taken aback.


    Indeed, not long ago, he and Tang Feiji, along with Yuan Wu, had roasted a few wild beasts from other herds to eat.


    He was just about to comment on how delicious chicken and duck were, hoping to swindle them, but the Sword Feather Duck was very sensitive and immediately picked up on his intention.


    "Don''t be afraid, I''m just a friendly, fragile traveler, a vegetarian," he said.


    [Ga, so scary, he''s giving off an aura that wants to eat me! Run fast ga!]


    The Sword Feather Duck led the rest of the Steel Bone Ducks in fleeing.


    They scattered their broad duck feet, flapped their plump duck wings, and stretched their sinewy duck necks.


    Tang Xian looked at them, seeing that every part of them was edible.


    But perhaps because the Sword Feather Duck was somewhat silly and cute, Tang Xian momentarily resisted the urge.


    He said calmly,


    "What''s following me is a dragon. If you want to live, you had better stop right away. We just want to ask a few questions, just answer them truthfully and you''ll be fine."


    At the mention of a dragon, the Sword Feather Duck waved its wings, and the other Steel Bone Ducks stopped as well.


    [Dragon Clan? Ga, I haven''t seen any dragons like you before. Are you a confidant of the great Ash Dragon?]


    The Sword Feather Duck halted; if it truly were the Dragon Clan, it certainly wouldn''t be able to escape.


    Yet, it had never seen such a dragon before and was momentarily uncertain.


    But it knew that the giant serpent-like creature soaring in the sky possessed tremendous power.


    "Yes, we come from the other side of the Court. However, it''s my first time coming to the holy land, and I would like to know the direction of the holy land and which way the great Ash Dragon went," he said.


    Upon hearing "holy land," the Sword Feather Duck relaxed:


    [Ga, we are law-abiding good ducks, every year we pay our offerings in full.]


    Offerings? Tang Xian was slightly puzzled:


    "Is that so? What did you pay this year? I don''t seem to remember."


    The Sword Feather Duck immediately panicked:


    [Ga! Sir, we have sacrificed the finest young ducks in our tribe to the Ancient Ape, and the Endless Turtle can bear witness.]


    "Don''t worry, I was just testing you," he said.


    [Scared me to death ga!] the Sword Feather Duck exclaimed.


    Tang Xian pondered the implications within the Sword Feather Duck''s words. The Court required the most excellent young beasts from other creature tribes?


    The Ancient Ape was not powerful, merely elite-level.


    But this creature possessed wisdom not inferior to humans.


    Perhaps it was conducting certain experiments?


    There was also a claim he had heard before, that beasts possessing the ability to transform into humans was a manifestation of evolution.


    Allowing all beasts to use a unified form for diverse life fusion.


    The existence of Tang Xiaojiu, even his own existence, might stem from this.


    But Tang Xian had originally thought these matters should arise from sentiment.


    He had a vague feeling that the Ancient Ape might be doing something very evil.


    "Have you seen the Ash Dragon and the source of the plague?" he asked.


    [The two lords have returned to the holy land ga! Head west!] the Sword Feather Duck said.


    Tang Xian looked toward the west.


    Bai Mansheng had said there was a huge pit in the holy land, which should be easy to recognize.


    But as he looked in that direction, he still saw nothing.


    "Alright, I''ve asked all I needed to, let''s go," he said.


    [Not eating them?] Tang Feiji suddenly asked.


    [Ga! It wants to eat me, run duck!]


    The Sword Feather Duck once again fled with its group.

 Chapter 42 The Pit in the Holy Land_2

    Tang Xian shook his head with a smile and said,


    "The Sword Feather Ducks can''t understand Dragon language; it seems they have a special sense for danger. I really want to eat one. There might even be some unexpected gains."


    Tang Xian turned around.


    Although he said that, he didn''t bother the flock of ducks.


    After all, they had provided him with information without any hostile intent.


    "The Saint Domain branch of the Thousand Beasts Court should have some good food. Speaking of which, do dragons eat other dragons?" Tang Xian asked.


    [Hmph, I''ll say it again, that''s just a lizard!]


    The Demon Dragon Clan and the Azure Dragon Clan had always had their grievances. Tang Xian noticed this, and since Tang Feiji had no kinship concerns, he felt more at ease.


    The two of them, along with the dragon, prepared to continue their journey, heading towards the Saint Domain.


    During the flight, Yuanwu spoke up,


    "My lord... can you hear the voices of all beasts? And can you make them understand your language?"


    "Not exactly, only those in the boss class can hear me. And strangely enough, although I speak in the human tongue, they all understand me. But if someone else speaks the same language, those beasts won''t comprehend it," Tang Xian explained.


    "That''s truly amazing; you really are a great being, my lord."


    "From now on, don''t call me ''my lord'', just call me Tang Xian."


    "Alright, my lord."


    Tang Xian had not expected to inadvertently gain a little fan.


    Yuanwu looked at Tang Xian with increasing reverence.


    Yuanwu, who was not as lucky as Tang Suoye, had received too many injections of Anai.


    With a jumbled memory, he faintly recalled high-ranking individuals from the Evolutionary Zone mentioning that communicating with all beasts could yield valuable intelligence.


    This was something the Evolutionary Zone had always been researching. So far, only the Long-Eared Ancient Apes serving the Thousand Beasts Court and birds like the Gazi could do it. These two species had also been captured by the Evolutionary Zone, but clearly, no progress had been made so far.


    Over the course of two days, Yuanwu finally became convinced that Tang Xian was a being capable of anything.


    He could easily kill those test subjects in the Evolutionary Zone that even he found troublesome.


    He could ride a dragon across the mining world at will.


    He could even communicate with all things.


    But as the night gives people black eyes, often people choose to be wilfully blind.


    The gods gave Tang Xian a mouth to communicate with all beasts, but he chose to use it to eat meat.


    The giant dragon took to the skies once more, and the journey of the two and one dragon was nearing its end.


    ...


    ...


    The mining region, Saint Domain.


    Qing Jiuyu had never seen such a magnificent sight. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    She thought she would see a vast plain beyond the endless mountains.


    Indeed, she did.


    However, beyond the overlapping mountains, this plain was devoid of any greenery.


    All around were barren lands and huge rocks. At a glance, it seemed like a dead land, as if it had once undergone a firestorm of unprecedented scale.


    Everything was bare, without a hint of life.


    Quite unlike the distant green peaks, which were faintly visible.


    In such a place, even the Ash Dragon and Plague Source in their beast forms felt diminished.


    What truly shocked Qing Jiuyu, though, was the huge pit in the plain.


    It was a chasm thousands of fathoms deep. Standing at the edge looking down, it was pitch black, like the depths of the ocean, unreachable by sunlight¡ªa deep hell.


    It was like the eye socket of the earth, dark and deep.


    She stood on the edge of the pit, completely unable to see what was below.


    What lay at the bottom of the pit, was it inhabited by creatures?


    Or was it a cage?


    Qing Jiuyu furrowed her brows; ever since Plague Source had acted, her Soul Crystal had been suppressed by something akin to poison.


    But even now, returned to her fox form, she couldn''t deal with the Ash Dragon.


    She was a fox with taste, one who wanted to ride dragons.


    But that had to be a dragon of interest to her.


    By the Ash Dragon''s side was an ancient ape, who had been playing the role of the translator all this while.


    Because whether it was the Ash Dragon or Plague Source, and even the Judgment Chiefs of the Thousand Beasts Court, they could not turn into humans.


    This Long-ear Ancient Ape was young, apparently only decades old, and wore clothes resembling those of a human butler.


    These clothes were different from the initial ones that Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng had transformed into.


    They seemed more like a product of modernization.


    "Qing Jiuyu, we have now arrived at the sacred site for judgment, and we will commence your trial," the ancient ape said slowly after the dragon''s roar.


    Qing Jiuyu responded with a smile:


    "I have been cooperating with you all along, and for years, our fox clan has always respected the court. What is the reason for my trial? Just because a creature named Taotie, accompanied by a Shiling Beast, visited my domain?"


    The long-eared ancient ape stated:


    "I''m not merely echoing the words of the Judgment Chiefs. The great Endless Turtle has said that you would betray the court, and on you, I can smell the grudge of the great Shiling Beast."


    Qing Jiuyu''s mind raced as she maintained a softly smiling face:


    "Though the fox clan has never made tributes, we have never failed to respect the court. Whatever resources the court asked for, wherever they required us to migrate, we''ve complied. My loyalty to the court speaks for itself. Besides, grudges are not something that can be proved, right?"


    "Perhaps that person was captured by Taotie and blames me for not rescuing it? But how could I, a weak woman, possibly confront a dragon and Taotie?"


    The long-eared ancient ape hesitated for a moment before conveying her words to the Cinder Dragon and Plague Origin.


    Plague Origin was indifferent, its huge body enshrouded in a black cloak.


    If the animal form of all beasts had a humanoid image, Plague Origin would resemble a traveler in a straw raincoat.


    After hearing the words of the long-eared ancient ape, the Cinder Dragon responded with several deep dragon hums.


    Even though Qing Jiuyu could not understand them, she could roughly guess their emotions.


    "That is the Cang Dragon that guards the sea in the south, an anomaly within the Dragon Clan. Are mere serpents worthy of being called dragons? As for Taotie, it''s even less likely to strike at Zero.


    Although Taotie''s power is not inferior to Zero''s, it is one of the jurors. You are slandering a court juror¡ªdo you know your crime?


    Answer my question: where have the two heretics gone, and why did they seek you out?"


    A touch of iciness passed through Qing Jiuyu''s eyes.


    So annoying. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She disliked this feeling of weakness.


    She had thought that the Court of Myriad Beasts would have some regard for the fox clan, but considering that Plague Origin attacked her during her conversation with the Cinder Dragon, she was now unable to muster any combat strength.


    Even facing the Cinder Dragon, who was her natural adversary, she knew a full-on battle could not yield victory, but it would certainly demonstrate the fox clan''s dignity.


    However, Qing Jiuyu was now helpless to do so.


    She reluctantly said:


    "He could turn into a human form, and he told me his name was Taotie. I have never seen Taotie before and didn''t know it is a Judgment Chief of the court."


    The long-eared ancient ape once again relayed Qing Jiuyu''s words to the Cinder Dragon and then repeated the dragon''s message:


    "You must answer the question first, you ignorant and arrogant, vile and feeble fox clan!"


    How I detest it, just as annoying as that dragon beside Tang Xian.


    Pretentious, arrogant.


    No, at least the dragon beside Tang Xian could be tamed; as long as Tang Xian was there, perhaps it could even be ordered around in the future. But this dragon before me is purely irksome.


    Qing Jiuyu spoke:


    "How could I know where they have gone? As for the reason they sought me, it was merely to get to know each other."


    Too many among the fox clan had seen Tang Xian, and Qing Jiuyu knew she couldn''t deceive the court.


    The Cinder Dragon and Plague Origin before her were the least of her troubles.


    For the Court of Myriad Beasts would not easily judge an orange-tier creature.


    But should the long-eared ancient ape convict her, she would be doomed.


    She had to endure until the poison faded. Though the Cinder Dragon wasn''t faster than her, and as for Plague Origin, as long as it didn''t touch her, she could manage.


    Calculating various possibilities of escape, Qing Jiuyu, without waiting for the long-eared ancient ape to question her, spoke:


    "Although I haven''t betrayed the court, I am curious about how the court plans to deal with me?"


    The long-eared ancient ape said:


    "You had better be honest. If you confess now, you at least have a chance to live.


    But if we consult the great Endless Turtle and it decrees you are guilty, you will die a painful death.


    The judge will eat you."


    The Court of Myriad Beasts was also very mysterious to Qing Jiuyu.


    She said:


    "Is this vast pit used to imprison me?"


    The long-eared ancient ape shook his head and coldly laughed:


    "Such a place could never hold you. It''s meant to imprison a creature from another world."

 Chapter 43 The Beautiful Sanctuary Stronghold (Major Section)

    An otherworldly creature, upon hearing these words, Qing JiuYu instinctively furrowed her brow.


    The long-eared ancient primate continued to sneer, "It seems you''ve already learned a bit about the situation."


    Qing JiuYu could not sense what exactly lay within the dark pit.


    She simply couldn''t imagine how deep this massive hole went.


    The long-eared ancient primate had no desire to discuss the details of the sacred land with Qing JiuYu.


    The reason this place was called the sacred land had always been a secret between the two worlds.


    "You should leave," said the long-eared ancient primate.


    "How do you intend to deal with me? According to what you said before, you should not be able to convict me now."


    The long-eared ancient primate said:


    "You will be trapped by the avatar of the Epidemic Lord. This place is for resource extraction of the sacred land, not for detaining you. You will be imprisoned in the distant Chongshan Prison."


    An avatar?


    Indeed, the Epidemic Lord possessed other abilities, and not only relied on poison.


    Qing JiuYu silently took note.


    As long as there was still time, there was still a chance for change.


    When the Ash Dragon and the avatar of the Epidemic Lord once again took a step, Qing JiuYu glanced into the deep pit.


    What existed in this pit had already overturned her understanding.


    Because it was different from what Tang Xian had mentioned. She trusted Tang Xian.


    But even Tang Xian had things he did not know.


    After all, evil secrets are hidden in the depths of the unseen underground.


    ...


    ...


    Sacred Land Fortress.


    After several hours, Song Que arrived at this fortress.


    Most fortresses are named, even if not with numerical codes as in the national domain, they still chose core features or place names for their names.


    For example, Sky Guardian Fortress and Lincoln Fortress are derived from some core characteristics.


    And fortresses like London Fortress are named after places.


    The Sacred Land Fortress was an anomaly.


    Because none of its features were related to any sacred land.


    The moment Song Que got out of his vehicle, he saw a banner welcoming him.


    ¡ª¡ªWelcome Commander Song to inspect.


    Song Que was inwardly puzzled.


    As the human Commander, Song Que had met the owner of the Sacred Land Fortress, Zhuo He, in the six-layered meeting room of the Thirty-Nine Fortresses.


    He remembered the information of everyone he had encountered.


    Zhuo He was quite old, even older than his own father.


    His hair had long since fallen out, and he always appeared smiling, radiating a kind and benevolent aura.


    Song Que had a good impression of him. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet, his arrival at the Sacred Land Fortress had not been announced to anyone,


    "Welcome to this humble place of mine, the future lord of the First Fortress¡ªCommander Song."


    Song Que replied with a smile,


    "Lord Zhuo is too courteous. But how did you know I was coming?"


    "Commander Song, please follow me."


    Even if Li Wanye himself had come to the First Fortress, it''s doubtful whether Song Gengzhao, his father, would have gone to greet him in person.


    After all, although the fortress visa was difficult to get, there were few who transferred between fortresses, yet such matters were ultimately trivial.


    Song Que couldn''t figure out why the lord of the Sacred Land Fortress was so idle?


    He followed Zhuo He. Zhuo He walked hunched over, with only a few guards by his side, seemingly weak ordinary attendants.


    This made Song Que even more doubtful.


    If Li Wanye went to the bottom level alone without an escort, he might not even make it back.


    Was Zhuo He this confident in the security of his own fortress?


    What Song Que saw next surpised him.


    He doubted whether he was truly at the bottom level.


    The bottom level of the Sacred Land Fortress did not have crowds of people, exhausted from the heavy mining industry and without permanent homes, slumped on the streets resting.


    Even if the bottom levels of the Thirty-Nine Fortresses and the First Fortress were combined, they would likely not have as many buildings as the bottom level of the Sacred Land Fortress.


    Song Que walked alongside Zhuo He through the bustling streets.


    Occasionally, people dressed in exquisitely made clothes nodded and greeted Zhuo He.


    Zhuo He did not put on airs, nodding back in a kind and approachable manner.


    There were also many service industries on the streets.


    In front of fruit shops, people were bargaining with the owners.


    In tailoring stores, girls admired their new clothes in fitting mirrors.


    Now and then, promotional discount announcements for various items could be heard from nearby department stores.


    School-age children were kicking a ball around in an open space.


    Some adults sat in the distance, smiling and smoking.


    This scene was not unfamiliar to Song Que.


    But if this occurred at the bottom level, he would be quite baffled.


    Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "What do you think, Commander Song? Isn''t my fortress peaceful and prosperous?" asked Zhuo He, quite proudly.


    Song Que feigned a shocked expression and praised,


    "How did you manage this? I must learn from you."


    Zhuo He laughed and said,


    "Each fortress has its secrets, just like the Song Family and the Li family have their characteristics, similar to how the Fifty-First Fortress has powerful industrial technology. I am very willing to share the benevolent governance of my fortress with Commander Song, but what you really want to ask about is the source of the fortress''s energy, isn''t it?"


    Song Que nodded and honestly said,


    "Indeed."


    Zhuo He shook his head and said,


    "That is the unique technology of our Sacred Land Fortress; thus, I cannot tell Commander Song, please forgive me."


    Song Que was indeed curious about this issue, but Zhuo He''s response was within reason, so he nodded and said,


    "Lord Zhuo, you are too kind. It was rather presumptuous of me to ask such a question, which I should not have done."


    "Does Commander Song have any business on this trip to the Sacred Land Fortress?"


    "Look at me, do I seem like I have business to attend to? My father felt that I have been overworking lately, and suggested I rest at another fortress for a few days. After some searching, I chose the Sacred Land Fortress. It seems I haven''t chosen wrongly."

 Chapter 43 The Beautiful Sanctuary Stronghold (Major Section)_2

    Zhuo He let out a hearty laugh and said,


    "Commander Song, please enjoy your tour around here. Shall I have someone arrange accommodations for you?"


    "There''s no need, with fortress affairs being so busy, Lord Zhuo. You coming in person to receive me is already too much of a bother, and this is just a casual visit. You don''t need to worry about it."


    Song Que''s honest smile made him hard to refuse.


    Zhuo He said,


    "That''s true. If that''s the case, I won''t disturb Commander Song''s visit. Here is your pass. The entire fortress, at every level, is open to Commander Song." Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Song Que still wore a smile on his face, but inside, he was startled; he had assumed Zhuo He would hide something.


    Some core secrets were also hidden within the highest level, but Zhuo He had surprisingly opened up all levels to him.


    Indeed, he represented one of the giants, only second to Lincoln Fortress and the Thirty-Nine Fortresses.


    But the master of the Sacred Land Fortress was a little too hospitable.


    Song Que did not refuse this kindness, accepted the pass, exchanged pleasantries with Zhuo He, and then Zhuo He left.


    Only after Zhuo He had walked away did Song Que continue to stroll through the fortress''s lower levels.


    If the other party hadn''t sealed off the second to sixth levels, then there was no need to go to those levels.


    On the contrary, on the lower level, to personally come and meet him, was it to confirm something?


    Walking along with some doubts, Song Que continued his exploration.


    The lower level of this fortress was incredibly beautiful.


    So beautiful, it was like what he fantasized about as a child.


    As the future heir of the Song Family, Song Que had seen images of the lower levels before and dreamed that one day he could help the people there live comfortable lives as well.


    But when he really saw a fortress that seemed to have achieved this, Song Que felt something was off.


    What exactly was it?


    With these questions in mind, Song Que walked down the street looking for a household where he could stay.


    Perhaps these people could help him make sense of his doubts?


    Thinking this, Song Que''s gaze fell upon a family not far away¡ªa child sitting in the courtyard reading a book with their family.


    The child was about ten years old. Probably in a year or two, he would be sent to a school district for learning.


    The man telling him stories was his father.


    Not long after, his mother came out carrying a plate of fruit, and the family seemed harmoniously joyful.


    Song Que felt envious, remembering that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed such a warm gathering with his big sister, second sister, and his parents.


    Song Que approached them and explained who he was and why he was there.


    The head of the household was named Lu Chao''an, the child was named Lu Ming, and the lady of the house was surnamed Wu. She did not mention her given name, so Song Que addressed her as Mrs. Wu.


    This family of three was very ordinary for the lower level of the Sacred Land Fortress.


    Once Song Que showed his pass, they received him with great enthusiasm and hospitality.


    It wasn''t long before Mrs. Wu had arranged a room for Song Que.


    The pure and simple local customs made Song Que slightly overwhelmed.


    Afterward, he found that the living conditions of the lower level of the Sacred Land Fortress were indeed slightly inferior to those of the First Fortress on the second level.


    But compared to other fortresses, they were not bad at all.


    He even felt that this fortress was as if it had no lower level.


    After not staying in his room for long, Lu Chao''an asked,


    "Would you like to come out and have something to eat, sir?"


    Song Que nodded and went into the living room.


    It was lunchtime, and the quality of the nutrient liquid was quite good.


    Song Que exclaimed,


    "This place is truly a sanctuary."


    The child, Lu Ming, asked,


    "Big brother, are you from another fortress?"


    "Yes, the fortress I come from is very far from here."


    "In other fortresses, are there a lot of fun things?"


    Song Que shook his head and said,


    "The other fortresses... they are not as good as this one. People living in this fortress are very lucky."


    Lu Ming seemed quite proud to hear that.


    Mrs. Wu and Lu Chao''an also enthusiastically chatted with Song Que about various topics.


    During the conversation, Song Que finally broached the question he wanted to understand.


    "Mr. Lu, I''ve always been puzzled. In my First Fortress, the people on the lower levels still have to work hard every day, mostly laboring in the mining district. Usually, the bustling time is at night, but here, it seems that the people on the lower levels are more leisurely?"


    Song Que was sure that the value of the tertiary service industry of this fortress was high. Foreign trade was considered a major source of income.


    But no industry could compare to the output of the resources from the lower levels.


    Mr. Lu, unlike Zhuo He, didn''t play coy. He said,


    "Commander Song, we do mine as well, it''s just that it''s not our turn this time."


    "Not our turn? What does that mean?" Song Que was puzzled.


    In a quite proud manner, Lu Chao''an said,


    "Under Lord Zhuo''s leadership, not only do those in the lower levels need to mine, but the gifted ones at higher levels participate in mining as well."


    Song Que was shocked.


    "Think about it, the gifted ones are naturally more powerful in the mining districts, so naturally, they are more efficient.


    And this rotational system also allows everyone to have enough rest time. Being able to live such a leisurely life, we really owe it to Lord Zhuo!"


    "I also want to become someone like Lord Zhuo when I grow up!" The child, Lu Ming, had admiration in his eyes.


    Song Que was completely stunned.


    Gifted ones mining?


    The Sanctuary could achieve such equality, and the gifted ones didn''t mind?


    It was certainly a good strategy, but whether it could actually be implemented, Song Que had his doubts.


    If that was indeed the case, why would Zhuo He conceal it?


    It wasn''t a secret and could be easily discovered by asking around. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If the gifted ones were really willing to do the things the people at the lower levels did, then the evolution of the civilization of the Pyramid would not be as it is now.

 Chapter 43 The Beautiful Sanctuary Stronghold (Major Section)_3

    Song Que felt something was amiss, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on what it was.


    After lunch, Song Que wandered around the house, and he noticed a photograph hanging on the wall.


    What puzzled him was that the photograph seemed too small.


    The frame was obviously larger than the photo, which naturally featured a family of three, with Lu Ming probably not yet ten years old at the time.


    However, before he could look at it for long, Lu Ming quite familiarly requested Song Que''s company to play.


    Song Que did not refuse.


    Playing with an innocently cheerful child always brought a sense of relaxation and joy.


    There were none of the likes of The 39th Fortress'' Fallen Street here in the lower levels.


    On the way, Song Que saw no signs of any illicit, illegal underground industries.


    Every person he saw had a smile on their face.


    Only one pregnant woman, probably suffering from prenatal depression, appeared somewhat frightened, but her husband was tenderly comforting her in the park.


    These scenes were all very beautiful.


    Song Que thought maybe he should visit the mining area? To see if, as Mr. Lu had said, even the gifted miners would take part in mining.


    He admitted he was being overly sensitive.


    Indeed, Lu Chao''an''s explanation was reasonable, but Song Que still felt something was off.


    Thinking this, he didn''t play with Lu Ming for long. After helping Lu Ming buy some children''s toys, he took Lu Ming home.


    Madam Wu felt quite apologetic that a guest had to spend money on toys for her child.


    But Song Que''s cordial smile always conveyed reassurance, making it difficult to refuse such kindness.


    All of these moments seemed so beautiful, whether it was people''s lives or their warm hospitality and simple nature.


    Song Que said, "To tell you the truth, I actually came here to learn how to manage a fortress like Lord Zhuo does. After Mr. Lu''s clarification, everything became clear. There really is a society where everyone is equal, especially inside the Pyramid, which is truly remarkable."


    Madam Wu''s expression became slightly unnatural, but she quickly smiled contentedly:


    "Indeed, those of us living here are very happy." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Could you tell me which part of the mining area belongs to our fortress?" Song Que asked.


    "This¡­ I''m not sure, my husband worries about me and doesn''t want me to do heavy work, so he never let me go to the mining area. However, I do have a map of it."


    Madam Wu said before going to fetch the map.


    Song Que had a moment of doubt.


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    Madam Wu had never been to the mining area¡ª


    Such a family was quite ordinary, meaning that it was likely that many women and elderly had never been to the mining area.


    These people formed a significant proportion, even with gifted miners, didn''t this still mean too many were missing?


    Song Que didn''t believe that a fortress that hadn''t developed a seventh layer would have that many powerful gifted individuals.


    It was feasible for gifted individuals to mine, but it was equivalent to sacrificing part of the hunting yield.


    Song Que didn''t ponder for long as Madam Wu quickly returned with the map and pointed out the location.


    "This is what my husband told me. I haven''t been there myself, but this is where he works," she said.


    "Thank you. I''ll visit the mining area later to learn from the experience," Song Que replied.


    "Please be careful, sir. I''ve heard that the mining areas are quite dangerous," Madam Wu warned.


    Song Que nodded, committing the location to memory.


    The area was familiar, just the currently known green zone, after all.


    Song Que remembered he should have been there before, but didn''t recall much of the scene, assuming it wasn''t much different from other mining areas.


    The day''s events confirmed that he should visit again.


    Later in the day, Song Que went to the transmission station.


    This aspect was indeed similar to the lower levels of the First Fortress and The 39th Fortress.


    During times when portable transmission rifts couldn''t be used, the holy land fortresses also adhered to this rule.


    People traveled to and from the mining areas through the transmission station.


    There were two transmission stations in the lower levels, but one was covered by a huge curtain, displaying it was malfunctioning and needed repair.


    Song Que followed some other people through the other teleportation gate.


    Upon arriving in the mining area, Song Que saw the people mining there.


    There were quite a few individuals, clearly a mixed mining area of several fortresses.


    Looking around, Song Que couldn''t see the end of the ore veins, nor could he be certain which miners belonged to the holy land fortress.


    He frowned and continued to observe along the boundary.


    Along the way, he saw only a few gifted individuals.


    But this was normal; only the non-gifted would come to mine.


    It was only after a long walk that Song Que finally saw a group of gifted miners.


    The result, however, was somewhat unsatisfactory. These gifted miners were efficient, true, but not by much more, and their expressions seemed reluctant, as if they had been assigned a lowly task.


    What puzzled Song Que the most was that all these people were gifted individuals. Perhaps the others were non-gifted, and he simply couldn''t distinguish them?


    Song Que returned the way he came, and by the end, he was certain of one thing.


    Lu Chao''an had spoken the truth.


    Indeed, the holy land fortress had arranged for gifted individuals to participate in mining.


    But unlike what Song Que had seen, the gifted seemed to exhibit a certain laziness. They didn''t show much higher efficiency than ordinary people.


    The day brought many doubts to Song Que.


    But he couldn''t deny that the holy land fortress really was an anomaly among all the fortresses.

 Chapter 43 The Beautiful Sanctuary Stronghold (Major Section)_4

    The people living in the fortress didn''t need to worry about the overly strenuous mining labor, nor about their income.


    Even though the mining proceeds shouldn''t have been substantial, it was clear that Pyramid Fortress never worried about this issue.


    People could still live a beautiful life within the fortress.


    ...


    ...


    When Song Que returned to Pyramid Fortress, it was already night.


    The Lu Chao''an family naturally invited Song Que to join them for dinner.


    Occasionally, they would chat with Song Que about some of the local customs of Pyramid Fortress.


    "I visited the mining area today, and Lord Zhuo is indeed quite outstanding. It''s true that there are the talented working alongside the common folk in mining. This is something unimaginable in other fortresses," Song said.


    "Yes, you must believe that Lord Zhuo is our savior. He has led Pyramid Fortress through many reforms. Not just in mining¡ªpeople here live in peace and happiness, with kind hearts, and the crime rate is also very low," Lu Chao''an explained about Pyramid Fortress, the gratitude on his face didn''t seem feigned. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Que finally stopped obsessing over the fortress''s peculiarities and started discussing various interesting facts about different professions with Lu Chao''an.


    As the lord of the first fortress and a top student in the chosen trials, Song Que''s insights and perspectives were significantly stronger than the average person.


    Lu Chao''an also received many pointers.


    The entire family was very grateful to Song Que.


    Late at night, it was time to sleep and rest.


    Madam Wu lullabied the children, telling stories for a long time.


    After Lu Ming fell asleep, Lu Chao''an and Madam Wu exchanged some sweet nothings.


    As a gentleman and a bachelor, Song Que really didn''t want to hear any conversation that could disrupt sleep or harm the body.


    But it couldn''t be helped, as the sound insulation was poor at the lower levels, and his senses were particularly sharp.


    Fortunately, nothing inappropriate for children occurred, and later, Madam Wu actually went to a different room.


    Song Que found it strange, why would such a happy family sleep in separate rooms?


    But he didn''t pay too much attention to it.


    Lying in bed, Song Que began to recall the day''s experiences.


    Although he always felt something was off, after careful consideration, he chose to believe in the goodness that he saw.


    He stopped at suspicion and did not speculate with malice.


    Was it possible for his fortress, other fortresses, to become like Pyramid Fortress in the future?


    The experiences in Pyramid Fortress gave Song Que no small shock.


    Humanity could live so beautifully within a fortress, which probably was every lord''s dream when they first took their post, right?


    [Hehehe, you really are an idiot.]


    The sudden voice in his mind made Song Que pause.


    Song Que furrowed his brows.


    "I remember we made an agreement that you would not interfere with my thinking until we encounter the evil individual I want to remove."


    He didn''t make a sound; communicating with the personality in his mind only required thought.


    [You are already bound by your narrow and pitiful sense of justice. In this investigation of Pyramid Fortress, there are evil people everywhere, not a single innocent soul within the fortress, yet you turn a blind eye,] the voice in his mind taunted.


    "What are you talking about? The people here are warm and hospitable, each one naturally kind-hearted."


    [Hahahahahaha, Song Que, you truly are foolish. You have the same intelligence as I do, yet you allow yourself to be constrained by expectations that seem beautiful but are actually naive and foolish.


    Do you really fully trust this fortress?


    Does a world truly exist where everyone can be happy? Don''t be naive. Whether it''s before entering Pyramid or after, human survival always depends on the happiness of the strong built upon the misfortune of the weak.]


    "Shut up! What are you trying to do? If you want me to put on a mask and harm these innocent people without any evidence, I won''t agree," Song retorted.


    [Tsk tsk, I appeared for a reason; I am another you. You must acknowledge that without the constraints of justice, morality, rules, emotions, and so on, I can see a world that is more real than what you see.]


    The somber voice spoke again:


    [Your investigation has ended. As Song, you indeed noticed some useful information, but you failed to understand it. It''s time for me to investigate.]


    Song Que was stunned.


    After a few seconds of silence, the voice in his mind reappeared:


    [Come on, put on the mask. You''ve been carrying it, so you must have considered it, right? Deep down, you still have doubts about this fortress, don''t you? But your approach won''t yield the answers.]


    Song Que remained silent.


    Only the echoing, faint laughter filled his mind.


    After a long while, Song Que said:


    "Do not kill anyone."


    [Impossible, our agreement was not to kill the innocent, but here, not one person is innocent.]


    Song Que opened his prop bag and changed into a different outfit; he held the mask but didn''t put it on. Instead, he stood in front of the bedroom mirror and spoke coldly,


    "Do not kill anyone. I don''t want to say it again."


    [What a bore, how can I be the same person as you? It must be your pitiful sense of justice that makes you so dull, birthing me in the process, right?]


    Song Que didn''t respond, just staring stubbornly at the face in the mirror. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    After a long time, the voice in his mind compromised.


    [Boring! Truly boring! Fine, I promise you, I won''t kill anyone, but let me be clear, my methods are hardly genteel.]

 Chapter 43 The Beautiful Sanctuary Stronghold (Major Section)_5

    Song Que nodded, gazing at the mask before slowly putting it on.


    The moment he donned the mask, it was as if the evil smile etched into his very soul.


    A dramatic change overtook Song Que.


    ...


    ...


    Madam Wu couldn''t sleep.


    No person, if bound by ropes and watched by a strange person wearing a terrifying mask, could possibly sleep.


    Fear made her want to cry for help, but she was silenced by the evil and magnetic laughter emanating from the stranger''s throat. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Before this, I''ve injected your husband and child, as well as that outsider, with a sedative. Not enough to kill anyone.


    But I don''t like it when women scream and shout in front of me, so¡ª"


    The masked stranger made a shushing gesture with their finger.


    "Otherwise, you will die, and before you do, you''ll be begging me to kill you."


    Madam Wu, trembling, couldn''t utter a word as she stared at the mask.


    "Don''t be so nervous, why so serious? Smile for me, quick, smile, or I''ll just cut your mouth wider."


    Madam Wu forced an ugly smile.


    The masked stranger said with disdain:


    "That''s truly ugly. Can''t you smile with the same fake, disgusting grin as in this picture?"


    A photo had appeared in the stranger''s hand.


    It was the very same photo Song Que had seen in the daytime.


    "Look, how happy the family of four looks in it. Seeing you all smile so joyfully makes me want to laugh too."


    What followed was the piercing laughter of the masked stranger.


    Madam Wu was petrified upon seeing the picture pulled out of its frame.


    "Don''t be so scared. Shall I tell you an interesting story?"


    "During the day, I met a pregnant woman. She had a big belly and looked terrified, with her husband beside her."


    "Pre-natal depression might make one gloomy, but it doesn''t cause terror."


    "The husband had guilt written all over his face, but his eyes held a glint of greed."


    "So I wondered, what could the people of this fortress be worried about? Can humans even give birth to monsters?"


    "Ah... Of course, monsters are impossible. Humans only give birth to waste, geniuses, and mediocrity. But it doesn''t make sense, does it? In such an equal fortress, even if one isn''t gifted, there''s nothing to worry about, right?"


    The masked stranger''s eyes held confusion, and so did their expression, but the mask couldn''t convey it.


    Thinking this, they suddenly felt they might not need a mask but makeup instead; perhaps a clown face to better express their emotions.


    "The photo in the frame has clearly been edited, who would awkwardly put an unsized photo into a frame?"


    "It''s probably because there was an extra person in the photo that shouldn''t have been there."


    Madam Wu was completely stunned.


    The bad memories surged back in her head.


    "That''s right, this is the expression I''m looking for."


    The masked stranger remarked:


    "I''ve never believed in a world where the strong willingly share their resources equally with the weak.


    If everyone could live harmoniously in one world, then who would strive for better?


    It''s the unfairness and cruelty of the world that drive countless people to climb over others to reach the top.


    But this fortress is truly unusual. Gifted ones alongside ordinary people swinging pickaxes. Despite their clearly insincere expressions, they willingly stay among a bunch of mining slaves, wasting time. How professional."


    Madam Wu said:


    "You... who are you? What are you trying to say?"


    "You''re a gifted one too, aren''t you?" the masked stranger suddenly uttered.


    Madam Wu''s eyes widened instantly.


    "Your child and your husband, they''re all gifted too, right? The whole lower level... no, the entire fortress, there''s not a single non-gifted person, is there?"


    Madam Wu shook her head frantically, trying to deny it.


    The masked stranger spoke as though blind to her, as if only conversing with themselves, speaking for their own ears.


    "The gifted ones have absolutely no role in the mines, so how does this fortress get its mineral resources?"


    "The teleportation station was broken, yet no one went to repair it.


    Even at night, it wasn''t any livelier than the day.


    Women feared having children. Avoiding the same room as their husbands, could it be that they were traumatized by this matter?


    The corner of a photo at home was torn off, but no one mentioned any news of a death.


    So, everything about this fortress is a lie, isn''t it? You are all gifted, but where have the non-gifted ones gone?


    Perhaps through another portal, to somewhere else?"


    The terrifying laughter sounded once again. The masked stranger forced Wu to look into his eyes while laughing.


    That laughter was like a knock on the door, constantly hammering at the black box deep inside Wu''s heart.


    "Speak up, why don''t you? Rather than living with a sense of guilt, it''s better to just blurt it out. Don''t worry, I promised some rigid, boring fool that I wouldn''t kill you. But I am a bad guy, right? It''s understandable for a bad guy to break his word, isn''t it?"


    "I hope you cooperate with me nicely so I can be an honest bad guy."


    Wu had never thought that mere language, a gaze, and a bizarre laugh could instill such profound fear in her.


    The masked stranger looked at Wu''s near-breaking countenance, raised the photo, and said:


    "I''ve guessed already, but now is your chance to atone. Tell me, where has the other person in the photo gone?"


    Unable to bear the torment any longer, Wu broke into loud sobs.


    The masked stranger slapped her hard, blood oozed from the corner of Wu''s mouth, and her crying stopped abruptly.


    "Time is precious for everyone, can we start your performance as soon as possible? How about this, for every ten seconds you remain silent, I will cut off one of your fingers?"


    The tone, as if inviting the other party to a game, was precisely what suffused Wu with a choking fear.


    She finally dared not hide any longer and started, crying as she spoke:


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    "The person missing from the photo... is my daughter, Lu Lingyi..."


    "So where did she go? Is she dead?"


    A new wave of pain surfaced on Wu''s face.


    The impatient masked stranger glanced at the time, frightening Wu into hurriedly saying:


    "She went to the sacred land... to the sacred land! She''ll never return!"


    "Isn''t this the sacred land?"


    "No... It''s another sacred land, rich in mines. Lingyi and all those without gifts, they are trapped there, endlessly digging the mines... I haven''t seen her for many years."


    "Another sacred land? I need to remind you, humans cannot survive seven days in the mines. Do you think I''m gentle and easy to fool? It''s really upsetting."


    The masked stranger was about to forcibly break Wu''s finger.


    Wu panicked and said:


    "I''m not lying to you! It''s true! Those without gifts can survive indefinitely in the mines!


    And this fortress... this fortress..."


    "Go on!"


    "Yes, everyone in this fortress without gifts... will be sent to the sacred land, endlessly mining resources for the fortress!"


    Even the usually mocking masked stranger seemed to experience a jolt of surprise.


    Non-gifted individuals could survive a full seven days in the mines?


    This was unknown even to those in the evolution zone.


    The masked stranger''s tone became more vicious:


    "So it means, indeed, there isn''t a single non-gifted person in this fortress because all non-gifted individuals, upon reaching a certain age, are sent to that place called the sacred land without even the chance to go to the education district?"


    "Yes... Yes."


    "How long has it been."


    "What?"


    "I''m asking, how many years has this system been in place?"


    "It should... be thirty years, I guess?"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, hear that, naive fool? This really is a blissful fortress where everyone is happy, with no oppression and no exploitation."


    Hearing this, the masked stranger suddenly became cheerful, as if boasting to someone else that he had guessed it right; Wu didn''t know to whom he was speaking.


    Only the face of the masked stranger, though concealed by the mask and invisible¡ª


    but Wu suddenly felt a sense of deja vu in those eyes, mixed with a trace of pity.


    After a long while, the masked stranger spoke again, his voice seemingly altered in pitch, the entire demeanor of the masked stranger had changed.


    "I ask you, do you still wish to see your daughter again?"

 Chapter 44 The Truth of the Sacred Fortress

    Madam Wu froze.


    The breath of the masked stranger had undergone a significant change, yet under her fear, she couldn''t think of much.


    What surprised the masked stranger was that Madam Wu shook her head in pain.


    "Lingyi¡­ there''s no way for her to come back now. Those without talents, once they go to that world, never return."


    The masked stranger said coldly,


    "So even if your daughter isn''t dead, you treat her as if she were? Comfortably enjoying the fruits of her endless toil?"


    Madam Wu''s expression grew more painful as she kept shaking her head,


    "It''s not like that, not like that¡­ If I could choose, I would''ve preferred to go to the holy land myself! But there''s no way, these are Lord Zhuo''s rules. For the past thirty years, everyone has accepted this rule, and no one can change the status quo."


    "So, after leaving this place, no one has ever come back, and they all live in the mining area?"


    Song Que suddenly thought of such a question.


    "Yes, no one has been able to return¡­ We also don''t know where they are in the mining area, my husband, and many others, have searched the mining area, but in all the mining zones we know of, there are no traces of them."


    "So, how they survive, I suppose you don''t know that either."


    "I don''t know."


    "Why not try transferring fortresses?"


    Madam Wu said sadly,


    "We simply cannot leave this place, and many others feel the same as I do, concerned about their children. But there''s no way, no one can leave this fortress. This fortress¡­ Strangers trying to inquire about information on this fortress can only visit, the information on the network is all sorted, the networks we can use are also limited to inside the fortress."


    "Information blockade. All Zhuo He''s doing?"


    "Yes, Lord Zhuo He has been in control here for thirty years."


    Deep down, the masked stranger was shocked; this fortress indeed had its many peculiarities.


    After further interrogation for a while and confirming there was no more information to gain, the masked stranger injected Madam Wu with a serum.


    Madam Wu''s consciousness blurred instantly. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    [Tsk tsk tsk, between the two of us, who really is the dishonest one? Wasn''t it agreed that the time before the mask is removed belongs to me?]


    The masked stranger paid no attention to the voice in his mind.


    He methodically sorted through various trifles, returning everything in the room to how it was originally.


    After ensuring that everything was back to normal, he then returned to his room.


    In front of the mirror, he took off the mask; as the mask was removed, the voice in his mind disappeared completely.


    He transformed back to his original identity¡ªSong Que.


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    The simulated sunlight from the ceiling poured into the room; the holy land fortress, in the hazy light, seemed incredibly sacred.


    People started a beautiful new day.


    In the park, there were elderly practicing Tai Chi. Ladies walked their pet dogs. The roadside vendors had already begun their calls; children laughed and scrambled through the busy alleyways.


    Once again, happy smiles bloomed on everyone''s faces.


    When Song Que got up, his expression didn''t change and he wore a simple, amiable smile.


    Lu Chao''an, with Lu Ming, played in the courtyard, greeting Song Que warmly upon seeing him awake.


    Everyone''s demeanor was normal.


    Only Madam Wu felt somewhat confused.


    Last night, she seemed to have a terrible dream.


    When she woke up in the morning her pillow towel was soaked as though she had dreamt of a sad memory.


    Her expression gradually became panicked, but seeing the photo still in the frame in the living room, Madam Wu seemed a bit bewildered.


    "Where does Commander Song plan to go today?" said Lu Chao''an.


    "I''m going to see Lord Zhuo later. Everything about the holy land fortress is excellent, and I am eager to know how he manages this fortress," Song Que said with a simple smile that made him beyond suspicion.


    Lu Chao''an commented, "Then the people of the first fortress will have a good fortune in the future."


    Madam Wu saw that Song Que and her husband were chatting happily.


    Recalling last night''s events, after a long while, she shook her head.


    It was probably just a dream.


    She simply couldn''t associate the man in front of her, smiling so naively, with the demon wearing a mask.


    ...


    ...


    Song Que did not dawdle; after having breakfast with the Lu Family, he went straight to the sixth level.


    He made stops on every level along the way.


    The second to fifth levels of the holy land fortress are not much different from other fortresses.


    It was just that, relatively speaking, the workload for the people was a little less.


    After learning the shocking truth, Song Que was not surprised.


    The sixth level arrived quickly.


    Zhuo He''s office building was quite ordinary, even a bit of an anomaly compared to the rest of the sixth level''s architecture.


    Like the buildings on the third or fourth level.


    Song Que had always been concerned that, throughout the fortress, he had seen very few guards.


    But the one place where Zhuo He was, was the most lightly defended.


    With many questions, Song Que entered the office building and came to the floor where Zhuo He was located.


    When he pushed open the door, Zhuo He seemed unsurprised, as he was playing indoor golf. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing the door, Zhuo He didn''t even turn around.


    He swung lightly, and the ball went into the hole.


    Zhuo He showed a pleased expression before finally turning to look at Song Que.


    His face still bore a kind smile.


    That smile, much like Song Que''s, was deceptive.


    This might be why few could link Song Que with the masked stranger.


    Nor could many envision Zhuo He as a despotic, evil lord.


    "After a day of exploring, what do you think of my fortress?" Zhuo He asked with a smile.

 Chapter 44 The Truth of the Sacred Fortress_2

    "Talent users going to mine, this really is a very good idea," Song Que said calmly.


    "Ah, you''ve discovered the secret after all, there''s no point hiding it anymore. Yes, our sacred fortress is so wonderful, everyone is at leisure because we have abandoned our own superiority."


    Zhuo He said with pride:


    "Talented ones and the ordinary are living together equally, this is a genuine and fair fortress."


    "But where have all the non-talented gone?" The smile on Song Que''s face had completely faded.


    Zhuo He frowned slightly, then smiled again:


    "Commander, I didn''t quite understand what you said."


    "In the entire fortress, you can''t find a single non-talented person over the age of twelve, right? So Lord Zhuo, there is a problem with your statement. Without the non-talented, how can you speak of the talented living equally with the non-talented? Are they not trapped within the sacred grounds, mining day and night without even a chance to fight for equality?"


    Song Que, staring intently at Zhuo He, continued:


    "Let''s skip the process of verification and sophistry, and get straight to the point. I''ve obtained evidence, so Lord Zhuo, let''s not waste time."


    Zhuo He''s expression was complex, at first surprised, then puzzled, and finally, he regained his usual compassionate demeanor.


    "As expected of humanity''s leader, during the Yuepela Plains war, I kept thinking, how could humans possibly withstand the tide of beasts? Now it seems, Commander, you indeed possess extraordinary vision and insight."


    Zhuo He, facing Song Que, had an unchanging smile on his face.


    Song Que said:


    "Why? Non-talented ones are also our kind, aren''t they? Shouldn''t they at least be given a chance to fight for their status?"


    Zhuo He did not speak, still looking at Song Que.


    "In other fortresses, at least the twelve-year-olds had the chance to change their destiny through knowledge. But in your fortress, even this tiny meager right is taken away from them?


    I cannot imagine what a dreadful place it must be. Toiling endlessly in the mines, spending the rest of their lives mining, never to return to this world, unable to see friends and relatives again. Lord Zhuo, I hope you can give me an explanation."


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    Zhuo He began to clap his hands, applauding for several seconds before smiling:


    "Commander really does have the heart of a hero. Such a sense of justice is rare in the council, isn''t it? When over two hundred fortress lords discuss various evil plans, you must find it very distressing, right?"


    "Don''t change the subject," Song Que said through clenched teeth.


    Zhuo He shook his head:


    "I''m not changing the subject, but your pitiful sense of justice, Commander, cannot change the world.


    What is it that humans desire most? Of course, it''s to conquer the mining district, to remove the inevitable death within seven days inherent to the mines. And the system that comes from this rule is the Chosen system."


    Song Que furrowed his brow. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhuo He, calm and composed, said:


    "Talented ones have been used to holding high positions for hundreds of years.


    They live on higher levels, lead finer lives. Their sense of superiority has been manifested. Don''t you, Commander, know this yourself?"


    Song Que was unable to refute this point.


    The system of the Pyramid is such.


    "As a lord, of course, I know more, when humans entered the Pyramid, they chose to survive according to the rules described in the Stele of the Pyramid. These rules inherently divided us into different classes.


    The advent of talent has pushed the stratification of humanity to the extreme.


    Commander Song, aren''t humans in this world inherently unequal, born with inherent divisions of high and low, noble and base? Perhaps at the very beginning, it might have been possible to correct this, but now, do you think it can still be changed?"


    Song Que said:


    "But what you''re doing is too much!"


    "Is it? People always say that making a deal with the devil comes at a price. But Commander Song, the devil lives within our hearts.


    I''ve sent the non-talented to the mining district, to mine endlessly. You think it''s cruel?


    If you had seen those non-talented ones groveling before the upper echelons, you would understand that this world''s so-called promotion mechanism is all just for show.


    People don''t make deals with the devil not because they dislike it, but because they can''t find the opportunity to make a deal."


    Song Que was stunned, Zhuo He''s response was as if he was solidifying his correctness.


    But distressingly, he could not come up with a single example to oppose Zhuo He.


    As the future lord of the First Fortress, Song Que knew too well the invisible class gap between the talented and the non-talented ones.


    Zhuo He''s expression remained compassionate and merciful as he said:


    "Commander Song, you think my actions are cruel, but have you ever considered what would happen if I were to reveal the secret that non-talented ones can survive seven days in the mining district, to the lords of all the fortresses? What would they do?"


    That sentence drilled into Song Que''s heart like the most vicious curse.


    He knew he should offer kindness to all, he should believe in the goodness of human nature.


    But when he began to think about this question, he saw a different scene entirely.


    Zhuo He was very pleased with Song Que''s expression and said:


    "See, even someone as kind and just as you, do not trust that they could accept this, right? Most likely, they would make the same choice as I did, opting to exile the non-talented completely. All fortress lords would choose the same as me.


    As talent users, they''ve been noble for hundreds of years. Suddenly telling them that the despised non-talented, the bottom-tier temporary workers, the mining slaves are in fact the truly welcomed existence in another world, what would they think?"

 Chapter 44 The Truth of the Sacred Fortress_3

    Song Que suddenly found himself unable to speak.


    "Your sense of justice is naive and laughable, but I haven''t spread these messages. Just imagine, if the lowly miners learned of this first, how many fortresses would erupt into chaos?"


    "I must kindly remind you that non-gifted individuals simply cannot survive for long in the mines, they can''t even handle a single enhanced creature. And upon their return to the Pyramid¡ªdo you really think those accustomed to superior attitudes would lower their stance to accept them?"


    Zhuo He continued:


    "My holy fortress is a living example. There may be a handful who spare a thought for those lower beings, but have you seen the contented expression of the majority?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Commander Song! My approach is the just one!"


    The benevolent face abruptly twisted into something ferocious.


    Song Que felt a terrifying aura burst forth in an instant.


    Zhuo He''s face slowly contorted, his mouth protruding, making him look extremely odd.


    Song Que was not even concerned with this oddity; he was stunned by Zhuo He''s words.


    Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but ultimately, just as Zhuo He had analyzed.


    Perhaps once this secret was revealed, the people at the bottom would only suffer from even more horrific oppression and exploitation.


    Because there is no third world.


    They could probably survive in the mines for a long time, but they lacked the capacity to live.


    In the Pyramid, they might appear no different from the gifted, but they are destined to not change their oppressed fate.


    In both worlds, they seemed like misfits that could never truly be accepted.


    Unless there was a third world, otherwise, as Ye Feng had said to him after the battle... these people, they simply have no future, right?


    Zhuo He''s face finally completed the transformation, and Song Que looked at that face.


    "What a pity, the young master of the Song family from the First Fortress has perished at my hand. I will undoubtedly face a lot of trouble, but there''s no helping it, Commander Song, I must send you to another place, because you know too many secrets."


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    Song Que''s heart surged with shock.


    If the fact that non-gifted individuals could survive seven days in the mines already overturned his understanding,


    then the scene before him once again overturned Song Que''s understanding.


    He had indeed seen mine creatures that could take on human form.


    But he had never imagined that a mine creature could become human and rule over a human fortress!


    The figure before him, where was Zhuo He?


    Standing before Song Que was the calamity-level boss creature¡ªCrystal Heron.


    Its feathers shimmered like sapphires, and though its size was not large, it resembled the mythical crane said to be capable of carrying humans in flight.


    Only its feathers shone with the luster of gems, appearing both sharp and hard.


    Zhuo He said:


    "I and the Endless Turtle are the eyes of the court. Turtle and heron are the pupils: I monitor the world of humans, the Endless Turtle monitors the world of all beasts.


    Commander Song, I admire you. With your ten talents, the being at the very top of the Pyramid would surely delight in using you as a vessel.


    Unfortunately, you have learned of things you shouldn''t know. For the sake of all humanity and all beasts, you cannot remain in this world."


    Song Que assessed the likelihood of escape, now understanding why the aged Zhuo He had no guards by his side¡ª


    Why would a calamity-level boss creature need human protection?


    The fact that beasts ruled the Pyramid was even more shocking than the lower class being banished to the mines.


    He couldn''t imagine that among the more than two hundred human fortresses, the Holy Fortress was ruled by beasts.


    "You can''t escape, Commander Song. Since you''re so fond of standing up for the lowly, I shall send you to the Holy Fortress."


    A blue light flashed, and a warning suddenly sprung into Song Que''s mind.


    [Escape! We cannot contend with this being! Try every possible way to flee!]


    Both personalities felt an immense threat.


    But in the non-mining areas, humans simply couldn''t compare with the beasts.


    In the real world, Song Que could not activate the Eyes of the Scales, and even if he could, he was absolutely no match for the Crystal Heron.


    Song Que fell to the ground.


    Soon, his body was shrouded in a black robe, obscuring his face.


    Several guards carried Song Que toward the lower levels¡ªto the forbidden teleportation gate.


    From afar, Zhuo He watched all this and said:


    "Enjoy your time in the deep pit. After all, the miners can still survive, but you only have the last seven days of your life."


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian sneezed.


    Not far from the Holy Land, Tang Feiji had flown for two days, and the dragon with the two riders had their fill of the beasts of the north.


    It was rather leisurely, especially for Tang Feiji, who would occasionally eye the beasts below the clouds and ask if they were edible, if they tasted good.


    Tang Xian did not cheat it. In fact, Tang Feiji couldn''t fly any faster anyway.


    So, although Tang Xian was quite concerned about Qing JiuYu''s safety, rushing wouldn''t help; he could only pray that the enchanting woman could hold on for a couple more days.


    Thinking so, he sneezed again.


    "Seems like a fox is thinking of me." He lifted his head and gazed at the distant mountains.


    Beyond those mountains lay a vast pit.


    (I must end this chapter here... because the next one is set at the bottom of the pit, and I had thought I could write 8,000 words today, but I need to get my neck checked this evening¡ªcervical strain, it''s really uncomfortable. I''ll make up for it tomorrow.)

 Chapter 45 Song Ques Last 7 Days

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    (This part of the plot serves as a foundation, paving the way for the next chapter. For an enhanced reading experience, it''s suggested not to skip this one. The protagonist will make her appearance in the next chapter, which in this volume, is quite an interesting section. However, I truly can''t finish writing it today, so it will be published tomorrow.)


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~divider~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    Darkness, dampness, chilliness.


    Even the sparse torches made it hard to see the bottom of the pit clearly.


    How deep the pit actually was, even those who had lived there and mined for thirty years didn''t know.


    All they knew was that, over these thirty years, countless leaders had come and gone, each attempting to lead them out of this place.


    Some had drowned, others had been eaten because of their rebellious words.


    The one leading them now was a sixteen-year-old girl named Lingyi.


    Even those not from the national region knew that this surname did not exist.


    But no one bothered to ask.


    Many here were people without surnames.


    Because they were the abandoned children of their families.


    There was no day or night in the pit.


    Unlike the fortresses remembered, the bottom of the pit, a place called the Abyssal Kingdom, lacked the distinction of daylight that fortresses had.


    It was a place of absolute darkness that even sunlight could not reach.


    People could only know the time through the carrier crows that brought food.


    According to those who had arrived first, the carrier crows would bring food every day at noon. They were also responsible for transporting the minerals.


    Every once in a while, creatures like flood dragons would circle in the air, overseeing the prisoners of the pit like the wardens of a prison.


    This was their fate; they had to keep digging in the mine.


    It was deep underground, with the highest quality ore source, and people who did nothing but dig except when eating or sleeping.


    At the bottom of the deep pit, there was a vast waterhole.


    The water from the waterhole couldn''t be drained, so those living on the pit walls threw all manner of filth into it.


    Therefore, the water in the waterhole was extremely dirty.


    The entire bottom of the pit was filled with foul odors. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Life is fragile, and in such unsanitary conditions, many began to fall ill with strange, sometimes contagious diseases.


    The people here had been ravaged by diseases on a large scale several times.


    But life is also resilient, and the people at the top of the pit didn''t wish for all the miners to die, so they would send some medicine regularly via the carrier crows. Over time, those who survived became more and more adapted to the filthy environment.


    Yet the threat of the waterhole was not just that.


    It seemed to always be raining in the holy land, and no one knew why so much rainwater fell.


    The water level of the waterhole kept rising.


    Most of those who arrived here thirty years ago had already drowned, starved to death, or died of illness.


    Those who drowned did so because the rising speed of the water level overtook their mining speed.


    Ever since the waterhole formed at the bottom, people had to start moving their living areas from the vast flatlands at the bottom of the pit to the cliffs above.


    The first to arrive must have known their fate; they were also aware that in the coming decades, even centuries, those without talents from their kind would be exiled to this place.


    Therefore, they carved a spiral stone path along the cliff face.


    This path was not wide; it was just over four feet. It was somewhat cramped for two people to stand side by side.


    Standing on the path left very little room to move.


    But for these thirty years, nearly ten thousand days, these people''s lives, from their clothing to their food, everything happened on this narrow path.


    They had to keep carving out the path, continuing to excavate upwards along the cliff face.


    Because that stench-filled waterhole was constantly rising.


    The previously carved paths were gradually submerged, and when heavy rains fell, people were forced to crowd on the four-foot-wide path.


    Even so, those on the lowest level were still swallowed up by the rising waters.


    Over time, a cruel but logical rule took hold among those living here.


    People began to arrange themselves based on the amount of mining they did.


    Those who mined the most, the strong and able-bodied, were mostly on the upper paths, leading the expansion.


    The ones who mined the least¡ªthe old, weak, sick, and disabled¡ªwere mostly on the lowest level of the path, responsible for repairs.


    No one objected to this harsh rule of survival.


    Despite the tears streaming down everyone''s faces whenever they heard the cries of those at the bottom of the path being overwhelmed by the foul waters during a flood.


    But to survive in such a hellish place, crawling like reptiles, they had to continue mining relentlessly.


    The strong and able-bodied also carried the will of pioneers.


    They knew that only by mining continuously and quickly, could they ensure that those on the lowest levels had more room to rise.


    ...


    ...


    A few years ago, when Lingyi first arrived here, she was among the old, weak, sick, and disabled.


    Coming from the fortresses to such a ghastly place, she soon fell severely ill.


    Only an old woman in her fifties saved her.


    The old woman was once a doctor in the original Saint''s Fortress.


    Time and again, the old woman survived the rising waters with sheer tenacity.


    During the outbreaks, she also saved many lives.


    People knew how precious a doctor was in such a place, and they later granted the old woman special privileges. She didn''t need to mine and could stay on the upper levels of the path when the heavy rains came.

 Chapter 45 Song Ques Last 7 Days_2

    Her body was no longer able to swing the mining pick.


    The grandmother also thought that she should find someone to inherit her medical skills.


    That day, she watched as Lingyi''s neck was submerged in the filthy, smelly waters of the pond.


    These waters had soaked many rotting corpses and the pond itself was also a receptacle for all sorts of trash. It was no surprise that prolonged immersion would lead to illness.


    But in the faint light of the fire, the grandmother looked at the girl''s stubborn face and suddenly her heart softened, reminded of her younger self many years ago.


    People rarely saved others because as the water level continued to rise, the effort to rescue someone was better spent on digging more tunnels.


    Otherwise, perhaps both the rescuer and the rescued would die in these filthy, stinking waters.


    Lingyi ultimately survived.


    After a severe illness cured by the grandmother, she began to teach Lingyi medical skills.


    She had always intended to choose the youngest girl to be her successor.


    Because men could survive on their strong physical strength, but girls like Lingyi would face being assigned to the lowest tunnels for a very long time to come.


    Lingyi learned quickly. After overcoming her illness, she didn''t stop mining just because she was to be the only doctor here in the future.


    Occasionally, her face would show rage, and she would swing the mining pick nonstop, fierce as a boy.


    Some children of her age started calling Lingyi "boss."


    Those between fourteen and twenty years old were the ones who had the most say in the tunnels.


    In just four years, Lingyi became the leader among these people.


    The grandmother''s health deteriorated more and more until one day, during an unprecedented heavy rainstorm, Lingyi, on the level above the grandmother''s tunnel, watched as the grandmother was submerged by the rising water.


    The grandmother''s expression held little pain but was filled with regret and unwillingness.


    She had lived long enough. Before the waters completely drowned her, the foul stench eroded her aging body. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking up, the grandmother said to Lingyi on the level above:


    "Thirty years, huh? Why is it that every time I look up, I still can''t see the sun?"


    These were the grandmother''s last words.


    With such regret, the deep pool''s bottom gained another discontented soul.


    That day, Lingyi cried her heart out, more than she ever had, even at the moment her father abandoned her.


    It was also that day that she finally became a person of the Abyss Nation, starting to adapt to the rhythm of this place.


    The strong live, the weak die.


    This was not about the opposition between the strong and the weak, but something from the outside. From that damned rainwater.


    Life and death are hard to let go of.


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    But if one witnesses too much of life and death, one ultimately becomes numb to it.


    Every so often, whether it was the messenger crows or that dragon, they would bring newcomers, placing them at the very bottom of the tunnels.


    The survival rate of newcomers was the lowest, because from a certain year, almost all the newcomers, like Lingyi, were twelve-year-old children.


    In addition to mining, Lingyi would replace the grandmother to check on some sick people.


    There were roughly three thousand people on the tunnels.


    Originally there were over a hundred thousand. Most are buried in the depths of the pool.


    Lingyi could not check on everyone''s health along the cliffside tunnels in one day; often, it would take nearly three months to examine all three thousand people.


    Adults and the elderly were astonished by the vitality of this girl. Because year-round, Lingyi never stopped diagnosing.


    And regardless of the heavy responsibilities of a doctor, Lingyi never mined any less each day.


    She seemed like the hardest working person here and she often said to the other children:


    "We are reptiles above the filth, but as long as we keep climbing up, perhaps one day we''ll reach a place bathed in sunlight, right?"


    This was an unrealistic wish.


    Some who had survived here for decades no longer believed they would see the day they could leave.


    But there were also some who, looking into the unfathomable depth of the Abyss, believed that after decades of hard work, perhaps they had already dug the tunnels to a very high place.


    If everyone worked a little harder, perhaps they would be able to carve a path in this deep pit that leads to the top.


    People held this belief, hoping that in five, ten, or twenty years'' time, they would finally see the day they could leave this place.


    ...


    ...


    When swinging the pick, Lingyi loved to sing songs, though she could no longer remember the lyrics.


    So she hummed the tunes, and some of the children her age hummed along.


    These songs were like bugles, helping their already sore arms to continue swinging the mining picks.


    "Boss, it seems like someone was thrown down today. I saw they were still unconscious, not the usual twelve-year-old children like before," one of them said.


    "Really? That''s quite unusual. Don''t slack off, I''ll go take a look," Lingyi replied.


    Hearing the words of a child from the lower levels, Lingyi laid down her mining pick.


    She had just finished checking the health of everyone on the tunnels a few days ago, and recently she could afford to devote all her time to tunneling.


    Even though the survival rate of newcomers was extraordinarily low, Lingyi still went to care for them.


    Many people had a hard time adjusting when they were exiled to Abyss Nation.


    There was the visual discomfort, for it was very dark here, and sunlight was rarely seen year-round.


    There was also the discomfort of smell, as beneath everyone''s feet was a pond that buried hundreds of thousands of rotting lives.


    The more people there were, the faster the tunneling could proceed. With that in mind, Lingyi still gave some explanations to new arrivals, a sort of survival education.

 Chapter 45 Song Ques Last 7 Days_3

    For many years now, the newcomers to the bottom of the abyss have all been twelve-year-old children.


    Lingyi took a look¡ªat the unconscious man who should be about the same age as those on the uppermost part of the stone path, probably in his early twenties.


    "He''s not ill, I have never seen such a healthy pulse before," Lingyi felt the man''s pulse, her gaze curious as she studied him.


    This man had a very handsome face.


    Although the details were not clear in the dimness, the contours alone were enough to make out his general appearance.


    Even though her memories of the fortress stopped before the age of twelve, Lingyi still had some insight; she was sure this man must be someone of noble status.


    This could be confirmed by his clothing.


    Lingyi frowned because at that moment, it suddenly started to rain.


    The people on the stone path immediately began to exclaim, each of them pressing against the cliff wall, ready to take shelter from the rain.


    Planning to help the newcomer up towards the upper parts of the stone path, Lingyi only then felt how heavy the man was.


    "Wake up quickly! Newcomer! The rain here is heavy, a few hours are enough to flood a level of the stone path!"


    Slapping the man''s face, Lingyi spoke with a sense of urgency.


    Fortunately, at this time, the man woke up.


    Naturally, this man was Song Que.


    When consciousness returned, the first thing Song Que noticed was an unimaginable stench.


    The dim environment didn''t bother him; as the eyes of the team, Song Que''s vision was exceptionally good.


    "You''re awake? Hurry and come with me, this place is going to flood soon," Lingyi said loudly.


    The rain in the deep pit was very strange. In just a few seconds, it had picked up fiercely.


    Song Que finally came to his senses.


    "Where is this?"


    "The Holy Land. You''ve been exiled, if you want to live, follow me!"


    Lingyi, holding onto the somewhat dazed Song Que, began to make their way to the upper stone path.


    With each heavy rainfall, people would crowd at the very top of the stone path; looking down from the upper layers of the stone path, it was packed with people.


    Those at the bottom could only do one thing.


    That was to pray for the rain to stop quickly, to stop before the water in the pools rose above their nostrils.


    This was also the reason people did not recommend saving others.


    Because saving someone would mean vacating a spot at the top of the stone path, and those below would scramble for that spot in order to survive.


    It was an undeniable necessity.


    Fortunately, this time was relatively lucky for everyone.


    The rain came quickly, but it had been a long time since the last rainfall, and two more levels of stone path had been carved out.


    The safety line was higher than before. If the rain could stop within a few hours, it would soon


    Lingyi and Song Que took shelter in the lowest layer of the stone path.


    Song Que saw the water in the huge pool rising at a visible speed.


    Being a very clever person, he quickly understood the situation.


    People kept carving out stone paths during the rainless periods.


    When heavy rain fell, if the rain was light, the stone path would not flood, and those below could survive.


    He frowned, watching the torrential downpour, and said:


    "This rainfall is not normal."


    "This is a mining area," Lingyi said.


    "Even for a mining area, this rain is too heavy," Song Que said.


    Lingyi paused, asking:


    "Have you been outside?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Outside?"


    "Outside the pit. We are in a huge pit right now, do you understand?"


    Song Que looked at the rain pouring down like a river from the sky, but when he looked up, he could still see the top of the pit through gaps in the curtain of rain.


    His Balancer''s Eye could not see far-off details like Ye Feng''s Limit Vision could.


    But his vision was still far better than that of ordinary people.


    "I understand, I can''t see the end... the depth of this pit is unimaginable."


    Lingyi spoke with curiosity: "As someone who''s here for the first time, you seem to adapt well to the dark." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I''m a talent; my ability itself is related to vision," he said.


    When Lingyi heard the words ''a talent,'' her whole body trembled, and her gaze toward Song Que became complex.


    Her tone suddenly turned cold:


    "Strange, so even the high and mighty species end up exiled here?"


    Feeling the hostility in Lingyi''s words, Song Que said:


    "I have never placed myself above others. Given your age, you must have been here for several years, right?"


    "Do you know about this place?"


    "I am not from your world, but I sensed something was wrong with the fortress and came to investigate. After discovering the fortress''s secret, I can understand your resentment towards talents."


    Lingyi did not speak for a long while. After a prolonged silence, she finally said:


    "Let''s wait for the rain to stop. Anyway, you''ve got only seven days to live."


    Song Que nodded.


    Having seen the abyss that had no visible top or bottom, he understood he couldn''t escape from this place.


    Life suddenly reduced to seven days in the world''s darkest pit, Song Que naturally felt regret.


    But every life has its fate, and he didn''t remain passive for long.


    The rain stopped quickly, and the water level rose to three meters below Song Que''s feet.


    When the downpour ceased, Song Que could hear in the pit as vast as a canyon, many sighed in relief, some even cheering and giving thanks.


    This scene made Song Que realize the hardships of these people.


    Perhaps every heavy rain in the past had claimed some lives forever here.


    In the dark pit, there suddenly appeared a threadlike ray of light.

 Chapter 45 Song Ques Last 7 Days_4

    Lingyi said with surprise and joy:


    "It''s Xi Yu!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her voice was loud, and after the people around heard it, their gazes also fell on the threads of light that started to appear and multiply.


    "It''s Xi Yu!"


    "Xi Yu!"


    More and more such voices echoed through the deep chasm of empty space.


    Song Que looked up at the darkness above, where beams of light were piercing through, each as fine as a thread, like strands of rain.


    "What is Xi Yu?" Song Que asked.


    Lingyi, brimming with happiness, leaned out dangerously over the edge of the stone pathway, seemingly having forgotten the risk as she strived to get closer to the light.


    "This is the darkest place in the entire world, but even here, the sunlight hasn''t abandoned us. When the sun aligns directly above the pit, there will be about a quarter of an hour when the sunlight penetrates layers of darkness to reach us. Although by the time it gets here, it''s so thin, just like the finest threads of rain. We call this scene Xi Yu."


    Song Que was stunned by Lingyi''s explanation. How deep must the pit be for sunlight to weaken to mere threads, like rain? Yet despite this, looking around, every person on the stone pathway was reaching out, trying to touch the sunlight without a thought for the water below.


    This sight profoundly moved Song Que, and it was only then that he realized some of these people hadn''t seen the sun in thirty years.


    These thread-like beams of light were like the last sliver of hope in the hearts of these people¡ªdelicate, yet existing.


    Although the scene was so gloomy, although it was just a slight, lingering presence of sunlight, the people yearned to be close to it.


    A ray of light fell upon Lingyi''s forehead.


    Song Que watched Lingyi''s contented smile and felt a twinge of sadness.


    What kind of dark and twisted lives were they living...?


    Yet, although they were living in the darkest, filthiest corners, their souls seemed to be cleansed by Xi Yu.


    Lingyi, who had once regarded the gifted with hostility, now smiled at Song Que with a show-offish grin, reminiscent of a little girl who had just gotten the latest doll and wanted to show it off to a good friend.


    This moment''s Lingyi, with a ray of sunlight on her ashen face, possessed a beauty that went straight to the soul, indescribable even by Song Que, who had seen many girls.


    But Xi Yu was brief.


    As the sun slowly changed its position, Song Que watched the thread of sunlight travel to Lingyi''s nose, then gradually thin out until it vanished, leaving tears in her eyes.


    She looked blankly at the sky and said:


    "One day, I will take them all out of here."


    Song Que said nothing.


    The possibility was too slim, even for the gifted to climb out of such a deep pit along the sheer cliffs.


    For non-gifted people to achieve this was an even more illusory goal.


    "I will help you, even though I only have seven days to live."


    Lingyi was stunned, her expression softening:


    "Here, you''ll have to show off the abilities of a gifted one, otherwise... they probably won''t like you much. Oh, by the way, my name is Lingyi."


    Song Que was taken aback.


    The only person he could possibly meet in the pit, who also fit the age and gender profile, name being Lingyi, could only be Wu''s daughter.


    "What''s wrong? You look like you know me."


    "No, the name is very pleasing. I am Song Que."


    Song Que did not share his background with Lingyi. After seeing what it was like here, he suddenly lost any desire to help reunite a broken family.


    No matter how much Wu suffered, she had made her choice.


    And Lu Chao''an felt no remorse at all.


    They had no idea what their daughter was enduring in this dark place.


    "Song Que? I seem to have heard that somewhere, like it''s a very famous name."


    "My time is limited, I will do my best to help you all repair the stone pathway."


    "You are quite clever."


    Lingyi was surprised that Song Que could so quickly understand what they were doing.


    Song Que said:


    "If possible, can you tell me about some of the things that have happened here?"


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    "What do you want to hear? Most things that happen here are unfortunate."


    "That''s alright, just consider it a request from a man who is about to die. In return, I will spare no effort to help everyone get through the next downpour."


    ...


    ...


    Song Que''s arrival, indeed as Lingyi had thought, brought about hostility from everyone after his identity as a gifted was revealed.


    On the first day, Song Que had wanted to go to the very top of the stone pathway to extend it as much as possible, but unfortunately, the crowd did not cooperate with him.


    But by the first night, when people discovered that many new caves had appeared on the cliff''s face, big enough to serve as shelters from the rain, they began to marvel at Song Que''s capabilities.


    His endurance and strength seemed limitless, the miner''s pick in his hand resembling heavy machinery tearing through rock layers. Song Que, by his own efforts, had chiseled many cavities in the cliff large enough for people to rest in.


    Under Lingyi''s command, people finally accepted that Song Que should lead the strongest young men to dig the stone pathway.


    By the second night, with Song Que''s help, the work that normally took a week was completed in just one day.


    By the third day, most of those who had loathed Song Que were starting to warm up to him.

 Chapter 45 Song Ques Last 7 Days_5

    Because they had already hewn the stone path upward by a full ten plus meters.


    In just two days, several layers of stone paths were carved out, something unimaginable in the past. Among the three thousand people, actually only a few hundred could really contribute to the digging.


    Song Que''s abilities were even above those few hundred people.


    That day, Song Que also listened to a story from Xi Yu. Apart from the messenger crows that brought food, in the pit, every few days, one could see a dragon-like creature patrolling.


    On the fourth day, Xi Yu and a bunch of children began working with Song Que. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Que would ask them some questions about the pit.


    He would also ask about the children''s wishes.


    Wishes were a luxury in this place, even though everyone''s wish was simply to leave.


    Some wanted to see the blue sky, willing even to be devoured by the wild beasts of the mining area the next second.


    Others wanted to see the sun, to experience the blazing sunshine.


    And there were those who wanted to wear clean clothes, eat delicious food.


    When Song Que asked Xi Yu, she thought for a while before smiling and saying,


    "I just wish that one day if I get out, I would definitely fill up this place."


    Song Que was taken aback.


    He was a gifted person of ten talents, the best among the gifted. But in this dark pit, he found that all he could do was delay the death of these people.


    He couldn''t fulfill Xi Yu''s wish, he couldn''t even take Xi Yu away from here.


    On the fifth day, heavy rain fell. The heavy rain raised the water level in the deep pool by ten plus meters, which would have drowned many on a normal day.


    But this time, no one suffered such a plight.


    Xi Yu and the other children finally didn''t have to rest and sleep on the stone path to avoid the rain; they all hid in the stone caves carved by Song Que.


    It had been cloudy for several days in a row, and Song Que felt regretful for not having seen Xi Yu.


    On the sixth day, the weather was still gloomy, and Song Que knew his time was running out.


    Looking at the still endless sky, he felt a sense of powerlessness.


    Perhaps for a while, these people need not worry about being drowned by the suddenly rising deep pool, but it''s only for a while.


    On this day, Xi Yu quietly saved her own food.


    The seventh day finally arrived.


    Song Que had never stayed in the mining area for so long.


    With his help, in the span of seven days, the stone path had risen by nearly one hundred meters.


    Song Que, gifted of ten talents, was indeed the chosen one. Although his ability was an auxiliary type like the Eyes of Balance, he was also one of the strongest in terms of physical strength among the gifted.


    He had the power to confront perfect-level creatures on his own.


    In this place, even if all the non-gifted were combined, they could not match Song Que''s efficiency.


    The people were overjoyed, because they had made one more step closer to the top of the pit.


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    Only Song Que was troubled.


    There was too little time, but just like them, even though he could survive in the mining area for a long time, he absolutely could not take them away.


    These more than three thousand people would eventually die here, passing on the fantasy that seemed to dig out light to the next group.


    Song Que really wanted to tell them that they simply couldn''t leave this place.


    But he was already dying, so why extinguish others'' hopes?


    That day, Song Que sat quietly at the very top of the stone path, waiting for death to come.


    He was also waiting for the appearance of something.


    Xi Yu sat beside him, making her final farewell to Song Que.


    "I heard from the elders that after death, all pain continues eternally," Xi Yu handed food to Song Que.


    Song Que smiled and said, "So I want to be a well-fed ghost? At least after death, there won''t be the pain of hunger?"


    "Yes."


    "Thank you," Song Que did not refuse Xi Yu''s kindness.


    "Do you have any other wishes? One day in the future when I take them out, I''ll help you fulfill it," Xi Yu spoke very gently.


    Her demeanor was also serious, as if she truly believed there would come a day when she could take everyone away.


    But before she could hear Song Que''s answer, a violent dragon''s roar filled with rage reached them.


    The dragon''s roar echoed countless times in the empty cliffs, like the Grim Reaper striking a bell.


    "It''s a Jiao Dragon, run! Hide quickly!"


    After Xi Yu''s words fell, many people on the stone path trembled and cowered.


    Children and the elderly hid in the stone caves carved by Song Que.


    Xi Yu wanted to pull Song Que to leave, but Song Que didn''t move.


    "Hurry up! That Jiao Dragon eats humans!" Xi Yu looked at Song Que, puzzled.


    Song Que had heard about this dragon from Xi Yu.


    The messenger crows were in charge of delivering food and medicine, while this Jiao Dragon seemed more like a Guardian here, patrolling the bottom of the pit periodically. It also played with weak humans.


    Song Que stood up, looking steadily at the Jiao Dragon that was two sizes smaller than the one Tang Xian had ridden.


    Having stayed in the pit for seven days, Song Que, through his observations over seven days, had become certain of one thing.


    The horrific heavy rain wasn''t a natural phenomenon.


    It''s just like he felt something was wrong the first time he saw that rain.


    Because he smelled the scent of elements in it.


    As holder of the Eyes of Balance, Song Que was convinced that the rain that had caused countless deaths came from this evil Jiao.


    He had been waiting for it.


    The Jiao Dragon looked at the people crouching with satisfaction, as if a king seeing his slaves.


    But it quickly focused on Song Que at the top of the stone path.


    The Jiao Dragon looked down at Song Que with contempt.


    Song Que also stared back at the Jiao Dragon, while gently pushing Xi Yu back into the stone cave behind him.


    He stepped forward and said softly,


    "Although there''s not much time left, I still have unfinished business."

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent

    ```


    Jiaolong only belongs to an inferior species among dragons. Even so, it possesses quite formidable strength.


    In the bestiary known to humans, Jiaolongs are mostly considered calamity-level boss creatures.


    This cave Jiaolong, although it had just completed its evolution not long ago, is no weaker than any calamity-level creature.


    It is an entity that Song Que currently absolutely cannot defeat.


    The Jiaolong''s eyes are filled with disdain, and its dragon''s roar carries a mockery for the inferior species.


    The people crawling on the stone path and those hiding in the caves did not dare to look directly at the Jiaolong.


    Previously, the curious ones who looked at the Jiaolong were swallowed by it.


    After such incidents became more common, whenever this cave Jiaolong appeared, no one dared to raise their head again.


    It was as if by not looking at it, they could escape the fate of being eaten.


    Still, every time, some people would be swallowed by the evil Jiaolong.


    This time was an exception, as Song Que stared intently at the cave Jiaolong.


    The Jiaolong seemed to have quite an interest in Song Que, naturally not bothering with those groveling humans.


    The dragon''s body gradually shrank, and the dragon scales on its body slowly disappeared.


    Soon, what floated in the air was no longer a Jiaolong, but a person.


    He wore a general''s armor, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, his face stern without being angry, showing only disdain in his eyes. He really had the air of a prison warden.


    In the Court of Myriad Beasts, there are not many creatures that can transform into humans.


    Among them, the Endless Turtle, the Crystal Crane, and the Jiaolong are the most famous.


    The Endless Turtle monitors the entire mining area.


    The Crystal Crane is in charge of gathering intelligence from the Human World.


    And the cave Jiaolong oversees the slaves transported from another world.


    Song Que had seen such a scene seven days ago, so he was not so surprised.


    According to what Tang Xian said before in the blacksmith''s shop, the strength of those in human form in the Court of Myriad Beasts would be compressed to one-sixth of their strength in beast form.


    Even so, Song Que had no chance of winning.


    "[It''s my turn to take the stage, you should have realized that your abilities are no match for him in a fight, even if he has taken on a human form. In this narrow stone path, you have no way to fight him.]"


    Song Que did not speak, instead, he reached into his prop bag and took out the facial mask.


    In that moment, he became the Masked Freak.


    The cave Jiaolong was in no hurry.


    Guarding a bunch of non-gifted people in this place was just too boring.


    Seeing Song Que''s entire temperament change, it found the situation rather amusing.


    "I heard from the Monkey King before that humans have complex personalities, some people even have multiple personalities. When their personality switches, their abilities, character, and way of fighting all change. Even their powers can change," said the Jiaolong.


    Song Que sneered, "You seem to know quite a lot about humans. Truly a troublesome enemy. I''d rather I couldn''t see your ten kinds of data."


    Life value, life recovery power, attack power, defensive power, critical hit rate, etc., ten numerical values appeared in Song Que''s eyes.


    Some of the cave Jiaolong''s attributes had clearly been compressed. The overall strength reduced to one-sixth of its beast form.


    Yet the values were still out of reach for Song Que.


    But a mask-like smile still hung on his face.


    The Will of Chaos not only brought about a change in Song Que''s thinking, but it also greatly altered his combat abilities.


    In the cave Jiaolong''s hovering domain, suddenly many huge rocks appeared.


    These rocks shifted chaotically within the three-dimensional space.


    But they did not attack the cave Jiaolong, and instead seemed more like stepping stones for Song Que.


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    Song Que''s current abilities were stronger than those of the original clown.


    Because the clown did not have data talents as good as Song Que''s.


    In the possession of someone with higher talents, the Will of Chaos could be brought out to a greater extent.


    The clown originally very much wanted to infect Tang Xian.


    But the possibility of infecting Tang Xian was probably lower than Tang Xian infecting him, the clown. In the end, he implanted the Will of Chaos into Song Que.


    This personified power could cause various mutations depending on the host, but the personalities all became more malevolent.


    Even the clown himself did not know that Song Que''s pure heart would turn into someone "righteous in outcome, evil in process," embodying both good and evil.


    He was one who was so kind-hearted that even the Will of Chaos could not completely corrupt him.


    For the Evolution Zone, the emergence of the clown was also an extremely random and unreplicable outcome.


    Song Que said, "Isn''t it interesting to drive humans around like ants? Isn''t it particularly fun to pour a torrential rain filled with life-and-death separations just as these weak and pitiful insects struggle to climb?"


    Song Que''s voice was not loud, but neither did he deliberately lower it.


    Whether it was Lingyi, people crawling on the stone path, or those hiding in the caves.


    In the empty mining pit, most people heard Song Que''s words.


    It was like a needle piercing into the nail bed, painfully reaching their souls.


    Was the heavy rain caused by this Jiaolong? Not real rain?


    When this thought emerged, they all felt a bone-chilling cold.


    Song Que did not care and even wanted to turn his head to appreciate the look of realization on these fools'' faces.


    Unlike the gentleness of another personality, under the Will of Chaos, the Masked Freak did not care for the ridiculous and pathetic hopes of these people.


    A bunch of non-gifted individuals trying to climb out of here?


    Even in a sleeping state, hearing these words, he would have wanted to mock these people. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cave Jiaolong watched Song Que with the mask with great interest.


    It did not even care about Song Que''s methods because it believed that Song Que himself understood how big the gap between them was.


    ```

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_2

    "You only have less than an hour left to live, do you plan to plunge everyone into grief as you''re about to die? That''s really mean,"


    For the guardian of the pit, watching over the cave was a boring task, and making a mockery of the humans trapped in the pit had become its source of amusement.


    From the moment Song Que was sent through the teleportation portal at the top of the pit, it sensed that it would have new entertainment.


    Now that Song Que had revealed a secret that it never considered a secret, it didn''t deny it.


    It admitted it candidly. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ringing in the stone cave, Ling Yi shook all over.


    Those who had died over the years... what were they really?


    Merely toys for this cave monster?


    She stared blankly ahead at the monster in human form with a cruel smile on its face.


    For the first time, Ling Yi felt that maybe she really couldn''t lead everyone out.


    Because as long as the monster before her lived, a torrential rain that could extinguish their hope might come at any moment.


    "These boulders, did you prepare them over the past seven days? It seems you''ve long discovered the secret of the rainwater. Worthy of being one of the rarest among humans with the gift of the ten heavens," the cave monster said.


    Song Que didn''t feel surprised. His chaotic mind made him like a clown, never astonished by any unexpected act of the enemy. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    He only found it interesting.


    Normal will sometimes forgets memories formed under chaotic will, but chaotic memory retains the recollections of both personas.


    Song Que remembered what Tang Xian had mentioned on the Saint Dena Highlands, the Court of Thousan Beasts.


    "It turns out you possess intelligence not only comparable to humans... no, even surpassing that of most humans. If I were to kill you here, I wonder how long would it take for the Court of Thousan Beasts to find out?"


    The cave monster said with disdain:


    "If you can do it, then by all means, try."


    "Although you didn''t answer my question, I suppose I needn''t hold back now, right?"


    There was no need to continue the conversation further. An uneven battle between a man and a dragon unfolded.


    Song Que actually initiated the attack first.


    His speed was as fast as lightning, and he leaped onto a floating rock in an instant.


    This telekinesis was different from that of the Blue-eyed Witch and Qin Qian. Strictly speaking, it wasn''t about controlling objects.


    Rather, he created a field of gravity chaos. But this force-field was also unstable because, even Song Que himself didn''t know where the direction of the force-field would lead.


    Thus, this ability couldn''t be used to escape from the pit.


    But he had the Eyes of Balance. He could predict, albeit briefly.


    Though not as far into the future as when in his core persona.


    It was while dodging that the cave monster felt its body had become a bit heavier.


    "A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"


    Even within the twisted gravity field, the cave monster''s speed far exceeded that of Song Que.


    "Surprising, beasts can actually speak idioms! Two for the price of one, catch!"


    Crazy personality Song Que taunted, somewhat in the style of Tang Xian.


    Song Que''s body kept rebounding irregularly among several floating boulders.


    The irregularly changing rocks, together with the unpredictable trajectory of his leaps.


    The cave monster was unable to predict where these chaotic attacks would land the next second.


    As it floated in the air, the cave monster nearly hit Song Que several times, its claws sweeping through the air, creating fierce currents.


    But somehow, Song Que managed to dodge each attack, as if by coincidence.


    Song Que''s hand blade hit the cave monster''s general''s armor.


    But it did not leave the slightest mark on its body.


    [Speed is 1.4 times mine, the closest attribute to me, its attack power is monstrous, one hit will lead to severe injury, but with a 1.4 times difference, I can dodge its attacks with the Eyes of Balance.]


    The voice in his consciousness was the real Song Que''s.


    While the masked Song Que was reluctant to rely on his alter ego, who believed in absurd justice, he had no choice but to accept the help.


    Because so far, no one had been able to fight a calamity-level creature alone.


    Not even the ten-gifted Akasi could do it, and Song Que didn''t think he could either.


    Having narrowly avoided several of the cave monster''s attacks, the huge stones floating and constantly changing positions in the air suddenly burst into countless small stones.


    "With no footing left, let''s see where you can dodge!" the cave monster mocked.


    Song Que also responded with a mocking smile, although it was hidden by his mask.


    It was like walking in a field where the direction of gravity constantly changed.


    The dragon was so powerful that it wasn''t greatly affected, but Song Que was pulled by this force field.


    Using the Eyes of Balance, Song Que predicted the direction of the force field changes, stepping on those fine rocks when the field was directed upward.


    He was light as a feather.


    Then he leaped up high in an instant.


    In that moment, the gravity field changed again.


    Overlapping with gravity and pulling downward.


    [The chaotic gravity field will last for 3.7 seconds, its acceleration being the same 9.8m/s^2, attack from directly above his head, at this time his dodging will be in the most favorable direction, but this dragon is naturally arrogant, most likely he won''t dodge but will resist with even stronger gravity to show off his strength, 1.4 times the speed difference will make him even slower!]


    "Shut up!"


    To deal with the overly powerful cave monster, the two personas had to cooperate.


    Nevertheless, the chaotic persona of Song Que ended up adopting the strategy of the real Song Que.


    He throws a punch at the dragon from high in the sky.


    The speed and power of this punch received a significant enhancement.


    And everything happened just as Song Que had anticipated¡ªin the Eyes of Balance, the next second wasn''t about dodging for the dragon but catching the attack single-handedly.

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_3

    The fierce punch stopped in an instant.


    The Flood Dragon''s body shook slightly, a hint of seriousness now showing on its face.


    Although everything had gone as Song Que had calculated, he had not gained any advantage.


    He''d merely lessened the disadvantage somewhat.


    The Flood Dragon said, "Too weak. I heard that you are the human commander, the most top-notch combatant among the talented humans, but now you must understand, even the strongest human fighter in my view is no different from those crawling insects, just a slightly bigger bug."


    The palm of the Flood Dragon was like a wall; no matter how strong Song Que''s punches were, he just couldn''t advance any further.


    At this time, the force field changed once again.


    [Accelerate the change interval of the chaotic force field and perform high-frequency consecutive strikes!]


    The Flood Dragon wanted to see the most desperate look on Song Que''s face, but both Song Ques were individuals of strong character.


    The next second, the force field changed even more rapidly. Every kind of force was switching in an instant.


    After each unsuccessful strike, Song Que immediately retreated, his entire form bouncing ceaselessly in the chaotic space.


    Those suspended tiny stones also changed their positions constantly during this process.


    The Flood Dragon furrowed its brows, as Song Que''s speed seemed to have suddenly more than doubled.


    His figure flickered incessantly, completely unpredictable under the push of the force field.


    But every time he got close to the Flood Dragon, he brought a very troublesome attack.


    [Attack different parts as much as possible; maybe it has a weakness.]


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    "I know that without you telling me!"


    Like a billiard ball propelled powerfully off the cue, Song Que was constantly colliding across the table.


    Centered around the Flood Dragon, Song Que began a frantic series of consecutive blows in a confined space.


    Although most of the attacks were defended by the Flood Dragon, finally, a few hits landed on its body.


    Perhaps they couldn''t break through its defense, but indeed they allowed Ling Yi, hiding in a distant cave, to see a glimmer of hope.


    She remembered Song Que.


    Even during her childhood, even within that fortress blocked by the net, she had heard the name of this most talented human.


    All of the Ten Talents were destined to be recorded in the annals of history.


    Song Que was the one among the Ten Talents of recent years, strongest in every capacity.


    So much so that in her eyes, she actually saw a sliver of hope.


    It was like, in the midst of a snowstorm, someone had suddenly lit a lamp.


    Song Que''s terrifying attack was accompanied by a sinister laugh.


    This laugh, in those brilliantly lit fortresses, would make countless people frightened, but in the dark depths, Ling Yi found it incredibly comforting.


    She wanted to cry out something, but she couldn''t.


    Years of fear had ultimately suppressed her soul.


    Song Que''s attacks grew more frantic.


    [Though only a little time is left in life, but¡­ please, the other me.]


    "So annoying; just a guy looking for a cushion before dying. A cheap act of sentimentality."


    Song Que, immersed in chaotic will, seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was cursing himself.


    The Flood Dragon, after all, was a Flood Dragon, even in such a chaotic battleground, unable to find the right target or even control its strength properly. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it still managed to counterattack Song Que several times.


    Song Que''s arms, chest, and ribs all suffered extremely terrible injuries.


    Yet, to the Flood Dragon''s surprise, Song Que seemed to have abandoned his defense.


    In his frenzied attacks, he didn''t attempt to dodge blows that were certainly unavoidable, but rather, he retaliated fiercely.


    The increasingly fast-paced Song Que made Ling Yi''s eyes struggle to keep up.


    All those crawling on the ground still dared not lift their heads.


    They could only listen to the sound akin to heavy drums being struck at an extremely high frequency.


    It was as if two peerless powerhouses exchanged blows several times in one second!


    The drumming struck deep into their consciousness; many times, people wanted to raise their heads to glimpse the sky-high duel.


    But they never dared to look up.


    The fierce duel at this moment faced another twist.


    Seeing Song Que''s speed constantly increasing, his strength growing ever stronger, the Flood Dragon finally became certain¡ª


    This was not some ability of this human.


    He was truly getting stronger.


    Song Que''s combat power was rising bit by bit along with his fighting spirit!


    "Really tenacious, I must admit, even for a reptile, you are the most troublesome one."


    With a human body, the Flood Dragon let out a dragon''s roar.


    Terrifying shockwaves burst open instantly at the center of the force field.


    [Retreat!]


    "There''s no time!"


    Both consciousnesses sensed the ferocity of the attack, but it came too suddenly.


    Even with foreknowledge, they couldn''t evade it.


    Suddenly, a storm arose in the windless sinkhole, and amidst the howling wind, Song Que was fiercely blown back, his body slamming against the cliff wall.


    His body embedded itself within the ore.


    The gap in power between humans and beasts flashed expressly; Song Que could sense that all his previous attacks combined were less ferocious than the one strike the Flood Dragon had just dealt him.


    With a twist of its neck, the Flood Dragon said dismissively:


    "That was quite an impressive offense. For an ant, making me feel pain is quite an accomplishment. But you''ve been hitting me for so long, shouldn''t it be my turn now?"


    Instantly, the Flood Dragon''s figure arrived in front of Song Que.


    It grabbed Song Que by the neck, even though Song Que''s body was still deeply embedded into the rock.


    Then, holding Song Que, the Flood Dragon started to fly along the cliff.


    Song Que''s body was dragged forcefully against the cliff wall as if he were a tool in the Flood Dragon''s grasp for carving out the rock face.

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_4

    The sharp ores instantly lacerated Song Que, rendering his flesh a bloody blur.


    Humans endowed with perfect talent naturally have bodies as sturdy as iron and stone in mining areas.


    Yet, even under such high speeds, Song Que still suffered severe injuries.


    The Jiaolong''s flight speed was getting faster and faster.


    All the people on the cliff path felt the vibrations of the cliff.


    Ling Yi covered her mouth, unable to imagine the assault Song Que was enduring.


    Sharp rocks had pierced Song Que''s lungs. His chest cavity was also impaled by a massive boulder.


    Song Que, whose body was no longer intact, was finally pinned to the cliff after the Jiaolong had circled around it several times.


    He was like a savior nailed to the cross, continuously bleeding.


    The Jiaolong looked on with satisfaction at this scene, finally feeling that the surge in human battle strength due to their intense will to fight had come to a halt.


    Song Que''s life force was rapidly draining away.


    Breathing had become extremely difficult, nearly every bone in his body shattered to pieces.


    Even as a decatant with a slight self-healing ability, with his body impaled on the rocks, his blood''s healing properties seemed to be severed.


    "Today has been quite fun. Before you die, I''ll eat a few reptiles for entertainment. Make sure your eyes are wide open to see it all."


    The Jiaolong mocked, imitating Song Que''s laughter.


    In the earlier high-speed collision, Song Que''s mask had also peeled off, shattered into pieces, scattered throughout the pit.


    He breathed with difficulty, every part of his body screaming with intense pain.


    This was the first time, due to an overwhelmingly strong opponent, that the chaotic will was thoroughly suppressed.


    He reverted back to his original personality.


    The gap in strength between humans and a calamity-level mythical beast was simply too vast.


    Even though he had surpassed himself, he had only inflicted a slight bit of pain on the creature.


    Such pain probably healed after a mere few seconds, right?


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    Song Que looked pitifully at the people on the distant stone path.


    They were still prostrate, their hearts probably filled with even more fear, right?


    Thousands of people knelt on the stone path as if worshiping the monarch in the sky.


    In contrast, he seemed like an anomaly.


    The most terrifying thing in this world was to see hope clearly and yet fall into even greater despair.


    A calamity-level boss that humans had struggled for decades to defeat¡ªhow could he possibly overcome it?


    Song Que began to cough violently, with blood in his coughs.


    Countless negative thoughts flashed through his mind, but ultimately, he denied them all.


    Because he was about to die. Even if the Jiaolong didn''t kill him, the rules would.


    "My life has been somewhat dull after all. Sometimes, I truly wish to swap identities with Tang Xian. Perhaps by standing against the world, I would be more entitled...to oppose all the injustices of this world."


    Life has no what-ifs.


    Until the end, Song Que could only watch the Jiaolong unwillingly.


    He activated the Eyes of the Scales, and although he could no longer move his body, he still stubbornly watched it, wanting to see if there would be a turn of events in the next second.


    There was no change; the Jiaolong just stood there quietly, watching Song Que with mockery.


    Song Que didn''t even have the strength to shake his head.


    He wanted to push his body off the boulder that had impaled him.


    But it was really difficult to move.


    All he could do was continue to watch nineteen seconds into the future.


    That was the limit of the Eyes of the Scales. From the one second plus of his childhood, now Song Que had honed it to nineteen seconds.


    But this time, he still felt it wasn''t enough.


    Just a little deeper would be good.


    Thinking this, he raised his head and widened his eyes. He wanted to see further¡ªa day, a month, a year, a decade, a century!


    In his final moments before death, Song Que still thought about seeing these groveling people regain their freedom.


    He yearned immensely, as if, in the face of death, he wanted some consolation.


    The figure of the Jiaolong gradually changed.


    Song Que''s pupils contracted.


    He saw his future self.


    Incredibly, his already ravaged body was still capable of fighting.


    How many seconds into the future was this? Suddenly, Song Que was filled with doubt.


    He continued to widen his eyes, which were bloodshot and appeared somewhat ferocious and frightening.


    The Cave Jiaolong witnessed this scene and suddenly felt very annoyed.


    It was as if it was being stared at by a particularly detestable beast.


    "If these are your last words, they are truly obscure and pathetic. Shouldn''t you be saying something fierce like ''even in hell, I won''t let you off''? Eating insects with that kind of emotion is the most delicious!"


    Regardless, just one more strike and this strongest human with natural talents would die.


    "I wanted you to see how your kind would please me, but now I''ll kill you!"


    The Cave Jiaolong raised a finger towards Song Que.


    But at that moment, Song Que''s expression changed slightly.


    He had never experienced such an extreme state of being on the verge of death.


    Nor had he ever thought that his eyes would behold a future some four hundred seconds away!


    It was as if the ancient gods wanted to fulfill this human''s final wish before death.


    The power of the Eyes of the Scales skyrocketed crazily.


    It was dozens of times stronger than Song Que''s efforts over the past decade or so.


    The initial confusion flashed through his mind, but it was a paradox; the vision of the future in his eyes was the source of the question, as well as the answer.


    Song Que wondered why he could suddenly see so far into the future.


    But the next second, when the Cave Jiaolong raised its finger towards him, he received the answer from his future self.


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_5

    [It is the balance.]


    "Yes."


    The two personalities within the sea of consciousness began their conversation once more.


    [This is the fairest thing in the world, a symbol of justice.]


    Song Que''s brain was once again filled with that eerie smile.


    [How far into the future you wish to see depends on how much resolve you''re willing to muster and what you''re prepared to sacrifice. I have made my resolve.]


    "So have I."


    Song Que revealed a smile as well.


    The voices in the sea of consciousness fell silent abruptly.


    His smile was somewhat bizarre, resembling both the silly self he was on regular days and that evil version of himself.


    Four hundred forty seconds.


    Five hundred seconds.


    Five hundred fifty seconds.


    More and more fragments of the future filled the sea of consciousness, playing in Song Que''s mind like a carousel lantern or a film reel.


    "Still not enough."


    Song Que''s body seemed to suddenly regain strength.


    Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    His hands gripped the stone spike piercing through him and began to slowly pull it out.


    The cave Jiao was shocked, and instantly a powerful impulse shot out from the fingertips.


    Like an invisible blade.


    Song Que didn''t watch this scene.


    He had seen the entire future seven hundred seconds later.


    The present him could handle the forthcoming battle even with his eyes closed.


    He muttered softly,


    "Life recovery speed." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After his words fell, the field of Song Que''s vision was forever missing a piece of talent data.


    He could now only see nine types of talent data.


    The life recovery speed had completely disappeared.


    But correspondingly, what shocked the Jiao dragon greatly was that Song Que actually took its finger blade head-on.


    That terrifying blade, capable of cleaving through cliffs, slashed onto Song Que.


    But in the next second, before the blood could even scatter, it was rapidly covered by the healing skin layer.


    At this moment, Song Que demonstrated a life recovery speed that astonished even the creatures of the Dragon Clan.


    "Impossible!" The cave Jiao instinctively felt that something was wrong.


    The next instant, Song Que slightly raised his arm, enveloping the cave Jiao once more with a massive field of chaotic power.


    "Attack power. Critical hit probability. Critical damage." Song Que spoke again softly.


    Immediately, three more sets of data vanished from his eyes.


    In that moment, Song Que went from being a supreme talent with ten talents to having only six remaining.


    But what followed was a terrifying attack that even the Jiao dragon felt wary of.


    The cave Jiao couldn''t imagine that a human''s punch could stir up such a powerful current!


    Song Que''s figure, once again centered around the cave Jiao, shot around the force field like a marble bouncing continuously.


    Another wave of horrific strikes came, but this time, each of Song Que''s attacks caused the Jiao dragon intense pain that reached deep into its lungs and gut.


    Those fists, wrought with a tearing terror, seemed as though he was facing a calamitous-level monster.


    Finally taking Song Que seriously, the cave Jiao began to defend with all its might.


    But even while blocking Song Que''s attacks, it could still feel the terrifying penetrating power of his punches.


    Instead of weakening due to its own defenses, it felt a pain several times greater than before.


    "Attack speed, attack range!"


    Song Que''s voice also contained a hint of overexertion.


    His skin seemed almost ablaze.


    In that moment, Song Que''s onslaught reached its most fearsome peak.


    The frequency, already like a heavy drum and hammer, suddenly increased by more than tenfold!


    The cave Jiao finally couldn''t maintain its human form any longer.


    It let out a painful screech as its enormous dragon form burst forth!


    But Song Que acted as if he dismissed this event entirely.


    The dragon''s roar like a concentrated pressure cannon, the strong gale struck Song Que''s body.


    "No problem, I saw this scene a hundred nineteen seconds ago! I can still fight!"


    Multiple types of data vanished from his sight, not only talent data, but this time, Song Que''s vision also became blurred.


    In its dragon form, the cave Jiao displayed the true strength of a calamity-level boss creature.


    Even the now mighty Song Que, chased and struck by numerous sonic boom-like wind blasts, was in mortal danger.


    Song Que''s rapidly moving body finally halted, but for less than a second.


    "Movement speed, defensive power, stamina."


    Three more types of talent disappeared from his field of vision.


    Song Que radiated a fiery red glow, as if he were bathed in searing flames.


    His speed became completely indiscernible.


    Even if Akasi were here, he would have to acknowledge that such speed surpassed his own!


    Lingyi stepped out of the stone cave, watching the scene in shock.


    What presented before her eyes was only a red afterimage shifting continuously in the dark abyss below.


    It looked like a light piercing through the darkness!


    The rapid increase of stamina cleared the blurriness from Song Que''s vision, and the feelings of fatigue and pain disappeared instantly.


    The boost in defensive power allowed him to withstand the dragon''s roar and forcefully launch attacks.


    And speed turned Song Que into a red thunderbolt!


    At that moment, the cave Jiao finally understood what was happening.


    "Impossible! This is an offering of the Order, how could a human possibly master it?"


    There was no answer.


    There was just one ferocious assault stronger than the last.


    The Jiao dragon let out cries of agony.


    Blood began to seep from the scales of the cave Jiao, and many scales started to fall off.


    The ability Song Que was displaying had been mentioned in the records of Twilight of the Gods at court.


    Both the cave Jiao and the Endless Turtle had read about it.


    This was also what the cave Jiao understood the least¡­


    Why could Song Que utilize the power that the Order once used to annihilate the Eden Tribe?


    But what the cave Jiao didn''t know was that a person born with a full complement of talents, throughout hundreds of years of human history, numbered in the single digits.

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_6

    Akasi and Tang Suoye both developed their ten talents postnatally.


    But Song Que was truly born with ten talents.


    Talent burning.


    If it weren''t for relying on such abilities, how could the Eden Tribe have declined?


    The cave Jiao finally felt the strength of this ability.


    Song Que, on his own, was actually able to suppress his own dragon form.


    This also made it no surprise why the Orderers were able to burn their talents to strike the Sea Demon into the deep sea, killing the rest of the doomsday creatures.


    How could Song Que''s combat power have improved by just a hundredfold?


    The cave Jiao''s gaze could barely keep up with Song Que''s swiftly changing figure!


    An unstoppable offense, a self-healing ability that healed as soon as it was wounded.


    Defensive power that ignored powerful attacks, an attack range impossible to dodge!


    Such terrifying enhancements made Song Que seem like a weakened Orderer.


    The cave Jiao finally showed a look of panic.


    It wanted to flee!


    But Song Que''s speed was far faster than the Jiao dragon''s!


    In an instant, he arrived in front of the Jiao dragon, and while the dragon was hastily stopping, he delivered the most fierce punch to the dragon!


    The Jiao dragon could not dodge in time and had to meet Song Que''s attack head-on!


    The protracted battle was finally about to conclude at this moment!


    The red light, like a blade, rushed toward the giant dragon''s body!


    And the dragon''s roar also contained an unprecedented destructive power.


    Lingyi, who had been watching the battle with eyes wide open, brought her hands together and closed her eyes.


    She couldn''t bear to watch, only praying nonstop that Song Que could win.


    She wasn''t talented and didn''t know what Song Que had done.


    But she knew that for these people he had only known for seven days, Song Que had wagered everything on this battle!


    The two destructive forces collided, and a fierce explosion erupted above the stony path a hundred meters up.


    The entire huge pit continued to tremble.


    In the dark pit, it was illuminated by lightning for a moment.


    In that brief instant, those people who hadn''t seen light for years were blinded by the glare.


    Finally, some children raised their heads, wanting to witness this moment.


    There were still many people crouching, hearts filled with fear.


    But at last, a few people tried to lift their heads, humbly hoping, maybe the evil dragon could be killed by Song Que.


    Even if their eyes, having not seen the light for so long, were blinded, they wanted to see that almost impossible scene.


    ...


    ...


    The trembling of the cliff gradually stopped, and the echo of the explosion in the pit slowly subsided.


    Those who lifted their heads were blinded by the bright light. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Including Lingyi, no one saw what exactly happened.


    They only vaguely saw two figures being pushed into the cliff by a tremendous force.


    Time seemed to have stopped, and after the fierce confrontation ceased, it was so quiet that one could hear a heartbeat.


    In the darkness, a figure moved slowly above the stony path.


    As Lingyi watched this scene, the light in her eyes suddenly faded.


    That instant felt like the coldest chill immediately followed the most scorching light.


    Even though she couldn''t see clearly in the darkness.


    But the huge body of the Jiao dragon moving in the air, she could still make out its outline.


    The dragon''s chant came through, like a cold wind to extinguish everything.


    Blew out the lamps that had been difficult to light once again.


    The body of the Jiao dragon gradually transformed back into human form.


    The children who raised their heads to watch this scene shook their heads with fear, immediately crouching down again, their bodies trembling more intensely from the terror.


    Finally, a mocking laugh that extinguished all hope echoed from above.


    "Hahahaha... Hahahaha..."


    The cave Jiao looked at Song Que, who was gasping for breath, his combat strength rapidly declining, and showed a triumphant smile:


    "You are really a complete fool. I knew it would be like this; I knew it! Hahaha... You really did it for these humans, for your pathetic and insignificant justice, giving up that final strike."


    Song Que didn''t speak, his consciousness extremely blurred.


    After burning his talents to the end, his body was now extremely weak.


    The current Song Que was not only unable to fight but was even less than an ordinary person. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Like burnt-out wood.


    "Do you know, even if these people die, it means nothing to us. Because we can just wait another ten years or so for the Holy Land Fortress to send us another batch of insects."


    "Your actions are meaningless, you could have won against me, but you were bounded by your sad and pitiful justice."


    "Hahahaha..."


    The scornful laughter echoed in the empty and despairing pit.


    Lingyi was stupefied, not knowing what had happened in the battle, but she knew that Song Que must have been trying to prevent the Jiao dragon from doing something to this group of non-talented people, leading to his defeat in the end.


    In that decisive attack, the Jiao dragon suddenly changed its target to the humans crouching on the stony path.


    Just like the rules of the balance. When choosing something, one inevitably has to give up other things. To let these people survive, Song Que made his choice.


    With weak breath, he couldn''t muster any strength at all.


    "It really surprised me. Unfortunately, in less than half an hour, your life will end. I almost didn''t want to kill you myself. You might be the human with the highest fusion rate with the Orderer genes. If handed to those ancient apes, they would likely be very willing to owe me a favor."

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_7

    The dragon-like monster spread its arms wide, laughing arrogantly again as if to punish Song Que, this lowly crawler, for his blasphemy, speaking vengefully,


    "I will kill everyone, Song Que, you will not become a hero! I want you to remember even in death that these insects could have lived longer, but now, they all must die because of you!"


    The terrifying verdict reached everyone''s ears.


    A massive pressure amassed above the head of the cave dragon.


    Once that destructive energy was unleashed, it would be enough to annihilate everyone, along with the tunnels they had painstakingly constructed over decades. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    The dragon-like monster gazed down upon those about to die, wanting to savor their pain, desperation, fear, and even resentment at the moment of death.


    Song Que could no longer move, as if all was lost.


    But at this moment, Xi Yu stood up.


    She raised her head, looking calmly into the sky.


    Some of the children who had looked up were back on their hands and knees, but like Xi Yu, some kept their heads raised.


    As Xi Yu stood up, so did the children.


    Voices began to rise from within the crowd.


    "Raise your heads!" Xi Yu was the first to shout.


    But not many responded.


    Only when threads of sunlight, like rain, fell upon the fingertips of some did they begin to slowly raise their heads.


    The expressions of fear on their faces also started to disappear, slowly being replaced by anger and unwillingness.


    "Raise your heads!"


    Xi Yu''s expression was calm, but she cried out with sobs and anger.


    The sound echoed against the cliffs, like a stray spark of fire.


    The extinguished lamps seemed to gradually light up again, even though they were on the verge of going out.


    "Raise your heads!" the girl''s cries were met with an increasing number of responses.


    Like those before them, they lifted their heads, looking at the wisps of sunlight in the darkness, slowly showing facial expressions of unwillingness.


    This group, some sitting, some standing, and some with disabilities who couldn''t move easily, poked their heads out from the caves, dragging their bodies as far as they could manage.


    They leaned their bodies out toward the tunnel''s edge, all to catch a little more sunlight.


    Xi Yu had arrived.


    Threads of sunlight, like lines of rain, pierced the darkness. Gently, they fell into people''s view.


    More and more people stopped crawling. The crowd atop the stone pathway began to gradually lift their heads.


    Until, with Xi Yu''s angry, mournful cries coming repeatedly, finally, no one was on their hands and knees any longer.


    Everyone watched Xi Yu with expressions of unwillingness, looking at the sunlight that was as fragile as their lives.


    Could it be that the people trembling and crawling only moments ago had, upon seeing that light, mustered the courage to face life and death?


    The cave dragon watched this scene, puzzled.


    It prided itself on its understanding of humans, these contemptible creatures.


    They were about to die, crushed under its pressure, perhaps even their corpses would not be left intact, and no one would ever know of their deaths.


    So why, within the expressions of this group, was there longing and unwillingness, regret and anger, but a distinct absence of fear?


    Thousands lifted their heads, committing to memory the appearance of light, remembering this last Xi Yu in their lives. They didn''t even glance at the cave dragon.


    The cave dragon indeed did not understand¡ª


    What they truly feared was not death itself. Having lived in such a place for thirty years, one comes to understand that death is not the most desperate moment one can experience in life.


    What they feared was not being able to stand at the top of the sinkhole one day during their lifetimes¡ª


    To let the gentlest sunlight wash over their lives that had been shrouded in darkness for thirty years.


    They had lived here for thirty years. During this time, there had also been some hope, some of which still remained. Some hopes had turned into the nourishment for darkness over the years.


    Yet every single one of them was trying their best to live.


    They lived because they believed that one day they could leave this darkest place in the world.


    For that goal, tens of thousands of people died in the putrid depths with anger and unwillingness, their names and surnames forgotten. And in the future, no one would know what those who decayed under the sinkhole had endured.


    For that goal, countless children only twelve years old spent innumerable days and nights wielding mining picks. They lacked a beautiful childhood and youth, simply chiseling away from death while approaching it.


    For that goal, they crawled like reptiles under the feet of the beastly masters, humiliatingly living without dignity.


    For that goal, the chosen one called Song Que burned all his talents, forsook all divine gifts, transforming from the most gifted into a cripple.


    For that goal, everyone''s thought was to live as best they could, no matter how meager or ugly, whether facing disease or loneliness.


    Everyone endured the pain and loss in order to leave, enduring tens of thousands of partings and deaths over thirty years, just to glimpse a chance to leave this place¡ªthe darkest place under the heavens.


    Yet, despite it all, they still couldn''t escape, and everything seemed like an empty dream. Their so-called efforts were nothing but a mockery by the beasts.


    In such despair, they had no strength left to fear!


    Just like Xi Yu''s exhausted cries, all the humiliations of thirty years exploded in that moment¡ª S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were not willing!


    Today''s Xi Yu was unusually long and exceptionally silent. Normally at this time, there would be children''s laughter and whispers here and there.

 Chapter 46 The Strongest Human Burning Talent_8

    There was nothing today.


    In the densest moment of the evening rain, the cave dragon finally decided to give up trying to understand why these humans did not show fear.


    But at this time, a faint voice came through.


    "It''s beautiful, isn''t it¡­ Even I, who have lived in the light since childhood¡­ was shocked by such beauty when I saw the evening rain,"


    Lingyi was stunned, as was the cave dragon.


    It could not imagine that Song Que was still alive because just now, it could not even feel Song Que''s life force.


    Even as a Keeper of Order, after burning one''s innate gifts, one must choose a vessel; otherwise, even if the body doesn''t burn out and decay, it can never exert its true combat power again.


    "This world¡­ is really unfair, I''ve always believed that one day, I could bring a happy life to every person."


    "But the older I get, the more powerless I feel¡­ because the luck of some is inevitably built on the misfortune of others,"


    Lingyi burst into tears in an instant. She couldn''t see Song Que in the darkness, but the mere thought of Song Que made her tears unstoppable.


    There are such people in this world.


    Regarded as pitiful, with only a foolish and laughable sense of justice, especially in a world where everyone looks out for themselves, they are even mocked as holy mothers.


    Because those who mock them do not believe in such justice in the world, they use the most venomous language to ridicule such people.


    On his journey, Song Que, be it his enemies, the selves in his sea of knowledge or even some friends, have somewhat described him like this: clever but too na?ve.


    Yet even so, when someone needed his rescue, he would go without hesitation, and when the world needed his help, he would still charge forward without frowning or blinking.


    Whether he could save them or not, he had to go!


    Song Que''s voice was extremely weak yet carried a note of desolation:


    "But this world¡­ should give people hope, right?"


    "They... have been digging here for thirty years! Waiting in a life worse than death, there should be a hope that can truly be realized, right? Whether fair or not, shouldn''t they be given a chance to change their fate¡­"


    His body moved slowly, Song Que wanted to move faster, but he couldn''t muster the strength.


    The cave dragon shook its head, unable to believe that a person who had burnt their innate gift could still fight.


    All its attention was on Song Que, dragon''s eyes staring at him intently for several seconds.


    It finally confirmed that this person was just making a dying struggle. He had no combat ability left, merely driving his battered body with sheer willpower.


    But suddenly, the dragon''s pupils shrank, showing a look of horror.


    In the darkness, Song Que raised his head, his face bloody, with a calm and stubborn expression:


    "You see them as ants, but do you know¡­ even ants have the right to be illuminated by light."


    A mighty life force surged within Song Que.


    What was once a wilting life became vigorous in this moment.


    Song Que''s hand, slowly reached out, touching those sunlight-like threads.


    "This light¡­ is what Lingyi and the others have dug out by gambling all their hopes, day and night. As long as I''m alive¡­"


    "I absolutely won''t allow you to destroy it!"


    The body, which had been barely hanging on, struggling even to free itself from the rocks, suddenly used up all its strength, charging at the dragon like an arrow.


    Although the cave dragon was shocked, it also saw that Song Que was incapable of harming it.


    Life force.


    This foolish human must have burnt his last innate gift.


    But his other gifts were already exhausted, and even a desperate strike wouldn''t be as powerful as before; it didn''t even need to defend specially.


    The evening rain would eventually dissipate, as would this man''s life.


    But at that moment, panic suddenly rose in the dragon''s heart. It was even more agitated than when facing Song Que at his strongest.


    A terrifying power descended from the sky!


    It was a thunderbolt!


    A genuine thunderbolt!


    The colossal lightning struck like a spear piercing the darkness, removing all darkness along the pit''s cliffs! Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In just an instant, everyone felt a bright light strong enough to sting the eyes!


    The dragon finally understood Song Que''s intention¡­


    This insignificant crawler wasn''t trying to attack it, but trying to push it toward a certain point!


    The terrifying bolt of lightning wasn''t aimed at the dragon, missing the full brunt of the strike by some distance.


    But Song Que''s life-burning collision, although unable to harm the dragon, ultimately made the dragon lose its balance.


    It wanted to take to the skies and flee, but suddenly a mess of conflicting forces interfered with it.


    Even a mere second''s obstruction was enough to alter the course of the battle.


    Two different dragon roars sounded.


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    One dragon''s roar carried the majesty of ruling the world. The other was full of pain.


    The vast thunderbolt was just one step away from Song Que.


    But he ultimately stopped, falling downward.


    The lone dragon slayer had finally run out of strength.


    Like a withered flower, he plummeted into the deep pool.


    He had lit the lamps extinguished in everyone''s hearts. But he could no longer burn.


    As his body fell, a smile played on Song Que''s lips.


    In fact, nineteen minutes ago, he had already wanted to show this victorious smile¡ª


    A thousand and one hundred seconds.


    The explosion of innate talents let Song Que see the future after a thousand and one hundred seconds.


    In that scene, he saw a man riding a blue dragon, rushing down fiercely.


    That person was like the justice Song Que had believed in since he was a child, driving away all the darkness from the pit.


    Song Que closed his eyes contentedly, drifting into the deep pool.


    At the same time, the thunder flashed repeatedly¡ª


    Illuminating the angry face of Tang Xian atop the dragon''s body.

 Chapter 47 The Future of Baichuan City

    ```


    The Azure Dragon''s body was even more massive than that of the Flood Dragon.


    In the moment when the thunder roared down, the Flood Dragon finally couldn''t maintain its human form.


    Transforming into a dragon, the scales that Song Que had stripped regrew once more, only to be shaken off again by the terrifying attacks of the Azure Dragon.


    ["Why is there a member of the Azure Dragon Clan here?"] the Flood Dragon said in panic.


    ["Turns out it''s just a little snake that has evolved halfway."]


    Tang Feiji''s voice was one of disdain, as if it came from his nostrils.


    The twenty-eight constellations, the seven of the eastern region ¨C Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Basket ¨C resembled the shape of a dragon and collectively were called the Azure Dragon.


    In the Flood Dragon''s view, the Azure Dragon Clan was royalty among dragons.


    Although they served the Court of All Beasts, the Ashen Dragon and the Flood Dragon never got along.


    The Ashen Dragon looked down on the snake-like dragon bodies, while the Flood Dragon disliked the lizard-like physique of the Ashen Dragon.


    Its most perfect direction for evolution was to become an Azure Dragon.


    But the Azure Dragons originally existed in the southern world''s oceans and had disappeared, along with the Eden Tribe, during the battles of Ragnarok.


    It could not imagine why a tremendous Azure Dragon would suddenly appear in a sinkhole of the northern world!


    At the same time, Tang Xian shouted:


    "Yuan Wu, intercept Song Que."


    Red light flashed in Yuan Wu''s eyes.


    In the seconds before Song Que was about to fall into the stinking depths, the lowest layers of the rock paths twisted and coiled as if they were alive, like a giant serpent.


    Just like the magic carpet that always managed to catch Aladdin in mid-fall.


    Song Que was supported by these rock paths that seemed to have softened.


    Tang Xian''s figure also followed closely behind, landing on the ground.


    Overwhelmed by fatigue and having pushed his life to the limit, Song Que had passed out.


    Tang Xian checked for Song Que''s breath, ensuring he was still alive.


    His skin was as red as if it had been coated with a layer of blood.


    Even just approaching this person, one could feel a temperature far exceeding the limits the human body could endure.


    "He''s still alive. So strong... apart from you, I never thought there could be such a powerful human," Yuan Wu landed on the rock path as well.


    As a quasi-sss class entity of the evolution zone, Yuan Wu did not believe he could handle a Heaven-sent calamity of the Dragon Clan on his own for so long either.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    He did not watch the duel between the two dragons.


    Although the entire process took place in darkness, Tang Xian could not see the bottom of the deep pit.


    But he had a sense of smell.


    With an extreme sense of smell, Tang Xian inferred the battle occurring at the bottom of the pit.


    As more and more scents appeared in his olfactory senses, and as the stench grew stronger, a possibility suddenly occurred to Tang Xian.


    How could there be so many humans in such a dark and deep place?


    The portal was clearly at the top of the sinkhole, so why would humans appear at the bottom?


    Why was Song Que here? He seemed to be seriously injured, his life even in danger.


    Based on the feedback from his sense of smell, Tang Xian thought again of the task he had once entrusted to Song Que ¨C


    to investigate which fortress in this world had the most miserable people at the bottom.


    The purpose of this task was to liberate the people at the bottom and send them to Baichuan City to settle down, to see the rise of urban civilization.


    While this request was certainly not uttered casually, nor was it a matter of urgent priority,


    he truly hadn''t anticipated that his words would cause such a massive change to Song Que''s fate.


    Leading this man through mountains and waters to the darkest place in this world.


    Without the need to witness the scenes with his eyes, Tang Xian''s keen sense of smell still constructed an accurate outline.


    When the thunder roared, he saw Song Que exert his last bit of strength to charge at the Flood Dragon, and everything became clear.


    He watched as the darkness dissipated, revealing the pale yet unyielding faces on the rock path.


    And he watched Song Que, riddled with injuries, fall into the deep pit with satisfaction.


    Despite never having met these people, and never having the idea of being a hero, Tang Xian was already aware of the cruelty of human nature, as well as that of beasts in this world.


    But in this moment, he felt an unprecedented anger. An anger that was like the resentment of tens of thousands of dead souls under the deep pit, congested in his chest.


    A hero is someone who can break through adversity.


    Song Que, with the power of one man, halted a Heaven-sent calamity-level boss of the Dragon Clan.


    Even Tang Xian, who had slaughtered Calamity-level bosses, was stunned by Song Que''s performance today.


    "If there''s someone in the worlds connected to the Pyramid who is truly worthy of the title of hero, that person could only be you."


    Gently lifting Song Que, Tang Xian looked up to see the two dragons battling fiercely in the sky.


    It was far from a fair fight, almost a one-sided crushing by Tang Feiji.


    Whether it was speed, strength, or control of the elements, the Azure Dragon displayed overwhelming power.


    The Flood Dragon tried to resist, attempting to gather rain clouds and storms.


    But the elemental power it gathered was instantly turned into nothingness by Tang Feiji''s Dragon Tongue.


    There were no inherent weaknesses between dragons, but it was like a teacher facing a student still in the early stages.


    In the eyes of Tang Feiji, all of the Flood Dragon''s tactics were laughable.


    Song Que ultimately won.


    Because he was alive when Tang Xian arrived.


    And the moment Tang Xian arrived, there was no longer any suspense in this protracted battle.


    ["Spare me, great Azure Dragon!"] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Facing its own evolved kind, the Flood Dragon naturally took on a different attitude.


    Tang Xian, after all, was different from Song Que; even in his anger, he was still calculating how to extract the greatest value from this Flood Dragon.


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    ```

 Chapter 47 The Future of Baichuan City_2

    "Transform into your human form, I have several questions to ask you," Tang Xian said calmly, "If you can answer to my satisfaction, I won''t kill you."


    "[Insolent human, I... ah, Lord Canglong, my apologies!]"


    The Jiaolong immediately transformed into a human form, staring incomprehensibly at the Canglong still circling above in dragon form.


    Why would the great Canglong, the sovereign of the Dragon Clan, obey a human?


    "Although I''ve roughly guessed some things, I still want to confirm, the humans in this pit, from which fortress do they come?"


    Tang Xian''s tone was very calm, as if he truly intended to spare the dragon''s life.


    Although the Jiaolong could not understand, he accepted the situation, realizing the man before him commanded the might of the Dragon Clan''s ruler.


    "Sanctuary Fortress. They are talentless humans, sent here to mine..."


    Tang Xian naturally knew of Sanctuary Fortress, a fortress with a weak presence, but not a bad reputation.


    He frowned and pondered for a moment.


    "Song Que took on my commission but discovered a fortress with a good reputation.


    It seems there are wicked secrets hidden within Sanctuary Fortress. Song Que must have uncovered this secret and become involved, leading him here.


    Humans are held captive deep within this massive pit, and the teleportation gate is at the top; judging by their pale skin, these people must have been here for a long time without seeing sunlight.


    It seems the fact that the non-talented aren''t rejected by the mine not only failed to provide them an opportunity to earn respect, but it allowed their rulers to make an even more terrifying decision to strip them of their only powers.


    But with that, the only way to transport the ore would be using the different beasts, as the teleportation gate is at the top of the great pit.


    So, have the humans colluded with the beasts?"


    These thoughts did not occupy much of Tang Xian''s time; right after the Jiaolong finished speaking, Tang Xian asked conclusively,


    "So, has the lord of Sanctuary Fortress defected to the beasts, or was he a beast from the start?"


    "He... has defected..."


    "Your current level of candor tells me there is a seventy percent likelihood you are lying. As a defeated foe, you seem unaware of your predicament," Tang Xian said, glancing at Tang Feiji.


    In an instant, numerous huge ice spires pierced the body of the Jiaolong.


    The Prime Fog immediately altered the shape of these ice spires, trapping the Jiaolong in an inescapable closed state.


    The Jiaolong let out a painful howl. This howl might as well be the most beautiful symphony to those who have lived on these stone paths for the last thirty years.


    They were, of course, afraid of the dragon, but they could also see that, for the first time in thirty years, someone was willing to come to the darkest place in this world to save them.


    Tang Xian, expressionless, said,


    "Next time I sense any intent to lie from you, I''ll pluck every single dragon scale from your body."


    [They are snake scales, just a friendly reminder.] the dragon-formed Tang Feiji snorted coldly.


    It did not acknowledge this half-evolved serpent as one of its kind.


    As an irredeemable species elitist, Tang Feiji even looked down on those Canglong that evolved from Jiaolong.


    Thus, it was particularly disliked among the Dragon Clan, always exuding a sense of superiority with its attitude that only those who are born as Canglongs are truly noble.


    Tang Xian ignored Tang Feiji.


    The Jiaolong nodded in pain and said,


    "It''s Jinghe... The court sent it to the Human World to spy on human technology and movements!"


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Where is the headquarters of the Court of Beasts?"


    "I don''t know... Please believe me, I truly don''t. The court is on a mobile holy mountain, notified by the Xuan Bird."


    "Xuan Bird?" Tang Xian did not expect that, following the Endless Turtle, Canglong, and Qilin, another mythical creature from human legends had appeared.


    [Hmph, a despicable little bird, Laozi is the number one in the world.] Tang Feiji started again.


    Tang Xian still didn''t respond, knowing that if Tang Feiji faced Shiling, it might have been defeated.


    There wasn''t much information on Xuan Bird in the manuals, only that it possessed immortal power and was apocalypse-level boss.


    Apparently, although Tang Feiji disdained the Xuan Bird, its power was probably on par with Tang Feiji''s.


    "Yes, Lord Xuan Bird is one of the Judgment Chiefs who can remain on the Court''s holy mountain. Unlike the other Chiefs, it almost always stays on the mountain. Only when the Court needs to recall the Chiefs does Lord Xuan Bird leave the mountain."


    Tang Xian nodded, his panel showing the Jiaolong had become much more honest.


    "So, the Judgment Chiefs are essentially isolated?"


    The Jiaolong became vigilant. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian rephrased,


    "In other words, there are actually many branches of the Court, and each location is guarded by a Judgment Chief?"


    Even as isolated apocalypse-level boss creatures, nobody wanted to scheme against them due to the huge cost involved.


    The Jiaolong didn''t overthink it and replied,


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    "Yes, nine Judgment Chiefs, each stationed in one of the eight sanctuaries. Only here, due to the humans imprisoned, do we have Lord Ashdragon and Lord Plaguebearer watching over."


    Tang Xian nodded, feeling more at ease.


    It''s not the mass of apocalypse-level creatures at the Court that''s concerning, but the possibility of them gathering in one place.


    If they''re isolated, everything naturally becomes much easier.


    However, with his own actions, the Court will likely soon realize that someone is hunting the Judgment Chiefs, and they might make adjustments.


    Tang Xian didn''t dwell on it and asked a few more questions about the situation within the pit, and his various conjectures were confirmed.


    He was certain that they were indeed researching the fusion between humans and beasts on the side of the ancient apes.

 Chapter 47 The Future of Baichuan City_3

    ```


    At the same time, the ancient apes had mastered some human technology, but in the mining area, technology couldn''t flourish.


    The technology related to the transmission rift, however, had not been mastered. The reasons behind this were unclear to the dragon.


    After asking these questions, the dragon said obsequiously:


    "I have told you everything you wanted to know."


    Tang Xian nodded and replied:


    "Fairly honest. As I said, I will consider letting you go."


    "You are truly a great human being!"


    When Tang Feiji heard these words, he almost vomited. As a dragon, oh no, a little snake, where is your dignity?


    Tang Feiji had completely forgotten that he was now acting as a lackey. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, that didn''t stop him from looking down on other creatures.


    Tang Xian looked at the dragon, pierced thoroughly by ice spears, and said calmly:


    "Congratulations, you''ve saved yourself one life. Now you can die once less, you only need to die about three thousand more times. Considering that the death penalty cannot be carried out repeatedly, even though there used to be a saying about firing squads every thirty minutes, once dead, the pain that follows can no longer be felt."


    As an atheist, Tang Xian truly hoped that there was a hell in this world.


    That way, death wouldn''t be the most terrifying thing in this world.


    "So you''re getting off easy. Go to your death with a sense of gratitude, since you''ve profited after all."


    The dragon looked at Tang Xian in astonishment and then, realizing what was happening, cursed angrily:


    "Deceitful human! The court will sanction you!"


    "Who sanctions whom is not necessarily clear," Tang Xian said indifferently.


    The ice shattered, and the dragon tried to transform back into its dragon form.


    But it had evidently forgotten that a true giant dragon was watching it!


    After the extreme cold came raging flames.


    The power of telekinesis from the Soul Crystal altered the shape of the stone path, like a giant hand, transporting itself and Tang Xian to a higher position on the path.


    Immediately after, violent flames and thunderbolts kept striking down on the dragon continuously.


    Tang Xian could not see the life value, but he could feel that the life of this evil dragon was rapidly diminishing.


    The combat between an upper-class species and a lower-class one was simply an unequivocal massacre.


    Even if the dragon had evolved into an azure dragon, compared to Tang Feiji, who spent years deep in the ocean among heaps of Soul Crystals, there was a clear gap in strength.


    The dragon''s body couldn''t withstand the strain and plummeted.


    The fetid tarn filled with endless wailing souls seemed to be calling out to it.


    As it fell into the deep pit, countless bloated and rotten bodies floated to the surface.


    This terrifying and disgusting sight caused no one present to frown.


    Everyone on the stone path watched this unfold.


    They stared unblinkingly at the evil dragon struggling in the stinking pit.


    Despite being unable to find a shred of solace in its agony, for the tens of thousands who had died over the last thirty years could never be brought back to life.


    But at least vengeance had been achieved, and perhaps the souls who died disgracefully in the pit, away from sunlight, could find rest in the underworld.


    Numerous ice spears continued to pierce through the dragon''s body, and finally, this calamitous being died in the most humiliating way, in the foulest and darkest place in the world.


    Tang Xian turned his head and looked at all the people on the stone path, suddenly feeling that perhaps only such people could survive in the new world.


    Baichuan City was indeed a place truly suitable for human civilization to sprout anew.


    But one day in the future, Tang Xian could foresee that the Orderers, or perhaps beasts of all kinds, would not allow humanity to return to their ancestral lands.


    Perhaps the scene from hundreds of years ago would be repeated, with people betraying their own world and residing in the Pyramids like traitors.


    But if it were these people, that scene would not be replayed.


    Those who could survive in such a living hell were the truly worthy ones to be saved.


    He didn''t need to make Qiao Shanshan prove her resolve to survive, as he had done in the past.


    Because everyone here possessed that resolve.


    The more than three thousand people on the stone path would be the future of Baichuan City, as well as the ancestors of future civilization.


    "Fortunately, I have a dragon here that can take them up."


    ```


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Feiji, who suddenly had a bad premonition.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows, also mulling over some rather troublesome issues.


    "The portal leads to the stronghold of the Sanctuary. If I am to take these people to Baichuan City, I can only do so through a teleportation rift.


    If I take them away from here now, I''m afraid there''s no way to settle them.


    A large number of refugee miners returning to the stronghold of the Sanctuary might result in tragedy.


    After all, the lord of the Sanctuary isn''t someone who sought refuge with the beast kind, but someone who has been transformed by them, which might trigger a series of unforeseen events.


    And I can''t delay the matter with Qing JiuYu any longer; I have to save her."


    After these thoughts flashed through his mind, Tang Xian shook his head, took a look around, and his gaze landed on Xi Yu.


    "You are the leader of these people?"


    Yuan Fog acted like an attentive butler, clearing a path directly with telekinesis for Tang Xian.


    Although Xi Yu knew this person had come to save them, the acts of riding and slaying dragons were all too shocking for her understanding.


    She nodded and said,


    "Yes... thank you for today."


    Tang Xian didn''t beat around the bush and said,


    "I need you to stay here for a few more days, at most five days. I will definitely take you out, so please bear with it a little longer."


    Xi Yu was stunned; after a long while, she stammered,


    "Can...can we... really leave this place?"


    Tang Xian''s words reached many ears.


    For a moment, their expressions were strange.


    It was as if they were in a dream so surreal that they feared suddenly waking up.


    Not a single one of them had ever given up hope of leaving this place.


    But with today''s twists and turns, as hope turned into reality, they were somewhat at a loss.


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry and said slowly,


    "Yes, you can leave this place. The people Song Que risked his life to save are the people I intend to save. But I can''t do it now because the equipment isn''t sufficient. Moreover, there are some things I need to attend to immediately, so please bear with it for a few more days."


    Xi Yu nodded emphatically. Joy was naturally the predominant feeling, yet there were many other emotions mixed together. Like countless others on the stone road, she was somewhat bewildered.


    But Xi Yu quickly thought of something and asked anxiously,


    "Big Brother Song Que has been here for more than seven days... is he not going to make it?"


    The time in Xi Yu was fixed; the sun directly over the pit was the only time it shone, more accurate than a clock.


    And Song Que had come here before the arrival of the evening rain seven days ago.


    The evening rain had now ended.


    Seeing that Song Que was unconscious, as if long dead, she couldn''t help but be struck with grief.


    Tang Xian frowned.


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    "Are you sure he has been here for seven days?"


    He had been holding Song Que all along, and although he felt Song Que''s life force weaken several times, Song Que was indeed still alive.


    Tang Xian could sense that Song Que still had a very faint breath.


    How did Song Que manage to stand alone against a calamity-level boss creature for so long?


    Tang Xian suddenly regretted killing the Jiao Dragon too early. It was troublesome.


    "He''s not dead. His life force is extremely weak, but he hasn''t died and has even come back from death''s door."


    Xi Yu was both shocked and delighted, "So that rule is false?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "No, a Talented cannot stay in the mining area for seven days."


    Song Que couldn''t possibly belong to the Eden Tribe either.


    Eliminating all the impossible scenarios, however unimaginable the last possibility was, it had to be the only truth.


    Tang Xian said,


    "He might... no longer be a Talented."

 Chapter 379 48th Chapter: The Queen Without a Crown

    Non-talented individuals being able to survive in the mining zone for a full seven days was something Tang Xian had thought carefully about; there were indeed some temporary puzzles that could not be answered.


    Yuan Wu, who hailed from the Evolution Zone, also expressed doubts after learning that Liu Lang and others had already stayed for seven days¡ª


    If non-talented individuals could survive in the mining zone without restrictions, then how did the rule that one couldn''t survive in the mining zone for seven days become a rule that everyone believed to be true?


    At that time, Tang Xian had no answer. Yuan Wu, curious, looked at the unconscious Song Que and asked,


    "What is the truth behind this rule? Sir, has no one ever actually practiced it?"


    Song Que''s situation was too unusual. It was also the first time Tang Xian had encountered such a case.


    In fact, when he first met Song Que, he had a very strange feeling, which could be described as a kind of kinship.


    After thinking it over, he still did not answer Yuan Wu''s question but instead said goodbye to Ling Yi first.


    After pacifying Ling Yi and the others, Tang Xian left Yuan Wu behind to prevent the messenger crows from causing trouble.


    It was only after he mounted the dragon''s back again that he began to explain,


    "I once simulated the history of human mining zones. The first group to enter the fortress must have selected a lord in the first instance, and it was at that time that the Order Enforcer''s genes began to be activated. Talented individuals were born.


    Of course, in terms of numbers, there must have been many non-talented individuals as well. Their numbers should have been greater than those of the non-talented. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, as the Pyramid hierarchy was established, the Stele was left with the technology to create transmission rifts, and the unique copy of the mining zone world was opened.


    People came to the mining zone to acquire survival resources. But on their first visit to the mining zone, they perhaps couldn''t even defeat the enhanced creatures.


    And they panic-strickenly discovered that the various military weapons usable in the original world could no longer be used.


    Whether talented or not, deaths started to mount.


    In the extremely harsh mining zone, we can be ten thousand percent sure that talented individuals'' ability to survive far surpasses that of non-talented individuals, and therefore, those most likely to bring back intelligence would be the talented ones.


    As for non-talented individuals, I may sound rather harsh, but it would have been difficult for them to survive in the mining zone three days, let alone seven, hundreds of years ago.


    At that time, humanity was almost completely in the dark about the mining zone.


    In short, the scarcity of knowledge about the mining zone back then, combined with the guidance of the Stele and the dire deaths of the talented individuals, led people to form an unchangeable belief¡ªthat it was impossible to survive seven days in the mining zone.


    This naturally also included non-talented individuals. Thus, non-talented individuals began to take care of matters within the fortress.


    And the talented individuals started to be in charge of the exploration of the mining zone, and people noticed a huge gap in the benefits of the two. Therefore, the status of talented individuals was elevated.


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    The mining zone''s world''s productivity was so strong that people developed safe areas, the green zones, where non-talented individuals could also mine.


    A multitude of tragic facts, various examples in textbooks, and clear indications on the Stele convinced people that non-talented individuals could not stay for seven days either. Whether it was the rules that didn''t allow it or their strength didn''t permit it.


    Over time, non-talented individuals no longer dared to stay in the mining zone for too long. After all, the mosquitoes there were as big as cockroaches. The rabbits there might be stronger than a non-talented individual''s combat ability."


    Yuan Wu nodded. Although over the centuries, there must have been some non-talented individuals who weren''t conventional, after Tang Xian''s explanation, it seemed just like Tang Xian''s cheating¡ªit wasn''t possible to convince people to change their views.


    After explaining all this, Tang Xian gave a few instructions to Yuan Wu and Ling Yi, then took Song Que and left the pit by dragon.


    The people in the pit must be saved, and the lord in the Holy Land Fortress who was an imposter of the Beasts also had to be eliminated.


    However, Tang Xian hadn''t forgotten the true purpose of his trip.


    His acquaintance with Qing JiuYu had only been for half a year. Although this fox always loved to cause him trouble in front of other women, Tang Xian was still very tolerant towards Qing JiuYu.


    Youthful infatuation is a truth applicable to most people.


    Young men find it difficult to reject beautiful girls.


    As long as one''s orientation is normal and they genuinely find the other person attractive, they will be exceptionally forgiving. It''s not until someone is around twenty-six or seven, or even thirty years old, that they can calm their restless hearts.


    Tang Xian was an exception.


    His tolerance towards Qing JiuYu was much like the patience a sensible person has for someone with an intellectual disability, and... the ordinary tolerance a common, unremarkable, powerless person has for a cataclysmic boss creature. Although he did like beautiful women.


    While on the dragon''s back, Tang Xian glanced at Song Que.


    Tang Xian quickly became stunned.


    "The last time I saw this guy, his charm attribute shouldn''t have been this high, right?"


    Charm is almost a semi-fixed attribute, and Tang Xian had never seen anyone whose charm would change within less than a year.


    Then he noticed a slight change in Song Que''s temperament.


    He frowned,


    "Did the two personalities merge?"


    After some thought, Tang Xian realized that up till now, the charm scoring standard had mainly been based on physical attractiveness, unrelated to inner temperament.


    After all, even Tang Feiji and Dong Ran received high scores.


    Song Que''s silly smile would indeed deduct some points. And this was due to his personality.


    Some smiles, once the person''s character changes, even if the expression is the same, lack that same flavor.


    For instance, if Tang Xian tried to make an innocent and carefree expression, even if Li Xiaoyu saw it, she''d probably want to curse him for being a drama king.

 Chapter 380 48th Chapter: The Queen Without a Crown_2

    Tang Xian shook his head. Even Song Que, who was the embodiment of pure chaotic will, held a baseline of justice.


    He believed that even if the two personalities merged, Song Que would probably still be the same Song Que capable of bearing the title of a hero.


    His thoughts returned to Qing JiuYu, and he stopped pondering over Song Que.


    Tang Xian was certainly a person with normal preferences. Should he one day need to share his life with someone, Tang Xian would naturally choose a woman.


    He would then find a suitable ovum through intimate contact to pass on his ancestral chromosomes.


    As for which woman would provide that suitable ovum, that was another life''s ultimate question to resolve, though not urgently so.


    After reaching the top of the sinkhole, Tang Xian took down the portable teleportation rift, set the coordinates, and activated it.


    He could already smell the air beyond the towering ridges through his breaths.


    Tang Xian knew that the real challenges of his journey to the holy land lay just ahead.


    Rescuing Qing JiuYu from the hands of the two Beast Court Judgment Chiefs was not something Tang Xian was entirely sure he could accomplish.


    Song Que, naturally, could not worry about such things. If not for his serious injuries, Tang Xian might even have considered leaving Song Que in the sinkhole.


    "Are you going to send him to Baichuan City? How will you get back then?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I won''t be going back for now. Do you see that teleportation gate by the ridge over there? After I rescue Qing JiuYu, I''ll head that way," Tang Xian said.


    "A fortress without a Judgment Knight¡ªI alone might turn its fate around, right?" he added.


    While speaking, Tang Xian pushed Song Que into the teleportation rift.


    ...


    ...


    The holy land, the Demon Dragon Castle.


    The greedy and powerful Dragon Clan all required their own palaces.


    The Demon Dragon Castle was the palace of the Ash Dragon.


    This Ash Dragon could also be referred to as a Red Dragon.


    Amongst all dragon species, it possessed the strongest flame elemental power.


    In terms of rank, the Ash Dragon was not considered a Divine Beast but more like a Magical Beast.


    However, its strength was indeed formidable among catastrophically powerful boss creatures. It could be said that any species that used fire as a weapon must submit to the Ash Dragon.


    The Demon Dragon Castle was massive. It was made of countless boulders stacked upon one another since the time of Chongshan Prison, with the nearby beast herds belonging to the Zudun Giants who had built these fortresses.


    Not long ago, the Zudun Giants had migrated to another holy land.


    In the grand hall of the enormous castle, the weakened Qing JiuYu was bound tight in her fox form by chains of scorching red firebirds.


    Plague Source and the Ash Dragon were at the far end of the grand hall, each on their thrones, indifferently scrutinizing Qing JiuYu.


    At the side of the throne was the ancient ape, still serving as the translator.


    "Lord Ash Dragon and Plague Source have already sent Raven Messengers to inquire about your trial''s verdict. It has been divined by Lord Endless Turtle," spoke the ancient ape.


    Qing JiuYu didn''t respond, the diverse viruses crippling her, along with the fiery manacles, left her devoid of any excess strength.


    During two days of imprisonment, she hadn''t managed to conserve much energy.


    The time had been too short. She hadn''t expected the court to issue its judgment so swiftly, within a mere couple of days.


    She had thought that the process would take a long time, considering she was the queen of the foxes, currently the only orange-tier existence within her species.


    The foxes were not subordinate to the court, though they were controlled by it.


    But the court had also acknowledged that they must adhere to the internal rules of the beast races.


    The foxes would not be without a future leader, and under such circumstances, the court should have had reservations about judging her.


    The ancient ape seemed to grasp this, and with a mocking tone, it said:


    "Qing JiuYu, though you have been granted a name, from now on, you will no longer be protected by the laws of the Beast Court or the foxes."


    Qing JiuYu was startled.


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    A sense of amusement grew more evident in the eyes of the Ash Dragon.


    Plague Source maintained the same expression, indifferent, as if what was on trial was nothing more than a worthless weed.


    The ancient ape continued:


    "According to the beasts, we suspect that it was the Azure Dragon of the southern seas who killed the members of the Lei Xiao Assassin Group. That''s a remnant of Eden''s forces, an entity capable of slaying Lord Shiling alone, perhaps some kind of orange-tier creature of Eden."


    "And you, Qing JiuYu. Your kin have noted your recent closeness with humans. The elders of the foxes fail to understand this, but as the sole queen and the only nine-tailed fox, they dare not criticize.


    Moreover, you remained silent about the clues after Lord Shiling was taken, despite being aware of them. Lord Endless Turtle has declared that you know all there is to know. In a distant place, you met with humans, as well as creatures from Eden. You may deny it, but in this world, no one would question Lord Endless Turtle''s word."


    Qing JiuYu shook her head faintly. She still did not acknowledge that Tang Xian was of the Eden Tribe; she kept insisting he was a Taotie.


    But the overly weakened Qing JiuYu, coupled with her tribe''s betrayal, had no desire left to explain any of it.


    The ancient ape didn''t care about Qing JiuYu''s reaction and went on:


    "Of course, we must admit that establishing a trial is a complex process. Some fox elders have sworn to defend you to the death, and many of the fox creatures are loyal to you, for you are the only queen of the foxes."


    "Based on this identity, the court cannot pass a sentence upon you until you abdicate."


    Qing JiuYu lifted her massive fox head slightly, a glimmer of hope and confusion appearing in her eyes.


    This was her last thread of hope.


    But this hope was quickly shattered. The ancient ape said:


    "However, starting yesterday, you have been exiled by both the foxes and the court. You are no longer the queen of the foxes. And as for the foxes, they now have a new leader."

 Chapter 381 48th Chapter: The Queen Without a Crown_3

    Exhaustion filled her eyes, but suddenly they widened with disbelief as Qing JiuYu stared at the ancient ape.


    Her huge form even tried to struggle free from the shackles of the flames at that moment.


    However, she was just too weak now, and all she gained was the pain of being scorched.


    She kept shaking her head, unable to believe the words of the ancient ape. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because only she herself knew how difficult it was to give birth to a nine-tailed creature, she had wanted to retire early on, but there was simply no one in the fox tribe suitable to take her place.


    The ancient ape asked:


    "It seems you have doubts about this?"


    Then, the steward-like ancient ape turned its head and respectfully posed a question to the Ash Dragon in the Dragon language.


    Qing JiuYu couldn''t understand, but she had a foreboding feeling that something terrible was about to happen.


    It wasn''t long before the ancient ape turned back around and said:


    "This was originally a secret of the court, but Lord Ash Dragon is merciful and wants you to die with understanding, so it has decided to tell you."


    "Our Court of Ten Thousand Beasts has offerings from all tribes; these offerings are the most outstanding young of each species. The fox tribe indeed does not need to offer anything to the court, but the body of the previous generation''s fox tribe leader is in the custody of the court."


    Fear crawled through Qing JiuYu''s consciousness like ants swarming from all directions.


    Although she didn''t know why the Court of Ten Thousand Beasts would possess her father''s body, it certainly wasn''t for anything good.


    "Among the experimental young of all the finest species in the Court of Ten Thousand Beasts, approximately nine percent of the species have evolved into advanced forms through the efforts of our ancient ape clan, including the fox tribe."


    "You should know, many arrogant creatures, just like you, rely on their status as tribe leaders and steadfastly refuse to submit to the court."


    "For this reason, we plan to prepare better quality, more obedient heirs for these tribes."


    "Just a few months ago, when you were battling the Nvwa Snake leading the six-tailed ones, a six-tailed fox was captured by us unnoticed by your tribe.


    Erasing its memory and establishing a new one is our specialty.


    But completing evolution is a difficult task.


    Even if we can expedite the evolution unnaturally, the process is still agonizing for that six-tailed creature.


    It nearly died several times, but just when we were afraid that we would waste the material, it managed to survive and evolved into a nine-tailed fox demon. It was like the gods were helping us."


    Qing JiuYu could not imagine such an outcome, which was too shocking for her to comprehend.


    "The evolution project progresses slowly; we currently control sixty percent of the world''s species, but fewer than seven percent have successfully evolved. And these successes cannot be replicated, so of course, we have reasons to foster the successfully evolved puppets as the new kings as early as possible."


    "It just so happens that you, Qing JiuYu, stand in opposition to the court, which is simply perfect for us. I believe the new nine-tailed fox demon leader will be willing to lead the fox tribe to bow down to the court."


    Only then did Qing JiuYu finally understand the ambition of the Court of Ten Thousand Beasts.


    The leader of a tribe is generally the highest evolved form of their species.


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    Just like how the leader of the Hell Flame Wolves and the Cerberuses of Hell is the Great Tengu.


    But this highest form of evolution is exceedingly rare, so most beast tribes have a succession line; as soon as a younger member of the highest evolved form appears, they are presumed to be the next leader.


    Often, a leader doesn''t easily find a suitable heir until they are dead.


    The Court of Ten Thousand Beasts, however, seized on this fact, ready to use various sinister experiments of the ancient apes to cultivate the highest evolved species, thus furthering their dominance over the beast tribes through brainwashed puppet evolutions.


    These monsters seated upon thrones are not content with serving as the court of all beasts; what they want to be¡ª


    is the king''s court of all beasts.


    "Lastly, let me say one more thing, honored former queen of the fox tribe. I''ve heard there is an impure presence in your tribe, a nine-tailed little girl who unfortunately is not able to succeed you. It''s a pity indeed. After your retirement, she might have been despised by the fox tribe, yet she was the only qualified heir. But now, that''s no longer the case."


    "Did you know, when Lord Xuan Niao of the court told the fox tribe elders that the court had discovered a purebred, untainted nine-tailed fox at the foot of the sacred mountain, the excitement of your tribespeople? They practically forgot about you. You no longer have any support or pillar to rely on, and our puppet will soon become the king of the fox tribe."


    Despair loomed over Qing JiuYu like the mountains outside the castle, pressing down layer upon layer upon her heart.


    All this time, she felt she owed Qing Jiuyun and Xiao Ni.


    One day in the future, she hoped that Xiao Ni would ascend to the fox tribe''s throne and become the next fox tribe queen after her.


    But all of that was now shattered.


    The Court of Ten Thousand Beasts detested humans even more than she did, and more than the elders of the fox tribe.


    Xiao Ni is destined to become the strongest nine-tailed fox, but she will never gain the acceptance of her clan.


    Qing JiuYu let out a piercing and unwilling fox howl, the prolonged howl filled with intense sorrow.


    The ancient ape said,


    "But there is still a way to save all this, as long as you now spill everything you know. As long as you tell the two lords what creature killed Lord Shiling and where it hides. Although you can no longer be the queen of the foxes, you at least can save your life. You might even return to your clan."


    This was a true interrogation of the soul.


    Qing JiuYu didn''t decisively give an answer; at this moment, she was indeed deeply tempted.


    She began to seriously consider whether to reveal all of Tang Xian''s secrets or not.


    The importance of Tang Xian''s life and her own, which mattered more?


    The answer should have been obvious.


    But at the end of her thoughts, Qing JiuYu saw Xiao Ni''s smiling face.


    That six-year-old child, who had never smiled so happily before.


    Because she looked human from birth, Xiao Ni''s childhood was filled with cold stares from her clan members. It was only after she encountered humans that anyone genuinely cared for her.


    If she lost even those humans... How tragic would that be?


    Suddenly, she remembered Tang Xian''s words¡ª "There are two kinds of people in this world. Some are healed by the luck of their childhood for a lifetime, while others spend their lives healing the misfortunes of their childhood."


    This stubborn woman still didn''t trust humans, still harbored hostility toward them.


    But she believed in Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian would surely give Tang Xiaojiu a childhood capable of healing a lifetime.


    Light flared in Qing JiuYu''s weary eyes, and shaking her head, she said,


    "I don''t know who he is, nor do I know where he has gone."


    The ancient ape was puzzled. How foolish was this fox?


    Not wanting to waste time anymore, after asking the Ash Dragon and the Plaguebringer, it then said,


    "Let the trial commence. Lord Ash Dragon will use flames, purging your contempt of the court with fire punishment."


    The four fiery chains binding Qing JiuYu suddenly became violent.


    As flame creatures, foxes naturally resist fire, but resistance does not equate to immunity.


    There were many ways to kill her, yet the Ash Dragon chose the least efficient one.


    It was simply to torment this fox.


    Qing JiuYu, enveloped by the terrifying flames, let out a heart-wrenching, agonized howl.


    The ancient ape, the Ash Dragon, and the Plaguebringer quietly watched the scene of a top-tier fire creature being burnt to death by flames.


    But the fire that was becoming more ferocious suddenly froze for a moment.


    In that instant, a cold wind swept through the great hall, whose temperature had surged dramatically.


    The Plaguebringer and the Ash Dragon abruptly stood from their thrones, their gazes filled with vigilance.


    A dragon''s roar shook the heavens, and the grand hall, comparable to the Dragon Palace of the deep sea, trembled slightly.


    The hot flames cooled in an instant, and countless ice crystals, like sprouting seeds, began to grow incessantly, climbing over every column of the grand hall.


    The great hall, scorching just a second ago, felt bone-chillingly cold the next.


    The flames surrounding Qing JiuYu were also extinguished immediately.


    As Qing JiuYu, covered in burns, saw the familiar face, she finally could no longer hold on. Her huge beastly form collapsed to the ground, and she said in a weak voice,


    "Tang Xian... I haven''t betrayed you... They know nothing..."


    As the snowstorm dispersed, a man and a dragon stood proudly in the center of the great hall.


    Tang Xian stood beside Qing JiuYu, his expression tender as he softly said,


    "Rest well. Everything you lost today, I will retrieve it all for you."

 Chapter 49 Slaughtering Pigs and Dragons

    The flame tide was frozen, and the ice crystals everywhere seemed like a dragon''s challenge to another dragon.


    The Ash Dragon angrily looked at the Azure Dragon, which resembled a long serpent, while the Plaguebringer eyed the human standing in front of the demon fox.


    The sudden arrival of the human and dragon clearly had an intent.


    The ancient ape spoke in human language, "Who are you to dare disturb the sanctity of this holy place?" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aren''t you looking for the dragon and human who killed Shiling? Here we are," they said.


    A faint red light flickered in the ancient ape''s eyes.


    "A human, you really are just a human?"


    As the ancient ape''s words fell, the Ash Dragon and Plaguebringer exchanged looks, surprise evident in both their eyes.


    Tang Xian noticed this and followed their line of thought, saying, "Among the many beasts, you are the first to correctly identify my species. I am indeed just a human."


    The ancient ape still had some disbelief.


    Although the long-eared ancient ape was only an elite creature, it possessed high intelligence, understood the language of all beasts, and had been learning on the holy mountain since it was young.


    They had read the complete Beast Codex.


    It was similar to a historical text of a mining area.


    Most importantly, they possessed the ability of the True Eye.


    Years ago the power of Eden influenced nearly forty percent of the creatures in this world, granting them the ability to transform their bodies into human form upon reaching the purple or orange tiers.


    And the long-eared ancient apes could directly see through these forms with the True Eye, revealing their true appearance.


    Tang Xian had guessed as much.


    The Dragon Eye of Tang Feiji had led to a misjudgment about himself at that time.


    And given the current situation, it seemed that the ancient ape might be under the same misconception. Those red-lit eyes were probably akin to the Demon-Revealing Mirror, like the fiery golden pupils.


    "Is he truly human?" echoed the voice of the Plaguebringer.


    "Yes, my lord, my eyes show that his original form is human, not any known creature of Eden," replied the ancient ape.


    The Plaguebringer and Ash Dragon both felt puzzled.


    But if the other party was merely human, then the battle wasn''t expected to be much of a challenge.


    But how could the Shiling Beast have been defeated by a human? Or was it that the Shiling Beast, along with the Court''s assassin squad, had all been defeated by that Azure Dragon?


    The beasts of the Divine Court weren''t aware that Tang Xian could understand their language, nor did they realize the strangeness of another matter, that they could understand the words spoken by Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian also played it safe, not starting the fight right away.


    He was at a significant disadvantage in this battle. Although his words were elegant, today he was merely here to rescue Qing JiuYu. As for killing two cataclysm-level bosses in a row, that wasn''t very realistic for him.


    The best start would have been if Qing JiuYu still had the strength to fight, making it a two-on-two with himself, which would give them a chance of winning.


    But now it was the worst start. However, before rescuing Qing JiuYu, perhaps he could mislead the Court once.


    "Interrupting the trial ceremony of the Court is a capital offense! Since you''ve admitted to the killing of the Shiling Beast, then accept the Court''s punishment as well!"


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Leave the dragon to me," declared the Plaguebringer.


    The boar, shrouded in a massive black robe, suddenly charged towards Tang Feiji.


    But the next second, a wall of flames appeared!


    "This will be my chance to prove that the Red Dragons are the true kings of the Dragon Clan. Plaguebringer, don''t you dare get in my way!"


    Tang Xian was amused. It seemed the Court was indeed as he had deduced, with most of the cataclysm-level boss creatures hardly getting along, even with companions.


    "Tang Feiji, you''ll have to handle them both on your own for a while! Hold them off for a moment," Tang Xian said.


    "No big deal, just a pig and a lizard!" retorted Tang Feiji.


    The combined strength of the Plaguebringer and the Ash Dragon was undoubtedly greater than the Azure Dragon of the Sea.


    But to Tang Feiji, all beings were nothing but lowly and despicable races. How could it view these two ugly foes as worthy opponents?


    The dragon''s body coiled, and a cataclysmic battle unfolded instantly.


    Panic-stricken, the ancient ape hurriedly ran towards the back of the great hall.


    Tang Xian spoke to Qing JiuYu:


    "Can you still transform into a human? I''m preparing to get you out of here."


    Qing JiuYu, breathing weakly, nodded, and the massive body of the demon fox began to shrink, becoming delicate.


    Only when she turned into a woman of stunning beauty did Tang Xian confirm that Qing JiuYu was seriously injured.


    The usually enchanting and seductive fox spirit now had a pale complexion, and the powerful queen of the fox clan appeared soulless and unusually frail in front of Tang Xian for the first time.


    Tang Xian carried Qing JiuYu on his back.


    At the same time, he looked for an opportunity to retreat.


    The great hall continued to shake. The magic dragon castle, built by the Zudun Giants, seemed ready to collapse at any moment.


    The confrontation between the Ash Dragon and the Azure Dragon was like a clash of fire and ice.


    The terrifying energy collision carried a seismic aftermath. Even though the two dragons had just begun a test of strength.


    Ice and fire mingled, the currents of heat and cold making the temperature in the vast hall exceedingly strange.


    It was like a volcano ready to erupt, surrounded by thick layers of snow.


    Yet Tang Xian could still feel that Tang Feiji''s ice element was barely holding up.


    Its extreme ice couldn''t cool the dragonflame unleashed by the Ash Dragon''s full-powered strike.


    That flame, which could burn and melt everything, struck the ice wall. Even though Tang Feiji had spent hundreds of years in the deep sea, where the absolute cold greatly enhanced its ice abilities, facing the sovereign of flames proved to be a bit tough.


    Especially the spewed venom, which made Tang Feiji''s battle exceedingly difficult.


    So far, the venom hadn''t hit Tang Feiji, but upon falling to the ground, it didn''t disappear.


    Instead, it vaporized rapidly.


    Gradually, the battlefield of Tang Feiji and the Ash Dragon was shrouded in a stench and a dark green poison fog.

 Chapter 49 Slaying Pigs and Slaying Dragons_2

    It was like a cage, slowly trapping Tang Feiji in an area that was both shrinking and becoming more dangerous.


    Tang Xian, carrying Qing JiuYu on his back, quickly retreated from that area.


    He hadn''t been exposed to the poison fog, perhaps this kind of poison could rapidly increase his resistance to the source of the plague.


    But the side effects of the poison were simply too many, and once weakened, it would become extremely difficult to leave this place with Qing JiuYu.


    Tang Feiji was still engaged in a deadly fight with the Ash Dragon, occasionally braving the poison fog to block the plague source''s attacks on Tang Xian.


    One against two.


    Hidden in the distance, the ancient ape couldn''t imagine that there existed a being with such a terrifying level of martial prowess in this world, able to contend with two Judgment Chiefs at the same time.


    To Tang Xian''s surprise, Tang Feiji had cleverly surrounded itself with a layer of wind elemental protection.


    The poison fog couldn''t come anywhere near it.


    This time, Tang Xian acknowledged Tang Feiji''s capabilities; although it was a dumb dragon who could not blow a tune or solve a single side of a magic cube, its combat intelligence wasn''t low.


    The only thing Tang Feiji had to worry about was a close-range attack from the agile plague source.


    The Ash Dragon was like a warrior, while the plague source was like an assassin clad in a cloak and hat, lurking in the shadows, always ready to strike a lethal blow with its poison.


    That was also Tang Xian''s concern; the plague source itself was a calamity-level boss, its abilities and stats were freakishly high.


    Even without various viruses and deadly bacteria, the plague source would be a standard calamity-level creature, but with those terrifying viruses and bacteria, it turned into a nightmare for all melee creatures in the world.


    Luckily, Tang Feiji was incredibly brave. Its strength surpassed Tang Xian''s expectations.


    Like a peerless swordsman, protected by the wind element, ice and thunder were its dual swords.


    The plague source attempting to get close to Tang Feiji would be repelled by the terrifying currents.


    Tang Xian was astonished to find that the plague source, probably to avoid touching the Ash Dragon, held back in its attacks several times, and that was why it was repelled by the wind element.


    As a result, despite being two against one, Tang Feiji, while not gaining the upper hand, also wasn''t distinctly at a disadvantage.


    Suddenly, Tang Xian realized that this fight was winnable!


    "That''s it, I''ve overlooked a crucial element. Poison doesn''t discriminate between friend or foe; the plague source is a major threat to us, but it''s also a threat to the Ash Dragon!"


    With that thought, Tang Xian began to carefully observe the surroundings.


    Seeking a breakthrough in the combat environment and the habits of both sides, Tang Xian quickly found a way.


    "Tang Feiji! Carry me on your back!"


    [Now? Are you sure?]


    Distracted from the battle to communicate with Tang Xian, Tang Feiji felt its brain reaching its computational limit.


    Although it did not understand Tang Xian''s intentions, Tang Feiji never doubted Tang Xian''s intelligence. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Its dragon eyes flared with orange light.


    Thunder became rampant in an instant, countless colossal lightning bolts descended, shattering the palace''s ceiling, and at the same time, fierce winds roared, with ice and snow swirling.


    Thousands of giant icicles grew, relentlessly impaling the Ash Dragon and the plague source.


    Just then, Tang Feiji lay down its dragon body on the other side of the elements, and Tang Xian seized the opportunity to climb onto its back.


    At the same time, the ice thawed instantaneously, and the storm yielded under the increasingly ferocious flames.


    Countless fire-formed dragons began to collide with Tang Feiji.


    [You lowly Azure Dragon, your knowledge is a jumble, mastering none, how dare you fight with the noble Red Dragon Clan with that half-baked dragon magic?]


    Thunder, blizzards, ice storms. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The elements were chaotic, and the Ash Dragon''s solution was brutishly simple: destroy it all with the most powerful and pure fire element.


    [I''m going to kill this arrogant, ignorant lizard!] Tang Feiji was clearly enraged.


    Tang Xian did not stop Tang Feiji from confronting the Ash Dragon.


    Instead, he leaned in close to Tang Feiji''s ear and said,


    "Fight the Ash Dragon as high up as you can, but remember one thing, do not use the fire element."


    Tang Feiji thought that was obvious. Using fire on a lizard like the Ash Dragon who wasn''t afraid of it was like wasting energy.


    The duel between the two dragons began again.


    The collision of massive elemental energies produced extremely terrifying shockwaves.


    This already teetering castle couldn''t withstand the commotion of the two huge dragons, and it collapsed in an instant.


    The Ash Dragon flapped its wings and soared into the sky.


    The Azure Dragon also let out a dragon''s cry, rising steeply.


    The sky was lit with flashes of lightning, but the vast clouds seemed to be ignited.


    The entire sanctuary''s sky was painted a fiery red.


    All the creatures witnessing this scene bowed down in fear, offering their awed worship.


    To them, the battle of the two giant dragons was like a duel of gods.


    Once they left the palace, the dragons'' elements became even more violent.


    Where the Dragon Breath passed, layered hills were instantly split open by thunder and ice spikes.


    The entire mountain range was engulfed in a sea of fire, one after another.


    Watching all this, Tang Xian, though usually strong-minded, was stunned witnessing the clash of two top-tier calamity-level creatures for the first time.


    This was countless times larger in scale compared to the dogfight he had witnessed when he first came to the Red Soil Forest.


    Every move of the two giant dragons was enough to make the world tremble.


    Extreme ice, blizzards, rain, thunder; the elements were unrelentingly attacking the Ash Dragon.


    The enraged Tang Feiji displayed a terrifying ability that was even more fearsome than in the deep sea.

 Chapter 49 Slaughtering Pigs and Dragons_3

    These devastating attacks were like the unvented fury within him.


    The Ember Dragon, which had originally been dominating, suddenly felt that although its flames might force their way through the Azure Dragon''s ice wall, they could definitely not contend with so many elemental attacks of the same magnitude.


    Wind and ice as shields, thunder as a sword.


    This lowly Azure Dragon had actually made it feel a trace of difficulty.


    The Ember Dragon couldn''t accept this fact.


    The temperature of its fiery breath grew higher and higher. Wherever the dragon flame passed, not a blade of grass remained.


    But regretfully, hindered by the storm and solid ice, it could never touch that damned Azure Dragon!


    On the contrary, those thunder attacks were simply too fast, and several times they nearly posed a great threat to the Ember Dragon!


    The ancient apes within castle ruins and the myriad beasts far beyond the Sacred Land''s overlapping peaks witnessed, for the first time, a creature from the southern seas powerful enough to confront the Judgment Chief of the court, alone!


    This scene shocked all creatures, just like Tang Xian.


    Not just Tang Xian watched the ongoing battle astride the dragon''s back, but Qing JiuYu, who lay upon Tang Xian''s body, did as well.


    She had never despised the Dragon Clan more than she did today, but it seemed that everything related to Tang Xian greatly differed from her own understanding.


    Be it humans or dragons, even Bai Mansheng, once they were linked to this man, they became difficult to dislike.


    The battle continued.


    Yet as time passed, the Ember Dragon was increasingly at a disadvantage.


    Tang Xian found the Ember Dragon really stupid.


    Stupider than Tang Feiji, at least Tang Feiji had a combat IQ; this Ember Dragon, having strong allies but not relying on them, had chosen to fight in the aerial domain where its allies couldn''t assist.


    This arrogant lizard was too easily baited.


    However, the Ember Dragon might be foolish, but the Plaguebringer wasn''t.


    This giant creature, akin to a wild boar, emitted a bizarre and piercing howl.


    After hearing this howl, and although resentful in heart, the Ember Dragon was forced to return to the ground.


    The castle of demon dragons had collapsed; both the Ember Dragon and the Plaguebringer were on the wasteland outside the castle.


    Tang Feiji circled at low altitude, looking down at the Ember Dragon with disdain.


    Even though they weren''t the same type of dragon, the language of dragons was universally understood.


    [You lowly reptile, do you realize now how formidable your lord is? You''re just a lizard that can spit fire, and you dare to call yourself a dragon?]


    [Don''t be provoked by it!] said the Plaguebringer.


    Although the Ember Dragon and the Plaguebringer didn''t speak the same language, it now understood what the Plaguebringer meant.


    Tang Xian couldn''t see the data but was confident that both speed and strength favored Tang Feiji by a small margin.


    And in terms of elemental abilities, Tang Feiji might not match the Ember Dragon in a single element but could still cause considerable damage to the Ember Dragon through a combination of different elements.


    "Listen, they''re going to join forces now, and the Plaguebringer has also determined that the Ember Dragon alone can''t defeat you, so the attack will inevitably be more intense than before in the palace. This is also the moment for the decisive battle," Tang Xian said.


    [What should we do? Although I could kill that stinky wild boar in a minute, that despicable swine always strikes when I''m going all out against the stinky lizard.]


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "So far, the Ember Dragon''s mode of attack has been very singular, relying entirely on flames. You''ve done great up until now, successfully suppressing it with various elements. Most critically, you haven''t used fire. Next, do as I say, and we can completely deal with the Ember Dragon!"


    Tang Xian began to explain the upcoming battle. Tang Feiji kept guard against both the Plaguebringer and the Ember Dragon while heeding Tang Xian''s words.


    After hearing Tang Xian''s plan, he said disdainfully,


    [You are indeed a lowly... clever human!]


    "Here it comes!"


    Once again, Ember Dragon''s flames surged like a tidal wave. The towering blaze took the shape of a dragon and charged toward Tang Feiji.


    At the same time, Tang Feiji surged towards the Ember Dragon.


    Enveloped in extreme ice and storm, he actually charged straight through that enormous flame dragon. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, the Plaguebringer also launched its attack. This calm assassin appeared less destructive than Tang Feiji and the Ember Dragon, but if its attack hit the target, it would be lethal.


    But just then, darkness suddenly descended.


    Absolute darkness enveloped everything like a black hole, cutting off all sight.


    The sense of sight among the five senses was completely lost.


    The Plaguebringer''s stench made it difficult for the sense of smell to function in this domain as well.


    The Ember Dragon, the Azure Dragon, and the Plaguebringer suddenly lacked the vision to distinguish friend from foe.


    At that moment, a searing dragon flame swept by.


    At the same time, a massive wall of ice rose up.


    It was as if in the darkness, the two dragons had found the direction of their archrival and began their duel.


    Deprived of vision and smell, but the stark contrast of heat and cold vividly exposed the positions of the two dragons.


    A torrent of poisons surged towards the location of the ice wall.


    This time, the Plaguebringer''s attack was unfettered, unleashing its calamitous strength like a towering wave.


    Within this wave, myriad bizarre and terrifying viruses and bacteria lurked.


    Even the slightest contamination would not only possibly lead to death but also cause one''s bodily functions to behave erratically.


    This was the horror of the Plaguebringer, requiring neither great strength to tear apart its opponent nor immense stamina to contend with them. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Just a touch of its toxin could significantly weaken aspects of its adversary''s strength.


    The pained cries of dragons echoed. The Plaguebringer thought it had struck a blow, and at the same time, the blinding darkness dissipated.


    But as vision finally adjusted to the light again, the Plaguebringer was dumbfounded.

 Chapter 49 Slaughtering Pigs and Dragons_4

    The Ash Dragon lay painfully on the ground, its entire body covered with dark green poison, breathing laboriously.


    Behind the Ash Dragon, there were still some ice shards not yet completely dispersed by the flames.


    "You stupid boar! How dare you attack me!"


    The Ash Dragon cursed the plague source using the dragon language.


    Tang Xian thought, this must be the so-called "pig teammate," a true pig teammate indeed.


    The plague source still hadn''t recovered from what had just happened.


    Tang Feiji mocked,


    "You two despicable and stupid creatures, although I could easily kill you, playing with you is indeed more pleasurable."


    "Alright, stop boasting, the plague source isn''t dead yet. But this guy can''t fly, and is only suited for ambush; it should be no match for you in a head-on fight, so don''t get cocky and lose."


    Tang Xian felt much more at ease.


    The plague source shouted angrily,


    "What exactly have you done?"


    The dragon soared into the sky, and Tang Xian didn''t explain.


    Tang Feiji had never used his fire attack, while the Ash Dragon had always relied on fire.


    This was a combat habit; the decisive move was that Tang Xian didn''t instruct Tang Feiji to erect the ice wall in front of himself, but rather, based on the memory just before the eclipse, surrounded the Ash Dragon with ice walls on all sides.


    In the chaotic space, both man and beast would increasingly rely on instinct.


    This was inertia thinking, that is, the immediate feedback from habits formed.


    The one that uses ice for defense is the Azure Dragon, and the one that uses fire for offense is the Ash Dragon.


    This inertia thinking ultimately led the plague source to spray its poison at the Ash Dragon.


    The Ash Dragon was even more interesting; it was extremely sensitive to fire. At the moment Tang Feiji erected the ice wall, it could have broken through the ice to escape.


    But it was the first time it saw Tang Feiji spew flames, even those from an enemy could have a healing effect on it.


    The Ash Dragon had just been mercilessly mocked by the Azure Dragon and naturally wanted to mock back with an even stronger stance.


    The price of arrogance came faster than it imagined.


    The Ash Dragon never expected that the fire would penetrate the ice walls, accompanied by the plague source''s tidal wave of poison.


    "Dare to plot against me!"


    It was only when the Azure Dragon soared straight into the sky that the plague source finally realized it had been tricked.


    Dragon flames burst forth.


    Although Tang Feiji''s dragon flame wasn''t as powerful as the Ash Dragon''s, capable of melting everything, it could still inflict tremendous damage on creatures of the same tier.


    Everything was as Tang Xian had analyzed; once the Ash Dragon was heavily injured by the poison, the plague source seemed very weak against Tang Feiji.


    The assassin was forced into a frontal battle with the warrior, especially since Tang Feiji was in a domain completely unassailable by the opponent.


    The plague source was extremely fast on the ground, even faster than Tang Feiji, but Tang Feiji''s offensive capabilities were too varied!


    The ice walls created numerous obstacles, instantly reducing the plague source''s range of movement.


    The wind and snow gradually covered the plague source, slowing it down.


    Thunder fell, the swiftest attack in the world constantly seeking the plague source''s vulnerabilities.


    One side unable to attack, and the other side constantly on the offensive. The outcome of such a battle was already decided. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Ash Dragon watched the evil dragon in the sky unwillingly, simply not understanding how its absolute advantage had turned into an irreparable disadvantage.


    Finally¡ª the plague source''s black robe was shattered by thunder, revealing its ugly body, with countless poison bugs, snakes, and ants crawling on it.


    They seemed like other creatures, yet also like part of its body.


    Then, several bolts of lightning struck, all hitting the plague source.


    Lightning is revered as the purest force in this world, able to drive away all evil spirits.


    The poison insects, snakes, and ants also became smaller under the lightning.


    The plague source emitted a painful howl, resonating throughout the collapsing mountains.


    Qing JiuYu had been clenching her teeth all along, and only when she saw this scene did she slowly lower her head and say,


    "Tang Xian, kill them."


    Tang Xian nodded, there was still an ancient ape within the ruins of the castle for him to question. He wasn''t worried about the lack of intelligence.


    The Ash Dragon and the Plague Source were catastrophic beings, if they were not killed promptly, their powerful regenerative abilities might cause complications.


    "Tang Feiji, kill them."


    [Understood!]


    The entire land seemed to be experiencing an unprecedented catastrophe.


    Though it was still daytime, the sky suddenly turned as dark as night.


    Thunderclouds packed the sky over the Saint Land, covering every inch, and even without the lightning striking down, one could feel an apocalyptic oppression.


    Crimson currents of electricity shot through the clouds, and the next moment, this place known as Saint Land was about to suffer an unprecedented devastation.


    Tang Xian felt no regret.


    He had arrived in the mining area not long before, and along the way, he had heard of the War Beast Court multiple times.


    But it was only today that he understood just how detestable this organization that dubbed itself a court truly was.


    Whether it was the humans trapped at the bottom of the pit or the beasts caged in Chongshan Prison and those he stumbled upon along the way.


    The deeds of the War Beast Court towards them were absolutely evil.


    For the sake of controlling both worlds, their actions had completely lost all semblance of a bottom line.


    A thunderous calamity was about to descend upon the world in a cataclysmic manner.


    Feeling the fear between life and death, the Ash Dragon raised its head and, in a panic, threatened:


    [This is a branch of the War Beast Court, do you realize you are declaring war on the world? The heritage and majesty of the court cannot be provoked by a mere human!]


    "Declaring war, you say? That suits me just fine."


    His words were accompanied by thunder striking down, illuminating Tang Xian''s calm face.


    Countless bolts of lightning kept striking down on the Ash Dragon and the Plague Source.


    The very spot they occupied was distorted by the terrifying force.


    The entire space seemed to be enduring a devastation on the brink of collapse.


    The body of the Ash Dragon began to shatter. Its scales were covered in layers of ash, and its expression of agony, under the annihilation of countless thunders, soon became permanently fixed.


    The creatures surging across the Plague Source''s skin finally burst apart as if trying to flee the host, and the massive boar suddenly appeared to shrink. But Tang Feiji obviously wasn''t going to let those creatures escape, cleansing them all with the thunder.


    This was the first time Tang Xian held such disdain for an organization that he didn''t even feel like consuming the dragon meat.


    After all was done, Tang Xian then ordered Tang Feiji to return to the ground.


    The ground, pockmarked and uneven, appeared to have endured impacts from countless tiny meteors. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian, with Qing JiuYu on his back, walked down from the dragon''s corpse.


    Qing JiuYu was still very weak, and though her eyes showed a rekindled desire for vengeance, she still said sadly:


    "I have nowhere to go in the future."


    "Baichuan City welcomes you."


    "But I am a beast after all, so is Xiao Ni, and you may not understand, this is a very important matter to the fox clan. No one wants to forsake their bloodline without reason. And... my clan members, they will definitely suffer at the hands of the court due to that puppet in the future."


    Tang Xian nodded, he did not think the fox clan was worth saving, after all, he cared about Qing JiuYu, not those foxes.


    But just as he couldn''t help but want to save those people in the pit, for Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu, the desire to return to the fox clan, and the desire to save it, must be stronger.


    Tang Xian carried Qing JiuYu on his back and slowly walked, stepping over the incomplete bodies of the two catastrophic beings.


    Tang Feiji flew off to catch the ancient ape.


    After pondering for a moment, Tang Xian said:


    "What about waiting until Xiaojiu grows up a bit more?"


    "What?" Qing JiuYu asked in confusion.


    "Wait till she grows up a bit more, then you and I, along with her, will go back and take the throne of the fox clan. I''ve said it before, everything the court took from you, I will help you take it all back. But for now, you should go with me to Baichuan City."


    Qing JiuYu didn''t nod; she just buried her head on Tang Xian''s shoulder and rubbed her cheek against his.


    "It''s a bit ticklish, I suggest you maintain a breathing distance that won''t blow on my neck, otherwise, I''ll have Tang Feiji carry you."


    "Unromantic." The sadness faded, and Qing JiuYu suddenly smiled.

 Chapter 50 Interrogating the Ancient Ape and Rounding Off

    Tang Xian was not a nitpicker, but he still reminded her in a friendly manner:


    "The official dictionary definition of ''romantic charm'' refers to the amorous feelings between men and women, and it''s noted as having mostly a derogatory connotation. So it''s best not to understand it naturally. And there''s no such charm between you and me to decipher."


    Qing JiuYu felt both amused and annoyed:


    "Master, if I weren''t so weak right now, I would definitely take care of you."


    Tang Xian stopped walking and said:


    "What do you think of Tang Feiji?"


    "Not much."


    "The biochemical principle of sex involves the release of dopamine in the neural junctions of the brain, causing pleasurable sensations. If you insert an electrode into a rat''s brain and give it a button that releases pleasure, it will press that button continuously until ''there''s not a drop left'' and then die of exhaustion.


    The difference between humans and rats is that humans cannot insert electrodes into the subthalamus, so humans need a companion to go to hotels with regularly to relieve stress."


    "You should consider Tang Feiji more, based on his performance today, he''s super brave."


    Qing JiuYu adjusted her mood, as today Tang Xian was her hero, and she didn''t want to be angry.


    She decided to ignore Tang Xian''s of-the-cuff, brutally direct remarks.


    She pursed her lips and said:


    "I never believed the Endless Turtle''s words before, I thought Bai Mansheng and I were worlds apart, how could I possibly steal her man? Or how could she possibly steal a man from me?"


    Tang Xian did not respond.


    Tang Feiji had already cornered the butler-dressed ancient, long-eared ape in the distance.


    "Later I thought about it and realized that maybe the turtle really had something special."


    Tang Xian spoke again:


    "Fortunetelling is really just about rounding up or down. You state a broad range, and the person being told, because of their desire, is easily suggestible and hence feels that the fortune telling is accurate."


    Qing JiuYu wanted to say that he really didn''t get it.


    But in order to avoid hearing even more clueless responses, she stopped herself.


    Still, she was very curious about the meaning of Tang Xian''s words.


    "What do you mean?"


    "That''s the Forer effect, demonstrated through an experiment by the psychologist Bertrand Fowler in 1948.


    After administering the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory to a group of people, he presented two sets of results and asked the participants to determine which one was theirs. In fact, one set was the individual''s own results, while the other was an average of most people''s responses.


    Interestingly, participants thought the latter more accurately depicted their personality traits.


    This also illustrates that people are very likely to believe that a general, generic description of personality traits specifically suits them, even if they are nothing like that."


    The reason why so many boys and girls believe in horoscopes is exactly the same. It''s like some people are Leos, who, despite being insecure inside, still feel they are like a romantic and proud lion."


    Qing JiuYu did understand.


    Humans indeed have unmatched achievements in these areas compared to other creatures.


    But she shook her head and said:


    "The predictions of the Endless Turtle are very accurate. They''re not like what you''re talking about."


    "But that''s irrelevant to you and me. ''Stealing a man'' is a very generic statement. I have stolen women too; in a sense, I stole Li Xiaoyu from the lower levels of the Thirty-Nine Strongholds, and today I stole you from the Holy Land."


    "Alright, alright, I can''t argue with you," Qing JiuYu bit her lip.


    "Because that''s the reason. We live in this world, and we have to be reasonable."


    Tang Xian remained nonchalant.


    "But what if I really like you?"


    "Then that would really be unreasonable."


    Qing JiuYu was lost for words and suddenly felt a bit sorry for that human girl named Li Xiaoyu.


    Whether she liked Tang Xian was debatable, but it was clear as day that the young girl liked Tang Xian.


    Only, to like such a man, one would need a really strong heart.


    Tang Xian did not pay attention to Qing JiuYu''s stray thoughts, as a piece of information suddenly flashed through his sea of consciousness.


    A skill had dropped.


    The deaths of two calamity-level creatures had finally resulted in Tang Xian gaining another skill.


    About skills, Tang Xian now had a preliminary conjecture. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Every creature has its unique abilities. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But whether one can pick them up depends on luck.


    If you don''t get it the first time you face that creature, killing the same species again won''t result in any drops.


    So the strength of each Eden demon child is actually not the same.


    If there were many Eden demon children.


    And when two Eden demon children faced off, the one with more luck would probably win, while the unlucky one would be defeated.


    Tang Xian felt he was somewhat unlucky.


    After all, he had killed many creatures, and he had less than five skills to show for it.


    ...


    ...


    The ancient long-eared ape trembled under the dragon''s watchful eyes.


    Tang Feiji was very concerned, after all, the red dragon''s meat had been charred by lightning, which was a waste.


    No one dared to eat the meat of the Plague Source.


    The Jiaolong had died in a foul-smelling pit; today, it had fought bravely, performing extraordinarily. But there was not a single edible prize to show for it.


    Tang Feiji turned back into human form and said:


    "Before that cunning human asks you questions, I want to ask you first, can you transform into a human?"


    Tang Xian unfortunately did not hear this conversation, otherwise, he would probably be very pleased with Tang Feiji''s growth.


    He might even redefine Tang Feiji''s IQ from 0.8 Dong to 1.1 Dong, causing Dong Ran to once again take the last place in the Sheng Tang Squad.


    The ancient ape was confused, looking at Tang Feiji in terror.

 Chapter 50 Interrogating the Ancient Ape and Rounding Off_2

    Tang Feiji recalled Tang Xian''s subsequent words and said:


    "Don''t be nervous, this is just a very common question. I mean no harm; I''m just asking casually. Even if you can''t turn into a human, I won''t give you a hard time."


    "Can''t..."


    "That''s truly a shame, hahahahahaha..."


    The Long-Eared Ancient Ape had a bad premonition.


    At that moment, Tang Xian, carrying Qing JiuYu on his back, walked over slowly and said:


    "Tang Feiji, what are you laughing at?"


    "Nothing."


    Tang Xian didn''t care.


    His gaze fell on the Long-Eared Ancient Ape, which likewise sized up Tang Xian.


    "You should realize that your situation is very worrisome now, right?"


    The Long-Eared Ancient Ape was a very intelligent beast among all creatures. It not only realized this but also cooperated by showing a frightened and anxious expression.


    Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Trying to analyze Tang Xian''s mind and then cater to his thoughts.


    It said nervously:


    "My lord... please don''t kill me. I will tell you everything I know! I am truly innocent! It has always been Jinyin Dragon and Epidemic Origin forcing me!"


    "Mmm, before that, I have a question for you."


    "Ask away, I will definitely answer!"


    "Can you turn into a human?"


    The ancient ape wasn''t a disaster-level boss creature, but Tang Xian always felt there was something special about it.


    After all, they wore human clothes and spoke human language; it was just a subconscious question from Tang Xian.


    But this behavior left the ancient ape dumbfounded.


    Why is history so astonishingly similar?


    How could it not comprehend the actions of this human and dragon pair? Why did they both ask if it could turn into a human?


    "Can''t..."


    "That is a pity, hehe." Tang Xian''s smile was not as exaggerated as Tang Feiji''s, gentle and elegant, with a sense of regret and encouragement.


    Tang Feiji, witnessing this scene, suddenly realized how narrowly he had escaped death himself.


    "Alright, back to the main issue. Do you know the details of the other Judgment Chiefs at the Wan Beasts Tribunal?"


    "What are you going to do with them?"


    "If you know, then answer truthfully; if you don''t, just say you don''t. Tang Feiji, break its arm."


    A crisp sound of dislocated bones rang out, and the ancient ape let out an instinctive monkey''s wail of pain.


    "Don''t be afraid. I don''t want to be a big villain, but we all have precious time. You need to rid yourself of all desire for knowledge and resistance to interrogation. Understand?"


    The ancient ape nodded frantically, its bloodshot eyes filled with agony.


    "I don''t know... Ever since I was born and my language skills were developed, I have been serving Jinyin Dragon and Epidemic Origin." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then say something you think might save your life and be valuable, because I''m going to kill you now since you don''t know what I''m asking about."


    The Long-Eared Ancient Ape shivered, thinking, what kind of vicious human is this?


    His casual words were like discussing an everyday topic.


    Qing JiuYu was seeing this side of Tang Xian for the first time, but she found it very satisfying.


    She found Tang Xian even more pleasing to the eye.


    The Long-Eared Ancient Ape panicked; how could it know what information was useful or useless to this man?


    It clutched its face, showing immense anxiety.


    Other interrogations focused on specific questions, but Tang Xian came up with an open-ended interrogation.


    "You have ten seconds left before you lose another arm. Don''t hurry; there''s plenty of time. See, even after I finish my sentence, there are still five seconds left."


    The devil.


    Tang Feiji was truly grateful for the first time that he could turn into a despicable human being.


    After five seconds, just as Tang Feiji was eager to twist off the other arm of the Long-Eared Ancient Ape, the ape said:


    "I know the distinctive traits of the new leader of the Fox Clan!"


    "Congratulations, you''ve saved your own arm."


    Tang Xian waved to stop Tang Feiji.


    Cold sweat oozed out from the furry face of the ancient ape, not daring to delay, it said:


    "Although it evolved from a six-tailed fox, its strength is definitely above that of a common nine-tailed one. Our ancient ape elders are not conducting purely evolutionary research."


    Tang Xian frowned, evolutionary research?


    Because he had not heard this part when he was in the castle, it seemed somewhat abrupt.


    But Tang Xian quickly deduced some of their conversations before they tried Qing JiuYu.


    "Continue. There''s now a twenty-five percent chance I won''t kill you."


    "The more diverse the gene combinations, the stronger and more perfect the new genes that may emerge. Although the lineage might diminish, the direction of evolution could become more complex. The elders were conducting such research."


    Tang Xian nodded, agreeing with this statement.


    Humans discourage inbreeding because the closer the genetic sequences are, the lower the probability of having excellent offspring.


    It''s similar with dogs.


    Many Huaxia terriers, though not of pure breed, were part of research by dog breeding institutions in Dongying over a thousand years ago. Many mixed and indeterminate breed dogs, in their olfactory performance and intelligence, could even compete with Border Collies.


    Tang Xian had seen many such research studies because dog meat is delicious.


    "Does that new nine-tailed vixen possess abilities from other creatures as well?"


    "Yes... Since the fox species is fire-elemental, the elders thought if they could master multiple elements like the sacred beast species, they might be able to create powerful puppets. Therefore, that fox was also implanted with Nvwa Snake genes. One of its tails is white."

 Chapter 50 Interrogating the Ancient Ape and Rounding Off_3

    "Will the Fox Tribe accept such otherkind?" Tang Xian was asking Qing JiuYu.


    Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Shocked by the words of the ancient ape, Qing JiuYu paused for a moment before slowly saying:


    "They will accept it, after all, the court might provide an explanation that may not be the truth, but is reasonable."


    Tang Xian nodded, Qing JiuYu''s words did make some sense.


    "Alright, I got it. Does it have any weaknesses? After you answer this question, the likelihood of me killing you drops to fifty percent."


    "I... I don''t know, for now, it has high resistance against both ice and fire, and its speed and strength are slightly superior to a normally born nine-tailed fox..." the ancient ape hastily said.


    Tang Xian nodded, the sincerity could indicate the credibility of the ancient ape''s words.


    "Quite the remarkable experiment, but quite annoying indeed. It seems whether it''s the evolution organizations of humanity or the ones in Myriad Beasts Realm, both are detestable to me."


    I used to think humanity was an arrogant race, rushing towards self-destruction once their understanding of science reached a certain level.


    Trying to open Pandora''s box of genetics, attempting to bestow wisdom upon machines, these steps are significant strides toward self-destruction.


    But now Tang Xian believes that any animal, given enough intelligence, would do the same.


    "The last question, after you answer it, you will likely gain your freedom. Because the chance of me killing you will decrease to twenty-five percent."


    "Ask, and I shall answer truthfully..." the ancient ape said with trepidation, thinking about the twenty-five percent chance of being killed made it even more nervous.


    The change in mentality is quite amusing, Tang Xian believed that the ancient ape would gradually shift from initial resistance to thinking: why doesn''t he ask me one more question?


    "What do you know about the Eden Tribe?"


    "They are... they are an arrogant race, but the Myriad Beasts Codex doesn''t mention the War of the Gods. What I know is only that the leader of that race once did something terrible in the ruins of Eden to the Myriad Beasts Realm..."


    "Illuminating Myriad Beasts with the impure Eden Crystals, allowing some powerful creatures to transform into humans?"


    "How do you know that?"


    Because of his visual abilities and the fact that Tang Xian hadn''t acted today, but only used the Great Tengu''s Sun Devouring once, the ancient ape hadn''t connected Tang Xian with the Demon Child of Eden.


    The Demon Child of Eden recorded in the Myriad Beasts Codex¡ªdefinitely did not look like Tang Xian. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Tsk tsk, looks like your arm has healed?"


    The ancient ape shivered and immediately said:


    "Yes... yes, the Eden Crystals granted most creatures of the Realm new abilities, but the principle behind this remains unsolved, and after the death of the Eden Tribe, no bodies were left to study. Hence, our understanding of the Eden Tribe is very limited. Only the Judgment Chief, who experienced that battle, would know... but the Judgment Chief hasn''t appeared for hundreds of years."


    Where there''s a court, there naturally would be a judge.


    Tang Xian didn''t know what kind of being could establish the Myriad Beasts Court.


    After all, the twelve Judgment Chiefs were all calamity-level boss creatures.


    Clearly, this ape didn''t have any information about the judge either.


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "Now I shall judge you. You have a twenty-five percent chance of being killed."


    "But given that your meat tastes very good, that increases the odds a bit, rounding up, it''s about one hundred percent."

 Chapter 51 A Friendly Visit

    The ancient ape froze.


    Even Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji were somewhat surprised by Tang Xian''s sudden change of heart.


    "Tang Feiji, what are you standing there for? Get moving," said Tang Xian.


    Throughout their journey, anything related to the Beast Court was met with no mercy, to kill or to be devoured without pardon.


    Tang Feiji was not conflicted. Amidst the ancient ape''s wailing, he cleanly twisted the ape''s head by seven hundred and twenty degrees. Then he tore off the monkey''s head and tucked it into his prop bag.


    "What about the two corpses?" Tang Feiji asked.


    "The Soul Crystals from two cataclysm-level boss creatures, if I''m not mistaken, are the key to unlocking the ninth level of the Pyramid. However, I''m currently not interested in the higher levels of the Pyramid and want to focus on dealing with the Beast Court first. Do you want the Soul Crystals?"


    Tang Xian asked Tang Feiji and also inquired Qing JiuYu. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Soul Crystals are considered extremely nourishing items for the beasts, with enough of them from creatures of the same tier even accelerating evolution, or rather, increasing the chances of evolution.


    However, the stronger the creature, the less likely they are to come into contact with one another.


    Qing JiuYu was in fact seeing the orange-glowing crystals for the first time.


    Tang Feiji had seen them before. There were some in the temple deep under the sea, but he didn''t consume them, as they were the source of energy that maintained the Sea God''s colossal body vital.


    After some discussion, Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu each consumed a Soul Crystal.


    After swallowing the orange Soul Crystal, Qing JiuYu''s complexion improved somewhat.


    And Tang Feiji felt that the wounds and fatigue from the battle completely disappeared.


    "If I could have a few more, I might become stronger," Tang Feiji said.


    "Same here," Qing JiuYu softly concurred.


    Feeling some strength return, she no longer needed Tang Xian to carry her.


    Though this indirectly fulfilled her wish to ride a dragon.


    However, nothing remained the same, the gluttonous beast had turned into a demon child. Qing JiuYu also had to adapt her expectations for her fox life.


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "The Beast Court will come looking for me, and I will look for them too, there will be more opportunities."


    It was unlikely that a cataclysm-level creature would evolve to an apocalyptic level.


    But there were significant differences even amongst cataclysm-level creatures.


    It was impossible to change the overall battle power, but devouring a large number of orange-quality Soul Crystals might add some traits.


    "What are you planning to do next?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    Now with some strength recovered, Qing JiuYu''s demeanor gradually returned to its usual calmness, the previously fragile and helpless stance at the brink of death was difficult to see again. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Head over to the Saint land fortress and take care of the last bit of trouble."


    "Right now?"


    "Yes, and I need to create a batch of transportation fissures in the Saint land fortress. The only thing that can hinder me there right now is the fortress''s lord."


    Tang Xian said, looking at Tang Feiji.


    "You''ve performed very well today, but there''s one more battle ahead, and this one will be easy. Once this is over, you will have fulfilled your Dragon Origin Blood Oath."


    "I doubt your words, boss," replied Tang Feiji.


    Although he was somewhat pleased with Tang Xian''s praise, Tang Feiji would not show it.


    And just a moment ago, both he and Qing JiuYu had witnessed Tang Xian''s act of betrayal.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Killing prisoners of war is a regrettable act, often under special circumstances. Our whereabouts and combat abilities have all been observed by this ape, which is why we can''t let it go."


    A monkey brain is naturally delicious food, but even if these creatures could take human form, Tang Xian would still kill them.


    Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu seem to accept this explanation. They were not kindhearted and never intended to spare the lives of any Beast Court creatures.


    But Tang Xian''s real thoughts were also somewhat divergent.


    In these indiscriminate battles, he harbored a certain personal anger.


    As he said, the Beast Court was an organization that he found particularly loathsome.


    Had he arrived any later, Tang Xiaojiu, the only family he had in this world, might have been dead.


    There were many more trials to come, and not every time could he be so fortunate to turn the tide of disaster.


    So in situations like this, it was only natural to nip in the bud every factor that might cause history to repeat itself.


    Today''s anger was a rage for the common people, as well as a rage for his beloved. But although he did it, deep down, he would never admit it.


    "Unlike with enemies, I keep my promises to my own people. Kill that Beast Court lord inside the Saint land fortress, and your oath will be considered fulfilled," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Tang Feiji nodded silently.


    Returning to the Pyramid fortress and wiping out a minor character from the court would not be hard at all.


    Completing this task would free him from the Dragon Origin Blood Oath, which was also a delightful prospect for him.


    At least when he first met Tang Xian in the deep sea, he never thought regaining his freedom would be so easy.


    But right now, he didn''t seem too happy about it.


    Tang Feiji pondered for a moment.


    Tang Xian indeed hadn''t made him do anything too difficult.


    Although he was forced to make a Dragon Origin Blood Oath, it had also freed him from another such oath.


    He looked at Tang Xian with a strange expression and then asked:


    "After the oath is lifted, will there still be meat to eat?"


    "Of course."


    Tang Feiji didn''t say anything more, just contentedly nodded his head.


    Tang Xian also tacitly refrained from adding more, as he was not in a hurry, some things needed to be done step by step.


    Then Tang Feiji transformed back into a dragon, carrying Qing JiuYu and Tang Xian, heading toward the portal that led to the Saint land fortress.


    The dragon''s form was seen by countless distant creatures in the sky.


    Chongshan Prison was destroyed during the cataclysmic battle, and the overlapping mountains also suffered tremendous damage.

 Chapter 51 A Friendly Visit_2

    The sanctuary in the mining area was already destroyed.


    The nearby creatures also began to flee one by one.


    These creatures did not seem too distressed, although they were shocked that there existed powerful beings in this world capable of dealing with the Judgment Chief.


    They had originally wanted to escape elsewhere and only stayed here because of threats from the Ash Dragon and the Plague Source, living like slaves.


    A huge portal was set up above the pit.


    Qing JiuYu was excited during her first visit to the Pyramid, but Tang Xian seemed to be considering some problems, and a dragon, a fox, and a man all stood in front of the portal without moving.


    Tang Xian frowned and meticulously went over the information that the Jiaolong had given him temporarily.


    "Although this fortress accepts visitors, it is actually a closed fortress due to the network blockade," he said.


    "What does that mean?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "The network is something humans use to transmit information. I will teach you how to use it when we have the chance in Baichuan City. This time we need to act low-key," Tang Xian replied.


    "Low-key? Aren''t we just going to fight our way up?" Tang Feiji did not understand.


    Currently, even the most fortified of the thirty-nine fortresses could do nothing against him; he didn''t take the other fortresses seriously at all.


    "I indeed wish to resolve matters quickly, but in the future, the people under the pit will not have the chance to return to the Pyramid. Before that, I think they deserve a chance," he said.


    ...


    ...


    The sanctuary fortress.


    Another beautiful day was about to end.


    The gifted individuals returning through the normal portal were cursing and complaining that mining was really not a job for humans.


    At the same time, they discussed where to go for entertainment on which layer that night.


    For the people from the first to the fifth layers, although it was just dusk, their work was mostly simple and relaxed.


    They could already plan tonight''s activities in advance.


    Ms. Lu was chatting with the neighbor''s mistress about some trivial matters.


    The neighbor''s daughter was already eleven years old and had secretly done a talent test recently. Fortunately, she was talented and could go to the third layer to study for a few years.


    Ms. Lu didn''t really want to discuss this subject, but Lu Chao''an, Lu Ming, the neighbor''s husband, and child were all playing together.


    With the two housewives together, they could only chat, contributing to the conversation intermittently.


    These days, Ms. Lu had been plagued by a recurring nightmare.


    She dreamed that Lu Lingyi had grown up.


    But the place was too dark, and Ms. Lu couldn''t see her daughter''s face clearly.


    She could only see a silhouette with faint lights in its eyes.


    She didn''t know how her daughter had been living these years. Although the dream''s scene was dark, what she imagined was another picture entirely.


    Perhaps in some sun-scorched place, working day and night?


    No one had been to the other portal.


    They only knew it led to an unknown mining area.


    They lived a comfortable life in the Pyramid, guiltless or guilty in conscience.


    Everyone''s perception of the mining area was that it was harsh and severe.


    But in reality, they did not know that at the deepest part of that world, there were places that were a thousand times worse.


    What they considered harsh, was even the paradise that those exiles yearned for.


    Ms. Lu thought again of another dream.


    The stranger wearing a mask.


    Was that really just a dream?


    Speaking of which, some of Song''s belongings were still stored at her place, although they were just some clothes. She figured he would eventually come to collect them.


    These days, Ms. Lu had been feeling uneasy. She always felt as if Song had not come down from the sixth layer for a week because something had happened.


    She even wondered if the person sent down from above to the other portal that day was Song.


    Regarding this, Lu Chao''an mockingly said that this woman just loves to imagine things.


    After all, that place held the non-gifted, while Song Que was one of the strongest gifted individuals in this world.


    Ms. Lu still felt it was strange.


    She always felt that something big was going to happen.


    Mother and daughter share a bond. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She believed that dreaming every day was because something happened to Lu Lingyi.


    But she could only pray and couldn''t do anything else.


    Her eyelids kept twitching, always feeling that a significant event was imminent.


    For some reason, she became reluctant to engage with the neighbor''s mistress and instead turned to look at the distant dark portal.


    It was still covered by a large curtain.


    But suddenly, she was stunned.


    "Ms. Wu, what''s the matter? You look as if you''ve seen a ghost," the neighbor said curiously.


    The neighbor was curious why Ms. Wu was acting so startled.


    She followed Mrs. Wu''s gaze.


    All she saw were three strangers.


    A woman so beautiful it stirred jealousy, and a man as valiant as a dragon.


    In comparison, the person in the lead seemed quite ordinary.


    "Do you know these three? That woman is really pretty. They must be from another fortress, right?" the neighbor said.


    Mrs. Wu looked back, surprised, then suddenly realized that her neighbor hadn''t witnessed the scene she had.


    Not long ago, Mrs. Wu had seen these three step out from the portal that no one had ever come out of before.


    She felt as if she had seen a ghost and couldn''t utter a word.


    The area where Lu Chao''an and his family lived was quite close to the portal.


    The ones who had come out of the curtained portal were naturally Qing JiuYu, Tang Xian, and Tang Feiji.


    This trio, a human, a dragon, and a fox, quickly arrived in the residential area.


    Tang Xian was a perceptive person, and he could always quickly sense when someone''s gaze fell upon him.


    He looked towards Mrs. Lu.


    After scrutinizing for a few seconds, Tang Xian saw an intriguing panel.


    [Current Demand Analysis: Pray for blessings for daughter on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (19%)]


    "The greatest irony in this world is people committing murder and arson, while at the same time repenting their sins."


    Tang Xian was just talking to himself, Mrs. Wu didn''t hear what he said; she just saw Tang Xian smile in their direction, like a friendly passerby.


    "This is the place that little girl sustains?" Tang Feiji said.


    "Yes," Tang Xian replied.


    "Sustain?" Qing JiuYu still did not quite understand.


    "Before rescuing you, Tang Feiji and I went underground, right beneath the portal, where humans live. They mine day and night to provide the energy needed by the Pyramid."


    Tang Feiji snorted coldly:


    "Truly a stupid and cruel race."


    "Humans have their flaws, as well as goodness and beauty, and humanity certainly cannot be simply summarized by what is good or ugly. Even for these people."


    Tang Xian wasn''t defending them, but after all, they were still humans.


    When dealing with beasts, he could be ruthless.


    When dealing with humans, Tang Xian tended to be more forgiving.


    Along the way, Tang Xian noticed that the defenses in the Holy Land fortress were rather lax.


    Of course, the public order here was superb to the point of disbelief.


    This peace, where part of the population is completely oppressed while the other part freely enjoys life, was filled with ironic meaning.


    He calmly headed for the second layer.


    At the entrance to the layer, the guards prepared to check Tang Xian''s identification. Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji were incredibly quick, efficiently knocking them out.


    ...


    ...


    The sixth layer. The entire network of the Holy Land fortress could only interact with the outside world from the sixth layer.


    But the equipment on this layer could only be used by Zhuo He, the lord of the fortress.


    Zhuo He''s favorite daily activity was watching surveillance footage from all around.


    Seeing people live in happiness and contentment, it felt that although it was a beast, it could still lead humans very well.


    With its own efforts, it had almost created a sanctuary where everyone was happy.


    It also restricted those true non-gifted beings who could live and establish a new civilization in the mining area.


    Intoxicated by its achievements, Zhuo He felt increasingly blissful.


    But these days had been troublesome; it had been receiving emails from the Song Family of the first fortress.


    Zhuo He checked the calendar. Song Que should have been thoroughly dead by this afternoon.


    It was planning how to fabricate the news of Song Que''s death.


    At this moment, its gaze suddenly fell on a certain spot among the dozens of surveillance screens. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    The image on the screen made Zhuo He doubt its own eyes.


    It widened its eyes and replayed the footage.


    The guards on the fifth layer had been knocked down.


    Those guards were among the more potent of the gifted, yet in less than a second, about ten of them had all fallen to the ground.


    Zhuo He wasn''t panicked; after all, no matter how strong humans are, how could they face itself, a catastrophe-level being?


    But how had these people arrived?


    It was personally responsible for visas and did not remember approving these three. There hadn''t been any foreigners visiting the fortress in the past few days.


    Zhuo He watched the surveillance video footage, and at this time, the man in the video seemed to know he was being watched.


    The man cocked his head, his eyes looking straight at the surveillance camera.


    Zhuo He suddenly felt a chill.


    The man politely smiled at the camera and even waved his hand.

 Chapter 52 Order and the Court

    The three individuals in the surveillance video displayed formidable strength, a level of power that ordinary humans within the Pyramid should not possess.


    Could these three be from the Evolution Zone? That place does indeed have a collaborative relationship with the Court, but how did they get in?


    In the human world, humans are the weakest beings, yet Zhuo He still felt uneasy.


    He couldn''t comprehend it.


    He remembered some faces, such as the lords of several major fortresses.


    Yune Moru, Li Wanye, Song Gengzhao, and so on.


    He also remembered younger generations like Song Que, but more often than not, he was unaware of other information.


    Even during the federal combat meetings of the thirty-nine fortresses, he never left this fortress.


    He chose to participate remotely.


    While it was possible to contact the outside world from the sixth floor, Zhuo He held the control, and to ensure the secrets of the holy land fortress were not exposed, the isolation of information caused Zhuo He to miss many critical pieces of information.


    He was loyal to the Court, but power made Zhuo He more immersed in playing the role of a lord who could bring happiness to others.


    Especially after wearing the Lord''s ring, Zhuo He became aware of some of the Order''s secrets.


    Zhuo He had no intention of sharing these secrets with the Court.


    He believed other lords would not exchange the secrets they had gained either, at most passing the secret on to their next generation, naturally, just before their own death.


    All in all, for various reasons, Zhuo He, while keeping secrets, also lost some intelligence.


    For instance, he did not recognize the face of Tang Xian.


    He had also remained ignorant of several incidents that had occurred in the thirty-nine fortresses.


    The so-called holy land fortress seemed more like an isolated island.


    This island had beautiful rumors that attracted others to visit, but it was also mysterious and dangerous.


    The entire sixth floor of the holy land fortress seemed empty.


    There weren''t many people; the guards had already assembled on the streets, prepared to apprehend the invaders.


    But these guards were scarce, less than a hundred in number, and they were not as well equipped as the top fortresses like the thirty-nine fortresses.


    The strongest defense the holy land fortress relied on was the Lord himself.


    Zhuo He did not think these guards could hold back; he stood up, ready to confront the enemy proactively.


    But just as he stepped out of the office building where he had been staying, an oppressive force that left him breathless came over him.


    Zhuo He shivered.


    His pupils dilated instantly.


    A sense of fear crawled over his body in an instant, like tens of thousands of ants scuttling across his skin.


    He turned his head incredulously to look into the distance.


    "What''s going on? Why is there a pressure unique to high-order beasts?"


    Zhuo He had not returned to the mining area for a long time, and within the Pyramid, he was the amiable Lord Zhuo. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was also the supreme deity of this very Pyramid.


    He could not imagine that two orange-ranked creatures had passed through the portal and come to the human world.


    Any such being could mount an extinction-level attack on a Pyramid.


    Nor could any calamity-level creature muster the will to fight after seeing both the Azure Dragon and the Demon Fox at the same time.


    Without any hesitation, Zhuo He turned and ran.


    ...


    ... Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    On his way, Tang Xian saw many interesting phenomena in the holy land fortress.


    Heaven, holy land, paradise.


    If one ignored the absolute exploitation of the people in the abyss, this place indeed could be described with the most beautiful words.


    The scenery on the sixth floor was starkly different from the previous five.


    As a crystal beast, Zhuo He liked an open nest.


    Therefore, the buildings on the sixth floor were sparse, enormous, open, and quiet.


    Tang Xian had to admit that Zhuo He changed his view of beasts.


    This huge fortress might not lack people with outstanding wisdom, but as it turned out, ruling over humans did not require much intelligence.


    It was like a game; knowing the rules was enough.


    "You two go and hold back Zhuo He; I''ll deal with the guards," Tang Xian said.


    "This grand one alone is more than enough; there''s no need for the assistance of that bereaved fox," Tang Feiji snorted coldly.


    Qing JiuYu smiled like a blooming flower, thinking how wonderful it was not to feel grateful to that stupid dragon anymore.


    She''d have to take a good ride on it when she got back.


    "The Beasts'' Court should have no reason not to be able to lift the restrictions on the seventh and eighth floors; they have countless Soul Crystals of creatures in their hands.


    If that is the condition set by the Order to unlock new levels, then it is very likely that Zhuo He will open a new level.


    So don''t delay, both of you together, restrain him in the shortest time; I have some questions to ask."


    With a flash of their forms, Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji left the nearly one hundred guards unable to see clearly what was happening as a gust of wind swept through, causing their defensive line to become utterly chaotic.


    Tang Xian''s concerns were justified.


    To avoid drawing attention, the Court might keep the fortresses it occupied at an appropriate level, rather than relentlessly unlocking new ones.


    Of course, unlocking new levels might also be disadvantageous to the Court.


    Tang Xian was uncertain about what was on the ninth floor, and what was on the tenth.


    But if the condition to unlock levels was the Soul Crystals of beasts, then this holy land fortress, with the assistance of the Court, should have enough Soul Crystals.


    It might even reach the top of the Pyramid.


    But they might not dare to awaken an Orderer.


    This was just a speculation of Tang Xian; maybe at the top of the Pyramid, there would be one or several Orderers?


    A sudden barrage of gunfire interrupted Tang Xian''s thoughts. Feeling a slight pain, Tang Xian, under the dumbfounded gaze of a group of human guards, performed a scene that only appeared in superhero movies.


    Of course, to these human guards, Tang Xian was probably a supervillain.

 Chapter 52 Order and the Court_2

    ```


    The guard was yet another one knocked unconscious by Tang Xian.


    In the control of his strength, Tang Xian was certain he had reached a state of consummate skill.


    Compared to humans, the Snake Form granted him explosive power, while his achievements as the Paragon and Adversary of Thousands gifted him with unlimited defense and formidable offensive capabilities.


    After the saintly domain''s incident was thoroughly resolved, perhaps it was time to learn some combat techniques from Song Que.


    As Tang Xian made such plans, nearly a hundred guards were unknowingly reduced to half, and the remaining ones surrendered after a certain sudden accident.


    Zhuo He continued to flee towards the entrance to the seventh layer; its speed was not slow, but neither Qing JiuYu nor Tang Feiji, even in their human forms, were quicker.


    In this situation, Zhuo He finally revealed its true body, its sapphire-like wings flapping, rapidly increasing its speed.


    It indeed intended to unlock the seventh layer''s fortress.


    The upper echelons of the Myriad Beasts Tribunal did have quite a few Soul Crystal reserves. It crammed all those Soul Crystals into a prop bag.


    But before it could escape to the level passage, it was impaled through its wings by an ice spike from Tang Feiji.


    Zhuo He could no longer move.


    Qing JiuYu had to admit, although this foolish dragon was arrogant and impolite, it was indeed powerful.


    As an Orange Rank existence among the divine beasts, it was an insurmountable entity for the vast majority of creatures.


    A fox and a dragon leapt lightly, arriving beside Zhuo He.


    "Despicable lost fox, let me tell you a secret," Tang Feiji said.


    Qing JiuYu disdainfully said,


    "Little Feiji, if you want to tell big sister that Tang Xian doesn''t eat creatures that can transform into humans, big sister already knows."


    Tang Feiji was stunned, like a suddenly surprised Husky.


    After all, he had always believed it was a major discovery that only he knew about.


    Qing JiuYu shook her head, thinking forget it, she wouldn''t argue with a being who, despite living for hundreds of years, had the mind of a child.


    "What a pity! The bird meat must have tasted good," Tang Feiji''s thoughts quickly returned to food.


    At this moment, Tang Xian also arrived unhurriedly.


    He didn''t hear what Tang Feiji said, but seeing Tang Feiji''s expression, Tang Xian said,


    "Although I don''t eat it, I can help with the cooking, if you''d like. Monkey brains, crane meat, whatever you want, as a reward for your exceptional performance today."


    Tang Feiji was overjoyed.


    Naturally, Tang Xian said this to intimidate Zhuo He.


    Zhuo He was like a prisoner nailed to the execution rack, painfully sizing up the three of them.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu, saying, S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "See, myriad beasts can get along quite well with humans."


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian strangely. This man''s thought process was really odd; was that really the first thing he thought of?


    Tang Xian said,


    "In the Human World, people respect a myriad beast, even letting a myriad beast lead. Although this myriad beast has its secrets, it has indeed proven one thing: myriad beasts that can transform into humans can coexist peacefully with humans."


    "Of course, we must eliminate any adversarial stance. The beast pack that Yu will lead in the future, the humans who Song Que will lead, might truly coexist peacefully in Baichuan City."


    "You''re thinking too far ahead."


    "I always have to find something to do."


    Tang Xian looked towards Zhuo He.


    [Who the hell are you!]


    "Looks like among the turtle, crane, and flood dragon, the turtle must have the highest IQ. I''ve got a question for you, don''t be nervous, it doesn''t concern you. Can the Endless Turtle transform into a human?"


    Zhuo He looked at Tang Xian strangely. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    Wondering what the young man was scheming.


    Seeing that Zhuo He did not respond, Tang Xian thought perhaps the wing being penetrated by the ice spike had also jammed his thought process.


    "Tang Feiji, could you please do me a favor and help the Crystal Crane break its wings off?"


    It was time for Tang Xian''s devilish interrogation again, and Tang Feiji was only too happy to be ordered about at this time.


    The thrill of tearing off chicken wings surged through him as Tang Feiji, with his immense strength, tore off the Crystal Crane''s sapphire-like wings cleanly.


    The painful cry of the crane echoed across the sixth layer.


    Its body also collapsed to the ground, landing right in front of Tang Xian.


    Purple light flashed in Tang Xian''s eyes, and his whole body was suddenly enveloped in a layer of faint purple mist.


    Then this mist surged at great speed into Zhuo He''s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.


    Zhuo He tried to resist, to dodge away from the poison mist-like substance, but its body was firmly pinned down by Tang Feiji''s foot.


    [This... this is Lord Epidemic''s...]


    "Yes, the epidemic''s poison mist. I don''t know its effects since the prompt in my sea of consciousness says it triggers unknown negative effects."


    Fear was written all over Zhuo He''s pupils.


    ```


    Tang Xian''s expression remained calm, but he was very pleased with the effect inside.


    The source of the epidemic could spew a large amount of toxic fog and venom.


    After its death, Tang Xian obtained one of its abilities, Toxic Fog.


    But the effect was far less lethal than that of the epidemic source.


    If the epidemic''s poison was a violent poison, Tang Xian''s was a slow poison.


    However, Tang Xian was very satisfied with the combination of this ability and his previous ones.


    From s004, Tang Xian had gained the ability to control trajectories.


    From the great Tengu, Tang Xian had acquired the ability of Eclipse.


    Upon initiating Eclipse, in absolute darkness, he would use precise throwing to drive the toxic fog into his opponent''s body in a bizarre trajectory.


    The combination of these three abilities into a lethal assassination skill gave Tang Xian a solid confidence in the battles he would face in the future.


    "It''s okay if you have no wings, you can still be a flightless bird. But now you better work hard to keep your legs. The question you need to answer, can the Endless Turtle transform into a human?"


    [I don''t know! I really don''t know!]


    "Troublesome, I''m very envious of this wandering sorcerer who can condemn people at will."


    "Considering the poison has entered your body, I don''t know what effect it will trigger, but it''s certainly going to be painful.


    I suggest you disclose some valuable information right away, such as how many levels the Soul Crystal in your hand can unlock in the fortress. That way, I might give you an antidote."


    Zhuo He looked at Tang Xian as if he were looking at a devil.


    [The... the eighth layer...]


    Tang Xian nodded, his expression one of regret, showing a high level of candor, unlikely to be false.


    "Next question, what exactly is the relationship between the Myriad Beasts Court and the Orderers? The very top of the Pyramid, do you know what''s there?"


    Zhuo He''s eyes widened at the question, as he had the most unique insight on this.


    [If I tell you... can you spare me?]


    "Of course, I keep my word. As long as you provide sufficiently valuable information, I will spare you."


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji wore expressions that screamed ''I don''t believe you''.


    Zhuo He had no room to negotiate, so it said:


    [The Court and the Orderers used to be adversaries. But after the Orderers invaded the Myriad Beasts Realm, they signed an agreement with the Court...]


    "Continue."


    [The content of the agreement is only known to the Judge, but after the agreement, the Orderers annihilated the Eden forces and also left this world. The Court did not play any significant role in this, and afterward, we began to control the creatures that once followed the Eden forces.]


    Tang Xian was startled.


    Eden''s forces did not represent justice in his subconscious.


    But undoubtedly, this faction had saved the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    Now it seemed, Eden was also a targeted party.


    Tang Xian recalled the letter.


    Written by Jing Jian, the last human on the surface.


    This world had a consciousness of its own that was protecting humanity.


    But humanity had strayed from this world and chose to live inside the Pyramid.


    The previous information was just as crucial.


    Life had returned to the bronze-like terracotta warriors.


    Beasts with three heads.


    He quickly deduced a possibility.


    "Humanity is a resource contended for by two powers. To seize humanity, the Orderers and Myriad Beasts Court waged war in the Human World.


    But the rise of Eden''s forces almost caused the Myriad Beasts Court to lose their foothold.


    Perhaps it was this that the Orderers realized, leading the warring parties to strike a deal, with the Orderers wiping out Eden''s forces.


    The Myriad Beasts Court, in turn, withdrew from the division of the Human World. To be precise, it was the division over humanity.


    Therefore, thereafter, the Court''s task was to become the king''s court of the beasts, consolidating its influence in the mining area.


    As for the Orderers... having suffered heavy losses from defeating Eden''s forces, but they secured all of humanity."


    As Tang Xian was thinking these thoughts, though lacking corroborating evidence, he remembered the scenes he saw when looking at the Pyramid from aboveground.


    It was like looking at gigantic cocoons.


    Humans continuously delivered the power needed by these cocoons.


    Perhaps one day, the terrifying beings inside these cocoons would break out again.


    Tang Xian glanced at Tang Feiji and suddenly thought of the experiment that Li Xiaoyu had conducted at her level; perhaps he could also try it out.


    "What exactly is at the very top of the Pyramid?" Tang Xian asked the final question.

 Chapter 53 The Tower of Order

    Tang Xian added a sentence:


    "Or rather, what exactly are the Orderers?"


    [A kind of mechanical being made from biological materials! It doesn''t possess any signs of life, yet it truly is alive.]


    Zhuo He had spent thirty years in the human world and had come to know quite a few secrets.


    Tang Xian''s heart also stirred with shock and bewilderment as he listened to Zhuo He''s words, furrowing his brows, he asked:


    "So is the top of each Pyramid occupied by some powerful mechanical body? That is, the real Orderers?"


    Zhuo He carefully said:


    [Yes, but also no... These Pyramids are just a trick. The true Orderers do not exist within the Pyramids. The Judgment Knights might just be the ultimate mechanical bodies.]


    "What do you mean?"


    [You must promise not to kill me!]


    "I promise I won''t kill you, but if you continue to digress, I assure you that you will regret my not killing you."


    Zhuo He was once again intimidated by Tang Xian''s gaze and hurriedly said:


    [The Pyramids are like beehives, and each Lord of the Pyramid is like a queen bee, able to control those lifeless Judges.]


    Tang Xian suddenly remembered the day he had been expelled; it was Li Wanye who had commanded the Judgment Knights.


    But now that he thought about it, there was a significant question: what exactly granted Li Wanye the authority to command the Judgment Knights?


    He looked at Zhuo He, convinced that what Zhuo He had just said was true, although Zhuo He most certainly held something back.


    [But the Lords do not know that such authority is incomplete. They are merely temporary masters of these machines.]


    [These mechanical bodies will eventually betray the Lords because their true allegiance lies with another existence, but where that existence has been all these years, I do not know.]


    Zhuo He paused for a moment before continuing:


    [As for what exists within the hierarchy of the Pyramids, apart from the knowledge and revelations left behind by the Orderers, there are some technological means, as well as spaces necessary for human survival.]


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "I already know all this; tell me something I don''t know."


    [The problem lies here. What the Orderers have left to humanity is ultimately only their physical form; we do not know their thoughts and core.]


    "Physical form? Do you mean the Pyramids themselves, or mechanical bodies like the Judgment Knights?"


    [Both. You must believe that at the very top of the Pyramid lies the answer that will unravel all mysteries? Unfortunately, there is nothing. It is not possible for humans to see the Orderers. I am certain of this.]


    "Why are you so sure?"


    [Each Lord receives some revelations.]


    "It has to do with the ring in your hand, doesn''t it?"


    Zhuo He''s face turned pale with shock. He certainly did not expect Tang Xian to guess his secret right away.


    Tang Xian spoke calmly, "It seems I guessed correctly." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Moreover, your expression tells me that, by obtaining this ring, I could probably know what you know, but you need not worry. After all, you''ve pondered these matters for thirty years, and I would like to hear your insights."


    Zhuo He''s eyes immediately showed a defeated look, with Tang Xian giving him an indescribable pressure.


    [This is the revelation the Orderers left for the Lords, and the revelations received by most are the same. But a few fortress Lords receive different revelations, and I am one of them.]


    Tang Xian understood.


    Different fortress Lords receive different revelations, which likely make the Lords aware of this fact.


    So that humanity would devote itself to developing the Pyramids.


    And to prevent humans from uniting too tightly, thereby hastening the progress of civilization beyond control.


    Thus, the Orderers did something that God had done.


    Bible ¡¤ Old Testament ¡¤ Genesis, Chapter 11.


    Humanity united to build the Tower of Babel, a structure reaching towards Heaven. To thwart their plan, Jehovah confused their language, making them unable to communicate with each other, thereby failing their plan, scattering them across the Earth.


    The Orderers were doing the same thing.


    And doing it more covertly. As beings that enslaved humanity, they probably knew well the fearsome potential of this race, but also understood the base nature of human flaws.


    They endowed humanity with a special sense of mission, with glory, and at the same time, seduced them.


    Like The One Ring in Ring King.


    With the revelations left in the rings by the Orderers, the Lords probably believed they were the sole chosen ones among the two hundred plus fortresses.


    Most of these rings were inferior, so many revelations might just be isolated, meaningless phrases, meant to beguile.


    But a few Lords indeed received valuable information.


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    "What revelation did you receive?"


    [In the world of humans, there exists an undiscovered Golden Pyramid, find it, and you will meet the Supreme Authority.]


    [Once you meet the Supreme Authority, you will be granted the supreme authority to control all fortress mechanical bodies.]


    [That''s why I say, humans will not see the Supreme Authority, and their control over Orderer life will also be temporary.]


    Even someone as composed as Tang Xian was shaken by a mere sentence.


    "Another Pyramid? One that has never been discovered?"


    [Yes, but I do not know where it is. Moreover, any flying vehicle that veers a certain distance from this world will trigger the defense alarms of all Pyramids. It''s as if the Orderers do not wish to be found.]


    Tang Xian knew this point; both Song Que and Li Xiaoyu (Yu) had mentioned it.

 Chapter 53 The Tower of Order_2

    ```


    Li Xiaoyu''s initial experiment to test the height of the Pyramid had once triggered an alarm.


    When leaving the Pyramid, Song Que also suffered from the headache of the alarm, but he hadn''t expected Tang Xian to choose to jump directly from the aircraft.


    Tang Xian saw the torn wings of Zhuo He and, within the transparency of sapphire, spotted a ring hidden inside a feather.


    "Transform into human shape."


    Zhuo He thought to itself that it was in trouble; the ring could not be kept safe. But it didn''t dare to disobey Tang Xian''s command.


    Even though the wings had detached from its body, when Zhuo He transformed into human shape, the severed wings became two arms.


    Tang Xian removed the ring from his right index finger.


    Then he put the ring on his own little finger. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Unable to match!]


    The moment the ring was put on, a message suddenly popped up in Tang Xian''s consciousness.


    Tang Xian was somewhat surprised and tried a few more times on different fingers.


    [Unable to match!]


    [Unable to match!]


    ...


    All attempts were unsuccessful.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    "Indeed, there seem to be some secrets in this ring, but it looks like I''ve become the peculiar one."


    Unaccepted by the Order, rejected by all beasts. The only clue, Eden, had been eradicated. Tang Xian wryly smiled.


    This thought made him uncomfortable, but suddenly he had an interesting idea: what revelation would Song Que get if he wore this ring?


    Tang Xian handed the ring to Qing Jiuyu and said,


    "Want to give it a try?"


    Qing Jiuyu and Tang Feiji couldn''t understand the language of the crystal crane and didn''t understand what Tang Xian was talking about.


    However, she naturally liked shiny things and thought the ring was nice, so she put it on her finger.


    The moment the ring was put on, Qing Jiuyu showed a hint of surprise. Her eyes moved as if a multitude of scenes had suddenly appeared.


    Tang Xian looked at Qing Jiuyu and said,


    "Is there anything unusual?"


    "It''s truly magical... I see many messages that I don''t understand in my vision... various matrices..."


    Tang Xian suddenly remembered that Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng, Tang Feiji, although they could speak his language, they couldn''t read the script.


    Which meant that the Order''s ring was made for humans.


    "Anything else?"


    "There''s a voice. It''s speaking in a very monotone manner and generally telling me there''s another fortress in this world. As one favored by fate, I must find the location of that fortress."


    Tang Xian froze, then suddenly realized.


    Indeed, just as the court has the Sacred Mountain.


    It seemed that the Order also had a similar mechanism in place.


    More and more truths surfaced.


    Over two hundred Pyramids, perhaps they were independent entities, but these independents served a whole.


    He now believed that the Order indeed consisted of mechanical life forms.


    Because all this felt like some vast network. Or perhaps a super civilization of an advanced intelligent species?


    "I got it wrong before; the Order isn''t at the very top of these fortresses, it only opens a portion of its authority to the lords of these fortresses."


    "But it seems that the Order doesn''t allow humans to go out in search of the fortress''s location, perhaps there are certain conditions restricting this."


    "If nothing else, it should be the number of mechanical bodies, currently, only one among the thirty-nine fortresses has the Trial Knights."


    Tang Xian''s brain whirred.


    He quickly outlined a plan about the Order''s intentions.


    This was a force nearly wiped out, but it was reviving itself with some unimaginable method.


    Humans would gradually become dependent on mechanical bodies, but eventually, once the mechanical bodies were powerful enough to easily annihilate humans, they would be betrayed by them.


    This was naturally an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, but Tang Xian couldn''t bypass this thought.


    At this moment, Zhuo He suddenly curled up in agony.


    Blood seeped from its eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, looking horrifying beyond measure.


    Tang Xian said,


    "It seems the poison is taking effect."


    [Save me!]


    "Okay."


    Tang Xian stood up and said, "Tang Feiji, kill it."


    "You are a cunning human." Tang Feiji wasn''t surprised by Tang Xian''s order.


    Zhuo He''s blood-red eyes widened and it said,


    [You promised me!]


    "I''ve thought about it, and I''m willing to save you, but I can''t save you, you will die painfully because, unfortunately, there''s no antidote for the plague poison."


    "So, to lessen your suffering, I have to sadly ask my friend to kill you. Go ahead, Tang Feiji."


    Tang Feiji once again broke the enemy''s neck.


    Zhuo He died, gazing at Tang Xian with its eyes wide open until its last breath.


    Qing Jiuyu wasn''t inherently kind-hearted. She watched Tang Xian and became convinced of one thing.


    Tang Xian could risk his life for his friends, and it was a blessing to be his friend.


    On the other hand, being his enemy was an unfortunate affair.


    The orange light flickered in Tang Feiji''s eyes.


    Red veins emerged on his neck, arms, and forehead.


    He seemed to be in pain too, but such pain lasted less than about ten seconds before everything vanished.


    "It seems the Dragon Origin Blood Oath has disappeared?" Tang Xian speculated.


    After breathing heavily for a while, Tang Feiji finally came to his senses:


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    "I''m free, you cunning human."


    "Congratulations, you can go anytime."


    Tang Xian''s tone seemed sincere.


    Even though Tang Feiji had realized over the past few days that this human was a skilled actor, at this moment it seemed that Tang Xian genuinely agreed to let him go.


    Tang Feiji was indecisive.


    "Or you could continue to follow me for a while, until you want to leave? During this process, I''ll provide food, and you''ll protect me. Deal?"


    ```

 Chapter 53 The Tower of Order_3

    After all, those Myriad Beasts Courts¡­ no, the despicable Myriad Beasts Courts are also out to get you. You''re so powerful that I believe you naturally have the energy to protect us."


    Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, finding that he truly understood human nature.


    She whispered,


    "Tang Feiji, the Myriad Beasts Court doesn''t know what Tang Xian looks like, but they do know you, and your days in the Myriad Beasts Realm will be tough."


    "Would I, the grand one, be afraid of the despicable Myriad Beasts Court?"


    "Of course not, but if you face the enemies of the Myriad Beasts Court alone, all you win is a pile of rotten flesh. However, if you follow Tang Xian, what you win is a delicious meal and the favor of the demon children of Eden."


    Tang Feiji nodded unconsciously. Tang Xian had to admit that Qing JiuYu was a good partner, even more in sync than Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan.


    Once Qing JiuYu saw the outcome, she changed the subject and said,


    "Here''s your ring back."


    "Keep it, just don''t lose it."


    "Is this a token of love you gave me?"


    "Don''t overthink it; it was meant for Song Que. You''re just holding on to it for him."


    Qing JiuYu was sure Song Que was a man.


    She steadied her breathing with a smile and said, "Only an idiot would ever fall for you, right?"


    Tang Xian ignored the remark and said,


    "The enemies of the two sanctuaries have finally been eliminated, but now there''s plenty to do."


    ...


    ...


    Over the next three days, Tang Xian acted as the acting lord.


    Being the acting lord of the sanctuary fortress wasn''t troublesome.


    In fact, Zhuo He had very little to do every day.


    Merely issuing symbolic tasks each day was enough.


    The sixth level was completely sealed off, and the guards were trapped by Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu.


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    The sanctuary fortress''s reservoir of mineral sources was extremely rich, enough to last for years.


    Tang Xian believed that even without a lord, this fortress could maintain its shiny and bright appearance for a long time.


    During these three days, Tang Xian got in touch with Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen.


    In fact, these two were the first to notice Song Que''s disappearance.


    Upon receiving the news from Tang Xian, they were greatly surprised.


    Tang Xian didn''t hold back any secrets, speaking as if determined to shock them.


    He told Yu Xiaozhe everything he had discovered.


    To Yu Xiaozhe, it felt like if Tang Xian one day said the world was fake, he wouldn''t even be too shocked about it.


    This man, with a global bounty higher than his own, had first mysteriously become the demon child of Eden.


    Then, he told him that it was possible to survive outside the Pyramid.


    Next, he found out that humans could actually last seven days in the mining area.


    Lastly, he informed him¡ªhe had killed the lord of the sanctuary fortress, and even acted as the lord for a few days. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was unimaginable what it would have been like for the most vicious criminal to occupy the fortress with the best reputation.


    Although a life of cheating didn''t need logic, Yu Xiaozhe believed that Tang Xian''s recent experiences must have been very exciting.


    Upon Tang Xian''s invitation, he brought Lin Sen along with a great number of portable transport rifts to the sanctuary fortress.


    Afterward, Tang Xian, in his role as lord, issued orders for everyone in the sanctuary fortress to assist in crafting portable transport rifts.


    When had Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe ever witnessed such a scene?


    One was a counterfeiter, and the other dealt with black tech, both federal criminals. Coming here was like arriving at their own kingdom.


    They could access any resources they wanted, and everyone, without any animosity, willingly toiled and took orders from them.


    Because these people had no idea what the outside fortresses were like.


    With everyone''s hard work, the production cycle for the portable transport rifts was greatly shortened.


    On the fifth day, Tang Xian left and entrusted all affairs of the sixth level to the two federal fugitives.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen reached the pinnacle of their lives.


    Tang Xian had promised to take five days, and considering the dwindling food reserves of those at the bottom of the pit, he went with Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu to the pit.


    The mining area that day enjoyed the mildness of autumn.


    The sun was bright and sunny, and the azure sky was cloudless.


    Tang Xian was a person with few emotions, but the thought of children like Bell getting to see such a sky¡ª


    Standing at the top of the pit, he suddenly looked forward to it.

 Chapter 54 The New Master of the Holy Fortress

    ```


    The Sanctuary Fortress.


    For thirty years, day in, day out, the Sanctuary Fortress remained tranquil.


    People were somewhat curious why Zhuo He no longer visited the lower levels for inspections.


    But they assumed that to maintain the peace of the fortress, Zhuo He had a lot of matters to attend to.


    People praised the great lord during the peaceful mornings, the lazy afternoons, and the pleasant evenings.


    Yet they had no idea that the sixth level had undergone earth-shaking changes.


    The master forger Yu Xiaozhe was not only skilled at forging documents.


    He was also an expert at voice imitation, disguise, and makeup.


    This was exactly why Lin Sen chose to cooperate with Yu Xiaozhe.


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    The principle was similar to how many ancient college students would fantasize about having a roommate skilled at falsetto, slim, and understanding of cross-dressing.


    In a nutshell, under the cover provided by Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, nothing about the Sanctuary Fortress had been exposed.


    Every day, only a very small number of talented individuals would go to the mines in the public green areas just for show.


    Then, after returning to the fortress, they started a good life of a week without work.


    After all, in this era, mineral sources could not only maintain the power needed for the Pyramid but could also be transformed into various nutritious meal ingredients.


    Everyone was hoping that this kind of life could last until the end of their days.


    Despite the guilt deep inside, what could years of dilution, along with a good life, do to change that guilt?


    In the evenings, when families would go for walks, the streets were at their liveliest.


    As usual, Mrs. Wu was chatting with her neighbors about this and that.


    Lu Chao''an was playing basketball with his son nearby, one of the now rare ball sports.


    Their lives were as regular as if pressed onto carbon paper, repeating each day, monotonously.


    So the moment panic struck, it felt incredibly abrupt.


    The people in this neighborhood would always cast their gaze inadvertently towards the place obscured by the black curtain.


    But tonight, the curtain had vanished.


    The vast black curtain, like the opening of a grand play, was slowly drawn back.


    The first person to see this scene rubbed his eyes.


    He was a doctor who had lived in this neighborhood for twenty-seven years.


    In those twenty-seven years, the doctor had never seen the curtain drawn back at night.


    Conventional thinking first suppressed his astonishment, but in the belated seconds that followed, that surprise burst forth like a compressed spring suddenly losing its pressure¡ª


    and he opened his eyes wide, letting out a cry of alarm.


    A dense crowd of people emerged from the crevice.


    The doctor watched this scene in disbelief.


    Their hair was withered and greasy, filthy, their skin pale, either overlaid with a thick layer of grime or covered with sores from living in a damp environment for years on end.


    They were like boxes left untouched in a corner for decades; with one breath, a disgusting dust was kicked up.


    They wore tattered clothing that, even from a distance, felt like it had mold and damage from years in damp, dark places.


    The pace of the crowd was slow.


    Like refugees from a dark underworld.


    More and more people witnessed this scene.


    The residents of the Sanctuary Fortress stood agape, their eyes bulging, incredulous at what was unfolding.


    The beautiful life of the past thirty years seemed to have dulled their capacity to accept new things.


    People who were chatting just a moment ago were now as if they had lost their souls.


    More people continuously walked out from the pitch-black portal.


    There were even more than a thousand.


    The returnees had various expressions¡ªconfused, joyful, astonished, sad, and angry.


    They also looked at others. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the astonished looks of those around them, observing their bright and shiny clothes, sensing the Pyramid''s air free of foul stench,


    certain forgotten things wriggled out from the shadows and gaps in their memories.


    Up to this moment, the residents of the Sanctuary Fortress had not fully realized what was happening.


    But ultimately, some recognized a few among the returnees, instantly covering their mouths, overwhelmed by complex emotions.


    Mrs. Wu was one of them; the major event she had been sensing all these days had finally come¡ªshe was terrified. When she saw the girl walking at the forefront of the crowd¡ª


    her legs seemed to lose all strength, and she collapsed to the ground, covering her mouth and weeping.


    For nearly four years, Lu Lingyi had given up the thought of returning after the second year.


    She had swept the people who abandoned her to the dustiest corner of her consciousness like clearing away residue.


    But the moment she stepped out of the portal, Lingyi couldn''t help but remember everything again.


    When her grandmother, who had taught her medicine, was swallowed by the foul swamp water, Lingyi thought she had lost the last family member in this world.


    But once her gaze fell on Mrs. Wu, she found it impossible to look away even slightly.


    Watching Mrs. Wu cry in agony was like feeling years of regret and guilt suddenly taking root and sprouting.


    Lu Lingyi thought her heart was cold, but she walked up to Mrs. Wu, and then looked around, spotting her father in the distance, and her brother who was but six years old back then.


    Lingyi smiled, and her smile carried a touch of irony and self-pity.


    ```

 Chapter 54 The New Master of the Holy Fortress_2

    She looked once more at Madam Wu and said calmly,


    "Mother, did you ever consider the possibility that one day I might return?"


    Madam Wu was stunned.


    Just like the dreams she had had these past few days, she saw her daughter''s frail figure and bright eyes.


    And then she found herself unable to say a word.


    Lingyi did not make any irrational moves either.


    It was the same many years ago; her daughter was always the most sensible one¡ªintelligent, independent, with a strong capacity to learn, skilled with her hands, and quick to pick up various tasks.


    The neighbors all envied the Lu Family for having such a daughter.


    By comparison, her son was unruly and naughty, showing little interest in his studies and often causing trouble.


    But he had talent.


    No one would want to cut off the affection they had nurtured for twelve years just because it lacked talent.


    This would be exceedingly cruel for humanity as well. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, the people in this fortress had their own methods of testing for talent.


    The older sister could never understand, how, when she had always been the more sensible one, did their father never smile at her again after taking her and her brother on a trip to the mines one day?


    Subsequently, her mother also began to ignore her.


    Later on, even the neighbors seemed to notice something.


    Her memory was a series of grey images.


    She sat in the yard of her house, not far away were her brother and some other children playing together.


    The adults smiled fondly at the innocence of the children. Only she sat alone in the yard.


    It wasn''t until the day she was exiled that she finally understood¡ªit wasn''t that they didn''t want to play with her.


    It wasn''t that she was too clumsy or ignorant.


    Rather, it was because she... had no future at all.


    Lingyi looked at Madam Wu.


    During the past four years, every time she recalled these memories, she would silently shed tears.


    But today, she did not cry; her tears had long been evaporated by the bright and warm sunshine the moment Tang Xian took her away from the pit.


    Lingyi also did not expect that so many complex emotions, so much resentment, unwillingness and grievance, would eventually turn into a smile:


    "I''ve come to say goodbye. Mother, thank you for bringing me into this world."


    Madam Wu''s entire body shook; the words cut into her heart like a knife.


    ...


    ...


    Just outside the portal was the area that led to the different streets.


    At the junction, the dense crowd began to disperse.


    Tang Xian, Qing JiuYu, and Tang Feiji were the last to come out from the portal.


    A man, a fox, and a dragon stood in front of the portal, which seemed somewhat empty after the crowd had dispersed.


    Qing JiuYu spoke,


    "I''ve done as you instructed, returned to Baichuan City, brought back those portable portal cracks, and set up the return coordinates. In fact, they could have all gone directly back to Baichuan City; why did you have them come here?"


    Tang Feiji was also puzzled. According to what it knew of Tang Xian, he wouldn''t possibly lead this group to annihilate the people within the fortress.


    Tang Xian, uncharacteristically serious, gazed at the mother and daughter in the Lu Family''s courtyard and said,


    "The malady of this fortress doesn''t stem from Zhuo He. Zhuo He is just a triggering poison, but the symptoms have not been alleviated."


    "Actually, everyone in the fortress is suffering from the same disease; it''s just that the people here are particularly severe."


    "So now you''re the doctor of this era? You want to correct this fortress?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "No, the maladies of the soul cannot be treated; they can only heal themselves. What I''m doing is merely out of interest. Besides, the people from the pit deserve an opportunity for revenge, or perhaps... to say goodbye."


    No matter how many tears the people of the sacred fortress shed, they could never wash away the stench from the depths of the pit.


    Tang Xian never considered himself a saint.


    He was very clear on his own identity: an utterly ordinary carnivore.


    Nothing more.


    Saviors, heroes, saints¡ªall have their respective roles in this world.


    But he still wanted to try,


    Allowing those who had survived in the darkest depths and those who had exploited them for thirty years in the land of light to attempt reconciliation once.


    ```


    The process was inevitably brutal, because not everyone could, like Zero, put aside all grievances with a smile.


    It was like a body rotten from head to tail, where removing the decayed flesh brought extreme pain.


    But only after that could the sick body be reborn.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Yu Xiaozhe, Lin Sen, and Tang Xian used their lord''s authority to let everyone in the entire fortress know what had happened.


    The life their abandoned children had been leading for thirty years was no longer a secret of the holy land fortress.


    Even the news of Zhuo He''s death was no longer a secret.


    Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu didn''t really believe these people would give up everything they currently enjoyed out of guilt and remorse.


    Indeed, that was the case.


    After all the residents of the holy land fortress understood what happened, those influenced by Zhuo He began to protest.


    The world had always belonged to those with talents, and this era belonged to them as well.


    They had grown accustomed to thirty years of privilege; wasn''t every fortress the same?


    The most menial physical labor was naturally the duty of these lower non-talented beings.


    Although many considered this rhetoric too harsh, when someone protested, these people didn''t object either.


    Qing JiuYu finally understood that this was indeed a sickness.


    If the fox clan did the same, with six-tailed foxes bullying three-tailed ones and nine-tailed foxes bullying six-tailed ones, she couldn''t even imagine it.


    Besides, humans were a very special group; they spent most of their time not in the Myriad Beasts Realm but in the Pyramid, where there was hardly a big difference between talented and non-talented humans, was there?


    The protests grew.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen were used to all this; after all, they weren''t exactly saintly themselves.


    "What do you plan to do?"


    In Zhuo He''s old office on the sixth level, Yu Xiaozhe, looking at the surveillance screen, asked Tang Xian.


    "Not much. After all, I brought these people to say goodbye. They are now citizens of Baichuan City and will be rebuilding human civilization in the future. They have no time to discuss noble lineage with a bunch of parasites," Tang Xian said calmly.


    "But if this goes on, they will come to the sixth level and riot," Yu Xiaozhe worriedly said.


    "Do you know that in ancient prisons, inmates often protested the unfairness of the jailers with hunger strikes? But the prison managers would comply with their demands by outright refusing to provide food," Tang Xian said.


    "I don''t know. What''s the connection?"


    "This is bargaining psychology. Turn what the other side thinks is their bargaining chip into your own. Cut off the fortress''s power supply and tell them as a lord that the fortress''s mineral reserves are critically low. And these non-talented individuals will be transferred to other fortresses."


    "That''s it?"


    "Yes, that will do. People find it very hard to starve themselves when they can obtain food."


    Tang Xian paused and then continued:


    "The social system of this fortress is thoroughly diseased. What you can do now is to completely disrupt this system.


    When they realize that this closed fortress has only talented people and no non-talented people to order around anymore, they will lower their noble heads and voluntarily pick up the mining pickaxes.


    Healing of the soul can only happen through self-healing, and human nature isn''t just made of inferior traits. You''ll see quite the spectacle."


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    With that, Tang Xian handed the lord''s ring to Yu Xiaozhe.


    Yu Xiaozhe was stunned:


    "What''s this?"


    "From today onwards, you have the highest authority in the holy land fortress. With this, you''re the top dog."


    Yu Xiaozhe still didn''t understand. He took Tang Xian''s ring, fitted it onto his finger, and was instantly astonished.


    "This... this..."


    "Calm down. I originally intended to give it to Song Que, but Qing JiuYu told me that Song Que has been in a coma," Tang Xian said.


    It took a while for Yu Xiaozhe to calm down from his shock:


    "The technology in this ring... it''s probably centuries ahead of ours, isn''t it?"


    "Perhaps it is."


    "You''re giving it to me? I''m an international fugitive, you know. Is this... like stealing a country?"


    Yu Xiaozhe was once again stunned by Tang Xian''s wild idea.


    "You''re an intellectual, an educated man. Can something you do be called theft?"


    Tang Xian didn''t find it inappropriate. In fact, having a Pyramid that provided immense convenience would also be a help for his future endeavors.


    "And who would think that the lord of the holy land fortress, cut off from the network, is a federal criminal?"


    (Now updating every night past midnight, seems pretty good~ It''s so nice to have saved drafts)


    ```

 Chapter 55 The True Glutton Makes a Move

    In the following days, Tang Xian paid no further attention to the affairs of the Sanctuary Stronghold.


    The string of adventures and incidents that arose from the word "Sanctuary" had also come to an end for Tang Xian; he had turned a new page in his life.


    What lay ahead of him were new journeys and stories.


    He led the more than three thousand residents of the pit back to the mining district and then, from there, back to Baichuan City.


    From that day on, the abandoned people of the pits took on new identities.


    No longer were they the disgraced non-Gifted and mine slaves.


    They were the first pioneers of Baichuan City.


    With their help, Tang Xian believed Baichuan City would soon revive its vitality.


    Yu Xiaozhe also accepted Tang Xian''s proposal and began managing the Sanctuary Stronghold.


    Living on the sixth level was an unprecedented experience for Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe.


    But in the coming days, neither of them focused solely on their own situations.


    Yu Xiaozhe marveled at Tang Xian''s foresight for the future.


    Because after Tang Xian led the pioneers of Baichuan City away, everything developed exactly as he had predicted.


    A transformation occurred within the Sanctuary Stronghold.


    Initially, in an atmosphere where most people were unwilling to change their way of life, the few who were willing to work for a better existence succumbed.


    But before long, the Sanctuary Stronghold first lost its electricity.


    A few days later, all the food-grade and medical-grade organic ores in the shops were sold out.


    And without electricity, even if they had ore available, they couldn''t use the boilers to convert it into nutritional meals.


    The gamblers'' chips had become the house''s chips.


    Yu Xiaozhe in fact knew that thanks to the efforts of those at the bottom of the pit, the Sanctuary Stronghold actually had enough ore reserves to last for many years.


    But no lord would reveal this data, which could diminish people''s desire to work.


    So the residents of the stronghold''s various levels were unaware. They truly thought their fortress was on the verge of collapse.


    People wanted to leave, and they soon discovered that even the flying vehicles needed inorganic ores as fuel.


    Thus, tormented by hunger and darkness, those who had previously succumbed to the ambiance but truly accepted the idea of working for their survival resources finally raised their voices against the prevailing sentiment.


    Among them was Madam Wu.


    She had originally listened to her husband and prepared to confront the stronghold''s upper echelons, but the gate to the sixth level remained tightly shut. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These Gifted might have had some skills in the mining district, but inside Pyramid, that door rendered them helpless.


    Meaningless resistance was just an irrational waste of time. Ultimately, after their resistance came to nothing, Madam Wu realized that her husband was wrong.


    She began calling for people to work.


    Although some were reluctant, the teleportation gates were one of the few devices that still functioned properly.


    Those who believed in the nobility of the Gifted still thought they deserved to reap the benefits of the labor of the non-Gifted.


    So the residents of the Sanctuary Stronghold finally formed factions.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, heeding Tang Xian''s advice, never showed themselves.


    It was as if they had returned the right to decide and the rules of survival back to the public.


    Everything at the Sanctuary Stronghold was like a microcosm of human society.


    On the sixteenth day, people finally realized that all the ore reserves had been depleted.


    No one would work day and night for them anymore.


    Most of the stronghold''s equipment was paralyzed.


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    The ceiling lights provided illumination only for a limited time.


    The rebels were in a dilemma.


    At this juncture, the group led by Madam Wu and others slowly returned to a semblance of normal life.


    Madam Wu did not starve her son, but she did not hesitate to refuse her husband, Lu Chao''an''s plea.


    Such incidents were happening in many places.


    The pampered nobles began to shift their parasitic focus to the few who were willing to work for themselves.


    But this time, they hit a wall.


    Because although small in numbers, the self-reliant group was still comprised of the Gifted.


    Those who were capable of fending for themselves finally realized how hideous they had been when they exploited the non-Gifted in days past.


    Therefore, they made no concessions and refused to share the ore reserves.


    Within the group led by Madam Wu, an ironclad rule emerged:


    Absolute refusal to give ores to those capable of working.


    This rule effectively severed many familial ties.


    Yu Xiaozhe thought he would witness the most barbaric scene, when humanity''s last fig leaf of decency would be torn away.


    Those accustomed to privileged lives might resort to immoral actions for the sake of ore.


    But contrary to the expectations of Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, things did not deteriorate to such a terrible state.


    The two forces surprisingly began negotiations.


    A new survival system for the stronghold was born on the nineteenth day.


    Humans had not devolved into beasts after all; many years of comfortable, simple life not only had disadvantages, but also elevated people''s cultivation and quality.


    They eventually did not descend into banditry.


    In the end, when they could not contact the outside world or enter the sixth level for help, and simultaneously couldn''t acquire resources for survival, the once dominant group now became the weaker side.


    It was at this time that Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen began their grand action.


    Once people had discussed the new system, the two renowned criminals emerged in a dominant fashion.


    The pair, like gods responding to humanity''s call, brought a sizable and adequate reserve of organic and inorganic ores.

 Chapter 55 The True Glutton Moves Out_2

    ```


    All the equipment that had once failed to function was now operational. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire


    The sanctuary fortress became paradise once again in an instant.


    It was as if God had said let there be light, and there was light.


    Yu Xiaozhe continued to follow the instructions left by Tang Xian.


    Using powerful strength, a new survival system was established.


    One month after the whole incident.


    The sanctuary fortress was reborn. A brand new mining system emerged.


    Based on the fact that everyone in the sanctuary fortress was talented.


    Even if non-talented people were born in the future, they wouldn''t become the main labor force in a short time.


    Therefore, the entire system of the sanctuary fortress no longer had the dual standards for the talented and the non-talented.


    The gateway to the sanctuary, destroyed by the crowd, was like smashing the unbearable past and ushering in a new era.


    The entrance from Myriad Beasts Realm to the Human World was also thus sealed.


    Despite the monumental changes in the sanctuary fortress, one thing remained the same: the information blockade.


    This fortress held information powerful enough to destabilize the world.


    The people within the fortress had also agreed to keep the secrets.


    Yu Xiaozhe finally understood Tang Xian''s words.


    The soul can only heal itself, and human nature isn''t only made of flaws.


    At least in this microcosm of a rising civilization, he saw the better side of humanity.


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, the holy mountain.


    The celestial mountain atop the clouds, with its countless monkeys, showed not the slightest hint of mischief.


    Whether they were walking, foraging, or doing other things, they all behaved like the well-educated humans within the fortress.


    In the depths of the holy mountain was a huge palace.


    Countless high towers stood among the palace, and if a human scholar were to see the style of these structures, the sight of the high towers would surely astound them.


    Even a layman could see the delicate patterns that floated on the surface.


    They resembled the churches built by humans in the mid-sixteenth century.


    Only grander, these cleverly designed buildings, even if placed during the Renaissance, would still be considered a marvel.


    In the depths of the palace was where the judges of the Myriad Beasts Court resided.


    Yet even the monkeys that lived here had never seen this judge.


    They still revered the judge.


    Because the pressure exuded by the judge, stemming from deep within the Soul Crystal, was more formidable than that of any Judgment Chief.


    The monkeys believed that there was no being in the entire Myriad Beasts Realm that could stand against the judge.


    But for hundreds of years, the judge had never emerged from the depths of the palace on the holy mountain.


    This day on the holy mountain was not a peaceful one.


    The Xuan Bird was watching the old turtle swim slowly in a mountain stream.


    A young Long-eared Ancient Monkey served as the translator.


    [Lord Xuan Bird would like to ask something of Lord Endless Turtle.]


    [Speak, then.]


    The thing the young ancient monkey liked least was talking with Lord Endless Turtle.


    Because it spoke so slowly.


    The Xuan Bird, its body seemingly ablaze with blue flames, let out a bizarre chirp.


    The Long-eared Ancient Monkey said,


    [Lord Xuan Bird needs to know where Lord Qiongqi has gone.]


    [Allow, me, to, calculate, a, bit.]


    It took Endless Turtle about fifteen seconds to say five words.


    The ancient monkey thought to itself that luckily Lord Xuan Bird was not Lord Qiongqi, or else Lord Endless Turtle might dive into the holy spring again and not dare to emerge.


    After several minutes, Endless Turtle finally spoke slowly, revealing a location:


    [The, Hungry, Sea.]


    Once Xuan Bird got the answer, it didn''t hesitate, not wanting to spare another glance at the old, deliberate turtle.


    It wondered how all the creatures of Myriad Beasts came to the holy mountain for divination with such extraordinary patience.


    Flapping its wings, Xuan Bird''s silhouette quickly vanished, leaving the holy mountain.


    The Hungry Sea was located at the easternmost part of the northern continent; it was just a small body of water.


    All kinds of monsters lived in the sea.


    They all shared one trait¡ªthey ate anything and everything, the more they ate, the stronger they became.


    Thus, even the weakest creatures capable of surviving in the Hungry Sea were disaster-level beings, and these creatures were beyond the court''s control.


    Hearing the information given by Endless Turtle, Xuan Bird surmised that Qiongqi probably went to the Hungry Sea to prove itself.


    After all, it always boasted that it was the only predator in this world.


    And it indeed had the qualifications to say such a thing.


    The ancient monkey looked in the direction where Xuan Bird disappeared, thinking about the rumors lately circulating the holy mountain.


    Rumors said that the experimental base in the sanctuary had been destroyed.


    Lord Shiling had been killed last time, and this time both Cinder Dragon and Plague Lord had been killed as well.


    Everything was related to a dragon.


    This dragon had become the biggest threat to the court in the hundreds of years following the twilight of the gods.


    After all, in hundreds of years, the court had never lost three Judgment Chiefs to the same being. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ancient monkey scratched its head, speculating that perhaps Lord Shiling had issued an order for Qiongqi to hunt down that dragon.


    Thinking this, it suddenly felt some pity for the dragon.


    After all, every opponent Qiongqi had faced ended up in its stomach.


    And Qiongqi also possessed the strongest sense of smell in the world; a single trip to the ruins of the sanctuary would allow it to pick up its opponent''s scent.


    No matter where the dragon hid, as long as it remained in this world, one day it would encounter Qiongqi.


    ...


    ...


    About a month after Song Que vanished, although messages from him still arrived from the sanctuary fortress,


    Song Gengzhao had been uneasy these days. Although Song Que had not yet officially become the lord of the First Fortress.


    ```

 Chapter 55 The True Gluttonous Beast Emerges_3

    But staying at other fortresses for dozens of days without returning also left Song Gengzhao feeling baffled.


    It had never happened before.


    He had sent some people to investigate Song Que''s whereabouts and whether he was safe in the Holy Land Fortress, but the fortress had closed the passageway for visitors.


    In Song Gengzhao''s eyes, Song Que was the future of the First Fortress.


    Unlike some of the acquired species in the Evolution Zone, Song Que''s gifts were innate, marking him as a true chosen one.


    Besides, he was extremely gifted in learning ability and physical fitness.


    Everyone hoped nothing would go wrong with such an heir apparent.


    If it were not for the daily phone calls from Song Que, Song Gengzhao would certainly believe that his son had been in an accident.


    It was also because of these daily phone calls that Song Gengzhao had not minded why the Holy Land Fortress had suddenly refused visitors.


    However, on Song Gengzhao''s end, the pressure on the Holy Land Fortress was growing.


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    The people bearing this pressure were naturally Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, Song Que couldn''t possibly contact Song Gengzhao.


    Everything relied on memories from when Yu Xiaozhe and Song Que cooperated, and they used a synthesized voice to respond.


    The two of them were frantic, having to come up with excuses daily that fit Song Que''s identity, aligned with his behavioral logic, and warranted staying at the Holy Land Fortress.


    They also had to discuss for a long time to ensure Song Gengzhao would not detect any flaws.


    Yu Xiaozhe felt that this task was several times more difficult than managing the fortress itself.


    This was definitely a matter of great concern.


    After all, the Holy Land Fortress needed to maintain a low profile and go unnoticed for quite some time.


    But now, Yu Xiaozhe felt that if they delayed for a few more days, Song Gengzhao might personally come to the Holy Land Fortress.


    The biggest trouble, of course, was still Song Que.


    In a sense, Tang Xian was still in this world.


    However, it was hard to make contact with Baichuan City and the Pyramid.


    All they knew was that Song Que had done something incredible, but at a great price.


    Whether Song Que was dead or alive, they were not clear.


    The only one who knew was Tang Xian.


    After the previous rebellion in the Holy Land Fortress ended and new rules were established, Qing JiuYu, the only one who could contact Tang Xian, also returned to Baichuan City.


    The situation was becoming increasingly urgent, and Song Gengzhao was not a fool; Yu Xiaozhe knew he could not keep the secret much longer.


    He had no choice but to visit Tang Xian in March Marsh.


    That was the message Tang Xian left before he departed¡ªthe new mining outpost was in a small building in the heart of March Marsh''s lake.


    There, they would surely find a way to contact him.


    After spending several days, Yu Xiaozhe finally arrived at the small building in the heart of March Marsh without incident.


    He did not see Tang Xian.


    But Tang Xian had anticipated Yu Xiaozhe''s visit and made preparations in advance.


    In the living room of the small lakeside building, there was a portable teleportation rift.


    Yu Xiaozhe had no choice but to head to Baichuan City to investigate.


    It had been more than a month since Tang Xian led over three thousand non-gifted individuals to Baichuan City.


    Yu Xiaozhe was also curious about the changes that had taken place in Baichuan City over that month.


    Although he had never been there, he could imagine that a city stranded for hundreds of years, if not a ruin, would be difficult to inhabit.


    But when he stepped out of the teleportation rift and appeared exactly at the reborn Baichuan City¡ª


    This impression was completely overturned.


    (Yingyingying, asking for monthly tickets, I promise to use up all the manuscripts on this Friday and have a super burst of updates.)

 Chapter 56 Baichuan City with a population of 3000

    When Yu Xiaozhe emerged from the crack, he found himself in the commercial district where Tang Xian was.


    Only a few passersby were present on the street, who looked at Yu Xiaozhe curiously; soon after, they resumed their own activities.


    The workload to repair a city was immense.


    However, what Yu Xiaozhe didn''t expect was the high degree of integrity of Baichuan City.


    He had thought that the human world would be nothing more than an old site, a desolate ruin.


    Having experienced multiple fortress migrations, Yu Xiaozhe had seen the former world of humanity several times.


    But he truly hadn''t anticipated that, in some corner of this world, far from the Pyramid, there could exist such a complete city.


    The few people nearby were older, busy sweeping the streets.


    Most of the shops were tidied up, but they were closed, with signs indicating they were ''To Be Allocated''.


    Glancing down the block, Yu Xiaozhe saw that nearly ninety percent of the shops bore signs for ''Allocation Pending'' or ''Organization Pending''.


    He walked slowly, not knowing where Tang Xian and the others lived.


    He was simply curious about the city and wanted to look around.


    Occasionally, he would encounter two or three people with guard badges patrolling the streets.


    There were also a very few opened shops.


    First came the market.


    A few hundred meters east from the end of the commercial street, Yu Xiaozhe came upon the vegetable market.


    It was mostly meat from various animals. Next to the market was the slaughterhouse, where animals hunted down were stored in a massive ice cellar.


    Such a freezing chamber could not be the work of little cats like Tang Bingxiang.


    This ice was the handiwork of Tang Feiji.


    But Tang Feiji was not here at the moment.


    In the mining area, beasts and humans lived together, an achievement Tang Xian had truly managed to bring about.


    It was as though a city that mainly embraced technology was also home to magic creatures.


    In the market, Yu Xiaozhe finally saw quite a few humans, roughly a hundred or more.


    He watched for a while and discovered that the people here actually used a form of currency for their transactions.


    The currency looked crude, and as a master of forgery, he was familiar with various existing currencies.


    Yu Xiaozhe guessed that this must be a temporary form of currency. Perhaps a higher-grade currency was still being produced.


    "This is truly incredible."


    Beyond the market, Yu Xiaozhe also saw some goods stores.


    The civilization in this place was rather backward, and the items in the shops were not modernized.


    For instance, in a shop named "Tang''s Hand Knitting Shop," the merchandise was all made of woven trinkets from various weeds.


    Sometimes fourteen or fifteen-year-old children would patronize the shop.


    Of course, there were practical items too, with life essentials made out of bamboo and grass weavings that seemed to be of decent quality.


    The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman in her forties with mobility difficulties.


    Her business wasn''t bleak, but it couldn''t be described as thriving either, especially since Baichuan City only had just over three thousand people.


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t see any clothing stores but did notice a clothing cleaning shop.


    That puzzled him a bit, for among the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, the issues with food and shelter seemed resolved. The meat could come from the outskirts of the city.


    Perhaps there were also many animals beyond the perimeter.


    But where did the clothing come from?


    His initial glimpse of Baichuan City gave Yu Xiaozhe a sense of stepping back into the Middle Ages.


    Although these buildings were ancient in style, hailing from hundreds of years ago, they could also be deemed nearly modern.


    Baichuan City was very large, its area far exceeding that of a single level of the Pyramid, even slightly bigger than the sum of seven levels of the Pyramid.


    Without any vehicles at his disposal, it would take Yu Xiaozhe a long time to fully understand the city.


    Considering that Tang Xian wouldn''t likely have him appear in a place far from him,


    Yu Xiaozhe asked some locals for information.


    "Are you looking for Lord Tang Xian?" the pedestrian, a teenager, asked enthusiastically.


    "Has his title already been upgraded to Lord Tang Xian?"


    Yu Xiaozhe thought about the fortress he received from Tang Xian.


    Although Song Que may no longer return, causing the fortress to potentially fall, Tang Xian''s position as the mayor of Baichuan City seemed secure, didn''t it?


    "We don''t know what Lord Tang Xian is busy with, but he sometimes appears in Lord Liu Lang''s tool shop."


    "Liu Lang? Where is that?"


    Yu Xiaozhe heard another familiar name. As for the changes in Baichuan City and what it lacked, he believed Tang Xian would be much more aware.


    Since he was here, he naturally wanted to lend a hand.


    Someday in the future¡­ he and Lin Sen might also need to come here.


    Having obtained the location of Liu Lang''s tool shop, Yu Xiaozhe began to walk back, and in the square on the north side of the commercial street, he found Liu Lang''s tool shop.


    A surprising queue had formed outside the tool shop, even more than the number of people he had seen in the market.


    Liu Lang was inside, helping people assemble some work machinery and equipment. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the absence of large construction machines, the means by which people built structures relied on sheer manpower and some simple principle tools that seemed primitive but could significantly save time. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    And that was what Liu Lang did.


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t delay and stepped forward; Liu Lang noticed him instantly.


    There was a period when Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop at the thirty-ninth fortress was the base for Song Que, Tang Xian, Lin Sen, and Yu Xiaozhe.


    The four had conversed several times, and Liu Lang remembered Yu Xiaozhe as a formidable character who had provided considerable help in all aspects to Tang Xian.

 Chapter 56 Baichuan City with a Population of 3000_2

    "You also came to Baichuan City?" Liu Lang set aside his work and greeted warmly.


    "Just stopping by to see, and I have something I need Tang Xian''s help with. Business wasn''t even this good at the Pyramid, right?" Seeing Liu Lang made Yu Xiaozhe quite happy.


    "You got that right, and it''s not just me who''s busy. Everyone''s hard at work. Tang Xian came by here once today and later went to the library. He''s been waiting for you these past few days. I can''t get away because I''m too busy, so I''ll have Buding take you to him."


    "Waiting for me?" Yu Xiaozhe became even more puzzled.


    After saying that, Liu Lang called out twice, and Liu Buding poked his little head out from the back door of the shop. Understanding the situation, he happily led Yu Xiaozhe to see Tang Xian.


    Yu Xiaozhe was still somewhat bewildered, and asked on the way:


    "Why do you seem so happy about this?"


    "Tang Xian said that as soon as you arrive, we''ll quickly be able to solve the city''s problem of having no electricity."


    Yu Xiaozhe suddenly felt like he had been set up.


    ...


    ...


    Over the past month, Tang Xian hadn''t been very busy. Even though everyone else was. However, he ultimately lived up to the ''leisure'' in his name.


    Because Li Xiaoyu truly possessed talent in management, in this regard, she displayed an overwhelming intellectual superiority.


    So much so that Tang Xian felt it would be appropriate to create an intelligence unit of measurement named after her to describe highly intelligent groups.


    After calculations on Tang Xian''s part, one Yu equated to approximately 7.5 Dongs.


    The various pressing matters of Baichuan City, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, the source of various goods, pricing, currency production, some market rules, the currently available jobs, the ratio of guards to production workers, and a whole series of things like housing distribution and household registration systems.


    With the diligent efforts of Li Xiaoyu, this painstaking series of city planning and management tasks had all received a highly detailed and thorough arrangement and planning.


    When Tang Xian arrived at Baichuan City with over three thousand people, even though the scale had stunned a few girls, Li Xiaoyu''s originally formulated series of measures quickly came in handy.


    In just a few short days, Li Xiaoyu had allocated the people properly. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If anyone was most qualified to be the mayor of Baichuan City, it would probably be Li Xiaoyu.


    That''s because by comparison, Tang Xian did very little. Even Qiao Shanshan, who was a doctor, was busier than Tang Xian.


    In Tang Xian''s own words: I''m so frail.


    His greatest interest was naturally in cooking various kinds of meat.


    Hunting on the outskirts with Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu was what Tang Xian did most.


    Of course, the reconstruction of Baichuan City also encountered many problems.


    With the telekinesis of Pyramids like Tang Suoye and Akasi who could work like a thousand men alone, the repair of the buildings progressed swiftly.


    Especially with the telekinetic combination of the Pyramids and Tang Suoye, the construction of the entire city was completed at an almost wicked speed.


    But Baichuan City still had no electricity. Moreover, it was severely short of technical personnel related to industry.


    The initial over three thousand citizens of Baichuan City were mostly from the lower strata, and there were hardly any among them who had been educated.


    Before even entering the third layer of learning, they had been sent to the pit mines to start a life of mining slavery, so naturally, it was impossible to expect them to master advanced techniques.


    In Tang Xian''s view, these people were currently just ordinary labor.


    To solve this problem, another institution had to be established.


    An educational institution. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Baichuan City had quite a few vacant universities¡ªthe venues were available, but the content of the textbooks was not applicable.


    Moreover, paper materials were difficult to preserve.


    Assessing who was suitable for what and what they excelled at was also a difficult task.


    Li Xiaoyu couldn''t handle these matters alone, and Tang Xian, the frail contractor, would occasionally help out.


    But even just educating Tang Xiaojiu seemed to Tang Xian like an exhausting task.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s level of Chinese had reached a point where she could even infuriate the ancients.


    So more complex industrial knowledge was something Tang Xian wasn''t sure whether the citizens of Baichuan City would be able to understand.


    The best solution to all these problems wasn''t to start developing talents now.


    It was to directly introduce talents. Not many were needed, a hundred or so would suffice.


    But where to introduce them from was an extremely troublesome problem.


    When Tang Xian thought up to this point, he set his sights on Yu Xiaozhe.


    Liu Buding led Yu Xiaozhe all the way, and Yu Xiaozhe had gotten to understand quite a lot about Baichuan City.


    At the moment, Tang Xian was reading in the library.


    In the vast library, there was only Tang Xian.


    After all, over three thousand people, even non-humans like Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji, had been mobilized by Li Xiaoyu.


    Despite Qing JiuYu feeling that she at least had the status of a female host, when it came to managing the city, Tang Xian had strict requirements.


    Everyone was to follow Li Xiaoyu''s orders, or else they wouldn''t be fed.


    To the members of the Sheng Tang Squad, not being fed was indeed a kind of punishment.


    In any case, now in this city, the only one who could casually read in the library during the day was Tang Xian.


    He was holding a hardcover edition of "Bogus French Cuisine Cooking Techniques" in his hands.


    Currently, only books of this hardcover edition could still be read; ordinary paper books had corroded to the point of being unreadable.


    What Tang Xian found amusing was that Huaxia''s cuisine was actually very rich, but the dishes displayed on the shelves, whether royal or home-style, were very cheaply priced.


    Meanwhile, the western cuisine cooking book he was holding, despite its recipes not being more complex or creative than Huaxia''s cuisine, could sell for more than six hundred.

 Chapter 56 Baichuan City with a Population of 3000_3

    The units were naturally ancient currency. As for books that didn''t have any collectible value, they were considered very expensive.


    In Western history, it can be known that Westerners highly praised the Eastern culinary culture.


    But while they are both cookbooks, the price difference could be twenty times greater.


    It seems that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, and this mentality was not rare in ancient Huaxia.


    "You''re here," Tang Xian suddenly said when Yu Xiaozhe was a few meters away from him.


    "Do you have eyes on the back of your head?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "Sometimes people should try to train their sense of smell appropriately, which can be the biggest advantage in absolute darkness."


    Yu Xiaozhe shrugged his shoulders.


    After delivering Yu Xiaozhe to the library, Liu Buding didn''t leave immediately. She looked at the book in Tang Xian''s hand and asked:


    "Will you cook the dishes in the book for me?"


    "If you''re as diligent as Liu Lang, I might consider inviting you to dinner at my home tonight," he replied.


    "But you''re pretty lazy yourself," she retorted. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then make your own food," he suggested.


    "I''m off to get busy," she said.


    Liu Buding left with light steps.


    After sending the girl away, Tang Xian spoke:


    "Song Gengzhao must be having trouble holding things down by now, right?"


    Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t surprised that Tang Xian had guessed it and said with a wry smile:


    "Since you know, hurry up and let Song Que go back."


    "Song Que can''t go back for now."


    "What do you mean?"


    "He did something incredible, which can''t be explained by current science. In any case, Song Que is still unconscious, very weak, but he has been slowly recovering. To wake up it might take another two days."


    Tang Xian closed the book, believing that Tang Xiaojiu definitely would not like the culinary dishes prepared by Michelin-starred chefs as depicted in the book.


    Because a single serving wouldn''t be enough for a single bite of hers. However, Li Xiaoyu and Qiao Shanshan might like them.


    But for a growing child, their preferences must be accommodated.


    Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Yu Xiaozhe, seeing Tang Xian picking out cookbooks with an unfazed expression, said anxiously:


    "How are we going to deal with Song Gengzhao then? If Song Que can''t return, he will surely trouble the Holy Land''s fortress, and that will become big international news! How do we solve this problem? It''s making me want to go bald."


    Tang Xian looked at Yu Xiaozhe with interest and said:


    "Congratulations, you''ve become the chosen one."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "The Bible records those without hair as the chosen ones, and Prophet Elisha is one of them.


    In The Old Testament, there is a record of children mocking Elisha''s baldness as he walked along, and the prophet cursed the children in the name of Jehovah.


    As a result, two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled the children to death."


    Yu Xiaozhe remarked:


    "Isn''t that a bit too cruel? Wait, I don''t have time to listen to your storytelling right now; I just want to know how to deal with Song Gengzhao."


    Tang Xian, still unhurried, took out a copy of Commoner''s Home Cooking and flipped through it, saying:


    "I''m just telling you that although it sounds cruel, the point is¡ª


    God did not solve Elisha''s baldness problem but instead dealt with those who mocked his baldness. This shows that even immortals can''t solve hair loss. Zhe, cherish what you have and be strong."


    With that, Tang Xian patted Yu Xiaozhe on the shoulder with one hand.


    Just as Yu Xiaozhe was about to lose his temper, Tang Xian pulled out a bead.


    The purple luster immediately dissipated Yu Xiaozhe''s displeasure.


    "What is this...?" he inquired.


    "Even though humans have now mastered the production of judgment knights, the idea of hunting down a calamity-level boss creature in a short time is virtually a pipe dream."


    "What do you mean?"


    "No one would fight against their own interests. Song Que stays with me to recuperate, and you''ll be receiving Soul Crystals from calamity-level creatures regularly.


    You, posing as Song Que, will tell Song Gengzhao that currently you are hunting some calamity-level creatures, planning to upgrade the first fortress to level eight."


    Tang Xian paused and continued:


    "After hearing this, Song Gengzhao won''t press any further.


    Alright, your trouble is taken care of, now it''s your turn to help me.

 Chapter 57 Serving Food to Li Xiaoyu

    Yu Xiaozhe took the Soul Crystal from Tang Xian''s hand, and with Lincoln Fortress just one cataclysmic boss Soul Crystal shy, the value of this Soul Crystal was practically priceless.


    He said in shock, "You really are generous with your offerings... This indeed is the treasure that can eliminate Song Gengzhao''s reservations."


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "I know you have a set of printing molds that is extremely close to the real thing; I need a set of those."


    "What else?"


    "Don''t rush; there''s a lot you need to do. During my absence, Baichuan City''s planning has all been up to Li Xiaoyu.


    But there are still many issues to be addressed.


    The first is the issue of electricity, which has been seventy-five percent resolved. For the remaining twenty-five percent, I need seven to ten people skilled in power maintenance, and you will have to pick them from the Sanctuary Fortress."


    Yu Xiaozhe said with difficulty,


    "But what if they don''t want to come?"


    "Bribery can solve everything. If it doesn''t, it just means the profit isn''t high enough, and currently, I''m quite wealthy."


    After Zhuo He''s death, he left behind a pile of Soul Crystals intended for tier development.


    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Among them were more than twenty cataclysmic boss creature Soul Crystals.


    This was a fortune capable of causing world upheaval.


    Tang Xian was confident that he could exchange them for anything that Pyramid possessed and Baichuan City lacked.


    Yu Xiaozhe said, sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "For a city''s power supply, we need a power station. Without grains, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook; even if I gave you the people, there''s nothing I can do..."


    "Before the great catastrophe, humanity had already built fortresses underground. Beneath the subway stations of Baichuan City lies the entrance to an underground fortress.


    Akasi and others have already explored it, and inside there is a plethora of mechanical equipment, including a composite energy power station. But many areas are damaged.


    The overall integrity is only at seventy-five percent, which means it''s severely broken. So, the people I need can repair it, and once they arrive, every problem can be smoothly solved."


    With electricity, numerous devices can be started up, and maybe we won''t be able to unravel the secrets of the great catastrophe, but it will significantly advance the reconstruction of human civilization.


    After a long talk with Tang Xian and learning about a series of his plans, Yu Xiaozhe''s mind was greatly shaken. However, after thinking for a while, he said,


    "If all this really does go according to plan... What do you think the lords of the fortresses would do once they find out?"


    Tang Xian showed no reaction, but it was Yu Xiaozhe himself who was stumped by his question.


    "If the area outside Pyramid not only is livable but also has resources comparable to the mining areas, do you think the fortress lords will take this new world into consideration?"


    "What do you think?" Tang Xian countered Yu Xiaozhe.


    Yu Xiaozhe thought for a long time and unconsciously shook his head.


    Tang Xian said,


    "This place is far away from any Pyramid. And Baichuan City is special. These days, I''ve also gone out to explore the surroundings from other perspectives."


    "It looks like a bird''s nest. The wildly growing plants around the edges have obscured the city''s silhouette,


    as if it was encased in a plant shell. It has a certain degree of concealment. These past days, Tang Feiji and I also explored the cities around us.


    We discovered that only this place has the highest degree of integrity; if a new human civilization were to be established, it could only be here."


    Tang Xian looked at Yu Xiaozhe and said earnestly,


    "Most people won''t give up the power they already have, so Baichuan City will remain a secret for now.


    Given what I understand at the moment, a day might come when something will truly change the world''s structure, and by then, the Pyramids might not be habitable for humanity.


    At that time, at least Baichuan City will be ready."


    "What''s the big event?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "Who knows?"


    Yu Xiaozhe was confused, as Tang Xian did not elaborate further.


    After discussing the supply issues related to the teleportation rifts with Yu Xiaozhe once more, he invited Yu Xiaozhe to dine.


    ...


    ...


    As the city acquired a large number of residents, Li Xiaoyu named the main road in each area.


    The commercial area where Tang Xian was located was named Shengtang Road.


    The residential complex was called Shengtang Garden, which indeed resembled the naming style of ancient real estate companies that Tang Xian was familiar with.


    And the buildings were labeled according to letters such as Building A, Building B.


    Li Xiaoyu''s city planning and management were precise down to each building and each household, which was what Tang Xian was most satisfied with.


    After systematic reorganization of the floors, naturally, every person had their own housing.


    This was the advantage of being among the first batch of residents; if Baichuan City were to be overcrowded in the future, then naturally housing prices would be astronomical.


    And the best floors in the best locations were already selected by Tang Xian and his group.


    Of course, there were also villa areas, some of which still needed to be cleared and repaired.


    These villa areas were also marked by Li Xiaoyu as "to be allocated."


    As for the allocation of personnel in Sheng Tang Residential Complex, it was no longer cramped for beds as before.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Xiaojiu lived together in Unit 902 on the 9th floor of Building A. Tang Suoye and Akasi lived together in Unit 904 on the 9th floor of Building A. Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan lived in Unit 903 on the 9th floor of Building A.


    Tang Feiji lived on the 8th floor, and currently, the entire 8th floor was his.


    Liu Buding and Liu Lang lived in Unit 704 on the 7th floor of Building A.


    And Yuan Wu and Song Que were in Unit 701 on the 7th floor.


    Tang Xian was in Unit 901 on the 9th floor of Building A.


    When Yu Xiaozhe arrived on the 9th floor, he realized everyone was neighbors after a quick glance.

 Chapter 57 Picking Food for Li Xiaoyu_2

    It did feel warm and cozy, and he found himself a bit envious of Tang Xian. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The dinner was held in the living room of Tang Xian''s house.


    There were many people present today.


    Liu Lang and Liu Buding didn''t come to freeload every time, but they were here today, and even Yu Xiaozhe had come.


    The dining table, crowded with people, was especially lively.


    Tang Xian had made a roast whole lamb. Among other dishes were dry-fried beef and white jade fish head soup.


    The joy of a gathering naturally lies in the assembly, and during the reconstruction of Baichuan City, every day there were many interesting things happening.


    Talking about these things over dinner was naturally very entertaining.


    Li Xiaoyu''s attire today was very different from usual. She wore long white stockings on her legs and a pink spaghetti strap dress on top.


    Far from her previous black gothic style, Li Xiaoyu looked like an exquisite doll today and was exceptionally adorable.


    Qing JiuYu also changed into a new outfit, replacing her palace dress with a fiery red long gown, wearing red high heels that exposed her insteps. Whether in modern or ancient attire, Qing JiuYu always had a bewitching appeal.


    Tang Xian was seated between two women, with Li Xiaoyu on his left and Qing JiuYu on his right.


    Qiao Shanshan was next to Li Xiaoyu, and Tang Xiaojiu was next to Qing JiuYu.


    Yu Xiaozhe hadn''t caught the hidden agenda behind the seating arrangement, missing the tense atmosphere from both sides ready to draw swords at each other.


    He had quite a lot he wanted to discuss with Tang Xian, but just as he was about to speak,


    Li Xiaoyu suddenly said,


    "Some people, obviously guests, don''t follow guest etiquette. Hunkering down here and not leaving, are they waiting to turn the tables and take the host''s place?"


    Yu Xiaozhe frowned¡ªwas that directed at him?


    Feeling awkward, he pondered where he might have offended the young lady.


    But then Qing JiuYu suddenly said,


    "In this world, comings and goings are all but visits. Once you get closer, don''t you become the host? Apart from blood relations, who is born acquainted with another?"


    Clang¡ªa silver chopstick hitting the side of a bowl.


    Li Xiaoyu''s eyebrows twitched slightly.


    Qiao Shanshan gently tugged at Li Xiaoyu''s sleeve, signaling her to stay calm.


    Yu Xiaozhe, who happened to catch a glimpse of this, suddenly realized.


    So it wasn''t about him. He remembered some incidents involving Ke Ye from his school years.


    With this in mind, Yu Xiaozhe suddenly grasped the complexity of the seating arrangement. Li Xiaoyu, even before she was of age, had already shown a strong possessiveness over Tang Xian.


    So was this a case of two phoenixes vying for one dragon?


    Looking at the others around him who seemed used to the situation, he couldn''t help but feel some sympathy for Tang Xian.


    It seemed that over the past month, there had been even more intense battles.


    Tang Xian pretended to be oblivious to the subtle fight between the two women.


    He picked up a piece of lamb and placed it in Tang Xiaojiu''s bowl.


    Li Xiaoyu asked with confusion,


    "Why are you giving Xiaojiu food but not me?"


    "You''ve eaten so many papayas and grapefruits from Shang Lu, can I conclude based on data that you''ve stopped growing? But it''s different for children; the more they eat, the more they grow," Tang Xian said calmly.


    pfft.


    Qing JiuYu laughed out loud and, incidentally, puffed out her chest.


    Li Xiaoyu''s chest rose and fell, visibly annoyed.


    Tang Xian glanced at Li Xiaoyu''s heaving chest, certain he hadn''t made a mistake. Li Xiaoyu really hadn''t changed much, and although she was only eighteen, there might still be a chance for a second growth spurt.


    Qiao Shanshan held her forehead, thinking why the young lady had to fall for Tang Xian.


    "Thank you, Brother Tang Xian," said Tang Xiaojiu, her voice muffled as she ate.


    After a moment of thought, not wanting to be at a disadvantage, Li Xiaoyu asserted,


    "You''re hindering Xiaojiu''s growth."


    "How does that make sense?" Tang Xian asked with interest.


    "Xiaojiu and Ye are competitors at the dining table. On average, it takes them between thirty-five and thirty-nine seconds to finish three bowls of food.


    But it took you seven seconds to pick up a piece of lamb for Xiaojiu. In those seven seconds, Xiaojiu''s route to get food had to change because of your action, breaking the rhythm of her eating,


    and out of politeness, Xiaojiu also has to slow down her eating to thank you. That little episode just cost four point one seconds.


    All in all, those few seconds when you gave Xiaojiu food resulted in her losing eleven point four percent of her meal," Li Xiaoyu explained.


    Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaojiu looked at Tang Xian in surprise and said,


    "Brother Tang Xian, you''re hindering my growth."


    After several seconds of silence, Tang Xian nodded at Li Xiaoyu and said,


    "You make a fair point. I''ll get some meat for you and pour you a cup of cappuccino."


    As he spoke, Tang Xian actually served Li Xiaoyu a piece of meat.


    Qing JiuYu was stunned.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Qiao Shanshan shared the same expression, one that questioned their very existence.


    Dong Ran, although she felt as if she was listening to someone talk about the heavens, suddenly thought that perhaps only the young lady could keep up with Tang''s thinking.


    Because the moment these two got serious, they were like two data-driven robots.


    Akasi said,


    "It''s rare to see Tang Xian actually being persuaded. Let''s drink to celebrate."


    Yu Xiaozhe thought, that was indeed true.


    In his memory, Li Xiaoyu had always been unable to do anything about Tang Xian in their sixth school year.


    Li Xiaoyu did not refuse, lifting her glass like a hostess entertaining guests. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian found this interesting too, Li Xiaoyu''s personality had changed quite a bit, but in essence, she was still as smart as she used to be.


    He raised his glass,


    "Alcohol suppresses the electrical conduction of nerve cells and stimulates receptors to reabsorb inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, which can lead to people doing crazier things.

 Chapter 57 Picking Food for Li Xiaoyu_3

    Some people become duller because of it, while others become smarter. Maybe you''re not so smart after you drink."


    Li Xiaoyu pondered thoughtfully.


    Tang Xiaojiu looked at Tang Suoye and asked,


    "So, can you eat more when you drink?"


    "No, you can''t."


    Tang Xiaojiu decided not to drink and continued to eat with gusto. Tang Suoye did the same.


    As everyone clinked glasses, Li Xiaoyu asked, "Are you hoping that when I''m drunk, I''ll be dumber and easier to bully?"


    "You''ve always been easy to bully. If I wanted to bully you, I wouldn''t need to waste this bottle of fine wine that I''ve saved for hundreds of years."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, feeling that Tang Xian made some sense. But it wasn''t that she was easy to bully; it was that she was willing to be bullied by him.


    For instance, the remark about ''not growing up'', if it had come from Liu Lang, then Liu Buding might be frequenting the adult store in the future.


    Li Xiaoyu had a lot of work, and drinking could actually affect her work efficiency.


    But she still drank some. Because after drinking, her little face would turn very red, making her look very cute.


    Especially when she sipped lightly.


    That was what her love strategist Qiao Shanshan had told her.


    Including her outfit for today.


    Since Qing JiuYu had switched into a seductive red dress today,


    Qiao Shanshan thought Li Xiaoyu should also change her traditional image.


    Gothic Lolita might not be Tang Xian''s cup of tea?


    Thinking of how Tang Xian said he liked children like Xiaojiu, Qiao Shanshan decided to give Li Xiaoyu a cute style for once.


    So, for the first time, Li Xiaoyu put on this kind of ultra-thin, white knee-high stockings.


    Even though her figure was petite with not much of a ''scenery'' at her chest, there was still an allure of daintiness and exquisiteness.


    But Tang Xian seemed not to have noticed.


    Qiao Shanshan felt she needed to assist, to suppress Qing JiuYu''s arrogant air.


    "Tang Xian, do you think the second miss looks pretty today?"


    Li Xiaoyu hung her head, her face turning even redder.


    Tang Xian frowned.


    He certainly had noticed that both Qing JiuYu and Li Xiaoyu had changed their outfits today.


    Considering that this behavior might continue for a long time, and that Li Xiaoyu was dressing for him, he said,


    "White stockings do not easily trigger the secretion of dopamine in a man''s brain, instead, serotonin takes the lead. In other words, the desire aroused by white stockings may not be the stockings themselves, but rather that the figure and leg shape just happen to match a man''s aesthetic. So Qiao Shanshan, you suit black stockings because black is slimming, and I''m pretty sure you''ve gained a little weight recently." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Qiao Shanshan was shocked; she just wanted to know if today''s second miss looked cute or not.


    This person actually gave an academic analysis? Who wants to listen to that kind of analysis?


    And what does it mean that she suits black stockings? S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian paused, then continued,


    "But the outfit you chose for Li Xiaoyu, it does have a visionary quality that breaks the norm."


    "Do my legs meet your aesthetic standards?" Li Xiaoyu asked, tilting her head and speaking bluntly.


    "They do, cute," Tang Xian said calmly.


    Li Xiaoyu laughed happily, feeling that Qiao Shanshan was indeed an impressive strategist. Although she didn''t like dressing up too girly herself.


    Qiao Shanshan sulkily began to eat mutton.


    But thinking about her recent weight gain, she switched to picking up vegetables instead.


    Yu Xiaozhe found it quite amusing. Although the meal had its ups and downs, this kind of atmosphere was hard to come by within the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian looked at Yu Xiaozhe and said,


    "Later on, I''ll take you to see the underground fortress, humanity''s last refuge, which houses a massive generator. Go check it out and arrange for the people I want as soon as possible."


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded; this city had opened his eyes today.


    But only when it had power did the city truly come to life.

 Chapter 58 The Underground Fortress

    The one who always ends up washing the dishes after dinner is the one who ate the most.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye were squatting in the kitchen, washing dishes.


    When it came to literature, Tang Xiaojiu''s imagination had exceeded Tang Xian''s expectations to the extent that Tang Xian felt that a separate book could be published titled "Fox''s Eight Prevarications."


    But in learning sign language, Tang Xiaojiu exhibited an astonishing talent.


    In about half a month, Tang Xiaojiu was able to communicate with Tang Suoye.


    Perhaps she really wanted to know what was on Tang Suoye''s mind.


    All the people of Baichuan City were Tang Xiaojiu''s friends, but Tang Bingxiang, Tang Gazi, and Tang Suoye were, in Tang Xiaojiu''s view, the ones she got along with best.


    Of course, Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu would have to be placed in a separate category.


    Akasi and Tang Xian also had not given up on the matter of enabling Tang Suoye to speak again.


    Qiao Shanshan had also checked, but could not find anything wrong.


    Combined with the fact that Yuanwu Arkasi and Tang Suoye both had a deep hatred for the Evolution Zone¡ª


    Tang Xian had already scheduled the eradication of the Evolution Zone.


    However, even Yuanwu did not know the true location of the Evolution Zone''s headquarters.


    As a top experimental subject, Yuanwu''s memory was often in a state of chaos.


    Akasi and Yuanwu got along very harmoniously.


    It was like having another brother worth protecting.


    Both had the exact same hair color and were the best-qualified experimental subjects.


    However, Yuanwu did not possess his own memories.


    He just clung to a name.


    To find the Evolution Zone''s headquarters, Tang Xian could only ask Zhe for help.


    Zhe and Lin Sen were very capable in gathering intelligence, and now that Zhe was the lord of the Pyramid, he had access to many resources.


    Zhe was currently walking with Tang Xian in the subway station, preparing to explore the underground fortress.


    When he saw the huge fortress gate, Zhe exclaimed:


    "The defensive technology of ancient times actually reached such a level?" Zhe said.


    Tang Xian led the way:


    "In fact, if it weren''t for that unknown catastrophe, perhaps, after hundreds of years of development, human technology wouldn''t have been much inferior to that of the Pyramid."


    "If you put it that way... it''s indeed possible," Zhe curiously observed his surroundings.


    He was holding a searchlight, and only with difficulty could he make out the structures of the fortress underground.


    The interior design of the fortress was similar to that of an ancient prison.


    Each room was very small, which was to accommodate as many people as possible.


    Therefore, some of the living areas were communal spaces.


    It was like a tower.


    The first and second floors were residential zones, and the third floor was a communal activity area with shopping malls, sports halls, and dining spaces.


    Then the fourth and fifth floors were residential again, with the sixth floor once more serving as a communal activity area.


    From some of the signs on each level, it was evident that these layers were akin to different areas of a city.


    This was a tower spiraling downwards.


    The closer to the core of the earth one got, the hotter it naturally became. This problem was addressed by massive cooling pumps built into the spiral structure.


    Zhe marveled at the ingenious design of the architecture by the ancients, saying:


    "This bears a clever resemblance to the design of the Pyramid! While it is not as sophisticated or well-manufactured as the Pyramid, it''s like a simplified version. If it had been continuously improved over hundreds of years, perhaps a real underground Pyramid could have been built."


    "Indeed, but humanity chose the heaven-sent Pyramid, abandoning their own designs," Tang Xian said.


    "Perhaps that was unavoidable. According to the records you left behind, at that time the surface was full of mining area creatures and mechanical bodies resembling judgment knights. Many cities were destroyed, and the Pyramid provided shelter for humanity. Once someone entered, the herd mentality would amplify dozens of times in the face of disaster."


    Zhe could understand such betrayal.


    Tang Xian nodded, acknowledging the sense in Zhe''s words.


    In such an environment, the discourse of Jing Jian might indeed have been difficult to persuade.


    He led Zhe to the fifteenth floor. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike the cycle of residential and activity areas on the previous floors, from the fifteenth to the seventeenth floor, was the core area of the underground fortress.


    The huge power generation facility was there.


    Upon seeing that an entire floor was dedicated to power generation equipment, Zhe once again marveled at the clever design of the ancients in the face of an apocalypse.


    "This power station, from its appearance, while it cannot compare to the energy-mining facilities inside the Pyramid, is sufficient to power this city as long as it can be properly repaired and put back into use."


    The ancient methods of power generation were different from the Pyramid''s energy mining¡ªthey could utilize wind, hydro, nuclear, and solar power. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    The massive power generation equipment beneath Baichuan City was more like a technological intersection, representing the peak of technology of that era.


    "If this city had electricity, much of the data saved in electronic devices could be utilized. Although we don''t know if those devices are still operable, at least some of them should be functional," Zhe said.


    Tang Xian nodded and responded:


    "That''s the reason I wanted you to find people. The Holy Land''s fortress has had it easy for many years; there should still be some people who are adept at academic research. I need around a hundred of these people."


    "That many? It will be costly. These people are the elite of the fortress," Zhe said with a bitter smile.


    "In fact, many people don''t understand why knowledge can change fate, because they don''t know that, although it seems there are many people in the world, only about 0.05% are scientists.


    But this 0.05% of people play a role in advancing the progress of the era amounting to about 40% of the whole of humanity, and this ratio is continually increasing, the reason being that the higher the technology of the current era, the higher the value of these people."

 Chapter 58 The Underground Fortress_2

    "However, what is ironic is that ninety-nine percent of people aren''t aware of their roles; their salaries in ancient times wouldn''t even compare to some actors''."


    Yu Xiaozhe didn''t quite understand what Tang Xian meant.


    Tang Xian, looking at the huge power generation equipment in the distance, continued:


    "Pioneering and revival are different, revival is replicating the successes of the past, and the difficulty and implementation period are much smaller compared to pioneering.


    But in terms of the demand for talent, it''s much greater than in pioneering.


    It''s like in many strategy games, where a race has a fixed technology tree."


    And humanity''s tech tree has been neglected; these geniuses have no place to use their skills within the Pyramid. Because the current technology tree all comes from the Pyramid itself.


    So keeping them within the Pyramid is the same as those ancient people who didn''t recognize their value. The technology that humans have preserved fits better in their own world."


    Yu Xiaozhe quite liked listening to Tang Xian talk about these random topics, and he nodded and said:


    "Alright, I''ll give you as much as I have. Actually, you''re right about one thing. After humans entered the Pyramid, there hasn''t been any major technological advancement.


    All the high technology we have obtained is what was already preserved inside the Pyramid."


    As Yu Xiaozhe said this, he increasingly felt that it had a conspiratorial taste to it.


    Tang Xian said:


    "There was an interesting ancient movie about a purple fat man snapping his fingers to erase half the life in the universe.


    Back then, scholars suggested that although it seemed that only half of the people were lost, if we assume a certain coincidence, and it happened to be the scientists who were lost, civilization might stagnate for hundreds of years.


    Because some technologies are only mastered by a few geniuses, yet these few can change the era.


    The Big Catastrophe was such a snap of the fingers.


    But another interpretation is that, just as humanity was about to step into the realm of gods, the gods destroyed the fruits of human intelligence. It''s kind of interesting."


    "But there are no gods in this world, right?" Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "If there are, I hope they''re edible," Tang Xian shrugged.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    After showing Yu Xiaozhe around the underground bunker, Yu Xiaozhe was ready to leave.


    Before he left, he went to see Song Que. Song Que still hadn''t woken up.


    But his vital signs were increasingly stable, which put Yu Xiaozhe''s mind at ease.


    Although he didn''t know what Song Que had done, from Tang Xian''s words, it seemed to be something incredible.


    Before he left, Tang Xian inquired about Li Xiaoyu''s talent needs.


    So far, Li Xiaoyu had the most say about which job positions were most needed in the city.


    She compiled a list for Yu Xiaozhe.


    After receiving the list, Yu Xiaozhe looked through it and suddenly felt that the two women who were the closest to Tang Xian back in their academy days were both quite unusual.


    One was as silly as they come, foolish to the extreme. The other was smart to the extreme.


    The list detailed various needs, involving fields of study, knowledge, and levels of expertise. It even included talents for portal fracture technology.


    Clearly, Li Xiaoyu had also calculated the Holy Land Fortress, planning to work in "internal and external collaboration" with the fortress long-term.


    Yu Xiaozhe thought that there was a good reason that Baichuan City''s Fortress 39 was able to top the list of more than two hundred fortresses.


    At least Li Xiaoyu had more than enough talent to manage a fortress.


    Once everything was explained clearly, Yu Xiaozhe left.


    Li Xiaoyu, unusually idle today, took a stroll with Tang Xian on the commercial street.


    As they proceeded, pedestrians would nod and greet them from time to time.


    Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu, and Song Que, all three had won the respect of all the citizens of Baichuan City.


    Of course, Akasi, Yuanwu, Tang Feiji, Qiao Shanshan, and the others were the same.


    The Shengtang group''s status in Baichuan City was impressive.


    Tang Xian didn''t like to be the center of too much attention, so he intentionally cultivated Li Xiaoyu to become the future leader of Baichuan City.


    The pace of Li Xiaoyu and Tang Xian was surprisingly in sync.


    The two maintained a distance of one body length as they walked toward the grand library.


    "Actually, I''ve been thinking, when you took me with you in the beginning, was it because you had already planned for today''s events?" Li Xiaoyu said.


    ```


    "Attributing a part of the reasons as all of it, thereby causing disputes, that''s just being a hooligan," Tang Xian said.


    "That makes sense. So, what other reasons are there?"


    "You asked me to take you with me."


    "Then I request you to let Qing JiuYu leave. She clings to you whenever she has time."


    "I''m certain that Qing JiuYu''s fondness for me hasn''t reached a bizarre level of 100+, as a veteran in controlling points, I will oversee and adjust these values on a broader scale."


    "What do you mean?"


    Tang Xian suddenly remembered, although he had explained a part about his own talents and abilities.


    No one knew what his specific talent data was.


    If he told Li Xiaoyu that he could see fondness levels...


    Forget it, not worth trying.


    Because most people''s fondness towards him was quite high.


    For the safety of these people, there was no need to tell Li Xiaoyu; he still had to keep his talent data as his only secret. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having confirmed this, Tang Xian said:


    "I thought that when you sent Dong Ran to watch and protect me, you had a more accurate understanding of the normal relationships between men and women."


    "No, I was just proving to you that I''m broad-minded and not jealous of you being with other women," Li Xiaoyu said seriously.


    Tang Xian responded seriously too:


    "We all know that in front of Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, and Qing JiuYu, your ''broad-mindedness'' can only be ranked in the children''s category, on the same level as Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Suoye.


    Considering the fox clan''s genetics, I think Xiaojiu might slowly surpass you in the coming years. However, congratulations, as for now, you are the most broad-minded one in the children''s category."


    Li Xiaoyu abruptly stopped walking, her face puffing up in anger, but soon she calmed down and said:


    "I sent Dong Ran to follow you, at that time I thought you and I were the most intelligent beings, and some needs were just due to human reproductive instincts. Also, to change the impression that I''m petty and possessive, I decided to give you stuff like pots and pans."


    Tang Xian understood the meaning of these pots and pans and laughed:


    "Then you have no reason to reject Qing JiuYu, even though I don''t have such thoughts towards her."


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    "But I''ve changed," Li Xiaoyu said matter-of-factly.


    "If the purpose of the experiment was to ensure whether you''re interested in mating with anyone, and because of that, to overlook some things I did in the past, then this experiment is over.


    The conclusion of the experiment is that you''re not interested in mating with anyone. Since that is the case, naturally, you can''t expect to forgive me for some of the things I''ve done previously.


    Most importantly, I''ve also self-reflected and found this to be the easiest conclusion to accept. I still don''t like other women getting too close to you, but I''m trying to restrain myself. At least they are all unharmed."


    Li Xiaoyu felt she deserved some praise for her progress.


    Tang Xian looked at Li Xiaoyu''s serious demeanor and laughed:


    "This isn''t called restraint; this is the self-control normal people should have. Besides, being like this is just Qing JiuYu''s nature. I''m sure she has a unique interest in stirring up women''s jealousy and envy, but please remember a basic principle."


    "What principle?"


    "She doesn''t cook, nor does she have the opportunity to learn how to cook."


    They arrived at the library.


    Tang Xian went straight to the area with books on cooking and culinary skills.


    Li Xiaoyu followed, pondering over the basic principle Tang Xian mentioned, her face blushing.


    She just followed Tang Xian and didn''t know what books to look for in the library.


    So, she also came to the cooking and culinary area.


    The bookshelves were filled with cookbooks, but she didn''t know which ones to read; the tasks she performed when assisting Tang Xian were simple.


    Like scaling fish: Tang Xiaojiu usually did it, but when Li Xiaoyu was there, it was her job, which Tang Xian thought was an act of mercy towards the fish.


    Tang Xiaojiu scaling fish was akin to execution by slow slicing.


    But not long after she started flipping through this complete cookbook¡ªLing Yi arrived at the library.


    Breathless, Ling Yi found Tang Xian and said excitedly:


    "Lord Tang Xian, sister Yu, Song Que has woken up."


    Tang Xian was stunned for a moment, then laughed:


    "This Yu Xiaozhe is really unlucky; the moment he leaves, Song Que wakes up right after."


    ```

 Chapter 59 The Two Leaders of Baichuan City

    He woke up.


    The warm sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on half of his face.


    There was no stench of the abyss in the air, nor the unique mechanical scent of Pyramid.


    Especially the ceiling he saw upon opening his eyes, it definitely wasn''t the kind of structure one would find in a mining area.


    Song Que was somewhat dazed.


    Then he heard a woman''s exclamation:


    "Ah! You''re awake?!"


    Song Que''s head was still a bit fuzzy. He looked at the woman, who was very familiar. He quickly remembered her as one of Tang Xian''s team members, named Qiao Shanshan.


    Qiao Shanshan and Ling Yi were both doctors, so the task of caring for Song Que had fallen on the two girls. Given that Song Que was a man, Yuan Wu also helped out.


    "Wait a moment! I''ll let Ling Yi inform Tang Xian! I''ll give you a checkup right away!"


    Seeing Song Que awaken, Qiao Shanshan''s face was filled with disbelief.


    Song Que nodded, his head still feeling heavy.


    Having been unconscious for too long, his brain wasn''t accustomed to the sudden state of clarity.


    Qiao Shanshan quickly arrived at Song Que''s side with a medical kit.


    "Where is this?" Song Que asked, rubbing his temples. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Baichuan City, in room 704 of building A at the Sheng Tang Residential Complex. It''s also where you live. These past days it''s been Yuan Wu, Ling Yi, and me taking turns looking after you. You were seriously injured before. Do you remember?" Qiao Shanshan said.


    Song Que thought for a moment, and slowly began to recall certain things.


    His last memory was falling into a deep pool, thinking he would die.


    But since he hadn''t died, he guessed that Tang Xian must have performed a miracle in the end.


    With a gentle smile, he nodded and said,


    "I must have been saved by Tang."


    "Yes. You have a really tough life. When you were brought in, you were almost all wounds, and not a single bone was intact. Even so, you survived.


    It''s as if your body was crushed, only held together forcibly by your skin, yet you slowly recovered. Honestly, your vital signs were always stable, but waking up so soon is truly a miracle."


    "I''m really sorry for causing you trouble. These days must have been very difficult for you; I will remember Miss Qiao''s kindness."


    "Eh? You actually remember my name." Qiao Shanshan looked surprised.


    "Tang once entrusted me with protecting all of you, and besides, charming girls always leave a lasting impression."


    Song Que revealed a bright smile that lacked his former simple-mindedness.


    This smile made Qiao Shanshan''s face turn slightly red.


    Ordinarily, when treating patients, regardless of how attractive their appearance or secondary sexual characteristics might be to women, Qiao Shanshan could easily ignore these factors.


    But Song Que indisputably possessed a unique personal charm.


    She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say.


    "By the way, how long have I been unconscious?"


    "That... about a month, I guess? Many inexplicable phenomena have occurred in your case, at least beyond the reach of my current medical knowledge."


    "You''ve taken a lot of trouble." Song Que did not expect to have been unconscious for so long.


    How are the people in the sanctuary doing, and what about the fortress itself? Having disappeared for a month, his father must be very anxious.


    Feeling somewhat troubled, Song Que smiled with a slight frown. A month was enough time for a lot of things to accumulate.


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    He tried to get out of bed, his muscles, having not moved for a long time, ached sharply with the sudden change in muscle memory.


    Qiao Shanshan was curious¡ªSong Que, who hadn''t had an inch of his body intact, was somehow exhibiting a rate of recovery in the Human World comparable to that of the Pyramid World. There were too many unexplainable things in this.


    She supported Song Que, asking,


    "I heard from Ling Yi that you held off a flood dragon by yourself."


    "Ling Yi... is that the Ling Yi from the abyss?"


    "Yes. Rest assured, Tang Xian has brought them to Baichuan City, and they are no longer slaves."


    With Qiao Shanshan''s assistance, Song Que''s steps, though slow, were relatively stable.


    Song Que said with a happy laugh,


    "I did indeed hold off the flood dragon, but I couldn''t last until the end. I thought I''d be crippled. It seems that fortune has been kind to me."


    Looking at Song Que''s handsome profile, Qiao Shanshan grew even more confused.


    What exactly did Miss Qiao see in Tang Xian?


    The man before her was nearly perfect by any standard for a mate.


    To think Miss Qiao would reject such prospects for Tang Xian could only mean...


    Perhaps Miss Qiao and Tang Xian were indeed people with peculiar thoughts. Thinking this way, they were truly a good match.


    After a few steps, Song Que no longer needed Qiao Shanshan''s support.


    His muscles were rapidly adapting.


    His overall motor skills were also improving dramatically to optimum levels.


    Qiao Shanshan watched this incredible transition with amazement.


    Even a healthy person wouldn''t recover so quickly after lying in bed for a month.


    "It''s really strange... Baichuan City People''s Hospital has a lot of medical equipment. The models are not as complete as those in Pyramid, but they can diagnose many conditions. As soon as the power is restored, I definitely want to take you for a checkup. Logically, you shouldn''t have this level of strength right now."


    Qiao Shanshan thought about it and felt something was off, then she corrected herself,


    "I''m not saying you should be paralyzed! I''m just saying you''re not like normal people."


    Song Que smiled again and said,


    "Miss Qiao, don''t be nervous, I understand what you mean, and I am willing to cooperate with your treatment. It''s just that I''ve been unconscious all this time, and I would like to go out for a walk now."


    "Oh, you can, but you really need to be careful. Your body might develop some other issues at any time. Ah! I''m not cursing you!"

 Chapter 59 The Two Leaders of Baichuan City_2

    Qiao Shanshan looked at Song Que''s smile, which was like a spring breeze, and found none of the rumored foolishness, feeling more and more that Song Que was better looking than Tang Xian.


    After all, there weren''t many men she was familiar with here, and Akasi could also be charming when gentle.


    Tang Feiji and Liu Lang, on the other hand, were the embodiment of rugged manliness.


    As for Tang Xian.


    Thinking about how Tang Xian could calmly and seriously use academia to publicly execute someone, Qiao Shanshan felt that, although all the other men had their issues, they were all better than Tang Xian.


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    ...


    The news of Song Que waking up spread quickly, and while Song Que was still slowly getting used to his body, Tang Xian rushed over.


    As the two walked in the Sheng Tang Residential Complex, Song Que, seeing the city of the human past so well-preserved, was even more excited than Yu Xiaozhe.


    Tang Xian''s vision was ultimately different from others. He had this thought when his charm value changed before.


    After seeing Song Que''s smile, Tang Xian said,


    "It seems you can no longer hear that evil, chaotic laughter now, can you?"


    Song Que was startled, then pondered for a moment and said,


    "It seems so."


    "Personality splitting is not a cool thing, even if two personalities can communicate and reach an agreement, even if one can master the timing of their switch. But medical statistics show that the longer a person with a split personality has it, the more blurred their cognition becomes about the same thing."


    Tang Xian continued,


    "It is fortunate it''s you, because only someone like you could make the personality under chaotic will also take action to sacrifice itself. The two personalities have actually fused."


    Song Que chuckled and said,


    "Without your help, I would be dead by now."


    "Let''s not flatter each other. That Bell Yi and the others could survive was their fate. We two just happened to be in the right place at the right time."


    After all, it was a word of his own that made Song Que take a risky trip to the sacred land.


    Tang Xian never seized anyone''s credit.


    "I was supposed to be dead... Honestly, I myself can''t believe I survived. When I opened my eyes and saw the sunlight, I thought I was in the afterlife."


    "Logically, you should have died twice, but both times you survived."


    "Twice?" Song Que was puzzled.


    "Yes, the first time you should have died due to the seven-day rule of the mining area; at the time of Xi Yu, you should have been gone. Having personally experienced it, I''m sure no one in this world could withstand the seven-day rule like I did."


    Song Que was somewhat surprised, "So what exactly is this rule about?"


    "It''s real, but it doesn''t work on non-talented individuals. In other words, if this is the only answer, then the reason why you survived is quite obvious." Tang Xian looked calmly at Song Que.


    Song Que was silent.


    He knew best about that battle; indeed, he burned all his talent.


    After a long while, Song Que slowly recalled, saying:


    "I was completely outmatched in strength by a creature like the Cave Jiao.


    At that time, I don''t know what happened but, to triumph over it, or rather, to see a future that I could be content with, my talent ability, the Eye of the Scales, deepened continuously.


    In the end, I felt like all my talents were unleashed from some sort of restriction, and I had an unimaginable increase in combat power.


    I did indeed display strength surpassing that of the Cave Jiao in battle; it was as if all my battle talents were ignited."


    Tang Xian pondered,


    According to Bell Yi''s description, Song Que at that time was enveloped in a ball of fiery red.


    This naturally was not some ability of Song Que.


    "Such a boost in combat cannot be maintained for long, the zenith is followed by decline. I felt the power start to rapidly wane.


    You already know what happened afterward, Tang. The fight was back and forth, but I bet my future on it."


    Tang Xian led Song Que towards the main street. He said,


    "It seems you understand now, that you are no longer a talent. It''s quite unprecedented in the history of human talents."


    All along the way, people kept greeting Song Que, even though he had only stayed in the darkest place for seven days.


    But on that day, deep in the pit, as Xi Yu descended, with Bell Yi''s shouts, everyone remembered Song Que''s face.


    The comings and goings of people were all joyous about Song Que''s recovery.


    Such joy was pure, with no hint of flattery.


    As the son of the Song Family, Song Que had always been popular.


    But the reasons for the popularity were not the same.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Now that you''re no longer a talent, do you feel regret?"


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    Their steps were slow, looking at the wait-for-revival Baichuan City commercial street, Song Que said thoughtfully,


    "Tang, part of the evolution of human history is a process gradually eliminating class systems.


    In the past, I might have been distressed by the lack of talent.


    But after going to the sacred land, I suddenly realized that this concept of class has reached a pathological level.


    Perhaps being without talent... is not a bad thing for me, at least we can build a truly equal civilization here."


    Song Que spoke from the heart.


    Although Tang Xian had intended for Song Que to help manage Baichuan City, what surprised Song Que was that Tang Xian shook his head.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You''re wrong. This world is clearly hierarchical. The development of human civilization is not about eliminating the class system, on the contrary, it''s about improving it."

 Chapter 59 The Two Leaders of Baichuan City_3

    Song Que froze.


    "The class system can''t be abolished. True equality is unattainable; such a world does not exist, not even for a single second.


    Everyone''s abilities are innately different. The most objective and real aspect of this world is that ability determines value.


    Powerful people simply should have more value than the weak, and their rank should be higher as well.


    If this rule were changed, the world would truly be doomed.


    We are not gods; we should not be so arrogant as to think we can create a new social system.


    However, the class system within the Pyramid is indeed flawed. Influenced by the Ordainers, the lords have completely misunderstood the direction of human ability development.


    In the future, perhaps through hard work, you can create a society that gives everyone a chance to change their own rank. Not like in the Pyramid, where despair is inevitable from birth, sealed from the start."


    Song Que was astonished.


    Tang Xian then took Song Que for a walk in other districts, and news of Song Que''s awakening gradually spread.


    Feeling the happiness of those around him, and observing the city slowly reviving, Song Que nodded slowly and said:


    "Tang, you''re right, I''m not as good as you. I am indeed still too naive." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s why you''re the hero, and I''m just a foodie."


    Tang Xian and Song Que shared a smile.


    Along the way, Tang Xian also briefed him on the events of the past month.


    Unlike Yu Xiaozhe, Tang Xian was more candid with Song Que. He meticulously informed Song Que of everything that had happened and the issues that remained to be resolved.


    Song Que''s management abilities, and even other capabilities, actually were not inferior to Li Xiaoyu. Tang Xian also hoped that Song Que would be able to quickly get on board and become familiar with the city.


    Tang Xian was confident that Song Que would not decline; Baichuan City was his best place of return now.


    But he also knew there was a problem beforehand.


    Song Que said:


    "At least I should bid farewell to my father and entrust all my affairs to my two sisters. Of course, I won''t reveal the location of Baichuan City."


    Tang Xian said:


    Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    "You''re no longer a gifted one; I believe you understand what that means. Returning to the Pyramid, many things may not go as smoothly as you imagine."


    Tang Xian could sense that if Song Que went back to the Pyramid, he would likely encounter numerous troubles.


    Song Gengzhao had great expectations for Song Que.


    What actions Song Gengzhao might take should these expectations be dashed remained unknown.


    "The disappearance of a gift," such a topic could easily trigger panic.


    This had never happened before, and it couldn''t be guaranteed that no one would harbor malicious intentions towards Song Que.


    Like the Evolution Zone.


    A person who had demonstrated the power of a cataclysmic-level boss creature, such an unimaginable feat, once leaked, could make Song Que the most sought-after research subject of the Evolution Zone.


    Song Que also realized that upon his return, there would be many unknown variables, but he had to go back.


    "I can''t convince myself to just disappear; both my father and sisters have been good to me. Leaving without saying goodbye would be too unfilial.


    My team also awaits me, Tang, I promise you, once I''ve settled things at the fortress, I will definitely come to Baichuan City to help you."


    Tang Xian did not insist.


    The Court of Beasts was certainly not content with defeat, and new crops of "chives" were likely sprouting once again. By the time Song Que returns to the Pyramid, Tang himself could perhaps visit the mining district.


    Since Qing JiuYu was already there, bringing over Bai Mansheng might also be a good idea.


    Once electricity is restored in Baichuan City, there would be numerous tasks at hand.


    And in the Pyramid, over a month had passed; on Shang Lu''s side, there should be new developments with the fruit of the Zudun Sacred Tree.


    Adding to that, the decision to take down the Evolution Zone had been made. Furrowing his brow, Tang Xian realized there was indeed a lot to do and said:


    "You are important to Baichuan City. If you encounter trouble in the Pyramid, just contact Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen. They will be able to find me."

 Chapter 60 Healing Stories

    Song Que and Tang Xian were both very efficient people.


    Song Que promised to return to Baichuan City to help manage it, but he had to go back to the first fortress first to bid farewell to his family.


    Tang Xian, worried about Bai Mansheng due to Qing JiuYu being ambushed by the court, decided to visit the mining area.


    After both had their journeys planned, they didn''t chat for long and began their preparations.


    Though Song Que''s strength had somewhat recovered, he was ultimately no longer gifted, and Tang Xian arranged for Akasi to escort him.


    The distorted system of hundreds of years had caused people inside the Pyramid to develop some habits that were difficult to change.


    Without his talents, Tang Xian was certain that Song Que would encounter many troubles.


    Having Akasi there to help in secret, he felt more at ease.


    What surprised Tang Xian before leaving was that Qiao Shanshan actually raised objections.


    And her attitude was very strong.


    Her main point was that Song Que still exhibited many strange symptoms that needed observation, and after being weak for so long, he should at least recuperate for a while.


    Tang Xian found it amusing, after all, his own royal physician from Shengtang had never been so earnest about anyone.


    After Song Que showed a grateful and gentle smile, Qiao Shanshan''s blushing face finally convinced Tang Xian¡ª Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    This older doctor, two years his senior, was probably longing for love.


    In the end, Song Que still left with Akasi.


    Tang Xian also took Tang Feiji with him, preparing to head for the mining area.


    As he was about to leave, Qing JiuYu wanted to accompany him.


    "Tang Xian, I haven''t seen Miss Bai for such a long time. Why don''t you take me with you?"


    If it weren''t for Tang Xian holding Tang Xiaojiu, Qing JiuYu would have decided to hook her arm around Tang Xian''s neck to annoy Li Xiaoyu, who was glaring beside them.


    "I refuse," Tang Xian said.


    "Why? Am I not more interesting than Bai?"


    Tang Xian said,


    "Based on your behavior, I have every reason to believe you''re just trying to make trouble for me. Your likely motive is to find it amusing to annoy Bai Mansheng."


    Qing JiuYu seductively smiled, not denying it.


    Even though Li Xiaoyu''s jealousy was greater than Bai Mansheng''s, she couldn''t stand against Tang Xian''s partiality in the end.


    It was always Li Xiaoyu who won, which was becoming a bit dull.


    So, teasing Bai Mansheng was more entertaining.


    Tang Xian paid no mind, gave a few instructions to Li Xiaoyu, and without further delay, left with Tang Feiji for March Marsh.


    ...


    ...


    Tianque Plains.


    The Myriad Beasts Realm had been restless lately, with rumors of many powerful creatures being devoured by some unknown terrifying entity, causing a sense of crisis in the lives above purple ranks.


    The court also issued a summoning order.


    Migrations of beast tides were becoming more frequent, all heading towards several sacred lands of the court.


    It seemed like a major action was about to occur, or perhaps they were bracing for something.


    The Nvwa Snake clan, on the other hand, remained unchanged, unaffected by these abnormalities.


    After the cosmetics plundered from the humans ran out, Bai Mansheng could no longer practice her makeup skills by the stream as before.


    Instead, she often stood by the small streams on the Tianque Plains, looking north.


    She was a lover of silence, and while artistic men often had varying personalities, most artistic women were similar.


    Bai Mansheng had also heard many rumors lately.


    About the fox clan.


    The fox clan was now waging war in all directions, with many three-tailed and six-tailed foxes being deployed to engage others in the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    The three and six-tailed packs were not very strong.


    But the new leader of the fox clan showed bravery, subduing many beast clans for the court.


    The flames of war ignited in the northern continent, and the court''s ambitions grew increasingly apparent.


    Many beast species had disappeared. In the Tianque Plains region, not many species remained.


    When thinking about this, Bai Mansheng would always frown slightly.


    She still disliked Qing JiuYu, but in comparison, Qing JiuYu was much more well-behaved than this new leader of the fox clan.


    The current fox clan, inside and out, had gone through a purge. Their aggressiveness was not like that of foxes, but more like wolves.


    Fortunately for them, the ceasefire between the fox clan and snake clan was arbitrated by the court.


    Thus, the snake clan was spared from the strife.


    Every afternoon, Bai Mansheng, like a literary girl, basked in the atmosphere of peaceful times by the stream, pondering various thoughts.


    Then, as on several previous occasions, someone arrived uninvited, escorting a self-conceited dragon.


    Bai Mansheng glanced over and found that the dragon indeed had grown more and more arrogant.


    Strutting as if it had no kin in the world, as if it was the best around.


    Tang Xian was curious as well, how Tang Feiji had naturally learned such a walking posture that, in ancient times, would''ve earned it a beating every time it stepped out. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be that after the Dragon Origin Blood Oath was lifted, it felt free and became even more inflated?


    Regardless, Tang Feiji finally stopped its infuriating strut. It couldn''t be bothered with the odd conversation of the man and woman, and watched the water by the stream instead.


    Upon seeing its reflection in the water, Tang Feiji immediately showed an expression of admiration.


    "This big master is really good-looking indeed."


    Tang Xian ignored the ego-inflated foolish dragon and approached Bai Mansheng:


    "It seems that I can always find you here?"


    Bai Mansheng furrowed her brows, looked at Tang Xian, and said:


    "The stream is quiet with motions within, time will pass regardless, and watching the water seems to reveal its path. I like it very much."


    Without waiting for Tang Xian to respond, Bai Mansheng continued:


    "Where has Qing JiuYu gone?"


    Tang Xian gave a bitter smile.


    He roughly knew the direction the conversation was heading.


    "I rescued her and arranged for her to go elsewhere."


    "Elsewhere to where?"

 Chapter 60 Healing Stories_2

    "Baichuan City, the place where humans reside."


    "I remember you promised to invite me first. And you said you''d absolutely never deceive me about this matter."


    Tang Xian sighed at Bai Mansheng''s really good memory.


    The Nvwa Snake lineage was, after all, a cold species, and Bai Mansheng''s body was entirely in white.


    When she looked at Tang Xian with knitted brows and cold eyes, he felt the autumn chill intensify.


    He had indeed stood Bai Mansheng up again, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.


    After some thought, Tang Xian took out several books. These were hardcover audio books and were considered bestsellers in the library.


    They came with narration and texts in various languages. For a clever little white snake like Bai Mansheng, they were excellent materials for learning human languages.


    Tang Xian also knew early on that Bai Mansheng would probably ask about Qing JiuYu.


    After all, the matter had already spread throughout the Beast Tribunal. Therefore, he had come prepared, bringing quite a number of books along.


    Bai Mansheng''s mood improved a bit at the sight of these books.


    Just like Qing JiuYu liked the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid and sparkly ornaments,


    Bai Mansheng liked those stories that could touch the heart.


    However, because the stories Tang Xian had previously given were quite tragic, although they were also very good, she still said,


    "By the way, do any of these stories have a happier tone? Let''s see, in human terms, that would be ''healing.'' I don''t like it when interesting central characters are forcibly killed off just to create a tragic atmosphere."


    Tang Xian pretended to think seriously. In fact, according to large statistics, the more seriously people take their artistic pursuits, the more they liked tragic stories.


    Bai Mansheng''s request did catch Tang Xian somewhat off-guard.


    He started flipping through two very soothing books in the pile, and responded earnestly,


    "Indeed, although Mr. Lu Xun believes that tragedy is about showing people broken beauty, the core of a true tragedy is much broader than that. The tragedy that comes from killing off interesting characters is ultimately inferior."


    Saying this, Tang Xian finally found two books.


    One was the Blade Factory boss''s "Dragon Clan," and the other was George Martin''s "A Song of Ice and Fire."


    "These are two very interesting stories, joyful, heartwarming, healing; one is an Eastern fantasy, with a delicate, exquisite style and full of youthful exuberance. The other is a Western fantasy, with grand and majestic prose, embodying an epic that has been passed down through ages. The characters in the books all live to the very end unharmed. They''re very suitable for you."


    Bai Mansheng, looking at Tang Xian''s serious words and earnest expression, was delighted and said,


    "Thank you, I will take a look."


    "You''re welcome, but good stories should be saved for last, and since I''m here for another reason this time, there''s no need to rush into such warm stories."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that he was not a devil, for in a sense, these two stories were quite healing.


    Of course, that was from the point of view of the masked persona of Song Que.


    Bai Mansheng nodded and asked,


    "So, what is the reason you came to find me this time?"


    "I promised to take you to the world of humans for a visit, though I also promised to take you there first..."


    Bai Mansheng smiled faintly and said,


    "Tang Xian, I''m not blaming you. I''m just rather envious of Qing JiuYu."


    "She was exiled, which isn''t something to envy," Tang Xian said with a wry smile.


    "Though I despise her, the Fox Clan she led at least didn''t mess around or declare war on other races everywhere. And... she was lucky to be rescued by you."


    Bai Mansheng shook her head slightly and said,


    "At least you saved her, and you had quite an eventful experience with her."


    "If it had been you in trouble, I would have rescued you too. Even though you two don''t get along, you are both my friends. I don''t think there''s much to lament about in this matter."


    "But after all, I haven''t had the same life-and-death experiences with you as she has," Bai Mansheng insisted stubbornly.


    Tang Xian''s smile gradually faded, and he looked at Bai Mansheng. After several seconds, he said,


    "In beautiful stories, the emotions between people seem to be maintained through life-and-death experiences.


    It seems that in novels, if you haven''t killed or been hunted together, you can''t call it friendship.


    But life isn''t like that."


    Suddenly, Tang Xian took back the two books and said,


    "Perhaps I should recommend some more everyday-type stories to you, and then you will understand that human relationships are valued for their long-term companionship and coexistence."


    Bai Mansheng was stunned, then she realized that she had been tricked by Tang Xian again.


    Those two books probably aren''t any heartwarming, healing stories.


    She had rarely seen Tang Xian look so serious and earnest.


    "If possible, I wish both my friends and I won''t have to go through any painful separations or inexplicable life-and-death experiences," he said.


    Bai Mansheng seemed to half understand, responding,


    "Because you can''t bear to let go?"


    "Yes, because I can''t bear to let go," Tang Xian affirmed.


    Tang Xian said,


    "David Eagleman once wrote in ''Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives'': a person dies three times. The first time is when the heartbeat stops, the breath ceases, and he is declared dead biologically; the second time occurs when people wear black to attend his funeral, marking his absence from society, and the third death happens when the last person in the world who remembers him also forgets him, then he truly perishes. The entire universe will then have nothing to do with him."


    "It does seem to make some sense," Bai Mansheng nodded.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "This statement seriously underestimates death. Death is simply death; what''s called the second and third is merely an artistic expression, an inevitable outcome. Anything that fades away will be forgotten.


    Death itself is the most resolute and cleanest form of erasure in this world. There is no second time. If you die, all the effort you''ve made amounts to nothing.


    So don''t expect any heroic deaths or dying together; better to expect that I become unrivaled in the world and appear just in time to solve your troubles." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, then I wish you become unrivaled in the world soon." Bai Mansheng suddenly laughed again and added in a soft voice,


    "Seeing you so serious, are you saying that my life is somewhat important to you?"


    This was the reason Tang Xian thought men were better than women.


    Even Li Xiaoyu would be excessively emotional at times.


    And it was even less surprising when it came to Bai Mansheng.


    Yet Tang Xian disliked answering such questions, even though he agreed inwardly.


    After some thought, Tang Xian said:


    "So, are you coming or not?"


    "To the world of humans?"


    "Yes, but not Baichuan City, rather the Pyramid."


    "It''s all the same to me, they''re places I''ve never been to, and I want to go. But I''ll listen to your arrangements," Bai Mansheng paused before continuing,


    "I''ll go pack, wait for me. Oh, and give me those two books."


    Tang Xian thought that it was her own wish to read them, so he handed them to Bai Mansheng.


    He liked people who were prompt in their affairs, and Bai Mansheng''s preparations were indeed swift.


    Before long, she had clearly explained some of the affairs of the Nvwa Snake tribe.


    The creatures of the Nvwa Snake tribe held great respect for Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian could see that, although Bai Mansheng had a cool nature,


    she was also passionate.


    In dealing with tribal affairs, Bai Mansheng was decisive and efficient, lacking the tentative disposition some artistic young women had.


    That the Nvwa Snake tribe was able to defeat the Fox tribe had something to do with Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian was en route to Fortress 39 mainly to find Shang Lu and inquire about the Zuston Sacred Tree.


    According to its cycle, if the Zuston Sacred Tree were to bear fruit again, it should have started growing by now.


    Bringing Bai Mansheng along, on one hand, was to fulfill a promise, and on the other hand, he was somewhat worried about her.


    This feeling was rare for him; ever since he came to the mining area, he always felt like he was being targeted by some powerful creature.


    Normally, it was he who actively hunted others. This time, however, he felt that some formidable creature was out to hunt him.


    Tang Xian was not overly concerned¡ªBai Mansheng''s combat abilities were still inferior to Qing JiuYu''s, and he was not one to make the same mistake twice.


    On the way from March Marsh to Tianque Plains, Tang Xian encountered several waves of creature migrations.


    He was well aware of the patterns of the creatures in the mining area, and was thus certain that this was abnormal.


    Something big was about to happen in the mining area, perhaps related to him.


    Tang Xian did not continue to ponder over it; he went with the flow, took Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji with him, and headed to Fortress 39.


    He had become Don Quixote, with Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji as his lady-in-waiting and guard.

 Chapter 61 Shang Lus Wife (8000-word chapter)

    Fortress Thirty-Nine.


    Bai Mansheng, visiting a human settlement for the first time, saw many interesting things in the second layer''s commercial district.


    Some ornaments she had never seen before, and some articles of clothing she had never come across.


    Even with her aloof nature, she felt joy and novelty.


    This made her no longer pursue Tang Xian''s claim of "the mortal world is perilous."


    Obviously, the talk about snatching a few out-of-print books from the hands of a calamity-level human was made up as well.


    But that''s how women are: when she is happy, even if she knows you''ve lied to her, you could be granted amnesty. Conversely, she could also swiftly sentence you to death.


    Tang Xian was lucky.


    For now, the second layer of the Pyramid, although not as large in area as Baichuan City, was bustling with numerous shops.


    The first thing Tang Xian did was to take Bai Mansheng to the makeup counters in the mall.


    Not just for Bai Mansheng, but also for Li Xiaoyu, Qing JiuYu, Qiao Shanshan, Dong Ran, and even for Tang Suoye ¨C children of the same age as Ling Yi.


    Now that he had Baichuan City, Tang Xian viewed the Pyramid much more pleasantly.


    It was like looking at a super-large warehouse.


    Especially in the Pyramid, where wealth rested in minerals, Tang Xian couldn''t say exactly how wealthy he was, but at least he could shop without looking at prices before placing liked items into the shopping cart.


    Studies have shown that in the process of becoming wealthy from poverty, the happiness derived from consumption is more intense than when one reaches the wealth they aspire to.


    Tang Xian was like that.


    And Bai Mansheng, due to her first impression, also felt very happy.


    Because Tang Xian had described these items as very expensive.


    For example, the facial cleanser said to be worth a whole city, and "The Legend of the White Snake," said to be priceless.


    Though these lies had been exposed, Bai Mansheng still carried some inertia in her thinking that everything here was of high value.


    Tang Xian also found that, whether it was a flirtatious woman or a cold one, giving gifts was a universal method to boost her favorability.


    Bai Mansheng''s favorability towards Tang Xian had returned to a rating of "deep affection."


    The sales associates also loved customers like Tang Xian the most.


    Though he was dressed as Tang Jikede, a limping old gentleman, the disguise clearly suggested nobility.


    A man in his fifties or sixties, still shopping with a girl of about twenty.


    The salespeople had seen such scenarios often.


    Just they had never seen one as beautiful as Bai Mansheng.


    Bai Mansheng displayed impressive spending power.


    Carrying bags full of makeup, clothes, and various books and disks, Bai Mansheng thought the world of humans was truly wonderful.


    Though she didn''t realize that all this beauty was bought with money.


    Luckily, Tang Xian really was wealthy.


    Compared to Bai Mansheng, Tang Feiji was much easier to please.


    Though the mall staff, responsible for customer service, had no idea why a man of such a handsome and robust appearance was wandering around in the toy section.


    After shopping, Tang Xian arranged accommodations for Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji.


    Since the snake and the dragon couldn''t stand each other, Tang Xian arranged for two separate rooms.


    After handling all these arrangements, Tang Jikede, the old gentleman, slowly made his way to the fourth floor, and Bai Mansheng insisted on following him, so Tang Xian didn''t refuse.


    The fruit of the Zudun Sacred Tree could bring about evolution.


    Having only one before, Tang Xian dared not use it carelessly. But he had been thinking about it, and after more than a month had passed, Tang Xian wanted to see how things were progressing.


    Standing at the entrance to the tier, Tang Xian frowned at the poster at the gateway.


    As the only fortress that had opened up to the eighth tier and the only one with the knowledge to manufacture the Judgement Knights, Level Thirty-Nine certainly planned to make a large number of them. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What Tang Xian hadn''t expected was to see such an advertisement here.


    It was like the American army recruitment ads in the middle of the 20th century.


    The exaggerated poster depicted the form of a Judgement Knight.


    After an artistic styling, the Judgement Knight really did have a mech-like aesthetic.


    Just as men over a thousand years ago loved Gundam; the girls never understood, thinking only children liked those toys.


    But mechs have always been a part of men''s romanticism, and even at thirty or forty years old, many still collected Gundam.


    The Judgement Knight, clad in bronze armor, had a sort of softened mech appeal.


    The poster even carried the following line:


    ¡ª "Talents determine our destiny, but can destiny truly not be changed? Join us and become a Judgement Knight, change your own fate! You will gain greater strength, higher honor, and join the upper echelons!"


    Tang Xian didn''t stand there for long; the old gentleman he was portraying clearly wasn''t someone overly curious.


    He silently proceeded to the fourth level, his mind filled with some information about the Crystal Crane.


    The Orderers were mechanical beings made of life itself.


    If what Crystal Crane said was true, then this almost confirmed the materials used to make the Judgement Knights.


    Song Que had also investigated before, and it seemed clear that he linked the mass production of Judgement Knights with the disappearance of the lower-tier personnel.


    Tang Xian clenched his fist. All his good mood evaporated after seeing the poster.


    What a despicable lie!


    The process of capturing a large number of lower-tier people to make Judgement Knights had caught the attention of many.


    More and more forces began investigating where these people went.


    To resolve these troubles, Li Wanye thought of an even more toxic method.


    After all, no one knew how the Judgement Knights were made.

 Chapter 61 Shang Lus Wife (8000-word chapter)_2

    After all, no one knew whether those Judgment Knights were mechanical or alive.


    Thus, Li Wanye even publicized the recruitment of Judgment Knights.


    It was like enlisting in a regular army.


    Changing one''s lower-class fate, obtaining honor never before seen, possessing mighty power.


    How exciting was that? Who could resist such temptation?


    But these people had no idea that the price of becoming a Judgment Knight was the surrender of their independence and freedom as living beings, becoming completely reduced to machines!


    "Your emotions suddenly became off. What happened?" Bai Mansheng asked.


    "I saw something unbelievable, hard to explain." Tang Xian shook his head slightly.


    "I remember it says in the books, violence can solve everything," Bai Mansheng stated.


    "Yes, but the use of violence also requires the right moment and reason."


    "Sounds troublesome."


    Tang Xian nodded, acknowledging that it was indeed troublesome. The severity of the situation also far exceeded his expectations.


    The scariest thing in this world is not evil itself, but those who commit evil deeds without knowing what evil is.


    Li Wanye had once refused the demands of the Evolution Zone, which showed he had moral boundaries.


    But now, whether Li Wanye could still realize...


    That he was weaving a lie he thought was for justice, or for the future of mankind, when in reality it was absolutely evil.


    The fourth floor arrived quickly.


    Tang Xian adjusted his emotions accordingly.


    Ailing kingdoms existed not only in the bastion of the Sanctuary.


    Li Wanye''s crimes were no longer washable. Perhaps one day, Li Xiaoyu and Li Wanye would stand on opposing sides.


    Tang Xian didn''t dwell on the inevitable, but hoped that Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian would never get involved.


    Li Xiaoyu had given her future to Baichuan City, but that didn''t mean her past should start to decay because of it.


    He shook his head, clearing away these annoying thoughts.


    Hua Science Academy was still the same as ever, still a research institution full of biology academics.


    Entering Hua Science Academy as Tang Jikede to visit Shang Lu was not difficult.


    Tang Xian passed unhindered and arrived at the entrance of Shang Lu''s laboratory. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sign at the door had naturally been taken down. And as usual, a new sign had been posted.


    However, to Tang Xian''s surprise, the new sign wasn''t one of Shang Lu''s blunt male speeches, but posted by someone else.


    ¡ª The owner of this laboratory has already found a suitable egg cell provider.


    For the first time, Tang Xian felt bewildered.


    He thought it was interesting, remembering the sign he had left last time, which was perhaps a bit too much.


    But it seemed that it had actually led to some incredible developments.


    Tang Xian pushed open the laboratory door; it wasn''t locked, just ajar.


    With Bai Mansheng at his side, Tang Xian noticed Bai Mansheng''s expression becoming unnatural as they neared the lab.


    Inside, a conversation between two people could be heard.


    "Do I need to remind you, as your wife, that I have to tell you your brain is in an overworked state, having gone without sleep for thirty-one consecutive hours?


    Your brain''s first and second signaling systems, even if maintaining the lowest operational power, will increase the risk of sudden death. This clearly violates our premarital contract specifications."


    The speaker was a young girl, likely even younger than Shang Lu. Her tone, however, was somewhat like his own.


    While thinking this, Tang Xian felt a bit odd since he himself liked to analyze problems in an academic tone.


    "No, this problem must be resolved quickly. Is the dosage of enzymes the issue, or is there too much alkaline content in the soil?


    Or perhaps it''s..."


    This was Shang Lu''s voice, filled with a touch of pain and puzzlement.


    Shang Lu was quite normal in that he often adopted a frenzied academic demeanor.


    Tang Xian gestured with a light wave for Bai Mansheng to be quiet.


    Bai Mansheng nodded, her expression somewhat strange and distracted.


    Tang Xian had seen this look before; when chopping vegetables in the kitchen, a glance back would often catch Tang Xiaojiu sporting such a look.


    He was surprised, because the scents in the air shouldn''t have included any appealing food.


    "Perhaps you need to engage in some ordinary, unrelated activities. That could activate your basal ganglia, allowing your frontal lobes¡ªwhich are your advanced neural activity centers¡ªto focus more on the difficult problem you''re trying to solve," the girl''s voice came again.


    Tang Xian was taken aback, finding the girl quite interesting.


    She was correct; in fact, he often did the same thing.


    This is why sometimes, when people are walking, drinking tea, or viewing scenery, they might find inspiration flowing more freely than when they''re concentrating hard on thinking.


    Shang Lu said:


    "So what should I do now?"


    "Considering your body''s imbalance in various secretions due to overwork, I suggest you get some sleep now. After waking up, replenish with food."


    The girl casually added:


    "Don''t worry, I will take care of your plants and observe the data changes while you sleep. Although I''m not from the plant sciences but neuroscience, just remembering the changes in plant growth isn''t difficult for me."


    From beginning to end, the girl''s tone was very steady.


    Tang Xian suddenly realized; it wasn''t that Shang Lu couldn''t find a girlfriend, it was that an academic needed someone of an equally academic type.


    A strange feeling arose, as if Shang Lu had found a female version of himself.

 Chapter 61 Shang Lus Wife (8000-word chapter)_3

    He shook his head with a wry smile before entering the inner chamber and saying,


    "It seems that a big event has happened in your life this past month."


    Shang Lu was startled, then turned around with a joyful expression and said,


    "Xian, you''re here, that''s great! I just have some questions that I can''t figure out and wanted to ask you."


    Tang Xian''s gaze fell on the girl standing behind Shang Lu.


    She looked two or three years younger than Shang Lu but the badge on her chest indicated that this girl, wearing thick glasses, had already earned doctoral statuses in several fields.


    In the Pyramid, there were also many academic statuses, and the assessment system was even stricter than in ancient times.


    Thus, Tang Xian was certain that this girl might be even smarter than Shang Lu. Even discussing IQ alone... she was very close to his own.


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    It was just a feeling, like the unique magnetic field that arises when like recognizes like.


    "I''m sorry I overheard your conversation just now. I believe the two of you are married. By the way, the ring on your ring finger is beautiful. So, Shang Lu, I believe your wife can clear up my confusion; you should go rest."


    Shang Lu said in astonishment,


    "Why?"


    "Didn''t you sign a contract? Speaking of which, this is a really interesting idea¡ªgetting married with a contract. Whose idea was this?"


    Tang Xian extended his hand and said,


    "I am a friend of Shang Lu''s; my name is Tang Xian."


    "My name is Zhong Xiuxiu. I am Shang Lu''s wife."


    Zhong Xiuxiu immediately added,


    "I think any matter or relationship can be formulated into a contract. This can effectively improve our work and living efficiency. And it resolves disputes after marriage with great efficiency."


    Tang Xian suddenly became very curious about something,


    "So how did you two get married?"


    Shang Lu immediately blushed and angrily said,


    "I don''t know who the bastard was who put a..."


    Before he finished speaking, and seeing the calm yet puzzled look in Zhong Xiuxiu''s eyes, Shang Lu instantly clammed up.


    "Ninety-four percent of human beings will feel weary of their current marriage partner after about seventy days. Therefore, during the honeymoon period, which is the two months following the wedding ceremony, we must not express dissatisfaction with our marital partner until this period has passed. Quoted from Article twenty-one, Section three of the marriage contract."


    Tang Xian almost wanted to applaud.


    Zhong Xiuxiu continued, "But seeing a friend exaggerate the truth is a healthy and reasonable emotion for primates to have, so this time it''s just a verbal warning."


    Shang Lu nodded without argument.


    Zhong Xiuxiu then turned to Tang Xian and said,


    "The matter of marriage was because my husband posted a request on his door, and I thought my husband had very high work efficiency, so I fulfilled the requests he posted on his door. Then he cried tears of joy, and so I proposed marriage to him."


    Tang Xian could imagine that Shang Lu wasn''t crying tears of joy, but rather was panic-stricken, looking with tearful eyes at a lovely girl who was observing him calmly, with a scrutinizing gaze. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian patted Shang Lu''s shoulder and said,


    "I believe that you and Zhong Xiuxiu''s genes could definitely create the most brilliant human brain."


    Shang Lu seemed torn between speaking and remaining silent.


    Tang Xian looked at Shang Lu, increasingly wanting to laugh.


    What kind of experience was it to wake up and find that you have a wife?


    Although Tang Xian hadn''t witnessed the process, if he''d written a post about it on Blender, he could already imagine it.


    Despite netizens not minding spending a few tens of thousands of starting coins, given too many acquaintances in the circle, heavy involvement of interests, and national circumstances that didn''t allow it, Tang Xian thought there was no need to continue imagining.


    But he couldn''t help saying that even he and Li Xiaoyu could never pull off such a stunt.


    This girl named Zhong Xiuxiu truly lived up to her name.


    Especially afterward, she forced Shang Lu into marriage within a month, an astonishing display of efficiency that made Tang Xian regard Zhong Xiuxiu with even greater respect.


    Finally, he wasn''t the most abnormal person anymore.


    "Alright, Shang Lu, you go rest. I believe your wife can clear up my confusion more efficiently."


    Shang Lu didn''t insist, as he was indeed very tired.


    Under Zhong Xiuxiu''s plan, to increase work efficiency, Shang Lu had emptied out the least used corner of the laboratory to make a bedroom.


    Before going to bed, he gave several reminders, roughly that Tang Xian had the right to know everything.


    After Shang Lu left, Zhong Xiuxiu spoke again in that extremely fast and emotionless tone,


    "It''s worth noting that my husband has given a man all the rights to use the laboratory and full knowledge of plant research. A privilege not even fully open to me."


    Zhong Xiuxiu led Tang Xian to the laboratory of the Zudan sacred tree.


    As they walked, she said,


    "Based on this, I should consider increasing the likelihood that he has homosexual tendencies. What do you think?"


    Tang Xian didn''t want to talk.


    Li Xiaoyu also had this issue sometimes. Although Li Xiaoyu had emotional moments, which Tang Xian often categorized as moments of folly.


    But comparing the two, Tang Xian found Li Xiaoyu to be cuter... no, much cuter.


    Zhong Xiuxiu was simply like a robot; Shang Lu was too pitiful.


    Tang Xian thought his own past behavior of placing signs had been rather inconsiderate.


    Different from his last visit, there had been quite a few changes in Shang Lu''s laboratory.

 Chapter 61 Shang Lus Wife (8000-word chapter)_4

    This was the expanded laboratory, provided by the dean at Zhong Xiuxiu''s persuasion after she arrived at Hua Science Academy.


    A wall had been knocked down, linking two laboratories together.


    It was a way to improve Shang Lu''s treatment.


    The main reason was that Shang Lu wanted to attempt what Tang Xian had previously suggested, expanding the cultivation area of the Zudun Holy Tree. Perhaps a larger Zudun Holy Tree could be harvested.


    This was Tang Xian''s wild guess, based solely on the huge roots of the Zudun Holy Trees found in the mining area.


    But he guessed right.


    "My husband is a very interesting person, he possesses many noble qualities, like his desire to understand the reasons behind his actions.


    After finding out that the seedlings of the Zudun Holy Tree actually responded when hitting rock bottom, he wanted to clarify the principle behind it.


    But why the Zudun Holy Tree could grow bigger in a larger environment, while its roots didn''t seem compressed in a smaller one, he really couldn''t understand.


    This issue has also been troubling him these days.


    Mr. Tang Xian, though I feel that to some extent you deserve my caution, such as my husband always mentioning and praising you, this also indirectly shows that you have exceptional insights in the field of plants."


    Zhong Xiuxiu looked at Tang Xian:


    "What''s your opinion on this Zudun Holy Tree?"


    "No opinion, I''m not concerned about the impact of the environment on trees; what I care more about is the fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree."


    "I see, indeed that is something more valuable and deserves more attention. But this is also the second problem that''s troubling my husband.


    I suppose you know his proudest field is plant cloning. However, he can''t clone the Zudun Holy Tree; it can only be left to grow freely from its mother plant.


    To solve the cloning problem of the Zudun Holy Tree, he has been racking his brains these days to no avail."


    Tang Xian noticed Bai Mansheng staring at the fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree, her expression growing increasingly unnatural.


    This was a struggle to keep herself in check.


    Zhong Xiuxiu also noticed this and, looking at Bai Mansheng, said:


    "Isn''t your friend human?" Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian frowned slightly and said:


    "Why do you say that?"


    "Under the microscope, I''ve found that many organisms instinctively want to get closer to the fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree.


    They usually move irregularly, but as soon as they approach the fruit, it''s as if they feel a magnetic force.


    I''m certain such a force field does not exist, and interestingly, human cells are not attracted to it.


    Therefore, I speculate that your friend either has a unique fascination with the fruit, or she''s not human."


    Bai Mansheng was ultimately still lucid, her eyes widened in astonishment at Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Indeed, the fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree had an intense attraction to her.


    This attraction was even interfering with her thought process.


    Bai Mansheng shook her head, not wanting to cause trouble for Tang Xian, and said:


    "I just really like the fruit when I see it. My name is Bai Mansheng, and I''m a maid to Mr. Tang Jikede."


    Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t harbor any suspicions, after all, she also worked in brain research and knew that many people have their quirks.


    Tang Xian didn''t want to linger on the topic of identity either and thus said:


    "The mystery of the Zudun Holy Tree''s fruit is temporarily unsolvable. In the mining area, it''s called the fruit of evolution, and the reason countless organisms are willing to be driven by plants is to eat its fruit.


    But why a small fruit can bring about evolution is not something current science can immediately explain. We first need a research subject that has evolved through this channel to determine the difference between its evolution and others, thereby finding the cause. Otherwise, thinking too much about it is just a waste of time."


    Zhong Xiuxiu nodded and said:


    "Makes sense."


    "How many fruits does the Zudun Holy Tree have?"


    "At the current pace, it can produce two fruits a month. We have four in stock now."


    "I want to take two."


    "No problem; I believe my husband won''t mind his potential male admirer taking away a few sustainably produced fruits."


    Tang Xian caught the hint.


    Although Zhong Xiuxiu''s tone didn''t change, this must be jealousy.


    He laughed and said:


    "You should know, people often love their wives the most, yet at certain social events, they may act as if friends are more important than their wives; it''s all fake. In the end, men always bow to their wives. At least Shang Lu does."


    Tang Xian confirmed that Zhong Xiuxiu was a purely rational thinker with no social graces.


    Zhong Xiuxiu cocked her head, pondering Tang Xian''s words, then said:


    "Okay, I''ll remember these words and update them in my social behavior manual."


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised that someone would actually create a social behavior manual for themselves. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After putting the Zudun Holy Tree''s fruit into his bag, Tang Xian left the lab with Bai Mansheng.


    "I want to eat that fruit."


    "Not now."


    "Why? Is this fruit very precious?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "I''m starting to doubt the intentions of the Zudun Holy Tree, the fruit may not be as magical as I thought."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Evolution is a difficult process. I''ve been wondering, can the Zudun Holy Tree truly bring about evolution for organisms?


    The reproduction of plants is quite interesting. Just like flowers attract bees and dandelions drift far and wide. Therefore, whether this fruit might bring about some dangerous situations, I''m not sure. It''s better for me to conduct experiments in the evolution area."

 Chapter 61 Shang Lus Wife (8000-word chapter)_5

    "If it truly can bring about evolution, I won''t be stingy. But you must endure it."


    "Whether in reality or myth, tasting forbidden fruit always comes with a heavy price."


    Tang Xian''s expression was earnest, and Bai Mansheng nodded her head, although the desire to devour the fruit was strong, Tang Xian''s words were a higher priority for her.


    After putting the fruit into the prop bag, the attraction was gone.


    Bai Mansheng steadied her mind and asked:


    "Where to next?"


    "Dine, after spending ten hours, in the evening, we will go take a look at the Newbie Village."


    "Newbie Village?"


    "It''s the place where I used to mine, protected by the Judgement Knight. I want to see how exactly the Judgement Knight is made."


    Could Tang Xian himself develop a resistance to the Judgement Knight that could remove life regeneration abilities?


    This was an undertaking that carried a certain degree of risk.


    Summoning Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng was one means of protection.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian returned to the second layer.


    Nowadays, not many people go to the restaurants, most of them function more like hidden bars.


    Of course, people still held various banquets here.


    Weddings, educational celebrations, and the like.


    Education refers to those like Ke Ye or Shang Lu who, despite not having high innate talent, could be employed at high levels.


    Compared to this, the reverence for talent in the academic district was not so severe.


    For instance, Shang Lu was not a very talented Chosen One, but his obsession with academics also carved out a place for him at Hua Science Academy.


    Tang Xian, accompanied by Bai Mansheng, arrived at a tea restaurant on the second layer.


    He ordered two cups of black tea and some fruit.


    In front of Shang Lu and his wife, there was no need for much disguise, but in other situations, Tang Xian still played the part of Tang Jikede.


    Bai Mansheng said:


    "Compared to others, humans really know how to make simple things feel ceremonial."


    "Ceremony comes from rules, and a world with rules is more interesting. People enjoy the joy of breaking rules, but without rules, they find it dull."


    Bai Mansheng pondered.


    As Tang Xian spoke, he noticed a familiar face.


    Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Jiang Ming.


    He was dining here with his wife.


    Beside him was Bai Ling, the auditor whom Tang Xian had helped three years ago, the female boss.


    Of course, by now, they had lost contact with each other.


    The three of them were clearly discussing some official matter.


    As Tang Xian sized up Jiang Ming, Jiang Ming also took notice of him.


    Following Jiang Ming''s gaze, Bai Ling also looked over.


    They were probably about to review temporary workers again later.


    This was a benefit the fortress provided to the people at the bottom, with well-performing temporary workers qualifying to be promoted to the second layer.


    This was also why there were so many service workers on the second layer.


    Tang Xian smiled politely at Jiang Ming and then withdrew his gaze apologetically.


    It was like a gentleman encountering a scene that was not to be looked upon.


    Jiang Ming was slightly surprised but eventually just nodded in acknowledgment.


    He hadn''t recognized Tang Xian, and it was even less likely for Bai Ling to recognize him.


    Bai Mansheng curiously observed Tang Xian''s behavior and said:


    "Your actions don''t seem like you."


    "People reminisce, I''m not Zhong Xiuxiu."


    Tang Xian suddenly realized he finally had an example he could use when referring to an oddity.


    Praising Shang Lu. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Nostalgic, huh? That''s even less like you."


    "As the place where I grew up, although I don''t think nostalgia is of any benefit to me, what I want to do can only be done at night. Right now, enjoying tea with a beautiful woman fits perfectly with the character I''m portraying."


    Tang Xian paused, then added:


    "This fortress will soon experience some unpleasant events."


    "Like what?"


    Human world disputes really are numerous, Bai Mansheng thought to herself.


    "Do you know about zombies?"


    "What are those?"


    "They are creatures from post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels, reanimated corpses resulting from some mutation affecting humans, such as scientific drugs, biochemical factors, virus infections, etc. They spread the virus by biting others.


    Zombies don''t have any human characteristics even though they inhabit human bodies.


    In sci-fi novels, their behavior is often driven by the most basic survival instinct¡ªeating¡ªor they are under the command of a mother entity."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t quite understand; she had read many stories, but they were mostly romance novels.


    Tang Xian had just picked a random topic and said:


    "Since zombies look similar to people in the short term, many still consider them to be humans.


    Some even keep their zombie-transformed loved ones, believing they are still their family."


    Bai Mansheng remarked:


    "Does this have something to do with the misfortune that''s going to befall the fortress you were mentioning?"


    "If it''s unrelated, that would be best, but now it seems, people believe they have turned into Judgement Knights and are still human, believing they retain consciousness.


    Their relatives seem to accept this, even though I believe if those Judgement Knights stood before them, they wouldn''t be able to recognize anyone."


    Not only was this seen at the entrance to the level passage, but elsewhere on the second layer, Tang Xian now saw multiple advertisements encouraging non-talented individuals to become Judgement Knights.


    These sinister advertisements were everywhere. On the way to the restaurant, Tang Xian even saw in some poor areas¡ªspecifically provided for those who came to the second layer through promotion channels¡ªcovered with dense recruitment ads for Judgement Knights.


    "If people learn the truth... this fortress will erupt into the greatest unrest it has ever seen."

 Chapter 62 Returning to the Old Place

    Bai Mansheng listened with a somewhat puzzled expression and said,


    "So you''re saying these Judges, they''re essentially zombies? And the second type you mentioned, those controlled by some sort of hive mind?"


    "It''s just a guess,"


    Tang Xian remembered an ancient movie called ''The Hacker Empire.''


    Humans fought against machines in a virtual world.


    It seemed there were many units in the virtual world, but these units were actually all coming from a single entity.


    If, as Jin He said, the Orderlies were a group of mechanical beings, then their will must be unified.


    It''s like when players in computer games combat a certain computer-controlled unit, there''s an assortment of heroes or races in the game.


    It appears they all have different powers, and the camps are complex and diverse.


    But in reality, there are only two races in this world.


    Players and non-players.


    Tang Xian mentioned zombies as an example, thinking of a possibility.


    In past shooters, there was a mode of play called the biohazard mode.


    Initially, humans formed one team, united against enemies controlled by the computer.


    But once a human died, they would become an enemy on the computer''s side.


    There weren''t many things in this world that could frighten Tang Xian.


    But if in a game the non-players could create more non-players by devouring the players,


    such fear and disaster would snowball over time, growing more and more terrifying.


    After finishing their meal, Tang Xian left with Bai Mansheng.


    They strolled the streets, letting Bai Mansheng fully familiarize herself with the human world.


    Chances to visit the Pyramid were not frequent, and Bai Mansheng wanted to enjoy it to the fullest.


    But all along the way, Tang Xian seemed preoccupied.


    More and more people from the lower strata joined the Judges.


    And these bronze mechanical beings were completely mute; nobody could expose the lie.


    This was Pandora''s box.


    From ancient times to the present, mankind never stopped exploring "modified humans."


    Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    It can even be traced back to Emperor Qin Shihuang of the Primordial Era or perhaps earlier than that.


    But the price was often grievous.


    And now, it''s a twisted era.


    In the world of the Golden Pyramid, the Evolution Zone is conducting research on human evolution.


    Lords are transforming humans into mechanical beings.


    Even in the mining district, those under the influence of the Court of All Beasts are conducting vile experiments on evolving all beasts.


    If the Orderlies are using humans to unlock higher tiers, is that also related to evolution?


    As Tang Xian pondered this, his brows furrowed, he thought of the fruits of the Zudun Holy Tree in his bag, which seemed to be related to evolution as well.


    Somehow, a process that should take a long time to naturally change seemed to be something these creatures from several worlds were trying to accelerate.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    Bai Mansheng noticed and, while walking on the street, said,


    "You are in a bad mood today."


    "That''s why I''m taking a beautiful woman for a walk. It''s an action that can make a man happy,"


    Bai Mansheng did not speak, just pursed her lips and gave a light chuckle.


    Along the way, indeed, there were many people looking at her. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was indeed rare to see a beautiful woman like Bai Mansheng inside the Pyramid.


    Walking beside Tang Xian, especially beside the elderly gentleman Tang Xian,


    many young people eyed Tang Xian with jealousy and scorned: nothing special.


    Or they would sigh, claiming her to be a gold digger.


    The two of them shopped until late before returning home, thinking that Tang Feiji would be bored waiting.


    But Tang Xian truly didn''t expect that LEGO bricks could bring Tang Feiji unimaginable joy.


    After spending ten hours, Tang Xian took Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu to the lower levels.


    The portal to the "Newbie Village" was located there, and they had to go through the portal to reach it.


    Posters of the Judges were plastered everywhere in the lower levels. Even next to Luo''s grocery store sign, there were several.


    Tang Xian also made a special trip to Decay Street.


    Decay Street, usually bustling at night, seemed rather desolate.


    The crowd on the streets was no longer bustling, instead, there were only a few people whispering in small groups.


    In just a few months, Tang Xian indeed did not expect such drastic changes in the lower levels.


    Tang Xian vaguely thought of something and headed towards the mining district.


    ...


    ...


    Dozens of giant searchlights turned night into day.


    Some miners were still extracting minerals.


    Tang Xian''s attire resembled that of an official from the upper levels on inspection.


    His clothing was an indication of high status, and with the distinguished air of Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng, many team leaders didn''t approach, allowing Tang Xian to inspect the minefield freely.


    Returning to the place where he used to work, Tang Xian could no longer find any sense of familiarity.


    A few months ago, before he became an official worker, he would usually leave the mining area around six in the evening.


    That was the routine for everyone, as the mining area was more dangerous at night.


    But now it was different; at least the mining area of the past didn''t have so many miners still working at such a late hour.


    After a moment of thought, Tang Xian quickly understood the problem.


    A large number of temporary workers from the lower levels had become Judges, leading to a shortage of miners.


    The Li family''s fortress had to sustain the energy of the eighth level, so the consumption of minerals naturally increased.


    As a result, with fewer people, to avoid a reduction in output, it was unavoidable to extend the temporary workers'' hours.


    After all, he had spent six years in this place, a quarter of his life in this very mining district.


    Tang Xian couldn''t be without feelings for it.


    He wanted to find some familiar faces, but after looking around, he couldn''t find those old temporary workers with whom he used to shoot the breeze.


    The Eden Mischiefs incident had implicated many people associated with Tang Xian.

 Chapter 62 Returning to the Old Place_2

    People with identity and ability mostly got away unscathed.


    For example, Ke Ye and Shang Lu were still living their lives in their original positions.


    But many people without identity became judgement knights.


    Bai Mansheng seldom saw Tang Xian like this.


    He couldn''t quite pinpoint what was off, but looking at this figure from behind, he thought Tang Xian seemed a bit lonely.


    He walked in the night, not uttering a word, merely letting his gaze sweep across the faces of each temporary worker.


    Tang Xian did not miss the old days, nor did he miss some of the people from before.


    Or perhaps he thought he wouldn''t miss them.


    But at least these people needed to survive.


    "Screw the Mapo tofu and damn the bean paste sauce, I just want tits and butts! And mines! Preferably the damn purple ones."


    Tang Xian seemed to hear a familiar voice, but when he turned around, he didn''t see the person speaking.


    Tang Xian remembered this line.


    It came from an old mining buddy when he used to be a temp.


    Back then, Tang Xian always liked to talk about food, stealing moments to relax.


    Even though the old miner wasn''t interested in food, he was still willing to listen to Tang Xian ramble on.


    Today, he saw some familiar faces, like Jiang Ming, Bai Ling, and Shang Lu.


    But there were others he would never see again.


    "Did you hear that voice?"


    "What voice?" Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian, puzzled.


    Tang Xian felt a bit desolate and shook his head. He continued deeper into the night.


    Besides the sound of mining, there was nothing else.


    His face grew increasingly somber, as if carrying a smoldering anger.


    "Tang Feiji, do you remember those mech bodies we fought on the second level of Fortress Thirty-nine?"


    Suddenly, Tang Xian asked.


    They had reached the edge of the newbie village.


    Tang Feiji nodded, replying,


    "Of course I remember. That toy-like riffraff, they were no match for your lordship. But their methods of attack were indeed a bit annoying."


    Tang Xian was puzzled over what Tang Feiji regarded as toys compared to the Rubik''s cubes and Lego bricks he played with.


    But as conceited as Tang Feiji was, to add a but clause, it seemed the judgement knight''s strange ray indeed posed a hassle.


    Tang Xian also remembered how little Qing JiuYu took nearly a month to recover after being hit.


    There weren''t many guards on the edge of the safety zone, and if Song Que could strike unnoticed, it would be even easier for Tang Feiji.


    "We''re going to capture a judgement knight tonight."


    "As easy as flipping my hand."


    "Good, you can even use idioms now."


    Tang Xian said, nodding with a smile.


    Bai Mansheng also started laughing.


    Tang Feiji said proudly,


    "Human language is so simple, your lordship grasps it with ease."


    "It''s ''grasps it with ease,'' not ''occupy it with ease.''" Bai Mansheng shook his head and corrected.


    Tang Feiji coughed twice.


    Tang Xian''s sense of smell allowed him to detect the position of the judgement knight from a great distance.


    He quickly discussed a battle plan with Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng.


    For a cataclysmic creature and a disaster-level creature to deal with a judgement knight was far too easy.


    Despite the judgement knights being on high alert, Tang Xian''s sense of smell covered the entire green zone.


    Before long, Tang Feiji appeared, holding the body of a judgement knight in one hand and the head in the other.


    Bai Mansheng also captured a judgement knight, slightly slower than Tang Feiji and with more damage.


    Of course, the judgement knight Tang Feiji brought back wasn''t too intact either.


    A human, a dragon, and a snake met at the border of the green zone.


    Tang Feiji said,


    "After fighting them for some time, I discovered these things are almost immortal, unless you twist off their heads."


    "Or break their spines," Bai Mansheng added, and then threw the judgement knight he captured to the ground, mocking Tang Feiji.


    Listening to their conversation, Tang Xian pondered.


    "Ordinary mechanized bodies can''t operate in the mining area due to a special field here that isolates most machinery."


    "However, mechs made from biological elements seem to have broken through this limitation, which may be why judgement knights require biological components to be constructed."


    Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji didn''t understand and weren''t interested either. They just watched Tang Xian fiddling around.


    Tang Xian flipped through the remains of the judgement knight.


    He noticed the additional patterns etched on the body of the Trial Knight, all indicating the integration of various mechanical technologies.


    Such as night-vision goggles and thermal biological monitors.


    Therefore, in the Pyramid, these Trial Knights would be even more difficult to deal with.


    But it was different here.


    The devices on their bodies would lose their function. For this reason, Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng could approach the Trial Knight undetected.


    Tang Xian grew more puzzled.


    Because the body of the Trial Knight had no human flesh and organs whatsoever.


    But there was a simulated spine.


    Following the spine, Tang Xian''s gaze finally settled on the severed head.


    Although he couldn''t figure out what was inside the head of the Trial Knight, and there was no blood or flesh in the remains¡ª


    Tang Xian indeed smelled it.


    "Well hidden, must be only a few human organs."


    "The thalamus is the most important sensory transmission station for animals with a developed cerebral cortex.


    It occupies only a small part, a pity indeed, looks like I''ll have to consult with the neurosurgeon Zhong Xiuxiu next time.


    Maybe she could provide a sample for me to confirm what the thalamus smells like."


    "Exactly, you haven''t eaten humans," Tang Feiji said proudly, sharing his findings.


    This time Qing JiuYu didn''t interrupt.


    Tang Xian ignored this.


    The manufacturing process of the Trial Knights was extremely complex.


    He wasn''t concerned with the principles, just as ancient people would regard calculus as book of the heavens without a foundation in mathematics.


    The Orderers had even more complex and refined mechanical bodies than the Trial Knights.


    Even with the blueprints, one might not understand the advanced physical principles involved.


    But he had found what he was looking for.


    "The ability of the Trial Knight, or that peculiar ray, might be innate." Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    "Innate?" Bai Mansheng asked, confused.


    "The talents of the Gifted are hereditary. Non-Gifted individuals turned into Trial Knights might have been forcibly implanted with a terrifying innate ability during transformation, an ability specifically designed to counter me."


    Tang Xian shook his head, wishing Song Que and Li Xiaoyu were here.


    Or Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, at least to have someone to help analyze the situation.


    It wasn''t that Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji were too stupid, but rather they, as beasts, didn''t understand these matters.


    "Why is it targeting you?" Bai Mansheng didn''t understand but was very interested.


    "Because it''s hard for me to die, and the Trial Knight''s ability just happens to erase my strongest reliance."


    Tang Feiji nodded in agreement. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having been struck by the Trial Knight''s death ray before, he knew well how that ray restrained Tang Xian.


    Since he''d fought Tang Xian, under normal circumstances, Tang Xian should have died a thousand times over.


    Surviving even a piercing by ice spears wasn''t because the Azure Dragon''s attacks weren''t strong but because Tang Xian''s lifeforce was incredibly robust.


    But if Tang Xian''s rapid life recovery was removed, in a near-death state, Tang Xian might not die, but his bodily functions would drop to freezing point due to the inability to recover.


    "You are a Child of Eden, can''t you defend against it?"


    "That depends on whether the Trial Knight belongs to the mechanical or the living."


    As long as it''s a biological entity, Tang Xian can develop resistance.


    But if it''s a lifeless machine, then there''s no way to do so.


    Just as humans can injure themselves with firearms.


    If it really is the latter, Tang Xian wouldn''t find it strange that Eden''s children were defeated by the Orderers.


    After a thorough inspection and toying with it for a while, Tang Xian was sure he couldn''t discern any further clues, so he stopped caring and instructed Tang Feiji to cleanly melt everything away.


    He was not a person who allowed crises to unfold unchecked.


    The Trial Knight had become a threat to him and also posed a vague threat to the future of humanity.


    Even if he spoke out, people wouldn''t believe him.


    Who would be willing to give up such obedient, powerful, and low-cost mechanical bodies?


    However, his understanding of the Trial Knights was still too limited.


    And to make the people at the bottom aware of this scam, he still lacked a bit of influence.


    But Song Que wasn''t lacking in that, Yu Xiaozhe wasn''t either.


    Thinking this, Tang Xian had a plan in mind.


    "What''s next?" Seeing Tang Xian''s mood slowly returning to normal, Bai Mansheng asked softly.


    Tang Xian produced the fruit of the Zudun Sacred Tree.


    "There''s much to do, but for now let''s find a prey to observe what effect this fruit truly has."


    (Twenty thousand words, counted as ten chapters at two thousand words each for today, the working group really cannot squeeze out time to write more, I''ve done my best~)

 Chapter 63 The Fruit of Evolution

    Tang Xian had long been accustomed to the nights in the mining area.


    Today, the sky was clear, and the stars above the mining area were beautiful.


    Ever since he discovered Baichuan City, Tang Xian hardly found any opportunity to appreciate the night in the mining area.


    He walked along the edge of the safe zone with Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji, gradually venturing out.


    Their aim was to find a suitable beast for experimentation.


    Thinking about it, he felt he had a certain affinity with creatures like the Cerberus.


    Why not experiment on the Cerberus? Even if the experiment failed, he would still have a consolation prize.


    With that thought, Tang Xian headed northward.


    In the past, the red soil forest was home to canine creatures like the bone hyenas and Cerberus.


    But now that the red soil forest was gone, they had to walk towards the tree sea.


    They were now on the border of Southern Amara Continent, and since it was a safe zone, there wasn''t a single perfect-level creature here.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry; he was looking at the starry sky.


    Not seeing old friends in the starter area made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.


    This discomfort, while stargazing, was slowly dispersed by other thoughts.


    Bai Mansheng followed Tang Xian''s gaze and asked,


    "Is there something in the sky?"


    "The starry sky is beautiful; you should look at it more often," he replied.


    "But when you look at it every day, it loses its wonder," she commented.


    Tang Xian nodded. Bai Mansheng, a literary woman used to peaceful times by the brook, presumably had her share of gazing up at the night sky alone.


    After all, beauty is a subjective feeling that one gets tired of over time. People''s affection for all things tends to undergo a seven-year itch, unless it is perpetually out of reach.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I used to live in the Pyramid. I''m not sure what the real world''s starry sky is like since I can''t imagine things I''ve never seen. Sometimes I even wonder if the sky outside... also has a ceiling."


    "When I was eighteen, I went to the mining area to take the examination and saw the sky for the first time. But I truly saw the night sky only after becoming a temporary worker."


    "An old employee told me that nights in the mining area are very dangerous. That old employee was probably my first friend during my time as a temporary worker."


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian continued,


    "Anyway, I saw the real starry sky. And not long ago, during the nights in Baichuan City, I would also look up at the sky. That''s when I realized that both starry skies are the same. At least, I can''t tell the difference."


    Bai Mansheng heard the implication and said,


    "Are you suggesting that the Human World and the mining area might not be that far apart?"


    Tang Xian looked at the familiar constellations in the sky and said,


    "I don''t know. The universe is vast. Even if the distance between the two worlds is short, it''s beyond human reach by foot.


    But this has given me some inspiration."


    "What inspiration?" she inquired.


    "We might know how to create transfer fissures, but no one understands the principle. We are sure they can only be used between the mining area and the Human World.


    Some creatures are recorded to have existed even before humans discovered the mining area. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the Primordial Era, there was the ''Classic of Mountains and Seas.'' As if by some coincidence, some of the Judgment Chiefs I know of now match the descriptions in that book."


    "Sometimes I wonder if long ago, there were higher intelligent species inviting some people to another world, or inviting some creatures from another world to the Human World?"


    "Your imagination really is rich. So, you''re saying that the two worlds have been connected since ancient times?" she asked.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t know much about the history of the Beast World.


    "These are only baseless thoughts," Tang Xian said.


    The races in this world are too diverse for every species to fully understand its own history.


    Perhaps only the Courts of the Beasts systematically compile and organize the history of all beast races to form a complete history of the Beast World.


    Tang Xian did not expect Bai Mansheng, Qing Jiuyu, and Tang Feiji to know much history.


    That was something to learn at the Courts of the Beasts.


    Tang Feiji was not interested in this topic; he thought that the beauty of the starry sky was not as good as the Soul Crystals of the Undersea City.


    After all, they are both twinkling.


    Bai Mansheng, however, seemed contemplative as she said,


    "So the moon I saw in the Tianque Plains is the same one you saw in the Human World? Does that make it ''Bright moon on the sea; we share this hour together''?"


    Tang Xian was not surprised that Bai, who enjoyed listening to stories, was familiar with idioms and Tang poetry.


    In fact, Soul Crystals allowing cataclysmic-level boss creatures to communicate with humans had many facets worth exploring.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Yes, if the starry sky is the same, then the moon is the same moon."


    Bai Mansheng suddenly felt joyous as she said,


    "That''s great. It feels as if when I''m looking at the moon, I can also see you, as if we''re looking at each other. Human language is truly beautiful. Maybe next time you could give me a selection of poems."


    Tang Xian raised an eyebrow, with a face full of question marks, and said,


    "Why are you rounding up like that?"


    "Rounding up?" she echoed.


    According to the records on Weibo, this is a mindset most commonly associated with single homebodies," he explained.


    Bai Mansheng became even more puzzled.


    Tang Xian explained,


    "Aragaki Yui lives on Earth, and so do I. Round it up and Aragaki Yui and I are living together.


    Aragaki Yui is kissing the air, and I''m kissing the air, round it up and it''s like Aragaki Yui is kissing me.


    Aragaki Yui is sleeping in bed, and I''m sleeping in bed, round it up and it''s like Aragaki Yui and I are sharing the bed.


    Aragaki Yui loves the world, and I love the world, round it up and it''s like Aragaki Yui loves me." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 63 The Fruit of Evolution_2

    Rounding up or down is really a wonderful thing. It''s an extension of human thought, much like the novels and stories we read.


    Of course, you could replace Aragaki Yui with Rimi Ishihara here, or even Cai Xukun or Guo Degang, and so on."


    "So what exactly are you trying to say?" Bai Mansheng asked.


    Tang Xian mentioned some names in his example, none of which she had heard of.


    "You''re overthinking it. If I were in the Human World, I wouldn''t have the time or the means to make eye contact with you, the moon would just be the moon."


    In an instant, Tang Xian saw Bai Mansheng''s favorability rating drop by 2.


    Then the lady in white stopped talking.


    But it wasn''t long before Tang Xian brought up a new topic and the two of them started chatting again.


    ...


    ...


    After a long walk and chat, the night had grown deep. Even the temporary workers toiling away in the mining area wouldn''t stay up until now.


    Finally, Tang Xian and his group had walked out of the borders of Southern Amara Continent and entered a vast and expansive blue region.


    This area had the highest number of hunters. But at night, there were very few.


    After killing a large number of Hell Flame Wolves, Tang Xian''s sense of smell had become radar-like.


    Finding an experimental prey was easy for Tang Xian.


    Hell Flame Wolves were almost extinct in this area, but there were still a few bone hyenas.


    After they left the safety zone far behind, Tang Xian had Tang Feiji transform into a dragon and start flying north.


    In Tang Xian''s sea of consciousness, there was actually a mysterious pattern.


    It was as if there were countless cards.


    The appearance of this pattern first occurred when the Hell Flame Wolf was killed by Dong Ran.


    Originally, the pattern of the cards was quite blurry, but now, it appeared very clear in the sea of consciousness.


    Besides, there were many more creatures.


    Such as iron can pigs, bone hyenas, great tengus, three-tailed foxes, Shiling Beasts, ember dragons, and many deep-sea creatures.


    But there were none for Tang Feiji and Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian speculated that it probably recorded the creatures he had killed.


    And the clarity represented resistance.


    The more he thought about it, the more he felt he might have really been to the mining area before.


    Those cards seemed to be unveiling the types of creatures in the mining area, lurking in his sea of consciousness all along.


    Quietly waiting for him to unveil them one by one.


    Tang Xian shook his head, no longer dwelling on these irrelevant thoughts.


    At this moment, his sense of smell picked up the scent of a Hell Flame Wolf.


    Now he obviously didn''t need to smell the disgusting dog urine.


    With two powerful bodyguards, he didn''t have to worry about any risks.


    The Hell Flame Wolf also possessed a strong sense of smell; sensing the threat, it began to sprint wildly.


    But Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng were much higher levels than it.


    Even in human form, they could easily hunt the Hell Flame Wolf.


    In a huge cave, the Hell Flame Wolf was finally caught by Tang Feiji.


    It took Tang Xian about ten minutes to follow the scent to the cave.


    This place was like another lair for the Hell Flame Wolf, filled with some dry, flammable white roots.


    It was just like the time when Tang Xian took Dong Ran to find the Hell Flame Wolf''s lair.


    "It really is a night for nostalgia."


    Tang Xian came to the terrified Hell Flame Wolf that was too afraid to move.


    This was, after all, only an elite boss creature; when facing a calamity-level boss creature and a disaster-level boss creature, it didn''t dare to resist.


    After realizing the absolute difference in speed, it had given up on escaping.


    But the Hell Flame Wolf became even more afraid when it saw Tang Xian.


    After killing creatures, Tang Xian''s resistance and damage would increase, as would something called Prestige.


    Nowadays, canines, upon seeing Tang Xian, instinctively felt fear.


    [You too are a powerful being, why do you attack me?]


    "Even the lines are nostalgic," Tang Xian commented.


    "I didn''t attack you. In fact, if you hadn''t run, my companions wouldn''t have chased you."


    [If you don''t chase me, why would I run?]


    This was like a police officer asking a thief why he ran, and the thief responding by asking the police officer why he was chased.


    Tang Xian didn''t bother with the logic of this three-headed Husky. He took out a Zudun Sacred Tree fruit from his prop bag.


    At this moment, all three heads of the Hell Flame Wolf extended their long tongues, drooling uncontrollably.


    Bai Mansheng frowned slightly; she felt disquieted once again. She turned her head away, not looking at the fruit of the Zudun Sacred Tree, suppressing her own desire to eat it.


    Tang Feiji''s reaction was calmer, but he also showed some interest.


    "What is this? It looks delicious," Tang Feiji said.


    "The fruits of the Ancestral Holy Tree are said to grant evolution to living beings, it seems they are indeed attractive to the innate nature of myriad beasts."


    Tang Xian observed the expressions of Bai Mansheng, Tang Feiji, and the three-headed Husky.


    He also sensed through his breath that a vast number of creatures were recklessly approaching his location despite the danger.


    Even with catastrophic and calamitous beasts present, the creatures that sensed the scent of this fruit were still approaching rapidly. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It seems that the higher the level, the better they resist the temptation of this fruit."


    Tang Xian felt more and more that there was something wrong with this fruit.


    In fact, there has been such a debate about the Bible.


    The incident of Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden has always been controversial.


    Should the snake that tempted Eve be blamed, or should Adam and Eve themselves be blamed?


    A minority also believes that the forbidden fruit itself bears responsibility, and even God, who forbade eating the fruit, is not without blame.


    The latter, of course, is a tremendous sacrilege against the Bible.


    For some reason, these thoughts suddenly came to Tang Xian''s mind; he shook his head slightly, took the fruit of the Ancestral Holy Tree, and said:


    "Do you want it?"


    After all, the three-headed Hell Hound is an elite-level boss, possessing some intelligence compared to the rest of the creatures surging crazily in the distance.


    This intelligence allowed it to retain a sliver of rationality.


    It nodded furiously, struggling to resist the urge to pounce and snatch away the fruit.


    Tang Xian said:


    "It''s yours."


    [Truly¡­ really?]


    The three-headed Hell Hound was ecstatic; Tang Xian could not understand this joy.


    He threw the fruit out, and at that moment, the Hell Hound could no longer hold back.


    It lunged like a dog seeing a flying disc, instinctively trying to jump up and catch the fruit in its mouth.


    Then it swallowed it down with several woeful howls.


    Bai Mansheng turned to see what changes would follow.


    Tang Feiji also fixed his gaze on the Hell Hound.


    Tang Xian never took his eyes off it, committing every action of the Hell Hound to memory.


    After swallowing the fruit of the Ancestral Holy Tree, the Hell Hound appeared satisfied.


    It even began to wag its tail at Tang Xian as if a ferocious creature had turned into a cute pet.


    Tang Xian felt somewhat disappointed; was the fruit ineffective?


    But this Husky indeed showed a strong desire.


    It was obviously something at the level of the Soul Crystal that was attracting it and the other creatures around it.


    As Tang Xian wondered, an unexpected change finally occurred.


    The ensuing scene made Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian feel somewhat uncomfortable.


    The three-headed Hell Hound suddenly let out cries of agony.


    What was originally showing friendliness to Tang Xian by wagging its tail was now rolling in pain over some sort of transformational anguish.


    Inside its body, it seemed as though some creature was violently colliding with its physical form.


    With each collision, the Hell Hound''s body grew more enormous.


    What was most shocking was that two of its three heads, like fruit that had been sucked dry, began to slowly wither.


    But the eyes, reminiscent of a Husky, became more animated, more fierce and violent.


    The dog''s barking gradually turned into wolf howling.


    The giant body began to shift the necks without dog heads into oddly shaped muscles.


    Tang Xian watched this scene silently.


    This was indeed an evolution.


    The three-headed Hell Hound was evolving into a Hell Flame Wolf.


    If the Hell Flame Wolf evolved further, it would become a Tengu.


    But the evolution brought about by this fruit was too unstable.


    If not for the eyes and howling, Tang Xian wouldn''t have believed this was a Hell Flame Wolf.


    It was very different from the Hell Flame Wolves he had seen on the island of Jin Lu.


    This one was larger, but extremely irregular.


    It was like a child playing with clay, arbitrarily molding a bizarre and vaguely recognizable shape.


    The Hell Hound continued to transform painfully and torturously into a Hell Flame Wolf.


    Tang Xian then said to Bai Mansheng:


    "It has indeed evolved, but like the fruit studied by Shang Lu, there is not a moment of regularity; the evolution brought by this fruit, or rather the fruit itself, is utterly chaotic. Do you still want to eat it?"


    Bai Mansheng shook his head and said:


    "I do not wish to become such an ugly creature."


    Tang Xian nodded and continued to watch the Hell Hound, wanting to see to what extent this three-headed dog would evolve.


    Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    (That''s 4,000 words for today, let me rest a bit, my condition is really not good today, I am not forcing myself anymore, I will continue to burst write in a couple of days.)

 Chapter 64 The Wedding Approaches

    The hellhound''s appearance had already halfway transformed into that of a Hell Flame Wolf.


    The irregular shape made everything look so bizarre.


    Tang Feiji furrowed his brows and said,


    "Can we still eat this meat later?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng glared at Tang Feiji. Although in Tang Xian''s fabricated version of "The Legend of the White Snake," the hellhound clan played the role of Fahai''s forces, leading to Bai''s dislike for the species, she could still see that this hellhound was in tremendous pain.


    Tang Xian remained silent.


    Dog meat was always edible, the question was what kind of dog meat you ate.


    Under the current circumstances, was it a Hell Flame Wolf or a hellhound?


    "I really wish I had X-ray vision so I could see how its Soul Crystal is changing."


    As Tang Xian thought this, the hellhound underwent another transformation.


    Now, most of its body had become that of a Hell Flame Wolf, but a small part still bore the characteristics of a hellhound.


    The most shocking scene was about to unfold before Tang Xian.


    The Hell Flame Wolf part of the creature began to transform anew.


    Black flames slowly seeped out from its skin, and its originally brown fur started to rapidly darken.


    Bai Mansheng suddenly became alert, her Soul Crystal sensing the presence of a creature of the same tier.


    She looked incredulously at the hellhound.


    This creature, which was still at the elite stage, had first evolved to the perfect stage, and then started to exhibit signs of evolution into the calamity stage.


    Tang Xian noticed this scene as well.


    The current hellhound had only a small part of its head retaining the characteristics of a hellhound.


    The rest of its body was mostly that of a Hell Flame Wolf, with a small part distinctly taking on the form of a Tengu.


    It was as if three different creatures were merged into one.


    Even though it was related to the evolutionary chain, this state of evolution, which hadn''t been completed before starting anew, shocked Tang Xian.


    His knowledge level was even higher than some of the doctors in the evolution area.


    And yet, even so, it was Tang Xian''s first time witnessing such a shocking event.


    "The fruit from the Zudun sacred tree indeed brings evolution, but what color is this hellhound''s Soul Crystal now? Or does it, like that fruit, display a multitude of colors?"


    Microscopic elements often unlock the secrets of broader levels.


    Just as humans understand the cosmos and stars, they must also understand molecules and atoms.


    And the mutual support of both has led to advanced physics fields.


    For Tang Xian, understanding the origin of the Soul Crystal might be another way to unravel the various mysteries of this world.


    Tang Feiji looked at their expressions and was unconcerned.


    After all, they were but foolish humans and weak snakes.


    It was just a little dog after all; even if it evolved to a purple-tier existence¡ªit would still be just a purple-tier dog.


    The evolution of the hellhound continued, the Hell Flame Wolf part slowly transitioning into a Tengu.


    Tang Xian''s keen sense of smell told him that many creatures had already stopped approaching.


    They were even retreating continuously.


    When the fruit of the Zudun sacred tree was completely absorbed, especially with the addition of roughly half of a calamity-tier boss creature, plus Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng, such a powerful presence naturally caused all beasts in the blue zone to scatter.


    And with that, the evolution drew towards its final phase.


    The only hellhound trait remaining was a single pupil.


    The remainder of its form was mostly that of a Hell Flame Wolf, with a small part turned into a Tengu.


    The black flames originated from the Tengu part, but these flames were unbearable for the Hell Flame Wolf, or rather, the hellhound.


    It howled in agony, and Tang Xian didn''t even know what species the canine creature before him was anymore.


    "I am in so much pain, kill me! Please, kill me!"


    The voice of the hellhound was filled with frenzy and torment.


    Tang Xian watched the scene and nodded slightly.


    There was no need to continue observing. Neither the primary nor the secondary evolution was complete, meaning that due to the overly rapid pace, it skipped natural evolutionary rhythms, resulting in the hellhound''s extremely abnormal state.


    Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Even if he didn''t kill it, it would die from the Tengu''s flames.


    "Tang Feiji, kill it," Tang Xian said softly.


    Tang Feiji did not ask any questions. A flash of orange light twinkled in his Dragon Eyes, and an ice spike penetrated the hellhound''s head.


    "Can you melt it down?" Tang Xian looked at Tang Feiji.


    "Aren''t you going to eat the dog meat?" Tang Feiji was still thinking about the meat.


    "This dog is probably inedible."


    Tang Feiji pursed his lips but ultimately complied.


    Dragon flames began to consume the hellhound''s body.


    Tang Xian stood by, quietly watching everything.


    This hellhound actually had significant experimental value, but it couldn''t be taken back to the Pyramid; it was simply too big.


    The only option was to extract its Soul Crystal and give it to Shang Lu''s wife for research.


    Bai Mansheng, thoughtfully watching the dragon flames incinerate the hellhound, said,


    "I remember reading in books that humans seem to really like dogs. Dogs are man''s best friend, or so they say. But there also seem to be quite a few humans who really like to eat dog meat."


    After a moment''s thought, Bai Mansheng said,


    "Humans really are complex creatures."


    Tang Xian replied with a smile,


    "It''s foolish to love every single creature of a species."


    "What do you mean by that? So you no longer like the people of my Nvwa Snake Clan?"


    "We tend to like just one aspect of something. If humans cannot even manage to love everyone, how can they love everything? If you find Tang Xian interesting, would you like all humans?"

 Chapter 64 The Wedding Approaches_2

    ```


    Bai Mansheng was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Some people like to keep dogs, and there''s nothing wrong with that. If he is your friend, then you might not like his pet, but you should still show at least some respect. Respecting a person includes respecting their property, including pets. It''s a matter of courtesy.


    But if a dog owner insists that no dog in the world should be eaten, that eating dog meat is a personal affront to him, that too is rude and foolish behavior.


    Ancient humans loved animals, respected women, and gradually reduced discrimination between races.


    However, the interesting thing is that animal rights, women''s rights, and racial equality were all mostly disliked by people in those times."


    "Why?" Bai Mansheng still knew what these terms meant.


    Tang Feiji, on the other hand, didn''t understand at all; he was just drooling over a pile of burnt dog meat.


    "It''s not that people thought these were wrong, but rather that some advocates for animal rights, women''s rights, and racial equality often show a face of double standards.


    Excessive correction in prohibiting something can turn these originally beautiful things into something people hate."


    Tang Xian did not elaborate further; the corpse of the hellhound had already been burned to ash, and the Soul Crystal was now exposed.


    Just as Tang Xian had expected.


    This Soul Crystal was emitting three hues, unseen before.


    Tang Xian placed the Soul Crystal into his tool bag, planning to study it later with Zhong Xiuxiu.


    There was a very special feeling about Zhong Xiuxiu that Tang Xian recognized.


    This feeling made him trust in Zhong Xiuxiu''s work capacity and her vast professional knowledge.


    "After tonight''s work is done, let''s fly to March Marsh. We''ll rest there for a night upon arrival and then head back to the thirty-ninth floor of the Pyramid."


    "So what about the dog meat?" Tang Feiji was not content.


    To kill the opponent and not eat it¡ªwasn''t that wasteful? Although the dog had been burned to ash, its tempting aroma remained!


    Tang Feiji was gradually adopting some of Tang Xian''s way of thinking.


    Tang Xian suggested,


    "Then let''s go find another dog?"


    "Sure." Tang Feiji nodded happily.


    Bai Mansheng had no objections; after all, she didn''t keep dogs. She was only curious about Tang Xian''s fixation on canines.


    After some thought, the simplest explanation was the most reliable.


    Dog meat is delicious, nothing more.


    ...


    ...


    The next morning, not long after awakening, Tang Xian returned to the fourth floor of the Pyramid.


    He came to the Hua Science Academy as Tang Jikede.


    Shang Lu had already started work, and Zhong Xiuxiu was not around, probably off on an inspection elsewhere.


    The biggest difference between a married man and a single one often lies in the fact that before marriage, he is a lover; after marriage, he becomes a rigid straight man.


    In other words, once obtained, the interest fades.


    But for Shang Lu, there was no such change.


    He was the same before and after the marriage, prompting onlookers to speculate if he was gay.


    After all, to the many bald scholars at the Hua Science Academy, Zhong Xiuxiu was impossibly beautiful.


    But Shang Lu''s mind was fully invested in his research on plants.


    However, that didn''t mean Shang Lu wasn''t feeling the pressure.


    Upon Tang Xian''s arrival, after exchanging a few words with Shang Lu, they quickly touched on the topic of marriage.


    Shang Lu said, somewhat despondently,


    "Xian, I feel like I won''t be able to get the Nobel Prize in Biology."


    "And what''s the reason for that?"


    "Science has shown that being single allows for greater focus, a longer lifespan, and no need to be troubled by the opposite sex, thus saving more time for work. And now all these are slipping away from me."


    "Don''t worry, Zhong Xiuxiu definitely won''t hinder your work," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Shang Lu didn''t deny it:


    "Xiuxiu is indeed very capable. Her analytical skills, computational abilities, are comparable to a calculator."


    Tang Xian was intrigued.


    Zhong Xiuxiu''s way of thinking and her IQ seemed quite high, although her EQ was extremely low.


    She was quite a match for Shang Lu.


    "So when will your wedding ceremony take place?" Tang Xian asked.


    Even though they had obtained their marriage license, Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu had not yet held their wedding ceremony.


    With a blush, Shang Lu said,


    "It will be in a few days. Xiuxiu''s parents have gone missing in the mining area, she doesn''t care much about planning the wedding, leaving it to me to decide. I plan to have a small ceremony right here at the Hua Science Academy.


    I''ll just invite colleagues from Hua, along with a few close friends."


    Though the focus should be on the wedding, Tang Xian couldn''t help but notice the mention of missing parents.


    He maintained a normal expression, pausing for just a second before suppressing his curiosity and said,


    ```


    "It seems that I''m in your invitation."


    "I hadn''t expected to see you this month, but since you''ve come, Xian, please do me the honor of being the wedding witness for Xiuxiu and me," Shang Lu said with a face full of anticipation as he looked at Tang Xian.


    This was one of the rare things outside his plant research that he was looking forward to.


    Although he was worried that getting married would affect his work, Tang Xian could feel that Shang Lu did indeed like Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Tech nerds are like that¡ªthey''re as steadfast as rock, but they can be incredibly passionate when it comes to love.


    Tang Xian laughed and said: S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m sure acting as a wedding witness isn''t my strong suit, nor do I have any experience in such a role, but I''m willing to accept. What specific day is the wedding?"


    "In a week."


    "Apart from the people from Hua Science Academy, who else is coming?"


    "The two young masters from the Li family."


    "Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian?" Tang Xian asked in surprise.


    "Yes... I have no idea why two big shots would want to come to such a nobody''s wedding like mine," Shang Lu said, puzzled.


    After pondering for a moment, Tang Xian shook his head and laughed:


    "Those two brothers probably think that there will be some special guests at your wedding."


    "Special guests?"


    "Li Xiaoyu."


    "Ah, if the second miss would deign to come, that would be wonderful..."


    Tang Xian cut Shang Lu off and said:


    "Forget it, I couldn''t possibly bring her. If she did come, the whole fortress would be in chaos, and you could forget about having the wedding.


    But before you get married, I will return to Baichuan City and bring her blessings to you."


    Shang Lu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said:


    "I neglected to consider that, being out of the lab for so long, I forgot that the second miss is on the run. Right, I''ve never been married before, and it''s kind of making me panic. Xian, any advice you can give?"


    As he spoke, Shang Lu began to examine the veins of the Zudun Sacred Tree leaves. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian said irritably:


    "You say that as if I''ve been married before."


    "After all, you are my role model," Shang Lu sincerely thought.


    Tang Xian always managed to handle many things with ease.


    Imagining one day Tang Xian getting married...


    Suddenly, Shang Lu stopped, finding he simply couldn''t picture it.


    Tang Xian said:


    "If anxiety were measured from one to ten, then marriage would give me about ¦Ð in anxiety."


    "What do you mean?"


    "It''s not very anxiety-inducing, but it''s endless."


    Shang Lu pondered these words thoughtfully.


    Then Tang Xian continued:


    "My life has been a testament to the idea that the most perfect life is accepting the imperfections within it. I suppose love is the same. The most perfect love is happily accepting an imperfect love. That''s the grand truth, mull over it in your own time."


    "Got it. I''ll remember that. Xian, do you have some business on this visit?"


    "Yesterday, I took some Zudun Sacred Tree fruits to do some experiments in the mining area, and there were a few other things as well. Actually, today I came to find Zhong Xiuxiu."


    Shang Lu said:


    "Then you''ll have to wait a bit. Xiuxiu has some things to handle, usually performing several cortical surgeries in the morning. After recording the experiment data, she''ll come find me at 11:40."


    "Her timing is that precise?"


    "Yes, Xiuxiu''s computational ability is just like a machine''s; whatever time she says she''ll finish something, she never drags it out or cuts it short. By the way, Xian, did you take all three Zudun Sacred Tree fruits? I see there''s only one left here," Shang Lu said.


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "Three? I only took two."


    "Ah? Maybe I remembered it wrong, but I thought there were four fruits from the Zudun Sacred Tree," Shang Lu said in surprise.


    Tang Xian fell silent.


    Shang Lu mentioned four Zudun Sacred Tree fruits, but Zhong Xiuxiu had only mentioned three the day before.


    Between the two, Zhong Xiuxiu was naturally the one who had lied to him.


    Speaking of which, Zhong Xiuxiu''s data panel from yesterday did indicate that her honesty level wasn''t very high.


    But Tang Xian could understand.


    It seemed, however, that Shang Lu''s clever wife might have a little secret.


    After a pause, Tang Xian laughed and said:


    "It was me who took three, I got it wrong."


    "Really? I thought so. By the way, Xian, I have some new experiments here, could you give me some critique?"


    "Sure, it''s a good way to pass the time, waiting for Zhong Xiuxiu to come over."

 Chapter 425 - 65: The Relationship between Tang Xian and Zhong Xiuxiu

    Shang Lu''s experiments were tedious.


    Even though Tang Xian could tolerate the tedium, he didn''t believe he could match Shang Lu''s dedication of doing the same work day after day for years.


    He chatted with Shang Lu sporadically.


    Sometimes they would exchange thoughts about plants. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After so many years of fanatical research, Tang Xian was certain that Shang Lu had surpassed him in this field.


    All he could do was offer some conceptual suggestions to Shang Lu.


    Talent determines the ceiling, effort determines the floor.


    Given the low level of effort exerted by the vast majority of people in this world, most haven''t even come close to needing to rely on their talent.


    People always underestimate their own talent and overestimate their perseverance.


    But not Shang Lu¡ªhis talent had finally been realized through hard work.


    Tang Xian believed that Shang Lu was bound to make significant breakthroughs in the field of botany in the future.


    Beyond work and academia, Tang Xian also talked to Shang Lu about marriage. It was evident that this tech nerd, comparable to Tang Xian himself, was quite nervous.


    However, in this matter too, Shang Lu was ahead of Tang Xian, who had never ventured into marriage.


    All Tang Xian could provide were some single man''s cloud assessments.


    For instance, Shang Lu would ask,


    "What if we have kids and they turn out not like me but are instead quite unintelligent?"


    Tang Xian had never really considered the issue of children; Shang Lu was clearly thinking far ahead.


    But in reality, it wasn''t that far off.


    "From a genetic standpoint, Zhong Xiuxiu is very intelligent, and so are you, unless you''re playing the glorious game of ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms,'' the chances of you having an idiotic child are quite slim.


    But I can''t exclude that possibility... If the child really turns out to be unintelligent, then just let them be a happy rich second generation."


    "I have no money."


    "Did you forget about the company we established six months ago?"


    "I remember... but aren''t there hardly any deals?"


    "Actually, there are quite a few deals, and since you''re getting married, I''ve got to give a wedding gift."


    "It''s enough that you come, Xian. You being there is a risk in itself. You really don''t need to give anything."


    Although most of the time that phrase means ''the cash gift is expected, whether you show up or not,''


    Shang Lu had none of those roundabout thoughts¡ªwhat he said was what he meant.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Those who deal with me surely can''t suffer a loss. Even though you haven''t done much, what you''ve done has been important to me.


    Later, I''ll have someone evaluate the value of the wedding gift. Even if you and Zhong Xiuxiu decide to abandon academia, you won''t have to worry about living expenses for the rest of your lives."


    The unequal resources between industrial sectors and the Pyramid, coupled with the disparity in strength among gifted individuals, have created hierarchies between fortresses and wealth disparity among the gifted.


    Tang, probably the richest among them, was not gifted, but he had more Soul Crystals than the mines,


    and he had plenty of high-tier Soul Crystals.


    After chatting idly with Shang Lu for a while, Tang realized that Zhong Xiuxiu hadn''t shown up.


    Shang Lu found this strange as well, remarking,


    "Xiuxiu is very punctual, never delaying matters. Moreover, I''ve been to her lab; all her items are arranged meticulously and even organized by color and visual habit."


    "A severe perfectionist." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Exactly, so she shouldn''t be late. I''ll give her a call."


    Shang Lu took out his phone. Tang mused for a second and said,


    "No need, I''ll go and call her. I''d like to see her lab anyway."


    "Oh, it''s in the B section of the second floor, room 209." Shang Lu then put away his phone.


    Tang said, "You continue your work with the plants. I''ll go visit Zhong Xiuxiu''s lab for a while."


    Shang Lu, not thinking much of it, nodded and went back to his experiments.


    He had recently made progress in the area of plant cloning.


    He was working on a culture solution that could speed up the growth of cloned plants.


    There were still many technical hurdles to overcome.


    After seeing that Shang Lu had returned to his "Do not disturb me while I''m studying, woman" mode, Tang chuckled to himself and left Shang Lu''s lab, heading towards Zhong Xiuxiu''s location.


    Although the Hua Science Academy was situated on the fourth level, it had top-notch equipment and occupied a large area; Li Wanye had always been willing to invest.


    After all, the research here focused on human science, not Pyramid technology.


    Upon reaching the second floor, Tang asked about directions and quickly found the location of Zhong Xiuxiu''s lab.


    But along the way, the expressions on the faces of passersby looking at him were a bit strange.


    It was as though having anything to do with Zhong Xiuxiu was quite an outlandish affair.


    The more Tang thought about it, the more intrigued he became about why Zhong Xiuxiu had deceived him, and he had some guesses.


    These guesses caused Tang a rare sense of nervousness.


    Arriving at Zhong Xiuxiu''s lab, he found that researchers'' labs in biology always had excellent isolation walls and hatch doors.


    Tang couldn''t smell the odors inside the hatch, but he could catch some that leaked out when the hatch was opened.


    It was quite pungent, probably some organs.


    After pressing the doorbell three times, the hatch opened.


    Wearing a white lab coat that was far too large for her small frame and wrinkled all over, Zhong Xiuxiu looked at Tang and said calmly,


    "You''re here."


    "You don''t seem surprised."


    "That would only affect the progress of our conversation. Come in."


    Tang hadn''t guessed wrong; Zhong Xiuxiu indeed was an enthusiast in researching the human brain, a real oddball.


    The room was filled with all sorts of brain samples.


    Some were in containers, others laid out on experiment tables, with the majority in cold storage, waiting to be analyzed.

 Chapter 426 - 65: The Relationship Between Tang Xian and Zhong Xiuxiu_2

    Li Xiaoyu was very passionate about anatomy, which, by comparison, made Zhong Xiuxiu''s condition appear even more severe.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Why are you so keen on dissecting human brains?"


    "Because I want to know the mysteries of biological construction. I want to know about things like the soul."


    Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t greet Tang Xian but continued with what she was doing.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind, knowing that Zhong Xiuxiu could have anticipated his visit explained a lot of things.


    He probed:


    "I believe when you speak of the soul, you''re probably referring to a collective term for the spirit, thoughts, feelings, personality, and so forth?"


    "Yes. Physiology has proven by studying the transmission of information between synapses in the brain''s nerve cells¡ªthe neurons¡ª


    that the soul, or consciousness, is the activity of specific neuronal cells."


    Pausing for a moment, Zhong Xiuxiu frowned in a way that was quite adorable if one could disregard her cutting into a brain.


    She continued:


    "We often say that quantitative changes can lead to qualitative changes, and the activity of these specific neurons represents the most mysterious qualitative change. I really want to understand their principle."


    Tang Xian, watching Zhong Xiuxiu''s serious expression, suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.


    "So, have you figured it out? And why are you so eager to unravel this?" Tang Xian asked earnestly.


    Zhong Xiuxiu was making thin slices of a brain cortex.


    Tang Xian could see that Zhong Xiuxiu''s control over her own body was exceptionally good.


    Her precision was akin to how Tang Xian handled antibiotic resistance in organisms.


    Every attack was timed to perfection.


    "I''ve been called strange since I was young, almost as if I have no compassion for my own kind. It''s hard for me to empathize, so I wonder, is it because I''m missing some part of my makeup? I want to be like Shang Lu, to have richer emotions," Zhong Xiuxiu said indifferently.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that Shang Lu, in the eyes of the public, was also considered an oddity.


    "It seems you haven''t found the answer yet."


    "Indeed. If I had, I would probably be described with words like cute as well."


    "Shang Lu thinks you''re cute already," Tang Xian remarked.


    Zhong Xiuxiu paused for a moment before saying:


    "He is quite cute too."


    "I heard from Shang Lu that your parents have disappeared."


    "Yes, when I was nine."


    Tang Xian did the math; if his own parents'' disappearance was in the same year, then this girl would be two years younger than him.


    He ventured to ask:


    "You''re twenty-two this year."


    "Hmm? What makes you think that?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu pondered for a moment and realized there were no necessary proofs linking to this conclusion.


    But Tang Xian''s guess was correct.


    "Just a guess."


    Tang Xian''s forefinger on his left hand trembled slightly as he continued:


    "So, what were your parents'' names?"


    "I don''t know."


    "You don''t know?"


    "Yes, but I know that I took my mother''s surname. Although they disappeared when I was nine, my life before that also had little to do with them.


    Father and mother rarely visited me, and as a child, I was boarded in other people''s homes.


    Dad and mom would only visit me once or twice a year and left no clues. Their names are the only thing they gave me.


    The last news of them was that they had gone missing in a mining area."


    Tang Xian''s expression changed abruptly.


    After finding out Tang Suoye was from the 39th Fortress, Tang Xian had indeed thought for a moment that since this young lady also had the surname Tang and was born in the 39th Fortress...


    But then he was sure that Tang Suoye and he were not blood-related.


    After all, the world didn''t have such a peculiar rule that friends couldn''t share the same surname.


    However, Zhong Xiuxiu''s words today threw Tang Xian into some disarray.


    Because his mother''s name was Zhong Yao.


    Despite this, there was still no way to prove any relationship with the young girl before him.


    Tang Xian slowly calmed down.


    Though Zhong Xiuxiu was talking about something that might sound somewhat sad, her tone was very flat. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was as if everything had become trivial.


    Or maybe she was just that kind of person, as if missing something.


    Thus her emotions seemed too faint.


    "By the way, why are you asking this? I thought you''d ask about something else," she said.


    Tang Xian knew that the "something else" Zhong Xiuxiu referred to was the fruit of the ancestral Zudun tree.


    But he had known the reason from the start, so he wasn''t in a hurry to ask. Instead, he replied to Zhong Xiuxiu''s question, saying:


    "Your parents weren''t with you most of the time; do you hate them?"


    "Your questions are quite interesting, but I think I don''t have that capability."


    Because her behavior was too peculiar, she had been bullied a lot as a child.


    However, facing those who bullied her, Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t find them repulsive.


    And to those who helped her, she didn''t feel particularly grateful.


    Ultimately, there were things she liked and didn''t like, but everything was just too insipid.


    Tang Xian understood her words and looked at Zhong Xiuxiu with even more complexity in his gaze.


    Zhong Xiuxiu continued:


    "But I don''t think they did anything wrong."


    "Why? Don''t you wish they were with you more?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu thought for a moment and then said:


    Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I did fantasize about them spending more time with me, but I''m not sure if the extent of this fantasy qualifies as longing. As for why I think they did nothing wrong, it''s because knowledge is so intriguing.


    Being engrossed in such fascinating knowledge must be more enjoyable than looking after a weird child like me. I guess I''d do the same if I had children with Shang Lu, right?"


    Tang Xian didn''t necessarily disagree with that notion.

 Chapter 427 - 65: The Relationship Between Tang Xian and Zhong Xiuxiu_3

    There are many things in this world more interesting than raising a child.


    But with raising a child, either you don''t have one at all, or you take good care of them.


    Tang Xian was sure that Zhong Xiuxiu actually had emotions of liking and disliking.


    Her personality was extremely compliant, yet the dullness of her emotions made everything seem too strange.


    He said,


    "Have you ever thought, just if, and I mean if, your parents were with another child... would you hate that child?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu smiled.


    For someone whose expression was typically blank, her sudden smile appeared somewhat eerie but also very cute. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    Neurotically cute.


    "That''s an interesting hypothesis, but it''s too difficult for me.


    I can''t assume whether I would dislike an additional family member without ever having interacted with siblings."


    "Makes sense," Tang Xian nodded.


    "Alright, your question today surprised me. Shouldn''t you be asking about this fruit?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu said as she produced the fruit of the Zudun sacred tree.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Shang Lu should forbid you from experimenting on humans, and you believe that research on the effects of the Zudun sacred tree''s fruit should be approached from multiple angles."


    Zhong Xiuxiu was not at all surprised.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "This must be a very taboo experiment, right? The human brains you''ve always used have come from corpses provided by hospitals.


    But you''ve found that perhaps using living people for experiments could yield better... or rather, more accurate conclusions.


    Shang Lu won''t agree, and you think I''ll help you conceal it because you feel I''m the same kind.


    This experiment hasn''t started yet, has it?"


    "Not yet implemented, I still haven''t found a suitable subject," Zhong Xiuxiu said indifferently.


    "You chose to deceive Shang Lu because you''re afraid of upsetting him?"


    Tang wasn''t too concerned about how terrifying the experiment might be, like the uproar that would ensue from creating an evolved, irregular human. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was more interested in Zhong Xiuxiu''s reaction.


    Zhong Xiuxiu thought for a while and nodded.


    "I don''t want him to be angry. And I''m sure you won''t tell him because when I first saw you, I thought you were very smart. My husband also said you were very smart.


    Smart people will understand the meaning of this experiment.


    I''ve already tested it on mice. Animal cells undergo irregular changes when exposed to the Zudun sacred tree''s fruit, while human cells do not."


    Tang Xian nodded; he certainly didn''t approve of experimenting on humans, but he wasn''t in a hurry to contradict Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Zhong Xiuxiu said,


    "Human behavior is unpredictable, utterly chaotic, but this equally chaotic fruit can be absorbed by humans. I''ve checked the records of the Zudun sacred tree.


    If this is the fruit of evolution, have you ever thought that it might also be meant to bring evolution to humans?"


    Tang Xian said,


    "You make a good point, but if you were to tell all this to Shang Lu, he would be very disappointed in you."


    Zhong Xiuxiu then showed a puzzled look, with a slight hint of panic, subtle but present.


    "I thought you would support me in this."


    "I had a different upbringing than you; I understand human reactions to these things better than you do. The experiment must be done, but it has to wait for the right opportunity. Otherwise, you''ll have a hard time surviving in this world." Tang Xian grew a bit more forceful and continued,


    "If you don''t want to marry Shang Lu or have anything to do with him anymore, then go ahead with the experiment. I won''t interfere, and I won''t tell Shang Lu why. But you can no longer have any interaction with him."


    What Tang Xian really cared about was how this girl, who might have some connection to him, would choose.


    This was a very important matter. It could solve some fundamental issues at their root.


    Zhong Xiuxiu thought for a long time and finally shook her head, saying,


    "Although I''m curious as to why you would refuse to know the answer, I don''t want to see him angry."


    Zhong Xiuxiu handed over the Zudun sacred tree''s fruit to Tang Xian; her expression did not show much sadness.


    Tang Xian also felt some relief and said,


    "I will come to see you often, to tell you about things related to interacting with humans, though I think many people are better at this than I am, but not necessarily more suitable."


    Zhong Xiuxiu did not refuse, nodding her head and saying,


    "Okay, thank you."

 Chapter 428 - 66: Sister or Passerby?

    Tang Xian suddenly thought that, assuming Zhong Xiuxiu was indeed his sister¡ª


    If he had lived with Zhong Xiuxiu back then, his life would probably have been a different story.


    This story would be more in line with those found in novels about the lower classes.


    A lonely, underprivileged protagonist given a sister at the start, a sister who is intelligent and beautiful, the two siblings relying on each other for survival, then defying or conforming to fate with the help of Golden Finger?


    Although reality wasn''t like that, Tang Xian didn''t resent this girl, who might be his kin, for appearing too late in his life.


    Although from the test just now, the child''s disposition did seem weird, with virtually no pity or awe for her own kind.


    But she was ultimately humane.


    Although he was unclear about the specifics of her romance with Shang Lu, the fact that she might give up her experiment for Shang Lu showed that Zhong Xiuxiu wasn''t as terrible as he was when he was young.


    "About the fruit of the Zudun Sacred Tree, do you have any other thoughts?"


    Once Tang Xian confirmed that Zhong Xiuxiu wasn''t as dangerous as he had imagined, he relaxed a bit.


    One of the best ways to strengthen a relationship is to talk about a subject the other person is interested in.


    There was a light in Zhong Xiuxiu''s eyes, and she obviously liked this topic. She said,


    "I have looked through a lot of information, and the earliest records of the Zudun Sacred Tree come from the explorations of early humans.


    Pioneers went to the mining areas and, by mistake, entered the ruins of Eden. They saw the Zudun Sacred Tree, saw creatures devour the fruit of the sacred tree, and then evolution followed."


    Tang Xian had read this book too:


    "Indeed, these events have always been considered fiction, as no one knows where the ruins of Eden are.


    And those who returned all mysteriously died after leaving behind their writings.


    It was as if they were endowed with a mission and honor, and once that mission was completed, their lives no longer had the purpose to continue existing."


    This was a rather obscure book because everything described couldn''t be verified, so even though it was sensational at the time, interest waned because of its lack of credibility.


    Zhong Xiuxiu looked at Tang Xian, slowly nodded, and was not surprised that Tang Xian, just like her, would actually read these unscientific books.


    "The ruins of Eden do exist; they are mentioned in the stele on the eighth level," Tang Xian said.


    Zhong Xiuxiu shook her head, "I haven''t been to the eighth level, and some of the content in the stele has not been made public by the lord."


    After a pause, she continued:


    "But I believe you. So, have you found the way to the ruins of Eden?"


    "No, although I have always wanted to go and see, that place is very mysterious. The evolution zone people once captured a calamity creature, the Deer of Eden, and injected its serum into a friend of mine. But their documents also don''t mention where the Deer of Eden came from."


    Tang Xian pondered for a while, then added:


    "But not all clues are absent."


    "What''s the clue?"


    "The content involved is somewhat dangerous, I won''t tell you for now. After I rule out the dangers, I''ll share with you," Tang Xian reassured her.


    Zhong Xiuxiu nodded. She didn''t know the reason why Tang Xian didn''t tell her.


    But it seemed normal, after all, she and Tang Xian weren''t familiar.


    Tang Xian didn''t mention the Zudun Giant, which was the source of the current Zudun Sacred Tree. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    The giant migrated to the Red Soil Forest and planted the Zudun Sacred Tree.


    It was like a resurgence.


    Naturally, the clues were with the Zudun Giant.


    Thinking about it, Tang Xian planned to follow the direction of the sacred land to find Tang after handling the current matters.


    Zhong Xiuxiu had a certain obsession with dissecting human brains, and watching her focused expression, Tang Xian thought of the description on the stele. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "By the way, have you been to the mining areas?"


    "I have."


    "So what''s your talent?"


    "Life value, movement speed."


    Tang Xian slightly furrowed his brows. This did surprise him.


    The current honesty indicator showed that Zhong Xiuxiu was telling the truth.


    This was quite odd.


    He indeed felt a closeness to Zhong Xiuxiu.


    This feeling was not due to the first impression created by cognition.


    It was there when they first met, before he even knew about Zhong Xiuxiu''s experiences.


    But Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t have the same perspective as him.


    This made him feel that something was not quite right.


    But if Zhong Xiuxiu wasn''t the so-called "Witch of Eden," maybe he didn''t need to be so tense.


    It was actually a good thing.


    Or was it precisely because she wasn''t, that his parents gave her to another family and chose to stay with him?


    In the end, Tang Xian decided not to think too much about it.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "Nothing much, I just had many questions today, don''t mind me."


    "Is this a test for Shang Lu? Did I pass?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu spoke while busily working on something.


    "No, it''s just that I find you interesting and want to be friends. Also, if the person in question is Shang Lu, all your performances are up to par," Tang Xian said.


    "There are so many women at Hua Science Academy, and I think they''re cuter than me. Will Shang Lu change his choice of partner halfway?"


    "He shouldn''t. In his eyes, they are all pork stew, while you are the cutest," Tang Xian responded.


    Listening to Tang Xian''s words, Zhong Xiuxiu revealed a neurotic smile.


    "I''ve noted down some of their topics, women love watching movies. So I also occasionally remember some movies they talked about. I''m planning to ask Shang Lu to go and watch one," Xiuxiu said proudly.


    To Zhong Xiuxiu, thinking to invite Shang Lu to watch a movie was a significant leap in emotional intelligence. Tang Xian felt gratified.

 Chapter 429 - 66: Sister or Stranger? _2

    "That''s nice, I also watch movies often, it''s not a waste of time because good movies can inspire people. What movies are you planning to watch?"


    "I can''t remember these movies..."


    "Can''t remember?"


    Tang Xian thought to himself that his memory was photographic.


    But perhaps for things he found extremely boring, there might be something to the idea of not remembering well.


    It seemed that for Zhong Xiuxiu, both inviting men to watch movies and watching movies herself weren''t as interesting as doing a brain section.


    "Hmm, I can''t remember, but I wrote them down. You can help me choose, he might like them." Zhong Xiuxiu said as she took off her lab gloves, went to the other side of the lab, and pulled out a small piece of paper from a cabinet.


    This scene convinced Tang Xian that Shang Lu really had struck gold.


    However, when Tang Xian saw the contents of the paper, he immediately had a face full of question marks.


    Zhong Xiuxiu''s memory of uninteresting content was just as bad as Tang Xiaojiu''s understanding of idioms.


    Tang Xian felt a myriad of emotions as he looked at the movie titles she had written on the note.


    Too many elements, he was speechless.


    "''Tiny Tank'' is indeed an interesting movie that sings the praises of love, although research shows that letter order doesn''t affect reading, this movie should be ''Titanic.''"


    "Oh, they look all the same to me."


    "And this ''Edward Scissorhands Loves Andy Lau,'' even though King Liu has been famous for over a thousand years until now, I''m certain he has no relation to Edward Scissorhands. The movie should be ''Edward Scissorhands.''"


    "So who is Andy Lau then?"


    "It''s Edward."


    "Oh, sounds the same to me."


    "Also, ''Pacific Rim'' as a popcorn movie is not really suitable for couples to watch, it''s a bit too American Dream themed, but I believe, if there were to be a movie in the future as you''ve written, ''Pacific Rim,'' that would be very interesting because a movie with a bit of horror element is the most suitable for a man to invite a woman to watch."


    Tang Xian felt himself to be a perfectly normal person, especially compared to Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Zhong Xiuxiu remained calm, thinking these were all about the same.


    In the end, Tang Xian corrected the movie titles one by one on the note and handed it back to Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Zhong Xiuxiu glanced at it and said,


    "They all seem the same."


    "...You and Shang Lu really are a good match," said Tang Xian after a second of silence.


    "Thank you."


    "Has anyone told you that you have a talent for being funny?"


    "You''re the first. If that''s a compliment, I can''t take it; they all say I''m a very boring weirdo," Zhong Xiuxiu seriously said.


    Tang Xian shrugged, proving that geniuses with low social intelligence were extra adorable when they were cute.


    "I should be going; I''ll attend your wedding with Shang Lu."


    "Thank you, I enjoyed meeting you. I like talking with you," said Zhong Xiuxiu calmly.


    "Me too, next time I''ll teach you how to socialize, goodbye."


    "Goodbye."


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian left Zhong Xiuxiu''s laboratory.


    In his hand, he was holding a long strand of hair.


    He had plucked it when Zhong Xiuxiu wasn''t looking. It was the answer to all his questions, as long as he carried out a DNA test.


    But whether or not Zhong Xiuxiu was related to him, Tang Xian was more than willing to teach this quirky girl how to socialize.


    After all, he was a kind and gentle human.


    All the way, he reflected on Zhong Xiuxiu''s various characteristics.


    Her indifference to life, or rather her alienation from her own kind, was very similar to his own childhood.


    But there were some differences from himself as well.


    Though it may not be proper to say so,


    The various aspects shown by Zhong Xiuxiu seemed like an inferior version of himself.


    Whether it was in terms of overall intelligence, or in understanding human nature. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The most crucial point was that Zhong Xiuxiu was a normal talented individual.


    She also had interesting aspects.


    People have good memory in fields that interest them.


    But they perform averagely in fields that don''t interest them.


    Tang Xian thought of Shang Lu.


    During his student days, Shang Lu was very interested in plants.


    Although he was a nerdy straight man, his handsome appearance combined with a scholarly aura made him quite popular with the girls.


    One day, a girl asked Shang Lu which cosmetic brand was better.


    There were probably Est¨¦e Lauder, Chanel, Dior, Maybelline... a whole bunch of brands.


    Shang Lu was a very serious person with considerable expertise in the field of botany.


    He earnestly looked over the skincare formula of every cosmetic brand.


    Then he instantly memorized the formula of each brand and pointed out the deficiencies in those formulations.


    But in the end, when the girl asked which brand was better, Shang Lu could recite the formulas one by one, yet he couldn''t remember the names of the cosmetic brands.


    This was probably like Zhong Xiuxiu being unable to remember movie titles.


    Or men not remembering the gradations of lipstick shades, and women not knowing the difference between Ultraman Jack and the original Ultraman.


    It''s a very endearing trait.


    Of course, it''s worth mentioning that Shang Lu didn''t think any of those brands were good enough, so he wrote a formula himself and gave it to the female classmate.


    The girl was very disappointed. If you can''t afford to give cosmetics, then don''t give anything. What''s the meaning of giving a piece of paper with a formula on it?


    Could it be that she should disregard name brands and use something mixed by an ordinary student? Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    After calling Shang Lu a poor nerd, she threw the piece of paper with the formula out of the window.


    As it happened, this formula was later discovered by a young chemistry teacher.


    The chemistry teacher found it interesting, made a sample according to the formula, and the outcome was very good.


    Latter, the chemistry teacher sold it to Chanel and became one of the shareholders, living the rest of their life with an inexhaustible supply of luxury goods.


    This was one of the few legendary experiences in Shang Lu''s life.


    Of course, the one who earned the most was Tang Xian.


    After all, he had hired Shang Lu into his own enterprise.


    ...


    ...


    The hospital was on the third floor.


    With the presence of healers, the hospital actually didn''t get much business.


    Even if gifted individuals caught a cold, a stroll in the mining area with their robust constitutions was often enough to heal themselves.


    These days, hospitals mostly did various types of testing.


    That included DNA testing.


    Tang Xian was in a very good mood today.


    His friend was about to marry a woman who matched him in both intelligence and personality, and that was naturally a cause for celebration.


    There were still many uncertainties regarding the Zudun Sacred Tree, and there was an increasing amount of work to do in the mining area.


    But Tang Xian was not in a hurry. He didn''t like weddings, but if the bride and groom were Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu, he thought the wedding would probably be quite interesting.


    DNA testing was now very fast.


    Tang Xian waited quietly in the rest room for the results.


    He had also provided his own hair to the hospital for comparison.


    Tang Xian had undergone countless medical checkups since childhood and, except for the eyes of a Trial Knight, so far nothing within the Pyramid could detect that Tang Xian wasn''t human.


    So he wasn''t particularly worried.


    "The DNA comparison analysis report for number 7 is ready," the nurse called out while Tang Xian was mulling things over.


    Tang Xian nodded and took the test report from the nurse''s hand.


    His heart immediately grew tense.


    For all these years, Tang Xian had never forgotten his parents.


    If possible, he naturally also wanted to find out what happened to his parents.


    But that matter might still be a long way off.


    Yet if he could uncover some secrets, discover he had relatives... perhaps it would bring him a step closer to solving the mysteries surrounding himself?


    Tang Xian opened the sealed envelope, then took out the last of the three report books.


    Two were individual test reports, the third was the comparative analysis report.


    His eyes quickly moved to the last line.


    Upon seeing it, Tang Xian froze.


    "After comparative analysis, test subject DNA¡ªdoes not match."

 Chapter 430 - 67: The Blessing of the Demon Child

    Seeing the report, Tang Xian furrowed his brows instinctively after a brief moment of surprise.


    The parents of both individuals disappearing thirteen years ago could be a coincidence.


    Both their mothers having the surname Zhong could also be a coincidence.


    And both individuals exhibiting symptoms akin to a lack of emotions and possessing extreme computational abilities might still be considered coincidental.


    But when all these coincidences pile up and the realization that there are so many coincidences hits, it''s a bit hard for Tang Xian to simply accept them as mere coincidences.


    The feeling was complex. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire


    Even though his life was not devoid of a younger sister to look after, someone like Tang Xiaojiu could play that role.


    Yet, Tang Xian still felt a faint sense of loss.


    He chuckled, crumpling the DNA report into a ball and tossing it into the trash can.


    Perhaps what mattered was not the blood relation but the undeniable fact that he saw a reflection of himself in this girl.


    That was enough.


    After leaving the hospital, those thoughts faded alongside the scent of Laisu water in his breath.


    Whether there was some connection with Zhong Xiuxiu, Tang Xian intended to find out.


    But for now, those matters had to be set aside, as the wedding was drawing near.


    ...


    ...


    In the following days, despite Shang Lu''s repeated requests for a simple wedding, Mr. Tang Jikede spared no expense.


    Even though the wedding was held within Hua Science Academy, Tang Xian organized the banquet at the highest standard.


    Especially with guests including the two brothers from the Li family.


    Even though the affair wasn''t grandiose, it was the epitome of luxury within a modest setting.


    Hua Science Academy even received a substantial sum for renovation improvements.


    This sum was enough to upgrade all the academy''s equipment once over.


    Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu were the two oddities of Hua Science Academy, neither unpopular nor particularly well-liked.


    It''s debatable whether the event improved their popularity.


    But with the Li family brothers in attendance, their status and prestige inevitably rose.


    Everyone busied themselves with the wedding preparations.


    Tang Xian had to admit that seeing such a heartwarming scene in the Pyramid, a place he wasn''t particularly fond of since birth, was truly hard to come by.


    Tang Xian was the one who took Shang Lu shopping for clothes. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They visited Cesare Attolini, the same store Li Xiaoyu had once brought him to.


    It was only after being clad in the most respectable attire that Tang Xian, as an end-of-days level creature, bid farewell to the Pyramid and headed to the remote southern seas.


    Franco, with his Golden Scissors, still maintained his usual polite smile for every customer.


    Shopping for men wasn''t as fussy as women; custom tailoring was out of the question, so Tang Xian helped Shang Lu pick out a suit on the spot.


    The scholar transformed into an elegantly handsome man once he donned the attire.


    However, his facial expressions betrayed his extreme discomfort.


    After purchasing the clothes, Tang Xian''s main task was selecting the banquet''s food.


    Even though there were high-standard nutrition meals, something different was warranted for variety in food.


    All these responsibilities fell to Tang Xian.


    The ones who should have been the busiest, Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu, were the most at leisure.


    As Yuan, the president of Hua Science Academy, put it:


    Both were useless beyond their academic pursuits.


    For example, one couldn''t remember the names of movies, and the other couldn''t recall makeup brands.


    Leaving the wedding preparations to them might have resulted in them discussing experimental projects instead.


    Tang Xian felt this was quite accurate; all the two needed to do was ensure their own survival.


    As for the myriad details of getting married, others could make arrangements.


    ...


    ...


    On the wedding day, at Hua Science Academy.


    There were rarely any marriages within Hua Science Academy since most of its people were balding.


    This became the most challenging aspect of the wedding¡ªno one knew the protocol for filling out the wedding proceedings.


    Thus, a 200-pound female academician, in a bid to liven up the wedding, invited several idol groups popular among young women from the second to fourth floors.


    These young idols, in Tang Xian''s eyes, had average charisma scores hovering around sixty.


    But with makeup rivaling that of women''s, they flaunted an allure that was indeterminate to Tang Xian.


    To say they were unattractive wasn''t true since the female staff of Hua Science Academy seemed to like them, yet Tang Xian found Tang Feiji more attractive in both his human and dragon forms.


    Bai Mansheng, sitting next to Tang Xian, caused no concern for recognition as he had never been there before.


    Only Li Xiaonian occasionally cast puzzled glances at Tang Xian.


    Aside from a few exceptions such as Zhong Xiuxiu, the majority of women in Hua Science Academy fell into the "female scientist" category.


    Li Xiaonian always respected women and was not superficial.


    Still, he couldn''t shake off the thought: "I''d look better than 90% of the women here if I dressed in drag."


    But Bai Mansheng was different.


    Her beauty made Li Xiaonian wonder whether Tang Xian was keeping a secret lover behind his sister''s back.


    After all, this woman seemed more seductive than his sister in every aspect.


    Although Bai Mansheng had no experience with weddings, Tang Xian knew some etiquettes and selected an off-white gown for her.


    The attire didn''t overshadow the bride, but Bai Mansheng''s stunning height and ice queen demeanor certainly drew attention.

 Chapter 431 - 67: The Blessing of the Demon Child_2

    Before the wedding ceremony began, it was time for the performances by these fresh-faced young idol groups.


    With genuine curiosity, Bai Mansheng asked,


    "Are these people men or women?"


    "Men."


    "Even in the Myriad Beasts Realm, it''s rare to see men with such appearances. Speaking of which, Tang Feiji might be upset since you didn''t bring him along, right?"


    Bai Mansheng wasn''t concerned about Tang Feiji, but he was curious about why Tang Xian hadn''t brought him.


    "This place is a gathering of geniuses, he would just be solving Rubik''s cubes here and wouldn''t have time to enjoy the wedding."


    "Fair point."


    Bai Mansheng pursed her lips and smiled. Regardless of the reason, it was always pleasant to make fun of that foolish dragon.


    She glanced around at the people attending; to Bai Mansheng, observing humans was also an interesting activity.


    "Women seem to really like those men on stage who are singing and dancing.


    It''s unbelievable. And they don''t seem very professional, looking over at those two men now and then."


    The two men Bai Mansheng was referring to were Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian.


    Tang Xian, of course, understood the thoughts of these young idols.


    Agreeing to perform at a wedding hosted by academic researchers would usually be considered a waste of time.


    But the presence of the Li family changed everything; they were more alluring to the idols than any big-name celebrity, famous director, or agent.


    In their current needs analysis, Tang Xian identified several who had such desires.


    [Current Needs Analysis: Flirt with Li Xiaonian.]


    All of them were men, but rumors suggested that this third son of the Li family liked to dress as a woman.


    Women like men, especially those who are bewitchingly attractive.


    And men, without exception, like beautiful women, so there''s another need¡ªflirt with the woman in white standing next to the marriage witness.


    This woman was Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian was used to all this; the upper social circles had even more chaotic happenings, so he just found it amusing.


    Becuase no matter if these idols ended up flirting with men or women, their fate would likely be quite grim.


    "What are you laughing about? Their dancing isn''t good to watch; I really don''t get why they were called here." Bai Mansheng''s tone carried a hint of disgust.


    Part of the dance was a serpentine dance, the dancers moving their waists like snakes, and the men somehow managed to convey a sense of coquetry, which elicited exclamations from the nerdy women of Hua Science Academy.


    In ancient times, one might flaunt their swordsmanship in front of General Guan; nowadays, they dare to perform a snake dance in front of the White Snake herself.


    Thinking about these men who could be considered cute but definitely not to her taste imitating her species, Bai Mansheng felt quite unpleasant.


    "But they are very good-looking," Tang Xian teased with a smile.


    "But they dance horribly," Bai Mansheng didn''t quite grasp the logic behind that.


    "They tried very hard."


    "But still danced horribly."


    "You don''t understand, for the fans, it suffices that they are good-looking and seem to be trying hard. That''s also their logic for rebutting others, something like ''you have no idea how hard they''ve worked behind the scenes.''


    As for what they look like after all that effort, and whether they have any professional skills, they don''t care. Anyway, don''t ask, because asking means they''re really trying very hard."


    "Humans are really strange."


    The boring ball made Bai Mansheng feel quite uninterested, and it was only then that she realized many men''s gazes were fixated on her.


    Li Zheng included.


    Li Xiaonian was encouraging Li Zheng to pursue Bai Mansheng.


    Better to wrong the sister-in-law than to let his sister be cuckolded.


    Bai Mansheng was displeased with being watched by so many, frowning in distaste.


    After thinking it over, Tang Xian said,


    "It seems I should have asked Tang Feiji to come and play your man, because among men, Tang Feiji''s looks are enough to make every man here feel inferior."


    "I would rather not have come at all," Bai Mansheng said indignantly.


    "So why did you come here?"


    "In the stories I''ve read, marriage is the destination for love. Many touching stories end with matrimony."


    Tang Xian nodded, offering a merciless tease,


    "But what does that have to do with you, a single dog... oh, my bad, a single snake?"


    With that, the rapport dropped another two points. Bai Mansheng gave Tang Xian a chilly look.


    Fortunately, the dull wedding was gradually approaching its most important segment.


    After the lengthy musical performances, Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng talked intermittently.


    At one point, Li Zheng came over to strike up a conversation, but Bai Mansheng sent him packing with a scolding.


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    Li Xiaonian came over to test the waters once, and Tang Xian sent him away with a laugh.


    After much to-do, it was finally time for the crucial part of the ceremony: the exchange of vows.


    Shang Lu''s father escorted Zhong Xiuxiu down the red carpet, slowly bringing her into view of everyone.


    Under the pristine wedding gown, Zhong Xiuxiu lacked the shyness and joy of other brides.


    She still carried a somewhat neurotic blankness, looking at the crowd.


    Reflecting on why they were so happy, which neurons in which area of the brain were firing excitedly, releasing electrons.


    Shang Lu coped a bit better when he showed up; he at least knew to offer a polite smile and looked a bit embarrassed.


    The number of witnesses was greater than usual at this wedding; there were six in total.


    Tang Xian was the last one.


    They included the dean, Shang Lu''s parents, a friend of Shang Lu''s from Hua Science Academy, and Li Zheng.


    Each person had to say some words of congratulations for the marital ceremony. That was the last thing Tang Xian had to do at this wedding.


    "As everyone knows, these two individuals have always been the pride of Hua Science Academy, and their academic research has borne significant fruit..." the dean began his speech, lauding the couple extensively.


    The speech was as dull as Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu''s usual life.


    S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 432 - 67: The Blessing of the Demon Child_3

    The gist was that at some point, Shang Lu had published an article that played a significant role.


    Or that at some point, Zhong Xiuxiu made new progress in the field of neurology.


    It was a while before it was the father''s turn to give his marriage blessing speech.


    The father expressed that his son was very promising.


    Because Shang Lu being able to marry a wife was beyond his expectations.


    Tang Xian understood this father very well; as a wingman, he watched Shang Lu''s parents with a smile that hid his deep contributions.


    The mother, on the other hand, wished blessings for Zhong Xiuxiu. It seemed there was no need to worry about the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.


    These parents seemed to have a higher EQ than Shang Lu.


    After blessing the happy love of Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu,


    Li Zheng began his tycoon speech, and before making the blessing statement, he rather bluntly displayed the Li family''s financial power.


    If previously people were uninterested in such statements, now everyone was focused and attentive.


    After all, which scientist wouldn''t be interested in how a wealthy benefactor invested in their equipment?


    It was after a long while that Li Zheng finally gave his blessing. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He slowly walked off the stage, passing by Tang Xian.


    In that passing moment, Li Zheng curiously glanced at this old gentleman, Tang Jikede.


    It was a familiar feeling, but he couldn''t pinpoint where the familiarity came from.


    Li Zheng did not think deeply about it, shook his head, and stood on the other side of the groom.


    Tang Xian came up to the microphone, hunching over, not forgetting that he was a lonely old man.


    Though very wealthy, he was solitary in his later years.


    In fact, people were also somewhat puzzled about how Shang Lu had come to know such an elderly gentleman.


    The elderly gentleman''s speech was quite different from others.


    "One spends their entire life searching for another human being, and in the name of love, demands to be bound together for the remainder of their days¡ªI have never been able to understand this."


    After this sentence was spoken, people gradually started frowning. Even Shang Lu found it somewhat odd.


    Only Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t, as this was the same question she also sought to understand.


    Tang Jikede, unbothered by the crowd''s reaction, continued with a thoughtful expression,


    "I occasionally think, if I were younger, perhaps I would have the time to find a partner and ponder the essence of this commitment to grow old together.


    But I am old now, and I don''t have the time to verify these thoughts, nor do I have much desire to.


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    Perhaps I am interesting enough on my own, so I do not need someone else to bring me joy for a lifetime.


    Therefore, I cannot bless you with the joy of love, for I do not know what that joy is like. My life is not complete.


    I can only wish that the happiness you find in each other is as abundant as the happiness I have given myself."


    This was a somewhat eccentric congratulations.


    The people around were a bit perplexed. But they were sure the last sentence was a form of blessing.


    Shang Lu nodded and smiled.


    Only Zhong Xiuxiu, she looked at Tang Xian, without blinking.


    This girl who couldn''t understand the subtext in movies, this time understood the meaning behind Tang Xian''s words.


    Tang Jikede''s life was incomplete, as he was old.


    But she was young, her life was already complete, and she had ample time to ponder the meaning of love.


    To comprehend the grand question of love and its essence.


    Zhong Xiuxiu, who had been silent all the while, said softly,


    "When I understand it, I will tell you."


    Tang Xian laughed happily, truly happy.


    (I''m laying out the outline for the next saga, these chapters are rather bland, but the plot relating to Zhong Xiuxiu is quite important later on, so I can''t cut or edit it.)

 Chapter 433 - 68: The Evolution of the Ultimate Glove

    Tang Jikede limped back to his seat, hobbling on his foot.


    What came next should have been the most romantic moment for Bai Mansheng.


    Exchanging wedding rings, saying to each other those words of eternal loyalty and dependence, then kissing amidst the calls.


    Such scenes are common, but very few ever grow tired of them.


    As a couple recites their vows, everyone is a little swept up in the dream of love.


    But it was clear neither Shang Lu nor Zhong Xiuxiu excelled in such talk.


    They might have said something like "May the dopamine you release at the sight of me always be as it was at first," to express a love that feels as it did at first sight.


    So this was a very boring part.


    And after what Tang Xian had said, Bai Mansheng felt somewhat uncomfortable; when Tang Xian returned to his seat, Bai Mansheng asked:


    "Those words you just spoke, were they meant for Tang Jikede to say, or were they your own words?"


    Tang Xian replied:


    "Does it make a difference? In this world, as long as you have enough money, a seventy-year-old can date a seventeen-year-old.


    But this person I''m playing is very rich and single. I guess those were probably his words."


    Bai Mansheng replied disapprovingly:


    "How do you know he didn''t stay single because he fell for someone he couldn''t be with?"


    "Such people only live in stories."


    "So you think there''s nobody in this world who would stay unmarried for someone else?"


    Bai Mansheng almost didn''t need to think to ask.


    Tang Xian, usually quick to reply, hesitated this time.


    "There might be some," he said after a long pause.


    Bai Mansheng laughed, "It seems you''re not always right."


    Tang Xian couldn''t deny it.


    Because as soon as Bai Mansheng raised the question, he thought of Li Xiaoyu.


    "What a strange reaction," he mused.


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    ...


    ...


    The rest of the wedding followed traditional processes from this country, a bustling affair.


    Neither Tang Xian nor Bai Mansheng liked such commotion.


    In comparison, the idol dance groups being scolded in an extremely masculine tone by Li Xiaonian was surprisingly more interesting.


    After these episodes concluded, what slightly amazed Tang Xian was that Li Xiaonian didn''t come to speak with him.


    Maybe it was to avoid suspicion.


    But just as the wedding was ending and the guests were departing, Li Xiaonian still gave Tang Xian an intense glare.


    Tang Xian thought about it and concluded that like sister, like brother.


    The day after the wedding, Tang Xian asked Shang Lu for another fruit of the Zudun holy tree.


    Although the evolution brought about by the Zudun holy tree''s fruit was highly unstable, it might be resolved in the future.


    The purpose of heading to the Thirty-Ninth Fortress was to check on the decoding progress of the Zudun holy tree''s fruit; Shang Lu would continue to research this plant that may well have come from the ruins of Eden for Tang Xian.


    After sorting all this out, Tang Xian returned to the second floor.


    Prepared to undertake the next task with Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji.


    In Tang Feiji''s abode, he was completely unaware that he was being ''free-ranged'' by Tang Xian.


    After all, it was his first time eating a nutritional meal, and Tang Feiji found it quite tasty.


    Most importantly, these Lego bricks could be assembled into a variety of shapes.


    He was already immersed in the joy of building with the blocks.


    Bai Mansheng couldn''t understand how such a powerful creature, capable of killing even a court Judgment Chief, could enjoy these seemingly childish things.


    In the center of a pile of blocks, Tang Feiji sat on the floor, blissful as a several-hundred-year-old fool.


    After Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian entered, he proudly showed off the Dragon Palace fortress he had built with the blocks.


    Tang Xian clapped symbolically, pretending it was a great achievement.


    "To be able to build such a structure with bricks, you truly are a genius, Tang Feiji."


    Unable to discern if it was sarcasm or a compliment, Tang Feiji proudly raised his head.


    Bai Mansheng, watching Tang Xian cajole Tang Feiji, suddenly remembered how Tang Xian had seemingly bamboozled both her and Qing JiuYu in the forest.


    Was this man treating all of them like fools?


    "I truly am an existence unparalleled in both wisdom and might," declared Tang Feiji.


    Bai Mansheng remained silent, merely picking up a Rubik''s cube from the ground.


    It was the cube that Tang Feiji took three hours to complete two sides of.


    Tang Feiji protested, "Stupid serpent, put it down! It''s beyond your intellectual grasp."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t argue, simply twisting it randomly dozens of times.


    Then holding up the Rubik''s cube with all six sides completed, she casually shook it.


    Tang Feiji: "..."


    Tang Xian shook his head, unable to believe how foolish Tang Feiji could be.


    Just as he was about to contact Yu Xiaozhe to inquire about the talent dispatch progress in Baichuan City, Tang Xian''s phone rang.


    This phone was a collaboration between Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen, very difficult to track, hence Tang Xian had only given the contact information to a few people.


    The caller was Ke Ye.


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    "Tang Xian?"


    "Yes, it''s me."


    "Finally, you''ve come to the Pyramid. I couldn''t reach you before."


    Without waiting for Tang Xian to ask why, Ke Ye inquired:


    "Are you at the Thirty-Ninth Fortress?"


    "Yes."


    "Wait, prove that you''re Tang Xian first."


    "1, 0," Tang Xian replied, even more succinctly this time.


    "Stop right there!" The voice on the other end of the phone clearly panicked. Then Ke Ye continued:


    "Enough chit-chat, I''ve sent the improved version of your gloves through teleportation to the Thirty-Ninth Fortress. You can pick them up on the second floor, the password and account are the same as before." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 434 - 68: The Evolution Version of the Ultimate Glove_2

    "Why do they suddenly want to check identities this time?"


    "Because it''s of great importance, ah, the technological achievement this time is beyond your imagination."


    "Gloves?" Tang Xian showed some interest.


    Ke Ye''s tone was very excited.


    "Yes, gloves. Do you still remember the previous battle at Yuepela Plains?"


    "I remember, humanity was defeated, but we weren''t wiped out, thanks in part to my effort," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    "Ahem, although we lost that war and failed to open up new areas, the results were actually not minor. Speaking of which, we really owe it to you, as many corpses of Titan-class creatures were left on the battlefield during the cleanup."


    Tang Xian remembered, he had faced the Shiling Beast, while Tang Fei fought alone against more than ten Lei Xiaos.


    The bodies of these Titan-class creatures were presumably those of the Lei Xiao.


    "You told me before that gloves couldn''t bear the enormous power of the crystals, although after repeated testing, I found that crystals from perfect-level beings could withstand it. However, with your abilities, I guessed that you wouldn''t be satisfied with crystals of that quality.


    And our fifty-first fortress, Sky Guardian Fortress, and Lincoln Fortress are all suppliers of war equipment. As compensation, three corpses of the Lei Xiao were given to these three fortresses."


    Tang Xian had a vague idea of what Ke Ye was getting at and tentatively asked,


    "So the material for the ultimate gloves has been switched from alloys to the skeletons of Lei Xiao?"


    "You... you really are... remarkable. It took me a long time to think of trying this."


    "It''s different for you, after all, you gave me hints in the conversation just now. If it were up to me to solve this problem, I might not have come up with the answer as quickly as you did."


    Just like Shang Lu, everyone specializes in different fields. Ke Ye might not have been as skilled as Tang Xian in the past, but now, in the field of weapon creation, Ke Ye has gone further than Tang Xian.


    Ke Ye said,


    "We''ve tried using beast bones before because the bones of myriad beasts can withstand the unique energy fluctuations of Soul Crystals. Unfortunately, the conductivity of the bones has always been a problem.


    But Lei Xiao is an exception! This creature''s bones are very special; they can conduct electricity with almost zero resistance.


    The skeleton of a single Lei Xiao is enough to make several pairs of gloves. Mr. Li Zhenjiang, because of the incident where I was arrested, felt that the House of Daedalus didn''t protect my rights well, so he generously gave me that Lei Xiao."


    Tang Xian figured it out.


    Ke Ye used the bones of Lei Xiao, a Titan-class creature from the mines, to create the ultimate gloves.


    The previous design concept of the ultimate gloves was that humans could directly use the power of Soul Crystals.


    However, because Soul Crystals were too powerful, the metals currently available to humans couldn''t bear this force, which necessitated further improvements.


    Now, Ke Ye had done it.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You did very well. No wonder you''re so excited."


    "I made a total of nine pairs of gloves, six of which I''ve given to you. I kept one pair for myself, and the leftover pairs went to the House of Daedalus. Those old fellows, after seeing the capabilities of the gloves in a demo, became even crazier than me. This could truly revolutionize the world of weaponry!"


    Tang Xian nodded, sharing in Ke Ye''s excitement.


    "This is indeed an achievement worth celebrating. I''ll go test the ultimate gloves'' performance as soon as possible. If there''s no issue, you''ll definitely make history."


    "That may be a bit of an overstatement."


    "Not at all. Without the Judgment Knights any longer, people will inevitably feel a lack of powerful battle strength. Even if gloves made from Lei Xiao material can''t be mass-produced, just ordinary ultimate gloves are enough to make people realize that they don''t need to rely on machinery."


    "That''s impossible, ah, Lei Xiao are not creatures that can be hunted in large numbers. They are rare, and too fast."


    "Sometimes you can infer other things from one fact, but other times you can''t turn the corner. The Lei Xiao indicates that the bones of any electric creature should be suitable as a manufacturing material."


    "Right... how did I not think of that."


    "Moreover, domesticating Titan-class creatures isn''t out of the question. I will go and check the feasibility of that possibility when I get the chance."


    "Domesticating Titan-class creatures? Are you serious?"


    "They''re tasty and useful¡ªlike sheep, good for meat and wool. Wouldn''t it be wasteful not to domesticate them?"


    Ke Ye was silent for a few seconds, overwhelmed by Tang Xian''s bold thinking.


    Although Tang Xian had never tasted Lei Xiao meat.


    In the near future, Tang Xian would join forces with Yu Xiaozhe, Song Que, and others to undertake a groundbreaking event.


    Before this, hearing news from Ke Ye about weapon reform was indeed a problem solved.


    "Alright, phone calls are expensive, I''m going now to retrieve the item."


    Tang Xian ended the call neatly and cleanly.


    Ke Ye, far at the fifty-first fortress, was left bewildered.


    Without any delay, after Ke Ye brought such good news, Tang Xian hurried to the cargo storage area.


    Transport between fortresses could be done directly through teleportation fissures, but such inter-world transport could only be endured by non-living things.


    All items were uniformly stacked on the second level.


    Following the information given by Ke Ye, Tang Xian retrieved a meter-long black case.


    It resembles a sword case.


    After returning to his place, Tang Feiji, to prove that he couldn''t possibly lose to a snake, began to furiously twist the Rubik''s Cube.


    Bai Mansheng then leaned close to Tang Xian and asked,


    "What is this thing?"


    "An item that allows someone without natural talent like me to become powerful," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    The long case opened, and six gloves were aligned in sequence.


    The principle behind the Ultimate Gloves was incredibly complex, and it was only by chance that Tang Xian and Ke Ye managed to create the prototype.


    Now it''s the first improved version, and there might be further improvements in the future.


    But at least it had reached a stage where it was usable.


    Tang Xian was very happy since this was equipment that Dongran, Qiaoshanshan, and Li Xiaoyu could all use.


    "Aren''t you already strong?"


    "To you, I''m not strong; to Tang Feiji, I am pretty strong."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t quite understand the meaning of this remark; she was unaware of the characteristics of the Eden magic children.


    Tang Xian said,


    "I want to go to the mining area to find an elite creature to practice on by myself."


    As he spoke, Tang Xian placed six crystals into the indentations of the Ultimate Gloves.


    Six purple crystals from disaster-level boss creatures.


    Even if the Ultimate Gloves eventually became a tool common to hunters or even all of humanity, Tang Xian''s Ultimate Gloves would certainly be the strongest.


    Who knows how many disaster-level creatures he had killed along his journey?


    "What a pity, it''s like playing a game where people always prefer the orange drops over the purple ones."


    "What do you mean?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and didn''t elaborate on his idea of wanting to hunt calamity-level creatures.


    After placing all the crystals into the gloves ¡ª he suddenly felt the urge to snap his fingers, smiled, and Tang Xian said,


    "Let''s go, let''s try out this new equipment at the mining area first."


    Bai Mansheng nodded, she had already been to the world of humans.


    This world was interesting and novel. But more often, it was noisy.


    She brought quite a few books with her this time, yet she still felt that it was more interesting to comb her hair by the stream on the Tianque Plains or listen to stories.


    Thus, she wasn''t too attached to the world of men.


    Tang Feiji said unwillingly,


    "What about all of my treasures?"


    "Just leave them here; no one will steal your building blocks."


    Tang Feiji was reluctant to part with them.


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, in the northern part of the Amara Continent.


    Tang Xian did not remember which creatures the gems in his hand had come from, and after putting on the gloves, he also didn''t know what kind of energy they would produce. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    But as soon as he arrived at the mining area, before he had the chance to experiment, Bai Mansheng showed signs of unusual behavior.


    "Something has happened to my people," Bai Mansheng said.


    Tang Xian didn''t understand; they were extremely far from the Tianque Plains, and even his own sense of smell could not detect it, so how could Bai Mansheng sense it?


    Bai Mansheng said, "Tang Xian, I have to go back."


    "How do you know?" Tang Xian asked.


    "I have established a sense with my people. Its aura... has disappeared." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian suddenly remembered.


    Qing JiuYue had once done something similar to him.


    At that time, he was completely puzzled, even thinking he was the reincarnation of a WeChat spirit.


    [Calamity-level boss Nine-tailed Fox requests to share your location, do you agree?]


    He still remembered this bizarre message in his sea of consciousness, which is also why Tang Xian felt he had some kind of high-end device in his brain, rather than the so-called power of Eden.


    Bai Mansheng closed her eyes as if trying hard to sense that aura, but soon her already pale face turned even paler.


    "Tang Feiji, head to Tianque Plains at top speed!" Seeing this scene, Tang Xian said earnestly.

 Chapter 435 - 69: The First Meeting of the Two Gluttons

    In Huaxia''s mythology, there are four divine beasts, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.


    There are also four calamitous creatures, Taowu, Chaos, Qiongqi, and Taotie.


    Among these, the most indescribable is the Taotie.


    In many legends, the Taotie seems to have a myriad of connections with the ancient Dragon Clan.


    But there are also claims that the Taotie has no relation to dragons whatsoever.


    As for what the true Taotie looks like, in fact, only a very few creatures know.


    This Taotie, who likes to show off his knowledge, is not one for humility.


    Even among the twelve judges, the Xuan Bird believes the Taotie to be more annoying than the arrogant Ash Dragon.


    Many creatures have seen the Taotie, but the reason only a very few know its true face is that most have already been eaten by it.


    As for the Taotie''s diet¡­ from this perspective, if the Ash Dragon is lawful evil, then the Taotie would be chaotic evil.


    It eats ancient apes, even wanted to eat the Endless Turtle, and has even inquired about what a roasted Xuan Bird might taste like.


    That ancient ape naturally couldn''t answer, and then was eaten by the Taotie as well.


    The only one who can persuade the Taotie is the most supreme judge of the Myriad Beasts Tribunal.


    In short, this strange creature eats anything and everything.


    Its peculiar appearance seems to indicate its omnivorous nature. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Front feet like cow hooves, hind feet like eagle claws, a sheep''s body with a human face, tiger teeth, and sheep horns, and a size as huge as a mountain beast.


    These characteristics, put together, are already quite bizarre, but on top of the dragon''s head, where there is already a mouth, the Taotie''s abdomen holds a second, larger one.


    With large, fang-filled jaws hanging at its belly, the Taotie looks extremely fierce and terrifying.


    After receiving the verbal edicts from the Xuan Bird judge and the clues provided.


    The Taotie somewhat reluctantly left the hungry sea.


    This Sea of Calamities is teeming with calamitous creatures of similar nature to the Taotie.


    Yet now, this sea, once a domain where death was a hairbreadth away and frenzied murder and feeding reigned, was left nearly extinct of the most ferocious calamitous creatures by the Taotie, who, after spending several days there, became the king of the hungry sea.


    After leaving the hungry sea, the Taotie first went to the sanctum.


    All this happened three days ago.


    The sanctum had already become ruins, the castle built by the Zudun Giant for the tribunal had collapsed, and the Flood Dragon guarding the abyss cave had also perished.


    The two guardians, the Ash Dragon and the Source of Plague, had their Soul Crystals taken away.


    The surrounding creatures were also fleeing in all directions.


    The Taotie was very dissatisfied with this. Because there was no food whatsoever.


    If the ancient ape beside it wasn''t so important for testing its knowledge, the Taotie might have eaten it as well.


    "Master, there are no more clues here," the ancient ape said cautiously, eyeing the Taotie.


    Being assigned as the attendant to the most indiscriminately hungry Judgment Chief, it was also very careful.


    After all, there were already seven predecessors who had died.


    [Darkness gave me black eyes, yet I use them to seek the light.]


    The Taotie commented nonchalantly.


    The ancient ape touched its head, completely puzzled.


    [Humph, you truly are a monkey without knowledge, without education. This quote is from the ancient poet Gu Cheng''s "One Generation"]


    "You truly are a great and wise Judgment Chief," the ancient ape immediately flattered.


    [An ignorant and voracious monkey, let me, a man of extensive learning, tell you, "wise" doesn''t begin to describe my towering talent.]


    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    The ancient ape dared not disagree.


    The Taotie didn''t actually kill the ancient ape; after all, it still had its uses for him.


    It sniffed the ground.


    As the creature with the strongest sense of smell in the Myriad Beasts Realm, even though the scent here had almost vanished due to the passage of time, the Taotie could still make it out.


    Its sense of smell was so powerful it was almost like the ultimate radar covering one-fifth of the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    This unsurpassed sense of smell among other creatures made the Taotie a being that all who knew of its existence in the Myriad Beasts Tribunal did not wish to provoke.


    Because once provoked, no matter where one hid, at the ends of the earth or across the seas, it could find them.


    The scent had all but dissipated. Even Tang Xian, were he here, would not be able to distinguish anything from the scent.


    But after about five to six minutes, the Taotie slowly lifted its head and said:


    [Two scents went first to March Marsh, then to the Tianque Plains.]


    The ancient ape knew it was time to flatter again and said admiringly, "As expected of the Taotie! So impressive!"


    [Bitter medicine cures sickness, frank advice improves behavior.] The Taotie glanced at the long-eared ancient ape.


    The ancient ape was a bit baffled.


    [From "Broadening the Demeanor of the Virtuous"! The famed ancient ape clan, known for its wisdom, how foolish! Foolish beyond words!]


    With those words spoken, the long-eared ancient ape shuddered with fear.


    Then the Taotie said:


    [A tree big enough to embrace grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story tower begins with a pile of earth; a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. It''s time to set off.]


    The Taotie walked forward. The long-eared ancient ape, not daring to make a sound, silently followed.


    However, after walking only a few steps, the creature that loved to boast again made an expression of deep distress and anger at the indifference:


    [From Laozi, "Tao Te Ching, Chapter 64," alas, if Heaven had not created the Taotie, literary wisdom would be like an everlasting night.]


    The long-eared ancient ape finally understood why so many excellent ancient apes had fallen by the hand of the Taotie.


    The Taotie was too well-learned.


    But where on earth had it learned all this human knowledge?


    The long-eared ancient ape couldn''t understand, for theoretically, the Taotie should be isolated from human language.


    It didn''t dare ask, and the Taotie did not offer an explanation.


    The Taotie''s pace was not fast. From the sanctum to the Tianque Plains, it took a total of three days.

 Chapter 436 - 69: The First Meeting of the Two Gluttons_2

    ```


    Although the main reason was that the ancient long-eared apes couldn''t keep up with its speed, the Taotie itself had also experienced delays.


    In the Hungry Sea, the ancient apes did not know how the Taotie killed those sea dominators.


    But on the road to Tianque Plains, they finally saw for themselves.


    This reborn literary giant of a Taotie was terrifyingly powerful.


    One hundred and forty miles north of Tianque Plains, in a dense forest, there appeared a pair of Elk Bears.


    These perfect-level creatures, though slow and clumsy, possessed the utmost defensive power of perfect-level creatures and the tremendous attack power comparable to cataclysmic creatures.


    But to the Taotie, who was set on eating bear paws, the combined assault of dozens of Elk Bears was nothing more than a tickle.


    And the Taotie''s gaping maw, like a furnace, could easily crush the Elk Bear''s iron-like hide.


    But what truly amused the ancient long-eared ape was not the Taotie''s bloody mockery of its prey, but that it was giving these hunted creatures a chance to escape.


    All the Elk Bears that were bitten were on their last breath, lying on the ground either completely or partially intact.


    At this time, the Taotie began to ask questions, and the ancient ape responsible for interpreting sweated bullets.


    Because these questions all came from ancient human texts.


    Anyone who could not answer the source and context was tortured to death by the Taotie in the most brutal ways. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Elk Bear tribe in the dense forest on the northern outskirts of Tianque Plains perished without exception; the entire tribe was thus annihilated.


    Bathed in bear blood, the Taotie, with a mixture of pity and frustration, said:


    [Ignorant and uneducated creatures. Just as the saying goes, ''Those who know are not as good as those who like; those who like are not as good as those who enjoy. The departed are as thus, relentless as time itself.'']


    The Taotie gave the ancient long-eared ape a glance. Although it didn''t kill the ancient ape, its gaze was like that of looking at a creature doomed to die soon:


    [From the ''Analects''.]


    "Re... remembered," said the ancient long-eared ape, who could hardly remember any of it.


    The Taotie didn''t care and continued on its way. In its view, this world could never have a presence capable of standing against its wisdom.


    On the third day, it finally reached Tianque Plains.


    At the border of Tianque Plains, it smelled that intense scent coming from snake gall.


    The Taotie, intoxicated, said:


    [To know the year comes to an end, like a serpent heading to a ravine. Half its scales disappear into the water, who can obstruct its determined departure?]


    Without looking at the ancient ape, it said to itself:


    [From Su Shi, ''Guarding the Year''.]


    With heavy and ponderous steps, the Nvwa Snake clan was about to face their darkest day. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Within the tribe of Nvwa Snake, these serpents lived in natural caves.


    The ancient long-eared ape, functioning as a messenger, summoned the Nvwa Snakes on behalf of the Judgment Chief, congregating them outside the cave Bai Mansheng once loved to inhabit.


    Bai Mansheng preferred solitude and seemed to clash with the snake crowds, but the snakes all respected Bai Mansheng.


    Unlike the fox and dog clans and most other clans.


    The members of the snake clan were all cataclysmic creatures¡ªthe Nvwa Snakes.


    Bai Mansheng was also just a cataclysmic boss unit.


    The difference in strength was not tremendous. At least not as vastly different as that between the Hell Flame Wolf and the great Tengu, or the six-tailed and nine-tailed foxes.


    So the peace of the snake clan, one could say, largely stemmed from Bai Mansheng''s personal charm.


    Though she spoke little, she managed the snake clan very well.


    But now, as the Nvwa Snakes gathered on Tianque Plains, Bai Mansheng''s years of effort would be shattered in an instant.


    The Taotie did not interrogate anyone; it simply held a Nvwa Snake with a look of compassion.


    The ancient long-eared ape was still professional, and in such a tense atmosphere, it did not forget its role as an interpreter, saying:


    "Poor little snake, as you are about to die, I''m giving you a chance to live.


    Trifling writing binds the spiritual snake to descend, the worm bends, the dragon coils and looks around leisurely. Scales retracting in bright light, a string of golden luster writhes within. Where is this from? You have five seconds to think."


    Giving them five hours would also be meaningless; the ancient ape had already seen through this scene and simply shook its head, translating the Nvwa Snake''s words:


    "We are protected by the court!"


    [The court? Aside from the Chief Judge, I decide who I wish to kill, and as the saying goes, ''No one dares to prevent murder, they must be flayed like porcupine quills!'']


    Of course, the ancient ape translated as usual, but before it could finish, the cataclysmic creature was ruthlessly shoved into the Taotie''s huge belly.


    Seeing this moment, the Nvwa Snakes were instantly enraged!


    Being cataclysmic creatures, under the leadership of Bai Mansheng, even a top being like Qing JiuYu would struggle.


    As one of the most powerful groups, the Nvwa Snakes hardly hesitated to fight against the Taotie, which cruelly killed their kin.


    In an instant, the ancient long-eared ape fled the battlefield, clutching its head as the temperature of Tianque Plains instantly dropped by several tens of degrees.


    Though the icy breaths of these cold-natured creatures weren''t powerful and paled in comparison to the half-evolved Nvwa Snake that Tang Xian had fought against by the lake, they were numerous.


    Dozens of cataclysmic creatures acted at once, and in an instant, a large part of Tianque Plains was encased in ice.


    Initially, the Taotie too was frozen.


    But it broke free from the ice with remarkable ease.


    Encased in ice crystals, the Taotie was immobile, but its gigantic maw seemed unaffected.


    It swallowed the ice, and the skin of the Taotie showed a pale blue-white hue.


    The entire body seemed to be in an extreme cold, but soon the Taotie moved as if nothing had happened.


    The attacks of the dozens of Nvwa Snakes were even more intense than before, and the temperature of the Tianque Plains was as if the Far North''s lotus realm had descended.

 Chapter 437 - 69: The First Meeting of the Two Gluttons_3

    But no matter how the ice crystals covered Taotie, it seemed as if it felt no cold at all.


    Just as if it had gained a resistance to the ice.


    [Continue! South of the over-ridge coastal area, Martial Capital''s Western Hidden Warriors. The false name stone is cinnabar, the great bird hard to cage from afar. Where did it come from?]


    Taotie said proudly, but then it immediately grew angry.


    [Damn ancient ape actually ran away! I''m going to eat its nine generations clean!]


    Without the ancient ape, naturally, there was no translator; without a translator, the Nvwa Snakes could not understand the poetry of Taotie.


    This way, it was impossible to prove that these Nvwa Snakes were foolish beings.


    But Taotie was not going to let the Nvwa Snakes go; it immediately found itself another strong reason.


    [Not even understanding the respected language of Taotie, it seems you are not some intelligent life form, as the saying goes, ''Keen and eager to learn, not shy to ask those below''! But you don''t even ask!]


    Taotie''s true nature finally revealed itself as it began to viciously attack the Nvwa Snakes.


    After eating one Nvwa Snake and devouring quite an amount of ice, Taotie''s resistance to the attacks of the Nvwa Snakes seemed to have leveled up, hardly dodging at all. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    [Dragons and snakes battle a hundred times for supremacy, each with ambitions pointing to this ravine!]


    It began again, even though the audience couldn''t understand at all¡ªthe Nvwa Snakes heard nothing but an indescribable monster roar.


    [Damn foolish creatures, I''ve deliberately lowered the difficulty of these verses, they''re all related to snakes, and yet not one of you can answer!]


    Orange light flickered in Taotie''s eyes, emitting the domineering pressure of a demon king''s arrival.


    And endless resentment and murderous intent.


    [You all, must die!]


    The roar shook the heavens, the ice crystals shattered collectively. The Nvwa Snakes close to Taotie were almost certainly dead once caught by it.


    The elders of the Nvwa Snakes finally realized the horror of this monster.


    The more it devoured the snakes, the stronger its resistance to them became.


    It was as if there was no such thing as exhaustion for Taotie, for the more it fought, the stronger it got!


    The crowd of snakes tried to retreat; facing Taotie, they couldn''t be too close to it.


    But after all, Taotie was a catastrophe-level boss creature, even if speed was not its strong suit, it was still somewhat faster than the Nvwa Snakes.


    The battle turned into a protracted struggle. For Taotie to extinguish the calamity-level beings wasn''t too easy either. Because these Nvwa Snakes were not stupid, unlike the first Nvwa Snake that got caught without any vigilance.


    But Taotie was still far stronger than the Nvwa Snakes.


    With only a little more than fifty Nvwa Snakes left, during the pursuit and escape, more than ten had died already.


    Taotie showcased overwhelming strength.


    Although the Nvwa Snakes were calamity-level creatures, in such a prolonged battle, they only lasted a few hours.


    They grew increasingly exhausted, while Taotie, having fed on the Nvwa Snakes, became stronger and stronger.


    It seemed that after a few more rounds, the Nvwa Snakes would be completely slaughtered.


    [Laughing as I down a cup of wine, killing amidst the urban throng. Shame to speak of the Yi River''s cold, through an order a rainbow''s thrust along! Hahaha, you have nowhere to escape, only death awaits!]


    Taotie''s fighting spirit surged, murderous intent raging!


    For the first time, the Nvwa Snakes faced an opponent that grew stronger with every battle, and they were at a loss for what to do.


    But just as Taotie was about to launch another attack, it suddenly heard a response.


    "The next line of this poem is, ''Yan Dan''s work was not established, the Qin Emperor Palace lies in vain. Wuyang dead as ashes, man, how can it be associated with success? From Li Bai''s ''Strangers & Youths'' Assembly Line''." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But hearing you recite it with such vigor, you probably think this poem is suited for reciting during murderous deeds, heroic verses? This poem is just Li Bai mocking those who randomly kill and fancy themselves heroes."


    "Just like you, a fellow who is both uncultured and loves to show off."


    Taotie was stunned on the spot.


    It raised its head and looked at two figures riding a huge dragon not far in the sky.


    The huge dragon was, of course, Tang Feiji, who under full throttle flew from the northern part of the Amara Continent, crossing the Red Soil Forest, Sea of Trees, Waning Time Valley, Blood Waste, and finally arrived at Tianque Plains in just a few hours.


    Arriving before a more tragic disaster unfolded.


    The man and woman on the dragon''s back were Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian.


    Taotie certainly did not expect anyone to recite the origins of these poems.


    But it didn''t make the same misjudgment with Tang Xian as it had with the previous creatures.


    In the midst of its surprise, Taotie revealed a sinister smile and said,


    [So it was you who killed Zero, the Ash Dragon, the demon child of Eden!]

 Chapter 438 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)

    Tang Xian''s face remained calm, but inside, he felt slightly surprised.


    This was the first time the arrogant Judgment Chiefs of the Beast Court recognized him at first glance upon meeting him.


    His mind worked quickly, and in an instant, he made numerous deductions.


    "It couldn''t possibly know who I am. The barrier of language makes it difficult for the cultures of beasts and humans to intermingle.


    Even if it, like the Long-eared Ancient Ape, could speak the language of all beasts and understood human speech, it''s still far-fetched to grasp those poems that most humans wouldn''t bother to memorize," he thought.


    After all, having personally taught Tang Xiaojiu, who was relatively intelligent among the beasts, Tang Xian thought that this monster with a mouth on its belly was obviously not as smart as Tang Xiaojiu. If Tang Xiaojiu could not learn them well, how could this creature recite them fluently?


    Tang Xian looked at the gluttonous creature and said,


    "It seems you''ve eaten quite a few people."


    The creature had thought to surprise him, but instead, saw no shock on Tang Xian''s face. Rather, his own words made it freeze.


    How did he know its secret?


    "Is your hard drive still enough? Or did you selectively filter out the parts of memory with ancient poetry? It must be tough to remember so much tedious poetry with your limited brain capacity. Otherwise, why would you show off so much?"


    Mocking an enemy while riding on the back of a dragon was indeed a wonderful thing.


    Both of the creature''s mouths revealed ferocious teeth:


    [Even if you are the Eden Demon Child, you have never battled with me. I can imagine how Zero fell, but I won''t make the same mistakes. I won''t give you a chance!]


    Tang Xian''s expression remained very calm.


    The creature devoured everything and in return, absorbed the memories of everything.


    This was the conclusion he reached.


    Only humans were aware of the term "Eden Demon Child." The beasts were still just suspicious.


    In the world of humans, his wanted posters were everywhere.


    The terms "Eden Demon Child" and "apocalyptic creature," among others, had become new symbols of fear.


    Among these people, there were naturally many hunters, and evidently, some of them had been eaten by the creature.


    Therefore, the instant it saw him, it knew he was the Eden Demon Child.


    This also reasonably explained why the creature attacked the Nvwa Snake immediately instead of performing an interrogation first.


    Because there was simply no need for questioning; once eaten by the creature, nothing could remain hidden.


    After figuring all this out, Tang Xian said to Bai Mansheng,


    "Take your serpent clan and leave the battlefield; leave this to me and Tang Feiji."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t agree.


    "Blood must be repaid with blood; it killed my clansmen, and I will kill it."


    "You can''t do it," Tang Xian did not mince words.


    Although Tang Feiji was incredibly powerful and stronger than any previous Judgment Chief, Tang Xian never underestimated these monsters.


    The gap between levels in this world was significant; at least Tang Xian had never seen anyone in novels or stories defeat enemies beyond their level.


    Bai Mansheng''s eyes filled with blood, a sign of extreme anger.


    Meanwhile, the creature had already caught the scent and taunted,


    [You must be the leader of the Nvwa Snakes. Your clanspeople were so delicious. I originally thought only snake gallbladders were valuable, but it turns out snake meat is tasty too.]


    "What is it saying?" Bai Mansheng asked.


    "It''s provoking me," translated Tang Xian.


    Then Tang Xian added, "Tang Feiji, this creature is very likely the legendary glutton. I''ve never tasted it, but I can only tell you, it''s extremely, extremely delicious."


    Tang Feiji instantly understood, orange light flashed in its dragon eyes, and its fighting spirit surged wildly.


    The creature looked at the dragon and said,


    [The dragon that killed the assassin group, it was you. Perfect, the Nvwa Snake clan, the Azure Dragon Clan, and the Eden forces, today you''ll all be eaten by me.]


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand what the creature was saying; it just felt that this monster didn''t seem very tasty at all.


    But Tang Xian had more authority on this matter.


    At the same time, Bai Mansheng leaped off the dragon''s back and saw the remains of her Nvwa Serpents. Their fearful expressions filled her with rage.


    Her skin turned even paler.


    Ice crystal-like scales grew rapidly on her originally fair face, and in a moment, Bai Mansheng''s body became huge. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, among the snake species, aside from the mutant nine-headed snakes and the highest evolutionary form of the Nvwa snake lineage, the Nuwa Imperial Snake, was the most powerful being.


    Yet Tang Xian wasn''t optimistic about Bai Mansheng''s chances; the level disparity in this battle was too great for her.


    Even less did the gluttonous creature think highly of the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon; it had already accumulated plenty of resistance to ice elements. Moreover, with the significant difference in strength, this White Phosphorus Serpent Demon didn''t pose a threat.


    "Protect your clansmen and me. Don''t act recklessly. I am the eyes, listen to me," Tang Xian''s tone left no room for doubt.


    Although Bai Mansheng was eager to avenge her clansmen, Tang Xian''s demeanor eventually calmed her down a bit.


    She stood protectively in front of the Nvwa snakes.


    Meanwhile, Tang Xian launched his attack.


    Eclipse arrived.


    A certain area centered on the gluttonous creature suddenly fell into absolute darkness.


    Not a single ray of light could penetrate the darkness.


    At the same moment, a green poisonous fog emerged from within Tang Xian.


    But this fog did not disperse irregularly like a gas would.


    Instead, Tang Xian used another ability to precisely shoot the fog toward the gluttonous creature lurking in the darkness.


    And that wasn''t all. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Feiji was the true trump card, with a series of attacks arriving in an instant.

 Chapter 439 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_2

    The sky turned cloudy again, and thunderclouds densely gathered.


    Three thunderbolts brimming with destruction struck in an instant!


    They shot straight into the darkness created by Swallowing Sun.


    This was a joint attack by a man and a dragon. Even a creature of the catastrophe level would find it difficult to withstand.


    But something unbelievable happened to Tang Xian.


    In the instant before the thunderbolts were about to strike, the Taotie''s massive body moved as fast as lightning and perfectly dodged them.


    It wasn''t just the thunderbolts; it even avoided the poisonous mist.


    Most terrifyingly, in that moment, Tang Feiji and Tang Xian''s line of sight completely disappeared, leaving only a thick darkness.


    "Dragons and snakes don''t lie dormant, the world struggles in vain!" Quoted from Du Fu''s "Thunder", your combined attack was quite good, but it''s useless against me.


    Tang Xian was shocked, as he could sense an extremely intense stench of blood through his nostrils.


    He instantly dispelled Swallowing Sun, and only then did he see a massive mouth just a short distance away from the body of Tang Feiji''s Azure Dragon.


    It seemed as though it would bite Tang Feiji in the next second.


    Without time to think, Tang Xian instinctively activated his Gloves of Limit. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Six Soul Crystals exerted force at the same time, and several unknown elements shot out like arrows, aiming for the mouth on the Taotie''s abdomen.


    The Taotie didn''t dodge but unhesitatingly swallowed Tang Xian''s attack.


    In the half-second gap, Tang Feiji finally found time to retreat, his dragon body danced, and he flashed back dozens of feet away.


    Tang Xian took deep breaths.


    The scene just now was too horrifying.


    In the darkness, it seemed as though the enemy was not blinded by the dark but instead aimed precisely for Tang Feiji''s abdomen to bite.


    Because it was so close, Swallowing Sun''s range also enshrouded himself.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows.


    Looking at the Taotie in the distance displaying a satisfied expression.


    "Heaven tasks those who are to receive great responsibility with trials, which will exhaust their minds, labor their bones, starve their bodies, and deplete their strength." From Mencius, I am very hungry, and you taste very good.


    Although the Taotie was struck by the attack unleashed by Tang Xian''s Gloves of Limit, not only was it unhurt, but it seemed its strength had even recovered.


    Watching this scene, Tang Xian immediately felt the trouble with this monster.


    "Tang Feiji, be careful. Our opponent seems to have a sense more acute than vision¡ªdarkness has no effect on it, and it''s likely smell. Additionally, it might be able to digest our attacks and convert them into its own strength. When attacking, try to avoid that mouth on its abdomen as much as possible; it''s actually a shield."


    "Even in close combat, I could kill this ugly freak!"


    Tang Feiji couldn''t believe that he had just felt a trace of fear at the moment when the Taotie''s gaping mouth neared him.


    It was somewhat angry at itself for having such a shameful emotion.


    But this also made it put away any underestimation of its opponent.


    The Taotie was definitely a formidable presence; after the Court had lost three Judgment Chiefs in a row, it still dared to have one face it alone, which shows the absolute confidence the Court of All Beasts had in the Taotie''s combat power.


    Tang Feiji launched another attack, and at the same time, Bai Mansheng, in his beast-transformed state, used his strongest method.


    Extreme Ice formed at the Taotie''s feet, and like a rapidly growing plant, it instantly wrapped around the Taotie''s limbs.


    In front of Tang Feiji, a ball of golden liquid-like high-temperature substance condensed.


    Golden Solution.


    This was a unique elemental attack of the Azure Dragon of the Sea.


    The solution, akin to magma, erupted instantly, and the Taotie sensed a dangerous aura. When it tried to dodge, its feet were held by the ice for a very brief instant.


    Facing a Judgment Chief of the Court, Bai Mansheng, although a calamity-level boss creature, could only hold it momentarily. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    But that moment was enough for Tang Feiji''s attack to hit.


    The scorching liquid gold wasn''t as hot as the strongest dragon flames, but upon striking the opponent, it caused prolonged searing pain.


    The Taotie let out a painful howl.


    The attacks from Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng were not over yet, as two ice elemental strikes from the dragon and the snake immediately landed on the solution.


    The initially liquid gold suddenly solidified upon encountering a drastic drop in temperature.


    This was solidification stronger than ice sealing.


    In an instant, the Taotie turned into a golden sculpture.


    Although Bai Mansheng didn''t like Tang Feiji, and Tang Feiji thought the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon was too despicable, the cooperation between the dragon and snake was near perfect.


    On the contrary, this time Tang Xian was of no use.


    Beyond the gold, there were layers upon layers of solid ice.


    The Tianque Plains were as if a glacier had suddenly emerged.


    Deep within the glacier, a golden statue was buried.


    If most of the ice hadn''t originated from Tang Feiji, Tang Xian would have probably felt the cold.


    He watched these events unfolding and once again marveled at the strength of catastrophe-level creatures.


    Such a glacier had made the entire Tianque Plains grow cold.


    The Taotie was not defeated.


    It felt a massive pressure on itself, but at the same time, its strength was rapidly recovering.


    Its body was now wrapped in a strange substance similar to gold and couldn''t move.


    But the liquid-like substances had also flowed into its mouth.


    The mouth on its abdomen was the source and the hub of its power to devour everything.


    Even though it was sealed, its digestive system was still at work.


    The Taotie was continuously eating.


    The mouth seemed to have its own consciousness.


    It was as if two brains shared one body.


    The pressure kept increasing, and the Taotie could feel the extremely cold glacier pressing down on it.

 Chapter 440 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_3

    But its cold resistance was sufficient to rival the creatures of the Far North.


    Gradually, the Taotie''s fingers twitched, and those golden substances slowly began to crack.


    Before long, the large mouth on its abdomen started to make chewing movements.


    Outside of the iceberg.


    Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji were both astonished, for the entire iceberg started to show cracks!


    It was like those mythical stories where a powerful being could slice through mountains and rivers with a single swing of their sword.


    The massive iceberg instantly displayed exaggerated fissures.


    Subsequently, large chunks of ice began to fall off.


    [The combination of river ice doesn''t happen in just one day of cold; accumulating soil to form a mound is not done in a moment. From Wang Chong''s "Lun Heng."]


    To Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji, the Taotie''s cries sounded like viewing garbled text on a computer¡ªa similar concept.


    But Tang Xian realized the seriousness of the problem.


    This Taotie, seemingly always at a disadvantage, might have never treated this battle seriously.


    Finally, the iceberg collapsed, and that gigantic golden statue slowly shed its layers of gold.


    Its body, stiff due to the cold and the retention of metal, quickly dispelled that stiffness in a very short time.


    Tang Feiji was enraged, and with a roar of a dragon, thunder descended!


    Tang Xian shouted, "Tang Feiji, stop!"


    Huge bolts of lightning fell, enveloping the entire body of the Taotie within.


    The Taotie faced upwards.


    A bizarre scene occurred¡ªthe originally massive lightning seemed to be sucked away by some other-dimensional space and started to shrink rapidly.


    But the Taotie appeared to have been injured by it.


    Tang Feiji, in disbelief, brought down several more bolts of lightning in succession.


    Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    For a moment, the Tianque Plains trembled amidst the thunder.


    Bai Mansheng, transformed into the Nvwa Snake, watched this and finally felt the full force of Tang Feiji''s martial power.


    What shocked her even more was that the Taotie dared to withstand these attacks head-on.


    The first bolt of lightning struck the Taotie, putting it in an injured state.


    But with the second bolt, not only did the injury fail to intensify, it seemed to lessen. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The arrival of the third, fourth, fifth bolts allowed the Taotie to bathe in the lightning, appearing satisfied.


    [The lightning startles heaven and earth while dragons and snakes hibernate; abundant rain softens the wild grass and herbs. From Huang Tingjian''s "Qingming." Pitiful and humble dragon, your lightning is truly delicious.]


    Tang Feiji finally ceased his attacks, disbelievingly watching the scene unfold before him.


    Tang Xian was equally shocked; the Taotie had demonstrated abilities that made its true potential clear to him.


    It was like an unlikable coincidence.


    Tang Xian was playing the role of the Taotie, and the Taotie indeed displayed some characteristics of the Eden demon child.


    However, unlike the Eden demon child, the Taotie could devour anything to generate resistance and heal itself.


    Although its resistance would not reach the absolute immunity of an Eden demon child.


    It could still reduce it to a safe range.


    The only difference was that one used touch, and the other used ingestion.


    One was against all forms of attack on that creature, while the other was against a single ability.


    It appeared the Taotie was much weaker compared to the Eden demon child but the Taotie in itself had the battle power of a catastrophe-level boss creature.


    Ice, molten gold solution, lightning¡ªnone of them posed much of a threat anymore.


    Originally, they thought that with a three-on-one plus some help from the Nvwa Snake, victory was assured.


    Now Tang Xian realized that their odds of winning seemed somewhat low.


    The most critical issue was that none of his abilities were effective against the Taotie.


    The battle continued.


    The Taotie, which had been taking hits all this time, began its attack.


    The large mouth on its abdomen started spewing an unimaginably large amount of corrosive acid.


    The acid surged out like a tide, flooding towards Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng, yet it conspicuously did not target Tang Xian.


    Bai Mansheng tried to counter with extreme cold, but the glacier was instantaneously corroded by the acid.


    Tang Feiji, despite his incredible speed, still had a few dragon scales affected by the acid.


    Those few scales vanished in an instant, appearing as minor wounds yet the pain seemed to bore into the marrow.


    [The ant shakes the big tree; laughable for its overestimation. From Han Yu''s "Adjusting Zhang Ji."]


    The acid kept spurting out, and it was hard to imagine how much of this strong corrosive acid was in the Taotie''s stomach.


    Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng were busy dodging, with no chance to focus on anything else.


    This moment should have been the easiest to kill Tang Xian.


    But the Taotie seemed to have ignored Tang Xian''s presence altogether.


    Tang Xian was certain that this was probably the strongest opponent he had encountered since coming to the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    This creature''s abilities were even more terrifying than that of Zero.


    Zero could make all forms of attacks, living or non-living, come to a standstill.


    Whereas the Taotie could recover itself and grow stronger by devouring all forms of attacks, living or non-living.


    Besides, the creatures it devoured would have their memories plundered as well.


    The Taotie had once devoured a long-eared ancient ape, including a wise old ape who was well-versed in the Myriad Beasts Codex.


    Tang Xian didn''t know this, but he knew that the Taotie was very familiar with him.


    Unless it was an attack that could kill him in a single blow, it would not strike against him.


    It would not allow him the chance to develop resistance. It was apparent that despite appearing arrogant, the Taotie was extremely cautious, with a high battle IQ.


    This naturally had its advantages, such as not having to worry about being attacked before the end of the battle.


    But it also had its downsides, namely that for the entire battle, he probably couldn''t pose much of a threat to the Taotie himself.


    Everything would rely on Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng.

 Chapter 441 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_4

    To be exact, it must rely on Tang Feiji.


    The myriad beasts in the distance of the Tianque Plains saw the Azure Dragon dancing in the sky.


    Tang Feiji flew to such a high place that those acid attacks could not reach him anymore.


    But he had no time to mock his opponent when, in an instant, the Gluttonous Beast abandoned its attack on the Azure Dragon and went straight for Bai Mansheng! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This scene terrified Tang Feiji.


    Of course, he wasn''t worried about Bai Mansheng''s safety; he was thinking that if this despicable little snake died in front of him, Tang Xian would definitely take his anger out on him.


    Even though the Dragon Origin Blood Oath had been lifted, Tang Feiji still instinctively feared Tang Xian.


    He plummeted swiftly, without regard for anything else.


    With speed like thunder, the massive body of the Gluttonous Beast stopped spraying acid and moved closer to Bai Mansheng, and Tang Xian knew the beast intended to devour Bai Mansheng.


    In that lightning-fast moment, Tang Xian activated Snake Stance to create a short-distance displacement, instantly blocking in front of Bai Mansheng.


    This was naturally an effort as futile as trying to stop a chariot with one''s arm, but the Gluttonous Beast abruptly stopped and even retreated a few steps in fear.


    Bai Mansheng found this unbelievable.


    This monster actually dared not even touch Tang Xian?


    The Gluttonous Beast continuously retreated a great distance.


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised.


    Just from the acid attacks earlier, it was clear that the Gluttonous Beast was extremely cautious of him, not even daring to make a probing touch.


    So he used this to his advantage to save Bai Mansheng.


    "Bai Mansheng, this is not a fight you can take part in; let Tang Feiji handle it!"


    [Are you looking down on me?]


    "I am the team leader, listen to me!"


    Bai Mansheng wondered when she became part of Tang Xian''s team?


    In the end, she didn''t insist because Tang Xian''s expression was somewhat fierce.


    After some thought, she realized that she had indeed been causing trouble for Tang Xian just now.


    The huge white-scaled snake moved back several dozen zhang, leaving only Tang Xian and Tang Feiji in the center of the battlefield.


    One man and one dragon had already successfully killed three Judgment Chiefs. Despite the disadvantageous situation, Tang Xian still believed there was a chance of victory.


    But this chance of victory soon diminished again.


    Thunder could no longer be used, ice could not be spat, and wind and rain were even less effective against the Gluttonous Beast.


    Tang Feiji''s only option left was flame.


    As corrosive waves of acid attacked, Tang Feiji was fed up with dodging; a burst of dragon flame erupted directly from his mouth!


    The might of the Dragon Clan was unquestionable at this moment!


    The flames, even more majestic than those resembling tidal waves of acid, evaporated all the acid in an instant!


    The center of the battlefield turned into a sea of fire in the blink of an eye!


    Within the great fire came the howling of the Gluttonous Beast!


    Tang Feiji didn''t relax this time.


    Those flames were like his endless humiliation and anger.


    The already majestic dragon flame grew even more intense.


    Among the thick smoke and fierce flames, Tang Xian could only see the figure of the Gluttonous Beast getting smaller and smaller.


    A strange voice emerged, as if the large mouth on its abdomen was also crying out in pain, a shrill and piercing sound.


    The dragon flame poured into the body of the Gluttonous Beast, into its internal organs.


    Burning its stomach along with everything else!


    In that instant, Tang Xian and Tang Feiji seemed to see hope.


    But if there were a person with special abilities here, they could see that although the Gluttonous Beast''s vitality was lowering, its maximum health value was increasing!


    Before long, Tang Feiji also felt something was wrong. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Because, despite being burned by the dragon flame for so long, the Gluttonous Beast was still howling and had not died yet!


    Gradually, the howling also slowly subsided.


    Tang Xian watched as the figure within the fire slowly grew larger, and he instinctively retreated several steps.


    Tang Feiji, witnessing this scene, also displayed a look of horror.


    The dragon flame was still being spewed, but the fire didn''t seem to become more fierce.


    It was as if it was being sprayed into a vortex.


    [The grass on the plain comes and goes with each passing year; not even a wild fire can erase it, as the spring breeze brings it back to life. From Bai Juyi''s "The Grass".]


    The figure of the Gluttonous Beast became more and more clear and enormous, while the dragon flame grew weaker and weaker.


    When the Gluttonous Beast emerged from the fire, even without seeing the attributes, Tang Xian could feel that this monster had regained its strength and had healed its wounds.


    There was nothing to be done about it, Tang Feiji''s attacks were all large-scale.


    He couldn''t attack a specific area of the body with precision like Lei Xiao could.


    Therefore, Tang Feiji''s attacks were repeatedly absorbed.


    The once formidable Tang Feiji was now becoming weaker.


    In short, this time, Tang Feiji had encountered a being that countered him.


    The Gluttonous Beast started to attack.


    It had returned to its peak condition.


    And after using powerful moves like thunder, golden solution, extreme ice, and dragon flame one after another, Tang Feiji was starting to weaken.


    At this time, the Gluttonous Beast''s speed finally surpassed the Azure Dragon!


    Tang Feiji originally wanted to dodge, but with a long serpent-like body, it was too easy to be attacked.


    And since Tang Xian was still there, he was ultimately a bit worried.


    The terrifying moment came when the Gluttonous Beast''s large mouth bit into Tang Feiji''s flank.


    Those terrifying fangs were like blades that could cut through iron and stone, actually piercing through the extremely tough dragon scales in an instant.


    Dragon blood splattered, and Tang Feiji let out a painful dragon''s cry. His tail swiftly swung, knocking the Gluttonous Beast away.


    Yet, this strike did not cause much harm to the Gluttonous Beast.


    The two behemoths were about a hundred meters apart, which for them was a very short distance, and the next clash might happen in the blink of an eye.


    Watching this, Tang Xian thought that this time Tang Feiji might not overcome the enemy.


    [Tang Xian... this despicable and ugly freak is a bit tough to deal with. Do you want to leave here first?]

 Chapter 442 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_5

    Tang Feiji was speaking, all the while staring intently at the Taotie.


    It was at this moment that Bai Mansheng also said:


    "He won''t last much longer. You should leave this place now."


    Even though the most rational course of action right now was to quickly open a transport rift and return, Tang Xian didn''t do so.


    He had considered it, but quickly dismissed the idea.


    "Tang Feiji, I''m relieved to hear you say that. But you must change your strategy for the upcoming battle," he said.


    "How do I do that?"


    "Use a speed faster than it can manage, get behind it."


    "I can no longer outpace it now."


    "I will help you. You need to seize the right opportunity."


    Tang Xian stepped forward.


    Both the Taotie and the Canglong seemed to be looking for a chance to crush the opponent with a single blow.


    At this time, a voice suddenly distracted the Taotie''s attention.


    "The colors of the six palaces fade, but a turn of her head, a smile, breeds a hundred charms."


    Almost as if by instinct, upon hearing these words, the Taotie immediately responded:


    "From Bai Juyi, ''Song of Everlasting Sorrow.''"


    "Very well, then¡­" Tang Xian deliberately drew out his tone.


    In that instant, Tang Feiji had an epiphany!


    For the Taotie''s attention had now shifted to Tang Xian.


    Tang Feiji held nothing back, his dragon form flitted away, triggering a swift storm that howled past!


    In a flash, he reached behind the Taotie, leaving a deep, searing scratch!


    "You know this poem by Bai Juyi is called ''Song of Everlasting Sorrow'', but do you know how many lines it has, how many words? From what time does it originate, and where was it written? How old was Bai Juyi at that time? Who was the emperor of the Tang Dynasty?"


    The Taotie knew the answers to these questions but simply had no time to respond.


    For at this moment, Tang Feiji''s onslaught was too fierce!


    The Taotie realized this was a trick of the enemy!


    It forced itself to focus on the battle at hand.


    Its combat power was already overwhelming the Canglong; it had nothing to fear!


    But Tang Xian was like a devil incarnate.


    "You''re so foolish. The poem has exactly eight hundred forty characters, not counting punctuation and title. It was composed in the year 806 AD, that is, the first year of Yuanhe when Bai Juyi served as the County Magistrate of Zhouzhi, written in his own home. It seems your knowledge is not profound at all; I had actually planned to quiz you on another poem," he said.


    The Taotie was in extreme discomfort.


    And in that instant, it was hit repeatedly by Tang Feiji.


    Watching this scene, Tang Xian seemed indifferent, as if he truly wanted to engage the literate demon in a battle of wits well into the night.


    He shook his head and sighed:


    "Is this all there is, is this all there is."


    In fact, from the beginning of the battle, Tang Xian remembered that the Taotie had recited a total of seven lines of poetry in the brief skirmish, always adding a source for each.


    Apart from his friends like Bai Manshen, Qing JiuYu, and Tang Feiji, Tang Xian always classified other creatures into edible and inedible animals.


    In his eyes, the Taotie was no different from the hellhound or even a Husky.


    All were capable of developing a conditioned reflex. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Taotie had established a conditioned reflex for itself, having to recite the source whenever it heard a line of poetry.


    And if one failed to speak, or someone else said it, it probably felt as anxious as a person with OCD.


    In fact, the behavior of having to say the source after every line of poetry was itself a manifestation of OCD.


    But Tang Xian wouldn''t admit it.


    Essentially, he didn''t believe that the Taotie could suffer from diseases that only higher sentient humans would have.


    In any case, leaving a speech half-finished, or forcibly dividing what should be a complete part into two stages, was extremely uncomfortable for the Taotie.


    "Never mind, I''ll give you another chance. Listen well. ''Though ugliness has feet, the shell is not whole. Seeing you without a mouth, I know you lack men.'' Who wrote this?"


    This was a riddle poem.


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    It was from Su Tai of the Tang Era, strictly speaking, it''s a riddle.


    Tang Xian knew that the love of showing off meant that not being able to shoot the answer quickly felt extremely uncomfortable.


    On this matter, Tang Xian had the most experience.


    Like when during chemistry class, he would preempt the physics teacher''s anecdote by stating the law it eventually proved.


    Or when the math teacher set up a historically famous math problem, and before it was finished, he directly stated the answer numerically.


    He had done this so often that the material teachers used to fill class time was often cut short by his few words.


    That''s why he was never particularly popular with teachers.


    Just like at this moment.


    When the Taotie wanted to answer the riddle, Tang Xian shook his head and, with a look that said you didn''t guess it, right?, he spoke:


    "It''s the character riddle by Su Tai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, the character ''yin''. You don''t even know this?"


    The Taotie was inwardly tormented, wanting to speak, but Tang Xian gave it no chance.


    Tang Feiji''s attacks grew stronger and stronger.


    The dragon''s claw, like a sharp sword, sliced through the Taotie''s back defenses.


    The scale of victory began to slowly tilt again!


    Tang Xian didn''t stop there, Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan verses, Chu ci, Book of Songs, Analects. He didn''t pause, bombarding them in turn.


    Every time the Taotie was about to speak the answer, he would preempt with a look of "Oh my god, you didn''t know?" and mock.


    Over the centuries, the Taotie had eaten countless people, how many tens of thousands of lines of poetry had it spoken?


    It was always the one to state the source.


    But this time, that damn devilish boy was always one step ahead.


    It felt as miserable as an OCD sufferer completing a jigsaw puzzle only to find, towards the end, that it was missing a T-shaped piece slightly left of center.


    Or as if an OCD patient who was used to the neighbor''s chicken crowing three times every morning, only to wake one day to hear it crow just twice!

 Chapter 443 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_6

    Taotie was simply going crazy.


    It was covered in scars, and it had already realized that the gap between itself and the Zh¨¨nh¨£i C¨¡ngl¨®ng was narrowing.


    If the fight continued like this, it would die here, but there was nothing it could do!


    For habits built over hundreds of years had become like an instinct to it.


    It struggled to resist this instinct.


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected that this Taotie, which recited poetry with every kill, would also die under its own verses.


    This was poetic justice.


    The massive blood loss had slowed down Taotie''s speed and reflexes somewhat.


    But its battle with Tang Feiji was still an unknown variable.


    Tang Xian regained some ground, yet Taotie still boasted formidable vitality.


    Because close combat really wasn''t Tang Feiji''s forte.


    And at this time, the tides of battle changed once again.


    The frantic Taotie let out a sharp cry.


    That scream came from deep within Taotie''s belly.


    It was as if that was where its true essence lay.


    Feeling that its shell was caught in a paradox, from deep within Taotie''s consciousness came a crazed command.


    Taotie''s eyes turned blood-red, and in an instant, things resembling tentacles grew from its belly and filled its ears.


    Blood poured as Taotie''s eardrums were pierced, followed by another cry of agony.


    Tang Xian watched in shock at the turn of events, never expecting Taotie, when pushed to the brink, to destroy its own hearing.


    Its mind was filled with nothing but a roaring noise; beyond that, Taotie could not hear a thing.


    It let out a triumphant laugh, seemingly overjoyed to finally be rid of that devil-like figure''s interference.


    And so, the battle with Tang Feiji took another turn after Taotie had completely succumbed to madness.


    The Taotie before them was no longer a poetic murderer of elegance; it was now a truly mad monster.


    Tang Feiji''s talons pierced through Taotie''s back, but suddenly a huge gash split open on Taotie''s back on its own accord.


    It was as if having a toothy maw on its belly wasn''t enough, the back wanted to grow one too.


    Seeing this, Tang Xian finally understood why so many records claimed that Taotie actually had no fixed form.


    It was like a Lovecraftian creature, yet also a ferocious beast from Huaxia mythology.


    Tang Feiji wanted to quickly pull away, but was still viciously bitten by the massive mouth on Taotie''s back.


    In that instant, as Taotie devoured the dragon flesh, its strength began to slowly return. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Judge of the Court of All Beasts was only now revealing its full strength.


    It was the true fighting force representing the Court of All Beasts.


    First, Tang Feiji was bitten at the waist, then at the shoulder blade.


    After a prolonged battle, it was now greatly weakened.


    No matter how much Tang Xian yelled and shouted, Taotie gave no response.


    It seemed as if there was no way out.


    After going mad, Taotie had become a monster that devoured relentlessly, and its speed and strength seemed to have ascended to a new level.


    Being unable to use elemental attacks was a significant disadvantage for C¨¡ngl¨®ng.


    Now, Taotie was as if armored in an extra protective layer!


    [Go! Tang Xian, and that little snake, I won''t lose! I''ll hold it off, don''t get in my way!] Tang Feiji didn''t consider itself a hero saving others, it merely couldn''t accept losing to other beasts in a head-on fight.


    Tang Xian thought about a plan, and did not back away.


    Bai Mansheng had transformed back into human form at this point.


    She spoke softly, "That stupid dragon can''t hold on any longer."


    Tang Xian nodded.


    "So you''re not leaving?"


    "I can''t leave yet. If I do, it''s like I''m smashing my own signboard."


    Despite trying hard to maintain a calm demeanor, Tang Xian indeed couldn''t think of an approach this time.


    Because the opponent knew him well and, in itself, was a simplified version of an Eden Child.


    It was hard to imagine how a true Eden Child would be defeated under the protection of an apocalypse-level creature.


    "I have a way to win," Bai Mansheng suddenly said.


    "What way?" Tang Xian asked in surprise, looking at Bai Mansheng.


    But at that moment, Bai Mansheng suddenly pushed Tang Xian away.


    Tang Xian, puzzled, looked at Bai Mansheng.


    Bai Mansheng raised the prop bag in her hand.


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    It was then that Tang Xian noticed, Bai Mansheng had stolen his prop bag earlier.


    Bai Mansheng opened the prop bag and took out the fruit from the Zudun Holy Tree.


    "Tang Xian, you and that foolish dragon can leave."


    As soon as the fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree was revealed, Taotie''s body suddenly paused.


    After all, it was the biggest glutton in the world.


    Saliva dribbled from all three of its massive mouths.


    Tang Xian guessed what Bai Mansheng was about to do; he got up without any hesitation and launched his snake stance to snatch back the fruit.


    But when it came to the snake stance, Bai Mansheng was the true master.


    She easily dodged it.


    Meanwhile, Tang Xian also saw the covetous looks in the eyes of the Nvwa Snakes behind Bai Mansheng.


    The fruit of the Zudun Holy Tree was too great a temptation for all the beasts.


    Bai Mansheng said:


    "But I won''t leave, because this ugly creature killed my clansmen, and today, it''s do or die between us!"


    Tang Xian had never seen Bai Mansheng so angry before. Perhaps part of the reason was that Tang Xian had been telling Bai Mansheng to back off all day. Bai Mansheng did not like to be looked down upon, especially by her own people.


    The normally aloof Bai Mansheng was more like a literary girl, but even the gentlest cat has its moments of fury.


    Just like now, she was even crazier than the Taotie after its madness!

 Chapter 444 - 70: The Emperor of Nvwa Snake (Mini Explosion)_7

    Just as the Taotie was about to change its target and attack Bai Mansheng,


    Bai Mansheng swallowed the fruit of the Zudun sacred tree.


    In her human form she swallowed it, and the moment the fruit of the Zudun sacred tree was consumed, her cheeks were instantly covered with dense, white scales, and her body became gigantic like the previous time she transformed into a snake.


    But these white phosphorus scales didn''t last long before they suddenly changed color!


    Bai Mansheng''s snake scales took on a golden hue.


    However, these golden scales were sparse, and the speed of the mutations was somewhat slow.


    The Taotie sensed something was amiss and launched a fierce attack, gaping its huge mouth to bite down.


    Tang Feiji did not hesitate, a wall of ice formed in front of the Taotie.


    Tang Xian also didn''t waver, once again standing in front of Bai Mansheng to protect her.


    A man and a dragon, one in front and one behind, blocking the Taotie.


    The fruit of the Zudun sacred tree had been swallowed, and the evolution had begun.


    At this point, it was meaningless for Tang Xian to try to stop it. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    He hadn''t expected this storytelling woman to be such a maniac!


    But Bai Mansheng''s madness did not stop there. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Like the hellhound with three heads, her body started to change irregularly, showing chaotic transformations.


    But at that moment, Bai Mansheng, relying on her willpower, took out the remaining two fruits from her bag and swallowed them together.


    Tang Xian thought she was insane, consuming lethal things wildly without knowing the specifics of the evolution.


    A painful dragon''s roar erupted, and Tang Feiji, in an attempt to hold off the Taotie, was bitten in the waist once again.


    At the same time, another dragon-like roar sounded, equally majestic but clearer and more resonant.


    Golden light burst forth!


    Tang Xian was anxious about Tang Feiji''s wounds while being shocked by Bai Mansheng''s transformation.


    "Pioneers of the world must be somewhat mad." This thought suddenly popped into Tang Xian''s head.


    Bai Mansheng''s stature grew increasingly gigantic, her lower half''s scales all sparkling with dazzling golden light.


    And her upper half was no longer in the form of a snake, but human!


    Tang Xian took several steps back, completely stunned.


    This enormous life form, floating between heaven and earth, bathed in golden light, reminded him of a creature from ancient myths.


    "Nuwa Emperor!"


    An evolved species of the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon. This creature is recorded in the steles left by the Orderers as an earth element, calamity-level boss creature.


    Humans had never seen one in the mining regions, in fact, the last sighting of a Nuwa Imperial Snake was in the bestiary from hundreds of years ago.


    Like the grand existence that patched the sky in mythology, the Nuwa Imperial Snake possesses golden scales, half snake, half human.


    That face was still Bai Mansheng''s face, but golden long hair bathed her entirely in a divine light, filled with godliness.


    The irregular powers from the fruit of the Zudun sacred tree continued trying to twist Bai Mansheng''s body, but with just a concentrated look from her beautiful eyes, all abnormalities on her disappeared.


    At the same time, Bai Mansheng''s eyes were fixed on Tang Feiji.


    Tang Xian showed an expression of amazement again¡ª


    The originally heavily injured Tang Feiji began healing at an exaggeratedly fast speed!


    Tang Xian exclaimed with joy,


    "This is actually a calamity-level healing creature!"


    (Ah, I used up my backup chapters for the neck day, so today''s chapter came a bit late, but I didn''t break my promise.)

 Chapter 445 - 71: The Evil Dragon Battles the Brave Warrior

    Golden light scattered around. Standing beneath the colossal Nuwa Imperial Snake, Tang Xian felt like a tiny ant.


    The battle between monsters of different sizes seemed absurd.


    Although Tang Xian was still shocked that Bai Mansheng had actually evolved by consuming the fruit of the sacred tree, and it was the highest level of evolution at that.


    But originally, the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, Azure Dragon, and Taotie all had consistent body sizes, all towering at dozens of meters high, of the monster class.


    Now, in terms of size, the Nuwa Imperial Snake floating in the air was like a colossal Kun.


    The Azure Dragon and Taotie seemed like two little brothers, combining to only half the size of the Nuwa Imperial Snake.


    This made Tang Xian want to laugh in such a tense moment.


    The sensation was like Tang Feiji flying to high altitudes to duel with an Ash Dragon, while Plague looked on from the ground. Because, like the author of some noble trace, even if it leapt, it couldn''t reach an NBA star''s knee.


    At that moment, not far in front of him, Tang Feiji and the Taotie were tangled in a brawl, while the Nuwa Imperial Snake indifferently watched, giving Tang Xian a similar feeling.


    But Bai Mansheng wasn''t watching.


    Tang Feiji had sustained such serious injuries for the sake of her own people.


    So she was healing Tang Feiji. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    [I bet right, from now on you''re not allowed to tell me to back off in any battles.] Bai Mansheng''s consciousness had recovered.


    Evolution also tended towards stability, but this woman''s first words were to contradict Tang Xian''s "back off".


    "Crazy woman." Tang Xian found regardless of his understanding of humans, when women went mad, they too were unpredictable.


    What if Bai Mansheng''s evolution process had been aborted?


    Clearly, Bai Mansheng had considered this issue.


    But Bai Mansheng still took the gamble.


    This reminded Tang Xian of Li Qingzhao, the famous lady poet of the graceful style.


    On normal days, she was like Bai Mansheng, watching literary works by the creek, savoring the flow of time.


    In secret, she was a gambler. Li Qingzhao in history was honored as the foremost talented lady, but she played big behind the scenes.


    In gambling dens, she was adept at every game, a proper female gambler.


    ...


    ...


    The battle continued.


    The Taotie had gnawed Tang Feiji''s dragon body several times, greatly restoring its vitality.


    This high-level life form, dominating all elements, had flesh and blood that also strengthened the Taotie.


    But Tang Feiji was very strong as well, because with Bai Mansheng''s divine gaze upon it, it was like a champion in the Summoner''s Rift wearing Berserker''s Greaves, with a very high health regeneration rate.


    The fear originally in Tang Feiji''s heart also dissipated because of this.


    It fought back angrily. Its fighting style became more and more fierce, sometimes even forgoing defense.


    That lowly little snake had actually become... well, a big snake that could barely sit at the same level with itself. If it couldn''t win against the Taotie in a two-on-one situation, it would be a disgrace to its dragon life.


    Although Tang Feiji didn''t know that many of its humiliating moments as a dragon had been recorded by Tang Xian.


    The course of the battle had completely changed.


    The fully revitalized and equally insane-fighting Azure Dragon finally took the upper hand again.


    Tang Feiji had been repressed to the extreme, battling an enemy that got weaker the more it fought while the opponent grew stronger.


    From a sure win, to a close call, and finally to a slim chance of victory.


    This process was truly humiliating for the egoistic Tang Feiji.


    Humiliation turned into anger and although Tang Feiji was not skilled in close combat, the balance of victory was already tilting towards Tang Feiji.


    The crazed Taotie finally began to sober up after being continuously wounded by Tang Feiji.


    It realized that the gigantic snake radiating golden light needed to be dealt with first.


    The Taotie spewed out a tidal wave of acid, repelling Tang Feiji.


    At the same time, it charged toward the Nuwa Imperial Snake with the utmost speed.


    It didn''t care about the difference in size; after all, it had eaten even larger creatures in the hungry sea.


    But the Taotie had to admit, this dragon and snake were not simple.


    It was the first time it had been pushed to such a state.


    Among the Judgment Chiefs, the Taotie only found Zero and the Phoenix to be troublesome.


    Zero was the most bothersome, but luckily it was already dead.


    The Taotie''s crazed charge made Tang Xian want to shield it with his body again.


    But at that moment, Bai Mansheng spoke out:


    [Back off!]


    "Women indeed hold grudges."


    As Tang Xian said this, a flash of orange light shone in Bai Mansheng''s eyes.


    The earth bearing the Taotie instantly twisted.


    A vast expanse of the Tianque Plains turned like a venus flytrap that had caught its prey.


    As the Taotie charged, the ground snapped shut, and the huge layers of rock folded over one another, covering the Taotie.


    Even with the Taotie''s astonishing strength, for a while, it couldn''t break free.


    "We need to find a way to kill its true body inside its mouth."


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised that Bai Mansheng, in addition to her strong healing ability, could also manipulate rocks.


    In mythological stories, Nvwa was deeply associated with stones. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She created all things, and also patched up the sky with earth. In the records left by the Orderers, the Nuwa Emperor belonged more to the category of creatures of the solid earth.


    Healing abilities were, in fact, secondary.


    Tang Feiji said:


    [True body? It has a real body?]


    "Yes, you''ve been fighting it for so long, can''t you tell?"


    Although Tang Feiji didn''t understand Tang Xian''s language, Bai Mansheng guessed Tang Feiji''s words from what Tang Xian said.

 Chapter 446 - 71: The Evil Dragon vs. The Brave - Part 2

    She rolled her eyes and said,


    "Stupid and despicable dragonkind."


    Tang Xian shook his head. A gentleman may take ten years to seek revenge, but a woman''s grudge starts at a century.


    "In the belly of the Taotie, there should be another creature, which cohabits with the Taotie in its body. This creature is also the source of its strength, namely its original form. Find a way to kill it."


    The mountains were shaking violently.


    The Taotie was devouring them.


    The strength that had been waning was now surging once again.


    Tang Xian realized that time was running out.


    But Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji found themselves in a difficult position.


    "Although I hate to admit it, I can''t kill it directly. And once I can''t kill it, any attack will only make it stronger. It''s practically another you."


    The true demon child of Eden never battles with any creature for too long. In the fight between Tang Feiji and Tang Xian, Tang Xian quickly built up his resistance.


    In this regard, the Taotie pales in comparison to the demon child.


    But Tang Feiji indeed had no way to deal with the Taotie for the time being.


    Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Bai Mansheng could use the power of the earth to form barriers, but when it came to offensive capabilities, he was still far below Tang Feiji.


    Tang Xian also soon came to a realization and shook his head, saying,


    "I''ll kill it. But after that, you all must find a way to restrain it."


    Ice or rock, as long as it could seal the Taotie''s movements for a while, Tang Xian was confident he could kill the Taotie.


    Without a detailed plan of action, he activated the Ultimate Gauntlet once again.


    From the previous experiments, Tang Xian had discovered that the Taotie''s confidence came from its ability to swallow his attacks.


    And these swallowed attacks were not counted as attack judgments.


    That meant he needed to avoid the Taotie''s gaping maw. He could only attack other parts of it.


    Given the Taotie''s speed, Tang Xian had no assurance that he could touch it.


    For him, a catastrophe-level battle was like a battle between gods.


    But if two gods could restrain another god¡ª


    Tang Xian could also say with youthful bravado, "I''ll show you how even a god can be slain."


    The mountains collapsed, and the Taotie, like an undying devil king, crawled out from its restraints again.


    Or should it be said that it was a dragon-slaying hero, with Tang Xian, Tang Feiji, and Bai Mansheng as the evil dragons?


    After all, heroes are unyielding, growing stronger with battle, rising from the ground no matter how many times they fall.


    Disregarding the background, the Taotie completely fits the image of a hero.


    Only this time, the "hero" finally faced a genuine threat of death.


    The moment it broke free from layers of rock, more fell from above.


    Meanwhile, golden liquid gushed out from beneath the ground, encapsulating the entire body of the Taotie.


    It was as if a large piece of land was raised, burying the Taotie within.


    Only its head was exposed.


    From a distance, it looked like a mountain with a head on top.


    And around the mountain, there were layers upon layers of ice.


    Such a strong confinement, if it were any other catastrophe-level creature, it would likely struggle to break free in a short span.


    But the Taotie was different.


    "Petty tricks. Your methods are worn out. It seems you''ve reached your limit!"


    The golden liquid could no longer burn the Taotie; consuming the energy-rich liquid actually boosted its combat power.


    As for the icebergs and earthen barriers, they contained extremely powerful energies.


    The Taotie didn''t mind a drawn-out process. The more it consumed, the stronger it became, while its opponents grew weaker with every exertion.


    It was nothing more than a repeat of what had happened before.


    But it had overlooked one thing.


    A claw suddenly shot out, carving a crevice like an ice chisel through the glacier, and in an instant, it grasped onto the ragged ear of the Taotie.


    The next second, a diminutive figure with a friendly smile appeared atop the head of the Taotie.


    Tang Xian had already maxed out his double resistance to Tang Feiji. Whether it was the glaciers, golden liquid, or storms and lightning, as long as it was conjured by Tang Feiji, it was a barrier easily broken by Tang Xian.


    He was the ultimate dragon descending from the heavens!


    The Taotie, which had never felt fear, felt it for the first time.


    It had never interacted with the Eden demon child, all to avoid repeating Zero''s old path.


    But it never imagined that this being with an incredibly weak original form would dare to approach it!


    Fear made the Taotie even more frantic. It no longer hesitated, and from the two gaping maws on its back and abdomen, countless tentacle-like creatures started to break through the golden soil and the icy restraints wildly.


    But there was a fundamental difference between it and Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian could achieve absolute immunity, even negating the physical rules of those who were immune.


    The Taotie couldn''t do that. With its accumulated resistance and damage, it gave many creatures a sense of desperation and helplessness.


    Even Tang Fei admitted that he couldn''t kill the Taotie.


    But in the face of the demon child of Eden, the Taotie was the one who was the desperate weakling.


    Though the ice and soil could not harm it, they could still control its body.


    Especially Tang and Bai Man on the outside, who were still exerting force incessantly.


    This was like a monster eating voraciously while two others were feverishly feeding it.


    As long as the feeding was faster than the eating, the monster wouldn''t be able to break through the seal.


    And Tang Xian above could attack freely. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Considering that the opponent was deaf already, Tang Xian didn''t bother counting anymore.

 Chapter 447 - 71: The Evil Dragon Fights the Brave_3

    He just kept punching, one after another, with the fastest speed he could muster.


    The marvelous hints in his sea of consciousness had solidified the outcome of this battle.


    Tang Xian was not careless, this fight made him realize a few things.


    His side indeed possessed a powerful reliance of significant meaning.


    But the court on the other side also had similar monsters.


    Bai Mansheng had evolved, this was the most critical turning point in the battle.


    But if this fight were to continue indefinitely, the ultimate victor might still be the gluttonous beast.


    The struggles of the gluttonous beast became increasingly fierce.


    The fear of death accelerated its speed of devouring everything.


    Even faster than the speed at which Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng could suppress it.


    Small parts of Tianque Plains were almost completely devoured by the gluttonous beast.


    The surrounding Nvwa Snakes watched this scene, unable to imagine the level of this battle.


    They were also worrying about the future of their own tribe. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because this battle was tantamount to breaking off ties with the court.


    A terrifying screech emanated from the belly of the gluttonous beast, the sound passing through the layers of rock and ice with an intent to slaughter, warning Tang Xian to back off.


    [Tang Xian, this guy is about to come out!]


    Tang Xian did not respond.


    Who knew if the court had other gluttonous beasts?


    In the future, he never wanted to face this kind of enemy again, so this time, he had to maximize the attack damage done to this kind of creature.


    Glaciers cracked, and thick soil collapsed.


    Bai Mansheng said anxiously,


    [If this continues, I''m afraid Tianque Plains will turn into Tianque Canyon. It''s devouring the land too quickly!]


    Though he could control the earth, Bai Mansheng was incapable of moving land from a great distance in a short amount of time.


    At that moment, Tang Xian suddenly stopped his assault.


    "The fight is over." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    No matter how quickly the gluttonous beast regenerated, no matter how high its maximum health was.


    Once an unparalleled hint emerged in his sea of consciousness, Tang Xian was no longer afraid.


    Agonizing pain that felt like it was tearing his heart and splitting his lungs, reaching deep into his soul, struck him.


    The gluttonous beast''s eyes showed despair and reluctance¡ªon the other side, the dragon snakes could no longer keep up with its devouring rate; it just needed a little longer to recover movement.


    But at this moment... the demon child had completed the most terrifying act.


    Tang Xian did not hesitate; too many reversals in a fight became tiresome, especially reversals when he had the upper hand.


    He didn''t have the bad habit of wasting words with his opponents unless he was outmatched.


    In an instant, Tang Xian began pummeling with the fastest speed he could.


    At this moment, Tang Xian was like a true apocalyptic creature.


    The monsters that Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng could do nothing about seemed like they were made of paper in Tang Xian''s hands.


    The gluttonous beast''s huge head was smashed until its juices burst forth.


    Blood spattered on Tang Xian, making him look even more ferocious.


    Tang Xian did not stop, even though the gluttonous beast was weakened, even though its head was deformed by the blows; as long as it wasn''t dead, he did not stop.


    As it neared death, the gluttonous beast seemed to want to use the method Tang Xian had used against him.


    It tried to recite a poem to distract Tang Xian.


    The verse "startled from a deadly illness", it didn''t even finish the first half before it died.


    Tang Xian also stopped his hands, naturally not because of the gluttonous beast''s poem.


    But because the kill notification and skill drop reward had come from his sea of consciousness.


    It was then that Tang Xian felt an exhaustion that was like complete depletion.


    Normally, a mere ten punches would kill any opponent.


    But when fighting the gluttonous beast, Tang Xian had thrown more than a hundred punches in a brief span of time.


    This showed the gluttonous beast''s speed of life recovery while devouring food.


    No wonder Tang Feiji could not kill it.


    Collapsed on the gluttonous beast''s corpse, Tang Xian breathed heavily and then slowly said,


    "Startled from a deadly illness, better to hang myself on a southeastern branch."

 Chapter 448 - 72: Nvwa Snake Migration and the Revival of Baichuan City

    Even if physical strength is restored, there will still be mental fatigue.


    Tang Feiji looked at the taotie, this time without the overbearing mockery, and asked:


    "That guy is really dead, right? Dead for good, right? He won''t come back to life, will he?"


    Bai Mansheng no longer used the posture of the Empress Wa but transformed into human form.


    In her human form, she looked no different than before. Her expression also carried a sense of questioning.


    The apocalyptic-level battle had rendered the Tianque Plains unrecognizable, and the place was no longer suitable for the Nvwa Snakes to inhabit.


    Tang Xian stood up from a pool of blood and said:


    "Dead. Definitely dead."


    His sea of consciousness had already received the notification of killing the taotie, and a skill had dropped.


    [Killing a mature taotie, acquired passive ability: Bone-Divining Taste.]


    [Bone-Divining Taste: All aspects of bodily performance will improve with satiety.]


    Tang Xian frowned.


    With the taotie being thoroughly dead, there was no way to inquire about its information.


    After all, it was a monster with the memories of countless creatures. The information was very valuable, but it was too dangerous.


    And the various abilities of the taotie were very strong, especially this ability to acquire memories through devouring, a perfect protagonist template for the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    In the United States, in non-reality genre novels, such abilities have always been hotly favored.


    Tang Xian did not gain this kind of ability but instead received a skill that wasn''t worth mentioning, which somewhat dampened his spirits.


    "All aspects of performance? Does that include certain performances? Such a vague description for this skill."


    This ability had not been tested yet, and there might be unexpected surprises yet to be revealed.


    He composed himself, returned to his senses, and looking at Bai Mansheng, he said:


    "Bai Mansheng, if you steal my stuff again, I''ll..."


    Tang Xian paused, suddenly unsure of how to threaten this woman.


    Bai Mansheng said, "You''ll do what?"


    After much deliberation, Tang Xian said:


    "I''ll get angry."


    "Oh, that''s really terrifying," Bai Mansheng said sarcastically.


    The joy of defeating a powerful enemy allowed Bai Mansheng to temporarily ignore some of the heavier matters.


    Such as how to deal with the taotie. This issue was probably of more concern to Tang Feiji.


    Having been bitten by the taotie so many times, Tang Feiji naturally wanted to eat his fill in return.


    Tang Xian scrutinized Bai Mansheng carefully, weighing his words for a moment before saying:


    "It''s not clear yet whether the three fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree have brought anything beyond evolution. Can you tell me about some of your experiences during the evolutionary process?"


    "Are you sure you want to discuss such an academic topic right now?" Bai Mansheng said.


    As her words fell, dozens of Nvwa Snakes slowly gathered around her and Tang Xian.


    These Nvwa Snakes were not boss units, and the words they spoke could not be understood by Tang Xian.


    Fortunately, Bai Mansheng understood.


    "My kin are congratulating me. The elders say that my current form has only appeared hundreds of years ago, which was the most powerful era for the Nvwa Snake. Perhaps I can bring our clan back to the position of the strongest creatures once more."


    Tang Xian couldn''t discern the expressions of the snakes, unsure whether these snakes were surprised or delighted, likely a mix of both.


    Apocalyptic-level creatures also had a rarity scale. Beasts like the taotie, sacred creatures like the Mystical Bird, Azure Dragon, and Empress Wa, and demon beasts like the Ash Dragon are all extremely rare entities.


    Among them, the Empress Wa is the rarest. Nvwa Snakes had never seen such a creature, so naturally, they were excited.


    "Congratulations to you, but with the Endless Turtle''s presence, it would be easy for the courts to convict you, and this northern continent is quite dangerous for you. You may have to lead your people away, to find a safe place," Tang Xian said. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was still very eager to unravel the mystery of the fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree.


    Why did the hellhound fail in its evolution, but Bai Mansheng succeeded?


    To Tang Xian, all this seemed very unscientific.


    He hoped there would be a logical and consistent rule to explain it all.


    Not just pure luck.


    But he couldn''t find such a rule, and it was unclear whether Bai Mansheng''s evolution could be replicated. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian suddenly thought of an interesting coincidence.


    Zhong Xiuxiu believed that the fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree were meant for humans.


    And so far, it has been shown that after the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon ate it, she successfully evolved, although this might just be a chance occurrence.


    If humans could indeed use the fruits of the Zudun Sacred Tree, then all of this did seem somewhat in line with the Bible.


    After all, in the Garden of Eden, the creatures that ate the forbidden fruit were humans, but the enlightener was a snake.


    "I will lead my people away from the Tianque Plains, this place is no longer suitable for living," Bai Mansheng said.


    "From what I currently understand about the Endless Turtle, within a certain range, it can probably see some fragments of the future or the past. You''d better take your people far away," Tang Xian said.


    Speaking of the Endless Turtle, Bai Mansheng said:


    "The predictions of the Endless Turtle are almost never wrong. Before you didn''t agree, but now it seems you do. Does this mean I really should be wary of Qing JiuYu?"


    ????


    So Bai Mansheng hadn''t forgotten the topic from our first meeting?


    This woman had too good a memory.


    Tang Xian shook his head with a bitter smile and said:


    "Qing JiuYu stealing your man, perhaps that was just the Endless Turtle expressing itself poorly. I think this matter doesn''t merit mention. If the future is predetermined, life would be too boring. I''ll definitely stew that old turtle when the time comes."


    Actually, Tang Xian could understand some of the subtext in Bai Mansheng''s words.

 Chapter 449 - 72: The Migration of Nvwa Snake and the Revival of Baichuan City_2

    ```


    Tang Xian seemed to recognize that Bai Mansheng was referring to himself.


    Given that Bai Mansheng had become more valuable, and they had just survived a life-and-death ordeal, there was no need to diminish their rapport.


    So Tang Xian didn''t say something like "You and Qing JiuYu are both overthinking it."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t dwell on the matter either. Women inherently believed in metaphysical teachings, yet she also believed that fate could be altered.


    This contradiction was one reflection of human nature.


    "So where do you think I should take them? I can''t think of anywhere in this world that could avoid the court," Bai Mansheng inquired.


    Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows, finding it to be a truly troublesome question:


    "There''s something I''ve always wanted to understand. When you all migrated southward, it wasn''t just to start a war with Qing JiuYu, right?"


    Bai Mansheng nodded:


    "The Far North is close to Red Lotus Hell; after we eliminated the enemies to the north, we noticed some abnormalities in the distant Red Lotus Hell, and the usually calm glacial ocean also became turbulent. Although we''ve never seen the giant turtle in the deep sea, it must truly exist."


    Pausing for a moment, Bai Mansheng frowned and continued:


    "The weather becomes ever colder, which doesn''t affect us. But the trembling of the earth and the withdrawal of fish schools have made us feel that the terrifying monster is awakening.


    "There are some enemies in this world that cannot be dealt with in their specific regions. If the legendary turtle that survived the apocalypse of the gods truly starts to awaken, my kin and I stand no chance of confronting it on the icy seas."


    Tang Xian remembered Tang Feiji mentioning the seven minions of the Sea God.


    There was a supreme being of a monster race similar to the Nuwa Emperor, the nine-headed hydra, but it was already dead, as well as the massive Gem Sperm Whale King and the perished demon sharks.


    And there was a very old turtle that had gone to the northern glacial seas.


    Considering the colossal size of the sea giant, Tang Xian conjectured that the giant turtle known to humans as Cleveland might be another servant of the Sea God.


    With this thought, Tang Xian suddenly took an interest in heading north.


    Still, he said:


    "You and your people will likely have to continue southward."


    "South?"


    "Yes, even further south than Amara Continent, at the other end of the great ocean."


    "You mean to cross the dark sea?" Bai Mansheng exclaimed in surprise.


    "There is an ancient region in this world, a cluster of islands. I happen to have some influence there. Just lead your people to those islands. Don''t worry, the islands are very safe, one of the few places even the Myriad Beasts Court wouldn''t trouble themselves with."


    Jin Lu once mentioned the Myriad Beasts Court, but since learning the island''s location could move, Tang Xian discovered that the sea domain blessed by the Sea God was actually quite suitable as a hiding spot for a mining area.


    "Such relocation is too far, I''m afraid it would last for days on end. Moreover, the dark sea is treacherous, and my people and I simply cannot cross it."


    "With the Sea God''s protection, what is there to fear?" Tang Xian laughed.


    "The Sea God?"


    Tang Xian''s gaze turned to Tang Feiji.


    Tang Feiji puffed out his chest proudly; as the Sea-Dragon King of the shadowy abyss, he naturally had the confidence to prevent any deep-sea creatures from attacking the Nvwa Snakes as they swam across the dark sea.


    Bai Mansheng was stunned, not having anticipated this additional identity for Tang Feiji. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But if they could move to the relatively weaker jurisdiction of the court in the south, it was indeed a good option.


    Though she did not wish to become enemies with the Myriad Beasts Court, would they really overlook the Nvwa Snake Clan for the death of the gluttonous monster?


    Bai Mansheng didn''t think the Myriad Beasts Court would do so.


    The matter was quickly settled.


    The final plan for the Nvwa Snake Clan was to traverse the dark sea and head for the islands controlled by the sea behemoth, the Sea-Dragon King.


    It would be a long process, one that greatly depended on Tang Feiji.


    Even though the Nvwa Snakes were adept in the water, they were ultimately different from the Nuwa Emperor and the Sea Dragon; they could not fly.


    Crossing the dark sea would take a considerable amount of time.


    Tang Feiji was crucial to this endeavor, for no creature could swim across the dark sea¡ªunless they were guests of the Sea God.


    Realizing this, Tang Xian remarked:


    "Tang Feiji, even though you look ridiculous trying to solve that Rubik''s Cube, your valiant effort in battle today was truly impressive."


    Tang Feiji also transformed into his human shape and nodded proudly, acting as if he could handle any praise.


    Being complimented by Tang Xian was indeed not an easy feat.


    And Tang Xian''s words were beyond mere flattery.


    Considering the journey southward, where Tang Feiji might entertain thoughts of returning to his origins, Tang Xian said:


    "Tang Feiji, we''ve fought side by side several times now. Do you still have kin?"


    Tang Feiji didn''t grasp Tang Xian''s meaning and shook his head:


    ```


    "The Azure Dragon Clan once had its population, but that was hundreds of years ago, when I was extremely young. At that time, I had already gone to the bottom of the sea,


    always fulfilling the promise I made with Lord Sea God."


    Tang Xian didn''t want to think the worst of the situation.


    But perhaps the Azure Dragon Clan really was down to a few.


    Maybe the Sea God of that time was preserving the bloodline of the clan?


    After the fall of the Sea God and the master of Eden, the Myriad Beasts Realm must have undergone another purge.


    The master of Eden from those days protected this world alongside the Sea God.


    The current me, carrying Tang Feiji, also smacks of a taste of destiny''s cycle.


    Although neither I nor Tang Feiji are likely to be as powerful as our forebears.


    We''re only a low-end version of the master of Eden and the Sea God."


    Thinking this, Tang Xian said:


    "Tang Feiji, with our forces combined, we''ve already killed the fourth Judgment Chief.


    The downfall of these powerful creatures was possible only with your help; without you, I couldn''t have managed it.


    If in the future you have kin, or if your kin or you are in trouble, feel free to come to me."


    Tang Feiji was somewhat stupefied by Tang Xian''s sudden show of goodwill.


    Tang Xian didn''t explain and, seeing Tang Feiji''s stupefied expression, he suddenly felt a bit of joy.


    If Tang Feiji wished to leave, Tang Xian would not hold him back and would completely understand.


    But the silly dragon showed no intention of leaving.


    Tang Xian said happily:


    "Before we embark on the long journey across the sea, at least tonight, we should enjoy the delicious meat to our heart''s content."


    ...


    ...


    As Tang Xian led Bai Mansheng and the Nvwa Snake Clan to begin the great migration,


    Baichuan City finally welcomed change.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen were very efficient and quickly set up a team of over a hundred highly educated intellectuals following Tang Xian''s instructions.


    The majority of the team members were technical workers, especially good at repairing various types of equipment.


    These individuals were also all talented.


    Originally, it was thought to be difficult to persuade these talents to come live in Baichuan City alongside those non-talented individuals who had once been exploited by them.


    But human nature is ultimately good, and some people responded after learning that survival was possible in the outside world and that their relationships could be mended.


    Gradually, more and more people began to respond.


    Of course, the main reason had nothing to do with human nature.


    It was because Yu Xiaozhe offered a large bounty for their services.


    They didn''t want to let go of their pride as talented individuals, but sorry, the lord''s offer was just too generous.


    Anyway, under the wise decisions of Yu Xiaozhe, the fortress lord of the sanctuary, a bunch of technical personnel arrived in Baichuan City.


    Following this, Li Xiaoyu also demonstrated the decisiveness of Baichuan''s top official, retaining these people through various means.


    Like Yu Xiaozhe, the simplest and most effective means was benefits.


    In the expensive Pyramid and the future high-priced Baichuan City, housing has always been a heavy burden for many people.


    This tradition is said to have lasted a thousand years.


    Since the ancient 21st century, owning a house has been one of the goals of contemporary young people.


    The method employed by Li Xiaoyu, the top official of Baichuan City, was to provide the best housing to these technical personnel.


    With the joint efforts of Yu Xiaozhe and Li Xiaoyu, following Sky Pit City, Baichuan City welcomed another group of residents.


    These intellectuals, of course, didn''t like living without electricity.


    So, in the following month, during the daytime, these people started frantically repairing the underground power generating equipment.


    They also utilized materials provided by the fortress of the sanctuary to make new electrical wiring equipment, enough to cover the entire city.


    Finally, on a certain night,


    As the people of Baichuan City, like usual, finished their work and prepared to light candles to illuminate their rooms¡ªa glow that had been dim for centuries,


    suddenly lit up.


    That night, Baichuan City was ablaze with lights.

 Chapter 450 - 73: Study Materials and Song Ques Rescue Plan

    Although she had known it would happen during the day, Li Xiaoyu still felt the surprise and cheers from every household the moment the lights came on.


    At that instant, it seemed as though the entire city could hear the joy and excitement.


    Li Xiaoyu felt very happy at this moment.


    A faint smile hung on her usually stoic face.


    After all, she had accomplished something during Tang Xian''s absence that he had greatly wished to complete.


    The sudden arrival of light made several girls jump for joy.


    Electricity signified that human civilization had moved into the next stage.


    It meant that they could use more and more tools.


    Although most of the household appliances left in the city were no longer usable.


    Those in the Pyramid were, which was like a warehouse for Baichuan City.


    Everyone started to envision and look forward to a better life in the city.


    Bringing life back to a city that resembled ruins gave those Talents who were initially reluctant to come to Baichuan City a tremendous sense of accomplishment.


    The long night passed amid the excitement of the people.


    Li Xiaoyu went to bed early because there were more things to be done the next day.


    ...


    ...


    Over these past several days, Li Xiaoyu had arranged for people to sort through a variety of items left by people from the previous era.


    Items such as hard drives, laptops, and so on.


    Considering that Tang Xian had once found a usable phone, it was possible that electronic devices might contain data worth exploring.


    Although Jing Jian''s notes allowed some conclusions to be drawn.


    How the Pyramid arrived, and how the machines and myriad beasts invaded, remained mysteries.


    The details, the process of human resistance, Origin, and so on, were all worthy of investigation.


    There might even be astonishing truths within that could overturn everything currently known.


    Therefore, the day''s work was to supply the previously collected electronic devices with electricity.


    Hoping to find devices still functional and holding information.


    This was a tedious and lengthy task.


    While doing this, Li Xiaoyu also instructed people to tidy up the schools.


    The several teaching buildings of Baichuan University were intact. Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop became more efficient with electricity, now using power tools, and quickly repainted some of the school''s signs.


    At the end of each day''s work, Li Xiaoyu mandated two hours of study for everyone.


    Taking into consideration the future demand for professional talent in the city, Li Xiaoyu, Liu Lang, and an electrician all became teachers.


    At the same time, they began to record each person''s strengths.


    Trying to extract as many skills as possible that could be taught.


    To allow civilization to develop at the fastest speed.


    This too was a monumental project.


    ...


    ...


    It is worth mentioning that during this period, the relationship between Li Xiaoyu and Qing JiuYu had eased quite a bit.


    According to Qiao Shanshan, who now had new goals in life, the mistress should display composure and open-mindedness.


    "If you feel threatened by Qing JiuYu, why not consider learning from her?" she said.


    After some thought, Li Xiaoyu replied,


    "You make sense, I''ll ask her tomorrow."


    So these past few days after dinner, Li Xiaoyu would invite Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu to go for a walk with her.


    Qiao Shanshan was shocked.


    Her original intention was for the second miss to learn some¡ªmore unique aspects of Qing JiuYu.


    This learning didn''t require too much closeness.


    Because Qing JiuYu''s characteristics were very obvious.


    In fact, Qiao Shanshan even made it clear once¡ª


    "You''re not as charming as she is. Where do you get any pure allure? With makeup, you could be a fairy today, a demoness tomorrow.


    Whatever type a man likes, you can become that type."


    But Li Xiaoyu countered this overt suggestion.


    Her understanding was,


    "Are you saying I''m not sultry enough? But I already gave him such a big bowl at the very beginning, isn''t that sultry? Experiments prove these tactics don''t work."


    Indeed, this was what Li Xiaoyu thought¡ªto give whatever he wanted.


    Although she had only tried this once, it seemed to her that Tang Xian was the kind who wanted nothing at all.


    Qiao Shanshan didn''t understand; none of this made sense.


    Li Xiaoyu always took a practical approach. She felt that indeed, Qing JiuYu was different from her. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though Tang Xian clearly favored her, it seemed like Qing JiuYu was always the one wearing the victor''s smile.


    This was truly a perplexing conundrum.


    Thus, in the evenings of the past few days, she took Tang Xiaojiu and Qing JiuYu with her.


    But the scene was quite awkward. Qing JiuYu was quite at ease, occasionally tossing in conversation starters.


    Tang Xiaojiu would also bring up some topics.


    But Li Xiaoyu always quickly ended the discussion.


    For instance, a conversation about women might start with certain makeup products.


    As Qing JiuYu had also learned to dress up.


    Yet Li Xiaoyu soon stated,


    "Your good skin is largely due to the Soul Crystal¡ªaging, dullness, dryness will never happen to you. Makeup is just a placebo; it won''t make your skin better or worse."


    Or when Qing JiuYu said, Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Your clothes are very nice, where did you buy them?"


    "I have heard Tang Xian say that you can transform with the Soul Crystal. Isn''t it a waste of time to discuss this?"


    Li Xiaoyu bore no ill will; she genuinely thought so.


    Qing JiuYu also realized that this girl''s reactions were very different from normal people.

 Chapter 451 - 73: Study Materials and Song Ques Rescue Plan_2

    She didn''t mind it, though.


    Frequently cut off by Li Xiaoyu, she would just purse her lips and look at Li Xiaoyu with a half-smiling, half-serious expression.


    Li Xiaoyu probably understood a bit, Qing JiuYu seemed very enchanting, but it was actually very hard for these people to get close to her heart.


    Qing JiuYu was equally curious as to why Tang Xian would always show favoritism to such a person whose personality was not very likable among humans.


    But deep down, Qing JiuYu didn''t dislike Li Xiaoyu.


    She disliked most of humanity, but Tang Xian was not included.


    And sometimes, Li Xiaoyu seemed very much like Tang Xian.


    This feeling was indescribable to her, despite the fact that these two people were very different.


    The two women seemed to have gone from being enemies to subjects of mutual study.


    To Qing JiuYu, this was less amusing than making trouble in front of Tang Xian.


    Especially since Li Xiaoyu had entered into observation mode, rather than the hostile mode of past days.


    It had been a while since Tang Xian had returned here.


    Qing JiuYu hoped that Tang Xian would be efficient and bring Bai Mansheng over soon.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    On the fourteenth day after the restoration of electricity in Baichuan City¡ª


    Li Xiaoyu finally found a computer that could be used.


    The other tens of thousands of computer devices were still being checked.


    The hundreds of years had rendered most electronic devices unusable even with power, although they could naturally be repaired or replaced, but if the crucial hard drives were damaged, the devices would become meaningless.


    Up to now, only one well-maintained computer had been found to be usable.


    This was also thanks to the computer being stored in a sterile laboratory environment.


    And it was a military-grade computer.


    That noon, Li Xiaoyu turned on the computer, and the Windows interface made her feel like she was looking at a history book. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This had appeared in humanities textbooks of the sixth academic year, and Li Xiaoyu remembered this century-old enterprise.


    She also remembered some of the great figures well-known in human history.


    The hard drive definitely had some issues, Li Xiaoyu discovered that it took several minutes to load the logo screen before she could see the desktop.


    There was a pile of files on the desktop.


    Although Li Xiaoyu speculated that the owner of this laptop must be a doctor, it looked like... this doctor was rather young.


    The software on the computer''s desktop included many ancient games, Half-Life 3, Cyberpunk 7702, Riding Gundams and Slicing 2, League of Legends tactile edition, Overwatch Booty, Dungeons and Martyrs, Pretty Girl Magic Mirror, Trans Mountaineering, and so on.


    These were naturally not what Li Xiaoyu was looking for.


    As she browsed slowly, she found that aside from games, this laptop''s owner was pretty boring.


    Mostly work data, this was a doctor of proctology,


    Some of the user data pictures looked disgusting, but Li Xiaoyu, who was skilled in anatomy, browsed through them with a calm face.


    However, she still couldn''t find any data she wanted about the Great Cataclysm.


    Li Xiaoyu thought about it and started to use keyword search, looking for words like disaster, escape in the local disk.


    After the computer froze for a few minutes, she actually did find a hidden folder.


    The name of the folder was "Study Material".


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know why the owner of the computer would hide the study material.


    As the mouse hovered over it, she saw that the file sizes were quite large, a hundred or so gigs.


    "Seems like a person who loves to study a lot."


    These study materials were all in video format.


    Most were in the language of the island nation, with occasional domestic ones, resembling premium peripherals, certain scandalous events, or Sino-U.S. co-productions, something about glorifying the nation.


    Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Li Xiaoyu was perplexed; it seemed to be some very obscure study material. Out of curiosity, she clicked to have a look.


    Half a minute later, Li Xiaoyu closed the video. Her red face bore anger.


    She was grateful she had brought her headphones, as there were people responsible for guarding right outside her usual office.


    If they had heard it...


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head, wondering how could the ancients use a folder named ''Study Material'' to store such videos?


    But in fact, it was the same principle as a primary schooler naming their King of Glory folder "Homework."


    However, Li Xiaoyu didn''t know this.


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head.


    It was not easy to find an ancient device that had been well-preserved, only to find it filled with these... unspeakable things, which was truly disheartening.


    Eventually, after searching, Li Xiaoyu realized she truly couldn''t find any information about the Great Cataclysm.


    She could only continue to wait for other devices to be discovered.


    She turned off the computer.


    And proceeded with handling other affairs in Baichuan City.


    In the afternoon, a guest arrived in Baichuan City.


    Yu Xiaozhe.


    The last time Yu Xiaozhe visited, he brought a large number of talents to Baichuan City.


    This time, Yu Xiaozhe brought news that was temporarily unclear whether it was good or bad¡ª


    Song Que was trapped.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The peaceful Baichuan City finally encountered turbulence.


    In Fresh Sense Caf¨¦ on the commercial street, Akasi, Tang Suoye, Yuan Wu, Qiao Shanshan, and Dong Ran among others gathered together.


    There was no coffee, as the nearby cocoa beans had not yet matured.


    Although the grinder had been cleaned up, it would still be a while before the shop could operate.


    According to Li Xiaoyu, the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦ would be given to Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan.


    Yu Xiaozhe, dressed in casual clothes, with an odd expression on his face, looked at everyone and asked,


    "Has Tang Xian not returned yet?"


    "No," said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Then it might be a bit troublesome."


    "How so?"


    "After Song Que returned to Fortress One, he had a premonition that some bad things would happen without his gift, but he didn''t specify what. He just made an agreement with me to contact me regularly every day."

 Chapter 452 - 73: Study Materials and Song Ques Rescue Plan_3

    Yu Xiaozhe recalled Song Que''s tone at the time and was certain it wasn''t just his own suspicion. He continued,


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What I thought then was that inside the Pyramid, talent holders and non-talent holders wouldn''t be any different, as long as one kept a better hiding place, who would know they were not a talent holder? But this person, Song Que... he was just too honest."


    As a desperado living on the edge, Yu Xiaozhe couldn''t understand this kind of honesty.


    However, Qiao Shanshan felt that Song Que was exactly that sort of person, yet she also looked worried, it was clear she heard that Song Que was likely in trouble.


    "Song Que told his family that he was no longer a talent holder. I don''t know the specifics of how that happened. But after that, Song Que said something to me. He said if he didn''t contact me for five consecutive days, I should try to contact Tang Xian and arrange for someone to pick him up and get him out."


    Li Xiaoyu said, "It''s been several days since Song Que last contacted you, hasn''t it?"


    "Yes, yesterday was the third day, and it had not yet reached the time Song Que had specified, but I am sure, Song Que was in trouble. Because although I still did not receive a call from Song Que yesterday, I received a message from an unknown sender. This message should be from Song Que." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What did it say?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    "Lincoln Fortress, Evolution Zone."


    These few words were somewhat cryptic, but Yu Xiaozhe''s expression grew increasingly solemn.


    In that moment, Yuan Wu, Akasi, Tang Suoye, all felt a sense of revulsion rising from the depths of their hearts.


    After hearing the words "Evolution Zone."


    Li Xiaoyu''s impression of the Evolution Zone wasn''t bad originally, sometimes she even missed Eve.


    But after learning of the tragic childhoods of Akasi and Tang Suoye, Li Xiaoyu felt more sympathy for Eve.


    With Eve being trained like that, who knows what she went through?


    And as for Akasi and Tang Suoye, possessing strength that humans couldn''t compare to, the torment they must have suffered was likely a hundredfold that of Eve''s.


    "Lin Sen and I tracked the message through technical means, we couldn''t confirm it came from Song Que, but we are sure it came from the First Fortress," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "It seems he really is in trouble," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Li Xiaoyu''s impression of Song Que was also quite strange. She liked Tang Xian and didn''t acknowledge there was anyone in the world who could compare with Tang Xian.


    But after hearing from Bell about Song Que''s deeds, compared with her own brother, and also with Qi Xun, the eldest son of the second fortress''s Qi Family¡ª


    Li Xiaoyu thought Song Que had the air of an unparalleled hero.


    "We have to find a way to go to the First Fortress and investigate the situation," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Yu Xiaozhe trusted Tang Xian the most, after all, he wasn''t familiar with Tang Xian''s partners. He said,


    "So there''s no way to contact Tang Xian?"


    "Tang Xian has said that not every time will fate arrange a savior to arrive just in time to save the day," Qiao Shanshan was the one speaking.


    Dong Ran and Li Xiaoyu were somewhat surprised.


    Li Xiaoyu then nodded and said,


    "The powerful beastly one will serve to distract them, if we can''t handle human affairs, our existence is indeed too frail."


    After pondering for a while, Yu Xiaozhe nodded his head. Perhaps the situation on Song Que''s end was urgent, and there was no telling when Tang Xian would return.


    Thus, the plan to rescue Song Que unfolded at the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦.


    (The following plot in the Evolution Zone is also a mini-story arc, which I am diligently revising the outline for. By the way, I expect to have an explosion of updates on Saturday that will surpass the day the limit-free event ended.)

 Chapter 453 - 74: The Spy Who Understood Wellness

    The so-called rescue seemed somewhat premature.


    Because what exactly had happened to Song Que, why he had suddenly gone silent, all remained to be clarified. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In Dongran''s and Qiaoshanshan''s view, it was possible that Song Que was under house arrest by his family, but no major accident had occurred. They found it hard to believe that Song Que''s family would do anything too outrageous.


    But in Akasi''s and Tang Suoye''s view, as well as Yuan Wu''s, the message that might have come from Song Que indicated that the matter was not simple and might be related to the Evolution Zone.


    Li Xiaoyu''s thoughts were more complex.


    "The Li family, the Song family, the Qi family, they are actually the same. Even though Song Que is an outlier, Song Gengzhao and my father are essentially the same in nature," she said.


    "What nature?" asked Yu Xiaozhe.


    "They have the initial intention of working for the greater good of humanity, but at the same time, they are also keen on power. The excellence of their offspring is very important for the continuation of such power, important enough to transcend an individual''s capability."


    This was something Li Xiaoyu was most sure of; talent had already determined people''s fates.


    Although she had struggled against this, in the end, such struggles only added a tragic hue to her life.


    Li Xiaoyu continued:


    "If a person''s capabilities could be tracked like statistics on a hexagon, then Song Que would probably be the true chosen one, with each of his abilities tending towards maximum value¡ªmind, physical skill, talent, family background, connections.


    If my brother were like this and then suddenly one day became disabled, I think my father would also be unwilling to accept it and would think of some extreme methods to change everything."


    Akasi said:


    "This extreme method is the Evolution Zone."


    "Yes, in this way, the two matters are linked," said Yu Xiaozhe.


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    Qiaoshanshan was somewhat puzzled; her understanding of the Evolution Zone came from Akasi, Tangsuoye.


    From conducting multiple examinations on Tangsuoye, Qiaoshanshan had realized what kind of organization the Evolution Zone was.


    "Just because of the lack of talent, they would send their own son to a place like the Evolution Zone? That''s his son, right?"


    "So what?" Li Xiaoyu replied calmly.


    Only those who truly had experience at the top knew how fanatical the proponents of talent theory were.


    Qiaoshanshan shook her head anxiously; if Song Que had gone to the Evolution Zone... what kind of transformation would he undergo?


    Li Xiaoyu said:


    "In the eyes of my father or Song Gengzhao, maybe this is in fact an act of love. Time is tight, we have no time to dwell on Song Que''s feelings, he is the person Tang Xian specifically named to keep, we must rescue him."


    Yu Xiaozhe had not expected that such a short message would lead to such a major event.


    He looked at Li Xiaoyu''s calm demeanor and was not surprised by the significant changes in Baichuan City.


    "Now we must assume two possibilities: Song Que has gone to the Evolution Zone and Song Que has not gone to the Evolution Zone," Li Xiaoyu said.


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded and asked:


    "What should we do if he hasn''t gone?"


    "You and Lin Sen, continue to watch over Lincoln Fortress. As lords, you have a great deal of operational authority. Try to arrange for someone to go to the First Fortress to contact Song Que''s former teammates."


    "Contact whom?"


    "Lin Jue and Ye Feng."


    During their time in the library, Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu had discussed many topics.


    It wasn''t idle chatter or talking about feelings.


    It was because Tang Xian thought it necessary to train a deputy leader.


    This was something he had considered at the beginning of establishing the Sheng Tang Squad, someone who could coordinate on his behalf when he was not around.


    Tang Xian actually hoped to entrust this important task to Akasi.


    But with Li Xiaoyu, ''intelligence equaled Yu'', she was better suited.


    Thus, Tang Xian shared many plans and intelligence with Li Xiaoyu.


    Among them was information about Song Que''s team.


    Because ever since Song Que decided to return to the First Fortress, Tang Xian had sensed that the honest man would encounter quite a few troubles.


    "Are these two individuals very special?"


    "Ye Feng regards Song Que as a confidant, while Lin Jue doesn''t pay much heed to rank and is naturally magnanimous," said Li Xiaoyu.


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded, but he still had concerns, saying:


    "Although Lin Sen and I govern Lincoln Fortress, there are many secrets in the fortress. If we send someone to the fortress, there is the risk of exposing these secrets.


    At least for now, the fact that non-talented individuals can survive in the mines should not be revealed.


    And Lin Sen and I are wanted criminals in the First, Second, Thirty-Ninth Fortress, and Lincoln Fortress..."


    Li Xiaoyu understood and waved her hand, saying:


    "No one available?"


    "Yes, there''s no one reliable enough to use. Those who can be used aren''t trustworthy, and those who are trustworthy aren''t competent."


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, wrote down a number on a piece of paper, and then handed it to Yu Xiaozhe.


    "What is this?" Yu Xiaozhe opened the note and saw a number and a passphrase.


    "This is a private agent of mine, posted in the Second Fortress, named Bu Jing. Aren''t you adept at creating identities? Give Bu Jing an identity¡ªanything that falls within the scope of that identity''s capabilities he can handle."


    Yu Xiaozhe, being a smart man who had evaded federal capture for many years, was extremely cautious. Scratching his head, he said:


    "Miss Li, it''s not that I distrust you, but you no longer have any real power in the Li family. This former agent of yours... is he still going to obey your orders? Can his loyalty be trusted?"


    Li Xiaoyu understood this worry but felt disinclined to explain.


    "Trustworthy. Now let''s discuss the next actions."

 Chapter 454 - 74: The Spy Who Understood Wellness_2

    Yu Xiaozhe was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said:


    "So if we ascertain that Song Que is under house arrest at the First Fortress, we arrange a rescue?"


    "Yes. Akasi, Tang Suoye, and Yuanyu, you three are in charge of the rescue operation," said Li Xiaoyu.


    "The plan is good, but what if it''s the second scenario? What if Song Que is in the Evolution Zone?" Akasi asked.


    The trio responsible for the rescue were among the most abnormal beings in humanity, each originally an ultimate humanoid weapon from the Evolution Zone.


    They tended to plan for the worst-case scenario.


    Li Xiaoyu did not overlook this:


    "The second possibility is actually higher, so to avoid wasting time and falling too far behind, you will lead Yuanyu and Tang Suoye to Lincoln Fortress to investigate first."


    "But what if Song Que is still at the First Fortress?" Yu Xiaozhe said.


    As soon as he asked this question, he felt stupid.


    Li Xiaoyu explained anyway.


    "If Song Que is still with the Song Family, he is at least not in too much danger.


    We can completely wait for Akasi and the others to return, but if Song Que is in the Evolution Zone, he could face having his memory erased, being brainwashed, or having the ore field biological serum implanted at any time."


    Everyone nodded.


    "What about me and Dong Ran?" Qiao Shanshan asked.


    Li Xiaoyu frowned:


    "What do you and Dong Ran mean?"


    "Everyone has something to do, and I also want to help him," Qiao Shanshan said.


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head and said:


    "In such a situation, the best you, Dong Ran, and I could do if we really wanted to be useful would be not to make things more chaotic."


    Qiao Shanshan stiffened. Dong Ran stiffened too.


    She was one of the earliest team members, yet she could not participate in these operations at all.


    Li Xiaoyu''s words seemed a bit too blunt.


    But such is life, and Li Xiaoyu did not fret over such issues.


    In fact, during the initial clean-up of Baichuan City, the city had been abandoned for too long, and the proliferation of fungi led to diseases among the residents of Baichuan.


    Moreover, people living at the bottom of the sinkholes had also contracted chronic diseases due to the perennially stinky environment.


    But because of Qiao Shanshan''s presence, Li Xiaoyu was not overly worried about these matters.


    As captain, she had much to do, including placing the right people in the right positions.


    Qiao Shanshan was ultimately rational. She really wanted to be useful in rescuing Song Que but also acknowledged what Li Xiaoyu had said.


    Nodding her head, Qiao Shanshan calmed down. She was a respectable healer in the mining area, but in the Pyramid, she would just be a burden. She said:


    "Miss Second, the Evolution Zone is very dangerous. I know Akasi and Tang Suoye are strong, and Yuanyu is impressive too, but should we take Qing JiuYu with us? With her help, even if we encounter an enemy from the Evolution Zone, we could easily..."


    Before Qiao Shanshan could finish, Li Xiaoyu shook her head.


    "I''ve considered this plan, but it''s not feasible."


    "Why?"


    "Tang Xian never took Qing JiuYu to the Pyramid. I can''t take that risk. And Baichuan City is not absolutely safe either. Without weapons, if we dispatch Akasi and the others, we should keep a powerful creature like Qing JiuYu to protect Baichuan City."


    Li Xiaoyu''s words once again convinced everyone.


    "What about Xiao Jiu?"


    "In the Pyramid, those being hunted aren''t just Tang Xian, but also Xiao Jiu, who stood in front of the trial knights and protected Tang Xian. Her face has also been exposed. In a large fortress like Lincoln Fortress, there are not a few warrants for her arrest.


    Moreover, Xiao Jiu is not even seven years old. She may be sensible, but she is still a child at heart. It''s uncertain whether she might cause trouble.


    I am not Tang Xian; I can''t control some more aggressive methods as he can."


    Li Xiaoyu added seriously:


    "So Akasi, you guys need to be careful; the mission is to rescue, but prioritizing your own safety is always paramount. Don''t do foolish things when you know it''s not feasible." Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Even if that person is Song Que?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "Even if that person is Song Que, me, or anyone of you," Li Xiaoyu said tonelessly.


    Yu Xiaozhe nodded and did not feel that the arrangement or the concept was inappropriate in any way:


    "Although Tang Xian is not here, fortunately, we have you."


    ...


    ...


    There were many details in the process of rescuing Song Que.


    Not until the evening, after Li Xiaoyu had gone over the process once more and confirmed the supply and the routine contact methods to the mining area, did she allow everyone to set off.


    Heading to Lincoln Fortress was no easy task. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It all depended on Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen to help by using trade as a way to open a gap for Akasi and others. It took several layers of processes.


    Finally, they managed to grant Akasi and his group an official entry into Lincoln Fortress.


    All of this took place at the Sanctuary Fortress.


    To match this, Akasi and Yuan Wu''s hair had been dyed black.


    Tang Suoye donned large light-blocking glasses. The poor little girl could no longer speak; now, she had to pretend to be blind.


    After sending Akasi and the other superhumans to Lincoln Fortress through official channels, Yu Xiaozhe began to contact Bu Jing.


    Since Tang Xian had taken out the Evolution Zone branch in the second fortress, Bu Jing had also taken on some missions after that.


    They were all very simple missions.


    For example, it was suspected that a certain fortress was reselling war equipment from the Pyramid to remote fortresses.


    Bu Jing helped the people from the thirty-ninth fortress bust the hideouts and the like.


    Although these missions were dangerous, they didn''t pose much of a challenge for Bu Jing.


    The well-performing Bu Jing did not get reused.


    The only promotion in the past half-year came after Tang Xian, along with Akasi and Tang Suoye, went to the fifty-first fortress, and then Li Xiaoyu promoted Bu Jing.


    Beyond that, no matter how flawlessly Bu Jing completed his missions or how much intelligence he gathered, even if his actual value as a spy surpassed that of his colleagues, he never received a promotion.


    Because Bu Jing was Li Xiaoyu''s man.


    Li Wanye was open-minded in his employment, at least that''s how it appeared to others.


    But only those on the periphery of the Li family understood how difficult it truly was to catch the strongest lord''s eye and infiltrate the inner circle of the Li family.


    Especially for those... with less than exceptional talent.


    The biggest reliance was on the second daughter, but since she had not appeared for a long time, Bu Jing knew he could not rise further.


    And as someone who knew some of the Li family''s secrets, a spy once used by the Li family, he had no other career paths to choose from.


    But the mental fortitude of a spy is to endure loneliness.


    During this period, Bu Jing still kept up with conversations in various circles every day.


    One second, people were discussing whether meat-filled mooncakes or lotus seed paste mooncakes were better for the Mid-Autumn Festival.


    The next second, he switched to a silly group chat, talking with someone about how Milk Tea Zhou''s new song "Said We Wouldn''t Laugh" featured a male lead in the MV who looked just like the Masked Rider from Sky Guardian Fortress.


    Bu Jing made sure he was not left behind and kept up with his physical training every day.


    A true hermit master spy is wise, indifferent, and knows how to live.


    Bu Jing''s secret to well-being was to eat polygonum multiflorum, goji berries, and walnuts every day.


    So, even though he was nearly twenty-eight years old, his hair had not fallen out, and he still didn''t have a girlfriend, he was optimistic and healthy, just like an online writer.


    Overall, Bu Jing coped rather well with life''s various challenges.


    He just lacked a bit of passion.


    It was not until Yu Xiaozhe called with the secret code that Bu Jing slowly came back to his senses.


    "Did the second daughter send you to find me?"


    "Yes, this task could be a big risk for you. But after it''s over, the second daughter will compensate you," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "What will she compensate me with?" Bu Jing was curious. If the second daughter was still on the run, shouldn''t she be unable to even protect herself?


    "Freedom, true freedom," replied Yu Xiaozhe.


    "That sounds utterly unconvincing. I don''t seem to be lacking that," Bu Jing said.


    "You need to know..."


    "It''s alright, no need to convince me. I was just asking casually. I will not refuse the second daughter''s request. I will send you what I need and the support required; make sure they''re delivered to the express area of the first fortress as soon as possible. I will set out tonight."


    Yu Xiaozhe was startled and realized that some aspects of the people under Li Xiaoyu''s command were quite similar to Li Xiaoyu herself.

 Chapter 455 - 75: The Sea God Cult Leader Tang Xian

    The plan to rescue Song Que began to take shape. Akasi, Bu Jing, Yu Xiaozhe, and others also started to get seriously busy with their respective tasks.


    After a long absence, Tang Xian finally led more than thirty enormous Nvwa Snakes in completing the longest migration ever made by their kind.


    From the northern continent to the southern seas, Tang Xian encountered no trouble on his journey.


    Under the dark sea, one could often see the enormous forms of Gem Sperm Whales.


    From above, when a Gem Sperm Whale appeared, it was as if one had moved from the shallows into the deep sea.


    The sheer size of the Gem Sperm Whales deeply shocked the Nvwa Snakes, as even the gigantic snakes couldn''t see the end of the shadows beneath the waves.


    They had never before encountered creatures larger than islands.


    Whenever a Gem Sperm Whale silently swam by, the Nvwa Snakes invariably slowed their pace.


    It was like the passage of the Grim Reaper.


    The combat prowess of these sea guardians, in the sea, simply couldn''t be measured by normal values.


    It wasn''t just the Gem Sperm Whales; there were also schools of unknown-grade Perfect Beings.


    Beings of calamity naturally weren''t afraid of Perfect Beings.


    But if a conflict truly erupted, on the sea''s surface, the Nvwa Snakes would almost have no chance of winning.


    Especially because the number of fish was terrifying.


    The dark sea was known as the Ancestral Sea, and monsters were far from scarce in these waters.


    The appearance of the fish schools made Bai Mansheng, in her Nuwa Emperor form, feel somewhat frightened in the sky.


    It was as if thousands of bats were screaming through the pitch-black cave, the numbers seemed to reach into the thousands.


    Although the power of Perfect Beings wasn''t weak, if such a terrifying number appeared on land¡ªit would be enough to become a new major force in the Beast Continent.


    Bai Mansheng couldn''t imagine just how terrifying this sea was.


    Yet all these experiences came without real peril.


    Tang Xian sat upon the Nuwa Emperor''s shoulder, and despite Bai Mansheng, in her Nuwa Emperor form, being clothed enough to cover what should be covered,


    it was still far too scant.


    Especially when Tang Xian sat on the Nuwa Emperor''s shoulder looking down, he could see all of the view that he wished to see. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, just like the slogan of an ancient bank, mere brightness wouldn''t suffice.


    Anything too big would just make one dizzy.


    Upon first encountering these undersea creatures moving beneath the sea, Tang Xian commented,


    "This is all just Tang Feiji''s doing, he has an unimaginable prestige under the sea, and he can command dozens of Orange-tier Sea Giants at will.


    These fish schools, the Gem Sperm Whales, in a sense, they''re Tang Feiji''s servants. As long as he''s in the sea, monsters below won''t attack us."


    Bai Mansheng slowly began to understand the source of Tang Feiji''s arrogance.


    This kind of arrogance that disdained even the Beast Court, was it perhaps because for hundreds of years, Tang Feiji in his undersea palace, had seen too many beasts far more powerful than those on land?


    And he could command these beasts; was he the real master of these seas after the death of the Sea God?


    In any case, Bai Mansheng was somewhat thankful to Tang Feiji.


    With the help of the ancient dragon, the journey had been smooth sailing; otherwise, even though the Nvwa Snakes were extremely powerful creatures on the southern continent, traversing the dark sea was just a fool''s dream.


    The only trouble was that the Nvwa Snakes seemed too slow.


    Through comparison, Tang Xian increasingly felt that Tang Feiji was a treasure.


    Despite the journey to the southern seas taking just over ten days, for the Nvwa Snakes this was considered an astonishingly efficient migration.


    On the fourteenth day, beyond the horizon where the sea met the sky, Tang Xian''s keen senses first picked up the scent of islands.


    He became excited, and Bai Mansheng knew that their two-week-long sea voyage was likely about to conclude.


    She was a little uneasy and said,


    "I remember you mentioning these days that this is an archipelago, with each island home to many creatures. On each island, there are two dominant tribes.


    The ecosystem here has already stabilized; perhaps my people and I will be rejected?"


    Tang Xian laughed, not giving a direct answer, but said,


    "Since I''ve returned here, I''ll naturally see to it that you''re given a satisfactory resolution. Don''t worry, the Nvwa Snakes will obtain an exceptional status here."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t understand.


    A few hours later, on the edge of the horizon, islands finally came into sight.


    Guided by the scent, Tang Xian returned to the island where the epic cat-dog battle had taken place.


    As Tang Xian and the Nvwa Snakes entered a certain domain, the Golden Armored Leopards on the island instantly became alert.


    On this island that only knew perpetual summer, Jin Lu was still dressed as before, the fact being that changes in temperature didn''t much affect beings of their kind.


    Jin Lu was very wary.


    It wasn''t just Jin Lu; the Hell Flame Wolves on the island also obediently lined up behind the Golden Armored Leopards, forming a defensive formation.


    Ever since someone had left, having taught her how to tame members of the canine family, Jin Lu quickly subjugated the Hell Flame Wolves.


    After all, their memories had been wiped clean.


    Now both tribes got along very friendlily.


    This friendship was naturally based on the Golden Armored Leopards ruling over the Hell Flame Wolves, and the Hell Flame Wolves accepting their dominance.


    The atmosphere as if facing a formidable enemy also made the Nvwa Snakes nervous.


    But at that moment, a dragon''s roar came from the side of the beach, making the souls of all the island''s creatures tremble.


    Jin Lu was no stranger to this dragon''s roar.


    The enormous Nuwa Emperor and the ancient dragon, the two strongest Orange-tier creatures, appeared.


    They were like the sun and moon in the sky, dancing in the air, gazing down at the island with the majesty of sovereigns reigning over all.

 Chapter 456 - 75: Sea God Cult Leader Tang Xian _2

    Jin Lu''s eyes were sharp, and she immediately spotted Tang Xian on the shoulder of the Nuwa Emperor.


    The originally cautious her instantly revealed a look of joy.


    Soon after, at Jin Lu''s call, the Golden Armored Leopard and the Hell Flame Wolves finally relaxed their vigilant and defensive postures.


    In Jin Lu''s memory, the Azure Dragon was equivalent to the Sea God.


    The creatures on the island began to worship the immense Nuwa Emperor and Azure Dragon in the sky.


    Bai Mansheng looked at the creatures that had been on high alert just a moment ago, now showing a submissive demeanor, and she became perplexed, saying:


    "I remember you saying after you came back, they were your friends?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes," Tang Xian replied.


    "But it seems like they are treating you as a god."


    "It seems so," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Bai Mansheng was even more confused.


    And the Nvwa Snake clan''s peak of snake life had just begun.


    After the creatures on the island had all let down their guards, Bai Mansheng also transformed into her human form, she and Tang Xian followed Jin Lu to the ruins and Stele on this island.


    Jin Lu occasionally sized up Bai Mansheng.


    This woman was simply too ethereal. Even transformed into a human, she felt somewhat ashamed of herself.


    The beauty of the two women was completely different.


    Tang Xian leaned back in the place where Jin Lu usually settled, watching the two women, feeling the sight was pleasing to the eyes.


    "Why did you suddenly come here?" Jin Lu asked Tang Xian.


    "Some matters in the south have been dealt with, so I came to check, and introduce a friend to you," Tang Xian said, gesturing towards Bai Mansheng.


    Before setting foot on the island, Tang Xian had instructed on some details.


    Bai Mansheng did not speak but simply nodded her head with an indifferent expression.


    Jin Lu could feel that the immense blonde beauty of a snake was no ordinary creature.


    Tang Xian, observing Jin Lu''s current needs analysis, confirmed his thoughts and became even more joyful.


    "So who is this great one?"


    "Her name is Bai Mansheng, she''s another aspect of the Sea God," Tang Xian explained.


    Jin Lu was shocked.


    Bai Mansheng was stupefied.


    Tang Xian calmly said:


    "During these days, I''ve once again encountered the Sea God.


    The ocean will soon welcome terrible enemies from the southern continent. These enemies are all of the orange tier."


    "But for hundreds of years, no southern creatures have been able to cross the Dark Sea," Jin Lu said.


    Tang Xian nodded and replied, "Indeed, but I am an exception, am I not? In fact, the southern continent is also very dangerous."


    "How dangerous?"


    "There are birds so huge they could cover the sky, as well as swarms of blue-tier creatures by the thousands."


    Bai Mansheng thought to herself that this old man sure could spin a tale.


    Wasn''t this just like her and her kin''s reaction when they encountered the gem-encrusted sperm whales and the school of fish undersea?


    He just switched it to a land version and started deceiving people?


    If Tang Xian could see his own panel, the current honesty level would likely be as easy as pie.


    Jin Lu nodded her head, able to imagine how terrifying that must be.


    After all, there were only a few thousand creatures on the island.


    Tang Xian continued to say:


    "But the Sea God will protect everyone, it''s just that in the rituals of worshipping the god, there need to be some changes."


    "What changes?"


    "I will bring the Sea-Controlling Azure Dragon, along with another aspect of the Sea God, the Sea-Controlling Squid that oversees these islands'' spread, to come together. To merge the islands."


    "Merge?" Jin Lu knew that the position of the islands was changing, in relation to the Lord Sea God''s methods.


    But she never thought Tang Xian could do such a thing.


    "After the merger, what will you do?"


    "Establish temples for the Sea God worship."


    "Temples of the Sea God?"


    "Yes, on the distant southern continent, these monsters are trying every day to cross the Dark Sea. And Nvwa Snake and the Nuwa Emperor, they are here to protect you on behalf of the Sea God."


    Jin Lu was immensely shocked.


    A sense of impending upheaval began to grow within her.


    This was precisely the effect Tang Xian wanted, and he continued to explain:


    "Once the islands merge, the island will naturally become a large landmass, and your leopard clan''s status will likely drop quite a bit since all creatures will be competing on the same stage. No one will submit to another."


    Jin Lu asked uncertainly, "Wouldn''t that be very dangerous?"


    "That''s why the beast clans must do more than just throw sacrifices into the sea every year¡ªthey also need to establish temples for the Sea God Cult. And Bai Mansheng, the Sea-Controlling Nuwa Empress, is one of the seven aspects of the Sea God. She and the Sea-Controlling Azure Dragon are actually two High Priests within the Sea God Cult."


    Even Bai Mansheng, with her extraordinary detachment, found it a bit hard to hold back amidst Tang Xian''s eloquence.


    Luckily, Jin Lu had great confidence in Tang Xian.


    After all, Tang Xian''s previous performance had been too astonishing to her.


    Orange-tier creatures could not survive from the deep sea, but Tang Xian had managed it.


    The weather-changing Azure Dragon was an existence unmatched by any creatures of the islands.


    Now, thinking about it, the Sea-Controlling Nuwa Empress also possessed similar great power.


    "The Nvwa Snakes are followers of the Sea God Cult. Remember, to join the cult one must be recognized by the High Priest, and since you are my friend, your clansmen are too. So as long as you''re willing to provide sacrifices for the Sea God Cult and its followers, you will receive the Sea God''s blessing.


    In time, all the beast clans on the island will also submit to you."


    Jin Lu was delighted; she wanted more than just to worship, she even wanted to join the cult.


    However, in Tang Xian''s plan, the Sea God Cult, though newly established, was not something one could join lightly.


    "Can I join the Sea God Cult?"


    "You cannot," Tang Xian said bluntly.


    He then explained:


    "Only creatures from the Sea-Controlling lineage can join the Sea God Cult, unfortunately, you are not one. But if you are devout enough, the Sea God Cult will certainly bless you.


    This is also a directive from the Lord Sea God."

 Chapter 457 - 75: Sea God Cult Leader Tang Xian _3

    Tang Xian spoke with conviction, as if the Sea God were still alive, as if the Sea God truly delighted in this sort of bureaucratic fanfare.


    The creatures on the island weren''t so easily deceived either.


    But they had been worshipping the sea for hundreds of years, and the fact was, as long as the tributes arrived on schedule, the sea remained calm and tranquil.


    All of this laid the foundation for the Sea God Cult, a church that Tang Xian had actually started plotting quite early on.


    What was missing was nothing more than a glib charlatan.


    And Tang Xian was that charlatan.


    Later, Tang Xian discussed the details with Tang Feiji.


    Merging all the islands at once carried too many variables, so the merging of dozens of islands would happen in phases.


    And all of this naturally required Tang Feiji to trouble himself with going back to the palace in the deep sea, issuing commands to the Sea Giant and communicating with the Sea Squid.


    For it was the Sea Squid, a creature many times larger than the Sea Dragon, that connected these islands.


    After all this, Tang Xian produced the design for the Sea Shrine, which was also the Sea God Cult''s church.


    Bai Mansheng, the "Sea Dominator" Nuwa Emperor who had descended from the heavens, effectively took over a position that once belonged to the Sea God''s servant.


    Of course, she did not serve the Sea God but only herself and Tang Xian.


    She became the High Priest along with the other Sea Dominator creatures.


    And Tang Xian was the Divine Envoy, ostensibly the envoy but in actuality, the cult leader.


    Tang Xian even readied a series of titles, including when to hold what events, what ceremonies to conduct, and various such arrangements.


    Everything was orchestrated meticulously.


    Bai Mansheng, witnessing all this, was finally convinced that Tang Xian must have been scheming against the Sea God or the island creatures for a long time.


    The series of deceiving maneuvers flowed smoothly.


    It made her somewhat dislike the possibility that she, too, might have been hoodwinked in this way?


    Another two days went by, and Bai Mansheng, feeling the need to vent, had a talk with Tang Xian.


    "Isn''t Jin Lu your friend?"


    "That''s right."


    "And yet you deceive her?"


    "She and all the creatures here have believed in the Sea God all their lives. If I told her the Sea God was dead, wouldn''t she become an outcast?"


    "But why...why involve me?"


    "There are many creatures on these islands, but very few of them are of the orange tier, and even fewer can fly. Your advantage is immense. You''re capable of leading your people to establish a foothold here. But to achieve a transcendent status, this path is the fastest and safest."


    "But this is a lie, isn''t it?"


    "Lying has many disadvantages, but it also has many advantages. I do the comparison on a cost-benefit basis, not on a moral one.


    Just like a game planner promising players that the game is free and fun, and then releasing a bunch of gift packs that make you fall behind if you don''t buy, pressuring people into spending money.


    Or like a boss telling you, sticking to 996 is your blessing, then having you do uncompensated overtime that doesn''t count toward your salary.


    It''s all the same reason. Such actions lead to better-looking data, bigger benefits."


    Bai Mansheng, who had read many novels, was familiar with these examples.


    But she said, Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But this is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. An ugly KPI index will eventually make the liar realize that the customer is king."


    Tang Xian nodded and replied,


    "That is why when Jin Lu and the other myriad creatures worship you in the future, you must really see yourself as the High Priest, and genuinely protect them. If you make good on the lie, doesn''t it stop being a lie?"


    (Cough cough, the above theory is not applicable to an honest author like myself. I definitely will release a burst of updates on Saturday! No tearing the ticket~)

 Chapter 458 - 76: The Tang Dynastys Behind-the-Scenes Boss - At Leisure

    "If you can''t ensure you''re always an honest person, then getting used to lying is a must," Tang Xian said.


    "Bullshit. According to your logic, are people who don''t frequently lie considered even less trustworthy?" Bai Mansheng retorted.


    "In the ancient entertainment industry, there were many ways to boost someone''s fame, be it a musician or an actor, the most common tactic was creating a public persona.


    Take for example some individuals who outwardly appeared abstinent but secretly became the king of revelry in Canada.


    Some couples seemed loving but were incredibly in sync when it came to cuckolding each other.


    Some singers looked all prim and proper, only to be later exposed for juggling multiple relationships at once.


    But what''s interesting is that, before their true colors were irrefutably revealed, no one believed these things.


    So, it''s proven that establishing a public persona is a form of long-term deception, and many people take the bait and believe it.


    Those accustomed to lying are often taken at face value by most people. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The people who are most easily trusted include the downright honest and the merchants who are packaged from head to toe.


    Conversely, those who are usually honest but occasionally tell a lie are remembered for their fibs for a lifetime."


    Tang Xian thought that the ancient human microblog records provided by Luo were mostly nonsense, but to him, they were good material for studying human nature.


    "Why are you telling me all this? I''m not like you; I don''t spew lies so easily."


    Bai Mansheng believed she was reasonably forthright with people, and when it came to things she didn''t want others to know, she chose to conceal rather than deceive.


    "Because soon you''ll have to establish a fake persona. Whether you like it or not is one thing, but when the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, it''s worth putting aside personal preferences," Tang Xian said earnestly.


    "Sometimes I think you have very low emotional intelligence. But other times, I think you''re incredibly sly and shrewd," Bai Mansheng said, looking at Tang Xian with confusion.


    "Aside from those mushy feelings that give me the creeps, I''m usually a smart man," Tang Xian was rather candid at the moment.


    "So, what kind of persona do I have to establish?"


    "Of course, the untouchable, aloof, yet righteous High Priest of the Sea God Cult."


    "..."


    Bai Mansheng was speechless, while Tang Xian was dead serious.


    "You really need to take what I''m saying seriously; a persona is a good thing. A label.


    If you establish it well enough, even if it collapses one day, people will still trust you.


    The Nuwa Emperor inherently possesses a divine nature, much like the Azure Dragon, so you and Tang Feiji are a perfect fit.


    I plan to set some of the coordinates for the portable teleportation fissures'' mining areas on this island.


    This place will become our foothold in the mine in the future."


    The sea breeze passed through the woods under the sunlight, carrying a salty scent with it.


    The two, who were strolling aimlessly through the forest, listened to the vibration of the autumn cicadas'' wings and felt an ever-increasing sense of tranquility.


    After much consideration, Bai Mansheng finally began to speak slowly:


    "You sometimes act on whims, but other times you have very far-reaching purposes. Is this Sea God Cult a spur-of-the-moment thing, or is it intentional?"


    "The strength of the Beast Court is formidable. I had been thinking, if the Sea God only needed crystals to maintain its colossal body''s function,


    then a few sea-beast species, even just by hunting schools of fish, could easily accomplish that.


    So why do it? Why trap many land animals on an island? Why make them revere the Sea God?"


    Tang Xian looked at Bai Mansheng. She shook her head blankly and said:


    "I don''t know."


    "I don''t know either, but my guess is, perhaps it''s creating a belief system."


    "Creating a belief system?"


    "Have you heard of Eden creatures?"


    "No..."


    "But I am certain that the Eden Tribe once dominated the mines, and compared to them, the Beast Court seems much weaker.


    The old gods are dead, and the new gods are creating a new order.


    Perhaps the Sea God is discontent and that''s why it''s doing all this.


    The raging sea, after receiving offerings, can become calm.


    If the island''s creatures have been experiencing similar events for hundreds of years, a belief system will naturally form.


    Using offerings in exchange for favorable weather.


    When the offerings are presented, divinity manifests."


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian in surprise.


    Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches of great balsam trees, casting mottled patterns on her beautiful face.


    "Talking to you about these things always makes the whole world seem conspiratorial and mysterious."


    "The world has always been full of conspiracies. Always full of mysteries."


    "I don''t know."


    Tang Xian chuckled:


    "Perhaps at this very moment, somewhere else in the universe, some purple fatty is flying a doughnut-shaped spaceship, gathering stones that could halve all living things.


    Perhaps someone playing a game suddenly finds themselves transported inside it, realizing that the world of the game is real.


    Perhaps someone suddenly discovers the world has become gamified, or they''ve crossed into another world, or the spiritual energy has revived, and so on.


    Among all this, bigger orders are at play, compensating for something."


    Bai Mansheng also began to smile. If she hadn''t heard so many web novel stories, she might have taken Tang Xian''s fanciful talk seriously.


    "You''re talking about the typical novels you showed me," she said.


    Tang Xian nodded, with an expression that read "can''t fool you," on his face.


    But he continued:


    "Still, the principle isn''t wrong. We are so insignificant that we can only see part of the world.

 Chapter 459 - 76: The Tang Dynastys Behind-the-Scenes Boss - At Leisure_2

    As we integrate into this part, we''ll discover there''s an even more expansive world of natural enemies and conspiracies.


    What is the Sea God? What are the Orderers? And what about Eden''s forces?


    Perhaps in a more macroscopic world, their roles are even more humble compared to ours in this world."


    In Tang Xian''s understanding, humans were just ants under the dominion of the forces of the Orderers, the Myriad Beasts Realm, and Eden.


    These powers could easily change or destroy human civilization.


    But for these entities, there might be something even more profound.


    It''s like how Sun Wukong finally defeated Great Demon King Piccolo, only to find there were stronger enemies out there.


    After barely defeating Frieza and becoming a Super Saiyan, one then has to face androids and Majins countless times more powerful.


    Of course, these weren''t Tang Xian''s concerns.


    It''s like humanity worrying about the sun going out.


    At least in this world, in this dimension of the universe, he only needed to calculate the various interactions between Eden''s forces, the forces of Order, and the forces of the Myriad Beasts.


    Otherwise, it would be too arrogant.


    As for the actions of the Sea God, Tang Xian was ninety percent certain that this super massive creature was paving the way for its successor.


    That successor might have been himself, or it might have been someone else who was preempted by him.


    In any case, although the Sea God Cult was something Tang Xian made up on the spot, Tang Xian didn''t deal with it carelessly.


    ...


    ...


    After resolving Bai Mansheng''s doubts, it became much easier to convince Bai Mansheng to establish a High Priest character.


    Bai Mansheng''s personality was innately cool and detached, fitting the character well,


    and there was no need to deliberately change her disposition.


    She just became a bit more preoccupied with spiritual matters.


    Tang Xian also spent the night creating various detailed rules.


    For example, the actions during worship were modeled after the heart-sacrifice ritual in "Attack on Titan".


    The worship rituals were based on the dance of shrine maidens.


    He also began the establishment of a foundational year.


    From today on, he declared the first year of the Sea God era and had Bai Mansheng send out an Nvwa Snake to carve the corona and calendar on the massive rock face.


    Every year on this day, all beings were to come to the Sea God''s temple to pray for blessings.


    He also established various holidays, such as the 38th Beast Women''s Festival, the 61st Beast Children''s Festival, the Sea Moon Festival on August 15th, and the Sea Genesis Festival on January 1st, and so on.


    Different celebratory methods and blessing rituals were designated for these holidays.


    Bai Mansheng watched Tang Xian in amazement, not understanding the rules of the human world, and thus not grasping how Tang Xian could come up with so many ideas overnight.


    But a sense of ritual could indeed deepen people''s faith.


    It''s like marriage, where a marriage without a ceremony always feels like something is missing.


    Or praying to Buddha, where despite the saying that if you have Buddha in your heart, he will manifest, there''s still a belief that prostrating, burning incense, and praying before the temple''s Arhats feels more solid.


    With these rituals firmly in place, it was as if there truly was a god beneath the sea.


    And those who earnestly sought the god truly received responses. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The beasts built the palace quickly, especially since Bai Mansheng could control the thick earth.


    Thus, on the third day, the grand Sea God''s temple was completed.


    The Golden Patterned Leopards began to worship the statue of the Sea God on a large scale, accompanied by the Hell Flame Wolves.


    Seeing a group of big cats and big dogs in prostration, Tang Xian found it very amusing and wanted to laugh several times, but Bai Mansheng glared him back into seriousness.


    Bai Mansheng adapted to the role quickly, or perhaps her cool nature was naturally not prone to laughter or speech.


    What the Myriad Beasts worshiped was a statue of the Sea God.


    What did the Sea God look like, exactly?


    Tang Xian mischievously based it on the image of Poseidon from Greek mythology.


    But with the lower half resembling a fish''s tail.


    In short... a handsome fishtail man holding a trident?


    Paired with Bai Mansheng''s beautiful snake figure, all of this seemed even more real.


    The Nvwa Snakes took their place on either side of the main hall, becoming congregants of the cult.


    For the hierarchy among the congregants, Tang Xian used the system from martial arts novels¡ªspecifically the Beggars'' Sect.


    Their status was represented using a similar concept to leaves.


    Just as the highest honor for the fox clan was to don the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid,


    the initial status for the Nvwa Snakes was three leaves.


    Those who established outstanding contributions could gradually be promoted.


    The promotion system Tang Xian developed overnight was complete.


    There was a clear experience points system, for example, hunting a creature of a certain level would earn so many points.


    Participating in certain activities would gain so many points.


    Reaching a certain number of worship sessions per month also offered bonus points for perfect attendance.


    One would be promoted based on points scored each quarter.


    Every half year, outstanding congregants would be selected. Additionally, if a congregant, like a Golden Patterned Leopard, evolved into a Golden Armored Leopard, or a Hell Flame Wolf evolved into a Great Tengu, such changes would also impact their status.


    To incentivize these beings, Tang Xian also devised a hierarchical system where higher-ups could issue tasks, and those two levels above could appoint or dismiss subordinates.


    There were many details in this system which are not elaborated here.


    What this was based on was naturally the modern corporate management system.


    As well as the bureaucratic system.


    Peripheral members, including the Golden Patterned Leopards and the Hell Flame Wolves, as well as Jin Lu and future leaders, were also given the chance for promotion by Tang Xian.


    He addressed the problem of those who wished to join the cult but were unable.


    However, these island residents had to start as one-leaf congregants and work their way up slowly.


    Compared to them, the status of the Nvwa Snakes, who started as three-leaf congregants, was much more exalted.


    But the Myriad Beasts leaders, such as Jin Lu, held a higher status than the Nvwa Snakes.


    However, none could compare with Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian had plans for the identity of the High Priest too¡ªshe was the avatar of the Sea God.


    This meant her status was second only to the Sea God.


    However, those who reached a nine-leaf status could join the High Priest in the sacrificial council meetings, modeled after the board of directors of human organizations, and had the authority to revise the regulations of the Sea God Cult.

 Chapter 460 - 76: The Tang Dynastys Behind-the-Scenes Boss - At Leisure_3

    Even the power to appoint and remove members of the Sacrificial Council was granted, though it required a vote. Of course, the High Priest, the Sea-Controlling Azure Dragon, and the Sea-Controlling Nuwa Empress were beyond removal, as they were the ultimate will of the Sea God Cult.


    Having divine authority backed by faith comes with a great advantage, that is, the legitimacy of autocracy.


    After sorting all this out, Tang Xian suddenly felt a bit of admiration for Li Xiaoyu.


    These tedious tasks had been Li Xiaoyu''s responsibility for half her life.


    Every day was about creating, managing, and maintaining systems. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Day in, day out, over and over again.


    Ultimately, she had uplifted the business of the Li family.


    Tang Xian seldom engaged in these matters, but that didn''t mean he wasn''t capable.


    Standing on the shoulders of the Sea God, who had already paved the path for him, made things easier.


    Establishing a church was easy, but finding followers was hard, and that''s what the Sea God had been doing all these years¡ªestablishing faith.


    Now, Tang Xian was simply systematizing it.


    Once the system was perfected, the next natural step was amalgamation. To Tang Xian, cats and dogs, although of perfect-level combat strength, were still far from enough.


    He wanted to integrate into the Sea God Cult creatures from dozens of islands and hundreds of different species.


    Tang Feiji and the Sea-Controlling Giant Squid finally finished their negotiations.


    The intelligence of the Sea-Controlling Giant Squid was much duller than that of Tang Feiji.


    Its power in the sea was still greater than Tang Feiji''s, but once out of water, its strength drastically decreased.


    In fact, among the seven sea servants of the Sea God, aside from the turtle and the hydra, none could leave the deep sea.


    The hydra was dead, and the turtle had gone north.


    On the islands of the south, only Tang Xian knew the situation.


    After some events, Tang Feiji also acknowledged Tang Xian, and so man and dragon reached a consensus¡ª


    Tang Xian would be responsible for swaying those above the sea.


    Tang Feiji would be responsible for swaying those beneath the sea.


    Thus, the first island merger began, with the Sea-Controlling Giant Squid moving the islands.


    Three islands were joined together under the deterrence of Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji, both Orange-Rank creatures;


    With the foundation laid by the Sea God over hundreds of years;


    With Jin Lu leading creatures like the Golden Patterned Leopard and the Hell Flame Wolf, the process was much smoother than Tang Xian had anticipated.


    He had expected a battle, but without even a fight, the flock of the Sea God Cult doubled.


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected the Sea God to have been so fanatic in the past, even abducting enormous terrestrial creatures like the Golden Mammoth and the Sword-Horned Dragon onto the islands.


    After communicating with these creatures, the likes of which included the calamity-level boss Diamond Mammoth King and the calamity-level boss Sword-Horned Dragon King, they eagerly joined the Sea God Cult.


    Hence, the expansion of the islands accelerated.


    More and more whirlpools appeared on the surface of the sea, and soon a great number of islands emerged. They began to slowly merge together.


    Massive waves surged to the sky, only to be frozen by Tang Feiji.


    This display of divine power made countless creatures on the islands submit.


    Moreover, the Sea God Cult''s power itself was growing stronger and stronger.


    So the intense competition Tang Xian expected did not manifest.


    The Sea God''s rule had sunk deep into the hearts of myriad beasts.


    In just one week''s time, they integrated more than ninety islands from distant waters¡ªall becoming land comparable to nearly half of the southern continent.


    And the thousands of species on these islands all joined the Sea God Cult.


    Bai Mansheng, although the leader of the Nvwa Snake tribe, had never commanded so many creatures before. But since these creatures held her in such high esteem, many troubles were no longer troublesome.


    Tang Xian also began to establish a common beastly law for the crowds of creatures.


    A small tribunal for all beasts emerged.


    Whether the dragon-slaying hero had become the dragon itself was not yet clear.


    The rules Tang Xian established were indeed intended to reduce chaos, and that was his only initial intention.


    For now, it was just to prevent the tribunal for all beasts from causing trouble. Tang Xian wasn''t planning on expanding; he had no interest in a world where not even an electric rice cooker could be used.


    He simply hoped that by gathering the crowds of beasts, he could create a power capable of self-protection for people like Jin Lu and Bai Mansheng in the future.


    That power was the Sea God Cult.


    On the surface, the master of the church controlled everything in the great sea, but behind the scenes, the true mastermind was Tang Xian, a feeble creature walking on land.


    This time, he had become the power behind the throne.

 Chapter 461 - 77: Omnipresent Tang Xian (First Update)

    The first bastion, the sixth layer of the Song family estate.


    When Song Que returned to the first bastion, Song Gengzhao was bragging to someone,


    "In this life, it''s hard for me to get ahead of Li Wanye, but at least when it comes to the ability to have sons, he''s nowhere near me, not by a long shot!"


    As soon as he arrived at the Song family''s residence, Song Que heard these words and felt somewhat ashamed.


    This was actually something Song Gengzhao often brought up to people.


    Earlier on, after dinner each day, Song Gengzhao would take a walk with Song Que on the streets of the sixth layer.


    He was very proud to have such a son, a true Chosen One.


    Sometimes, he would boast to others how Li Wanye was no match for him when it comes to having sons.


    The first and the thirty-ninth bastions were in a healthy competition, and Song Gengzhao and Li Wanye had known, recognized, and competed with each other for half a lifetime.


    Indeed, only in the matter of having sons had he bested Li Wanye, and thus he''d bested everyone in the world.


    Song Que, however, remained humble and did not become arrogant or dismissive because of this.


    In fact, Song Que thought both Li Zheng and Qi Xun were very impressive. There were many areas in which he did not match up to them.


    Song Que''s humility did not come off as pretentious.


    Thus, there were many in the first bastion who did not like Song Gengzhao, but very few who disliked Song Que.


    Before ascending to the first bastion, Song Que first went to the Holy Land Bastion.


    He made sure his actions were seen through to a proper conclusion.


    When the Song family learned that Song Que would be returning that day, they also prepared a feast to welcome him and dust off the road.


    The moment Song Que walked in, Song Gengzhao was moved to tears of joy.


    Song Que was also very happy. Without many words, father and son just embraced for a while.


    This affectionate scene between father and child moved many in the Song family.


    There were many who liked Song Que, including the people of the Song family.


    Song Que was down-to-earth with everyone. When some of his cousins were bullied in their childhood, Song Que had also taken it upon himself to seek justice for them.


    Thus, today, upon hearing of Song Que''s return, the brothers from the fifth layer, Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, also Song Que''s uncle''s sons and his cousins, came to congratulate him together.


    An ordinary homecoming was made into quite a grand affair.


    Because Song Que was returning triumphant, having slaughtered a calamity-level boss creature.


    Moreover, not long ago, he had sent back a crystal from a calamity-level boss creature.


    About Song Que''s deeds, he hadn''t had time to concoct the details himself before the story had quickly spread.


    To save the people of the Holy Land Bastion, Song Que led the hunters of Holy Land Bastion, chasing after a calamity-level boss creature.


    With the hunters'' exceptional performance and Song Que''s perfect command, as well as his heroic acts, they achieved a nearly impossible victory.


    Song Que and the hunters of Holy Land Bastion had actually defeated a calamity-level boss creature.


    One should know that the Li family took nearly forty years to hunt the calamity-level boss creature in the Razor''s Edge Wilderness.


    Although in these years, humanity''s weapon innovations and the discovery rate of the gifted had increased considerably, and so had the understanding of the mineral zones.


    But calamity-level creatures were still a huge obstacle that humanity could not overcome.


    Song Que''s performance was, for the time being, only known to a few within the first bastion, and everyone was clear that once this news got out, it would surely shake the world.


    Song Que could only give a wry smile.


    Originally, he had concocted a story about how he and some hunters from the Holy Land Bastion had fought to the death against a calamity-level boss creature to save some non-gifted individuals.


    But this narrative was still in a stage where the funds hadn''t been arranged, the screenplay wasn''t settled, and the actors were non-existent.


    In short, it lacked details.


    Song Que had even worried about being questioned about the details.


    After all, he was an honest man, and honest men who promise a good friend to lie are then faced with a dilemma: should they keep their promise or should they answer truthfully?


    It sounds somewhat Schr?dinger.


    For the sake of the people in the sinkhole and Baichuan City, Song Que still decided to conceal the truth from his father.


    So, he hadn''t had time to think about the details.


    Little did he expect, the details had already been filled in by the imaginations of the Song family members.


    Some people in the first bastion had turned it into stories. And amidst the breathtaking suspense, there were even love stories.


    For instance, during the fierce battle with the flood dragon, Song Que risked his life to save a girl by taking a direct hit from the dragon. Moved, the girl wanted to offer herself to him in gratitude, but Song Que simply continued with the fight without looking back.


    Hearing these, Song Que had no reaction other than a bitter smile.


    The human imagination is too rich.


    So... have the heroes of the past and present perhaps been somewhat exaggerated?


    Maybe the truth is entirely different from the legend?


    Song Que didn''t dwell on it.


    This matter was beneficial for the Song family, and to him, it also spared some trouble.


    However, he didn''t consider himself a hero.


    At best, he was just a brave man.


    And the journey from a brave man to a hero is a long one.


    After enjoying a beautiful night in his hometown,


    Song Que faced the next day.


    That day, he planned to tell his father everything, about not being a Gifted anymore.


    He also hoped to use this as an opportunity to persuade his father to make reforms.


    This was somewhat naive, and Song Que himself realized the impracticality of it,


    But he couldn''t help trying.


    Earlier that day, the brothers Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu came to visit again, inviting Song Que to hunt in the mineral zones.


    Song Que declined politely.


    Upon entering Song Gengzhao''s study, Song Gengzhao said happily,


    "You''ve come at just the right time. I have an arranged marriage to discuss with you."


    "An arranged marriage?"


    This development truly surprised Song Que.


    "Originally, I was quite fond of that girl, Li Xiaoyu. Old Li doesn''t know what he''s missing."


    Song Gengzhao shook his head, always feeling it was a pity whenever he mentioned Li Xiaoyu:


    Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 462 - 77: Omnipresent Tang Xian (First Update)_2

    "That girl''s ability to manage business alone shows that she has talent even beyond Li Zheng''s. If she were to marry you, it would greatly benefit the Song Family,


    but Li Wanye is still too rigid. What does it matter if one has more talent or less? Within the fortress, it''s the skill that counts.


    There''s no second Li Xiaoyu, but at the Shen Family in the sixth fortress, their girl isn''t bad either."


    Since returning, Song Que found that the expression he made most often was a bitter smile.


    Fortunately, there was a part of this topic he could respond to, and Song Que said,


    "As for marriage, I''m not in a rush. Father needn''t worry about this."


    Song Que didn''t understand whom he liked. He thought Li Xiaoyu was quite remarkable. However, after learning of Li Xiaoyu''s intentions, Song Que never had any thoughts related to love and romance again.


    In any case, marriage was up to his father to arrange. Spending a lifetime with a woman he admired but didn''t necessarily truly love wasn''t something difficult for Song Que to accept.


    "How could I not worry? You''re not getting any younger. You''re already twenty-four, look at Li Zheng, at twenty-four even though he wasn''t married, he had girlfriends from all over the fortresses."


    This was something Song Que couldn''t accept. He smiled, shook his head, and changed the subject,


    "Father, speaking of which, do you truly believe that within the fortress, the level of talent isn''t important?"


    "Of course, the capable should be used, the mining area''s world is where the talented get to show their true strength," Song Gengzhao said.


    Song Que felt somewhat pleased and was ready to reveal that he was no longer gifted.


    Just at that moment, Song Gengzhao suddenly came out with,


    "However, most of the time, that is just something you say. Remember, when you become the lord of the first fortress, you also need to learn some polite platitudes. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You want the non-gifted to feel you value them, but don''t forget, they are just sacrifices of the times. The degree of talent, and whether one has a gift are two different concepts.


    The chosen ones are the ones that this world truly needs."


    Song Que was suddenly taken aback.


    Song Gengzhao said, "I am getting old, and I''ve been considering passing the position of the first fortress''s lord on to you.


    Some things you''ll only understand once you become a lord. You are a kind person.


    As a lord, with the highest talent among the gifted, you should help the non-gifted secure some insignificant rights.


    But they should only ever be insignificant rights."


    Hearing these words, Song Que had a complex expression and was at a loss for words for a while.


    Song Gengzhao said word by word,


    "Never share the real cake with the lowly non-gifted."


    It felt like a drift made with too much force, leaving Song Que somewhat dazed.


    He couldn''t imagine his father suddenly saying such words.


    Because just a minute ago, everything seemed so wonderful.


    Song Gengzhao was not surprised by Song Que''s reaction.


    "Why would Father suddenly say... such excessive words?"


    Especially after experiencing the abyss, Song Que could understand just how strong the sense of superiority of the gifted had been for hundreds of years.


    Strong enough to transcend morals and kinship.


    However, he never expected that one day, his own father would expose these things with such frank and demeaning language.


    "I''m old, but you have established countless merits, you had astonishing performances at the hunting festival, you served as the commander-in-chief of the allied forces on the Yuepela Plains, and soon after, with an almost impossible number of people, you completed a hunt of a disaster-class creature."


    Song Gengzhao was excited, talking about these amazing honors as if they were his own.


    "With these honors, you will have more sway in the Federation in the future. In time, I will hand over some matters to you and formally retire."


    Song Que didn''t listen too carefully to the rest. His state of mind was already in disarray.


    Song Gengzhao didn''t take it to heart, assuming that his son, who always prioritized righteousness and justice, was unaccustomed to these ruthless management strategies.


    "By the way, did you come to see me for a reason?"


    After pausing for a few seconds, Song Que slowly shook his head and said,


    "I just came to see how you were."


    "Hahaha, with that time, you might as well go and interact more with the future in-laws I''ve picked for you."


    Song Que nodded and exchanged a few more courteous words with Song Gengzhao before leaving.


    As he left, Song Que suddenly thought of something Zhuo He had said.


    It turns out that lords all over the world are the same.


    Everything requires the right timing; Song Que wasn''t too discouraged.


    The news of his return had spread, and his former teammates came to visit one after another.


    Having not seen Lin Jue, Xiao Shi, or One-eyed Doctor Qin for a long time, Song Que was also very happy.


    The group agreed to meet at a restaurant on the third level.


    Lin Jue and One-eyed King still loved to bicker, exposing each other''s shortcomings after just a few words. The most talked-about topic was still related to women.


    Xiao Shi had always been with Song Que since she was little and rarely left the first fortress, only accompanying Song Que to the mining area''s Red Earth Forest during the hunting festival.


    She was always silent, showing neither joy nor sorrow.


    Qin Qian and Doctor Qin were the most attentive, noticing that Song Que was preoccupied.


    "Captain, you seem to be in a downcast mood. We''ve all been through life and death together; if you have something on your mind, feel free to share," Doctor Qin said.


    Song Que shook his head gently and said with a warm smile,


    "I''m just a bit weary."


    Qin Qian found it strange. There was some change in Song Que''s demeanor that she couldn''t pinpoint.

 Chapter 463 - 77: Omnipresent Tang Xian (First Update)_3

    ```


    Lin Jue frowned and cursed,


    "Dilly-dallying like a woman. If you don''t want to speak, then don''t adopt an air of holding back. Weigh the pros and cons. If the pros outweigh the cons, speak up; if not, swallow it."


    With that, he raised his glass and clinked it against the One-eyed King''s.


    Song Que smiled and nodded, feeling that Lin Jue had a point.


    After the meal, he seemed to have grasped something.


    Ultimately, he had to tell his father about it.


    It wasn''t about the immediate pros and cons. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The tragedy of Sky Pit City did not only happen at the Sanctuary Stronghold.


    Indeed, every stronghold witnessed a microcosm of similar events.


    Song Que returned to his room and began to meticulously plan various possibilities, taking the first step towards becoming a hero.


    ...


    ...


    On the third day,


    Song Que disappeared.


    This one disappearance lasted half a month.


    During this period, various members of the Song Family came to visit; some were genuinely upset, while others seemed to be.


    Then there were the very few who did not appear to be upset at all.


    On the seventeenth day, Yu Xiaozhe received a message.


    The Song Family also closed the gates of their estate, refusing to see any visitors.


    The number one stronghold suddenly tightened security, leaving people clueless about what had happened inside.


    After that, some trifles occurred at the first stronghold.


    Song Que''s teammates, Lin Jue, the One-eyed King, Qin Qian, and others, requested to see Song Que on the sixth level but were denied.


    This seemed a small matter, though it led to some conflicts.


    But not many truly paid attention. People did not know what had happened.


    Naturally, no ripples were stirred.


    Ultimately, Song Que''s teammates could not figure out the reason behind it, and given the Song Family''s firm stance, they had to let it go.


    But they became even more convinced that something had happened to Song Que.


    Some noticed that Song Gengzhao had not left the house in a long time.


    Even on the rare occasions he did go out, his expression was dark.


    He no longer bragged about his son to anyone he met.


    Naturally, since Song Que had suddenly vanished as if evaporated from the world, no one could witness the father-son affection anymore.


    It was during such a seemingly calm but actually turbulent time that Bu Jing arrived at the first stronghold.


    Spies need identities, and this time, Bu Jing was playing the role of Yan Chi,


    an HR manager employed by a mine area security insurance sales company on the fifth level, mainly responsible for interviewing and reducing the turnover of formal employees.


    This was a business owned by the Song Family, and Bu Jing had easily passed the online tests. Now, he was set to meet with the company''s HR mid-level management in a small bar on the third level.


    However, just upon arriving at the third level to make contact with the company''s personnel, Bu Jing saw a face he wasn''t supposed to see.


    Upon seeing this person, Bu Jing''s expression was:


    (¡ã¡÷¡ã|||)!!


    "How could you be here? If you''re here, why would the Second Miss send me?"


    After several seconds of silence, the person Bu Jing was facing slowly started to speak,


    "Interesting, how did you recognize me?"


    "I saw your fingers when you were eating with the Second Miss at my place. It''s rare these days to see calluses on the index finger, which come from constantly pressing the back of a kitchen knife. A gentleman''s hand shouldn''t have such calluses."


    After a pause, Bu Jing added,


    "Most importantly, I can discern the contours of a person''s cheekbones."


    The latter was Bu Jing''s trump card.


    With this, Bu Jing was puzzled.


    How could Tang Xian, the biggest fugitive in human history, appear here?


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    (Blast update today, won''t do anything else but update every two to four hours. Continuing until I hit twenty thousand words, ha)


    ```

 Chapter 464 - 78: The Beginning of the Grand Play (2nd Update)

    Tang Xian discovered that Bu Jing''s abilities were indeed considerable.


    After all, he had deceived countless people, but he never expected that this spy, who had seemed so ordinary at the time, would recognize him at a glance.


    This was also the reason for Bu Jing''s greatest surprise.


    Being able to take down the Evolution Zone and still live a peaceful life in disguise with warrants plastered all over the streets¡ª


    This had already reached the standard of a top-level spy.


    With such a person here, wouldn''t that be competing with him for his livelihood?


    "So what are you doing here?" Bu Jing asked.


    "Watching a play."


    Bu Jing didn''t understand what "watching a play" meant and didn''t know why Tang Xian would suddenly appear here.


    "You don''t seem to be afraid of me," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Tang Xian was certain that after the incident in the Evolution Zone, Bu Jing had not been in touch with Li Xiaoyu again.


    So in Bu Jing''s mind, shouldn''t he be considered a demon of Eden?


    "If you really wanted to hurt me, I would have been dead by now. If you truly were an apocalyptic creature, standing against humanity, you wouldn''t need to disguise yourself like this," Bu Jing was quite calm.


    "Smart."


    Tang Xian had some appreciation for Bu Jing, thinking that Li Xiaoyu must have had a good reason for appointing him for the task.


    Just by looking at a person''s eye sockets, he could discern that person''s living habits.


    With a bit of contemplation, combined with the financial power displayed on Bu Jing''s profile, Tang Xian understood Bu Jing''s situation.


    He smiled and continued:


    "Interesting coincidences always make me feel life is like a game."


    "What interesting coincidences?"


    "The last time I clashed with the Evolution Zone, I ran into you. This time, as I prepare to take down the Evolution Zone once again, I''ve encountered you."


    Thinking it over, Bu Jing realized it really was the case.


    He then froze and said:


    "The ''watching a play'' you mentioned, does that mean going to take down the Evolution Zone?"


    "It''s not me going to take it down, but my partners."'' Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bu Jing pondered for a moment, frowning.


    His conversation with Tang Xian was efficient, skipping many trivialities, and focused on extremely critical questions.


    "Since you''re here, do I still need to do anything? Or rather, since you''ve arranged for your partners to go to the Evolution Zone, does that mean Song Que has already been moved? Do I still need to go to the trouble of investigating?"


    "Of course, it is necessary. How you investigate is up to you, but in a few days, I need to see some results."


    "Are you here to test me? I''m not one of your people. My boss is the Second Miss."


    "Your Second Miss works for me, any more questions?"


    "No more questions," Bu Jing was straightforward.


    "Then you should get going. There are many things waiting for us to do. I''ll send you my contact information later," Tang Xian did not beat around the bush.


    Bu Jing didn''t go far; he simply moved to another spot and sat down, waiting to be contacted by someone from the enterprise he was about to join.


    Before he left, he asked:


    "What if the most dangerous place is not here but at Lincoln Fortress? Are you sure it is appropriate to stay here?"


    "There are people in my team who are even more formidable than I am," Tang Xian explained.


    Bu Jing no longer had any doubts and turned to leave.


    The two were in the same bar, yet it was as if they didn''t know each other.


    Both were quiet.


    Tang Xian''s expression seemed even less natural than Bu Jing''s.


    He admired him all the more.


    When it came to an actor''s self-cultivation, Bu Jing was indeed the better.


    On the other side, Bu Jing was slowly waiting for his opportunity to integrate into the fifth layer of the Song Family enterprise, while also pondering why Tang Xian was here.


    In fact, when Yu Xiaozhe contacted Bu Jing and provided him with some resources, he also mentioned Tang Xian.


    Bu Jing was also testing Tang Xian just now.


    He knew this person was supposed to be in a very distant place.


    Because so far, both Yu Xiaozhe and the Second Miss''s plans had been developed on the assumption that "someone" wasn''t present.


    Now that "someone" had appeared, was there still a need to carry out the plan?


    That was what Bu Jing had been curious about earlier.


    As for that, Tang Xian''s answer was watching a play.


    But he didn''t explain what play he was watching.


    ...


    ...


    Everything was going smoothly.


    Tang Xian sat as Tang Jikede, sipping low-alcohol cocktails and calmly observing the situation in the hotel.


    His appearance was naturally affluent, and coupled with his generous tips to the waitstaff, he was easily categorized by the bar''s personnel as a tycoon.


    People were happy to serve such a person.


    But Tang Xian had no other demands.


    A few minutes before, Bu Jing had left, his interview with the Song Family enterprise having been very successful.


    With his rich experience in various topics and the art of observing others, it was Bu Jing who bewildered the examiners instead.


    Yet, until Bu Jing left, he could not understand what play Tang Xian intended to watch.


    He had already confirmed that Song Que had left.


    So what was the reason Tang Xian did not go to rescue Song Que but came here instead?


    Tang Xian slowly unfolded a newspaper.


    Such things should have been obsolete, but there is always something stylish about paper materials.


    In a fine little bar or coffeehouse, quietly reading a newspaper often is a gentleman''s way of flirting.


    Tang Xian wasn''t flirting. For several days, he had been sitting there, reading the newspaper, giving off the impression of being lonely and yet accustomed to loneliness.


    A few days ago, he was indeed on the distant southern archipelago.


    The integrated archipelago was known as the Sea God Continent.


    Rising from the northern continent with the Nvwa Snake, they had established the Sea God Cult on the southern islands.


    This endeavor had cost Tang Xian quite a bit of time.


    One motive, besides preparing some military strength for his future battle with the Court of All Beasts, was to ensure his time was not wasted.

 Chapter 465 - 78: The Beginning of the Grand Play (2nd Update)_2

    Spending dozens of days just to travel was a waste of time. Naturally, I had to do something significant.


    Once the task was accomplished, he then retired with honors.


    The method to return was quite simple and almost didn''t take any time.


    The return coordinates of the portable teleportation fissure were located in Baichuan City.


    After returning to Baichuan City, Li Xiaoyu told Tang Xian everything.


    Tang Xian then used other return coordinates in the north with the portable teleportation fissure to reach the mining area''s safe zone.


    It was no surprise to Tang Xian that Song Que had encountered trouble.


    Before Song Que left, he had told him that this trip home wouldn''t go smoothly.


    However, he hadn''t expected Song Gengzhao to go to such lengths¡ª


    to send his own son into the evolution zone.


    And this matter, Tang Xian had carefully analyzed the ins and outs.


    The evolution zone had turned Akasi, Yuanwu, and Tang Suoye, none of whom were originally born with the ten gifts, into people with ten talents through serum and gene modification.


    It seemed that Song Gengzhao was aware of this.


    The fact that Song Que was no longer a gifted individual added to the pressure on Song Gengzhao.


    The heir of the first fortress naturally couldn''t be someone without a talent.


    Therefore, Song Gengzhao took a risk and resorted to unorthodox methods.


    As for what specific things Song Que did during this process, that would have to wait for the exploration results from Bu Jing in a few days.


    During these days, Tang Xian had been staying at the first fortress.


    He didn''t contact Akasi, Yuanwu, and the others. He only kept in touch with Yu Xiaozhe.


    Yu Xiaozhe was responsible for contacting Akasi and others at Lincoln Fortress, as well as for passing messages to Tang Xian.


    Throughout this process, as far as Akasi and the others were concerned, Tang Xian was still in a remote part of the mining area.


    The advantage of doing so was to give Akasi a great deal of freedom, as he was the calmest within the three-person squad in the evolution zone.


    Tang Xian was very curious about what Akasi could achieve.


    Of course, he also had means to protect Akasi and the others. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A few days ago, when Tang Xian returned, he brought Tang Feiji with him.


    Although playing the role of the High Priest of the Sea God Cult was interesting, Tang Feiji grew tired of it.


    Life was clearly more exciting with Tang Xian.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t come along because the Sea God Cult was just starting, and there were many affairs that she needed to oversee, with the situation still unstable.


    Tang Xian had always been one to delegate tasks and then enjoy some leisure time himself.


    After all, he was quite "fragile."


    Therefore, the one responsible for protecting Akasi, Tang Suoye, and Yuanwu was Tang Feiji.


    Tang Xian was somewhat worried about letting Tang Feiji operate alone, so he also restricted Tang Feiji''s actions.


    The bargaining chip was that he would teach Tang Feiji how to solve a third-order Rubik''s cube afterwards.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Four days passed.


    Bu Jing and Tang Xian met up again.


    The location was still that small three-story bar.


    The people there were already very familiar with Tang Xian. Seeing someone talking to Tang Xian, they weren''t surprised.


    "In just four short days, you''ve been to the sixth level?" Tang Xian expressed some astonishment at Bu Jing''s work efficiency.


    Bu Jing said somewhat sheepishly:


    "This time it wasn''t my merit, but rather, I was found out."


    "It seems it wasn''t the Song Family''s people who found you out," Tang Xian observed.


    Bu Jing was slightly startled, then nodded and said:


    "It''s not easy to infiltrate this company, but it seems someone was more anxious than us, and they had information.


    Honestly, I was interrogated, and I didn''t manage to keep the secret."


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised and shrugged,


    "I can''t expect a smart spy to also be a man of indomitable spirit; that''s something you see in TV shows. In fact, it''s the best strategy to compromise to safeguard the overall situation."


    Bu Jing was surprised again, then said:


    "It''s actually a bit of a gamble. Because during the conversation I felt they were Song Que''s people, I went along with it, admitting I was a spy looking for Song Que''s whereabouts.


    To prove I was a spy, I also revealed some information."


    Tang Xian wasn''t concerned about what information Bu Jing had revealed; the fact that Bu Jing was sitting here unharmed suggested that those people had reached some sort of cooperation with Bu Jing.


    He pondered for a moment and said:


    "Was it Song Que''s teammates?"


    "You''re missing out by not joining our line of work," Bu Jing nodded and then added,


    "After Song Que disappeared, they were the first to sense something was wrong because they had an appointment with Song Que, and he was someone who would never break his promises.


    In the days that followed, they received no news from Song Que and felt something was off.


    So they started looking for ways to get close to Song Que."


    "Did they manage to do it?"


    "During those days, Song Que was at the Song Residence because his cousins had also come to visit.


    They did indeed see Song Que. It was also the last day before Song Que was transferred to Lincoln Fortress." Bu Jing''s expression was puzzled as he continued,


    "Song Que gave one of them a notebook and instructed that person to deliver the notebook to the mayor of Baichuan City. No one else was allowed to look through it. I don''t know if those guys peeked, but judging by their expressions, it seemed like they hadn''t."


    "What about the notebook?"


    "Such an important thing, of course, they didn''t give it to me, but when Baichuan City was mentioned, I gave you away." Bu Jing said with no sense of guilt.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "As it should be."


    To Tang Xian, the first element in being a spy wasn''t the ability to gather information, but the fear of death.


    Only those sufficiently afraid of death could live to relay the information.


    "So they came?"


    "They did."


    As Bu Jing finished speaking, a man whose aura didn''t quite match the hotel appeared.


    Carrying a lacrosse stick and looking carefree, he wore floral shorts even though autumn had arrived, looking like a wandering beggar.


    This man was too distinctive to be anyone but Lin Jue.


    The three of them sat at a table without any pleasantries.


    Lin Jue, always straightforward, asked,


    "Is this the guy you said was the Mayor of Baichuan City? An old geezer?"


    Bu Jing did not speak, instead adopting a "It''s none of my business now, you guys talk" expression as he looked at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was quite pleased with Lin Jue''s reaction; it was good that few could recognize him.


    He thought for a moment and then said,


    "It seems that since you touched a woman''s butt and were chased out of school by the Green Hat Alliance of Fortress 39 Sector 669, you''ve reined yourself in quite a bit. I haven''t heard any bizarre tales about you for a long time."


    Lin Jue''s eyes widened in shock.


    "You owe me your life, remember? After all, one year, you were beaten half to death, and it was me who put you in a barrel of liquor to soak."


    Of course, Tang Xian couldn''t tear off his disguise in front of everyone, but making Lin Jue realize who he was wasn''t very difficult.


    A few seconds later, Lin Jue said in astonishment,


    "You damn dog, are you Tang..."


    "Shh!"


    Mr. Tang Jikede gestured for silence with a finger to his lips, looking at Lin Jue with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Coming to his senses, Lin Jue said,


    "You''re the one Song Que wanted to contact?"


    Lin Jue and Qin Qian, as Song Que''s teammates, did not know the true identity of the Masked Chopper Hero.


    Song Que knew but had always kept Tang Xian''s secret.


    Thus even now, Tang Xian had different identities to people like Li Xiaonian, the Sheng Tang Squad, and Yu Xiaozhe. To everyone else¡ª


    He was a devil child.


    Tang Xian nodded and replied,


    "It''s me. My relationship with your squad leader is better than you might think. He owes me his life too."


    Lin Jue laughed and said,


    "This little bar looks rather refined. Do they sell strong liquor here?"


    "This place is polished by day, wild by night, naturally, they sell all kinds of drinks."


    "Seeing you isn''t easy; it''s worth drinking a couple of bottles over."


    With that, Lin Jue called over the waiter and ordered two bottles of vodka, ready to drink heavily with Tang Xian.


    The drinks came quickly, and Tang Xian said with a laugh,


    "Your squad leader''s life is in the balance, and you''re in the mood to drink with me?"


    "What''s this about life and death? If he''s in danger, I''d go through fire and water to rescue him. But whether he''s alive or dead won''t stop me from drinking."


    "Fair enough, let''s drink."


    Bu Jing thought to himself that this guy was indeed an oddball, but oddly compatible with Tang Xian. Both had a screw loose, like the Second Miss.


    Tang Xian then said,


    "Now, you should show me Song Que''s notebook."

 Chapter 466 - 79: The Honest Mans Diary (3rd Update)

    Many people in history have kept diaries.


    And not a few have been passed down; Tang Xian himself also writes some notes.


    But mostly, his notes are personal insights.


    For instance, how to interact with snakes, which might be tastier between fox meat and snake meat.


    Techniques for taming a "diseased damsel," cultivation of straight men, or upbringing insights for a six-year-old girl.


    All are insights lacking substance.


    Diaries that purely record events,


    To Tang Xian, seem like a waste of time because while every day might come with its interesting feelings, not every day necessarily comes with an interesting life. Thus, chronicling daily accounts really seems like a waste of time.


    To use a phrase from Jiang Wen, an ancient renowned director:


    How could adults tell the truth in their diaries?


    Hence, on some social networking services, like Moments, Friend Circles, blogs, and such, you should only believe half of what you read, and that''s why there are often such reversals.


    But there are exceptions, after all.


    Song Que is one.


    In Song Que''s diary, Tang Xian actually doesn''t believe there''s anything of importance.


    What Song Que would let him see, maybe just his encounters over these days.


    He casually flipped through, most entries were trivial matters.


    Describing the views this boring and honest person had of the world.


    But when the diary reached the middle section, Song Que''s personality shifted a bit.


    Many views changed, and he began to question certain things.


    Lin Jue and Bu Jing, just quietly waiting, neither speaking.


    Originally Bu Jing thought Tang Xian was a weirdo, but now he was clinking glasses with Lin Jue.


    Lin Jue mocked Bu Jing, a scholar, daring to drink such liquor.


    Bu Jing didn''t talk much, only silently reminisced about his concealed training in drinking and long-term use of alcohol-resistant drugs to keep secrets at the dining table.


    He smiled slightly, with that seclusive air of being invincible in the world, and that being invincible was quite lonely, as he looked at Lin Jue.


    Then, glass after glass, he began to match drinks with Lin Jue.


    Tang Xian kept flipping through the diary.


    By the latter part of the diary, Song Que''s writing radiated despair and unwillingness.


    As if the education he received from a young age was wrong.


    As if justice was merely an ornament for people to use after committing evils.


    Tang Xian shook his head, feeling a bit of sympathy for Song Que.


    And a touch of admiration.


    Which lord''s son doesn''t have an evil side? Yet Song Que remained consistent throughout.


    Finally, he turned to the entries from the past few days.


    The entries from two days before recounted the beautiful moments Song Que had with his father, Song Gengzhao, the cherished attention from the Tang family. How good his bond was with his brothers.


    But starting from the last five days, the diary underwent a dramatic change.


    The first day, Tang Xian already felt Song Que was overly optimistic.


    "After listening to Lin Jue''s words, I gave it some thought. Weighing the pros and cons, I shouldn''t have told my father.


    But I couldn''t help but do it, I''m not any chosen one; it has nothing to do with whether I still have the talent or not. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I believe there shouldn''t be such a thing as a chosen one in this world.


    So I went ahead and did it.


    My father looked just as I expected, with shock and sadness.


    He couldn''t accept that in this world there''s such a thing as a disappearing talent.


    But he also knew that I''ve never been much interesting since I was little, not one for jest.


    As for me, a storm is coming, but I believe I will sleep soundly tonight."


    Tang Xian shook his head, wanting to curse him as an idiot.


    But as the word reached his lips, he changed it to "fool."


    He''s not surprised by Song Que''s actions, after all, heroes are not right in their heads. That''s why the heroes of this world are nearly extinct.


    He continued flipping through the diary.


    The second day.


    "My father asked how many people knew about this, I told him quite a few; everyone who was with me knows.


    He was furious, scolding me for being so careless.


    Peculiar, I can understand his anger but I''m not the least bit saddened, I even feel some satisfaction.


    My father began to inquire about the names of these people, assessing the possibility of silencing them, so I told him, sooner or later the news would get out. It can''t be contained.


    His rage intensified to the max, just like the year my elder sister took me to the mines and almost lost me, he was extremely angry with her too.


    We all know that the chosen one is no more, I killed him myself.


    My father''s rage fell upon me.


    I must admit, this isn''t the best outcome I envisioned, but indeed it was expected.


    Maybe it''s that will merging into my true self, this madness, I unexpectedly suit."


    So I did something even crazier.


    I want to know, in my life since childhood, how much of it was real?"


    Without further thought, Tang Xian turned to the third page.


    The third day.


    "The servants of the Song house still don''t know what''s happened, but my eldest sister and second sister, my two cousins, they know about my condition; I told them.


    They were all my childhood friends. As a child, they have also been punished because of me, but I''m convinced, I have done them no wrong.


    From the moment I knew right from wrong, I''ve been sincerely nice to them.


    The eldest sister was very sad, telling me my life from now on would be completely different from before. She and my father will figure out a way.


    But before that, I was not to leave the Song family.


    The second sister came with my eldest sister to see me, her gaze at me was very complicated.


    Because from childhood to adulthood, my second sister competed with me, now that I couldn''t compete with her, she should be somewhat pleased.


    I could see the joy in her eyes, and also something else, sadness and sorrow."

 Chapter 467 - 79: The Honest Mans Diary (3rd Update)_2

    Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, as children, used to love following me around, and I''ve always known that people say they are my lackeys.


    I don''t like such talk, and because of this, over the years, every time I was with them, I would give them the decision-making power for anything we did, and I respected their decisions.


    But it seems, that did no good, as they always say, "Don''t mind us, we''ll do as you say."


    They came to see me today as well.


    Their expressions were so sorrowful, I might have believed such sorrow before.


    But strangely, since the battle at the pit, that will seems to have fused with me, and I started seeing many things I never saw before.


    Like the human heart.


    The hearts of brothers Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu were actually quite pleased.


    They probably have never conversed with me in a manner filled with sympathy or pity.


    I think one of father''s sources of pain also lies here.


    I suddenly miss Tang.


    Being with Tang and those from Baichuan City doesn''t give me this feeling of nausea from pretense.


    These are people who have been exiled, and I hope I''m next in line."


    The fourth day.


    "I hadn''t left the Song residence for many days, which finally made my teammates aware that something was wrong.


    Lin Jue and the One-eyed King are two thorns, they hardly listen to commands on a regular day, especially Lin Jue, who really dislikes being bound by rules.


    But they are also two interesting people, interesting enough to dare to make a move on the Song Family in the first fortress.


    Lin Jue did indeed see me, while the One-eyed King and Qin Qian were responsible for creating chaos outside.


    I told Lin Jue some things, but none of them too serious.


    Just hoping not to get these teammates involved in this.


    I think, maybe I still need to trouble Tang.


    After all, he wanted me to help in Baichuan City, so it wouldn''t be too much to ask him to do some things for me."


    This day''s experiences weren''t fully recorded when Tang Xian read up to this point and smiled faintly.


    Bu Jing and Lin Jue were still competing in their drinking at the side.


    Bu Jing seemed very sober, while Lin Jue appeared a bit tipsy.


    Tang Xian continued flipping through the diary.


    "That evening, Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu came to visit me again.


    Their demeanor wasn''t as pretentious as last time.


    They seemed much more sincere, as if they came to bid farewell.


    Their tone was no longer like before.


    Before, they always seemed impatient for the next meeting.


    But this time, both said they were going to a mining area for a troublesome task and would not be seen for a long time.


    I thought it was good, pretended it was true, and bid them a proper farewell.


    Turns out, I have also learned this act, and it''s not that hard.


    After they left, my second sister and eldest sister also came.


    Today, my second sister''s expression was more complex, and I was actually a little happy, that my eldest sister and second sister really treated me as family, only because of me father hadn''t much cared for them over the years.


    My second sister told me father''s plan.


    This world is truly crazy, the talented can become the non-talented, and those with low talents can become highly talented through transformation.


    Such a transformation can only be done by one organization at this time.


    That is the Evolution Zone.


    The eldest sister said, we are like a part of father''s dream.


    My existence could have honorably realized that dream, everyone smiling with happiness and satisfaction.


    But me becoming non-talented turned that dream into a lie.


    Humans, oh, humans, will always do crazy things to uphold a lie.


    I don''t like the Evolution Zone, but I don''t oppose father''s decision.


    I want to see the Evolution Zone for myself.


    What kind of organization could have created beings as powerful as Akasi and Tang Suoye.


    Of course, for me, the Evolution Zone''s biggest monster is that guy called the Joker."


    That was where the fourth day''s diary entry ended.


    Tang Xian read slowly, and when he snapped back to reality, the scene at the drinking table had changed.


    Bu Jing was sipping his drink in slight boredom, next to him lay Lin Jue, passed out from vodka.


    "Did this guy really get soaked in a vat of liquor? Doesn''t seem like it. His alcohol tolerance is too poor," Bu Jing said.


    "He also often brags about women, isn''t he also left with nothing in the end? People are like that, they like to put on an act," Tang Xian said.


    Bu Jing nodded, agreeing deeply.


    "Anyway, any shocking clues in there?"


    "No, just a family ethics sob story," Tang Xian replied.


    "That''s pretty boring," Bu Jing commented.


    Tang Xian chuckled, thinking it''s not too bad.


    Just treat it like a prequel to an alternative superhero rise.


    ```


    Tang Xian was planning something big, a deed that his identity dictated must be done from behind the scenes.


    The person at the forefront had to be someone who had experienced drastic ups and downs.


    Song Que was the obvious choice.


    That''s why he was interested in these stories.


    Bu Jing raised his glass and said,


    "You''re paying, right?"


    "I am."


    "Then I''ll keep drinking, and you''ll keep reading?"


    "That would be great."


    Bu Jing downed his glass in one gulp, as if it were water.


    Tang Xian then turned to the last page of the diary.


    Fifth day.


    "The people from the Evolution Zone arrived yesterday.


    I was unable to glean much information, though I appeared very cooperative, or perhaps it''s because my father doesn''t trust someone like me to undergo the Evolution Zone''s transformation.


    After all, I''ve always detested that place.


    My name was also suggested for sanction in the aftermath of the Hunting Festival by the Evolution Zone. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I suppose the Evolution Zone has never dealt with someone of my status before.


    They''re excited.


    My father was excited, too.


    It seemed he had finally found a way to turn lies back into dreams.


    He said a lot to me and did much to work on my thoughts.


    I suddenly understand why so many people in the world like the Joker.


    To crush a man, you only need the worst day of his life.


    For my father, the day he learned I was no longer the Chosen One, was the worst day of his life.


    Those who endure such a day can choose to freefall into the abyss or to carry on with unwavering will.


    The former is easy, anyone can fall, which is why so many resonate with the Joker''s madness.


    The latter is hard, because not everyone is cut out to be Batman.


    Luckily, I always choose the latter.


    I couldn''t acquire much intelligence on the Evolution Zone, just that the place is in Lincoln Fortress.


    To take down the Evolution Zone, I could think of an old friend in a mask.


    Old friend, if you''re reading this diary, please come to the Evolution Zone, I''ll be waiting for you there."


    Song Que naturally knew the identity of the Masked Chopper Hero, and he didn''t reveal it in the diary, just to prevent others from reading it.


    Tang Xian realized upon reaching this point that Song Que''s plans might involve more than just taking down the Evolution Zone.


    But Song Que didn''t spell out everything in his diary, he merely extended an invitation.


    Through sending a message to Yu Xiaozhe, and through the diary brought by Lin Jue, Tang Xian was sure that Song Que had wanted to invite him to join this mission long ago.


    Perhaps since the day he was influenced by the Joker.


    After closing the diary, Tang Xian decided to find a place to burn it.


    Bu Jing asked,


    "Done with it?"


    "Yeah, I need to leave First Fortress now."


    "So, do I have to keep going undercover?"


    Tang Xian looked at Bu Jing and shook his head,


    "Although you have the makings of a spy, I''d suggest you contact Yu Xiaozhe and have him smuggle you into Baichuan City."


    "I was thinking of squeezing into the Li family."


    "The mayor of Baichuan City needs a senior assistant, the Li family won''t be able to track you down, and the salary is better than what you''re getting now."


    "That sounds quite appealing, but I promised the second miss that I would¡­"


    "The mayor is Li Xiaoyu."


    "Alright, I''m in."


    Bu Jing finished his drink and left in high spirits.


    After sitting for a while longer, Tang Xian settled the bill and left.


    The headquarters of the Evolution Zone should be in Lincoln Fortress.


    The events unfolding around Song Que certainly had research value.


    How to exchange burning talent for immense fighting power?


    What exactly lies hidden within the human genetic code that so intrigues the Order?


    If these questions indeed have answers, Tang Xian believed that only the headquarters of the Evolution Zone could possibly hold any clues.


    "It''s time to harvest the final crop."


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    Taking a break, more to come later, I''m still writing. The next update is expected to be quite long, so it might take more than two hours to handle.


    ```

 Chapter 468 - 80: Fortress of Freedom (4th Update)

    Lincoln Fortress, the second layer.


    In Free America, gunfights every day.


    When Akasi first heard this phrase, he thought it was a joke.


    After all, in Huaxia''s fifty-six fortresses, many people yearned for Lincoln Fortress.


    It seemed as if it were heaven, a land of gold. The rise of the saying "Good landlords in this life, next life in America" originated in this way.


    It appeared as though all fortresses were unfavorable, while everything in Lincoln Fortress was commendable.


    Akasi naturally thought that those who held such views were delusional, and now that he had arrived at Lincoln Fortress, he was even more convinced of this.


    This was a fortress with wealth disparity so vast it was unimaginable.


    There was no need to speak of the bottom level; the civilization of all fortresses'' lower levels was still stuck in the slave era.


    Yet between the second and fourth layers, one could discern the attitude of this fortress''s citizens.


    As for the fifth layer and above, those were classified areas.


    These past few days, Akasi, Tang Suoye, and Yuan Wu had been residing as travelers in cheap apartments on the second layer.


    Even just on the second layer, one could see many exceptionally luxurious buildings within Lincoln Fortress.


    There were extremely bustling commercial streets here that, by comparison, hardly lacked against those of the Champs-Elys¨¦es.


    But perhaps after turning a few blocks, one would suddenly find oneself in the gloomy alleys of Gotham City.


    One might encounter a few pale-faced addicts, their faces marked with tattoos, committing robberies.


    Or perhaps the sound of glass being shattered could be heard from some shop in the distance.


    A black man named Franklin together with whites named Trevor and Mike sped away on their motorcycles through the narrow streets.


    The police behind them shouted through their megaphones to stop.


    The worn-out dancers, their faces sallow, loudly called out to handsome guys, asking if they wanted fried rice.


    The passersby around seemed not at all surprised by this.


    In the streets of the poor districts, large groups of workers were also demonstrating and protesting.


    When the various scenes of that grand nation from centuries past were all compressed into the tiny Pyramid, it made this fortress seem so busy.


    This place was indeed full of opportunities, but it was not better than Huaxia; at least in Huaxia, you wouldn''t have people egging others on with the phrase "qingchong" in any forum''s comment section.


    In Churchill''s old home, there''s a toilet made of pure gold, the work of the renowned designer Catalan.


    The name of this toilet is America.


    Catalan hoped to express a sharp satire on the excess wealth through this golden toilet.


    "No matter what you eat, a 200-dollar lunch or a 2-dollar hot dog, the outcome in the toilet is the same."


    Even if this country seems like every inch is worth its weight in gold.


    This is the best interpretation of America.


    Anyway, within the chaos of Lincoln Fortress, Akasi, Yuan Wu, and their companions did not attract any attention. They infiltrated into Lincoln Fortress very discreetly, gradually seeking out information about the Evolution Zone.


    People thought that Lincoln Fortress had freedom of information; there was no such thing as a "wall."


    But in reality, the "wall" always exists; it''s just in a different form.


    For several consecutive days, Akasi, Tang Suoye, and Yuan Wu didn''t uncover any information.


    Even the phrase "Evolution Zone" was unfamiliar to the local populace.


    So, the more advanced a country, the stronger its ability to block information.


    In a fast food restaurant, Akasi, holding a pizza-flavored and shaped nutrition meal, was enjoying lunch with Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu.


    At the same time, they were confirming the intelligence for the day.


    "Sorry... I still haven''t found any news about Lord Song Que, nor any trace of the Evolution Zone," Yuan Wu said.


    Yuan Wu didn''t express joy or anger, so his other emotions were relatively intense, and he always seemed to convey panic and fright when he spoke.


    Akasi nodded and glanced at Tang Suoye.


    Tang Suoye, who was quickly devouring his food, shook his head.


    Akasi had brought Tang Suoye to the Evolution Zone hoping that they might find a way to restore Tang''s ability to speak.


    Rescuing Song Que was naturally the highest priority, but now they couldn''t even ascertain whether Song Que, let alone the Evolution Zone, was in Lincoln Fortress. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because they couldn''t reach the fifth layer or the higher levels.


    Unlike the Thirty-nine Fortresses.


    The citizens of the Thirty-nine Fortresses were extremely compliant and had high satisfaction with their lives.


    Therefore, the security needed at the entrances to different layers wasn''t overly strict.


    But Lincoln Fortress was different.


    The incidents that occurred on the second layer often took place on the third and fourth layers as well.


    The Gotham Neighborhood, Metropolitan Neighborhood, and neighborhoods like Central City experienced disturbances every day.


    Compared to the second layer''s Los Santos District, the riots in these neighborhoods were even more exaggerated.


    Gotham District''s Third People''s Hospital, also known as Arkham Asylum, was brimming with talent; patients would occasionally break out, causing the entire fourth layer to be busy.


    And what people on the second layer enjoyed watching the most was the live crime reporting broadcast from the fourth layer.


    Therefore, the guards of Lincoln Fortress''s layers were extremely tight.


    They were the finest regular troops, equipped with the strongest gear and were more numerous than those in other fortresses.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye, despite their formidable abilities, couldn''t infiltrate the next layer in the face of such numerous guards.


    Thus, for these past several days, the three of them hadn''t made any substantial progress.


    But today was different.


    While the three were dining, suddenly there came a middle-aged man dressed in a khaki coat and round hat, resembling a private detective from the twentieth century.


    His body was bloated, the kind swollen from years of cola and fried chicken consumption.


    In short, the embodiment of a fat nerd.


    This "great detective" plopped down opposite Akasi; just as Akasi was about to shoo him away, he started speaking:

 Chapter 469 - 80: Fortress of Freedom (4th Update)_2

    "My name is Stuart, and I own a comic shop."


    "We don''t read comics."


    "Oh, is that so? What a pity, but the comics I sell are very special, I think you would be interested."


    As he spoke, Stuart handed out his business card.


    Akasi, out of politeness, took the business card and was suddenly taken aback when he saw its contents.


    "Don''t mind it, what if I''m just bluffing? After all, in my line of work, we all show credentials, but I''m a bit special, my rank is too low, I can only show a business card."


    "How can someone from the CIA be the owner of a comic shop?"


    "Shh! Even though it''s safe here, I generally don''t like to hear those three letters; they make me nervous. Believe me, the most tiring job in the world is mine.


    My damned boss has me patrolling from the second to the fourth level with all sorts of identities to prevent potential crimes.


    A new identity requires a new job, so it''s like working two jobs, but you only get one salary! Isn''t it infuriating?" Stuart said, annoyed, and instinctively took a big bite of the meal replacement bar.


    Akasi, Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu looked at each other.


    This big fellow seemed a bit too familiar.


    But it was indeed strange for someone with his identity to appear here.


    "That factory you are looking for, I know where it is, and I can help you infiltrate it."


    Akasi said:


    "Evolution area?"


    "Damn! Shit! Where''s that Huaxia sense of humor? Don''t you guys like to speak in code? Stuff like ''Heavenly King covers Earth Tiger,'' ''Little Chicken Stews Mushrooms,'' things like that."


    "We''re busy."


    "Ok! Ok! Huaxia people with no sense of humor! Anyway, I can help you get in, but you have to agree to help us with some things. Deal? If you''re interested, we can discuss the specifics at the hotel. Here is the address."


    "You seem very reckless. Are you really with the CIA?" Akasi felt that the chubby man in front of him was totally unreliable.


    "Trust me, we''re not like those FBI guys; what we do is infiltration, which means we have eyes everywhere. It''s like how some people on the surface are the lords of the game Tyrant''s Moon, but behind the scenes, they''re frantically building elementary schools! Ahaha!"


    Stuart said, laughing:


    "See! Did I just make another Huaxia joke? I know you guys really well."


    Tang Suoye just gave him a ''looking at an idiot'' glance ¡û_¡û.


    It seemed to suggest, "Akasi, this guy isn''t an idiot, is he?"


    Akasi did not speak, just looked at Stuart.


    "Fine, you guys with no sense of humor, you''ve seen the state of Lincoln Fortress, it''s too chaotic; the experts have all gone to the fourth level.


    The real tough FBI and CIA guys are dealing with the criminal masterminds who commit crimes everywhere and leave riddles behind, or the crooks with vulture noses who like to carry umbrellas.


    My rank isn''t high, but my permissions are not low," Stuart said.


    "How did you know about us?" Akasi said.


    "As soon as you arrived at Lincoln Fortress, we began to observe you. So these days, we''ve been keeping surveillance on you."


    "What a free country," Akasi said sarcastically.


    Stuart laughed aloud, "Hahahaha, who would argue with that?"


    "So you also know what we are here to do. I trust that the successors to the Riddler and the Penguin are no match for the threat of the Evolution area, right? They just sent you?" Akasi was dubious about Stuart''s ability to handle the job.


    Stuart said:


    "You know, at first, physicists loved studying the perpetual motion machine, and they were the top in the field.


    But now, those still willing to study perpetual motion machines are a bunch of fools and students."


    "What are you talking about?" Akasi asked.


    "Taking down the Evolution area, or rather, sealing off the Evolution area and exposing its evils, is like studying the perpetual motion machine,


    In the beginning, countless FBI and CIA elites were eager to accomplish this feat.


    But their graves'' grass is taller than I am now, hahahahaha."


    Tang Suoye again showed a ¡û_¡û expression, as if to say, why does this guy laugh every time he brings up a Huaxia trope.


    Akasi understood.


    "So because the higher-ups deemed this mission too dangerous and impossible to complete, they ended up neglecting it?"


    "Exactly, waiter, another large portion of the Orl¨¦ans-flavored nutrition meal with grilled wings!" Stuart finally surprised Tang Suoye.


    Because Tang Suoye snapped back to reality, realizing that this person was eating even faster than himself!


    She showed a wary expression, realizing that this chubby fellow wasn''t as weak as she thought.


    "So the FBI and CIA have no valuable leads concerning the evolution zone?"


    "Of course¡ªnone. Except for knowing that it''s an organization that cannibalizes," said Stuart calmly.


    "Cannibalizes?"


    "Yes, have you heard about the mass disappearances among the lower populace of Huaxia''s thirty-nine fortresses? I think it''s probably related to the Trial Knights, but we don''t have any Trial Knights here. Many people who left the underbelly never came back.


    Although all signs point to the evolution zone, we have no evidence. In fact, some guys in the CIA and FBI have been infiltrated by people from the evolution zone.


    In short, disappearances are becoming more frequent, but missions to the evolution zone are dwindling, and that organization is slowly becoming freer. Freedom comes from power."


    Akasi frowned, not expecting the situation to have become this severe.


    "So why didn''t you contact us sooner?"


    "We had to be sure, whether you were one of them. Seeing that you''ve been searching for the evolution zone, it seems you''re not enemies."


    Stuart''s Orl¨¦ans-flavored grilled wing nutrition meal arrived.


    Tang Suoye and Stuart began to compete; the girl never thought after Tang Xiaojiu, there could be someone who would challenge her this way.


    "Has the situation really gotten that dire?" Akasi couldn''t believe that Lincoln Fortress''s two important institutions were nearing a state of helplessness.


    "You''re telling me? I''m an informant who usually deals with geeky guys in a comic shop, and even I have to step up now."


    "So the evolution zone is actually in control of Lincoln Fortress''s upper echelons?"


    "Yes, the upper echelons, very, very high up," Stuart said, biting into his nutrition meal.


    "How high is very high? Surely not the Lord?"


    "That would be too pessimistic, my friend. But maybe that''s how it is, who knows, God, this thing is really delicious!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Akasi organized his thoughts.


    Emotions like joy and rage didn''t exist in the mist; perhaps that''s why its judgments could differ from ordinary people.


    Tang Suoye was a child with a problematic mind.


    Organizing tactics and clarifying the action plan naturally fell to Akasi.


    Akasi spoke, "What do you need us to do?"


    "Of course, infiltrate the evolution zone. We can at least get you into the fifth level. As for what you do after getting to the fifth level, how you survive, that''ll be up to your own fate, as we''re not in a position to provide you with any military support right now. Damn, is this Huaxia kung fu? Such a tiny body eating so fast!"


    While Stuart was speaking, Tang Suoye quickly devoured a considerable amount of food.


    Akasi nodded and said:


    "We''ll handle the infiltration ourselves, you just need to get me and my partners to the evolution zone''s layer."


    "There''s no such thing as a free lunch, and of course, that includes breakfast and dinner. My friend, we can help you, but you''ll need to help us in return," Stuart said.


    "How so?"


    "Find evidence of the evolution zone''s crimes¡ªexperimental records, materials, anything that can prove they''ve been abducting the lower populace. You also need to find the list of officials collaborating with the evolution zone."


    Pausing, Stuart continued:


    "It''s only with this list of officials that we''ll know who has been compromised. Trust me, it''s also for your own good. The evolution zone''s research is too taboo. Allowing them to continue controlling the fortress will inevitably lead to disaster."


    Akasi was aware how insane it would be if the evolution zone took control of Lincoln Fortress.


    After some thought, he said:


    "When can we take action?"


    "After I eat another pizza-flavored nutrition meal."


    (I had planned for this chapter to be 8,000 words, but I''ll split it up. I need to rest a bit¡ªmore to come tonight. This is being coded live, so if you see any typographical errors in this chapter, let me know, and I''ll fix them.)

 Chapter 470 - 81: The Secret of the Evolution Zone Headquarters

    (I didn''t break my promise, actually, I didn''t break it last week either¡ªit''s just that a 10,000-word surge wasn''t considered a big update for everyone. This time it''s 20,000 words, I really did my best.)


    Lincoln Fortress, Fifth Level, Evolution Zone Headquarters, Super S-class Experimental Subject Research Area.


    The labyrinth-like design required staff to wear a holographic map watch to find the correct workspace.


    Despite such devices, accidents still occurred occasionally.


    Such as entering the wrong subject''s room and being injured by a ferocious subject, and so on.


    Although Song Que hadn''t been classified yet, this was the first time that the Evolution Zone received an experimental subject chosen by destiny.


    They had nurtured many acquired talent holders, but never an Innate Full Talent Holder.


    In fact, there were no more than five Innate Full Talent Holders in human history.


    If a lord discovered another full talent holder, they would discard their own son and incorporate the full talent holder into their family; that wouldn''t be considered an exaggeration.


    Song Que was too precious. Not just as an experimental subject¡ªbut to all of humanity.


    So when the doctors of the Evolution Zone learned of such a subject''s arrival, they were eager to personally participate in Song Que''s transformation.


    Even if the information they received was that this person had been ruined.


    But the disappearance of talent was something unprecedented; was there some other mystery involved?


    Song Que had too many secrets.


    Apart from the "Eden Demon Child", the people of the Evolution Zone were most eager to study this Innate Full Talent Holder.


    But before that, they had to brainwash and hypnotize Song Que.


    It was a troublesome task.


    Most experimental subjects, like Yuanwu, Akasi, Tang Suoye¡ªthese super experimental subjects¡ªactually started their cultivation at a young age.


    Brainwashing was convenient for them because their memories weren''t valuable.


    But Song Que''s memories were too valuable.


    How did the talent disappear?


    What action had led to the disappearance of the talent?


    What was the body''s reaction after the talent vanished?


    All this was precious experimental data.


    Therefore, the brainwashing of Song Que couldn''t involve the Anai Injection.


    They could only use neuromuscular relaxants to make Song Que enter a low-consciousness state and gradually eliminate his wariness of the Evolution Zone through continuous hypnosis.


    This experiment process was cumbersome.


    But the efficiency was still high.


    For example, FBI officials had been assimilated into the Evolution Zone in this way.


    The SSS-level laboratory in the Super S Experiment Area was always vacant.


    Because no surviving experimental subject had reached the 3S level, this lab became the closed-off laboratory for Song Que.


    Song Que was inside at this moment.


    This was the third day.


    He resisted the staff in charge of brainwashing for a long time, but ultimately, he still lost to the drugs and the continuous hypnosis.


    At this moment, Song Que sat on the experimental apparatus, eyes vacant as he looked at the hypnotist before him.


    "Name?"


    "Song¡­ Que¡­"


    "Age."


    "Twenty¡­ four."


    "Likes?"


    "Peace¡­"


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, if I didn''t know what kind of person you are, I''d think you were just spouting nonsense."


    "Got a girl you like?"


    "Don''t¡­ have¡­"


    "That''s good." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a female hypnotist, Diana would have ensured that this handsome young man immediately thought of terrifying things, such as ugly zombies or ghosts, whenever he thought of that woman.


    Her hand moved swiftly over the paperwork, and Diana said:


    "This is the fourteenth experiment. The subject has entered a ''submissive'' state and can proceed to the next interrogation or loyalty cultivation."


    "Alright, you''ve worked hard. Put him into a deep sleep, the leader will only return tomorrow."


    A man''s voice came through Diana''s earpiece, and she nodded in response.


    She kissed Song Que''s forehead, saying:


    "Baby, that''s enough training for today, bye~"


    Diana issued the command for Song Que to rest.


    She also playfully ordered Song Que to lie on the ground like a little wolf-dog.


    Now, Song Que was doing exactly that.


    This satisfied Diana, giving her a sense of conquest¡ªafter all, this man was the world''s most outstanding talent holder.


    At least he once had been.


    The laboratory door closed.


    About ten minutes later, Song Que suddenly opened his eyes.


    His gaze was no longer dull and unfocused but was sharply scanning his surroundings.


    He slowly got up.


    The whole person was still weak, as though the drug was unable to confuse him, it had made him feel weak.


    Through several days of observation, Song Que had confirmed that this Evolution Zone laboratory was unique¡ªit had no cameras.


    Indeed, the reason this top-notch laboratory had no cameras was somewhat related to the will inside his brain, which Song Que still didn''t know.


    But he was grateful for that will.


    The Chaotic Will had indeed merged with Song Que, eliminating the so-called evil persona, or the Masked Weirdo.


    However, the resistance to various mental intrusions had not faded.


    The Joker of old was responsible for brainwashing various subjects for the Evolution Zone.


    The original owner of that Chaotic Will was the real master of mental intrusion.


    Despite Diana being the best hypnotist in the Evolution Zone, compared to the Joker, she was like a child babbling before a professor.


    Having experienced the Joker''s invasion and, in a sense, inheriting the Joker''s will¡ªSong Que thought this brainwashing was too rudimentary.

 Chapter 471 - 81: The Secret of the Evolution Zone Headquarters_2

    He had wanted to resist the brainwashing several times, but he restrained himself, considering his voice would be transmitted through Diana''s communication device.


    Therefore, these past few days, Song Que had been playing the role of a new test subject who valiantly resisted brainwashing but ultimately failed.


    Only he knew that there was no need to resist the brainwashing since it had no effect on him.


    Song Que took no action.


    After several days of observation, he noted that between three and four o''clock in the morning was when the least number of people were present, with ninety-five percent of the staff resting.


    The other test subjects had also entered a dormant state.


    So, he had been waiting for an opportunity ¨C the laboratory door was secured with a password.


    While Diana entered the password, Song Que memorized the sequence of the keys based on the movements of her arm.


    Today was the first time he hadn''t been injected with a sleeping drug.


    Instead, Diana had given him the order to sleep.


    Song Que was convinced that Diana now regarded him as a "finished product".


    Song Que smiled, his facial muscles feeling somewhat sore after maintaining a deadpan expression for several days in a row.


    Smiling made him feel much better.


    After stretching his neck, Song Que was certain that tonight was the time to act.


    ...


    ...


    Late at night, at twenty past three in the morning.


    There weren''t many guards in the Evolution Zone, and in the area for ultra S-level test subjects, it was rare to see even one.


    Mainly because the maze design here was too complicated.


    Song Que had been led in blindfolded.


    But even so, he had mapped out the route in his mind.


    He was a true genius.


    The only fault everyone in the outside world found with Song Que was that he was naive.


    But nobody doubted his intelligence.


    Although Song Que had not disclosed his results in the Celestial Selection Exam, he was the second person in history to achieve full marks in every subject.


    Only Song Que could recognize Tang Xian as the Masked Chopper Hero by voice alone, having met him just once.


    Naturally, remembering the maze that even the doctors found complicated was not difficult for Song Que.


    He even remembered conversations of the Evolution Zone staff he overheard while passing through certain areas.


    "Heading northeast at twenty-nine degrees, I walked a total of one hundred and forty-seven steps; I stopped there for a minute to register documents. That place should be the archives," he recalled.


    Once he had confirmed his target, Song Que immediately started heading towards the archives.


    The maze actually had many advantages; whenever he heard footsteps, Song Que could hide in a branch passage.


    The maze, originally designed to prevent some test subjects from escaping, provided Song Que with excellent cover.


    With a strong sense of direction and memory, Song Que easily made his way to the archives.


    The archives were manned, and Song Que knocked on the door but did not enter.


    "Who''s there?"


    asked a staff member still on duty at the Evolution Zone.


    Without an answer, the man opened the door and stepped out.


    As he came out the door, his neck was struck by Song Que''s hand chop.


    He was then dragged by Song Que into a corner and stripped of his white robe-like coat.


    After changing clothes, Song Que, with his head down, entered the archives.


    The archives contained abundant materials, divided into multiple sections.


    He could not possibly read through all the data for the ultra S-level test area in the Evolution Zone, let alone all of it.


    Song Que was not in a hurry. He randomly pulled out a file from the SS-level test subjects and flipped through it.


    "SS-level test subject, Tong Hu, no albinism. Although he is a perfect match for the serum of a Catastrophe creature, he does not have the potential to become a Tyrant."


    This was just a fragment of the information, and Song Que quickly had many questions.


    The rest of the content was about various experimental data on Tong Hu, his past as a test subject, evaluation data, and combat experience.


    Without wasting time, Song Que memorized this information and then began leafing through another file.


    "S-level test subject, Jam, no albinism, an imperfect match for the serum of a Catastrophe creature, does not have the potential to become a Tyrant."


    Song Que frowned; the subsequent contents were similar to Tong Hu''s, consisting of various experimental data.


    Song Que then opened a third file.


    "SS-level test subject, Holmes. No albinism, a perfect match for the serum of a Catastrophe creature, lacks the potential to become a Tyrant."


    Similar descriptions again?


    What is the white hair trait? And what is a tyrant?


    Song Que grew more perplexed. He had some understanding of the Evolution Zone, an organization that created superhumans by implanting them with the blood serums of creatures from mining areas.


    At least that was their main business.


    But it seemed that in this process, they had made new discoveries within these test subjects?


    With his curiosity piqued, Song Que flipped through several files in quick succession.


    Here, in the headquarters of the Evolution Zone, the Super S-tier testing area, the monsters recorded in the files all started at S-tier at the very least¡ªperfect specimens that carried the blood serum of boss-level creatures.


    But whether S-tier or SS-tier, the majority, either still existing or already "dealt with," were without the white hair trait and lacked the potential to become tyrants.


    It wasn''t until he had been browsing for quite a while that he found an exception in the classification of the Lost Zone.


    "SS-tier test subject, code name Zero. White hair trait, perfectly matches the blood serum of a catastrophe-level creature, and possesses the potential to become a tyrant."


    Song Que did not know who Zero was, but this was the first case of its kind. He began to review some experimental data.


    However, he soon felt a bit disappointed. Although Zero had a different beginning, its experimental data were no different from those of other test subjects.


    It seemed that regarding the evolution into tyrants, the Evolution Zone had only found limited evidence and had no means to implement it.


    Or could something be deduced from the experimental process?


    Song Que recalled the experimental data he had seen earlier. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He summarized his thoughts and realized the test subjects actually had quite a tragic existence, repeatedly enduring experiences like killing their companions and having their memories erased.


    Song Que shook his head, forming a rough hypothesis in his heart.


    The white hair characteristic, perhaps, was a mutation of some test subjects?


    Similar to how humans are divided into the gifted and the non-gifted.


    And among test subjects, there was also talk of the chosen ones?


    Various records indicated that these test subjects with white hair possessed enormous potential.


    This potential''s ultimate manifestation could possibly be what was known as a tyrant.


    A tyrant might be able to demonstrate overwhelming power, distinct from the combat ability of other test subjects.


    The Evolution Zone coveted this kind of power, which led them to mark on each test subject''s file whether they had the white hair trait.


    However, this was probably just one of the conditions for evolving into a tyrant. What the other condition was, and how to upgrade a test subject into a tyrant¡ªthe Evolution Zone seemed to be in the dark as well.


    Still researching?


    Moreover, it''s apparent that something like a tyrant is much rarer than a gifted individual.


    So far, only one test subject, code-named Zero, possessed it.


    Is this white hair simply just... white hair?


    Song Que stroked his chin, deep in thought.


    If that were the case, wouldn''t Akasi be an extremely rare existence?


    Shaking his head, Song Que stopped thinking about these matters.


    He picked up the worker he had knocked out, arranged him into a sleeping position, and switched back his lab coat.


    Then he restored the archive room to the way it was when he first entered, relying on his memory.


    After doing all this, Song Que began to backtrack.


    He didn''t have much time.


    He had to return to his original location before the next hypnotist arrived.


    Song Que wasn''t in a hurry to do too much in one day.


    He returned to his own SSS-tier laboratory and continued to pretend to be a test subject whose will had been completely erased and brainwashed.


    Then he went to sleep peacefully.


    The next day, he woke up to the patting of Hypnotist Diana.


    As usual, Diana first tested him with various commands.


    Song Que played his part perfectly.


    He started to think to himself that he really had changed a lot.


    An honest man, once he starts lying, even gods would struggle to guard against him.


    But soon, he was about to face the biggest test of his life.


    Diana did something strange.


    "The boss is going to see you tomorrow. I guess I won''t be seeing you after that, handsome," Diana said, licking her lips with her tongue.


    Then she whispered something in a low voice. It seemed that the person on the other end of the communicator had heard such requests before and merely cautioned her to be safe.


    Then Diana turned off the communication device.


    Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she threw away her cumbersome white lab coat.


    "Now, let''s do something interesting."

 Chapter 472 - 82: Tyrant

    Even though he had once been forcibly split into personalities by chaotic will, even though he had encountered the darkest things in the world.


    But in some respects, Song Que was still a pure person.


    After all, he was someone who had never married and did not support premarital relations, a part of his old-fashioned values.


    So even with Diana making such obvious hints, he still did not catch on to what was going on.


    It wasn''t until Diana discarded her coat and continued to unbutton her blouse underneath that he realized.


    Only then did Song Que understand that Diana intended to do to him what was described in biology textbooks.


    He was shocked.


    In terms of physical development, Diana''s assets made even Tang boast with proud achievement.


    The genes of test subjects were mostly superior; Yuanwu, Akasi, these with handsome faces, were actually only above average in the test subjects.


    But Song Que and Akasi, at least had the mystery bonus of Easterners.


    Diana was also quite good-looking and had used hypnosis to wrong many test subjects.


    Her eyes sparkled. She breathed heavily.


    The thought of having at her mercy the man once considered the most talented in the world, the dream lover of countless Eastern girls, excited her.


    She even thanked the clown.


    The clown at the headquarters of the Evolution Zone was a psychologist who seemed very kind.


    While working as a hypnotist, he also helped some of the test subjects and even staff members deal with negative emotions.


    Until one day the clown went mad, doing some terrible things. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cameras in the SSS-level laboratory were removed.


    Because the clown''s infectious power was too strong, even if he was not on the scene, it seemed that just by monitoring through the cameras, one could be infiltrated by that terrifying laughter, that evil smile.


    Now that Diana turned everything off, only she knew what happened in this lab.


    Whatever she wanted to do to Song Que, she could do to Song Que.


    Once the clothes became significantly fewer, Song Que finally confirmed his suspicions.


    This was a situation he must resist, Song Que was planning how to maximize the benefits.


    Diana let out a seductive smile; in her hand appeared a whip without knowing when.


    As a contemporary outstanding youth who, like Tang Xian, recognized and upheld the core values of socialism, Song Que finally took action.


    Diana noticed that something changed in Song Que''s consciousness, as if he became more lucid.


    "Oh, did my figure excite you, so you reacted? That''s wonderful!"


    Who would want to play games with someone unemotional and unaware of resistance?


    Wouldn''t it be more fun to hear Song Que''s cries, to hear him wail like a bottom?


    Diana wasn''t worried about what Song Que could do to her.


    Song Que also realized that his strength had become exceptionally weak due to the injections.


    During last night''s actions, to deal with that guard, he could only choose to lure him outside for a sneak attack.


    The situation was tough.


    There was only one chance to knock Diana unconscious, just like last night, it had to be a one-strike success.


    Song Que calmed down.


    Letting Diana start to toy with him, he calmly contemplated what to do after knocking out Diana.


    How could he make it look like nothing had happened?


    He was also waiting for the moment when Diana would completely let down her guard.


    Fortunately, heaven didn''t make it hard for Song Que; when Diana looked at Song Que''s even muscles and showed an infatuated expression, she lowered her head, bending over.


    This was a posture most men hoped their girlfriends would know.


    But Song Que had no such distractions.


    This position brought Diana''s head extremely close to Song Que''s waist.


    Generally, men would place their hands on a woman''s head at this time.


    Song Que did indeed do this, but Diana was not surprised; she was too experienced, seeming to take such things for granted.


    However, what Song Que did next caught her off guard.


    Without a second thought, Song Que lifted his left knee, delivering a Thai boxing style kick to Diana''s face.


    The swift kick caught Diana completely by surprise.


    The strike broke her front teeth and collapsed her nose.


    Blood dripped onto the clean floor of the laboratory with a plop.


    Song Que smiled and said,


    "Thai boxing truly is a practical combat skill. Actually, I know other combat techniques as well, but I hope I won''t need to use them on you again."


    The immense pain and the dizziness in her brain stopped Diana''s movements.


    Song Que''s smile and tone seemed to indicate that he was completely lucid.


    Diana had great confidence in her brainwashing; once successful, even if the prey was subjected to strong stimuli, they could not possibly become so abruptly lucid.


    Unless... the brainwashing had never been successful at all.


    "You... you''ve been... pretending?" Song Que''s kick blurred Diana''s consciousness.


    Song Que didn''t speak but instead grabbed Diana''s head and delivered another fierce elbow strike.


    This strike completely knocked Diana out.


    After dealing with everything, Song Que tore off Diana''s communicator to prevent her from calling for help if she suddenly woke up.


    Then he found Diana''s coat thrown aside on an experimental apparatus.


    From the coat, Song Que retrieved two syringes. Both were for causing neural relaxation.


    This was as he thought, Diana had ultimately taken precautionary measures.


    If her own consciousness became too lucid due to some stimulating behavior, she might be in for a shot.


    He tore off the protective straps of the syringes and smiled,


    "Fortunately, these days of hypnosis and brainwashing have also made me understand how to do this. I should be quite talented."

 Chapter 473 - 82: Tyrant_2

    Akasi really was talented.


    After all, the original possessor of Chaotic Will reached the pinnacle in this field.


    And Song Que''s extraordinary memory had recorded every hypnotic process.


    Next, it was time for reverse hypnosis.


    He secured Diana to the experimental apparatus, a device equipped with a restraint function.


    In fact, such things existed in ancient times; the Thunder King Yang Yongxin''s electric shock chair was a similar product.


    He then injected Diana with a double dose of the neural retardant.


    As a Hypnotist, Song Que believed she had a stronger resistance than ordinary people, so he wouldn''t make the mistakes Diana had.


    After all the preparations were done, Song Que began to recall some of the clown''s actions.


    This was a more advanced hypnotic technique.


    Even though the clown hadn''t taught him, the will of chaos endowed Song Que with an exceptional insight into this area.


    Soon he confirmed the steps.


    Before long, Diana woke up.


    "You''re awake, huh? Considering the air conditioning here is a bit cold, I put your clothes back on for you," he said.


    Diana, drowsy from the drugs, just nodded vaguely.


    Song Que laughed and said:


    "Looks like I''m pretty talented at doing bad things."


    The hypnosis began.


    It was a long, tedious process.


    Following the disruption of consciousness, Song Que had to establish a basic worldview for Diana.


    Like the foundational code in a computer program.


    How long this would take was uncertain; it depended on the skills of the hypnotist and the willpower of the subject.


    ...


    ...


    Evolutionary Zone headquarters, Super S-grade experimental area, Communication Department.


    The Communication Department''s responsibility was information transfer.


    The various doctors experienced different situations in their separate labs, which all eventually fed back here, where the information was organized before being relayed to the respective departments in charge.


    Jennifer shook her head and said:


    "Hey, Zack, that slut Diana turned off her communicator again," she muttered.


    "Cool~ Which unlucky or fortunate subject is it this time?"


    "From the Eastern Fortress, Song Que. How long do you think this guy can last?"


    Boring jobs always led the Communication Department personnel to do boring things.


    Like guessing which experimental subject would eat a breeder today.


    Or speculating which prey Hypnotist Diana would take down today, and how long the prey would last.


    Zack mocked:


    "Diana''s an expert. Those from Africa surrendered in no time. As for Song Que? Despite his reputation, I guess five minutes at most."


    "I bet on three minutes," another person joined the trivial activity.


    Gradually, these boring guesses turned into bets.


    The topic also turned to average duration for Asians, Europeans, and so on.


    But as time passed and there was less and less to talk about, the people in the Communication Department realized with shock...


    Thirty minutes had gone by.


    "That Asian man can last this long? Diana is a super weapon who has battled across all seven continents and four oceans!"


    An hour later, someone began to doubt:


    "Did Diana drug that kid?"


    "That makes sense. It''s definitely that."


    Two hours later.


    "Damn it, could something have gone wrong with Diana?"


    "What could go wrong?"


    "Maybe the subject woke up due to strong stimuli?"


    "You''re talking about Diana of a ''thousand cuts,'' she never fails."


    Four hours later.


    Diana''s voice came through.


    "I need some files."


    "Oh God, what did you do in the lab?"


    "Nothing much. I just need some files."


    "The kid lasted four hours?"


    On the other side of the communication device, Diana fell silent for a while.


    After a few seconds, a single word came through:


    "Can."


    "Record it! This is definitely a record!"


    "Ah, when can I go too? We can go together!" Jennifer said to Diana.


    "I need the tyrant''s files."


    "Ok, I''ll have someone deliver them to the SSS-grade laboratory."


    The call ended.


    Twenty minutes later, a person arranged by the communications department arrived at Diana''s laboratory with a thin booklet.


    When the door opened, Song Que was sitting on the experiment apparatus, while Diana, looking cold, or more accurately, very dignified, took the files and then closed the door.


    After closing the door, Diana turned on the communicator and said:


    "I need to come again, so I''m turning off the communicator now."


    The words "come again" struck like lightning, and the communications department exclaimed in surprise again.


    Song Que had simply raised their perception of Asians to a new level.


    ...


    ...


    Although Song Que had never had such an experience, he believed that four hours were enough to exhaust an ox working the fields.


    Even the ground might not be able to withstand it.


    However, the folks in the communications department did not doubt it, which he found quite normal.


    In nearly four hours, he had managed to "conquer" Diana.


    The current Diana was absolutely obedient to Song Que.


    Her core code, her fundamental world view, was to satisfy Song Que''s needs.


    Of course, Song Que had also modified some settings. Now, Diana was pure and dignified beyond measure, and no longer had those lowly desires.


    Diana unlocked the experiment apparatus and gave the tyrant''s files to Song Que. She then waited quietly by his side for him to ask questions.


    Song Que skimmed through the files with great speed and said:


    "So these test subjects, were they born with white hair?"


    "Yes, sir. The white-haired test subjects are actually a research project from decades ago within the organization, but this research is more important than any conducted in these decades."


    Song Que continued to read, growing more and more alarmed.


    Akasi, the white-haired test subjects like the primary mist, the white hair was just a sexual trait.


    The reason they were different from other test subjects was because their parents... were also test subjects.


    "So you''re saying the evolution zone wants to cultivate test subjects who can be born through normal biological reproduction methods?"


    "Yes, such test subjects, with no artificial traces in the eyes of the leader, are considered creatures recognized by the creator and are inherently more noble than those synthetically created test subjects."


    What an evil experiment.


    "This nobility, does it refer to abilities?" Song Que asked.


    "Yes, abilities. Although it cannot be proven, among test subjects with the same synchronization rate, the white-haired ones are stronger. This is based on extensive experimental data."


    "What exactly is the tyrant form all about?"


    "That is the advanced form of the white-haired kind, and it''s the ultimate value they can manifest. However, up to this point, the evolution zone has experienced a tyrant only once."


    "Go on."


    "It was a Greek named Kratos. The memories implanted by the organization led him to believe he had a happy and complete family protected by the organization for whom he worked.


    The high-ranking members of the organization were like Nordic gods to him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before this, the organization didn''t know that the white-haired kind had the potential to evolve.


    In one mission, he was injured, and due to a miscalculation, the mission failed. The organization considered Kratos''s combat power to be mediocre, labeling him as an A-grade test subject with a synchronization rate below thirteen percent.


    Therefore, they subjected Kratos to brainwashing punishment. During this memory reconstruction, Kratos''s wife and child were killed by the Nordic gods as a warning that the incapable did not deserve to live in the evolution zone.


    But Kratos''s reaction was strange. Instead of being submissive as before,


    he became so enraged that it led to an astonishing mutation.


    His combat abilities skyrocketed, and he began a frenzied massacre of the evolution zone''s high ranks.


    Even though those high-ranking members remained as gods in Kratos''s fundamental perception, driven by revenge for his family, he began killing gods.


    He also demonstrated a combat power that could potentially make him the strongest among humans.


    If it weren''t for the supreme leader''s arrival, he might have wiped out the evolution zone.


    Even so, the supreme leader sustained serious injuries, and the evolution zone suffered catastrophic losses, nearly half of its high-ranking members and test subjects gone.


    Our evaluation of the tyrant is that its combat power is at the level of a disaster-class boss creature.


    And this is just an A-grade kind transformed into a tyrant. Whether higher-grade white-haired kinds could become even stronger tyrants is still unknown."


    Song Que was shocked.


    Despite the evil experiments conducted by the evolution zone, he had to admit that if such evolution truly existed, it could greatly narrow the power disparity between humans and beasts.


    But what shocked him even more was the existence referred to as the leader, who had defeated the tyrant.

 Chapter 474 - 83: The Leader of the Evolution Zone

    "What exactly is the leader of the Evolution Zone like?"


    Song Que posed this question.


    He had many questions about the tyrant and wanted to know all the known information about the tyrant.


    But Diana''s fragmented description of the leader quickly made him sense danger.


    After being hypnotized, Diana''s emotions stabilized considerably.


    Normally, when the leader was mentioned, her emotions would fluctuate greatly, but now she spoke in an even tone:


    "The leader is a person whose calm and rationality far surpass that of an ordinary person.


    He is like a machine that possesses very little human emotion.


    In terms of combat capability, the leader has received a mysterious beast blood serum. We do not know how strong the leader''s true strength is, what his real abilities are, or how many abilities he has."


    "What do you mean, has he never used his full strength even when facing the beasts?" Song Que was somewhat surprised.


    It seemed that the leader''s strength was very similar to that of the Masked Chopper Hero, an ability that far exceeded human limits, or rather, far surpassed the limits of humans.


    "The leader does not participate in the capture of the serum sources. My lord, I don''t know much about the leader, but he only appears when very special experimental subjects emerge. The last time was Zero, and before that, Kritos."


    Diana''s expression showed a slight change.


    There are two types of hypnosis, one that conforms to the logic of the world and one that does not.


    Song Que''s hypnosis was of the former kind, so when thinking about those illogical matters, Diana would still have her own emotions.


    Such as fear.


    "Every time the leader appears, it is to suppress those overly powerful experimental subjects. The power he shows is overwhelming. In fact, the battle with Kritos did not have to result in injury for the leader, it''s just... he was reluctant to kill Kritos."


    Song Que could now understand Diana''s fear.


    If Kritos in a tyrant state possessed strength surpassing disaster-level creatures, then the Evolution Zone was essentially creating boss-type humans.


    These boss-type humans could counter disaster-level creatures; for humanity, the yellow zone would no longer be a problem.


    The control of the mining area would significantly increase for humans.


    Tyrant transformation up to this point seemed to have found very few patterns; it was still in a state of chance.


    But what was truly terrifying was that the leader normally defeated Kritos.


    "Will he come to see me tomorrow?"


    "Yes, my lord. Tomorrow the leader will summon you."


    "Do you have any advice?"


    "The leader can detect everything. His observational ability is extremely strong. I think tomorrow you will need to let me take a day off to rest, because as I am now, I would be seen through by the leader." Diana''s fundamental worldview was to serve Song Que, and naturally, this took precedence over serving the Evolution Zone.


    Song Que frowned.


    Strong observational ability, calm and rational, with only a trace of human emotion, and his combat strength should be categorized as exceedingly strong.


    So far, the experimental subjects, whether A-level, S-level, or SSS-level, seemed to be beneath this leader''s own existence.


    These summaries made Song Que feel increasingly uneasy.


    "So even if I pretend to be in a hypnotized state, there''s no way to fool him?"


    "The likelihood is less than 0.3 percent," Diana frankly stated.


    "But I can''t just not meet him, can I?"


    There are many project leaders in the Evolution Zone, most of them are some kind of doctor.


    For example, Dr. Chen who currently serves as the highest responsible person at Lincoln Fortress.


    For example, Dr. Duke who was previously at the second fortress.


    Above these malevolent doctors, there were members of the Evolution Council.


    Destroying the Evolution Zone is a complex task.


    However, directly killing the supreme leader of the Evolution Zone, especially one with high combat prowess, might make the people of the entire Evolution Zone hesitate about some of the crazier experimental projects.


    Because this leader seemed more like a suppressor after an experimental project went awry.


    "Does your leader have no weaknesses?"


    "Strength and weakness are relative. The weakness of a disaster-level creature is a catastrophe-level creature," Diana said.


    She then added:


    "However, it is difficult to assess how strong the leader''s abilities really are. As for weaknesses in other aspects, there should be none."


    Song Que nodded, accepting this explanation.


    But inside the Pyramid, where could one find a catastrophe-level creature?


    Weaknesses in other aspects naturally referred to personality.


    But it was indeed difficult to find a weakness in someone who was almost devoid of humanity.


    Song Que began to plan his next steps.


    Diana, looking worse for wear after being hit by his simple one-two punch, clearly wasn''t suited to do any more conspicuous tasks for him.


    To confront a monster, Song Que felt like he was up against overwhelming odds.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Lincoln Fortress, the fourth layer.


    On the fourth layer, where criminal figures frequently appeared, the highest bounty wasn''t for Pyramid''s version of the Riddler or the Penguin. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was for a weirdo called Cube Man.


    He was not a lunatic from Arkham Hospital, nor a crime enthusiast from the Central or Seaside District.


    In fact, he did not belong to the fourth layer at all.


    In Lincoln Fortress, very few dared to challenge the guards at the entrances to the layers.


    Because the guards were equipped with sophisticated equipment, and their numbers were far greater than other fortresses.


    But just several days ago, there was such a stranger who forcibly breached the layer entrance, storming all the way from the second layer to the fourth.

 Chapter 475 - 83: The Leader of the Evolution Zone_2

    This is the Cube Man, always carrying a cube and acting alongside the Riddle Man, a monster.


    To call him a monster is because his strength is simply too powerful.


    The devices of mankind stand no chance against him.


    The appearance of Cube Man alarmed the fifth level.


    With the FBI''s call for help, the Evolution District dispatched dozens of B-level test subjects, and even included a few A-level ones.


    This was the first time Lincoln Fortress had deployed such a number of test subjects for a single criminal.


    In a sense, these test subjects are the superheroes of this fortress.


    Although behind these superheroes, there are groups of scientists who have little regard for morality.


    But, it''s evident Lincoln Fortress''s officials underestimated Cube Man''s strength.


    This monster, who seemed to be pondering some cosmic puzzle while fiddling with his cube, easily annihilated all the test subjects.


    And being in league with Riddle Man made his whereabouts extremely elusive.


    In just a few days, Cube Man demonstrated a fighting capacity that made the criminal world tremble. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was as if, in a world of martial arts, a cultivator had suddenly appeared.


    Many criminal bigshots believed that Cube Man was so powerful he transcended boundaries.


    He had become so strong that even human fortresses were powerless against him.


    It was evident in how the Riddle Man, who usually gave the FBI the runaround, had started to use his brain less.


    It wasn''t hard to understand; when one could easily destroy everything, why would anyone go to the trouble of planning and considering details?


    In short, Cube Man had piqued the interest of many heavy hitters in the crime world, and they began to express their good will toward him.


    And all the toy store owners in Lincoln Fortress, the proprietors of the LEGO stores, experienced the worst slump in their careers.


    To curry favor with Cube Man, their shops would be robbed every now and then.


    The biggest move came from Penguin Man, who even bought several toy factories.


    Fortune smiles on those who are prepared; Penguin Man''s hoard of toys finally forced Riddle Man into cooperation.


    Thus, in the Gotham District of Lincoln Fortress''s fourth level, the strongest criminals started to join forces.


    This all happened in just three days'' time.


    While Lincoln Fortress was at a loss about what to do with the League of Villains, just when it seemed the whole fortress would be swallowed by a crime wave, a huge reversal took place.


    Because on the fourth day, Riddle Man and Penguin Man were tied up at the entrance of the police bureau.


    And high above on the simulated nighttime ceiling, a gigantic bat signal shone.


    ...


    ...


    In this world where Santa Claus doesn''t exist, naturally there is no Batman.


    Tang Feiji, known as Cube Man, was engrossed in studying the cube.


    Tang Xian sat inside Penguin Man''s secret base, personally teaching Tang Feiji how to solve the cube.


    "So why set up a Bat-Signal?" Tang Feiji asked.


    He didn''t understand Tang Xian''s peculiar sense of humor.


    Tang Xian said,


    "There are many poor imitators in this world, and I''m one of them."


    Tang Feiji pretended to understand.


    These days following Riddle Man around robbing the world and causing havoc were a decent diversion for Tang Feiji.


    But it was just a diversion.


    The human world, compared with the Myriad Beasts Realm, ultimately wasn''t thrilling enough.


    Although Tang Feiji had been severely taught a lesson by Gluttony last time, it didn''t take many days for him to crave a challenge with creatures of such powerful caliber again.


    In comparison, the so-called test subjects in Lincoln Fortress, the purchased Judgment Knights, or the regular human armed forces, all seemed too childish.


    And while Riddle Man believed he had Tang Feiji under his control, Tang Xian appeared.


    Then he wrapped up these criminals and delivered them to the Gotham District Police Bureau.


    American comics had a profound influence on the people of Lincoln Fortress. Maybe setting up a Bat-Signal as a bit of wicked humor could also intimidate the criminals?


    That was the reason behind Tang Xian''s actions.


    "I lost track of Arkasi and the others."


    "I never expected you to keep an eye on them anyway."


    "They''re just too dull."


    Tang Xian shrugged and said,


    "The big play is still brewing. Everyone has their own script; Arkasi and others coming here are probably looking for answers in the Evolution District. They are safe for now."


    "Why?"


    "In ancient military tactics, there''s a strategy called ''Distracting Wei to rescue Zhao, make noise in the east, strike in the west''.


    Song Que has been brought into the Evolution District, and the upper echelons of Lincoln Fortress must be nervous.


    But at this time, with the emergence of a Cube Man more powerful than Song Que, with the situation escalating to a threat to the entire Lincoln Fortress, would their attention remain fully on Arkasi and these other rescuers?"


    "I see." Tang Feiji continued to pretend he had understood.


    He thought these four words were very useful.


    It was like when the Riddler left a riddle, if he said this, the Riddler would reveal an expression of knowing intimacy.


    Tang Xian did not unmask him but tossed the magic cube to Tang Feiji instead.


    "I''ve demonstrated already, now it''s your turn to ''Eureka'' and piece it together."


    Tang Feiji caught the magic cube, recalling the techniques Tang Xian had mentioned.


    This time, he showed a confident expression and started turning the magic cube quickly.


    The first face was assembled in a mere ten seconds.


    Tang Feiji revealed a triumphant look and began on the second face.


    Three minutes later, Tang Feiji finished the second face.


    Five minutes later, Tang Feiji finished the second face.


    Twenty minutes later, Tang Feiji finished the second face.


    ¡­


    Two hours later, Tang Xian woke from his nap, and Tang Feiji had still only completed the second face.


    "Not bad, I can still trick him four more times," thought Tang Xian.


    "Why can''t I do it even though I followed your instructions? You didn''t explain it in enough detail," Tang Feiji exclaimed angrily!


    "Just as humans are unable to prove overly simple things, it''s not that I didn''t explain in enough detail, but this is already the most meticulous part. If I explain further, your IQ won''t be able to grasp it,"


    Tang Xian said seriously.


    Tang Feiji couldn''t understand why humans were unable to prove overly simple matters.


    He looked at Tang Xian with a puzzled expression.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Anyway, the magic cube is pretty simple, the rule is just to make all six faces the same color, the trick is spatial calculation, figure it out yourself."


    Tang Feiji was confused, wasn''t this the same as saying nothing?


    Tang Xian looked at Tang Feiji and started to laugh.


    This foolish dragon reminded him of a particularly interesting and difficult mathematical problem among humans.


    How to prove that one plus one equals two.


    One plus one equals two is the foundational rule of all mathematics, a law.


    But proving that one plus one equals two is incredibly hard.


    Because to prove it, you have to assume that one plus one does not equal two, and if so, the whole mathematical system collapses.


    And Tang Feiji is the fool who knows that one plus one equals two, yet still foolishly tries to prove that one plus one equals two.


    Because the so-called magic cube...in truth has no tricks to it.


    It''s nothing but memory and spatial calculation ability.


    Tang Feiji tried for a long time, but ultimately couldn''t do it.


    Even though he had realized that the magic cube hiding treasures was probably a lie.


    But the toy was too interesting.


    However, at the moment, Tang Feiji stopped, he didn''t like the Pyramid, there was too little to eat there.


    "When are we going back? Don''t you want to save Song Que? Aren''t you worried about him being brainwashed or something?"


    "A person who is inherently righteous and generous, who has experienced the topmost level of corruption in a wealthy family, yet still can speak up for the lower-class people, who has gone through the darkest events and discarded all his talents to bring light to others,


    And ultimately gets betrayed by the world, but still remains steadfast in his original purpose, there''s no way such a person could be brainwashed.


    Maybe he''s the one doing the brainwashing."


    Tang Xian still had a lot of confidence in Song Que.


    "So, are we going to save him or not?"


    "Of course we are, but the Evolution Zone is still somewhat lacking right now."


    "Lacking what?"


    "A leader."


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand; if this was the headquarters of the Evolution Zone, naturally, the leader should be here.


    Tang Xian said:


    "What the Evolution Zone is doing is too similar to what the Myriad Beasts Court is doing.


    I often wonder, with human military strength so weak at the moment, how the Evolution Zone manages to control powerful test subjects like Yuanwu Arkasi.


    Military strength? These weapons might be destroyed by Arkasi before they can even be used."


    This time, Tang Feiji actually performed beyond expectations and kept up with Tang Xian''s pace.


    "Are you saying that the leader of the Evolution Zone is actually a member of the Myriad Beasts Court?"


    "Huh, you''re actually being smart for once. In fact, I not only believe he is from the Myriad Beasts Court, but I also think he might even be one of the Judgment Chiefs."


    "How do you know he isn''t here?"


    "If he were here, why would Lincoln Fortress need me, Batman?"


    (There might be another chapter, but even if there is, it would have to be tonight.)

 Chapter 476 - 84: Xi He the Organizer

    Tang Feiji had feigned an understanding of all that had happened.


    After some small talk, Tang Xian led Tang Feiji out to find food.


    In most fortresses, the second to fourth levels represent a gradual climb to prosperity.


    In a sense, Lincoln Fortress is the same, though the second level here is already comparable to the fourth levels of many other fortresses.


    But the fourth level here, likewise, is as chaotic as the second levels of many fortresses.


    Walking down the street, Tang Xian sought a place to eat. Along the way, he encountered many strange sights.


    For instance, there was a couple, who had just come out of a movie theater with their child, happily heading home when suddenly, an assassin sprang out and eliminated the couple right in front of their child.


    Then there was the moaning from a dark alley, which sounded like a woman in pain, but it also seemed not.


    Or the not particularly robust middle-aged man being pummeled on the ground by seven or eight people.


    The enormous billboards advertised not fashion darlings but signs of doctors who specialized in treatments such as setting bones after a fall.


    This was a city with an exceedingly high crime rate, so high it was almost pathological.


    The police department and the regular army were swamped, dealing with various new crimes every day.


    Tang Xian and Tang Feiji finally found a lunch shop with a chicken cutlet theme, and upon entering, they saw a huge fat man, chugging family-sized cola.


    The waitress who intended to collect the money did not dare to approach.


    Because the fat man had a Colt Python strapped to his waist.


    And unsurprisingly, this customer¡ªwho would definitely be detained in Huaxia Fortress but was nothing out of the ordinary in Lincoln Fortress¡ªhad himself a meal on the house.


    The shop owner''s turnover seemed to be dismal; he hesitated several times, wanting to speak out, but ultimately said nothing.


    Tang Xian watched all this silently. He simply ordered food and ate quietly with Tang Feiji.


    When the Rubik''s Cube was present, Tang Feiji was mostly able to keep his composure.


    But seeing the Rubik''s Cube, the small shop owner grew tense again.


    The name of a Rubik''s Cube person was prominent, and it had attracted many imitators.


    It was not until Tang Xian paid the bill that the owner was convinced he had been mistaken.


    The waitress, seemingly the shop owner''s daughter, and the man himself were both locals of Lincoln Fortress.


    When they received the mineral coins from Tang Xian, they showed a satisfied expression.


    After leaving the shop, Tang Xian did not take Tang Feiji back or attend to other investigations in the evolution area.


    Instead, he continued to show Tang Feiji the city teeming with chaos.


    The two crime lords of Gotham District had been captured¡ªtaken away by Tang Xian¡ªbut their underlings were still committing crimes.


    In front of a magazine shop, several locals clad in Penguin-emblazoned clothing seemed to be giving the shop owner trouble over the issue of "protection money."


    The situation developed in an unexpected direction for Tang Xian, as he smelled gasoline, and sure enough, the magazine shop ended up in flames.


    There wasn''t even an insurance company on the fourth level. The odds of incidents were just too high.


    The wealthy had their armed entourages, while the poor seemed to live in lawless zones.


    The magazine shop fire raged fiercely. The owner had run out beforehand, covered in blood, a man who tried to stand up to these malignant forces.


    But the results were inevitably brutal.


    The most ironic part was that not far away, there were members of the regular army and the police department.


    They clearly saw every bit of the scene, yet they still waited until the magazine shop owner called for help before they pretended to care and rushed over.


    Situations like this were far too common.


    In this fortress that touted freedom, from the second to the fourth level, bizarre events were frequent.


    Tang Feiji wasn''t playing with his Rubik''s Cube; he was somewhat puzzled as he said, Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You seem to have been watching these messy situations from the beginning, but you do nothing to stop them."


    "I''m not watching on purpose, just passing by. As for not stopping them, treating a headache when you have one, and treating a foot when it hurts isn''t going to cure the fortress," Tang Xian remarked nonchalantly.


    Tang Feiji was perplexed; naturally, you''d treat a headache if you have one, and the same goes for a footache.


    "Wouldn''t it be better just to kill all these criminals?"


    "Then the city would have no one left," Tang Xian paused before continuing,


    "The city''s law enforcement is facing a tremendous problem; order has collapsed. The cost of breaking order is too small, while those who abide by the order are always bullied, which results in this situation.


    Individuals and groups actually possess a unity.


    A broken hand affects the efficiency of many activities.


    Without legs, a person''s activities are limited.


    Blind eyes keep one from seeing changes in the outside world."


    Tang Feiji was used to not understanding Tang Xian, and that was alright.


    "I see." He understood some of it, actually.


    In Fortress Thirty-nine, although the people weren''t as free, life was relatively orderly.


    The crime rates of the two fortresses were starkly different.


    "But these organs, limbs, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, even if one or several of them were to fail, a person can still survive.


    But the brain is different. Just like with zombies, if the brain gets infected by the zombie virus, even if the limbs are intact, the behavior becomes extremely peculiar and the whole person no longer belongs to themselves."


    Tang Xian''s expression was calm as he thought of the police-criminal battles on the second level, the street marches, and the various crimes on the fourth level; he calmly stated,


    "This city is parasitized. Its brain lies in the tiers above the fifth level. But with the evolution area here, its entire operation has become messy and aggressive, like zombies constantly searching for opportunities to mutate and evolve."

 Chapter 477 - 84: Xi He the Organizer_2

    "Don''t understand, when the entire fortress descends into chaos, is that beneficial for the evolution zone?" Tang Feiji asked.


    "When chaos arises, people find it hard to notice who is missing from the city. Of course, that''s secondary. If things go as I have in mind, wouldn''t the chaos in Lincoln Fortress be a good thing for the Myriad Beasts?"


    Tang Xian headed toward the convenience store; his mask was gone, and he needed to purchase a few different styles of masks to keep on hand.


    The Gotham District wasn''t much different, crime uniforms were in no short supply.


    Along the way, similar scenes were common.


    In reality, Tang Xian wasn''t completely certain about his conjecture regarding the leader of the evolution zone being the Myriad Beasts.


    Zhuo He was a Myriad Beasts who considered itself capable of ruling over humankind.


    Its ambitions lay beyond the courthouse, which is why, all these years, the court had never mastered the technology to control the transportation cracks.


    Because Zhuo He didn''t want the people of the court meddling in its dominance.


    However, if the leader of the evolution zone was also a Myriad Beasts, then the certainty of the Pyramid''s absolute safety might not stand.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Song Que woke up on the experimental apparatus.


    Today in this SSS-level laboratory, he would meet a leader-level figure of the evolution zone.


    To deal with this leader, Song Que contemplated a lot, but ultimately failed to figure it out.


    According to Diana''s description, this leader seemed to have no weaknesses.


    All he could do was let Diana provide him with as much information as possible within her authority.


    Although the First Fortress''s overall strength was below that of Lincoln Fortress, Lincoln Fortress wouldn''t dare to wage war against the First Fortress, either.


    Song Que wasn''t worried for his safety; even if he couldn''t take down the evolution zone, he intended to find a way to leave this place with all its secrets alive.


    Later in the day, Song Que instructed Diana to step down.


    He hoped to still make use of the female Hypnotist in the future.


    Currently, he waited quietly, continuing to pretend to be a brainwashed experiment candidate.


    The hatch slowly opened.


    The person who entered wore a white laboratory dust suit and thick glasses and appeared to be in his forties.


    Song Que only glanced at these scenes out of the corner of his eye.


    "Is this the leader of the evolution zone?"


    As Song Que thought this, he quickly dismissed the possibility.


    Because, without his notice, a voice had emerged behind him.


    "Dr. Chen, you may leave. I can take it from here."


    A young man''s voice¡ªit sounded somewhat familiar to Song Que.


    Upon closer thought, he found it bore some resemblance to Tang Xian''s voice.


    Dr. Chen was the middle-aged man wearing the white dust suit.


    He nodded, his gaze filled with reverence as he left the laboratory.


    As the hatch closed again, the voice spoke:


    "If you''re more comfortable in that position, I don''t mind, but your disguise is too clumsy. Please be more forthright."


    Song Que was taken aback; this person must have come in with Dr. Chen. But he hadn''t sensed the other''s presence at all.


    And he had so readily seen through his disguise?


    "Don''t be surprised. My ability, or perhaps my talent, differs from what you imagine. I am not the same kind as you."


    It was as if he knew what Song Que was thinking, and that voice consistently maintained an extremely stable rhythm.


    To Song Que, it felt even more like Tang Xian.


    Song Que reacted quickly; continuing the ruse would be a waste of time. He slowly descended from the apparatus, turned around, and his gaze fell upon the speaker.


    In the dim backlight of the experiment apparatus, the person leaned casually against the wall, seeming very laid-back.


    His face wore a faint smile, mechanically so, as if it was a very professional smile.


    Even though the voice and rhythm of speech evoked a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, he had never actually seen this face before.


    Yet, the sense of familiarity persisted.


    This was like meeting a stranger who somehow felt like an old acquaintance.


    Twenty-odd years old, about the same age as Song Que.


    He wore a sharp suit, and if he had donned a top hat, one could easily associate him with a court magician fond of opulence.


    The man''s face bore a three-part resemblance to Tang Xian; it evoked a similarity, yet the differences were substantial.


    Put simply¡ªhe was more handsome than Tang Xian.


    Song Que asked:


    "Are you the leader of the Evolutionary District?"


    "Yes, the entire Evolutionary District, all the fortress branches, and the headquarters here, are all under my supreme command. On our first meeting, you may refer to me as Xi He. Of course, this is just a codename." Xi He remained very calm.


    Song Que frowned.


    Xi He?


    The ancient Goddess of Time?


    Why would a man use such a name?


    "Don''t dwell on it, I''ve already said that this is merely a codename. I have other equivalents with different codenames, though you''re unlikely to meet them. Let''s make our conversation more efficient."


    Song Que, puzzled, watched Xi He activate the communicator and then casually said:


    "Kill Diana."


    After speaking, he turned off the communicator.


    "Isn''t she one of your subordinates?" Song Que exclaimed in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected this person to order the execution of a subordinate so nonchalantly.


    "As a Hypnotist who failed to successfully brainwash you, she''s lost her value. Moreover, your breathing suggests that the muscle relaxant in your body has been neutralized by an antidote. When I returned, Diana happened to be on leave, which is all too coincidental."


    Xi He continued:


    "Mr. Song Que, you are a very rare individual, and I hope to persuade you to join us. Brainwashing is of little use to you, but drugs could erase your memory. However, I would prefer not to resort to that."


    "Join you?"


    "Yes, joining us will help unlock the mysteries within you, and you would also gain a strong support. For the Song Family, what they could get is assistance from powerful experimental subjects."


    Song Que didn''t rush to argue but pretended to bargain instead:


    "The Judgment Knights are much stronger than your experimental subjects."


    Xi He shook his head and said:


    "The Judgment Knights are merely transitional units, inferior machines."


    A strange feeling welled up inside him.


    Song Que was not stupid; he and Tang Xian had come to a similar conclusion. Based on the information provided by Diana, he was even more certain of its correctness.


    The leader, that is, Xi He, should be the Mythical Zhuo He.


    After meeting Zhuo He, Song Que was no longer surprised to encounter the Mythical Zhuo He among humans.


    However, the impression Xi He gave him suddenly made Song Que feel that Xi He was not Zhuo He.


    "As far as I know, the Evolutionary District''s operations have not expanded to the thirty-ninth fortress, and you have no idea how to manufacture Judgment Knights," Song Que said.


    "I don''t need to prove anything to you, it''s just a waste of time. You only need to understand that Judgment Knights are obsolete, a transitional tool before humanity takes the next step."


    "What is the next stage?"


    Xi He seemed very accommodating. Whatever Song Que asked, he answered seriously. Presumably, he really wanted to win over Song Que.


    "Naturally, it is evolution. The consistent theme of the Evolutionary District is evolution. The birth of tyrants is a form of evolution."


    "But I surely don''t have the potential to become a tyrant, so your reason for bringing me to the Evolutionary District can''t be anything other than my father offering a hefty sum to help me recover my talent, right?"


    "Your talent cannot be restored; that''s one of the fundamental rules of Order, but it can be transplanted."


    Xi He''s tone was indifferent, but Song Que felt a chill down his spine.


    Talent transplant? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How is it transplanted?"


    "Naturally, by taking the talent from someone else''s body. What else did you think is the reason for our multitude of ten-talented experimental subjects?"


    Song Que was shocked.


    Xi He continued:


    "I believe humans also have this puzzle; some people with various talents have only a few gifts, while others with no merits possess several talents.


    The difference in their status is vast, making the criteria for judging human talent in this world one-dimensional.


    But we can solve this problem. Talent is a high-level ability bestowed upon humanity by the Orderers, a minuscule program. Humans haven''t mastered the method to alter this program, but we have."


    "You speak as if you''re not human," Song Que said.


    The smile on Xi He''s face deepened, and his indifferent eyes conveyed a divine rationality as he softly said:


    "Of course I''m not human, I am your creator."


    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    I sincerely apologize; explosive updates will come tomorrow. I promise at least six new chapters tomorrow. I was really too tired today. I''ve been working on this chapter since ten in the morning, arranging the climax of the next big battle with the first Orderer. Since it''s a chapter filling gaps, it took me a long time to think, and I''ve only managed to squeeze out so few words up to now. There will be longer chapters tomorrow, for certain. Allow me to rest today.

 Chapter 478 - 85: Origin of Talents (1st Update)

    This sentence seemed to imprison Song Que''s thought process.


    The faint smile on Xi He''s face indeed did not carry any warmth.


    But after that statement, Song Que suddenly felt that he was facing a non-living entity.


    He couldn''t pin down the source of this feeling, as if it were an unknowable rule or something of the sort, conversing with him.


    "Who are you exactly? If you''re not human, could it be you are one of the myriad beasts?"


    Song Que immediately denied his own guess:


    "No, that''s not right. You''re not one of the myriad beasts. How could the myriad beasts know about the Judgment Knights?"


    "I am Xi He, obsessing over my identity is pointless. I am here to save humanity. I know your life story, Mr. Song Que. You are well-suited to join our Evolution Zone, because I believe you are someone who can bring order to this world," Xi He said.


    Song Que shook his head, saying in confusion:


    "Since you want me to cooperate with you, then at the very least, I should know exactly what you are. You boast that you created me, this nonsensical statement deserves an explanation, doesn''t it?"


    Xi He appeared very patient with Song Que''s doubts.


    "Don''t misunderstand, this creation isn''t talking about biological genetic reproduction.


    I cannot be sure of spawning offspring that perfectly match the Prophet''s genetic legacy.


    But the most crucial thing that you possess comes from me. It was what I gave to you that made your life shine like a legend, and you are destined to be inscribed in the annals of humanity."


    Song Que seemed to think of something related to the hints given.


    But the answer was too shocking.


    Li Wanye and Song Gengzhao had said many times that talent was a treasure and wealth bestowed upon humanity by the great god of order.


    If the "thing" Xi He referred to is talent¡ªcould Xi He be the Order-Bringer?


    The highest existence mentioned on the Stele, the Pyramid?


    But why does the Order-Bringer look like a familiar human, and why is the Order-Bringer in the Evolution Zone?


    If the Order-Bringer is at Lincoln Fortress, if the Order-Bringer can move like a human, then why doesn''t it help humanity climb higher levels of the Pyramid?


    A barrage of questions came crashing in.


    Xi He could feel that Song Que was troubled by a plethora of unknowns.


    He wore an indifferent smile tinged with divinity yet did not speak, waiting for Song Que to ask the most crucial question.


    "What is your relationship with the Order-Bringer?" Song Que said.


    "There''s some connection¡ªI am part of it. My existence is to help it compile human emotions."


    The combination of words about compiling human emotions felt very strange to Song Que.


    "There are several entities like me. We appear separate, each with our distinct claims, but our ultimate purpose converges at one point," Xi He said.


    "All in the Evolution Zone?"


    "No, the Evolution Zone is only the project I''m responsible for. They are in charge of other projects. I will answer your doubts because you possess the potential to become one of us.


    Before that, you need to first tell me, what is the Order-Bringer to you?"


    Song Que was stunned by this leader''s identity or rather, the significance his existence represented.


    He and Tang Xian both very much wanted to explore the Order-Bringer.


    Why did the Order-Bringer establish this hierarchical system, why did it deceive humanity?


    It was clear you could survive outside the Pyramid, and the mining world could accommodate those without talents, so why did the Order-Bringer make both taboo?


    All these things seemed to indicate that the Pyramid was a container imprisoning humanity.


    And what exactly was the Order-Bringer doing with humanity?


    Song Que initially thought that Tang Xian should be the first to know all of this, but now that he knew, he had to make sure he survived.


    He needed to live to tell these secrets to Tang Xian.


    With this thought, a light appeared in Song Que''s eyes, and he quickly calmed down, following Xi He''s question and said:


    "I believe you are a form of advanced machinery with wisdom, or rather, consciousness, existing at the top of the Pyramid."


    The expression on Xi He''s face did not change, but he asked in return:


    "Your guess about the Order-Bringer is more accurate than some other candidates I have deemed promising. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But I must correct you on one point, Mr. Song Que.


    Consciousness and machinery cannot coexist.


    Although many film and television works, influenced by human''s romantic imagination and sense of crisis, have endowed machinery with consciousness, commonly referred to as a soul, machinery does not possess these qualities."


    Xi He''s smile faded, and his expressionless countenance was like a cold gaze observing the world.


    "The Order-Bringer is indeed mechanical. Be it the Pyramid or the Judgment Knights, or the higher-performance mechanical bodies you will obtain on the ninth and tenth levels, all are the same.


    They lack life, consciousness, and even wisdom.


    The so-called artificial intelligence is not wisdom but a systematic response of repeating massive amounts of code endlessly.


    Just like AlphaGo that once defeated the top human Go players.


    It was not playing with wisdom but applying countless pre-set formulas. If you change the rules of Go on the spot, humans can adapt instantly, but the machine would pop up an error message."


    Song Que became even more puzzled but did not refute Xi He.


    He just felt that something was amiss.


    If the Order-Bringer had no consciousness, then there must be a creator behind all that the Order-Bringer is doing now.

 Chapter 479 - 85: Origin of Talents (1st Update)_2

    It''s as if a supercomputer, without consciousness, remains forever in standby mode. It lacks purpose and waits for someone to use it.


    However, the Pyramid''s various indications show that humanity is being dominated by the Orderers.


    The Orderers have even created something akin to religious belief for the lords.


    They refer to the Orderers as the great Masters of Order, the same self-proclaimed title on the Stele.


    If it is as Xi He says, then the Orderers, these mysterious mechanical bodies without life or consciousness, must be manipulated from behind the scenes by a living, conscious being.


    That person might have died, but the programs they left behind, like a precision gear instrument, have begun to slowly turn, until the day their purpose is fulfilled.


    But there is another possibility.


    Everything Xi He has said could be false.


    Song Que was even more inclined to the latter.


    "I don''t believe what you say."


    "That''s within reason. After all, my existence and the things I''ve elucidated are inconsistent. If the Orderers lack life and consciousness, then what am I supposed to be?" Xi He said with a smile.


    Song Que mocked:


    "You''re mystifying things. I know you have great power, a power humans cannot possess at this stage.


    But as the leader of the Evolution Zone, it''s not surprising that you have such strength. However, if you want to convince me to join your side, you need to at least reveal some substantial cards."


    After a pause, Song Que continued:


    "You have to prove to me that you possess something unique to the Orderers. I think if you were the Orderers, in terms of style and class, there would be value for me to align with you."


    Xi He shook his head:


    "Mr. Song Que, you''re not being forthright. Testing me or trying to provoke me is pointless. These human emotions, I only possess a part of them, that is, the purely rational part.


    But I do envy your complete reactions. Among us, there were similar anomalies before. He was the weakest, yet he received the best opportunity."


    Song Que, for some reason, thought of Tang Xian.


    This sudden thought made his scalp tingle.


    He was enveloped by an undeniable and indescribable fear.


    Xi He continued:


    "Tyrants are the embodiment of human emotions taken to the extreme. On those perfectly matched with evolution genes, their hair color turns white.


    Most are born that way, while a few change during their youth.


    These individuals have extreme emotions, something we do not possess, and thus they hold power capable of contending with the mightiest of beasts.


    All of this has been possible thanks to our research. Although the Tyrant kind of humans would have emerged hundreds of years in the future, we have at least accelerated this process."


    Song Que listened in silence.


    Xi He also was very patient. If it weren''t for the life force Song Que could sense from Xi He, he might even think that the monotonously speaking Xi He was a non-living entity.


    "We envy the ability of life to evolve. You see, machinery cannot evolve.


    Machinery lacks life; it can only enhance its performance and capabilities by constantly modifying itself and incorporating new programming formulas.


    However, modification and programming are processes that must be operated by living beings.


    What the Orderers can do is to calculate and parse known rules within known rules at the fastest speed.


    But when facing unknown rules, they are incapable of calculation.


    For example, imagine a computer that can perform addition but is unable to perform root extraction or squaring.


    Until it has the logic formulas for root extraction and squaring implanted, even if it can perform addition at a hundred million times the speed of human calculation, it will not be able to comprehend new algorithms."


    From the beginning until now, Xi He has emphasized the Orderers'' weakness twice.


    That is, machinery does not understand flexibility and lacks the capacity for progress.


    The advancement and modification of machinery must rely on assistance from living entities.


    Song Que vaguely grasped the true meaning behind Xi He''s lengthy exposition.


    "Are you saying that the Order Keepers are actually dependent on humanity?"


    Xi He nodded and said,


    "You are indeed a very smart person for this. I suppose you''ve also realized that there is a Prophet behind the Order Keepers."


    "Although I don''t believe what you''re saying, let''s assume it''s true, if the Order Keepers are just a machine, then there must be someone controlling it."


    "You can call that controller a Prophet, or a creator? It''s all the same, they are protecting us and also protecting humanity. The technology inside the Pyramid is a relic of a civilization, it''s the last trace of that civilization''s bloodline.


    And this technology is powerful enough to change the whole world, powerful enough for humanity to leave their depleted planet in search of a new home.


    But there are creatures trying to destroy this technology as well."


    "The Myriad Beasts?" asked Song Que.


    "Exactly, it is the Eden Tribe within the Myriad Beasts. Of course, another power within the Myriad Beasts is no good either, and their intentions towards humanity are even more malicious."


    Song Que was certain of one thing, Xi He was probably telling some truth, but he must be concealing an extremely important part.


    "If I wanted to inquire about the Prophet''s identity, I suppose with my current status, I am not yet qualified to know?"


    "You must understand that you hold a very unusual significance in the entire human history, but you cannot meet the Prophet, I am sorry, Mr. Song Que. Moreover, the order of the topics is wrong," said Xi He.


    Xi He''s words seemed erratic, but they were actually underpinned by strict logic.


    Song Que nodded and said,


    "What you''ve said sounds like an interesting science fiction story. I think if I am ever free in the future, I might adapt it a bit and tell it to my friends."


    Xi He''s expression remained unchanged, he said softly,


    "Mr. Song Que, I have said that such probing is pointless, I will prove everything to you that needs to be proven."


    Xi He continued,


    "The talents of humanity are a treasure left to us by the Order Keepers. But I think every gifted person has wondered what exactly the data they see is all about. You are no exception."


    Song Que did not deny this, saying,


    "This data is like precise instruments. Displaying a species'' life value, defensive power, attacking strength, it''s like a game program written by humans.


    I have indeed doubted the given talents, they should not be as accurate as machinery, setting all sorts of numerical values so clearly.


    Talents should be similar to certain animal instincts, like thermal sensing, barometric sensing, and so on. An abstract, general feeling, rather than such precise, list-like data."


    Xi He nodded and said,


    "In the world conceived by the Prophet, everything is in perfect order, from the moment of birth, people are implanted with a type of micro device.


    With this device, we can perform some computations in our sea of consciousness, and the images of these computations project onto our retinas.


    For example, credit ratings, wealth predictions, preferences, dislikes, behavior pattern calculations, and so forth.


    You just need to look at someone to naturally display these things.


    And when facing a combat target, this program can provide another set of feedback, which can clearly project the combat attributes of any living being through the various biological senses you''ve mentioned, numericalizing their precise values.


    For instance, life value, defensive power, attacking strength.


    Of course, all of this requires permission. The grantor and designer of these permissions, that is the Prophet."


    Song Que was startled, exclaiming,


    "Is this the secret... of the talents?"


    "The term ''talent'' is actually a concept created by humans later on; let''s just use your term for now.


    Talent is like a micro device embedded within the genes. Its size is comparable to that of deoxyribonucleic acid. To be precise, it''s an embedded program. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It is also the most magnificent research in the Prophet''s life ¡ª electronic genes.


    It can integrate all environmental feedback more swiftly, performing micro calculations on the entire macro world. Or else, it can perform macro expansions on micro matters."


    (More to come, still writing.)

 Chapter 480 - 86: An Outlier Among the Orderly (Second Update)

    Song Que''s breathing quickened slightly. "Could it be that even my father, the lord, doesn''t know these things?"


    To be so candid about these matters, Xi He surprised Song Que a bit.


    Could it have something to do with me being a Ten-Talent individual?


    "I''m listening, continue," Song Que said.


    "Don''t rush. Before you officially join us, we will tell you everything you are permitted to know. This is our sincerity."


    Xi He continued:


    "Talent genes, by their very nature, are also a type of gene, with certain hereditary limits. Even though the Prophet implanted talent genes in everyone back in the day, not everyone could use them. And even among those who could, not all of their descendants necessarily would.


    Even the offspring of two talent individuals have a high likelihood of being non-talents.


    Because it''s a matter of genetics, there will always be those who fit and those who don''t.


    This is also the disparity between talent individuals and non-talents.


    Realizing that non-talents couldn''t be completely isolated, the Prophet had to establish a societal system first."


    "A societal system where talent individuals rule over non-talents?"


    "Of course, survival of the fittest, nothing to fuss over."


    "But do you know..." Song Que stopped himself as the words reached his lips.


    Xi He smiled:


    "You want to say non-talents can survive in the mines, right?"


    Song Que was astonished.


    "No need for surprise. I knew before you did, but the reason you didn''t tell humanity and even the reason the Prophet fashioned this lie were all for the sake of preserving the seeds of life."


    "Preserving the seeds of life?" Song Que didn''t accept this explanation.


    "The innate impulse of living beings is to expand and reproduce. This instinct leads to arrogance in powerful species and caution in the weaker ones.


    Humans are a paradoxical creature; inherently frail, yet they expand rapidly, which makes them weak and yet arrogant. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the mines are a terribly hostile world. Settling there too early would only lead humanity to its doom."


    Song Que was dumbfounded. This explanation felt fraught with problems, yet on closer thought, he couldn''t quite pinpoint what was wrong.


    "In the world of the mines, humanity''s greatest tool¡ªtechnology¡ªis stripped away. Without technology, how could humans compete with the multitude of beasts?


    The tyrants and the Chosen who can ignite their talent genes are only a minority.


    While our experiments are attempting to replicate these few cases, it''s clear there''s still a long road ahead.


    If we tell humanity now, informing the weakest non-talents that they can survive in the mines long-term, do you think they would survive?"


    Song Que had no response.


    Xi He stated calmly:


    "Think about it carefully. When it comes to exploring the mines, non-talents have absolutely no advantage over talents. The early explorations of the mines have proven this thoroughly, with the survival rate of non-talents being just a fraction of a thousandth of that of talents.


    Aside from the Stele clues we left behind, how much do you think the non-talents have contributed to exploring the mines?


    They have no grasp of data and acquire almost no intelligence.


    In other words, both in terms of survival rate and contribution, non-talents are the ones being selected out.


    All life forms yearn to evolve, and natural evolution takes a long process of time.


    But the essence of evolution is the DNA becoming more adapted to the world.


    In the world of the mines, humans are actually at the bottom of the evolutionary chain.


    Although they possess intelligence, in that world, due to the influence of the Eden Tribe, many creatures have become sentient, beginning to display wisdom not inferior to humans.


    The mines force humans to fight against all creation with brute strength, while talent individuals have inherited the evolution granted by the Prophet.


    In comparison, what''s the weight of the seven-day limit against an absolute survival rate?"


    Xi He''s words were devoid of emotion, as if stating a truth that was beyond doubt.


    Song Que, having experienced the Pit incident, felt a deep pain for the forsaken people in the pit.


    He began to believe that what was called "talent" was not truly talent, but rather a shackle given to humanity by the Orderers.


    Like livestock wearing collars, even if they strayed, they would be retrieved after seven days.


    But now, he could not refute Xi He''s statements.


    Indeed, in the face of an absolute survival rate, what were those seemingly insignificant restrictions?


    Without talent, people would hardly be able to survive in the mines.


    And with the ability of humans to stay nearly seven days there, only needing ten hours of rest to return once again, that restriction indeed seems trivial compared to the thousandfold increase in survival rate.


    Xi He, watching Song Que deep in thought, did not rush him, but simply added:


    "So far, humanity has ten kinds of talents. However, only those who truly possess all ten can fully inherit the powers of the talent genes.


    Which means igniting the talents.


    Your talents vanished because of this reason, although my subordinates still don''t know and think you are the first human whose talent disappeared. But I know, in one battle, you comprehended another consumptive use of talent.


    This is impressive; bodies capable of this are historically no more than five.


    Your abilities go far beyond, however. Those who can perfectly match the talent genes can be implanted with even more talents.


    I can show you many different messages and even allow you in this world to have the vision akin to that in the mines."

 Chapter 481 - 86: The Maverick Among the Orderly (Second Update)_2

    "We also have countless bodies of gifted individuals that can be transplanted to you,"


    "Although morally speaking, it is taboo, I hope you can accept the transplant of gifts."


    "Because the value you can bring will far exceed the loss of these deceased individuals."


    "All you need to do is join us. Just like the underlying code of a computer, what we aim to do is make your underlying code the same as ours, to complete the rational world envisioned by the Prophet."


    "If it is just such a requirement, you don''t need my agreement, you should be able to do it anyway,"


    Song Que was still in surprise. His subconscious felt that there was something wrong with Xi He''s words.


    He also did not agree with the methods of the Evolution Zone.


    "That''s true, but if you agree to this yourself, it would make things much easier. There''s a will in your mind that acts like an invader, yet strangely, this invader is also protecting you from the assault of other psychic entities.


    We aim to remove this part, and if the main personality agrees, the removal process will be accelerated significantly."


    "After these are done, you will be my companion. Having the same level of authority as I do."


    Xi He also wasn''t in a hurry, waiting quietly for the reply from Song Que, or for any other questions.


    "So, you are one of the wills of the Order, then are you a human, or..." Song Que asked again after a long time.


    "I am human. Biology represents chaos, machinery represents order, and humans are a paradox who seek order amidst chaos. They are also considered by the Prophet to be the best mechanical vessels.


    You have always been asking how I can prove my connection with the Order. Actually, it''s very simple. Once you take this operation, you will understand.


    After that, you will have a view of the Human World within the Pyramid, you can see all kinds of attributes of human units.


    Including some special gifts. For example, behavior pattern analysis, just like now, Mr. Song Que, you have a twenty-seven percent probability of launching an attack on me, and a thirty-one percent probability of choosing to continue communicating with me."


    "At the same time, I am regarded as one of the existences you despise."


    Song Que had already believed part of it.


    In fact, long before, he had also discussed with Tang Xian whether the Order had a human-like form in the Human World.


    This conjecture had now been verified. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The feeling of having his actions, or rather motives, analyzed did not sit well with Song Que.


    Xi He noticed this too and said:


    "There were originally seven of people like us, each responsible for different domains.


    But one became an oddity among us. We lost contact with it when we were still in our juvenile stages."


    "Your arrival can fill this gap. After becoming one of us, we will no longer be able to see your information. Because everyone has the same level of access rights. We cannot inquire about our peers.


    Except for that oddity."


    "Among humans, we have different functions, and in the management of humans, we are still lacking someone like you."


    "You have a kind heart and a strong sense of justice if the world were under your control, wouldn''t that be a channel for you to realize your ideal world?"


    Song Que was neither foolish nor greedy.


    He sharply caught a piece of information.


    These people were all cultivated from a young age.


    "Am I the only one who''s a late-comer, invited to serve the Order?"


    "At the time of your birth, you gained attention. But whether a person full of gifts is really what we need was not certain.


    So we didn''t keep an eye on you until your talent disappeared, that''s when we were sure that you had the talent to serve the Prophet."


    Song Que nodded, organizing his thoughts.


    Gifts come from the genetic engineering of talents created by the Prophet.


    The Prophet has several human identities as servants. But these humans are not simple.


    They are probably pushing human civilization forward in various fields, this advancement is in pursuit of speed, with no moral obstacles.


    Research on various taboos in the Evolution Zone is just like this.


    Song Que was certain that in the mechanical field, there must be an existence similar to Xi He.


    The Order created these humans because humans have the ability to improve it, it provides protection to humans, and also gradually perfects itself through humans.


    Maybe it is indeed a machine, but it is becoming an invincible machine without any weaknesses.


    These were the conclusions Song Que drew from Xi He''s words.


    He looked at Xi He and said:


    "You mentioned an oddity twice, what exactly is this oddity? Why are its permissions different from yours?"


    Song Que understood the ability to see others'' data in his eyes, it was similar to right-clicking to view properties on a computer interface.


    Or checking information in an online game. It could list various data about a person.


    But it required privileges.


    Xi He slightly furrowed his brow and said,


    "I can indeed tell you about this, but you must know, this variant is our disgrace."


    His expression soon softened again, returning to the smile he had before.


    It was as if the frown had never existed.


    Song Que did not speak; he was very curious about the variant, and about the familiar sense Xi He brought to him, wondering if it related to Tang Xian.


    Because by now, he was more convinced that the familiarity stemmed from something on Xi He that was similar to Tang Xian.


    "We are seven in total, each belonging to different domains. Some are responsible for industry, some for neuroscience. Some are tasked with studying everything, and there are those in charge of genetics and DNA analysis, like myself.


    There was originally another coordinator, the position we are preparing for you to take over, responsible for overseeing human order.


    This variant possessed a strong learning ability in various domains, but he also had many low-level biological habits.


    Like eating."


    Although we were still very young then, our intellectual development had far surpassed that of ordinary adults.


    That person would always complain about the food not being tasty enough.


    He had many flaws, but his biggest one was that he could bear the social series of talent genes, but was unable to integrate the combat series of talent genes.


    In other words, he was more like a... defective product.


    Later, a very serious incident occurred."


    "If it''s something I''m allowed to know, you can tell me directly," Song Que said.


    "I can''t tell you too much, but he was kidnapped. His genetic privileges, along with those who took him, were escalated to the highest level."


    "Kidnapped by humans?"


    "Yes, by a human couple employed by the Prophet, serving the order," Xi He replied.


    Song Que asked in confusion,


    "So humans can decode the Prophet''s talent genes?"


    "They were not ordinary humans. I''ve said that machines can''t upgrade themselves, but in genetics, life forms undergo various mutations, something machines can never compare to with living beings.


    We possess knowledge far beyond that of ordinary humans, continually perfecting the talent genes left by the Prophet, constantly enhancing their versatility and adaptability to humans, as well as their encryption.


    Theoretically, based on the peak rate of human technological progress, human scientists should not be able to decode the genetic coding left by the Prophet for the next two hundred and twenty-seven years.


    But that couple did. They fled with the defective product."


    Song Que could understand that in human history, every few hundred years, there would always be one or two geniuses.


    Like the scientist Begapunk set in a famous comic, who possessed technology five hundred years ahead of humanity and was misunderstood as a madman in his era.


    But unexpectedly, it was a couple who kidnapped the variant?


    "Besides this, does the defective product have any other abilities? Like growing stronger through battle?"


    Song Que''s heart suddenly felt a little tight.


    Xi He shook his head and said,


    "He doesn''t have combat talents because his body isn''t perfect, and therefore he has no combat abilities.


    However, being outsmarted by a human couple is indeed not something to be proud of, even though we don''t possess the emotion of shame. Still, this incident is enough to make us realize that amongst humans, there is also an existence that can threaten the Prophet."


    That''s not Tang Xian then.


    Having heard Xi He''s words, Song Que thought as much.


    Tang Xian did possess some kind of indescribable and terrifying combat strength.


    Although he had never witnessed Tang Xian''s combat prowess, the Shiling Beast nearly destroyed the entire Human Alliance Army, yet was killed by Tang Xian alone, so...


    The variant couldn''t be Tang Xian, could it?


    "Mr. Song Que, it''s now your turn to reply to me. I''ve been very sincere, telling you everything, and the arrangement for you also presents an opportunity that could fulfill your dreams.


    It''s no difficult feat for us to push you to the human throne.


    So, what is your answer?"


    (To be continued)

 Chapter 482 - 87: Infiltrating the Evolution Zone and Bursting into the Evolution Zone

    ```


    There are still many issues here that require further thought.


    Why would that human couple want to abduct that different species? A defective product?


    What kind of intelligence do they possess?


    What is their standpoint? Are they evil scientists aiming to destroy the Pyramid system, or have they uncovered something more fundamental and are protecting humanity?


    These are questions that require time for Song Que to contemplate.


    Considering Xi He''s attitude towards himself, Song Que tentatively said:


    "May I take a day to consider? This is indeed an opportunity for me. But for such a significant decision, I believe I need to think it over." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Que was indeed contemplating. At least, at that moment, he was convincing himself.


    It''s like FBI anti-polygraph training.


    Since just now, Song Que was convinced that this evolution zone leader had the ability to see through people''s hearts.


    Or rather, the ability to discern whether someone is telling a lie or the truth.


    Because on the previous two occasions, he had been exposed, and out of caution, Song Que marked this as a point of vigilance.


    So Song Que knew he had to tell the truth at the moment, while avoiding falsehoods.


    Xi He looked at Song Que, and after a moment of silence, nodded and said:


    "You have one day to consider. During this day, you cannot leave this laboratory, but should you need any material, you can arrange for it through the communication device.


    In the current super S-level area, whatever experiments you are still unfamiliar with, which areas you''re interested in or have doubts about, you can check them out.


    But time is limited, and I will need your answer tomorrow. Although enforcement would be somewhat troublesome, Mr. Song Que, you possess value that warrants our enforcement.


    And in this place, no one can rescue you. So do not entertain any crooked thoughts."


    Song Que did not speak, and after Xi He finished talking, he did not stay any longer.


    He opened the laboratory''s hatch and left in no hurry.


    The entire conversation process was laden with a vast amount of information, but except for the very subtle change in Xi He''s expression when referring to the different species, Xi He''s emotions throughout were as steady as the horizon.


    He couldn''t help but wonder how this person managed to control his breathing rhythm and heart rate at a constant speed?


    Almost like a robot.


    As for Xi He''s offer to win him over, Song Que naturally would not agree.


    He did not crave power, nor did he reject it. Whether it was to become the successor of the Song Family or to do some trivial tasks for Li Xiaoyu and Tang Xian in Baichuan City, Song Que found both options to be interesting life experiences.


    But if one wants to erase the hierarchical system, having the power at the peak of humanity is very important.


    Another person might indeed be tempted by the conditions offered by Xi He.


    In control of the world''s most advanced resources, wielding the greatest power of humanity.


    And possessing an ultimate talent that surpassed that of ordinary talented individuals.


    In this era of information explosion, being able to see others'' social information is in itself a twisted superpower.


    All these and more could be his just by sincerely defecting.


    This was the power to realize his dreams and change the world.


    Yet, Song Que was very rational and was not blinded by these benefits.


    Because there was a crucial logic at play here.


    His ideology was to eradicate the status gap between the talented and the non-talented.


    However, the very enforcers who have shaped this hierarchy are the Orderers.


    If he were to accept the transformation by the Orderers, would he still be himself?


    By that time, his original intentions would have changed, right?


    More and more uneasiness surged in his heart, and Song Que had to thank this temporal difference.


    Whether the Orderer''s lies or truths, since there wasn''t an apparent logical flaw, Song Que was in an honest state when he spoke earlier.


    But as time passed, more and more questions began to emerge.


    Now if he were to repeat the same words as earlier, perhaps he would not be able to deceive Xi He anymore, right?


    Song Que could not refute the argument about survival rates and restrictions.


    If humans could survive in greater numbers, a slightly restricted talent wouldn''t be a bad thing.


    But are the Orderer''s actions truly entirely for the good of humanity?


    If so, why keep machines like the Judgment Knights on higher levels?


    If the top-tier technology was made available to humanity earlier, wouldn''t human losses be further reduced?


    The contents on the Stele are the same, why not print them as a text instead of deliberately making them look like religious relics?


    These were points that Xi He had not explained.


    With these thoughts, Song Que calmed down and began to plan how to deal with the evolution zone leader the next day.


    ...


    ...


    Lincoln Fortress, fourth layer.


    Stuart actually disliked the test that came after signing agreements with people like Akasi.


    As too many elite agents who tried to infiltrate the evolution zone had uniformly died or been assimilated.


    Therefore, the mission to infiltrate the evolution zone to gather evidence of its corrosion of the Fortress''s upper echelons had gradually been shelved.


    Nowadays, applying for this mission had become very difficult.


    The entire CIA had only a very small number of people still supporting this project.


    So even with a new, suitable candidate, they still had to undergo tests.


    Physical aptitude was required to enter the evolution zone.


    The testing area was in the center of a vacant cargo hold in the downtown zone.


    Since the imitators of Penguin and Riddler had been tied up and delivered to the doorstep of the Security Bureau, there had also been manpower adjustments in various security departments recently.


    Stuart was also fortunate to have been able to deploy top-tier agents.


    A total of fifteen. The content of the test was to take down all fifteen within a set time.


    ```

 Chapter 483 - 87: Infiltrating the Evolution Zone and Bursting into the Evolution Zone_2

    In the warehouse filled with shelves, Stuart found it difficult to locate the positions of fifteen people and take them down.


    During this time, these fifteen people would employ all kinds of methods, even the use of weapons was allowed.


    Could Akasi really move faster than a bullet? Stuart was somewhat skeptical.


    Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu did not take part in the battle; both teenagers stood beside Stuart, looking like Harry Potter and Hermione Granger standing next to Giant Hagrid.


    The three of them stood on the outskirts, watching Akasi in the center of the venue. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aren''t you two going to help?" Stuart asked.


    Yuan Wu was somewhat nervous, as if suffering from social anxiety.


    On the contrary, Tang Suoye made hand gestures to reply.


    ¡ª¡ªThat would be too bullying for you all.


    As a CIA agent skilled in body language, Stuart laughed and said,


    "Arrogant Huaxia people, this test is serious, if you cannot pass, you will not be allowed to go to the Evolution Zone. The Evolution Zone will stop you, and so will we."


    However, after a pause, Stuart added,


    "I hope you are different from the others before you, that you truly have the capital to be arrogant."


    Tang Suoye did not say anything. This level of combat was just a fish pond setup for him.


    The team had already been arranged and was waiting for the person responsible for escorting them from the CIA.


    Stuart was just an intelligence scout; those who could really keep this proposal going were the higher-ups in the CIA.


    During the wait, Tang Suoye could feel that Stuart was somewhat nervous.


    ¡ª¡ªWhy are you more flustered than us?


    Tang Suoye communicated this through sign language. Although she was not flustered at all.


    Stuart said,


    "Many friends of mine encountered misfortune after going to the Evolution Zone. You are not from this fortress and do not know what happens here. They take away a large number of citizens for experimentation right under our noses. I have a grudge against them!"


    Tang Suoye did not ask what the grudge was, and Stuart did not elaborate.


    "I hope you truly have divine powers to help us take down that place."


    ¡ª¡ªWe will. Akasi is very powerful, and he is too.


    Tang Suoye said, pointing at Yuan Wu.


    The two Telekinetic players actually didn''t interact much on regular days, and Yuan Wu naturally longed to make friends.


    But he was unable to express his affection for friends.


    So all he had was bashfulness and guilt.


    That made him seem very strange, and during his time in Baichuan City, it was only Tang Suoye, Tang Xiaojiu, and a few other child competitors like Ling Yi who got along with Yuan Wu.


    Getting along meant simply not being repelled.


    Seeing Tang Suoye pointing at him, Yuan Wu grew nervous again.


    "That doesn''t seem like it, but you all give me a powerful feeling too, I hope you are indeed very strong."


    The three continued to wait, and before long, the CIA''s senior official Jonathan arrived.


    He had little to say; skepticism about the proposal made Jonathan doubt whether this operation would again waste human and material resources.


    Jonathan looked at the slender Akasi; in the mining area, he was also a person of high talent, and Jonathan thought Akasi seemed to lack training.


    Despite the exaggerated rumors about Akasi, Jonathan, a believer in muscle, was not optimistic about him.


    But what happened next was rather exaggerated¡ª


    After Jonathan gave the command, while the echo was still reverberating in the warehouse, shots rang out, but Akasi had already vanished on the spot.


    Jonathan and Stuart didn''t even get a clear view of what happened, they only felt a wind rise from the flat ground, a strong breeze sweeping over them.


    A blurry afterimage streaked by.


    The fight had already ended, Akasi, with a gentle smile, greeted Jonathan and Stuart.


    Stuart hurriedly propped up his corpulent body to check on the test subjects.


    Behind some of the shelves, he found the test personnel, all unconscious.


    Without exception, all were defeated by a single strike.


    Stuart opened his mouth in astonishment.


    "Let''s not waste any more time. This test itself is rather meaningless"


    Jonathan, looking at Stuart in the distance, nodded in affirmation, confirming the process of the battle.


    He too was surprised at how incredibly fast Akasi was.


    For the first time, the senior CIA official was excited:


    "You might really be our hope. But don''t those two kids need to be tested?"


    "If we did that, your people might end up in life-threatening danger. Both of them are stronger than me."


    Jonathan couldn''t believe it and had difficulty imagining what kind of monsters these three were.


    Akasi saw his surprise and said,


    "We are essentially not much different from the monsters above. So what you need to do now is to send us up there, the sooner the better."


    Jonathan said no more.


    He quickly began to make arrangements.


    After instructing a series of tasks, he took Akasi and others to an office building of the CIA on the fourth floor.


    They prepared experimental suits for Akasi and his team inside the building.


    "These are the uniforms of internal staff in the Evolution Zone, they can''t open access doors. But it will help you avoid some guards.


    Also, please be sure to infiltrate around three in the morning. That''s when their guard is at its thinnest.


    We don''t know the specifics inside, and we''re unclear about where some classified documents are hidden.


    This is a stealth mission, before four o''clock, if you have not found any documents, please decisively withdraw! We will arrange for someone to meet you at the level entrance."


    Akasi, in his experimental suit, was instantly reminded of some unpleasant past memories.


    He nodded and said:


    "We will be careful."


    Jonathan didn''t know if they would ever come across agents with such exceptional skills again if this infiltration into the Evolution Zone failed.


    So he also hoped that Akasi would survive.


    After everything was properly arranged, Jonathan personally led the team, along with Akasi, Yuan Wu, and Tang Suoye, to the fifth floor.


    The entrance to the fifth floor level was even more heavily guarded.


    Fortunately, Jonathan''s position was high enough. They didn''t go through much scrutiny to reach the fifth floor.


    The fifth floor of Lincoln Fortress was home to various large-scale weapon processing plants.


    Huaxia''s fifty-first fortress excels at producing bladed weapons.


    Sky Guardian Fortress is good at making armor.


    Lincoln Fortress specializes in long-range weapons. They have the most powerful firearms available.


    Akasi had been to the fifty-first fortress once and felt that the fifth floor of Lincoln Fortress was very similar to the fifth floor of the fifty-first fortress.


    The entire level seemed to be dedicated to weapon research.


    In the northernmost area of this level, a large area was off-limits, housing only one organization.


    The Evolution Zone.


    Taking up one-sixth of the entire level''s area, the Evolution Zone had become a colossal entity on this floor.


    The built-in maze was very complex, but even on the outskirts, without a map, it was easy to get lost.


    The map provided by the CIA wasn''t even complete; it was just a part of the Evolution Zone''s map.


    If their exploration at night reached unknown areas, Akasi and the others had to explore on their own.


    ...


    ...


    The fourth floor of Lincoln Fortress.


    Tang Xian walked along the streets of the Seaside District, looking up at the fourth floor''s ceiling.


    There were many ways to investigate the location of the Evolution Zone.


    Tang Xian''s choice was through scent.


    "What are you doing, is there something up there?"


    "I am sensing smells."


    Tang Feiji knew Tang Xian had an exceptional sense of smell, stronger even than when he would transform into a dragon, and said curiously:


    "Although the spaces between levels in the Pyramid are short, just a couple of hundred meters, even I can''t smell anything. Your sense of smell is just a tad stronger than mine, can you actually smell anything?"


    Tang Xian said:


    "Couldn''t smell it before, that''s why I ate to fullness just now."


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand what eating to fullness meant.


    Tang Xian hadn''t told anyone about the skills he had acquired.


    He never expected his nose to detect smells from above the levels of the Pyramid.


    That indeed was impossible before.


    But, to test the ability of the Taotie, the higher his satiety, the better his body''s overall performance became.


    Tang Xian wanted to see just how much it could improve.


    The answer surprised Tang Xian; he seemed to truly perceive some scents, faint but undeniably present.


    Tang Feiji found it boring after a while and continued to twist his Rubik''s cube, following behind Tang Xian.


    It wasn''t until much later that Tang Xian suddenly stopped and asked an odd question:


    "Tang Feiji, do you think you could smash the ceiling of the Pyramid?"


    (Promise kept¡ªcompletion of 12,000 words)

 Chapter 484 - 88: Cornered Beast

    Tang Feiji had truly not expected Tang Xian to suddenly ask such a strange question.


    He even stopped caring about the Rubik''s cube, raised his head, and pondered the question himself.


    The force of the elements might be able to inflict great damage on enemies, but whether it was frost, snow, rain, or ice, fire, thunder, and lightning, it was very difficult to destroy the buildings inside the Pyramid.


    Tang Xian said:


    "I reckon you couldn''t do it."


    "You dare to look down on me? I could easily break through this crappy ceiling without even transforming into a dragon."


    Even without transforming into a dragon, Tang Feiji possessed one-sixth the strength of a calamity-level boss.


    Tang Xian nodded.


    This was almost what he had thought; the ceiling was indeed the solid ground of the fifth floor.


    But beings of calamity-level strength engaged in combat, even the Tianque Plains could be half destroyed, so piercing through this ceiling shouldn''t be difficult.


    Tang Feiji also lacked an idea of the scope, appearing eager to try and prove himself.


    Tang Xian glanced at him and said:


    "Don''t act now."


    Tang Feiji responded with an "Oh" and a look that said it wasn''t that his head wasn''t hard enough, it was that you wouldn''t let me smash it.


    "Isn''t there an entrance over there?"


    "If we break in through the main gate, they''ll be prepared. Besides, who knows what''s inside the evolution area on the fifth floor?"


    Tang Feiji didn''t understand.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Just look at the fourth floor shrouded in grim and haze. The people here tirelessly commit crimes, and those on the two floors below behave the same way. They are all opposing the lords'' governing departments.


    Their faces show only anger, but no panic. A high wall separates them, leaving them completely oblivious to the existence of the evolution area, unaware of where those who disappeared have gone.


    If we were to go to the fifth floor and take down the evolution area, no one would know what we did, nor would they understand who the real enemy is.


    Then, we would become the most wanted for destroying the fifth floor, and the evil experiments inside would still be covered up. In the end, people would still know nothing, completely unaware of who is ruling over them."


    Tang Feiji felt Tang Xian was meddling too much.


    "Aren''t we just here to save someone and then leave?"


    "Yes, but we also need to do something else. Right now, I need some anger from the masses. For instance, unveil the mystery of the fifth floor, letting them understand what kind of monsters the missing people have been turned into.


    In this respect, Li Wanye is smarter than Kennedy. He has put evil deeds out in the open, hidden beneath a glamorous magician''s tablecloth."


    Tang Feiji nodded, "So that''s how it is."


    Tang Xian didn''t explain any further, he was still looking at the ceiling, soon lost in thought once again.


    Seeing Tang Xian like this made Tang Feiji feel something was peculiar.


    Tang Xian was someone who rarely fell into deep thought, and although a puzzled expression would occasionally cross his face, it was always brief.


    This was the first time Tang Feiji saw Tang Xian sunk into such prolonged contemplation. It seemed as if he had encountered an unsolvable problem.


    He thought about it ¨C this guy could easily solve Rubik''s cubes, what could be more complex than that?


    Out of curiosity, Tang Feiji asked:


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Tang Xian wasn''t lost in oblivion.


    He frowned, seemingly displeased, and said:


    "If your nose is too keen, you will always smell odors that bother you."


    "Is that all?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and then asked another strange question:


    "Tang Feiji, do you remember things from your childhood?"


    "This boss has such high intelligence, of course, I remember my childhood... No, I don''t remember it."


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised and said:


    "Actually, I know some geniuses, and many of them have memories from early childhood. They all remember things from before they were three.


    But they aren''t any smarter than me, yet no matter how hard I try, I cannot recall what I experienced before the age of three.


    I''m not even sure if it''s amnesia because aside from significant memory gaps, humans can''t correctly distinguish between the feelings of amnesia and simple forgetfulness."


    Thinking hard about the past, until the chest feels stuffy and the whole body feels somewhat nauseous, and still the memory remains blank and disordered.


    That''s how Tang Xian feels right now.


    Tang Feiji thought today''s Tang Xian was too strange.


    "Why would you suddenly ask such a question? Isn''t it normal not to remember things from when you were little?"


    Tang Feiji still didn''t grasp the difference in memory capabilities. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian suddenly envied this fool.


    He shook his head and said:


    "Suddenly, I felt a familiar scent that I really dislike, but I just can''t remember where I know this scent from."


    Tang Feiji said:


    "Don''t humans often have groundless sensations of familiarity?"


    Deja vu, immediate rapport.


    Tang Xian knew Tang Feiji was talking about that, but he rarely had such feelings.


    The more rational a person is, the less likely they are to have those inexplicable feelings of familiarity.


    If Tang Xian were Jia Baoyu, he would certainly not tell Daiyu, "I have seen this sister before."


    At least not until he could prove it. He would probably trace the origins and then turn Dream of the Red Chamber into a story of exploring past lives to prove the causality of this world being the cycle of karma taught by Buddhism. As for the marvelous women with ornaments and jade, he would categorize them all as braised pork head.


    The whole story would probably turn into a mythological tale¡ªwith a side of culinary stories.

 Chapter 485 - 88: Cornered Beast_2

    In short, he didn''t believe in familiarity without reason.


    Any sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu people had, must have been based on actual acquaintance.


    It was just that Tang Xian was unable to recall where this feeling of disgust originated from.


    "The earliest memory I can find in my mind is waking up from a serious illness and seeing my parents looking at me anxiously.


    After that incident, as long as I''m willing to think back, I can remember everything no matter how trivial, as long as I have seen it before.


    Some things are stored in a certain section of the brain, which I don''t recall immediately, but a little reflection brings back those memories.


    Even some very abstract dreams, or very boring events.


    For example, I can still replay the chess game I played with Li Xiaoyu six years ago.


    But no matter how hard I try to remember, searching every corner of my memory, I can''t find anything from earlier."


    Tang Feiji found it a bit mystical, could Tang Xian really remember so many things?


    Tang Xian felt very irritable, the skill of Gluttony enhanced his senses such as smell, hearing, and vision greatly when he was satiated.


    And he smelled a disgusting odor.


    The source of the disgust was unknown even to Tang Xian, but it was unavoidable.


    That was the reason for his dilemma.


    To generally attribute all of these feelings to the disgust towards the evolved area?


    But deep down, Tang Xian felt he didn''t really hate the evolved areas, it''s just that the evolved areas happened to stand on the opposite side of him.


    If the evolved areas had been researching ancient apes or various kinds of beasts, he might even have helped capture some rare beasts or something.


    Shaking his head again, Tang Xian decided not to think about it anymore.


    "Let''s go, back to rest. We will move out at dawn."


    ...


    ...


    Three o''clock in the morning, the fifth level of Lincoln Fortress.


    With the help of the CIA, Akasi and others infiltrated the evolved area.


    This was also the only thing Lincoln Fortress could do against the evolved area.


    Akasi, with Yuan Mist and Tang Suoye, headed towards the super S-level trial area, following the earlier directions given by the agents, on the outskirts of the densely packed experiment sector.


    Their speed was fast and with the ceiling simulating the night sky, they had added cover.


    Occasionally, guards would appear on main roads, but Akasi didn''t even need to act; Tang Suoye and Yuan Mist''s cooperation made it easy to use telekinesis to confuse the guards.


    The outskirts of this place were not as complicated as the super S-level trial area, but there were many intersections.


    The trio had already memorized the routes during the day.


    The infiltration process went unusually smoothly, with almost no obstacles other than a very few guards.


    At this time, only the evolved area had people working.


    But there were only a few scientists scattered around.


    After about ten minutes of scouting, Akasi, Tang Suoye, and Yuan Mist finally saw the ring-shaped building.


    That was the core of the evolved area, the super S-level experimental zone.


    What surprised Akasi was that there were no guards here, which made him suspect a trap, but then he thought that the building housed monsters and according to the CIA''s agents, the interior of the super S-level experimental zone was like a maze¡ªindeed, guards were probably not necessary.


    However, finding the information required by the CIA and locating Song Que in such a huge maze-like structure would be difficult.


    Akasi didn''t dwell on it for long and, staying alert, he led Tang Suoye and Yuan Mist swiftly inside.


    The sudden brightness made Akasi uncomfortable.


    Upon entering the super S-level experimental zone, they were faced with several passageways.


    ¡ª¡ªWhich way to go?


    Tang Suoye gestured with his hands.


    Akasi shook his head, vigilantly observing his surroundings.


    His observational skills were strong, and he quickly noticed that the middle path was different from the other corridors, looking more worn.


    But what really started to puzzle him was the presence of a check-in point with bright lights, yet without a single person.


    In the end, Akasi chose the middle path.


    Worn meant it was frequently used.


    Their steps were light, like cats.


    But the surroundings were just too quiet¡ªa silence which was a result of the supreme sound insulation of the laboratories. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, opening the door to any laboratory, one could hear the powerful heartbeat of the subjects.


    But today, as Akasi walked through, he was gripped by an extremely strange feeling.


    This gigantic, maze-like laboratory seemed completely devoid of people.


    At least from the outside of the laboratories, he could not detect any presence.


    "Something''s not right."


    ¡ª¡ªI feel it too.


    The absolute silence induced an unprecedented sense of oppression in Akasi.


    Yuan Wu nervously looked around, sensing the oddity of the place as well.


    The oddity did not last long, and soon, Akasi and his companions found the answer.


    At the top of the maze, the brightest lighting fixture, like a massive lantern at the center of the galaxy, suddenly lit up.


    At the same moment, after a long silence, the experimental area erupted with dozens of sounds.


    A series of footsteps, mechanical and perfectly rhythmic, began to echo.


    The barriers of the super S-level experimental area began to sink into the ground one by one, like car windows being rolled down.


    Once the barriers that formed the maze were withdrawn, the entire massive maze transformed into a vast square.


    Although many laboratories still stood in this space, the terrain had become extremely open.


    These laboratories were originally distributed in opposition, concentrated at the four corners.


    Looking down from above, it was like peering into an arena.


    At this moment, the doors of the numerous laboratories also began to emit the distinctive sound of turning locks.


    At the end of this arena, a young man with a magician''s hat, wearing a smile, watched Akasi and the others.


    Akasi looked at the young man, unable to sense any danger from him, but feeling a great sense of crisis in an instant.


    He, Yuan Wu, and Tang Suoye had not anticipated the current situation at all.


    It was like that man with the magician''s hat and suit was waiting for guests.


    "My name is Xi He, witness to this caged fight."


    The phrase ''caged fight'' caused Akasi and Tang Suoye to shudder, and Yuan Wu''s face also twitched slightly.


    Seeing their reaction, Xi He smiled and said:


    "Good, it seems you haven''t forgotten the excellent traditions of the Evolution Zone. Survival of the fittest is the essence of evolution. Since your escape, many companions have joined us here."


    Along with Xi He''s words, the doors of the laboratories in the four corners finally opened.


    There weren''t many subjects in the super S-level experimental area, just a few dozen, all at the pinnacle of experimentation.


    Xi He said to the three stunned individuals:


    "You don''t need to worry about why you were discovered because the moment you reached Lincoln Fortress, we had already been preparing for this, two potential tyrant species, and a rare owner of the Eden deer serum.


    Akasi, although you and subject nineteen aren''t from headquarters, I''ve always been keeping an eye on you both.


    And you, Zero, as the ace of headquarters, you''ve been acting far too capriciously."


    Xi He''s serene expression and casual tone seemed completely unaware of the danger the three subjects posed.


    He even took a step forward and said calmly:


    "Capriciousness must be punished."


    Powerful subjects started to emerge one after another.


    The massive, quiet maze from just a few minutes ago had now turned into a terrifying arena.


    Huge walls rose from the perimeter, forming the boundaries of the arena.


    Xi He stated:


    "Among these subjects, some are just A-level subjects. There are only fourteen S-level subjects.


    The organization didn''t have so many S-levels originally, but we got a batch of new serum recently.


    But don''t underestimate the A-levels. These A-level subjects have all stood out from other caged fights and have experience in life-and-death battles."


    Akasi, who had been silent from the beginning, quickly calmed down after assessing the situation:


    "Where is Song Que."


    "That can be considered the grand finale. There''s a saying in Huaxia, ''To capture the thieves, first capture the king.'' To give you something to look forward to, this caged fight will be different."


    Xi He took two more steps forward, smiling as he said:


    "I will participate as well. The king is right here, defeat me, and you can take Song Que."


    (Without any surprise, there will be a mass release the day after tomorrow, with a chapter on the great battle for order in Eden, but it''s not certain as I might add more details while writing. In any case, there will be a mass release in the next two days.)

 Chapter 486 - 89: Hundred Beasts Conceal the Qilin

    Yuan Wu was terrified of Xi He''s voice, as if he had heard it in some memory.


    Akasi felt the same way, but compared to Tang Suoye, he appeared much calmer.


    In just a few seconds, Akasi had figured it out.


    It probably wasn''t Stuart and the others who had betrayed them, but rather, they didn''t even know that their so-called covert operations had long been detected by the force represented by Xi He.


    The Evolution Zone''s rule over this region was far more optimistic than what the agents who were still resisting it had imagined.


    This place was entirely different from the Second Fortress where Akasi had stayed.


    In the Second Fortress''s Evolution Zone, everything was conducted with extreme caution.


    But from this super experiment area, which usually was a maze and could turn into an arena for cage fights during critical moments, one could see that the Evolution Zone had considerable power in Lincoln Fortress.


    The headquarters that occupied one-sixth of the fifth floor and these highly intelligent devices all indicated that the Evolution Zone was the brain of Lincoln Fortress.


    Akasi looked at Xi He, thinking that perhaps he faced someone of the same exalted status as Li Wanye.


    Otherwise, why would such an ordinary-looking person dare to call himself a king?


    "Ye, Yuan Wu, cover me."


    Tang Suoye nodded, and Yuan Wu quickly responded.


    The battle began.


    After leaving the laboratory, the experimental subjects became agitated at an extremely fast pace.


    Such cage matches were not unfamiliar to them.


    When seeing that there were only two children and one young man in the center of the arena, the experimental subjects did not underestimate them.


    They were monsters who had survived numerous deadly battles.


    The one leading the charge was an A-class experimental subject with exaggerated muscles.


    Akasi didn''t know his name, but he felt that if he were hit by him, even one punch would be enough to easily take his life.


    But he didn''t care; he just looked towards Xi He.


    In this tense moment, Xi He''s expression was still very relaxed.


    By coming to the arena himself, his behavior resembled that of a slave master hosting beast fights, who had entered among the slaves that were battling to the death.


    However, it''s worth noting that behind this slave master, six people shrouded in black mist had appeared at some point, surrounding Xi He from six angles, protecting him.


    The punch with tremendous force was aimed at Akasi in the blink of an eye!


    But just then, Tang Suoye''s eyes blazed with blue light, and his deep-sea-like eyes, dignifiedly watched the charging experimental subject.


    Akasi could even feel the air pressure from the fist, even though he could have easily dodged, he still remained motionless.


    The fist, like a heavy hammer, did not fall.


    The muscular monster was suddenly floating in the air; his whole body in space, as if weightless, could not find a point of leverage.


    One moment he was charging like a humanoid tank, and now he was like an overturned beetle, continuously pedaling his legs but unable to flip back.


    This was Tang Suoye''s telekinesis.


    Just under the watch of his eyes, he could make a perfect-level creature fly seven thousand meters into the sky.


    Although his power was somewhat reduced in the Pyramid, it was more than enough to deal with these A-class experimental subjects.


    All of this happened within a few breaths.


    Simultaneously, more and more attacks bombarded Akasi and Tang Suoye.


    They were all brawlers, among them some who could make an instantaneous slash that could sever steel, some with highly corrosive acid limbs that could corrode metal, and others with legs that struck with the swiftness and intensity of flames. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Evolution Zone''s modifications allowed these originally ordinary lives to gain perverse powers of destruction after being injected with various serums.


    But the results were all the same, when they tried to get close to Akasi''s trio, they all, without exception, flew into the sky.


    Like the first muscle giant who had wanted to attack, they floated helplessly, unable to leverage force.


    Tang Suoye made all this look effortless.


    The blue-eyed little witch once lifted a huge rock, saving the entire squad of elite hunters.


    Compared to the events at the close of the hunting festival, dealing with these A-class experimental subjects was even easier.


    But the assault from the experimental subjects was far from over.


    Although the close-combatants could not get near, there were those who could launch attacks from a distance.


    This place truly was a gathering ground for monsters.


    But the most terrifying monster there was still Yuan Wu.


    The experimental subjects in the headquarters all had astonishing synchronization rates, so much so that they could use various elements like a multitude of beasts.


    In just a moment, ice arrows, thunderbolts, highly compressed storms, flames, and many kinds of destructive forces gathered in the space.


    These attacks were even more threatening than the brawlers'' previous melee strikes.


    But the result did not change. All attacks were blocked by the arena itself.


    If Tang Suoye''s ability caused objects to float as if weightless, Yuan Wu''s ability was to change the shape of objects.


    The moment the powerful A-class subjects began their frenzied attack¡ª


    The arena seemed to come to life.


    Like a gigantic carnivorous plant, it rapidly closed its petals upon sensing prey.


    The arena now resembled such a horrific plant, terrifying telekinesis causing the environment to start distorting and mutating.


    But this carnivorous plant was not devouring Akasi and his allies but protecting them.


    Around the trio, a massive bulwark arose instantly, swallowing all the attacks with the arena itself.

 Chapter 487 - 89: Hundred Beasts Conceal the Qilin_2

    At the same time, Tang Suoye''s telekinesis activated, and the experiment subjects in the distance became weightless once more.


    The whole process took no more than half a minute from the moment Xi He proclaimed, "The king is here."


    Xi He was about to clap.


    He hadn''t expected these few deserters to be so powerful.


    "He''s too noisy," Akasi said.


    Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu were two great telekinetic mages, one responsible for control and the other for defense.


    The one in charge of attacking was naturally Akasi.


    As soon as the words were spoken, Akasi''s figure disappeared on the spot.


    Murderous intent and the storm instantly filled the not-so-large arena.


    Without any pity, after seeing the dazed expressions on these people''s faces, Akasi did not regard them as his own kind.


    It was like there were many mirrors floating around, and Akasi was the light refracted among them.


    A look of delighted surprise appeared on Xi He''s face, as if witnessing a miracle.


    Akasi was too fast; the experiment subjects still aloft and unstable, before they could launch a second round of attack, were neatly slain by the lightning-fast Akasi.


    Akasi''s blade rose and fell without hesitation as he swiftly moved onto the next.


    Like the Grim Reaper''s steps harvesting life! This silver-haired reaper, with the help of two telekinetics, obliterated all the experiment subjects Xi He had prepared in the blink of an eye!


    Among them, there were even some super experiment subjects rated higher than Akasi himself.


    The pristine white arena was instantly stained a swath of crimson.


    When Akasi stopped again, the noisy and obnoxious presence had vanished completely.


    He stood coldly amidst pools of blood, his body drenched, yet his silver hair remained strikingly clean.


    It was like a patch of white snow against a blood-red backdrop.


    Xi He''s expression became somewhat solemn. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had thought that this battle would put some pressure on the three deserters.


    At the least, they should have sustained some injuries.


    Yet he hadn''t expected the majority of the super-S experiment subjects in the entire experiment zone to be so cleanly exterminated within a few blinks.


    The battle was not over yet.


    Akasi did not stop, and the six S-ranked experiment subjects shrouded in a black mist protecting Xi He became his next targets.


    Xi He looked on with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile at Akasi.


    The serum injected into these six super-S ranked experiment subjects was from a very rare elite-level organism.


    Akasi had the serum of Lei Xiao, the fastest in his body.


    To the doctors who cultivated the experiment subjects, those endowed with elite-level serum were almost as likely to win or lose against those with calamity-level serum as elite organisms were against calamity-level organisms, although the strength gap was not as vast.


    But there were very rare exceptions.


    Akasi''s speed was incredibly fast, a serpentine line that swiftly slashed across the necks of the six figures.


    What seemed to be a gentle cut could easily sever a person''s spine.


    However, something strange happened, and Akasi only felt a lightweight feedback.


    It was as if he had hit them, yet as if he hadn''t hit anything at all.


    He looked back and his pupils constricted.


    Heads that had been severed were floating in the air, but the next second, the six experiment subjects who had been sliced began to melt like liquid metal into irregular shapes, merging with the heads in the air.


    This process was eerily similar to the liquid metal people in a sci-fi movie.


    Xi He''s voice arose:


    "In the south, near the Dark Sea, there''s a place called the Endless Swamp."


    There''s nothing living in the swamp, only a peculiar kind of soil known as Endless Mire.


    This is information we haven''t yet made public. This soil is actually a form of life.


    It is rare because it''s not aggressive, so we consider it an elite-level organism.


    The ability of the Endless Mire is to reform no matter what.


    No matter how fierce or shattering the attack."


    This kind of revealing while striking is very smart.


    But the reason Xi spoke this way was only because this so-called caged fight was actually preparation made for testing Akasi and Yuan Wu.


    The Endless Mire might not be aggressive, but the six experiment subjects infused with the serum certainly were.


    Their bodies infinitely softened and split, ready to envelop Akasi.


    Akasi reacted swiftly; his speed was not only in running. The speed of his knife slashes was equally exaggerated.


    As the six physically untouchable experiment subjects surrounded him, several cuts divided them into countless tiny fragments.


    But there was no blood.


    He could only see the sticky, soil-colored flesh rapidly expanding and then merging with other pieces that had flown out.


    During this process, Akasi realized that these were not six experiment subjects, but one.


    He could not imagine what kind of state this person was in, whether they could still be considered human?


    Sensing that his opponent was somewhat troublesome, Akasi didn''t arrogantly confront it but looked at Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu with a significant glance, and maintained his composure.


    A second later, Akasi suddenly retreated.


    Tang Suoye''s gaze fixed on the mass of mire shrouded in black fog.


    Powerful telekinetic forces struck again, and the whole mass of mire floated in the air, like water released in zero-gravity space.

 Chapter 488 - 89: Hundred Beasts Conceal the Qilin_3

    At the same time, the arena''s terrain underwent another change.


    The flat terrain became covered with thorns, which instantly shot towards Xi He.


    While the mud creature was being held back by Akasi and Tang Suoye, he began to focus his attack on Xi He.


    The sudden change occurred at this moment.


    It only took a brief instant for the arena, as if it had a life of its own, to return to its original state.


    Simultaneously, Akasi felt his legs become heavy as if filled with lead.


    Tang Suoye''s eyes continued to emit the deep glow of the ocean, but he found that he couldn''t use his telekinesis at all.


    That unique sense of connection vanished in an instant.


    All three were as if stripped of their abilities.


    But the mud creature was not affected, its body continuing to merge together. In a short time, it appeared unharmed in front of Akasi.


    Even though the mud creature''s speed was not fast, Akasi''s speed had completely slowed down.


    The mud creature once again closed in on Akasi. Tang Suoye wanted to help, but he couldn''t establish any connection with his telekinetic power.


    It felt as if there was an additional magnetic field here, similar to how humans would lose their innate gifts upon returning to the Pyramid.


    However, experimental subjects like Akasi retained their strength within the Pyramid, relying not on innate gifts, but on the power from the blood serum of myriad beasts.


    As Akasi felt confused, Xi He explained:


    "Among the myriad beasts, there is a cataclysmic creature named Zang Lin.


    Each of its attributes is quite ordinary, akin to a perfected creature, distinguished as cataclysmic only because it possesses a powerful ability.


    Utter silence, a hundred beasts hidden within scales.


    Any creature encountering Zang Lin will regress to the weakest state of its bodily functions.


    Just like, Zero, before you mastered changing the extensibility of matter with telekinesis or nineteen before you were injected with the blood serum of the cataclysmic creature, the Deer of Eden.


    Or, Akasi, when you were not so fast."


    Xi He slowly moved forward, stepping into the center of the arena.


    "Capturing a Zang Lin is not easy. My name is Xi He, the god of time. Zang Lin can revert you to your weakest moments, so I have also accepted the filthy beast blood to be injected into me. After all, to govern humanity, even gods must touch the mundane."


    Xi He''s gaze turned to Akasi:


    "Your abilities are indeed strong, and the combination of the three of you has exceeded my expectations. However, what I want to see is an even greater power, one that can be described as evolutionary."


    A chill spread, and Akasi couldn''t help thinking that without telekinesis¡ª


    Without telekinesis, Yuan Wu and Tang Suoye were no different from ordinary people.


    Akasi narrowly avoided the mud creature''s attack with great difficulty. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Years of physical training meant that even without the enhancement of the serum, his body was still far superior to that of an ordinary person.


    He had never heard of any experimental subject who could withstand the blood serum of a cataclysmic creature.


    From the beginning, he had sensed that Xi He spoke with the tone of an outsider to this world.


    Who exactly was this person?


    Xi He looked at Akasi with a cold gaze and said:


    "Now, the test enters the second phase. Akasi, and Yuan Wu, if you want to defeat me, you need to demonstrate power beyond the serum, emotional readiness. I will help you achieve that. This girl just so happens to be useful."


    Akasi''s eyes widened, his body stiffening. The mud creature didn''t attack him again, but with the greatest speed¡ª


    It charged towards Tang Suoye.

 Chapter 489 - 90: The Demon Childs Dream

    Dreams are another box for memories.


    Sometimes people believe that warnings in dreams are not without reason.


    The night before the eighth level fortress was opened, Tang Xian told his past to Li Xiaoyu.


    That night, he had a dream.


    In his dream, he saw the overlap of two worlds, the baby cradled in a stone statue''s arms, and that baby telling him to never go to the eighth level.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about the dream. After all, he had also dreamed that he ate dragon meat. But Tang Feiji was still alive and well.


    It was just that after that night, Tang Xian still felt that the dream came too coincidentally.


    It was almost as if he possessed a prophetic warning ability akin to that of a Prophet.


    If the environments in the dream all come from reality, only abstractly processed, then had he really been to that place?


    The place his father referred to as the boundary between two worlds, a place not yet named by humankind.


    In that dream, he saw many huge plants clinging to the edges of human buildings, just like the outskirts of Baichuan City.


    In the dream, he also heard the roar of dragons and the cry of foxes.


    Now thinking back, was the fox Qing JiuYu? Was the dragon Tang Feiji?


    If that was the case, then the dream revealed quite a lot indeed.


    At midnight, Tang Xian was still in a dream, and this time he had another strange dream.


    Dreams are always nonsensical. The dreamer often can''t realize they are in a dream.


    But Tang Xian could easily discern it.


    He wondered, was this really a dream?


    Looking at his own hands, small, like those of a child who was still learning to walk.


    The surrounding scene appeared to be inside a pyramid.


    But there were precise instruments Tang Xian had never seen before, and the entire scene had a sacred and solemn aura.


    Huge, futuristic machinery towered all around.


    He stared blankly at all this, recalling what this place might be.


    This was certainly not any known pyramid.


    Between the levels of a pyramid, there would be exaggerated cultural discontinuities, similar to those in games.


    But here, even the eighth level structure developed by the Li family couldn''t compare to this place.


    Silver-lit mechanical life forms passed by.


    Perhaps because his body was too small, these towering entities over two meters tall seemed like behemoths to Tang Xian.


    He looked at the designs etched into their silver bodies and suddenly remembered the Judgment Knights.


    Only, those Judgment Knights were also called bronze terracotta warriors.


    Tang Xian speculated, could these be a higher version of the Judgment Knights?


    He didn''t have time to think further before he was struck by a hard, thrown object.


    It was like a metal sphere, thrown from not far off.


    "Got him, Siren, look at him, he''s bleeding, it looks so good," one said.


    "Uranus, I''ve told you, don''t make fun of him. If he realizes he''s useless, he''ll become depressed again," another voice countered.


    There shouldn''t be any sense of pain, Tang Xian thought.


    Human attacks on himself should be dissolved, without any pain or ability to hurt him.


    Tang Xian pressed on the wounded area. His hands were covered in blood.


    The metal sphere that struck him had bloodstains as well.


    Turning around, he followed the voice.


    There were three children about the same age as him in the dream, and one silent little girl was watching him.


    The other two must be the ones called Siren and Uranus.


    Tang Xian couldn''t remember this place at all, only instinctively feeling disgust.


    He wanted to teach those two kids a lesson, but when he tried to do so, he saw himself.


    It was as if the perspective suddenly changed.


    He saw himself as a small child, dressed in clean, white clothes, like some sort of test subject. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then the small version of himself, glaring fiercely at the three people on the other side¡ªbefore fainting again.


    Seeing a child who looked three or two years old, yet bleeding so much.


    It was then that Tang Xian realized the game might have shifted from first-person to third-person.


    He became an observer.


    He tried to make a sound, tried to perform some attention-grabbing actions, but no one could hear him, no one could see him.


    As if he did not exist.


    Tang Xian didn''t dwell on this phenomenon; maybe this way was better, perhaps to observe the dream more effectively?


    But after walking for a while, he realized he couldn''t get too far from the collapsed child, as if there were an invisible barrier around.


    Similar to an area that hadn''t been unlocked.


    He could only wander near the young child, observing, thinking.


    Soon others appeared, wearing what looked like medical staff''s uniforms, and with anxious faces, they picked up the unconscious child.


    The vision shifted again following the movement of the little boy.


    Under the care of the medical workers, the little boy soon came to.


    As he became conscious, Tang Xian found himself back in the body of the little boy.


    As if it were his soul.


    He looked at his hands, wanting to comment on the interesting experience.


    But he couldn''t speak; the little boy did not utter words in Tang Xian''s style.


    Nor did he move according to Tang Xian''s will.


    He was just sitting on the hospital bed, looking at those cold mechanical instruments, tears streaming down.


    A child of two or three crying usually wouldn''t sob silently; most would cry loudly, hoping to draw the attention of adults.

 Chapter 490 - 90: The Demon Childs Dream_2

    Because crying is probably one of the few ways to express one''s needs.


    But this little "Tang Xian" was just sobbing softly.


    No one would come to help him.


    The best outcome he could hope for was just this.


    Crying louder seemed to only increase his troubles.


    Maybe it would even attract more people to bully him?


    Tang Xian quietly pondered, was this himself before the age of three?


    Was this the part of his memory that he had lost?


    There was no answer.


    After resting for a while, the small "Tang Xian" left the hospital bed.


    Although the healing technology here could almost be said to be rapid healing when it came to flesh wounds, his head was still bandaged like a mummy.


    He walked down the empty corridor, occasionally hearing faint laughter in the distance, laughter filled with mockery.


    But the child still followed the sound.


    It was a small activity room.


    But it also seemed to be the place where these children studied.


    Because there was a huge electronic writing board.


    On it were some very strange pieces of knowledge, Tang Xian looked over and saw that most of it was mining knowledge.


    He indeed felt very familiar with a lot of mining knowledge when he entered the school district.


    But he had no idea where this familiarity came from.


    Or had he really learned it when he was very young?


    Tang Xian didn''t have time to think too deeply before a chorus of mocking laughter disrupted his thoughts.


    "You see, Constantine, I told you, the doctor would definitely wrap him up like a dumpling, because I specifically insisted, it had to be wrapped like a..."


    Tang Xian didn''t listen to these voices anymore.


    In his eyes, these children all looked very similar, their faces blurry.


    It was as if he had memories of these people, but he really couldn''t remember what they looked like.


    Only their eyes could be seen clearly.


    They weren''t filled with the innocence of two-to-three-year-olds; their gazes were as cold as an adult''s.


    Tang Xian, now, of course, understood the meaning behind those looks.


    So he had been bullied as well.


    Although he wasn''t sure if this child was himself.


    Tang Xian wasn''t angry, he was just wondering where exactly was this place?


    Could it be that real fortress?


    The other six people seemed like his opposites.


    They carried indifferent and mocking expressions, using various inquiring tones to analyze him.


    Each one proving how foolish they were.


    It was similar to wondering why, amongst the seven deities, there would be a waste like himself.


    This was indeed a classroom. The little boy sat alone in a corner, and shortly after enduring the ridicule, a teacher arrived.


    The teacher was a woman, pregnant.


    Her voice was very familiar, very familiar.


    Yet Tang Xian just couldn''t recall who she was in this dream.


    Her face, like the other children''s, was blurry.


    The content of the class comprised knowledge from the Human World, not common knowledge, but advanced physics and mathematics-related knowledge.


    The time in dreams is always strange; this class seemed very long, very long.


    It was as if memories of countless classes were interwoven within it.


    This knowledge was mixed; some of it was of the mining district, some from the Human World.


    Between them were some blurred, or rather brief and not so pleasant memories.


    Like being bullied.


    From these memories, Tang Xian got the names of these children.


    Constantine, Siren, Uranus, Ju Mang, Xi He, Ganesa.


    But still, he didn''t know what they looked like.


    But a three-year-old child would not look out of place even with a pacifier.


    Even if these people''s appearances became clear, after more than twenty years, he wouldn''t be able to recognize them.


    Among them, Ju Mang was a girl. Compared to the others, Ju Mang seemed indifferent. She didn''t bully the small Tang Xian much, treating him more like a non-entity.


    Having figured out these people''s names, Tang Xian still didn''t know his own.


    Or rather, what the little child was called; he was always referred to by others as trash, idiot, defective.


    Like an outcast. This feeling was somewhat novel to Tang Xian.


    After all, he had always been the one looking down on others.


    The teacher never called on him during class.


    They would look at Tang Xian with the same disdainful expression.


    Even though that voice was so familiar, it was a different kind of familiarity from the disgust carried by these people, an extremely intimate familiarity.


    But the feeling differed from reality, her smile should have been beautiful, yet it was reserved for the other children.


    More often than not, the young "Tang Xian" was earnestly remembering the words the woman had said, diligently learning various kinds of knowledge.


    Enduring all kinds of emotionless yet deeply humiliating sarcasm and ridicule.


    In this place, most of the time there were only nine people. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The female teacher and her husband, and then there were seven children.


    Everyone gathered here as if on some mission, with the man and woman responsible for imparting teachings and solving doubts.


    The children, as if to enrich their understanding of the world as much as possible, then to inherit this world in turn.


    In a great hall akin to the seat of a mechanical god, they lived there, not needing to worry about food, water, or any other supplies.


    For the others, this place wasn''t just about dull studies.


    Beyond learning, bullying the defective seemed to be a pastime the other boys never tired of.


    Bullying in the Human World is actually all the same.


    However, here the hierarchy seemed even more evident, with everyone seeking to curry favor with the child named Constantine.


    As if in the future, he would be the ruler of this world.


    Another manifestation of the hierarchical system was bullying Tang Xian, the defective.


    The entire dream was fragmented and jarring, with a strong sense of disconnection.


    Tang Xian had felt several times that he ought to wake up, but just never did.


    Every time this happened, it was when the child treated as defective was beaten and tormented by the other children until he passed out.


    It was hard to imagine that these children seemed to possess innate brute strength, as they struck without any restraint.


    Injuries like those at the start of the dream, with heads smashed and bloodied, were simply the norm.


    Since it was in a dream, Tang Xian felt like everything was like a story.


    He was rarely moved by stories designed to draw tears, and he had almost never cried in real life.


    It shouldn''t be, right?


    Tang Xian himself couldn''t remember.


    He just experienced what that child endured, all the various forms of bullying, from a first-person perspective.


    Seeing that child curled up and crying in the loneliest corner, Tang Xian''s heart still twitched.


    No one cared for him.


    And certainly, no one loved him.


    He couldn''t escape, nor would anyone come to save him.


    In that period when the child''s understanding of the world was still taking shape, his world view still in fragments, he had already begun to endure the darkest experiences that come with human existence.


    ¡ª¡ªLearning is the most interesting thing apart from food.


    When Tang Xian saw the child write down this sentence, his entire consciousness lurched.


    Like a blurry veil suddenly lifted by the wind.


    As the child wrote this sentence, Tang Xian suddenly understood that kind of despair.


    Even the teacher in class, the woman who should seem very gentle in his memory, never paid him any heed.


    But at least in the classroom, these people wouldn''t bully him.


    So learning was a joyful activity.


    When knowledge was poured into him, at least he could forget the various embarrassing experiences.


    Perhaps only during that brief time did he feel truly alive.


    Of course, his seriousness also became the source of mockery.


    "How could a higher being be concerned with the desires of the flesh? Defective is defective, isn''t that right, teacher?"


    "Yes, my dear Constantine."


    "Look at him, how ridiculous, is he contemplating? Are these simple pieces of knowledge too difficult for him to understand? It seems he''s not just defective in terms of talent."


    "Why do we have to live with such stupid and vile degenerate beings?"


    "Yeah, teacher, what''s the point of him being here?"


    "Hey, idiot, what''s the point of your existence? You don''t even deserve to be here!"


    Such conversations were common.


    Many times, that question would come up¡ªwhat''s the point of being here?


    Sadness rose in Tang Xian''s heart. He hadn''t felt this emotion for a long time.


    That young child must be in so much pain, right?


    Perhaps the child was desperately searching for the meaning of his own existence, but Tang Xian knew it.


    The answer was incredibly cruel.


    But Tang Xian had some doubts, too.


    Why did he feel a closeness to that woman?


    How could such a child possibly keep living?


    Did fate at some point bring about a huge change for this child, for his younger self?


    Or perhaps¡­ was this just a bizarre, senseless dream?

 Chapter 491 - 91: Two Catfish (Part 1)

    Awoken, the dream of this place abruptly came to an end.


    Tang Xian suddenly opened his eyes from the bed in the hotel.


    He wiped the sweat from his forehead and only then did he realize the tension in his emotions.


    Why would he have such a dream?


    He felt somewhat at a loss.


    This dream was not the same as the previous one, at least it did not carry as many revelations or warnings.


    It was not abstract; it didn''t place him in a world that was clearly unreal, devoid of the many cryptic symbols and totems.


    This dream felt as real as if he had experienced it himself.


    Had he sensed a familiar and despicable presence, which then triggered a connection, bringing back memories that should have been erased?


    Or was this truly just a dream without any leads, conceived through the divergence of various memories?


    Tang Xian looked at the time and found that it was nearly four o''clock in the morning.


    This was the quietest time in the whole world.


    But he could not fall asleep again; the moment the dream was cut off seemed like a sign that something had happened.


    He recalled the helpless and lonely little boy from the dream.


    What was the point of placing a useless person among geniuses, of inserting a defective product among a group of perfect beings?


    He let out a cold laugh. If anyone could see Tang Xian''s expression, they would surely find this smile very unfamiliar.


    After a quick wash, Tang Xian lightly kicked the sleeping Tang Feiji.


    He then seemed to forget something, which nearly caused Tang Feiji to flip the house over in pain.


    Tang Xian, looking at Tang Feiji grimacing and nearly revealing his dragon form, realized that his emotions were off and his blow had been too heavy.


    "It''s time to get to work."


    "What work? It''s the middle of the night."


    "It''s almost four in the morning now. Time to head to the Evolution Area."


    "Why go now?"


    "If you break through the ceiling now, the fastest they can muster will take about twenty minutes."


    Tang Xian pondered for a few seconds and said,


    "Twenty minutes should be enough."


    As he finished speaking, Tang Xian opened his food bag and also tossed some food to Tang Feiji.


    Then he began to frantically stuff his belly.


    Exhaustion started to rapidly disappear.


    Strength, consciousness, and senses were all crazily improving.


    The scents in his nostrils became more varied and complex.


    Tang Xian was efficient in his actions, though he rarely gobbled his food. But this time, he ate very quickly.


    When he felt like he was about to vomit if he ate any more, he just barely stopped. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He then proceeded efficiently towards the Seaside District, which they had scouted the day before.


    Even on the fourth level of Lincoln Fortress, where crime was rampant, few people were seen at this time.


    Occasionally, gangs on vehicles similar to motorcycles roared by.


    One could also occasionally see women in heavy makeup vomiting by the roadside.


    Tang Xian paid no attention to what he saw along the way; his pace was neither slow nor particularly fast.


    All along the way, Tang Xian frowned, and even someone as carefree as Tang Feiji could tell that Tang Xian was not in the right state.


    "What happened?"


    "Don''t talk. Keep moving," Tang Xian replied coldly.


    Tang Feiji fell silent.


    But after a few steps, Tang Xian suddenly turned back and said,


    "Are you talking to me?"


    "Why are you acting so strange? If you''re still sleepy, go back to sleep."


    "It''s nothing. Don''t talk. Keep moving."


    A dragon''s morning moodiness was naturally not slight, but faced with Tang Xian, who could kick him lightly and cause an injury, Tang Feiji chose to obediently follow orders.


    Yet, after a few steps, Tang Xian turned his head again, looking at Tang Feiji.


    Tang Feiji waved his hands, saying,


    "I didn''t say..."


    "Shh!"


    As silence settled again, Tang Feiji watched Tang Xian oddly shaking his head, becoming even more confused.


    Tang Xian came to a complete stop.


    That peculiar dream; it had a beginning but no end.


    Tang Xian thought that the dream had probably ended, but the voices that suddenly appeared in his mind seemed to indicate that the dream was not over.


    "That place has finally been found. Do we take Constantine away?"


    "I actually have a better candidate."


    "A better candidate? As far as I know, Constantine is the most excellent among those seven children. He is almost... the spitting image of the ruler from hundreds of years ago. If we want to prevent humanity from being enslaved, isn''t Constantine the best choice?"


    Damn it, what''s the deal with these voices talking to themselves?


    The conversation that suddenly arose in his mind was between a man and a woman.


    The woman''s voice was exactly the same as what Tang Xian heard in the dream, and so was the man''s.


    Very familiar, very close, but he just couldn''t match it with anyone from his memory.


    If a dream is the reality of sleep, then reality becomes the dream of the awake.


    Tang Xian kept looking back at Tang Feiji; he wanted to confirm one thing.


    Had he really woken up?


    "My daughter is kicking me..." the woman''s voice contained both happiness and pain.


    "We must speed up our actions. Once this is done, we''ll retire to some fortress, raise our daughter, and live a secluded life. We''ve already secured enough time for humanity''s future, as long as this plan succeeds." The excitement was evident in the man''s voice.


    Tang Xian shook his head vigorously.


    "What on earth is wrong with you?" said Tang Feiji.


    "It''s nothing; just keep moving. Don''t talk."


    When a supremely rational person suddenly becomes confused, their frenzy can surpass that of ordinary people.


    Right now, Tang Xian gave Tang Feiji that impression.


    Tang Xian''s footsteps, the rhythm of his limbs while walking, and even his breathing and expression, all seemed chaotic.

 Chapter 492 - 91: Two Catfish (Part 2)

    ```


    Where was the composure of knowing everything by heart gone?


    He had never seen Tang Xian like this.


    ...


    ...


    The fifth level, the evolutionary zone, the super S-class experimental area.


    In the Hundred Beasts Hidden Qilin Domain by Xi He, Akasi, Tangsuoye''s elements turned into those of a common weakling, no different from an ordinary person.


    The mud creature attacked Tang Suoye quickly, and in his desperation, Akasi displayed a speed that surpassed its limits.


    The speed Akasi gained from Lei Xiao''s serum should have been suppressed to the lowest point, but at the crucial moment of life and death for Tang Suoye, there was a slight breakthrough in Akasi''s speed,


    At that instant, Akasi was certain that Xi He''s ability was a kind of suppression of the power of all beasts, rather than an absolute annihilation.


    As if sensing the precise improvement in Akasi''s speed, Xi He slightly raised an eyebrow.


    Akasi, with his somewhat increased speed, was actually still very slow, not even able to compare with the mud creature.


    However, Akasi barely managed to hinder the mud creature''s movements.


    The mud creature''s strength seemed to be equally specialized.


    Its regeneration and flexibility were nearly at the limit of what one could imagine, but its attacking power didn''t make an ordinary person feel despair.


    For Akasi, he wouldn''t be killed easily in a short time, and for a while, he could actually trade blows with the mud creature.


    His speed was also increasing bit by bit; this increase was subtle, yet undeniable.


    Originally, Xi He was only curious about the so-called evolution, but seeing the significant progress of Akasi, he suddenly realized that this test might have the potential to succeed.


    Because Xi He was certain that his suppression had not weakened, in other words ¨C Akasi was becoming stronger.


    "You should be able to go a bit faster, shouldn''t you? It seems that number nineteen''s life and death is what you care about the most," Xi He said.


    After these words, Akasi thought Xi He would attack Tang Suoye so he instantly turned back to look.


    But Xi He didn''t move, and the mud creature also temporarily halted its attack, as if receiving some kind of command.


    Xi He said with a light laugh:


    "But Akasi, after so many years, how come you are still that same catfish?"


    This was a seemingly light-hearted remark, but uttered during a life-and-death struggle, it seemed somewhat odd.


    Yet, this sentence pegged the dashing Akasi firmly like a giant nail.


    Akasi stood still, his fingers trembling slightly, his expression incredulous as he looked at Xi He.


    "This is what I envy about you, Akasi, you really are a lucky person, there always seems to be someone to save you."


    Xi He''s smile was faint, his gaze somewhat vacant.


    "You... why would you..." Akasi''s gaze


    Yuanwu and Tang Suoye both froze, not understanding what had happened to Akasi, who suddenly looked crestfallen.


    Xi He''s tone was always so matter-of-fact, as if he was born to know certain things.


    He gently approached Akasi, saying:


    "You still remember what that person looked like, right? Perhaps you''ve forgotten, but I have been paying close attention to you. I started observing experimental subjects like you when I was very young."


    Akasi didn''t speak, suddenly becoming frantic.


    If the mud creature attacked now, Yuanwu even suspected Akasi might not notice it.


    Tang Suoye wanted to call out to Akasi, but she couldn''t even utter human language.


    Xi He''s voice resounded again.


    "She was stronger than you, more excellent than you, and could endure more tyrannical serums than you could, yet in the end, she was not among the experimental subjects who survived."


    Akasi swayed and took a step back as if his puppet strings had been cut.


    "I can help you remember all of this. But looking at your expression, you must remember, right? If she were still alive, would she be disappointed in you?"


    Xi He gently patted Akasi''s shoulder, like a mourning old friend:


    "History does not repeat itself, but it always witnesses stupid catfish making the same mistakes."


    Xi He looked towards Tang Suoye nearby and said:


    "After you relied on each other for survival, did he ever tell you about his past?"


    "Shut up!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can''t do it, the words are already on my lips, I have to finish. You like number nineteen, right? After all, you didn''t hesitate to fight with the experiment subjects from the branch for her. But since you like her, why not be honest about your lucky past?


    You were only second, remember? Earlier, there was an S-class experimental subject in the branch, she was powerful, always winning the cage fights with ease.


    But you weren''t experimental subjects in the same cage. That''s lucky, isn''t it? Or perhaps you should thank the previous me."


    Xi He''s tone was calm, as if discussing an amusing affair, rather than dueling with three intruders.


    But Akasi''s reaction was becoming more and more troubling.


    Of course, Xi He didn''t expect a memory fragment alone could disturb Akasi.


    He didn''t have much emotion, but his understanding of humans was far from lacking.


    In distress, Akasi''s expression revealed pain and struggle.


    And Xi He amplified this pain to the extreme.


    His figure was incredibly fast, arriving beside Tang Suoye in an instant, then lightly touched her scapula.


    Those adept in telekinesis were far too fragile without their powers.


    ```

 Chapter 493 - 91: Two Catfish (Part 3)

    Tang Suoye only felt as if he had been struck by a bullet, instantly losing his balance and collapsing to the ground. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Xi He prepared to stomp on Tang Suoye''s neck, Akasi finally pulled himself together, calming his mind amidst the chaos and rushed towards Xi He.


    But the disparity in strength between the two was too great.


    With just a light wave of his hand, Akasi''s body was pushed back like duckweed in a storm, by an irresistible current of air.


    "Although I''m not very powerful, not even ten thousand beasts below the Purple Rank can trouble me, Akasi. You can be stronger, right? If you can''t manage it, then someone else will die because of you."


    It was as though he had seen a person''s wound and would not stop attacking it.


    What Xi He aimed to do was to completely awaken the memories within Akasi''s heart.


    Akasi indeed froze completely.


    "I will give you a chance to turn the tide, but first, you have to deal with my servant."


    As soon as Xi He finished speaking, the Mud Man regained its ability to move.


    Its body expanded like a net, and while Akasi was concerned for Tang Suoye, he suddenly found that the Mud Man''s speed had become much faster than his own.


    The still-expanding Mud Man had already covered half of the arena, as if it intended to envelop the entire battlefield.


    And suddenly, its speed increased, like an open hand closing into a fist again.


    At the moment of closing the net, Akasi could not avoid it; he was enveloped in a layer of mucus.


    Hearing, sight, smell¡ªall were blocked by the fluid-like substance.


    Breathing became extremely difficult.


    This was the Mud Man''s killing move, appearing viscous and disgusting, but once enveloped, one would gradually suffocate to death while struggling.


    Watching Akasi struggle incessantly, Tang Suoye was once again stepped on by Xi He, and a tremendous fear rose in Zero''s heart.


    Xi He no longer paid attention to Akasi, but turned to look at Zero.


    "The number zero has a special meaning for us, just like Konstant. I gave you the name Zero because you might be the most outstanding test subject. This trial belongs not only to Akasi but also to you, Zero. Your memory is incomplete, but you haven''t forgotten some of the most crucial things, have you?"


    It was this steady rhythm that often made Zero associate the young man in front of him, wearing a magician''s hat, with Tang Xian.


    And while Zero revered Tang Xian, fear outweighed respect. For Xi He, his fear was even deeper.


    "Do you remember the girl who gave you your name? Zero, aren''t you curious why, no matter how many times your memory is fragmented, you always remember her?"


    Xi He''s smile suddenly turned ferocious, like a demon that knows everyone''s dark secrets:


    "Is it that you really remember her, or is it because she has died in front of you, time and time again?"


    (Feeling rather unwell. I mentioned a ''burst of updates'' yesterday, but I was unable to do it. Today I''m really in a terrible state, from yesterday morning until now, except for the short nap I took around two in the afternoon, I was jolted awake and have been unable to focus on writing, my mind is a mess. What''s breaking me is that I still don''t feel sleepy, just a numbness at the back of my head. At about seven, I''ll have to go out to the clinic to get some sleep aid medication. There''s not a single lie here, I really can''t write in this state, otherwise, I wouldn''t want to break my promise during the double ticket event. I hope my dear readers will understand; I''m really sorry for writing so little.)

 Chapter 494 - 92: Two Catfish (Part 2)

    Memories shrouded in fog were in extreme disarray, and with just a brief exchange of words, Xi He evoked the deepest fears within.


    In his dreams, he always saw himself standing aside, aloof and cold, as a girl about his age was disposed of by the organization.


    The people around him held record books, noting down his reactions as well as each frame of the girl''s transition from vibrant life to wilting death.


    In the end, it would always be accompanied by a sentence, warm and calm, like a small hearth at a slight distance in winter.


    "Zero, don''t cry."


    Zero recalled this memory repeatedly; the girl had died many times over, yet every now and then, he would relive this ordeal.


    Oddly enough, although he clearly didn''t remember who she was, she spoke to him as though she''d known him for a long time.


    Sorrow once again surged in the young boy''s heart.


    Zero gathered his spirits; Akasi and Tang Suoye were in dire straits, both his companions, friends he owed to Tang Xian for bringing them together.


    He wanted to save them, wanted to feel anger for his friends being persecuted, but he couldn''t.


    Devoid of anger, he just felt increasingly sad.


    He was still thinking about that little girl.


    He didn''t even know her name, but perhaps she thought he would be very sad, right?


    Yet the experimenters around him were quite satisfied with his indifference.


    No sadness, no anger, just a numbness as he watched the only child who knew his name die.


    The removal of anger and joy made Zero''s remaining emotions flood in even more easily.


    His eyes finally filled with sorrow as he gazed helplessly at Xi He.


    Xi He, however, did not look back at Zero, as if she knew the child''s reaction all along.


    ...


    ...


    Life is composed of countless cells, each an independent entity, yet together forming a whole.


    In times of crisis, they too become restless, angry, and sad.


    It is like many who have witnessed the cycle from prosperity to decline, gathering to discuss how to turn waning into waxing.


    Sometimes the heart shows a strong capacity to pump blood.


    Sometimes adrenaline is secreted more quickly.


    And sometimes, to keep the vast life they strived to assemble alive, they compromise by letting those who were usually neglected in the corner become active.


    Akasi was close to death.


    His body still struggled fiercely.


    The blockade by the Mud People made his breathing extraordinarily difficult.


    His heartbeat also began to be repressed, the spike of adrenaline from previous fights slowly cooling off.


    He was in the final stages, akin to someone drowning, the most violent floundering already past.


    All the parts of him yearning for life had run out of options.


    Their only recourse was to rely on some not-so-pleasant memories.


    As Zero remembered fragments of his life, Akasi recalled as well.


    But unlike Zero, he hadn''t forgotten; on the contrary, he never forgot. Many times, Akasi had wanted to tell Tang Suoye about that woman.


    The one who, in the early days of the Evolution Zone, only had brief conversations of camaraderie with him.


    In life''s final moment, when the brain is starved of oxygen, one tends to see many illusions.


    ...


    ...


    "Do you know about catfish?"


    "Huh?" Akasi from several years ago still looked like a green youth.


    His silvery short hair made Akasi quite conspicuous.


    The people of the Second Fortress Division didn''t yet know about the Tyrant Plan. To them, Akasi''s silver hair was probably a mutation from some gene or the Lei Xiao serum.


    He was always alone.


    After emerging from the cage fights of the trials, Akasi would have a period of freedom.


    Although the extent of his freedom was merely the common areas of a few arenas.


    He never expected anyone to strike up a conversation with him.


    The woman looked a year or two older than him, wearing a black coat, with long, messy hair, seemingly not one to fuss over her appearance.


    She appeared very efficient, and though the black clothes didn''t show dirt, Akasi could tell she was covered in bloodstains.


    Akasi shook his head, saying:


    "Is it a fish from the mining areas? I haven''t heard of it."


    The woman shook her head, frowning as though in disgust:


    "Don''t you read books? This is a species native to our Human World, a pathetic and pitiable creature."


    "How is it pitiable?"


    "There''s a story behind it. If you show me that you''re really eager, I will tell it to you," the girl''s expression seemed to say, be more proactive and I will share my story.


    Akasi cooperated, saying:


    "I really want to hear this story, please tell me."


    The girl laughed with a snort: S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I heard you''re the Silver Reaper of this place, a very boring person."


    Akasi didn''t know what expression to make, and at that moment, he didn''t contemplate who the girl was.


    The story was actually a very clich¨¦d one, merely a slight modification of an anecdote about the catfish effect.


    "Norwegians love to eat sardines, especially live ones. In the market, the price of live fish is much higher than that of dead fish.


    So fishermen are always trying to keep the sardines alive until they get back to the port. But despite their efforts, most of the sardines die of suffocation along the way.


    However, there was one fishing boat that always managed to bring back most of the sardines alive. The captain kept the secret closely guarded.

 Chapter 495 - 92: Two Catfish (Part 2)_2

    It wasn''t until the captain died that the mystery was uncovered. It turned out that the captain had put a catfish, which primarily fed on fish, into the fish tank full of sardines.


    After the catfish entered the tank, unfamiliar with its surroundings, it swam around incessantly. It was like seeing something lively in still water; although all of them were doomed to end up as human food, the catfish seemed to defy its fate, enjoying swimming around until its last breath.


    It made the sardines feel as if, perhaps one day, they could swim out to a future."


    "So, they were all eaten in the end?"


    "Of course, what else did you think would happen?" The girl said matter-of-factly.


    Akasi smiled and said,


    "I thought that with their desperate efforts to leave the fish tank, they might one day manage to escape."


    "How naive you are."


    The girl paused, then said,


    "I''m leaving now. If you''re still alive next time, we can continue our chat."


    With a hearty laugh, the girl prepared to leave.


    Suddenly, Akasi said,


    "You haven''t told me your name."


    The girl hesitated, then said,


    "I''m Number Seven."


    "I mean your name."


    "I threw that away a long time ago."


    "Please, tell me," Akasi probably thought that using that tone would work for sure.


    But the girl furrowed her brow and said seriously,


    "I don''t like my name. Number Seven is quite good. Names are for people who have a future."


    "I''m Akasi. Please, tell me your name."


    "Number Seven. I''m off." The girl left nonchalantly.


    Akasi was taken aback. He said nothing.


    She seemed to be from another arena.


    Surviving a battle meant many had to die.


    Each combat in the cage left only one person alive.


    The final clash was between the strongest from each region.


    Akasi had never interacted with someone in this way before; could it be that Seven was new here?


    He began to look forward to meeting the girl again.


    As Akasi thought this, perhaps the catfish was indicative of those living in the evolution zone.


    Even though the girl''s smile was hearty and she seemed optimistic, unlike many test subjects who possessed extremely bizarre temperaments, Akasi still felt... that she was despairing deep inside.


    Perhaps that''s why she started with the story of the catfish when approaching a stranger?


    A pitiful ghost that keeps thrashing until it ultimately drowns in the tank.


    Just like... those who thought winning the cage battles meant they could leave this place.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian''s pace slowed even more.


    Tang Feiji was slightly worried, but he didn''t believe that a ruler of Eden, a presence that had instilled fear in the Myriad Beasts Realm centuries ago, would just suddenly die because he hadn''t slept well.


    In Tang Feiji''s view, Tang Xian appeared as if he was about to suddenly collapse.


    Like someone who had barely slept for several days in a row.


    Tang Xian certainly had ample rest, but the more he became convinced that he had indeed encountered someone intimately connected to him, the more the scent began to uncontrollably trigger his memories.


    "Are you speaking of that child? My dear, why should we bring the greatest experiment, the potential of humankind, to the weakest among us?


    You have seen how he is bullied on a daily basis," the voice appeared again, a man''s voice.


    Tang Xian''s expression had calmed down a lot, but the rhythm of his breathing still betrayed the unease in his heart.


    It was like a truth, enigmatic like a riddle that he had tried to remember for a long time but couldn''t, suddenly because of the appearance of a certain entity, began to be forcibly poured into his own consciousness.


    "I don''t even know the child''s name, he''s ranked seventh, so let''s call him Number Seven. Out of the seven, the strongest is Constantine. If his lineage could combine with those from the mining district, as long as we can acculturate him, the future of humanity would have an incomparable existence!"


    "But he has humanity."


    "Humanity? My dear, we all know the reason they were born, they certainly have temperaments, but those emotions worthy of being called kinship just don''t exist in them."


    "This child is different... Although I also play the role of the one who bullies him, because of this, I can feel that he wants to fit in with everyone; he feels loneliness, sadness, and pain. You don''t see this in any of the other children!


    Constantine is certainly the best, but have you ever thought that he''s not even three years old yet and he already has the mind of an adult? He''s clearly much more mature than the other children.


    Even once, Constantine said to me, ''Teacher, you don''t have to pretend to fit in to bully that defective product.''


    The other children didn''t notice at all, but he did!


    Have you ever thought that we may not be able to acculturate him?"


    But that child... I believe he has love in his heart. He''s like an outsider... like we are."


    Finally, following the guidance of his breath, Tang Xian arrived at the location he had explored yesterday.


    He looked up at the fourth-floor ceiling, the conversation in his mind not stopping.


    "He is too weak, just a catfish.


    We all know the meaning of his existence, it is purely for the other six children to bully him, to give them a sense of superiority, to provide them with amusement.


    His journey''s end will be when these few children are sent to other Pyramids to take charge of different domains.


    After that, do you really not know what his fate will be?"


    "What if he has the same intelligence as the other children? What if he''s just... insufficient in talent, but not weak in other abilities? The key point is, that child... he might truly be liked by humans."


    The man''s and woman''s voices intertwined.


    Tang Xian felt that they were plotting to transform one of the children.


    Among the seven children, is it better to choose the strongest and most perfect one or the weakest, defective one?


    "You should know that even the one you think has the most humanity, their personalities will be very different from ordinary people! Their behaviors are often incomprehensible to many.


    What if they are hated? What if they despise humans?


    Choosing Constantine, he only cares about interests. But choosing someone who may be empathetic, perhaps he will genuinely help humanity, but maybe, his unfortunate childhood will lead him to destroy humanity."


    "Then go love him!"


    The woman''s voice pierced Tang Xian''s soul.


    "If it rots here, it will just become another monster that hates the world.


    What I can see... the child''s heart is kind. The humanity buried within him is exactly what we are looking for.


    He will surely meet friends who are willing to follow him, he will lead them in search of true freedom.


    And the world is so vast, in the future, he will surely meet someone who will genuinely like him.


    He will also meet the person who wants to protect him with their life."


    "Do you really think so, or are you merely pitying him because he is the one being bullied?"


    "You are now pregnant, can I interpret that as an overflow of maternal instinct?"


    "I won''t make any subjective decisions at such a crucial juncture. You trust me; we can''t change Constantine, but we can change this child! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Let''s go love him, nurture him, live with him."


    The man''s opposing voice did not rise again; the woman''s resolute attitude seemed to have settled the matter.


    Then go love him.


    The phrase kept echoing in Tang Xian''s mind.


    Although she was someone he could not remember, when she said that phrase, it touched him profoundly.


    Apart from that time when he rescued Li Xiaoyu at the fortress on the lower level, listening to Li Xiaoyu''s tearful complaints to Li Wanye; apart from many years ago, when he was on one side of the artificial lake, watching the girl in the center of the lake looking for fish; it had been a long time since Tang Xian felt so panicked.


    These memories were of a conversation between two people, but if he wasn''t there, how could he have these memories?


    Or was it that at that time, he was like an experimental subject, in a state of hibernation?


    Perhaps the couple speaking... had not noticed that their conversation had become a part of his memories?


    (Although it was planned to take a two-day break, I finally rested well for six hours yesterday and decided to continue updating this morning.)

 Chapter 496 - 93: The Tyrants Fury (Part 1)

    "Akasi, care for a chat?"


    His breathing and heartbeat grew weaker, and in his near-death state, Akasi frequently saw that girl who had died long ago.


    It felt as though time was simultaneously very short and yet very long.


    He would surely die soon because of the methods employed by the Miremen.


    But as memories flooded in, it was as if the entire world''s temporal dimension had shifted.


    His consciousness was so involuntary.


    All his cells craving survival, in the moment just before death, pushed Akasi''s consciousness toward the person who had almost killed him.


    In the sea of consciousness, those dialogues appeared like an uninvited guest.


    "Ah, what''s the interesting story this time? Please, tell me."


    "Pfft, no wonder you survived the third cage fight; your ability to learn is really strong. You can even infer other things from one fact." The girl''s smile wasn''t as hearty as the last time.


    Akasi had sustained some minor injuries.


    This cage fight saw the emergence of quite a few formidable opponents.


    He had to run even faster.


    But Number Seven didn''t have any injuries, not a single one. Although there was some blood on her face and her hair had become slightly wet and sticky because of it,


    Akasi knew from her condition that the blood on Seven''s body was all from her enemies.


    "Your weapon is this greatsword?"


    "Yes. It has a name, unlike me."


    "My dagger doesn''t have a name."


    "Strange, you''re not asking me the name of this greatsword."


    "A weapon is just a weapon, after all."


    "Boring. Seeing how much you care about names, I thought you would name everything."


    After saying that, Number Seven fell silent for a while. Akasi didn''t speak either.


    He just looked out the window, not deliberately posing as someone lonely; many times Akasi was simply thinking when he gazed out the window.


    Even though the view was still that of the Evolution Zone.


    "If you want to escape one day, perhaps during a mission, you could get away. Escape from the mining area. Don''t come back, then at least you''d have seven days of freedom."


    Number Seven suddenly spoke again, and Akasi replied:


    "Where''s the story?"


    "No story, I just wanted to tell you a little secret."


    "What is it?"


    "My weakness. When I swing my greatsword, nothing can withstand it. But I only need one strike to kill my enemy.


    When I unleash my strongest blow, the sheer force means I can''t turn."


    "Why are you telling me this?"


    "You could choose to protect my back while we fight together." Number Seven looked at Akasi.


    "Okay, I''ll remember that," Akasi promised with a smile.


    The two of them didn''t share a deep friendship, but it felt like they were friends who had known each other from a very long time ago.


    Number Seven left as nonchalantly as always.


    Akasi didn''t try to keep her.


    Later, he figured out the pattern of Number Seven''s visits.


    After every cage fight, as long as he was here, Number Seven would come to check on him.


    The fourth cage fight, Akasi encountered a terrifying creature.


    It seemed to possess some kind of mind-reading ability, always able to anticipate his attacks.


    He won, of course, but it wasn''t easy.


    When he saw Number Seven again, she was still unharmed.


    She grinned mockingly:


    "You are so weak. Aren''t all of you over there B-grade test subjects?"


    "There are occasional troubles, those that counter me."


    "Stop making excuses!"


    Somehow, Number Seven became stern.


    Akasi shrugged, nodded, and gave in.


    "You''re just too slow. Akasi, you have to run faster."


    "I remember. Don''t you have a story this time?"


    "I do, but I''ll tell it when you jump into the last fish tank."


    "The last fish tank?"


    "Win the cage fight, and you''ll change the battlefield. You''ve already jumped out of four fish tanks, which means, all those people who died at your hands, they were just catfish used for backing.


    But will you still be the most valuable fish in the most splendid fish tank? Or are you just another catfish serving as a backdrop for someone else?"


    Number Seven patted Akasi''s shoulder and said:


    "Try to get hurt less next time so we can have a fight."


    "Okay, I''ll remember that."


    The conversation ended with that same line again.


    Number Seven still left with her casual air.


    Akasi started training even harder. Although there was no evidence that better physical condition would allow one to gain greater strength from the serum, Akasi''s thought was simple¡ª


    If you run just a little faster, faster than the reaper''s pace, you can survive.


    He desperately wanted to live, and while he found Number Seven''s stories interesting, deep down, Akasi didn''t agree with the notion of catfish.


    At least he believed that one day he would be able to leave this place.


    In the fifth cage fight, Akasi improved quickly, surprising those who had bet on his death.


    Human life wasn''t valuable in the testing area.


    But it held significant entertainment value.


    When Akasi met Number Seven again, there was no dialogue.


    A terrifying sword qi rushed towards him as Number Seven''s opening line.


    Akasi barely dodged it.


    Wielding such a colossal sword at such an impressive speed, he couldn''t imagine what kind of serum had been injected into this girl.


    How terrifying was her strength?


    The duel between Akasi and Number Seven was very monotonous. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 497 - 93: The Tyrants Fury (Part 2)

    The silver-haired reaper moved at an astonishing speed, a speed so fast that within the previous cage battles, it drove the other test subjects to despair.


    But in the fight with Number Seven, Akasi felt fear for the first time.


    This immense gap in combat power was like moving from what was thought to be a vast lake to an endless sea in the blink of an eye.


    Akasi had talents surpassing those of a normal Grade A test subject, and coupled with his own efforts, his speed was an insoluble riddle among those Grade B test subjects.


    Only, he didn''t know that Number Seven was not from a branch facility; she was an SS-class test subject from headquarters.


    To Akasi, who took pride in his speed, in Number Seven''s eyes, it was merely outside the range of slow.


    Thinking that speed alone could suppress, was nothing but a pipe dream.


    As for other abilities, the gap between Akasi and Number Seven was even more pronounced.


    The outcome of the battle was obvious.


    In their previous encounters, they, young boys and girls, spent time together with the minutes quietly passing by, chatting about this and that.


    Even though it was in a place without any sense of style to speak of.


    But those were memories that felt beautiful upon recollection, after all.


    This time was different.


    This time''s scene involved a girl carrying a huge sword, hoisting a boy by his neck.


    There was no tenderness to speak of; Number Seven looked coldly at Akasi, as if the previous conversations were nothing but deceitful probes.


    A few minutes into the battle, Akasi had already been beaten to the point of having no strength to fight back.


    "You''re too slow, Akasi. You could be faster. Otherwise, who could you protect in the world outside the fish tank?"


    "You want to get out, don''t you? After every battle, you come here to gaze out, just like those catfish, you also think you can jump out of the fish tank, right?"


    Number Seven''s tone was mocking and contemptuous.


    "So weak, you know? Soon you will be put in a ''fish tank'' with me, do you think, with your strength compared to mine, which one of us is the pathetic catfish? Hahaha..."


    While mocking Akasi, the bloodied Akasi couldn''t budge.


    He could only feel the absolute disparity in power.


    "How boring, you''re always talking about leaving this place, but you''re simply unworthy of it. Your will to live is just as weak as everyone else''s."


    With a light flick, Akasi''s body was thrown against the reinforced glass, blood painting the outside world red.


    Akasi''s consciousness blurred and he passed out.


    The medical technology in the Evolution Zone was very advanced, particularly for purely flesh wounds like these.


    Before the sixth cage fight, Akasi had already recovered.


    He became somewhat reticent.


    The person he thought was his friend would likely be his strongest enemy in the cage fights to come soon.


    It turned out that everything had been just a cruel amusement for Number Seven.


    Akasi felt increasingly upset.


    Because in this world there existed beings who, no matter how hard you tried, could not be defeated.


    The gap between him and Number Seven was exactly so.


    He suddenly understood why Number Seven was unwilling to tell him her name.


    The person without a future, it turned out, was not Number Seven, but himself.


    However, Akasi didn''t become disheartened. His training in speed became even more diligent.


    Despite the insurmountable gap between him and Number Seven, there was one thing she was right about.


    Perhaps his own will to survive wasn''t as strong as he thought.


    Perhaps because the enemies in each cage fight had been too weak, he lacked a sense of crisis?


    Akasi began to train himself desperately.


    By the time of the sixth cage fight, he could already sense his limit.


    Who among those who had survived the previous battles was not a battle-hardened monster with life-and-death experiences?


    The only one who survived was Akasi.


    Dragging his exhausted and broken body, Akasi went to the place he used to frequent.


    It had become a habit; only by gazing at the world outside the window did Akasi feel the meaning of his massacre of those test subjects.


    To survive.


    Number Seven was there, too, looking the same as ever, unscathed and covered in the blood of her enemies.


    She watched Akasi leisurely and said,


    "Healing up pretty fast, aren''t you? Care for a story?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Akasi didn''t know what face to make and could only look at Number Seven in silence.


    "Don''t look at me like that, knowing the gap in our strengths in advance can at least buffer your despair. It''d be really tragic to be full of hope and then get killed by me."


    After pondering for a moment, Akasi shook his head and said,


    "I am still full of hope now."


    "Hmm? Did I hit your head too hard? Or did you hold back when we fought?"


    "No, I''m indeed no match for you, but I can''t convince myself to just wait for death because there are people stronger than me here."


    "Quite optimistic. That''s a funny joke, even more interesting than my story, so I won''t beat you up. But I have an interesting fact to tell you, our showdown will take place next time, in the seventh battle in the cage.


    Though I think highly of you and hope you''ll be different from the others, bringing me some fun, you should know that in the seventh cage battle, your strength is only mid-tier.


    Akasi, you need to be faster, or you won''t even get the chance to see me."


    Number Seven left again, probably bored since Akasi didn''t ask her to tell a story.


    The seventh cage battle was a long way off, taking a full half-year to come around.


    During that half-year, Akasi visited the place where he used to chat with Number Seven several times.


    Interestingly enough, Number Seven always appeared. Even though Akasi wasn''t the strongest subject, she took a special interest in him alone.


    It made their relationship very strange.


    Knowing this woman had a ninety-nine percent chance of killing him in the cage battle, Akasi still found it hard to dislike her whenever she acted friendly.


    It wasn''t closeness, but rather a sense of familiarity.


    Maybe, a very long time ago, they knew each other. If you bring up past lives, reincarnation, and such.


    On the last afternoon before the cage battle, Akasi arrived at their usual spot as he always did.


    Number Seven said,


    "Care for a story?"


    "You always say that, but you never tell one."


    "Outside the fish tank, there''s a pond. When you think you can swim freely in the vast world, you''ll find you''re just in a bigger fish tank. Whether a catfish or a sardine, in the end, we''re all just food for the master."


    "Can''t we master our own fates?"


    "If the bomb in our spine explodes, even the strongest will die. So there''s no need to think about it. Your only role is to play the fiercest, most malicious fish."


    "So, from the beginning, this story was about us?"


    "You''re not too dull, are you?"


    "Right, Akasi. If you manage to survive, I''ll tell you my name."


    Akasi gave a bitter smile.


    Ever since he had been beaten up by Number Seven, he found it difficult to smile in her presence.


    Now that they were about to fight, it felt almost as if they were back to the days of exchanging stories with a nod of acknowledgment.


    "I will try everything to survive."


    "Whether you live or die isn''t up to you. One final story before we go¡ª the life of a fish can be arranged. Each of us has our own script."


    "Where''s my script heading? Is it to tomorrow?"


    "I can''t tell you just yet. I''m leaving now, see you tomorrow."


    Number Seven still left nonchalantly, sometimes making Akasi wonder if this girl ever really existed.


    ...


    ...


    The monsters in the seventh trial were hard to assemble in the same numbers as in past trials, even with several subjects from other test areas coming over.


    But they still formed a group of just over twenty fighters.


    Akasi''s strength was indeed only average among these people.


    That was Akasi''s first time experiencing a genuine battle of adversity.


    In this battle, Akasi finally understood the meaning of that story.


    (There will be more tonight, I''m going to rest now, will start updating again at five, should be done by around eight.)

 Chapter 498 - 94: The Tyrants Fury (Part 2)

    There are many kinds of encounters in this world, each creating its own story.


    Nobles and commoners, princesses and ronin, legends and grassroots, or perhaps just the bland meeting of John Doe and Jane Doe.


    Akasi always cherished every encounter.


    Meeting Tang Xian seemed to be the beginning of various adventures and freedom.


    Meeting Tang Suoye marked the start of a mutual redemption.


    And what about Number Seven?


    Years later, he still didn''t know why that powerful girl appeared in his life or what for.


    The seventh Cage Battle.


    The level of the monsters was starkly different from those he had encountered in previous fights.


    Each one was a killing machine with terrifying strength, possessing power that ordinary test subjects could only dream of.


    In the face of these monsters, Akasi had no advantage in speed.


    But when the battle began, Akasi unexpectedly adapted well.


    Despite the presence of beings far stronger than him, Akasi had fought with Number Seven a year ago and had early exposure to the pinnacle of strength in this world.


    So he did not feel any surprise.


    It was like he was one of the monsters. Yet, this was still the most brutal Cage battle Akasi had ever fought.


    Logically, these powerful test subjects shouldn''t need to participate in the Cage battles anymore.


    Any of them could dominate on their own if let out.


    But here, only one among them could survive. In Number Seven''s words, they were all mudfish.


    In this battle, Akasi brought everything he had to the limit.


    Speed, strength, and even cunning.


    In this trial where dozens fight chaotically and only one survives, choosing an ally early on is crucial, even though this ally will become an enemy later.


    These calculations could greatly increase one''s survival rate.


    In the course of the year, Akasi did everything in his power to gather information on all his opponents.


    But even after going to such lengths, six beings far more powerful than him still stood on the battlefield before him, on the path to Number Seven.


    It was like a year before when Number Seven had easily defeated Akasi. After he struggled to eliminate half of his opponents, he was finally forced to confront the remaining ones¡ªmonsters whose strength he could not match no matter how hard he tried.


    They easily trampled over Akasi.


    Yet no one dared to approach Number Seven.


    Because the beginning of this Cage battle was marked by Number Seven slaying two of the favorites with a single sword strike.


    She was like a solitary queen, standing out even among these monsters.


    She squatted in a corner, like a spectator watching from the sidelines.


    The various struggles in the arena seemed unrelated to her.


    As the battle reached its final stages, the monsters finally ran out of strategies and began fighting indiscriminately.


    Akasi was the weakest one among them.


    Despite his extraordinary speed, this also led to a terribly bad situation.


    In a seven-person duel, if six were warriors with the horrific power to tear apart their foes and the last one was an agile, devious assassin,


    then any reasonable combat strategy would be to deal with the assassin first.


    This was an utterly hopeless situation for Akasi.


    Any one of the six was stronger than him. But it wasn''t that he had no chances of winning.


    However, if the six attacked together, then there really was nothing he could do.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Suoye was cruelly pinned under Xi He''s foot, unable to move.


    The serum from the Deer of Eden was indeed extremely rare, but from the beginning, Xi He''s eyes had never been on Tang Suoye.


    The creature under his foot was like an insignificant reptile.


    Tang Suoye struggled, watching helplessly as Akasi was locked by the mire men, about to suffocate to death.


    She made chirping and muttering sounds, desperately trying to say something, but the words just couldn''t come out.


    Akasi was about to die.


    Many years ago, she had seen the dispirited look on Number Twenty''s face after Number Twenty-One died.


    She didn''t want to become like that, her blue eyes lost much of their brightness but still flickered faintly.


    Xi He noticed that the mire man''s movements slowed down a bit, a tiny bit of resistance. Indeed, he saw that some force was pulling at the mire man.


    He first looked at Yuan Wu, who was still caught in fear and sorrow.


    The memories suddenly evoked by Xi He plunged Yuan Wu into a profound sense of guilt.


    He felt no anger or joy, so other emotions were more intense.


    A slight sadness could make him cry, a slight fear could make him tremble, a slight sense of guilt could make him feel ashamed.


    He seemed to be overwhelmed by these emotions, forgetting what he most needed to do.


    So Xi He frowned and looked at Tang Suoye.


    The girl he was stepping on.


    "Is it you?"


    To Xi He''s surprise, this faint telekinetic fluctuation was coming from a girl who should not possess the tyrant''s bloodline?


    Around Tang Suoye, fine particles were suspended in the air.


    The suppression from Bai Shou Zang Lin was extremely powerful. Xi He found it hard to believe that this frail girl was becoming stronger because of her desire to save Akasi.


    At that moment, Tang Suoye felt a strong pressure weighing down on her. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The terrifying oppression felt like the air suddenly became heavy.


    Her eyes fixed on Akasi, her mouth kept opening and closing, muttering the words she could not voice.

 Chapter 499 - 94: The Tyrants Fury (Part 2)_2

    Humans are always greedy.


    Earlier, Tang Suoye thought that it would be enough if she could just be with Akasi in this world.


    After her own descent into madness, in the end, she was the only one left in the cage fight.


    The guilt of having killed her own kin was something Akasi helped counsel her through.


    And it was only Akasi who would call her name with earnest sincerity.


    Later, she really did end up together with Akasi, becoming like fixed partners.


    Their two figures, one tall and one short, became the strongest duo in Red Lotus Hell''s Evolutionary Division of the Second Stronghold.


    No matter the mission, they were able to complete it swiftly.


    But as days like these went on, she came to desire even more.


    Tang Suoye thought how wonderful it would be to live freely outside with Akasi.


    No longer having to engage in slaughter, no need to mutually encourage and counsel each other, experiencing the cruel and disgusting trials of the cage.


    Each time she killed so many enemies, Tang Suoye would bury her head in Akasi''s embrace and weep.


    As if by enough regret and guilt, her tears could wash away those sins.


    But they both understood that such guilt could never truly be cleansed.


    Akasi would always comfort Tang Suoye so gently.


    After that, the gods might have heard her wish.


    If she could leave the Evolution Zone, if she could be free, she was willing to sacrifice a lot.


    Being unable to speak would be fine, or even if her powers were taken away.


    This day did let her wait, just like Akasi said in Red Lotus Hell:


    "This world has its favored children. He might be weak and ordinary, but he can live anywhere, in any way he likes.


    Whatever he does, things go smoothly for him, any difficulty he meets is easily resolved, jealous, aren''t you? But we are remarkable too.


    You in the future, no matter how strong you become, will never be able to sever these heavy memories, but don''t be afraid.


    They won''t hurt you, these sorrowful experiences¡ª


    One day, will make the world you face gentle toward you."


    This world had once been gentle, and her wishes had all been coming true, bit by bit.


    Tang Suoye thought this and felt even less reconciled.


    Because the man who had been gentlest to her, the only kin and lover she had in this world, was slowly dying.


    Her struggle became violent.


    A hoarse and unpleasant monosyllabic cry came from her throat.


    If these sounds were to be transformed back into human language, it would be a name.


    Akasi.


    She howled unreconciled, like the raw shout of someone with a raspy throat.


    Though there were no fluctuations in decibels, it still felt incredibly impactful.


    Yet the person not far away who was about to die, couldn''t hear any of this.


    But Tang Suoye didn''t care about that, she just kept shouting, over and over, as if conveying her last wish to the gods.


    Desiring love when there is none. Yearning for freedom once you have love. And after having freedom, the final wish is so humble.


    She just wanted to call out Akasi''s name.


    But those sounds were just like the cryptic sounds of the tide, waves crashing on distant rocks with no meaningful lament.


    ...


    ...


    The past cannot be changed, which is why people don''t get lost in sweet dreams.


    Akasi had never thought of changing anything. If he could go back, he would still protect Tang Suoye, wandering the world with her.


    They were interdependent, as if they were the only ones for each other in this world.


    Only, before he met Tang Suoye, he might have been kinder to another girl.


    The seventh cage trial was something Akasi could never forget in his life.


    He never understood why the organization never erased his memory.


    Was it negligence, or was the script meant for him demanding this?


    Facing one against six in a challenge that couldn''t be completed, Akasi didn''t win.


    The strong will to live made Akasi faster in battle, so fast to the point that the other test subjects were alarmed to find that this man could fight them with speed alone.


    But such high-intensity combat took a greater toll on Akasi.


    One test subject, far stronger than him, was ultimately impaled through the heart with a dagger. But the price paid was his own lower leg severely injured.


    His speed slowed.


    Akasi could no longer beat them. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once without speed, this severely specialized test subject became the weakest existence.


    Just to have witnessed the process of Akasi going from Zero to hero, Seven''s expression turned strange.


    When the test subjects were about to tear Akasi apart.


    Suddenly, Seven made her move.


    With her greatsword, swift second only to Akasi, those five who could have easily defeated Akasi were slain by Seven with the ferocity of a whirlwind.


    She was the valkyrie of the battlefield, an unmatched monster in this world!


    After a few short exchanges, Seven stood before the ground littered with flesh and organs, her expression strange as she looked at Akasi.


    Akasi couldn''t describe the complex look Seven gave him at that time.


    Anger, sorrow, or perhaps resignation and relief?


    Those impossibly coexisting complex emotions flashed by, ultimately boiling down to one sentence:


    "Akasi, you''re still not fast enough. With this state of yours, how can you save others? You, you can''t even save yourself."


    Without the usual mockery, it was like an older sister telling her younger brother that you must study harder.

 Chapter 500 - 94: The Tyrants Fury (Part 3)

    Akasi was at a loss as he looked at Number Seven.


    "Next, I will use my strongest strike to end you, as a tribute to our brief friendship these past days?"


    Number Seven raised her greatsword.


    Like a Valkyrie gathering holy power, Akasi found it hard to imagine there could exist such a powerful human in this world; even the air around them grew violent.


    He was in utter despair, about to give up struggling, because he could not imagine how to fight against Number Seven.


    The gap in strength between them was like a river compared to the ocean.


    But just then, he heard Number Seven''s mocking voice:


    "So you haven''t changed at all, Akasi. Is that all your will to live amounts to?


    Have you really thought about leaving this place? Have you truly longed for life and freedom?


    Look at your cowardly face.


    In this world, no one can survive alone. But in the future, who will you be able to protect?


    Facing an absolute disparity in strength, must you wear an expression of resigning to fate?


    You truly disgust me! Disgust!"


    If these words had been spoken in days past, Akasi had no doubt that Number Seven would have done so with a tone of scorn and nonchalance.


    He could feel the terror of the world crumbling as her sword came down.


    But he was equally certain... the rage and sorrow in Number Seven''s eyes were so real, as if she were howling hysterically.


    The fearsome strike was about to come.


    Akasi was like someone suddenly awakened by a scolding.


    At the same time, faintly in his ears, there arose the soft sound of the tide.


    It was like the sad, distant singing of a girl over an expansive sea.


    In the transition between life and death, Akasi finally reawakened memories between the two voices.


    He remembered.


    He was not living in the past; all of this was just an illusion.


    And soon he would die.


    His consciousness seemed to hover between reality and fantasy.


    After seeing Xi He, all the questions from his past confrontation with Number Seven, which he had never understood, were answered in this moment.


    In his memory, he had not succumbed at that time; he stood up, recalling the words Number Seven had once said.


    "The story?"


    "There is no story, I just want to tell you a little secret."


    "What?"


    "My weakness. When I swing my greatsword, I''m unstoppable. I can kill an enemy with a single strike.


    But when I unleash my strongest attack, the immense power prevents me from changing direction."


    "Why are you telling me this?"


    "You can choose to fight alongside me, and protect me from behind."


    Fate had already laid the groundwork for everything today, back then.


    Just as Akasi remembered, his past self found the detail amidst the extremes of life and death, under Number Seven''s furious curses.


    It was like a drowning person finally grasping lifesaving weeds.


    Even though his calf was already injured, he burst forth with the fastest sprint of his life.


    The overlord of the testing area, Number Seven, was ultimately pierced through the heart by his blade back then.


    Only at that time, he did not understand the words Number Seven had spoken before death.


    The greatsword fell to the ground amidst a pool of blood, making a dull noise.


    Akasi was gasping for air. Number Seven, with her long hair falling, stooped, waiting for death to take her.


    "Congratulations, you finally jumped out of the fishbowl."


    "Back then, why did you tell me..."


    "My weakness? Poor Akasi, do you think you''ve won? Do you believe the world awaiting you is the freedom you long for? Outside the fishbowl is just a bigger fishbowl..."


    Number Seven paused, tears streaming down her beautiful cheeks in silence.


    "Forget it, I''m about to die. Whether I destroy you or not, it''s the same outcome, but you did not give up the chance I gave you."


    Akasi did not understand.


    Number Seven seemed to be talking to herself.


    She used her last bit of strength to turn around, caressing Akasi''s face. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Akasi, I acknowledge you now. Always remember your will to live. Perhaps someone will truly love you someday, but until now, everything you''ve experienced is false. I... am the catfish."


    Number Seven''s lifeforce was fading.


    In Akasi''s memory, she died in his arms.


    There were many questions, but no time to ask.


    Until the end, he did not know what to say.


    His past self, strangely enough, just couldn''t hate this powerful Valkyrie, though she was an archenemy.


    "What is your name?"


    "Ha¡­ you still remember that question."


    "Please, tell me."


    "This sword is called Dragon Rose, I have no name, I am just an unlucky soul born to be a catfish.


    Akasi... you don''t have to remember me, but you must remember, you owe me a life! You must survive, no matter what..."


    These were the last words of the owner of Dragon Rose, Number Seven.


    She seemed like someone who knew the script, wanting to spoil the ending for him, but for various reasons, she couldn''t give a warning.


    All she could do was to let this man understand that the only real thing in this world was himself, alive.


    And up to his encounter today, hearing the words of Xi He¡ª

 Chapter 501 - 94: The Tyrants Fury (Part 4)

    Akasi finally understood that sentiment. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why the girl revealed her weakness to him, and why it all began with the story of the catfish.


    All of it was merely a script written by the Evolution Zone, designed to make him kill the catfish at some future point, leaving him with an intense emotion of anger¡ª


    To complete the so-called "evolution."


    The Evolution Zone had done many such things.


    Like Kritos, that tyrant breed, had a fabricated family.


    After witnessing the fury of Kritos, the leader of the Evolution Zone, Xi He, started to believe that to evoke the most fervent emotions in the tyrant breed, it was necessary to make them invest their feelings.


    To give them a will to live, to make them cherish this world.


    To push them to display extreme rage and other emotions.


    They had to be endowed with things that normal humans possessed.


    But all of it was just meticulously organized after being scripted.


    Like a catfish placed in a tank of sardines, those lazy and noble sardines would then become more active.


    From the very beginning, Number Seven was just testing him.


    She was more sorrowful than the others because she sensed her destiny long ago.


    Perhaps given her overly powerful abilities compared to other test subjects, she earned the right to witness the pinnacle of evil in this world.


    It might be Xi He, or perhaps an existence even more dreadful than Xi He.


    Because of such an entity, she became a thorough pessimist.


    In her perceived world, the entire world was just a "master''s" fish tank. They were all but farmed creatures.


    She lacked the optimism that Akasi had.


    She accepted her script, living solely to test that silver-haired boy.


    To test his will to survive, to test his array of emotions.


    Every line she spoke might have been arranged by the Evolution Zone long ago.


    This nameless girl gave her weapon a name.


    Or maybe she had long since considered herself to be a weapon.


    Yet even such a person, in the end, revealed her truest feelings.


    She wanted Akasi to survive.


    She dared not tell Akasi too much, for fear that the supreme deity known as "master" would erase Akasi.


    All she could do before dying was to tell him, no matter what, to keep living because only the living self is the only true reality in this world.


    But the most tragic part was that these behaviors were exactly what the "master" anticipated. That mysterious supreme being calculated all of Number Seven''s dispositions.


    It was precisely because of these genuine reactions that would, at some future moment, ignite the compassion and rage in Akasi''s heart, that she received such a script.


    She was a wretch incapable of achieving even "a real life."


    Time seemed to unify once again.


    Dream or illusion, as consciousness returned, the girl known as Number Seven, carrying the Dragon Rose, completely vanished.


    The world in Akasi''s memory began to slowly dissipate.


    The sound of the tide became clearer in his ears, like calling someone home. That language, incomprehensible to humans, yet Akasi understood it¡ªit was his girl yearning for him to escape death!


    Although his eyes couldn''t shed tears, they still harbored immense rage and sorrow.


    A faint glimmer of red, from the very depths of Akasi''s hair, began to slowly spread.


    Like a fire that could not be extinguished, ignited amidst the cold wasteland.


    The people who died in years past and those alive today had long since become kindling in his soul¡ª


    To blaze intensely in the final moments of life!

 Chapter 502 - 95: The Fastest Creature in the World

    There are many people in this world with a temper that explodes at the slightest provocation. There are also many who are difficult to anger, gentle and easy-going.


    The latter always manage to endure a lot of negative energy from others. They listen to their friends'' complaints and crying with a smile, as if they were never unhappy.


    But when they get angry, it means that the outcome of something is about to undergo a complete and irreversible change.


    A man remains a boy until death.


    Xi He remembered Constantine saying this.


    That person was the least humane, yet seemed like the god who understood humanity the most.


    No matter how long those hidden foreshadows buried in the script were, when recalled, the test subjects would display their most extreme emotions.


    The mud man who had swallowed Akasi suddenly emitted a fiery red light.


    The tremendous pressure initially coming from Xi He was, at that moment, suppressed by another, even more powerful force.


    Even Xi He himself showed an ecstasy that he rarely experienced due to such significant emotional fluctuations.


    Clearly, the situation was changing, and an existence about to appear posed an extreme danger even to the order keepers.


    Yet, he watched the scene unfold with wide, delighted eyes.


    The fiery red light incrementally pierced the mud man''s skin.


    The mud man, constantly being sliced by the scorching light, tried to recombine its shattered body.


    But the light grew faster, the dense red beams carving it into countless pieces of broken mud.


    Eventually, the mud man could no longer envelop Akasi; its terrifying body was forced to withdraw and return to its original state.


    However, what appeared before the few onlookers was not the silver-haired young man.


    He was shrouded in a flame-like light, as if his raging fury had materialized.


    The airflow in the arena turned violent, blowing Akasi''s fiery red hair about in his tyrant form.


    The terrifying murderous intent also suddenly spread over the entire evolution zone like a tangible thing.


    This was unlike any tyrant Xi He had ever seen, yet he was still thrilled!


    "You''re truly impressive, Akasi!"


    The form of Kritos in his tyrant state greatly differed from that of Akasi.


    This perhaps meant that Akasi was the true, fully formed tyrant.


    "Do you know why that puppet is called Seven?"


    Xi He''s emotions calmed down, and he touched his magician''s hat as if to reveal the secret behind a magic trick.


    Akasi didn''t speak, seemingly still adjusting to his new form.


    The rage within him grew continuously, and a deep red light slowly emerged in his eyes, like the descent of a demon lord.


    "Because when I was young, I also had a Seven. He was the most worthless among us. In the future, his value would be just like the Seven in your memory, just a nameless puppet, until death¡ª"


    Xi He''s pupils constricted, his speech cut off as his consciousness seemed to glimpse a fiery red light flash by.


    His body was hurled away the next second by an irresistible force.


    The previously restless airflow instantly transformed into a raging storm.


    Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu watched in shock the familiar, yet unrecognizable Akasi.


    The both of them had never imagined that Akasi would suddenly possess such power!


    In their eyes, when Akasi moved, there was truly just a streak of red light.


    His speed was unparalleled, occasionally leaving an afterimage, never pausing for a moment.


    The dense sounds of impact filled the air, like the fiercest downpour against a window.


    This had surpassed the human definition of speed!


    Xo He''s initially composed expression gradually shifted to surprise and then confusion.


    During this change of expressions, he attempted to resist.


    But before he could complete a single motion, the tyrannized Akasi had already launched hundreds of attacks.


    The ability of ''Hundred Beasts Contain the Qilin'' could restrain all creatures but was unable to suppress the power of humanity itself.


    This power was weak, and humans had always played the role of a catfish-like tool among these races.


    They lived in the Pyramid, enslaved yet unaware.


    To Akasi, Seven was a human who truly knew some secrets.


    But her life was too desperate.


    Having seen the greatest evil and a fate that no matter how hard one tried could not be changed, she chose to give up.


    That''s why in the end, when she raised her great sword, she was so angry at herself for accepting defeat and strongly hoped someone would make a different choice.


    What kind of twisted world was this? Why should one person be born to live for another unrelated person?


    These thoughts flared like angry flames, not extinguishing over time but burning more fiercely!


    The entire evolution zone could hear the horrifying sounds of impact. The ground of the arena and the distant dividing walls became pitted due to Xi He''s body being struck away.


    During those short tens of seconds, Xi He didn''t know how many attacks he had endured!


    He was only certain of one thing: the specialized assassin Akasi had become even more terrifyingly fast after his transformation into a tyrant.


    And from this day forward, the fastest creature in the world was no longer Lei Xiao! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mud man tried to help its master at this time.


    But before its body could solidify for a second, it was instantaneously cut into countless pieces by dozens of afterimages.


    Physical rules made it difficult to put this monster to death, but its recovery time was too slow.


    Moreover, it became slower and slower, and Akasi was certain that the mud man''s body recombination required the expenditure of energy.

 Chapter 503 - 95: The Fastest Creature in the World_2

    Xi He''s body was heavily struck down, half of his torso buried in the ground, his bones broken, seemingly unable to rise again.


    "So the strength gap between different tyrant species... can be so vast. Akasi, you are like an enhanced version of Lei Xiao. Indeed, Constantine''s concerns were justified, the folks from Eden do favor humans. You lowly, inferior creatures are quite lucky, it seems." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Something unbelievable happened, Xi He''s body was healing at a visible rate.


    Xi He crawled out from the cratered ground, a gentle breeze whisked away the dust from his body.


    He appeared as though he had never been involved in the battle at all. But his expression when looking at Akasi became much more serious.


    "You, who are even better than Kritos, indeed did not disappoint me. It looks like you''re still able to maintain a certain degree of rationality, which should be the most perfect tyrant form. You really want to kill me now, don''t you? But unfortunately, my existence is specifically to deal with monsters like you."


    As if anticipating Akasi''s attack, a mark had appeared on Xi He''s body at some point.


    The mark resembled a clock and was emitting an orange glow.


    During the conversation, Akasi did not attack but instead, in a blink, took Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu to a relatively safe location.


    "I''ll be right back," Akasi said softly.


    Tang Suoye still couldn''t speak, but she knew that Akasi must have heard her cry.


    She obediently nodded her head.


    Afterward, Akasi once again faced Xi He.


    How long the tyrant transformation would last he did not know, he had to kill Xi He before this state ended, or take Tang Suoye and the others away.


    Xi He seemed to understand that this state couldn''t last too long, and he certainly wouldn''t let his prey escape, saying:


    "You have to defeat me to find Song Que. His genes are quite suitable for being a tool like Number Seven. We wanted him to become the seventh being like us, replacing that waste who was taken away years ago.


    "You don''t want Song Que to become like us, do you?"


    Xi He returned to his usual calm tone.


    With a few words, he blocked off another choice for Akasi.


    Compassion for Number Seven, along with the anger deep inside and absolute powerful strength, the current Akasi had completely forgotten the reminder Li Xiaoyu had given him.


    But he also had the power to turn everything around!


    A red light flashed repeatedly, a barrage of frantic punches came once again.


    Xi He had not become any stronger, facing Akasi''s speed, faster than even ten thousand beasts could compete with, he had no way to defend or parry.


    In the vast arena, there was only the horrifying sound of fists colliding with flesh.


    Even in a state that was difficult to kill, Xi He was shocked by the tyrant''s strength.


    The so-called Tyrant Project wasn''t about finding a way to mass-produce tyrants.


    This power never belonged to humans.


    In the great calamity hundreds of years ago, humans were just the spoils of war gifted to their own side.


    But through years of observation, they found out that this weak tool race had immense potential.


    Despite the fact that the bloodlines that could truly use these powers were extremely rare.


    Yet they aimed to eradicate even those sporadic chances.


    The real purpose of the Tyrant Project was to find the necessary conditions for evolution, and from then on¡ªforever eliminate the possibility of its existence.


    From the beginning, Xi He had never spoken the truth to Song Que.


    Akasi did not know all this, his only purpose was one, to kill Xi He!


    Enveloped in red light, Akasi, with his red hair dancing, was like a lion bathed in fire.


    His attacks were swift and powerful, each blow struck at points that inflicted tremendous pain.


    But the anger in his heart did not subside because of this.


    Akasi''s speed was still increasing!


    However, the same strange occurrences were happening on Xi He''s side.


    The rate at which his wounds healed was simply too fast.


    No matter how fierce Akasi''s attacks were, launching countless heavy strikes within a brief second, they would all miraculously disappear in the next second.


    This battle seemed like a one-sided crushing, but Akasi gradually began to feel that something was amiss.


    In just over a dozen seconds, Yuan Wu and Tang Suoye witnessed an onslaught like a sudden storm.


    The two figures in the sky split apart once again, but what shocked Tang Suoye was that Xi He didn''t have a single injury on him.


    He still wore that annoying smile as he watched Akasi.


    Akasi''s expression was grave. Up to this point, he was in absolute advantage, yet Akasi could feel that Xi He''s regenerative ability was incredibly astonishing.


    To be exact, it wasn''t ordinary healing at all.


    He drew his dagger, without any pause, and slashed out another arc at a terrifying speed that was impossible to react to.


    Xi He instinctively protected his head, using his arms to hard-block Akasi''s slash.


    In the moment when flesh and blood were flying, one could even see the white bones exposed in Xi He''s arms.


    But in the next instant, Akasi finally saw clearly; he didn''t see on Xi He''s body the kind of terrifying regeneration speed like that of the beasts.


    The flesh and blood did not heal. Rather, it was as if a frame was missing from the picture, and suddenly, Xi He''s arms were restored to their original state.


    In the blink of an eye, the figures separated once again, with Akasi standing in his previous position, coldly watching Xi He.


    "I can make the beasts return to their weakest state, and I can return myself to the strongest state. I am the god favored by time," Xi He didn''t hide his secret.


    He felt there was no need to hold back.


    What he intended to do today was to test out just how strong a perfect form tyrant actually was.


    In Xi He''s view, Akasi''s current strength was already beyond his expectations, but he could feel that Akasi had an even greater potential.


    He straightened his magician''s hat and said,


    "The former comes from the blood serum of the beasts, the latter comes from my own ability. Akasi, I''m not afraid to tell you, there are more ''Number Sevens'' being made, humans are a species adept at proliferating. What reassures me is that no matter how excellent the tool people that die, there will always be better ones in the future..."


    "Shut up!"


    The wrath of the tyrant surged again, and Xi He only felt his body suddenly being lifted by a force.


    The pain in his back hadn''t even had the chance to spread from his nerves before his body was struck flying elsewhere.


    The aura of the sword was overflowing, and the thick killing intent seemed to solidify the space.


    Akasi no longer attacked with his fists, but drew his dagger, cutting into Xi He''s flesh with each strike.


    Though brief, these pains were intensely concentrated.


    Xi He frowned with disgust.


    Indeed, Akasi had no way to deal with him, but he didn''t have a way to contend with Akasi''s speed either.


    Such unprecedented speed made it impossible for Xi He to make any effective response or defense.


    What was most terrifying was that Xi He felt the anger still rising.


    This anger brought an increase in Akasi''s strength.


    Each slash was more lethal, and for the short duration of a second, the attacks that landed on his body were even more frequent and concentrated.


    Akasi''s thinking was simple: no matter how strong the body, no matter how terrifying the recovery means, they couldn''t bring about resurrection from the dead.


    Life and death were absolute opposites and divisions.


    He saw clearly that Xi He''s body needed about a second to recover to its prime condition.


    Before this, he could only severely injure Xi He in a second, so he wanted to try to increase his speed even further¡ª


    Just like that girl had said, "Akasi, you need to become faster. Otherwise, who can you protect in this world?"


    Red light surged! His red hair danced like flames, Akasi''s attacks leaving behind countless afterimages!


    These afterimages seemed to attack as well.


    With such terrifying speed, in your ears, you could only hear the prolonged and dense¡ªnotes composed of cuts.


    These sounds were so dense that the distant glass actually cracked just from these noises.


    It was hard for Yuanwu and Tang Suoye to imagine just how fast Akasi''s attack speed could be.


    Fear finally appeared on Xi He''s face.


    He never expected that Akasi could be this fast!


    He actually intended to completely kill him in the short instant before the second of his recovery arrived!


    (It looks like I''ll have to wait until the next chapter to continue with Tang Xian~)

 Chapter 504 - 96: The Demon Childs Past

    The seemingly one-sided duel that couldn''t come to an end was still going on.


    This battle was too long for someone who was fast to the extreme.


    Akasi could feel that the strength of Xi He did not come from the serum of the myriad beasts, but from himself.


    He clearly had no difference from humans, yet he possessed the power to rival the myriad beasts.


    Formidable vitality, terrifying speed of life recovery. And powerful abilities.


    If it wasn''t for the fact that a bafflingly powerful force had inexplicably appeared within himself, this battle wouldn''t need to be dragged out this long.


    He certainly didn''t believe in the existence of gods or the like in this world, but through the lengthy process of evolution, perhaps some humans indeed entered the next stage.


    The speed of the dagger''s swings was accelerating.


    The long evolution of mankind, after Xi He, the leader of the evolution zone, had collected all sorts of information¡ª¡ª


    It was actually only one type of evolution, that being intellectual evolution.


    Over millions of years, what humanity has been constantly strengthening is their wisdom.


    But there are a very small number of rare breeds that can demonstrate a change on another pathway.


    Especially after the entire world''s environment became incredibly perilous.


    This variant evolutionary path is the Tyrant, and it is named so because throughout the entire process of combat, the strength of the Tyrant breed is in a state of continuous escalation.


    Just like being able to accurately gauge his own vitality, after Akasi''s assault had reached a certain level¡ª¡ª


    Xi He finally became certain that the Tyrant who had appeared this time had pushed him to his limits.


    If he continued to hold back, in roughly ten seconds, Akasi''s speed would be able to increase to the extent that it could kill him.


    This certainly wasn''t a good thing.


    The pain of being cut did not cloud Xi He''s clarity of mind.


    He detested thinking about what came after, that he would become unprecedentedly weak, just like Song Que.


    At least in the matter of talent transplantation, he had not deceived Song Que.


    "Damn, I''ve actually been driven to this point by a human!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thought flitted through his mind, and before the berserk red light could destroy him, Xi He softly recited his two talents.


    At the same time, he also entered the most frenzied stage.


    Burn Talent.


    This was a terrifying power that only the most talent-filled beings, closest to the bloodline of the Orderly, could possess.


    It was an irreversible consumptive amplification.


    Exchanging a tremendous cost for an even greater power.


    "Mobility, defensive power."


    Akasi, who was still rapidly moving and attacking, didn''t hear this voice clearly.


    But Yuan Wu and Tang Suoye did.


    Yuan Wu''s eyes widened in shock, he had heard from Ling Yi about what had happened to Song Que; he wasn''t sure if Xi He was doing the same thing, but the solemn air around them was becoming even more oppressive, almost to the point of being suffocating!


    Akasi also sensed that something was amiss.


    He gradually noticed that some of Xi He''s defenses were withstanding his assaults.


    It was as if he had slowed down.


    But he knew he hadn''t slowed down; rather Xi He, for some reason, had suddenly gained a significant speed boost at some instant.


    And it was a major increase.


    But he was still far inferior to his own swiftness; Xi He''s defense still couldn''t block all the attacks.


    What shockingly amazed Akasi was that not only had the speed increased, but Xi He''s body had also become much harder.


    Previously, his attacks could carve deep, horrifying wounds on Xi He''s body.


    But now, those wounds had become merely superficial scratches.


    Xi He coldly looked at Akasi and said,


    "I''m different from a half-baked individual like Song Que. The enhancement from overdrawn talents can last a long time. This battle has only just begun. And now, you can''t kill me anymore."


    Xi He could no longer maintain the smile that seemed as if everything was under control, Akasi had pushed him into an extremely sorry state.


    Thinking of this, he even felt somewhat angry.


    But just as he said, Akasi, who had a severe lack in balance, was now finding it very difficult to cause Xi He any harm.


    Xi He, with his increased speed, was no longer in a state of being absolutely suppressed by Akasi.


    Xi He, shrouded in black mist, and Akasi, engulfed in red light, clashed again!


    ...


    ...


    Lincoln Fortress, fourth layer, Seaside District.


    It was as if entering a detested realm, one by one the mysteries hidden deep within genes were being revealed.


    Tang Xian was a person of tremendous mental strength, his life reflected in the character ''Xian'' (idle).


    Whether at the bottom, in the learning district, in the rookie village of the mining zone, or in the forest sea, in Baichuan City, on the southern islands,


    He always lived in extreme comfort.


    People thought he was in pain; in fact, he was always the most comfortable one.


    Tang Feiji had never seen Tang Xian so troubled by something.


    Though he didn''t know what had happened, he knew that the expressions of humans and the humanoid myriad beasts were the same.


    He knew Tang Xian must be pondering some perplexing, complex, and loathsome matters.


    "Are we still going up? This lord can sense some unusual auras. It''s as if there are two entities, extremely close to the orange tier, brawling up there."


    Even though he didn''t have a powerful sense of smell, as a divine beast of the myriad beasts, Tang Feiji was naturally extremely sensitive to that kind of oppressive feeling in the air.


    Tang Xian didn''t respond to Tang Feiji; right now, he couldn''t even concentrate enough to think, much less pay attention to Akasi and the others.

 Chapter 505 - 96: The Demon Childs Past_2

    A deluge of memories suddenly emerged from his mind, just like those people in the movies who had altered the timeline, and in an instant, they received the memories of that timeline.


    The chaotic memories in his brain began to unfold, one by one, and all the puzzles seemed about to be solved.


    His eyes were bloodshot, like an insomniac who hadn''t slept for a long time, yet could never fall asleep.


    His breathing became more and more rapid; he could still hear Tang Feiji''s voice, but now he couldn''t make out the sounds of his surroundings.


    It was as if a script was forcibly being imprinted into his sea of consciousness, page by page.


    Deep in his mind, the dialogue of those people became clearer and clearer.


    "The appointed time is almost here."


    The man''s voice was a suppressed calm, one could feel the underlying anxiety in his tone,


    "There''s only the final month left, by all means, we must reach a consensus within this month."


    "The child is about to be born... that place, only you can take him there," the woman''s voice seemed even more restless and anxious.


    "So who is it after all, the best, and the worst, which one will you choose?"


    "You know my choice, in my eyes, each of these seven children has the potential to fulfill the mission, but among them, only one possesses humanity. I will take him away!"


    "Having played the villain for so long, do you think he will believe you? Don''t forget, to gain the trust of those six children, you''ve never shown him a kind face!"


    "Trust me... you wouldn''t want our child to be born and... be with a heartless monster, would you?"


    "Since you''ve made up your mind, I support you, I hope the decision you''re making is the right one, from now on, I''ll also convince myself."


    "Thank you."


    What the appointed time was, or what this couple''s plan was, all of this was still unknown.


    But the weakest of the children finally had the opportunity to change his fate.


    Tang Xian also didn''t know how those two people were going to take the child away.


    Was their plan really flawless? Those children who seemed to have intelligence surpassing that of humans, did they really not notice anything? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Memory quickly unveiled this suspense.


    The human couple in the memory finally understood the terror of the six children.


    Tang Xian seemed to be able to feel the horror in the tone of the couple.


    "Konst... Constantine, why are you here? Shouldn''t you be..."


    "Shouldn''t I be in slumber like the rest? Teacher, do you think you''re smarter than me?"


    Constantine''s tone carried a hint of challenge.


    Tang Xian still couldn''t see what they looked like.


    He could only hear their voices amidst the pitch-black consciousness.


    He was certain that these conversations must have occurred while he was deeply asleep.


    "No... no, that''s not it, listen to your teacher''s explanation!"


    "It''s useless, you said it yourself, he''s a heartless monster. The plan has failed, and we have been negligent."


    The man seemed to be prepared for death.


    They had meticulously prepared their plan for a long time, to bring a spark of hope out of one of the world''s most secretive places.


    But now, the plan had fallen apart, like humans trying to deceive a god, thinking they could furtively do something right under a deity''s nose without being discovered.


    In the end, at the moment of fate, they saw a god with an unaffected expression, mocking how ridiculous it all was.


    The emotions of the man and woman were clearly a lot more agitated.


    Constantine, the most powerful and intelligent leader of the seven children, did something unexpected at this moment.


    "Teacher, I''ve told you before, you didn''t have to pretend to be with us, to bully Seven. He also has his value."


    "We have nothing left to say at this point."


    "I suggest you calm down now. Although I''m still a child, it would be too easy for me to kill you in this place."


    Seemingly detecting the implication in Constantine''s words, the woman tentatively asked,


    "What do you want, Constantine..."


    "I don''t want anything, staying here, controlling the world is really boring. The micro-level individual worlds have lots of changes, but the macro-level overall does not; an era won''t become interesting just because there are one or two interesting individuals.


    I very much want to further understand humanity, so Teacher, how about we make a deal?"


    "What deal?"


    "Give Seven this, he will completely lose his memory, with only part of it returning when he comes into contact with us in the future.


    When you were planning the ''escape'', I was also thinking about how to make this game more interesting.


    Now, I have an answer."


    Constantine seemed to hand something to the woman.


    The couple looked at Constantine in shock, clueless.


    Constantine explained,


    "Don''t be so surprised, if you were in my position, you''d find this world very boring.


    I don''t know your plan, even though I could, but that would be too uninteresting.


    I think this emotional response, is a form of my evolution. I crave change, and only through constant exposure to variation can one adapt to it."


    Constantine took a step forward, like a wandering poet, he spread his arms, his small frame making the gesture look both ridiculous and childishly adorable.

 Chapter 506 - 96: The Demon Childs Past_3

    But the two adults did not dare to underestimate him.


    "I allow you to take him away, and I want to see, what kind of behavior an Orderer''s life form will exhibit after growing up in a human environment.


    So rest assured, I will handle the various loose ends of this plan for you. Of course, I''ve always been doing so. Otherwise, not only would I notice, even Xi He, Siren, and Uranus would realize it. They''re really stupid.


    In short, what you need to do is take this defective product away."


    Constantine''s actions indeed brought a tremendous shock to the couple.


    Who would be foolish enough to bring future troubles upon themselves?


    But whether Constantine has his own plans is still unknown.


    He added another sentence, saying:


    "However, I won''t let you get away with this so cheaply. To take this waste away, I still have one condition."


    "What condition?"


    It was a rather comical sight, two grown adults being intimidated by a child still learning to walk.


    Constantine''s tone became more serious, indicating that this was a non-negotiable condition, one that could only be accepted or rejected.


    "You must abandon your own child. I require you to raise this fellow as if he were your own child.


    My experience tells me that humans can''t treat everyone equally, even twins. Even though parents are supposed to show no favoritism, in reality, every family with multiple children will inevitably have favoritism, and only they know the true situation.


    I want him to have everything a normal human should have so that my experimental data will be more accurate.


    Can you do it?


    Abandon your own child in exchange for this waste? If you can''t do it, I can pretend as if today''s events never happened, and I can continue to play along with the teacher. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then, teacher, don''t even think of leaving this place. You can have your child here."


    Tang Xian thought this must be an excruciating choice for the woman.


    They had some grand mission, and because of it, they were engaged in extremely dangerous actions.


    It seemed they were prepared for all kinds of sacrifices.


    But no mother would abandon her own child.


    Yet the woman''s words still shocked Tang Xian.


    "I will send my own child to another family. My husband and I will raise him together.


    I will love him as my own, and I will protect him with my life!"


    Strangely enough, her voice did not match the one in his memory.


    But Tang Xian suddenly thought of his own mother.


    He had hardly ever cried.


    But at that moment, his expression was still one of shock and pain, and the tears of sorrow flowed on their own.


    The memory ended there; there was no sound from Constantine. They must have reached some sort of agreement.


    The dialogue jumped again.


    His ears picked up extra noise, as if the couple had finally escaped from the previous place.


    The woman was sobbing softly.


    The man said:


    "We need to completely change ourselves. So this child won''t remember everything from there. At least until he can... possess true humanity."


    "Yes."


    "Voice, appearance, everything must change. Constantine said that perhaps some things, like themselves, would become the key to triggering his memories of it all."


    "Yes."


    "Also, our daughter..."


    The man''s voice trailed off, and the woman interrupted firmly:


    "When she is born, let''s send her away..."


    The woman''s voice was gentle but resolute.


    "We have left their detection range..."


    "I can''t take that risk. This child is not easily brought out by me. I''ve said it, he has humanity. As long as we love him, he will surely feel it, and it will certainly change him!"


    "Then you can bear to part with your own daughter?"


    "How could I bear it? How could I?!" She became hysterical, as if everything had been taken from her.


    But very quickly, she subdued her emotions, as if she had chewed glass and swallowed it:


    "But she deserves a more ordinary life, she shouldn''t be involved in all this,


    I believe our daughter is smart. Someday, she will marry someone as intelligent as you, and she will have a happy life. She will forever be my flesh and blood, even if we can''t see each other.


    And from now on, this child is also my flesh and blood."


    "But you and I... only have nine years of life left. After we leave, he will just be an eleven-year-old child. Will others love him like you do? His behavior, no matter what we do, will still be greatly different from ordinary people, won''t it?"


    Tang Xian''s tear-stained cheeks seemed to feel the warmth of a touch.


    He heard the gentlest words from a mother:


    "They will. The world outside Pyramid is vast... There are so many ordinary people in the world waiting for their other half to appear in their lives.


    Someday, there will definitely be someone who will see him as their everything.


    He will understand that this world has love for him, and that love will change him,


    He will become an outstanding person, my child, and I believe in him."


    The man was a meticulous thinker, but once he had made a decision, he rarely dawdled.


    "May your optimism be true. Speaking of which, I haven''t heard you call him by his former name yet, have I?"


    "Indeed, the seven Orderers each have a corresponding code. But from today on, he is human. He should have a human name, not one of those codenames named after gods."


    "Then let''s give him one now. What should we call him?"


    This question did not cause any hesitation, as if the woman had thought of the answer long ago.


    She said gently and decisively:


    "From today onward, he shall be called Tang Xian."


    (Regarding Tang Xian''s own code, it will be revealed in the next chapter¡­ or the one after that. The second volume is coming to an end, and the plot will not advance much, but there will be a major twist which is quite exciting, if I do say so myself.)

 Chapter 507 - 97: Seeing Xi He Again After 20 Years

    Tang Xian gradually came to his senses, and his memory didn''t actually end here.


    After this, there were some conversations; before he had his own memories, that couple had taken him to other places.


    It was an extremely secretive place, its secrecy perhaps akin to the place of his birth.


    This seemed like a plan to create new gods to fight against the old gods, or was it the other way around?


    He had finally confirmed that this couple was his own parents, Tang Wen and Zhong Yao.


    In the nine years that followed, he had indeed become partly what they had hoped.


    That''s why, upon meeting that girl, he felt everything was so familiar.


    It turned out that Zhong Xiuxiu, who was not related to him by blood, was truly his sister.


    He silently laughed, slowly wiping away his tears.


    The conversation in his mind finally stopped; where his parents had taken him was another secret.


    Why had these memories been hidden, and why did they suddenly emerge at this time?


    What exactly was the potion that Constantine had given him?


    He naturally didn''t believe it was simply an ordinary memory-erasing potion.


    It was more like something... that made him temporarily lose his memory, the technology behind it much more sophisticated than pure Anai Extract.


    What was his reason for doing this?


    Tang Xian didn''t believe in coincidences or whims.


    Constantine had no reason to allow his parents to take him away. As the smartest amongst the seven Order Keepers, what was Constantine actually planning?


    Where had his parents taken him all those years ago?


    They had mentioned only having nine years of lifespan.


    Was this the reason they left when he was eleven?


    Had they indeed... died?


    But where had they died?


    The reason they knew their lifespan, was it related to a deal with Constantine, or to their own plans?


    All sorts of questions flashed through Tang Xian''s mind.


    But he didn''t delve into them. As his consciousness gradually cleared, Tang Xian had only one thought¡ª


    to break through the ceiling of the fifth layer and tear the owner of that detestable scent to pieces!


    "Tang Feiji, are you ready? I need you to break through the ceiling."


    "Oh, you were just crying and laughing, looking really strange. Are you back to normal now?"


    Tears and laughter, in fact, were sufficient to illustrate the tremendous impact these things had on Tang Xian.


    Yet even with such strong turbulence in his memories, Tang Xian''s displayed emotions were not particularly intense.


    Crying or laughing, his expressions appeared indifferent.


    "I''m fine now; I just remembered some interesting past. Enough small talk, get ready to fight, our enemy is strong."


    "A mere human, I hardly acknowledge them."


    A gust of wind arose; as soon as the words fell, Tang Feiji didn''t hesitate, already waiting for Tang Xian''s order.


    He braced his knees slightly, and the entire fourth layer of Lincoln Fortress shook subtly at that instant. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since humans began inhabiting the Pyramid, even the largest turmoil rarely caused damage inside.


    Especially large-scale destruction; it was unprecedented.


    The greatest uproar was about to begin.


    Tang Feiji, like a cannonball, charged towards the fifth layer.


    Tang Xian slightly furrowed his brows, because the next second, Tang Feiji transformed into a dragon.


    The dragon''s roar, full of surprise, was like thunder, tearing apart the quiet of the early morning completely.


    The massive Pyramid, every layer of it, trembled.


    On the most violently shaking fourth layer, in the early hours, the dragon''s roar and the tumult it brought awoke the thousand homes.


    Although only a few people witnessed this scene, in the highly communicative Lincoln Fortress, it wouldn''t be long before the entire world''s two hundred-plus fortresses would see the shocking sight of a cyan dragon striking the six hundred meter high ceiling.


    The breaking of the ceiling, for the people on the fourth layer, was probably like seeing a hole poked in the sky.


    Even though many large pieces of debris fell, just as Tang Xian had calculated, the olfactory feedback suggested that this area should be an empty space.


    After fulfilling Tang Xian''s request, Tang Feiji slithered downwards, carrying Tang Xian away.


    Masked Chopper Hero riding a dragon was not a strange event for the hunters.


    On the fourth layer of the Lincoln Fortress, there were many famous monster hunters.


    But even for them, waking up groggy, to see such a figure riding a dragon and flying to the fifth layer inside the Pyramid, their jaws would still drop in astonishment.


    It seemed as if they woke up to a changed era.


    Ascending six hundred meters into the sky was merely a blink of an eye for Tang Feiji.


    With the ceiling gone, the scent was even clearer, and Tang Xian could feel that two extremely powerful beings were engaged in a battle to the death.


    "Could you not break through this ceiling in your human form?"


    [My power weakens unconsciously as I approach here; I must revert to my true form to have the strength to break through.]


    The tone of Tang Feiji''s voice was laden with gravity.


    The closer he got to this area of the fifth layer, the more he felt his power being suppressed by some mighty rule.


    Even after reverting to his true form, Tang Feiji still felt as weak as he was when he defeated the gluttonous creature.


    Fortunately, a camel dead from starvation is still bigger than a horse; even with his power significantly weakened, Tang Feiji was still much stronger than the experimental subjects in the evolution area.

 Chapter 508 - 508: 97 chapters: See Xi He again after 20 years_2

    Tang Xian said:


    "I will figure out what is going on, but for now you need to block the hole. Can you still do it?"


    [Piece of cake.]


    The cold ice began to form, and through the thick layer of ice, the fourth and fifth levels were visually separated again.


    The entire defense system of Lincoln Fortress also rapidly responded.


    But Tang Xian and Tang Feiji had already arrived at the fifth level.


    Before the regular troops of Lincoln Fortress could assemble, he had at least half an hour to use.


    Even at dawn, the evolution zone naturally had some guards.


    But facing a giant dragon spiraling in the air and an Eden demon child with almost no weaknesses against human units, these guards naturally could not withstand the onslaught.


    Tang Xian didn''t delay; the guidance of the scents made him keenly aware of where the real battlefield lay.


    He was located on the periphery of the super S-class experimental area.


    The scents from Akasi, Tang Suoye, Yuan Fog, and even the distant Song Que could all be detected by Tang Xian.


    Of course, it wasn''t just these people. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was also an existence he loathed intensely.


    Pointing in a direction, Tang Xian said:


    "Turn into a human, you don''t need to fight this time."


    [Are you sure?]


    "In a vast battlefield, Zang Lin is no match for you, and you can strike at it from outside the domain of the Hundred Beasts Hidden Qilin.


    But in a battlefield this size, within its domain, you have no way to deal with it.


    I''ll take care of that guy."


    Tang Feiji transformed into a human shape; his massive body indeed was not suitable for moving around in this place.


    After the transformation into human form, the suppression from the domain of the Hundred Beasts Hidden Qilin became even more severe.


    He greatly disliked this feeling of being significantly weaker.


    ...


    ...


    The super S-class experimental area.


    The experimental area, which had turned into an arena, had suffered irreversible destruction.


    Just tens of seconds earlier, Xi He and Akasi had both felt a tremendous tremor.


    It was almost impossible for an earthquake to occur inside the Pyramid.


    The two of them didn''t know what had happened as their fight was highly focused.


    The powers of red and black intertwined, pouring out over the battlefield.


    Yuan Fog and Tang Suoye watched Akasi with great concern.


    Even now, Xi He had not managed to land a hit on Akasi.


    But Akasi had also not inflicted any substantial damage on Xi He.


    They were like two monsters whose ability to survive far exceeded their ability to attack, wrestling with each other.


    Xi He''s abilities were all-around powerful, his terrifying vitality, extraordinary defensive power, and healing abilities placed Xi He in an invincible position.


    And Akasi still possessed only speed. With his one technique, he could break a myriad of others, truly embodying the concept that nothing can surpass speed.


    For a time, neither could do anything to the other.


    But Tang Suoye and Yuan Fog could both feel that Akasi was at a disadvantage.


    This was like the ultimate form that two types of humans could achieve.


    One with talent burning bright, the other in a tyrant form.


    During the maintenance of this form, the outcome was unpredictable.


    The real deciding factor might be who could sustain this form until the end.


    Whoever ended this special enhancement first would be the one to fall.


    Xi He was even not actively attacking, merely defending passively.


    All of Akasi''s attacks posed no threat to him, and he casually dealt with Akasi with an air of having everything under control.


    With a smile that suggested everything was in his grasp, he said, "I didn''t expect you to have reinforcements, but no matter who it is that comes, inside this Pyramid, they can''t possibly be my opponent.


    Akasi, how much longer can you maintain your tyrant form?


    Once you shed this layer of power, I will turn you into my puppet! And not just you, but your companions as well."


    Xi He''s speed was no match for Akasi''s, but he was gradually getting used to it and wasn''t as flustered as before when dealing with Akasi.


    Akasi didn''t stop his assault because of this; his expression became even calmer.


    The tyrant Akasi, after the initial fury, entered a profoundly mysterious state.


    Fueled by anger towards his and Tang Suoye''s past, towards Number Seven''s past, the very instigator of it all, the master of the evolution zone, must pay the price.


    This anger continued to intensify, sustaining Akasi in his tyrant form.


    But at the same time, Akasi was becoming increasingly calm in battle.


    In this prolonged duel, Xi He had been disturbing Akasi''s state of mind, trying to make Akasi commit some mistakes.


    Once Akasi revealed any flaws in the fight, Xi He was confident he could turn the situation around with a single strike.


    Because Akasi did not have the same powerful life recovery abilities as he did.


    In the blink of an eye, a red and a black streak of light crossed paths multiple times, yet Xi He never managed to touch Akasi.


    Akasi appeared extremely composed throughout.


    He knew that he may be facing a super genius.


    But how many times had this genius truly experienced a fight to the death?


    In terms of combat experience, Akasi ultimately had the upper hand.


    The calmer he was, the more situations he could think of.


    He ignored Xi He''s taunting and became even more conservative in his attacks.


    His brain was working fast, and Akasi soon analyzed the current situation thoroughly.


    The huge shaking just now, and the faint dragon''s roar that echoed in his ears.


    At this time, in this place, there could only be one coming to execute a rescue.


    The dagger traced a long curved blade, and Akasi maintained a certain distance from Xi He.


    What was originally close combat grappling had turned into hit and run tactics.


    Xi He did not take this seriously at first, even thinking that Akasi''s tyrant form was about to expire.


    But after this state had lasted for several seconds, from Akasi''s increasingly composed expression, Xi He sensed something was amiss.


    He paused for a second, quickly understanding everything:


    "It seems the person coming to rescue you is quite significant, and you trust him a lot," he remarked.


    Akasi did not respond.


    Just as Xi He was about to ignite several talents related to attacking, hoping to end the battle quickly, the battlefield suddenly underwent a drastic change.


    The temperature in the air began to drop slowly.


    The cold stream of air seemed to herald the approach of some powerful creature.


    Within the Pyramid, the talent users could not use their talents, and the serum of the ten thousand beasts would be suppressed.


    Xi He''s smile faded, and he furrowed his brows.


    The ice crystals underfoot indicated that this was either the effect of some kind of weapon or the arrival of an extremely powerful monster.


    Such a monster couldn''t possibly be human.


    Deafening sounds erupted, and the outer defenses were instantly breached.


    The storm carried ice crystals, and the once scorching battlefield turned into a cold wasteland the next second.


    At the edge of the arena, two figures slowly appeared.


    Accompanied by those alarm sounds outside, as a being with a deep understanding of the Pyramid, Xi He was convinced these were alarms triggered only by an invasion of the ten thousand beasts.


    His expression grew more solemn.


    There were not many creatures capable of such destruction under the Hundred Beasts Hidden Qilin Domain.


    This clearly indicated that at least one of the figures emerging was a creature starting from an orange rank.


    He did not recognize the two men, one a good-looking young man with a distressed face, and another wearing a strange mask.


    The masked man only glanced at Xi He before shifting his gaze to Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu in the corner.


    The emotion in that glance was extremely complex.


    Xi He suddenly felt an unusual sensation rise within him.


    Obviously, he could not recognize someone just from a mask.


    In fact, what several children gathered at the foot of the God Seat looked like more than twenty years later, no one could imagine.


    Yet, this familiar aura made Xi He uncomfortable.


    It was then that Akasi spoke:


    "I don''t need to hold on forcefully, I have my friends," he said.


    This feeling was truly marvelous.


    Despite knowing deep down that he shouldn''t rely on Tang Xian, Akasi had no intention of resting just yet.


    Just like last time, and this time again.


    Back in the evolution zone, when he and Tang Suoye both faced danger, Tang Xian arrived like a god descending to kill¡ª


    There was nothing more delightful than this.


    Tang Xian breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, knowing he should have reached the battlefield earlier.


    But the popping of his memories caused his consciousness to stagnate for a while.


    He turned around and looked at Xi He seriously.


    The annoying face was naturally very different from the past, and he no longer recognized it.


    But first, he could rule out that this was not Constantine.


    It was not Ju Mang either, Ju Mang was a woman.


    This was not Uranus or Siren either, after all, no matter how much one''s appearance changes, a Caucasian or an African American from childhood couldn''t transform into the Asian appearance that stood before him.


    After a process of elimination, Tang Xian said indifferently:


    "Long time no see, Xi He."

 Chapter 509 - 98: Killing the Enforcer

    Xi He was not surprised that someone knew his name; he was not stingy with his information even to strangers.


    Like the master of a manor, he would not fear the sight of a farmhand. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, few subjects in the evolution zone ever escaped¡ªa rarity were the instances of Akasi Tangsuoye and the prime fog¡ªstaff members privy to their own information have always been under supervision.


    So this man wearing a mask, calling out his name, Xi He was certain he was not from the evolution zone.


    The Masked Chopper Hero was no stranger to the people of the evolution zone.


    After the Masked Chopper Hero took down the second fortress''s division in the evolution zone, Xi He also received the related video records swiftly.


    This Masked Chopper Hero has always been on the hunting list of the evolution zone''s subjects, just that up till now, no subject had dared to take on this task.


    Xi He later learned of the birth of the Eden demon child, who also had a human identity named Tang Xian.


    This was extremely difficult to comprehend for him and for others like Constantine Uranus¡ªit was anomalous for the creatures of Eden to appear in the Human World.


    As for who knew that Tang Xian was, in fact, the Masked Chopper Hero, that remained a secret for the time being.


    Only a very few individuals like Song Que were aware of it.


    What truly puzzled Xi He was not... why the Masked Chopper Hero would appear here.


    But the data that appeared when observing the Masked Chopper Hero.


    Gender: Male.


    Morality Rating: Insufficient authority to view.


    Greed and Lust Index: Insufficient authority to view.


    Favorability: Insufficient authority to view.


    Financial Assessment: Insufficient authority to view.


    Loved Things: Insufficient authority to view.


    Disliked Things: Insufficient authority to view.


    Fears: Insufficient authority to view.


    Current Honesty Level: Insufficient authority to view.


    Charm Value: Insufficient authority to view.


    Current Luck Value: Insufficient authority to view.


    Current Needs Analysis: [Displays tendencies for dangerous behavior but cannot be specifically analyzed.]


    Insufficient authority, unable to view.


    Only upon observing the other five companions did such a situation arise.


    Xi He''s expression showed surprise.


    "You''re not Uranus, nor Siren or Ju Mang, and definitely not Constantine¡ªthe voice doesn''t match Ganesa''s! Who are you?"


    Using a process of elimination, Xi He quickly formed a conjecture in his mind.


    "Who am I? If you''d just think a little, wouldn''t you know the answer?"


    Tang Xian''s tone was just like Xi He''s, carrying an ease that suggested control over everything. If Tang Xian was one of their own, Akasi would not find such a tone and the smile behind the mask distasteful.


    Just like when he first saw Tang Xian tear apart the number one and two subjects in the division, that unquestionable strength made one feel secure if he was a teammate.


    Tang Xian took a few steps forward, arriving beside Akasi.


    Xi He''s eyes widened, and the fear in them exceeded even that of seeing Akasi''s tyrannical speed after transformation.


    "Impossible..."


    Xi He involuntarily took half a step back. With his ability to think beyond that of ordinary humans, he quickly deduced the identity of the person before him.


    Many years ago, that couple had fled with subject number seven.


    Not long afterward, Constantine conveyed a piece of news to everyone that was beyond belief.


    The technology of genetic code that was hundreds of years ahead of human tech had been cracked by that human couple.


    While Xi He did not understand what this meant at the time, he instantly grasped it the moment the Masked Chopper Hero appeared before him.


    If there still existed a sixth person whom he could not "see through," it could only be the missing number seven.


    Seeing Xi He''s reaction, Akasi found it very strange¡ªTang Xian and Xi He should not be acquainted.


    Tang Xian said softly:


    "It seems you remember now. I truly am indebted to you for your care back in those days. You, Siren, Uranus, Ganesa."


    A tone that was polite and friendly.


    Even though the conversation had started with mutual realization, Tang Xian never removed his mask.


    He was also sure of one thing¡ªXi He knew of the Eden demon child, knew of the Masked Chopper Hero.


    But he did not know that the Eden demon child was the Masked Chopper Hero.


    This was an advantage.


    Xi He''s reaction confirmed this.


    After the shock, Xi He recalled something else.


    He adjusted his expression, and although his magician''s costume was no longer as elegant, covered in hollows and pits, he still retained an air of his former self:


    "Indeed, it has been a long time. I didn''t expect you to still be alive. And what of that couple?"


    "Dead."


    "Oh? They are dead already? Then why the rush to meet them? Or is it that trash always likes to cluster together?"


    "To describe your own teachers in such manner, where have your manners gone? Oh... right, abandoned by your own teachers after less than two years, how could you have any manners?"


    Tang Xian wasn''t angered by the insult to his mother; he remembered that Xi He enjoyed humiliating people and particularly loved to see his frustrated fury from the days gone by.


    "She was not my teacher! She was just a traitor!"


    "I hope that brings some comfort to you and your group of self-proclaimed geniuses, being outsmarted by two humans."


    "It was just a moment of carelessness on our part."


    "Indeed; after all, who would admit to being fooled by the acting of two humans? Don''t worry, they''re already dead, and only you all know about this."

 Chapter 510 - 98: Killing the Enforcer_2

    Xi He''s lips twitched slightly. Tang Xian, however, looked completely calm, even though Xi He couldn''t see it through the mask.


    Times change, indeed.


    In the Human World, Tang Xian wasn''t considered foul-mouthed, at least not one to swear at people much. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But sarcasm and the art of trolling¡ªhow to properly "ky" and argue¡ªhe considered himself somewhat proficient.


    On Zhihu, on Weibo, these were simply essential self-defense tactics.


    On the other hand, Xi He, who once delighted in angering others, seemed outdated to the current Tang Xian.


    The one who could only grit his teeth in response to being mocked by Tang Xian had become a sharp-tongued ranter, and Xi He was somewhat unaccustomed to it.


    Even after more than twenty years, everything could have a rational explanation.


    "You are the only one among us without a talent; that myriad beast behind you is no match for me in combat, and your teammate Akasi is just at the end of his tether. I''ll make sure you die in agony," Xi He said.


    Xi He decided no longer to tolerate it and went straight to action.


    Tang Xian didn''t want to waste words with Xi He anymore, either.


    The foremost thought in his mind was to tear Xi He apart, almost an instinct.


    This struck Tang Xian as somewhat odd, but he quickly came to terms with it.


    With the partial recovery of his memory came the natural resurgence of some subjective feelings.


    His younger self probably had an intense desire to tear apart those who bullied him.


    "Tang Feiji, you''re in charge of protecting Tang Suoye and Yuan Wu; if anything goes wrong, the responsibility is on you. Akasi, let''s join forces this time and kill this annoying guy," Tang Xian said.


    Akasi nodded, the rage deep within him ceasing to grow and even beginning to fade bit by bit.


    The state of tyranny transformation wouldn''t last much longer. In contrast, Xi He''s talent flare-up could still sustain for a while.


    The atmosphere once again became oppressive.


    "I''ll bring your corpse back to the Throne and give it to Constantine; he''ll be most pleased," Xi He said.


    No sooner had he finished speaking, Xi He''s figure moved.


    In that instant, he burned all his talents.


    Every talent he hadn''t used against Akasi was unleashed at that moment.


    Xi He''s combat ability suddenly increased by another notch.


    He intended to end this battle as quickly as possible.


    At the same time, Akasi also pushed his speed to the limit.


    As Xi He prepared to strike down Tang Xian, he stepped in front of Tang Xian.


    The tyrant and the order keeper, like shield and spear.


    Being well-fed could greatly enhance Tang Xian''s physical abilities, but he still couldn''t keep up with their speed in such circumstances.


    However, he could see, with his dynamic vision, the figures of Akasi and Xi He.


    His computing power was outstanding; even from a young age, though devoid of combat-related talents and dubbed as a waste, Tang Xian''s learning ability was in no way inferior to theirs.


    The fight seemed to return to a stalemate between two monsters.


    Only this time, Xi He''s offensive desire was significantly stronger.


    After the full talent flare-up, the struggle between Akasi and Xi He became even more difficult.


    Tang Xian just stood still and never moved; the airflow was like a swift current or sharp blades.


    He quietly felt the presence of two figures moving to the extreme.


    From a distance, it looked like a red and a black line circling around Tang Xian.


    Tang Feiji watched this scene in some surprise from afar.


    He remembered that guy with red hair dancing wildly with incredible speed.


    Although he didn''t interact much with the members of Tang Xian''s small group, Tang Feiji still remembered that there were a few "big guys" in the group, powerful creatures.


    He felt increasingly frustrated; in the domain of Hidden Kirin in the Mire of Beasts, Tang Feiji realized he was no match for these two humans.


    And Xi He was even more terrifying.


    The power increase after talent flare-up was exceedingly comprehensive.


    Xi He''s talent flare-up state was more powerful than Song Que.


    Tang Feiji had to admit that even in his prime, he would have to seriously deal with him.


    That such a being was human, he truly found it a pity...


    After all, what rules in this world could surpass those of the power of Eden?


    Akasi and Tang Feiji were both aware of Tang Xian''s secret.


    After a sufficiently long and intense fight, Xi He gradually relaxed his vigilance towards Tang Xian.


    He was convinced through observation that Tang Xian''s physical performance far exceeded that of ordinary people, yet hadn''t reached the level of an experimental subject.


    Let alone compare with the tyrannized Akasi or Xi He in a talent flare-up state.


    In the state of high-speed movement, Tang Xian tried to make a move a few times but failed to act.


    The gap in speed was simply too great; he couldn''t touch Xi He at all.


    At that moment, Akasi suddenly revealed a flaw.


    Xi He didn''t miss this opportunity; a deadly punch headed towards Akasi.


    Akasi was the biggest threat.


    But it was then that Tang Xian acted as though he''d anticipated all of this.


    His cooperation with Akasi had already begun; Akasi played the bait and Tang Xian the fisherman.


    Xi He had actually seen through it all. Although he couldn''t see through Tang Xian, he could see through Akasi.


    But in Pyramid''s world, what abilities could Tang Xian possibly have?


    This Masked Chopper Hero, if he truly was that useless Number Seven, was not to be feared.


    Time seemed to freeze in that second.


    Xi He''s fist surged with a terrifying pressure towards Akasi.


    Akasi stopped by Tang Xian, protecting his chest with a dagger.


    But his fragile body was likely unable to withstand Xi He''s full-force blow even with the defense.


    While Tang Xian, at a slower speed, reached out in an attempt to grab Xi He.

 Chapter 511 - 98: Killing the Enforcer_3

    Although the Nvwa Snake stance had been activated, all of this still looked like slow motion in the eyes of Akasi and Xi He.


    Fortunately, the difference in distance had been calculated by Tang Xian with extreme precision.


    He had done such things many times before; whether it was dealing with the Nvwa Snake or the Zudun Giant, he always relied on calculations to snatch victory, so he was rich in experience.


    The speed of Xi He, the speed of Akasi, his own speed, and the distance were all taken into account.


    As long as Xi He did not change his intent to attack, Tang Xian would be able to touch him.


    Xi He had not taken Tang Xian seriously, so his punch was unstoppable.


    Tang Xian had calculated everything, and so had Xi He.


    He was confident that such calculations were meaningless in the face of an absolute gap in strength.


    The onslaught of the punch blew Akasi''s body away, the terrifying force injuring his internal organs.


    But the punch''s power was not as massive as Akasi had imagined.


    Because the fist had not yet reached.


    Because before the punch could land, Tang Xian had caught the fist.


    Xi He looked at Masked Chopper Hero in astonishment.


    He had ignited all of his talents, and his combat power was now such that he could fight a Tier-Orange Thousand Beast.


    Yet his full-force blow was actually intercepted by the Masked Chopper Hero.


    In the instant, he was about to kill Akasi, he found his own fist difficult to advance further or to retreat.


    Tang Xian''s left hand caught Xi He''s fist while his right hand slowly took off the mask. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The face beneath the mask was finally exposed to Xi He''s view.


    Being well acquainted with the most wanted criminal in the world and the number one enemy of the Federation, the Demon Child of Eden, Xi He was certainly familiar.


    This time, it was Xi He who truly experienced fear from the depths of his soul.


    "You... you''re the Demon Child of Eden? How is this possible? How?"


    "Are you surprised, delighted?" Tang Xian''s tone was very calm.


    He now knows, looking back on these years, that he had survived thanks to Li Xiaoyu.


    The weird incident during the exam when he was framed for cheating, those bizarre talent data did not get leaked, all thanks to Li Xiaoyu''s going with the flow to bribe the school teachers.


    Otherwise, Xi He and the others would have known of his existence long ago.


    Because of this, he had the room and time to grow strong.


    Xi He tried to break free but was completely unable to do so.


    He had originally thought that Tang Xian must have injected some kind of serum into himself to dare to confront him.


    He wasn''t wrong, in a sense, Tang Xian did indeed possess a certain serum.


    But what he never expected was that it was a bloodline surpassing that of the Hundred Beasts'' Zang Lin.


    How could the Cataclysm-level Zang Lin suppress the Apocalyptic Demon Child of Eden?


    Fear began to grow, like a row of fuzzy spiders slowly crawling up his back.


    For the first time, Xi He experienced such extreme negative emotions.


    And Tang Xian''s only thought at the moment was one thing.


    "Although it''s been many years, we have nothing to reminisce about."


    He did not have the bad habit of issuing victory speeches at critical moments.


    Having restrained Xi He, the thought of tearing him apart became even stronger.


    "Farewell, Xi He!"


    "Do you think that with this bloodline, you can do as you please? Constantine and the others are much more than I..."


    Xi He''s voice abruptly stopped; under the activation of the Nvwa Snake stance, only the afterimages left by Tang Xian''s fist could be seen.


    From the fight between Xi He and Akasi, Tang Xian was convinced of Xi He''s incredible healing ability.


    He held nothing back, as continuing this battle would only bring about variables that were not in his favor.


    Clean and decisive, Tang Xian killed Xi He.


    The protracted battle suddenly ended at this moment. Xi He''s body didn''t even twitch once, and the being that Akasi couldn''t kill no matter what, ultimately died.


    Xi He died with an expression of anger and pain, and whether his final words contained some important message was unknown.


    Tang Xian didn''t pay attention to these details, knowing that clues would eventually emerge, so he wasn''t overly concerned.


    Silently watching Xi He, he then did something exceedingly shocking and insane¡ªhe tore Xi He apart.


    Amidst the spraying blood, Tang Xian stood like a Shura emerging from a blood pool.


    He stood there, determined, originally planning the next mission and wondering if he should make some preparations.


    But at that moment, Xi He''s smartphone began to ring, like an urgent call from someone.


    Tang Xian wiped the blood off his face unhurriedly before reaching for Xi He''s smartphone from the corpse.


    Seeing the caller''s name, Tang Xian froze.


    Contact¡ªConstantine.


    (Tomorrow should be the end of the volume. I can''t guarantee the word count, but I will try to write more.)

 Chapter 512 - 99: Prometheus and Constantine

    The phone kept ringing. There were also scratches on it, likely from Akasi''s dagger strikes.


    Tang Xian held the phone with surprise and scrutinized it carefully.


    He found its material extremely unusual, feeling a sense of familiarity with the strange metallic texture. Was it specifically designed to withstand battle conditions?


    Creating a durable phone wasn''t difficult in terms of craftsmanship; the challenge was in the materials.


    As for Constantine, listed in the phone directory, he seemed unduly conspicuous.


    Everything appeared too deliberate. With Xi He dead, the timing of this call was far too coincidental.


    But just as Tang Xian was about to answer, that intense scent from Xi He''s blood seemed to drill into his brain.


    His pupils contracted, and he exhibited an expression of pain once again.


    The pain came from within his brain. The phone clattered to the ground.


    "What''s wrong?" Akasi exclaimed in alarm.


    Tang Xian waved his hand, his consciousness quickly blurring. While he still could move, he pointed to the phone that continued to ring.


    His head throbbed, his breaths were short, and it seemed like many things began to emerge in his consciousness once again.


    He had already experienced this sensation once today. Although it wasn''t unfamiliar, and he even knew what was about to happen, the pain from inside the brain was still incredibly difficult to endure.


    Akasi caught on, understanding that Tang Xian wanted him to answer the call instead. But he wondered: who was Constantine?


    The caller, insisting on reaching Xi He, seemed extremely persistent.


    The phone had been ringing continuously for dozens of times without hanging up, as if determined to make someone answer.


    Akasi didn''t overthink it and chose to answer, only to be unexpectedly met with a conversation that left him stunned.


    "Hello, I''m number Seven."


    He was at a loss for words. This number Seven was, of course, not the Seven Akasi recalled.


    The voice belonged to a young man, probably around the same age as Tang Xian.


    Akasi looked at Tang Xian with astonishment, not knowing how to respond for a moment.


    And at this moment, the voice from the phone made Akasi, Yuanwu Arkasi Tangsuoye and the others even more perplexed.


    "Oh, I see the situation. You are his friend. The sudden emergence of memories can cause short-term dissociative episodes and confusion, even for us. I''ll wait a bit longer."


    Tang Xian clutched his head.


    Yuanwu Arkasi Tangsuoye watched Tang Xian with concern. Tang Feiji had an ''aha'' expression, suddenly grasping the importance of sleep. It must be due to a lack of rest that Tang Xian kept having headaches today.


    Seeing Tang Xian in an unresponsive state, Akasi tried to communicate with the person on the phone, asking:


    "Why do you call yourself number Seven? Isn''t your name Constantine?"


    "It''s a bit complicated to explain. Although you might be his friends, I''m not sure if I can tell you these things. After all, there''s a greater likelihood that you''re more of his tools than his friends."


    "Tools?"


    Having been through life-or-death situations with Tang Xian a few times, Akasi was somewhat offended by this comment from "Seven."


    "Yes, tools. If the person I know hasn''t changed, then it''s more likely that you''re being used."


    The voice on the phone carried a hint of mockery, but also a tinge of anticipation.


    For "Seven," receiving the promised message after more than twenty years surely sparked curiosity.


    For instance, what had someone gone through in those twenty years? After being taken away by that couple, what happened?


    Maintaining an open line without speaking would make the silence awkward for both parties.


    But Constantine wasn''t embarrassed; he patiently waited for someone to speak up.


    Only after about ten minutes of silence did Tang Xian finally come to his senses.


    Those memories had also been smoothed over.


    His expression changed subtly. Due to the memories that were so overwhelming, Tang Xian didn''t know how to face Akasi and the others with any kind of expression.


    After pondering for a while, he shook his head slightly, took the phone, and began to assign tasks without paying attention to Constantine, who had been waiting on the line.


    "Tang Feiji, Yuanwu, Tangsuoye, have you recovered?"


    With Xi He''s death, the domain of the Bai Beast Zangling was also removed.


    Tang Feiji nodded, evidently eager to flex his muscles.


    But the enemy was left with only minor players, neither formidable nor worrisome.


    "Akasi stay with me. You others go search for Song Que; his scent is in the north."


    Yuanwu Tang Feiji Tangsuoye didn''t delay. Akasi quietly stood by, the fiery red light finally fading slowly, his demeanor revealing a sense of fragility, but not overly so. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The red hair gradually shortened back to its original style, and the color faded back to white.


    It was as if thick white frost had suddenly fallen on the maple leaves.


    Akasi returned to his original appearance.


    Tang Xian didn''t say anything to Akasi, simply giving him a look that suggested he wait.


    He looked at the phone with complicated emotions, and after hesitating for a few seconds, he slowly said:


    "It''s me."


    "Sorry, it''s been so long, I can''t recognize your voice. Can you prove it?"


    "Tang Wen, Zhong Yao. Your awakening ability is metal control."


    "Verification complete, welcome back. How is the human world treating you?"


    Tang Xian didn''t make any effort to prevent Akasi from hearing, and Akasi''s senses were sharp enough to catch the conversation.


    Tang Xian said frankly:

 Chapter 513 - 99: Prometheus and Constantine_2

    "Not bad, everything is quite interesting."


    "Have you recovered all your memories?"


    "Not yet. Memories about my other identity will probably only be answered in the mining area."


    "Is the plan still ongoing?"


    "Of course."


    The exchange between the two suggested an extraordinary relationship.


    On the other end of the phone, Konstant doubted:


    "It''s been twenty years. You know if your original intentions have changed, but as for whether I am still the same person I was, you have no way of knowing."


    Tang Xian responded simply: S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I agree to continue, next question."


    "I know, but now neither of us are necessarily the same as before. Are you sure we can still cooperate after you''ve lost your memories for twenty years?"


    "Is being Konstant more interesting than the promise I gave you? Or has the threat I mentioned at the beginning been eliminated?" Tang Xian asked.


    "I will answer the first question. I can''t say which is more interesting, as I have never been to the human realm, but being ''Konstant'', aside from not being bullied like you, probably doesn''t offer any other pleasure.


    As for the second question. No, the ones who created us, those above us, are still a mystery. Although we are reputed to be the gods that control this world, the possibility of being replaced is still quite high," Konstant said with some resignation.


    Tang Xian glanced at the bewildered Akasi, listened to the alarm sounds around him, and sensed the smell of many guards approaching from the distance. Yet his tone remained equally calm:


    "Researchers have found that human intelligence can best peak at the age of twenty-two. This peak might come earlier, but it generally can''t be sustained past twenty-seven.


    This research is based on ancient studies a thousand years ago, taking seven years and involving intelligence diagnosis of two thousand males and females aged between eighteen and sixty. In the twelve tests conducted, the average age of participants scoring the highest in nine of them ranged from twenty-two to twenty-five."


    Akasi didn''t understand how Tang Xian''s topic suddenly switched to this kind of academic research.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "You should know, Tang Wen and Zhong Yao are considered by the machines to be in a state too valuable to discard yet not useful enough to keep.


    This state will soon reach you and me. The Pyramid has ruled this world for hundreds of years, but we are not immortal. To me, most of those ''gods'' seem to have been dealt with at the age of twenty-five. You don''t have much time left, while I have already found a place where I could survive."


    Konstant laughed in a tone suggesting resignation:


    "What can I say? After all, I too am a coward who is exceedingly afraid of death. I am different from the Siren and the others; they eagerly seek recognition, but how can one establish feelings between the living and the cold, unfeeling machines?


    Alright, I believe continuing our cooperation won''t be a problem, so let''s move on to the next phase of the plan. That thing, I''ll send it to the agreed place. To be honest, I''ve been resisting temptation for years now."


    At the end of the call, Konstant suddenly asked:


    "By the way, I am very curious, how did you defeat Xi He? You shouldn''t have the capability now, should you?"


    "We only share mutual interests, but there is no trust to speak of. So don''t ask such questions. It''s a waste of your time and mine. Phone calls are quite expensive, I''ll hang up first."


    And indeed, Tang Xian did hang up the phone.


    Akasi thought to himself, you''re scrimping on phone bills to a ludicrous degree, aren''t you? Wasn''t the call made by someone else?


    But he couldn''t voice his complaint; the atmosphere was off.


    Tang Xian looked into the distance, silent. After a long while, he spoke:


    "The guards are rushing here, but I suppose you don''t want to leave just yet."


    "Yes."


    "Can you still fight?"


    "As long as there are no more leaders of that level showing up."


    Tang Xian shook his head gently and said:


    "Don''t worry, there are only a few such people, scattered around the world."


    "Tang Xian, we are friends. If something''s on your mind, you can tell me," Akasi sensed that Tang Xian was troubled.


    Tang Xian looked at Akasi, and a surge of subjective emotions from the past welled up.


    The personality known as "Tang Xian," which was cultivated over nine years by Tang Wen and Zhong Yao, and gradually nurtured by the emotions of many others¡ª


    was undergoing a change that was difficult to categorize as either good or bad.


    Without too much hesitation, Tang Xian showed a smile:


    "My mother told me that there would definitely be people in this world who would be willing to follow and love me. I am grateful to her for that."


    "It''s rare to hear you talk about your parents."


    "They aren''t my real parents. It''s not a very long story, but it''s not easy to talk about either. If you want to listen, I will tell you."


    "If you don''t feel like speaking¡­"


    "No, it''s not that. Whether it''s you, Song Que, Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng, Tang Suoye, Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, you are all people I trust. You all are important to me."


    Tang Xian''s expression lacked his usual nonchalant and jesting attitude, displaying only absolute calmness. And because of this calmness, he seemed serious.


    And because he was serious, his words felt a bit inappropriate for a conversation between men.


    But Tang Xian still said it quite naturally.


    "To humans, I am indeed an ominous being. This matter... it''s a bit complicated to explain, but I just hope that you can believe in my position."

 Chapter 514 - 99: Prometheus and Constantine_3

    The perimeter guards will most likely encircle the Evolution Zone in a short while.


    The scene of the dragon breaking through the fourth ceiling began to spread around the world quickly.


    Even though it''s not even six o''clock in the morning yet, the whole world is still in a phase of slumber.


    And Lincoln Fortress has raised the highest level of alert. Various heavy weaponry is being transported.


    Whether it''s the CIA or the FBI, they''ve all entered a heightened state of alert, regardless of internal corruption. An external invasion is an unprecedented major event for the whole Lincoln Fortress, and even the entire Human World.


    Under such circumstances, Akasi actually found a place to sit down, looking calm, "I will seriously listen to what you have to say, and then respond seriously."


    Tang Xian was equally calm. After all, this wasn''t a complicated story, and he had thought of a way to leave this place.


    "This story starts with my triple-layered memory."


    "Triple-layered memory?"


    "Yes, the first layer is the memory of being Tang Xian, which occupies the longest period of time.


    The memories from when I began to remember things to now, everything I''ve experienced, the paths I''ve walked, the people I''ve met, the bonds I''ve formed, they all belong to Tang Xian."


    Akasi rarely saw someone describe themselves in the tone of a stranger.


    That was the feeling Tang Xian gave him.


    "This layer has a huge impact on me because I''ve met many people. As my mother said, someone like me is loved.


    Yan Xiaoling, Li Xiaoyu, my parents... Maybe in the future, I''ll even have a sister?"


    "Yu?"


    "Right, there''s also Yu."


    Tang Xian smiled.


    He realized that over the years, he really had met a lot of people.


    But such a smile quickly faded, and his expression started to become solemn.


    "I always thought I was just Tang Xian, even though there were many incomprehensible things about me. But now... I''m starting to not be so sure.


    My second identity is that of an experimental subject similar to those in the Evolution Zone.


    However, I''m ranked a bit higher than an experimental subject, considered to serve... a presence that we must oppose.


    They are powerful mechanical life forms, and from the information I''ve understood so far, that''s indeed the case.


    But even I, who was closest to the core, as well as the six experimental subjects who existed with me at the time, are not clear about more specific intelligence.


    We were called Angel Envoys, living in a fortress currently unknown to humans.


    I now know the location of that place, but I''m not yet ready to go there."


    Akasi was still confused, but he didn''t interrupt Tang Xian, just listening seriously.


    "In that place, I was the one bullied by the other six people because I lacked abilities. My code name was Prometheus, but nobody called me by that code name; they referred to me as Number Seven. I was the weakest person there, and the strongest one, whose true abilities are still unknown to this day, is Constantine."


    Akasi was slightly moved, marveling at the coincidence brought by fate. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Only now did he understand that the useless Number Seven mentioned by Xi He was none other than Tang Xian.


    "Our existence was to understand this world and to dominate it.


    But ever since I was young, I''ve always longed to escape from there. By some fluke, my parents... actually my foster parents, took me away from that place and erased my memories."


    Akasi was starting to understand and tentatively said,


    "But today, for some reason, your memories have been restored?"


    Tang Xian nodded:


    "Yes."


    "But... what does that have to do with anything? You mean to say, you used to belong to some evil organization and had such a past, right? But the person you are now is still you," Akasi said.


    The look on Tang Xian''s face was complex.


    Just before shredding Xi, he thought the same thing.


    The memory from inside the Seat of God Fortress only inspired hatred for the Orderers.


    This did not affect his worldview.


    When his father''s questioning echoed in his memory, and when his mother countered with a decisive "then just love him," even Tang Xian, who seldom felt touched, felt a slight tingling in his nose.


    He was silent for several seconds before slowly saying,


    "But all of this... is just a mistake after hiding the third layer of memory."


    "A mistake?"


    "Because from the beginning, I was not Number Seven. The second layer itself was built on a lie."


    Akasi''s expression changed, and he suddenly remembered the first sentence after answering Constantine''s call, where that Constantine had claimed to be Number Seven.


    This thought left Akasi momentarily bewildered.


    At this moment, Tang Xian confirmed his suspicion:


    "I''m not Prometheus, I''m Constantine."


    (There will be more later... I''ve been unwell these past few days, with numerous typos and mistaken names, but luckily, all corrected. Please forgive me. If you spot any errors, let me know in the readers'' group. Of course, I will also intensify my self-review to reduce such poor experiences to a minimum.)

 Chapter 515 - 100: It Was Always Just Tang Xian

    Tang Xian had always found it strange that he simply couldn''t recall any memories before the age of three.


    Even though he later confirmed that it was quite normal for many people to forget their childhood memories, there was usually a blurred buffer zone.


    Not like his situation, where one side was the clear, visible world and the other became an abyssal cliff.


    It wasn''t until today, with the emergence of two sets of memories, that he finally understood it all.


    Far from forgetting, on the contrary¡ª


    His overwhelming intelligence and computational capability meant that while still in his mother''s womb, he already possessed nearly adult-level wisdom.


    All his memories had started at that time.


    ...


    ...


    Inside his consciousness, he was in a world that was warm yet pitch black.


    The first thing Tang Xian felt when those memories awakened was precisely this.


    The time was twenty-four years ago.


    The life experience within the box, perhaps only a few people in the whole world could remember this state.


    What echoed in his ears was no longer the conversation between Tang Wen and Zhong Yao.


    It was just a woman''s low weeping.


    Perhaps she was in some cold room, waiting alone for the day of childbirth to arrive.


    In the subsequent conversations between some staff and this woman, Tang Xian also confirmed this.


    This woman was his birth mother.


    The one truly related to him by blood.


    Her genes were quite ordinary in the Human World, yet she had given birth to a monster like him.


    She might have never known that during those nights when she hummed those mournful ballads, there was always an audience, and the sole audience at that.


    It wasn''t just the lullabies; there was much more.


    She talked to herself as if giving prenatal education:


    "My child, you must be a cautious and careful person in the future, you''ll have the opportunity to encounter the divine, but there''s only a fine line between gods and devils."


    Or:


    "Don''t trust them, they selected all the smartest children only to bestow that steel-like monster with human intelligence.


    This world has no gods, we have all been deceived."


    The woman was like a preacher who enjoyed speaking in religious puzzles.


    Or a heretic breaker.


    She would repeatedly mutter certain phrases, seemingly wanting her child to etch them deep into his memory.


    Although there were quite a few women in this region responsible for giving birth to the children of order, she was far from the one with the best genes, yet she always believed that her child would be the future Son of Order.


    The Son of Order possesses greater wisdom than ordinary people, but they are not omniscient or omnipotent, they simply awakened their intellect earlier.


    The greatest achievement of the woman''s life was to give birth to this Son of Order in this mechanical realm.


    After the Son of Order was born, Tang Xian knew the woman''s fate even though he did not witness it.


    The day he came into the world, a baby who did not cry caught the attention of many people in lab dust suits.


    Instead, the woman beside them screaming hoarsely, desiring just one glance at her child, went ignored.


    That was the last time Tang Xian saw that woman.


    She was in hysteria, wanting just one look at her own child, even if her life had no future left.


    Tang Xian did not know her name, but ultimately he remembered the face of the woman who gave birth to him.


    He felt that his mother was truly pitiable.


    At the beginning of humanity, there really are no such things as innately good or bad nature. It''s all just instinct, and instincts might lead to good or bad actions.


    Tang Xian was like a non-partisan, but when he thought of his mother, he still felt she was truly pitiable.


    He actually did remember those words, but he had no way to tell her.


    All of this was meaningless. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhong Yao and Tang Wen were dead, and this woman was probably dead too, most likely disposed of shortly after he was taken away.


    In the strictest sense, there were no more relatives left for him in this world.


    After this, Tang Xian was taken to a sealed environment to begin various cultivations.


    At the age of two, due to his exceptional intelligence, he was the first to enter the core zone of the divine seat and became one of the seven god-children to be nurtured.


    In the empty divine seat, the teachers responsible for imparting advanced knowledge had yet to appear.


    In the first year of his life, he had already mastered part of the language.


    For example, the most universally used and widely spoken language in the world.


    The wisdom of the Son of Order wasn''t considered the limit of humanity. Throughout human history, there have been geniuses superior to the order-bearers, but in learning capacity, memory, and computational ability, they couldn''t compare with the Sons of Order.


    And premature awareness was like a soul with a measure of wisdom living in the body of an infant.


    Tang Xian spent most of his time in a baby cot. On these highly mechanized sleeping devices, he could acquire a great deal of knowledge.


    Many of these knowledge required access permissions. His permissions were higher than those of ordinary personnel, but there were still documents he couldn''t consult, documents that seemed to become progressively accessible as he grew older and contributed more to the mechanical divine seat.


    But even the knowledge accessible to the Sons of Order at a young age allowed Tang Xian, while waiting for his teachers and peers to arrive, to gradually uncover some secrets.


    These secrets were hidden within the divine seat.


    Machines cannot evolve; they can only strengthen existing algorithms to the extreme. They''re incapable of developing new algorithms.

 Chapter 516 - 100: It Was Always Just Tang Xian_2

    Up to now, Pyramid''s method has been to continuously collect all kinds of human behavior... to build a humanoid thought pattern.


    This technology actually had its prototype in ancient times, and it seems the ultimate plan of the mechanical deity behind the scenes is to awaken a true consciousness.


    The Order''s Child, essentially human, is just a beginning.


    Only when machines truly possess the creative thinking of humans will they become alive. And when that day comes, machines will no longer need humans.


    This requires massive data research.


    Luckily, in the two hundred or so Pyramids, there are countless experimental subjects to study.


    Studying humans, becoming human, seems to be the underlying core code of this massive and mysterious machine.


    All its efforts are aimed at evolution.


    But the Order''s Child is replaced every few decades; where did the previous ones go?


    In various demonstrations, the future of the Order''s Child is always the leader of several major human domains, hidden behind the scenes, yet possessing extremely formidable social resources.


    The knowledge Tang Xian can access within his authorization is all promoting the various benefits of becoming the Order''s Child.


    The future him will probably be the deity who truly masters everything in the world.


    But Tang Xian doesn''t believe any of it.


    "Rational people are not blinded by greed," this saying actually has certain limitations.


    Because rational people also covet things, and if they can still keep their rationality, it''s probably just because the price is not high enough.


    The arrival of the other Order''s Children later on confirmed this point.


    Their sense of honor, their sense of belonging to the throne of the mechanical god, their disdain for humanity, and their thirst for power, made them overlook some of the most crucial elements.


    Every Order''s Child is so young; so where did they go afterward?


    Is this world really just a series of fishbowls?


    The Pyramid is an ordinary fishbowl, even though those living at the very top, the wielders of power, are also merely bred fish.


    And the Order''s Children in the throne of god reside in an even more exquisite fishbowl.


    Tang Xian believes his conspiracy theories and sense of caution stem from repeatedly listening to his mother''s soliloquies while in her womb.


    With this in mind, although his life can''t be said to be perfect, he has always encountered many benefactors.


    His enlightenment started very early. He remembered those words, took them to heart, and after arriving at the throne of god, he finally understood their meaning.


    He knew he had to be wary, to live cautiously.


    This so-called lord of order is calculating against all of humanity.


    So couldn''t he plot against it?


    Such a dangerous and subversive idea suddenly appeared in the mind of an infant who spent most of his time in a crib and a very small amount of time absorbing knowledge and learning.


    Tang Xian had a rough idea, or rather, a seed of rebellion, planted by his birth mother.


    And it was fate that made him meet Tang Wen and Zhong Yao, his foster parents, who allowed this seed to start to take root and sprout. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The couple was actually very cautious, but they didn''t guard against the seemingly naive and youthful infant Tang Xian.


    They were planning something, it seemed they wanted to take away one of the Order''s Children.


    For Tang Xian, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and so a very complex and lengthy plan began to take shape.


    ...


    ...


    At this point in the story, not much time has actually passed.


    The peripheral guards haven''t even managed to reach the evolution area.


    Akasi was surprised by Tang Xian''s past, who would have such rich experiences at such a young age, and have such clear memories?


    But since Tang Xian said it, he did not question it.


    "What happened next? What did you do? Why did you change from Constantine to... Number Seven?" Akasi said.


    "The specific plan is rather complex and doesn''t need to be explained in detail.


    Soon after I arrived, the first to come was Prometheus. It''s worth mentioning that he wasn''t actually the weakest Number Seven.


    The first thing I needed to do was to gain an ally. Someone who, like me, was wary of the Order''s power.


    This wasn''t easy, but I later realized that allies need to identify with you; tools do not.


    So the question of how to turn Prometheus into my tool was an urgent task I needed to accomplish before other Order''s Children arrived."


    "What did you do?" asked Akasi.


    "It''s better left unsaid; I nearly killed him. It was only when the staff no longer dared to put him in the same room with me that he finally became safe.


    I later let him know something else; seven arrogant, humanly flawed geniuses needed something to bond over, like bullying the weak.


    Although Prometheus wasn''t the weakest among us, as long as I wished him to be, I could make it so."


    As Tang Xian said this, his expression was utterly cold.


    Without the slightest bit of pity for "Number Seven."


    Akasi didn''t interrupt but continued to listen to Tang Xian:


    "Fear was the method I used to control him, but when I proposed that we exchange identities, he was still shocked by how audacious my plan was.


    Constantine is just a codename; we were actually all nameless children, Xi He, Siren, Uranus, Prometheus, Ju Mang, Ganesa, Constantine. Of the seven codenames, Constantine has always been ranked highest.


    Each codename is also assigned a different future job."

 Chapter 517 - 100: It Was Always Just Tang Xian_3

    Allocations are mostly determined by the order of entry into the divine seat.


    However, the order of entry is just the first step. There''s a subsequent test to observe talent and awakened combat abilities, and this data is used to determine the ranking.


    I have to give up my title and exchange it with Prometheus, which is essentially the same as giving up my rights.


    I''m willing to become the very last, the child who is bullied, to win my parents'' trust and sympathy.


    Prometheus did not refuse. Between the choices to bully or be bullied, anyone would find it easy to decide, especially when behind-the-scenes powers are involved.


    So, when the test came, I became someone with adequate calculation abilities but severely lacking talent¡ªa defective product.


    During this period, I continuously tested Prometheus to be sure of his loyalty until I discovered that Prometheus had also obtained some disturbing news¡ªabout our future.


    It seems he also noticed some doubts behind the glamorous identity of the Child of Order, which gave our collaboration a more solid foundation."


    How easy is it to execute a self-harm scheme? In this part, Tang Xian concealed many painful memories. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My foster parents wanted to take someone away. I knew this from early on and was trying my best to leave this place.


    It''s actually a gamble. All this time, my foster parents were observing me, and I was observing them in turn.


    They were assessing whether my humanity was enough to meet their expectations of what a human should be.


    I, however, tried to estimate through their actions how likely it was for someone like them to successfully escape.


    Mom and Dad didn''t know I was scheming against them. In a sense, they thought they had saved me, but in reality... I was using them.


    There were many holes in their plan, but thankfully, Prometheus and I were there to wrap things up.


    But not everyone was fooled by me and Prometheus.


    Many times, Ju Mang just watched me. When Prometheus urged others to bully me, Ju Mang watched from the side, not joining in, as if wanting to see right through me¡ªa cautious and astute girl.


    The noble Constantine shouldn''t have had much private contact with me. She must have become aware of something back then, right?


    Whether it''s my foster parents or my colleagues, they all possess wisdom beyond ordinary people. It''s not easy to deceive them.


    Luckily, my mother became pregnant. Women, upon becoming mothers, really do change a lot; they become more loving towards life, become more emotional.


    At least with my mother, she wasn''t so quick to notice my disguise.


    But I''m not sure if I will still be able to keep it from them once we leave the divine seat and head for the outside world in the future.


    Especially since the things they''re planning are critical, their caution will likely increase as we get closer to the end.


    I must truly become human, become that defective product who was bullied in their memories. I must deceive myself first if I am to deceive everyone else."


    It appeared that Tang Xian was about to reveal the most crucial part, his expression slightly strange, his facial muscles somewhat stiff.


    "Altering one''s own memory is a very troublesome business.


    All of this depends on Prometheus. He must find the memory-wiping drug before my parents leave this place.


    And before my memories return, I must establish several deep self-suggestions. That is, the ''save points'' for recalling all of this."


    Humans often do such things¡ªinvolving associative memory. One recalls another thing related to a certain object using the object itself.


    In the medical field, the most common method used to help recover from amnesia is associative memory.


    For example, taking patients who have lost their memories to places they have been before to stimulate the brain.


    Only, Tang Xian took this concept of associative memory and self-suggestion to an extreme.


    "These so-called key points include two locations. One is sensing my own kind, the scent of the Child of Order.


    It will allow me to recall part of my memory. At that moment of recall, I will still be on the same side as my parents.


    I''m sure that their unique talent data will allow them to recognize me quickly as the number seven who was kidnapped when they see me.


    I must recall part of my memory to deal with this. However, I won''t recall all of my memories until I''m sure I can eliminate them.


    The other trigger for my memory is the blood of a Child of Order, which shares a common scent with my own blood.


    Prometheus has been playing the part of Constantine, the strongest Child of Order. Before I left, we settled on some setups for the future.


    He would make some reasonable requests in the future, such as establishing a sense between the Children of Order so that when one dies, the others receive the news immediately."


    Akasi understood and said in surprise:


    "So he immediately contacted you after Xi He''s death?"


    "Yes, because in our plan and understanding, the only one capable of killing a Child of Order in the Pyramid was me, another Child of Order."


    "After remembering Xi He and the others, the desire to tear them apart filled my mind. I originally thought this desire stemmed from hatred, until recently, when Xi He died, I realized it was an indication from deep within my consciousness. In addition to this indication, there were actually several others."

 Chapter 518 - 100: It Was Always Just Tang Xian_4

    "What hint?"


    After a few seconds of silence, Tang Xian slowly said:


    "To live a carefree existence in the world of humanity, to uncover the secrets of the Order''s enslavement of humans, the truth behind humans moving into the Pyramid, the origin of everything; I must become acquainted with certain people.


    When my innate data sees these people, although I might not recall anything, deep in my consciousness, I feel the desire to befriend them."


    The bloodied Tang Xian quietly looked down at the pile of Xi He''s bloodied flesh at his feet.


    His expression carried a strong sense of self-doubt:


    "Among these people, some are skilled in information technology. Some in the arms industry. Also, some in biological research.


    With these people, I could enjoy certain technological conveniences, and indeed, after my Eden bloodline awakened, they have all provided me with a lot of help.


    Of course, to live conveniently enough in this world, I also need to know some existences within the ruling class. I''ve acquainted myself with two such people.


    And they indeed provided me with immense convenience.


    But one ran away from home because of me, and the other, losing all giftedness, became useless and was about to lose all social status."


    Akasi was dumbstruck, easily thinking of the people Tang Xian was referring to.


    Tang Xian turned his head to look at Akasi, and at the end of his gaze, he could already see some guards.


    His memory, which came all of a sudden, left him somewhat confused:


    "Akasi... am I Constantine, or Tang Xian? Do I know you all because our natures fit together¡ªor am I simply using you all?"


    Tang Xian''s tone carried a slight hint of panic. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was truly pondering this question.


    He certainly couldn''t have calculated everything after leaving the divine seat, but all the roles he needed had appeared at just the right time; wasn''t that too coincidental?


    Akasi had never seen Tang Xian like this before.


    It was like some monster who thought he was finally a normal human, only to realize that he was just following a script that had been set in advance.


    The one in the game is lost.


    Yet Akasi pierced right through Tang Xian with a single comment:


    "Miss Li would be very pained to see you doubting yourself like this."


    Tang Xian was momentarily stunned.


    "No matter how many memories you have, no matter whether you have strayed from the future''s path, you have lived over twenty years as Tang Xian. Your birth mother and foster mother were both vigilant against the Order.


    You have saved both me and Tang Suoye; perhaps all of this carries deeper motives, but it is not the result of some meticulous arrangement."


    Akasi patted Tang Xian''s shoulder, his exhausted face wearing a gentle smile.


    It was hard to imagine this was the same crimson tyrant from moments earlier.


    "Even Constantine, in his youth, had a rebellious will, stemming from your mother; you were destined to be different from other Children of the Order. So perhaps you''ve never changed at all. I don''t believe living according to one''s own expectations is scheming. And don''t think so little of us.


    Miss Li''s crazy love for you isn''t something you can manipulate to get. People are willing to follow you, more because you are trustworthy."


    Tang Xian rarely had the experience of being unable to see his own way clear, only to have a friend enlighten him.


    Most of the time, he was that person with a slightly venomous tongue, either missing the mark by a mile or hitting the nail on the head.


    After a few seconds of silence, he smiled, and the gloom and doubt on his face cleared away like smoke and clouds.


    The scheming Constantine, tainted by humanity for twenty years, had turned into Tang Xian.


    That''s all there was to it¡ªwho else would there be?


    The guards finally arrived, surrounding the Evolution area layer by layer, and countless heavy artillery weapons also aimed at the Evolution area.


    Tang Xian looked around and slowly put on his mask. Akasi also drew his dagger and asked:


    "The Evolution area is destroyed, who is our next enemy?"


    "I''ve said before, I never thought about beating the game; this world is full of geniuses. I just want to kill a calamity-level creature once and live like a human."


    "That sounded quite unrealistic half a year ago. Now it seems rather bland," Akasi said with a smile.


    Recalling the experiences of the past year, Tang Xian straightened his mask and said with a light laugh:


    "Hmm, it''s time to have a new life goal. Starting with taking down the Order."


    (End of Volume Two)

 Chapter 519 - 1: Constantines Werewolf Kill

    "One day, I will uproot the Evolution Zone entirely."


    Akasi had said this upon seeing the bloodshot eyes of Tang Suoye at the Evolution Zone branch of the second fortress.


    That was a thing of the past, though heartfelt, he knew the difficulty of the task.


    But now, fighting side by side with Tang Xian, he had truly achieved this.


    The deeper they went, the more they realized the terror of the Evolution Zone.


    They also understood just how formidable the power controlled by Xi He was.


    The reason why the core members of Lincoln Fortress had been replaced during that year''s hunting festival finally became clear.


    This fortress had long since become an outpost of the Evolution Zone.


    Yet, even such an Evolution Zone was on the brink of destruction following the death of Xi He.


    Tang Xian and Akasi ignored the numerous heavy weapons aimed at the super-S level experimental area.


    Lincoln Fortress was such a place: they proclaimed freedom, yet revered strength even more.


    The affairs of the Evolution Zone were inhumane; there were many experiments that neither the officials of Lincoln Fortress nor the public could accept.


    Though the public could never know, the people are unaware that they are the harvest.


    These experiments, in anyone''s eyes, were absolute evil.


    Both the Foreign Affairs Department of Lincoln Fortress and all its public-facing programs would certainly state their denial of support for these experiments.


    Because freedom must be built upon good order. But in reality, Tang Xian wasn''t optimistic.


    "We don''t have much time, these people are not difficult to deal with, but they''re troublesome," Tang Xian said as he followed the scent in his breath towards the depths of the lab.


    "What do we do now? The leader is dead; the Evolution Zone must be completely finished, right?" Akasi followed Tang Xian.


    Though there were only two of them, when the guards on the outskirts of Lincoln Fortress saw the notorious masked smiling face, fear stopped them from firing their weapons.


    These were all gifted individuals who had participated in the battles on the Yuepela Plains.


    The story of the Masked Chopper Hero riding a dragon to save humanity had also reached their ears, and there were quite a few who had experienced it themselves.


    Today, the dragon had rammed into the fifth layer, and the Masked Chopper Hero appeared, leaving them even more conflicted. The encirclement was complete, yet the firefight had yet to begin.


    "Meet up with Tang Suoye and the others. And in passing, destroy the Evolution Zone, eliminate all those records completely," Tang Xian commanded.


    "I thought you''d want to look at that research," Akasi said.


    Tang Xian shook his head:


    "These documents may be precious, the organization although evil, Pandora''s box has been opened. How many pursuers of power will willingly close it again?


    Especially Lincoln Fortress, which has been number one and is now suddenly second place, if they had technological means comparable to the Knights of Judgment, the likelihood of them not using it is too small.


    The Evolution Zone is a symbol; it represents the obsessions of wanting to become more powerful itself. It wasn''t that Xi He was there that the Evolution Zone existed, these disgusting experiments have always been around.


    We can''t stop them, but we can slow down these ambitions."


    They moved quickly. Tang Suoye, alongside Yuan Wu and Tang Feiji, were also efficient.


    Shortly after Tang Xian entered the deeper area of the lab, he saw Tang Feiji holding up a weakened Song Que, reluctant.


    Song Que''s expression was somewhat vacant, completely lost.


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised, presumably the people of the Evolution Zone would find it difficult to get anything from Song Que, at least some psychological invasion methods were ineffective. They could only use drugs to make Song Que enter a state of exhaustion.


    "Tang... you''ve come." Despite this, Song Que managed to maintain clear thoughts.


    Tang Xian admired Song Que''s willpower, something he might not have managed to do himself.


    "Are there still people here in the Pyramid whom you remember?"


    Song Que was stunned, nodded, but then shook his head again and said: Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I still miss them... one day, I will take them away from the Pyramid..."


    Tang Xian wasn''t sure how much Xi He had told Song Que, he knew that Song Que was referring to his family, and also knew that Song Que''s understanding of the Pyramid and the world had advanced a step further.


    He patted Song Que on the shoulder and said softly:


    "At least they are still alive. The Order''s control over humans begins on a spiritual level; we still have time to unravel this control bit by bit."


    "Such grand ambitions don''t sound like you, Tang," Song Que said.


    Tang Xian was taken aback. Was his usual image really that of a sluggard? But he didn''t deny it and said:


    "I''m just an ordinary person who goes through growth as well."


    Song Que nodded, pretending that the man before him wasn''t bragging, his expression gradually firming as he said:


    "Let''s go, back to Baichuan City. I hope I, a talentless failure, can still serve as your deputy mayor."


    Tang Xian smiled and replied:


    "You won''t be a failure. A friend of mine sent me a gift that isn''t of much significance to me, but it''s very suitable for you."


    Song Que didn''t quite understand.


    Tang Xian didn''t elaborate and then said:


    "Tang Feiji, get ready to destroy this place."


    As the words fell, the group cooperated tacitly.


    Yuan Wu and Tang Suoye used telekinesis to construct a defensive work, while Akasi opened a transport rift.


    The orange light in Tang Feiji''s eyes surged as if he was a god descending to earth. With the suppression of the Hundred Beasts hidden Kirin gone, he was the most terrifying monster here.

 Chapter 520 - 1: Constantines Werewolf Kill_2

    The storm whipped the flames, and the highly fire-resistant Evolution Zone was instantly enveloped in dragon fire.


    The sound of the dragon''s roar ignited not only the Evolution Zone but also the fear in the hearts of those guarding the perimeter.


    Who could be confident about killing a dragon inside the Pyramid?


    And who would dare to fire the first shot at a dragon?


    The greatest crime in Lincoln Fortress''s history was the destruction and hijacking caused by a dragon and a masked man.


    But now, with the suspects inside, no one dared to act recklessly. The fear of calamity-level creatures was etched into human genes, an instinctive response.


    Even if someone were willing to make a heroic move, they had to consider whether the rage of a calamity-level creature could extend to the entire stronghold.


    This was why humans were always so cautious with the use of the teleportation crack devices; should a myriad of beasts enter the stronghold, the potential disaster was unimaginable.


    The fire swept through the entire Evolution Zone, and the fortress''s firefighting equipment was simply no match for dragon fire.


    The high-ranking individuals on the sixth and seventh levels of Lincoln Fortress were also watching the blaze through monitoring equipment.


    Because of the dragon''s presence, no one felt safe even on the sixth or seventh level. After all, not long ago, that dragon was on the fourth level.


    Without any action being taken, people were oblivious to whatever was happening in the Evolution Zone beneath the cover of the raging fire.


    This most heinous duo of man and dragon had brazenly forced their way into Lincoln Fortress¡ªand just as boldly departed.


    It wasn''t until the whole world learned of the incident that the fire slowly began to die down.


    The Evolution Zone, after the invasion of dragon fire, was now unrecognizable, the highly fire-resistant buildings reduced to ashes.


    Where could anyone find the man or the dragon on the scene?


    ...


    ...


    Three days later.


    The day of the Monster Child''s birth brought immense panic to all the residents of the fortresses.


    Following this incident, another nationwide panic was the dragon attack three days earlier.


    The presence of a gigantic dragon within the human stronghold and the image of partitions between levels being shattered were witnessed by many.


    Optimistic individuals marveled at how Lincoln Fortress was truly the focal point of the world, much like Tokyo was destined to be trampled by grim reaper elementary students and various monsters. In the same vein, Lincoln Fortress was fated to be the birthplace of various supervillains.


    And why the dragon knight, the Masked Chopper Hero, who once saved humanity, would make an entrance at Lincoln Fortress in such a brutal manner, remained a mystery.


    Such discussions couldn''t be prohibited.


    Another matter revealed was the Evolution Zone itself. The destruction of the Evolution Zone triggered yet another reshuffle of power within Lincoln Fortress.


    Stuart couldn''t imagine that by sending Akasi and two children into it, he would spark such a major incident.


    Originally intending to gather evidence of officials colluding in the Evolution Zone, he never expected the entire area to be flattened.


    There were no shortage of people who saw Akasi and the Masked Chopper Hero together.


    As the powers underwent a significant purge, both the CIA and FBI, who once had ties to the Evolution Zone, would now face various allegations. Stuart, the comic book shop owner, was set for a promotion and pay raise.


    However, the matter of employing Akasi was unanimously decided to be kept under wraps by those involved.


    People panicked at the idea of dragons coming into the human world, but those who knew a bit of the truth deduced most of it from this single fact.


    The higher-ups at the CIA could already picture the Masked Chopper Hero bringing the dragon along to rescue Akasi or someone more significant. They believed they were all in cahoots.


    The image of the two of them together before the dragon fire consumed everything confirmed this.


    Humanity''s world began to unravel, and the situation at Lincoln Fortress went without saying. Other fortresses also tightened security, with extensive searches conducted on every level every day. People did not oppose these measures deemed essential for human security.


    Yet, no one was certain whether such actions were meaningful.


    And when would the next major event occur?


    ...


    ...


    Seven days after the dragon attack, in the unknown land.


    Konstant rarely left his house; his duty was to be an observer, and he spent most of his time monitoring shifts within this world.


    Collect, organize, record, and then encode it into data, loading it into a tiny cube.


    This cube was said to have existed for hundreds of years.


    Even Konstant himself was unaware of its origin.


    Back when he was still Prometheus, he had been told that only the Child of Order who was most likely to become a god would have a chance to know its secrets.


    He had already researched the secret for a long time.


    However, what he had to do today was not that.


    In the cold room, the largest object was a long table, much like those used by board members to discuss proposals.


    Constantine sat at the very front.


    He checked the time, and at the moment when the minute and second hands coincided, the entire dim room suddenly lit up.


    A few empty seats at the long table now had faint shadows in them.


    These shadows, just like Constantine, sat at their own places with dignity.


    "There are only five of us at this meeting, at last it''s symmetric," a young man with brown curls said.


    His code number was three, and the name that corresponded was Siren. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Such a waste of words, why not start the meeting sooner? I think as the overseer Constantine will have a lot of information for us, right?"


    Compared to Siren, Ganesa didn''t look as handsome; with Indian blood in him, he became even more rugged after growing a beard.


    Ganesa''s code number was five.


    After he finished speaking, Constantine, with the code number one, waved his hand.


    The room did not immediately quiet down, and Ju Mang, code number two, said coldly:


    "I need an explanation for Xi He''s death."


    Constantine said:


    "I will give you an explanation, but right now, you all need to listen to something I have to say. It''s very important."


    Uranus, number four, and Ganesa, number five, exchanged glances. Neither of them had ever heard Constantine speak with such a tone.


    The room finally became quiet.


    After a few seconds of silence, Constantine, with a cold gaze, swept over these shadows and said:


    "Among us, someone has strayed from the will of order, betrayed us, and betrayed the gods."


    This statement was soft, but when it fell in each person''s consciousness, it struck like thunder.


    Constantine continued:


    "Moving forward, I hope everyone remains cautious. Any one of us could meet the same fate as Xi He."


    Ju Mang looked at Constantine, puzzled, and asked:


    "What evidence is there for your statement?"


    Ju Mang, with her cold and beautiful appearance, could make anyone feel hostility when she quietly observed them, whether she was indeed hostile or not.


    Constantine replied:


    "Xi He died at the hands of someone called Masked Chopper Hero. I have already investigated his identity. His name is Tang Xian, and I think you are all familiar with this name. Tang Xian is also known as the Eden Magus."


    It was again Ju Mang who responded to Constantine, saying coldly:


    "With Xi He dead, what we need is some information humans are unaware of."


    "Mind your tone, number two."


    Constantine looked at Ju Mang with disdain, and as their gazes clashed, Ju Mang eventually lowered her head.


    Having seen Constantine''s ferocity since childhood, nobody wanted to confront him head-on, especially since all five present had their own schemes, and no one wished to be the first to provoke a conflict.


    That''s how human hearts are; even with absolute faith in the forces of order, they are still human and harbor their own desires.


    "Why the Eden Magus would appear in our world, we discussed this in a meeting several months ago but reached no conclusion. Now I will tell you, the Eden Magus, Tang Xian¡ªis indeed the number seven we took away back then."


    The other four were startled.


    They didn''t doubt the veracity of the information provided by the overseer Constantine, but the news was still hard for them to digest in the moment.


    Constantine went on:


    "As you should have realized by now, that trash we trampled on back then has returned, carrying the most powerful Beastkin bloodline to seek revenge upon us. This really does sound like a story from a novel, doesn''t it? I have always been resentful that the trash of those days could leave the Seat of God. Could the wisdom of the Tang couple elude all of us?"


    Constantine surveyed the crowd.


    This topic, delayed for twenty years, suddenly brought up again, did not seem out of place.


    "I will continue to pursue Tang Xian''s whereabouts, but before that, I presume you all would agree with me conducting surveillance on you as well? After all, identifying the traitor is the most urgent task for all of us now. Who agrees, and who disagrees?"

 Chapter 521 - 2: The Tang Clans Scam

    With an insider, naturally, trading must be ceased.


    Constantine and every person here actually have their own dealings.


    For instance, Uranus would inquire about Ju Mang''s affairs, while Siren took an interest in Ganesa''s travel records.


    Each harbored their own schemes, attempting to control other Children of Order or find leverage over them. Mostly though, their wills aligned.


    Of course, Constantine was aware that Ju Mang was also asking the other Children of Order about his affairs.


    He wasn''t surprised.


    Back when everyone together bullied the real Constantine, only Ju Mang had not lifted a finger; she simply watched with cold indifference, as if harboring ulterior motives.


    After Constantine had spoken, no one took a stance.


    He wasn''t in a rush; the first to oppose would surely arouse the suspicion of the rest.


    He cast a seemingly casual glance toward Ju Mang.


    It was just at this time that Ju Mang said:


    "If Number Seven could defeat Xi He, would Number Seven still be Number Seven? Isn''t he a talentless waste?"


    "I''ve stressed this before, he is now the Demonic Child of Eden. In other words, although we''ve all awakened our combat abilities, the traits of Eden''s master can disregard our powers, that''s a force that transcends the laws of life.


    Number Seven of that time, had already demonstrated computing abilities not inferior to ours, and I''ve always felt that he was holding back, intentionally courting the Tang couple''s sympathy.


    That is to say, he might be smarter than us, just lacking some data regarding combat-related talents.


    And he discovered the Tang couple''s secret earlier than us.


    Now, he has become a threat that warrants our vigilance."


    "But even so, among us must there definitely be someone working with him?" Ju Mang was quite earnest, seemingly trying to pick out a logical flaw in Constantine''s argument.


    Constantine appeared magnanimous, as well as calm and graceful:


    "Do you still remember the two days before he left? I trust that none of you would forget something from twenty years ago, right?


    Back then, I proposed we dispose of the defective product; he didn''t fit in with us, always looking at us with a hateful gaze. Even when bullied, he thought not of revenge but of enduring silently.


    Number Seven might have been weak, but his nature was terrifying. Such a person, if left for later, would always become a problem.


    But who were those opposed to me at the time? Xi He, and you too, Siren, right?"


    Xi He was long dead, naturally above suspicion, while Siren furrowed his brow and said:


    "We only had that one toy, boss. Even if it was you, suddenly saying you wanted to get rid of him, everyone would feel down, right? Besides, the decision seemed a bit too bold, didn''t it?"


    Constantine went with the flow and said:


    "Rest assured, I have no suspicions of you. But after that affair, we quickly entered deep sleep. Meanwhile, the meals were not the responsibility of the Tang couple.


    What''s most interesting is, not a single staff member in the Mechanical Throne tried to stop them, most being reassigned due to lab equipment anomalies. And those few labs were not under the care of the Tang couple either.


    Access rights were only held by us few and the related staff members.


    Having managed so many things outside of their permissions, I have reason to believe someone was collaborating with them at the time."


    "Talking about it now, twenty years later?" Ju Mang''s gaze grew icy, as if she was striving to see through Constantine.


    "If you discovered such a secret, would you choose to hide it at first to lower the insider''s guard, or would you openly start searching?"


    "And now?"


    "Now is naturally different. Xi He is already dead. The waste has returned in the guise of a Demonic Child. If there''s still someone among us helping him, we''d each be picked off by him, wouldn''t we? My wisdom alone is ultimately limited, and I trust that Xi He''s death will lead us to more clues. United, we will surely find that insider."


    Constantine''s logic was seamless, reasoned and justified.


    Uranus was the first to nod, saying:


    "I certainly don''t want to be targeted by Eden''s Demonic Child, even though we are aware of the weaknesses of Eden''s beings."


    After hesitating for a few seconds, Siren said: sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If we share our movements with you, can you ensure confidentiality?"


    "Of course, you all need to understand something: as a supervisor, if I really wanted to track you, it''s not difficult, but over the years, I think I''ve handled the secrets you wanted to keep and the ones you wanted to learn about quite well."


    Constantine thought back to the man truly entitled ''Constantine,'' his reactions and some of the words when they had discussed these plans all those years ago, and he understood even more the importance of a reliable ally.


    The man had said at the time ¡ª We are different from common folk, but at the end of the day, we are human, not machines; humans have humanity, and for the Children of Order who long to become like machines, humanity itself is a weakness.


    Over these years, Constantine had verified this saying time and again.


    In the end, the several men all agreed to Constantine''s surveillance.


    Only then did Ju Mang speak out the thought they had all considered but ultimately hadn''t voiced:


    "What if the insider is you?"


    This troublesome woman!


    Constantine''s expression didn''t change; his acting skills were just as good as someone else''s, his eyes carrying a hint of disdain as he spoke:

 Chapter 522 - 2: The Tang Clan Swindle_2

    "Then you would all have died one after another, and would not have lived to see today. Moreover, do not forget, when Number Seven was kidnapped, all the subsequent response measures were devised by me. And because of that, when Xi He died, each of you knew immediately, did you not?"


    Ju Mang stopped talking, and ultimately, not wanting to become the subject of collective suspicion, she was willing to share her whereabouts with Constantine.


    Deep down, she also did not want to believe that Constantine was the traitor, because he behaved too perfectly.


    A cool head, powerful talent, his awakened ability in the mechanical pantheon was almost unbeatable.


    Therefore, Ju Mang could not imagine a scene where Constantine colluded with Eden''s demonic children to betray God. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the meeting ended, Constantine mentioned some precautions, provided data on demonic children, and deduced the possible experiences of the demonic children.


    He acted as though he was truly considering capturing the demonic children and did not arouse suspicions among the others, but the distrust among the children of order was ignited by him.


    While everyone was preparing, Constantine cast a suggestive glance at Ganesa.


    Ganesa understood, intentionally leaving last, and only after the others'' afterimages had disappeared did he slowly say:


    "Something on your mind?"


    "Ganesa, I know you are not the traitor. Among the conclusions we have drawn so far, you are the most trustworthy."


    "And how did you come to know this?" Ganesa was curious.


    "You do not need to know how I judge. But in your heart, you are very clear that if there is a traitor among us, it is definitely not you. After all, you would know the things you have done."


    Ganesa could not deny these words. Indeed, it was not only Ju Mang, but Siren, Uranus, including himself, who had suspected the overseer Constantine.


    But it was only suspicion they dared not voice. Now, as if pulled into one camp, Ganesa felt trusted and subconsciously began to trust Constantine a bit as well.


    Constantine continued:


    "In the future, we will become the masters of the pantheon, controlling the entire world from within it, and we will gain a super civilization that this world may not manage even after several hundreds of years. Therefore, we must put the task of staying alive first."


    "I agree, so?"


    "So, I need you to help me clarify something."


    "What is it?"


    "Help me confuse Ju Mang. Her reactions are very strange, you must have noticed, right?"


    "Strange? That woman may just always be cautious."


    "But also always a bit standoffish. And among those who bullied Number Seven, she was the only one who never laid a hand on her, right?" Constantine said with a meaningful tone.


    These words finally caused a change in Ganesa''s expression; he took a moment to reflect¡ªand indeed found that during every instance of bullying Number Seven, Ju Mang was the only one standing aside, watching coldly.


    "What do you want me to do exactly?"


    "I will leak some of my own whereabouts. In the coming days, I will not always be in the overseer''s office."


    "And then I tell Ju Mang these records. If Ju Mang truly is the traitor, then she would fear you most and will find a way to eliminate you? But you are prepared in advance."


    Ganesa quickly grasped Constantine''s intention.


    "Yes, my clever friend."


    "There should be some benefits for me as well."


    "In return, I will inform you about Siren. He has entrusted me with closely¡ªwatching you."


    Ganesa sneered coldly, unsurprised that Siren would do such things.


    Because in the division of authority between Silver and Gold Judgment Knights, their positions conflicted.


    In such a situation, of course, choosing to have only one survivor was best.


    Their transaction was completed, and after the last afterimage vanished, Constantine revealed a sinister smile.


    For the overseer, knowing the whereabouts of other children of order was not difficult, that was the power that came with the name "Constantine".


    His actions seemed somewhat superfluous, deliberately telling others and letting them know they were being watched, his intentions were elusive.


    The motives of "Constantine" were probably known only to Constantine himself.


    ...


    ...


    Human civilization was nearly destroyed due to the great calamity and the migration to the Pyramid.


    But the continuity of memory also preserved many customs.


    Just like Lincoln Fortress still had the Pentagon. And the Statue of Liberty.


    And the French Fortress still had the Palace of Versailles, where something agreed upon by two "Constants" was hidden in that lavish palace.


    The world was in chaos, and it took Tang Xian a great deal of effort to reach the French Fortress after the closure of visas.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen''s side had their own meticulous arrangements¡ª


    Tang Xian was still Tang Jikede, while Song Que became Frederick Song.


    The lonely old gentleman turned into an old gentleman traveling with a companion.


    Then, through the safety zone of the mining area, from the portable translocation rift''s gate, after various official inspections, they were allowed entry.


    When they arrived on the Champs-¨¦lys¨¦es, the night of the fortress was still beautiful.


    The young ladies still exuded an overflowing French charm.


    Tang Xian and Song Que walked slowly together, heading toward the Palace of Versailles to retrieve a certain item.


    Many significant events had taken place in the world these days.


    The demand for Judgment Knights from the various fortresses had increased. Tang Xian and Song Que also came to understand some of the sinister secrets of the Judgment Knights.


    The two of them briefly analyzed what consequences would arise if the number of humans fell below that of the Judgment Knights, and they already had a rough idea.

 Chapter 523 - 2: The Tang Clan Swindle_3

    Before the absolute domination of machines over humanity arrived, Tang Xian and Song Que decided to do something even more shocking than the Dragon Assault incident.


    It was truly a grand gesture.


    But this matter still required some preparation.


    "Tang, there''s something I don''t understand," S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go ahead."


    "Among the Order''s Children, you acted as a defective product because you had no talent. But when you hadn''t fully recovered your memories, you really didn''t have any talents, right?"


    Tang Xian had told Akasi about this, and now he told Song Que.


    After returning to Baichuan City soon after, he would also tell Li Xiaoyu, but only these three would know. No one else would be informed.


    Song Que and Akasi each had a kind of power that was revered and feared by the Order''s followers.


    As for Li Xiaoyu¡ª


    He simply didn''t want to hide it from her.


    "Yes, I still have no talents even now; I have never been able to see the ten types of combat data."


    "Then... back then, what means did you use to deal with Konstant... no, I should say Prometheus. How did you use fear to make him submit?"


    "It''s worth mentioning that at that time, I was capable."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Song Que, I''m not much smarter than you. In a way, Prometheus and I just awakened our intellects earlier, though I probably awoke a bit earlier than him.


    The Order''s Children''s abilities were also reflected in the exploration of physical strength. What if I told you that I began burning my talent twenty years ago?"


    Song Que was shocked, completely dumbfounded.


    "The Order''s Children are actually not some monstrous beings with three heads and six arms. They just hold higher power. Xi He might be tougher to deal with than the latter ones, but he is already dead.


    Don''t think of them as too mythical. They are but ordinary humans after all.


    But compared to ordinary talented individuals, the Order''s Children have more perfect genes that can withstand more aggressive serums.


    Perhaps the reason my parents were torn between choosing number seven or number one was that they thought only number one could withstand the Eden lineage?


    But I don''t have that memory, and I''m not sure.


    In any case, other Order''s members are essentially a combination of top experimental subjects and top chosen ones.


    And their talents do not cease to be useful upon arriving in the Pyramid World.


    But they are fundamentally human, and how does that saying go¡ª''when killed, a person will die.''"


    Indeed, Tang Xian didn''t think the Order''s Children were that hard to deal with. What truly warranted vigilance was the instigator of the great calamity, always hiding in the shadows, even unknown to both himself and Prometheus, the "God."


    He paused, then continued:


    "We also have to explore and unearth our abilities; they don''t just come naturally. Just like you took twenty-four years to understand that you could burn your talent, I took about¡­ eleven months?"


    Song Que was speechless.


    At the time, he truly thought it was a burst of cosmic energy and hadn''t thought too much about it.


    But this matter should still not be so easy, right?


    Even if he wasn''t the first one to do it, he shouldn''t have fallen twenty-four years behind his peers so suddenly, right?


    "Prometheus naturally tried to resist, but the gap between burning talent and normal state was too vast, and his fear of me began at that time. They are so afraid of death that it probably didn''t take them many years to figure out the ability to burn their talents. You see, you''re not much worse than the other Order''s Children."


    Tang Xian patted Song Que on the back, speaking with an air of triviality like someone who just solved a math problem before anyone else:


    "Moreover, humanity sometimes gives rise to certain extremely terrifying entities, like your other personality."


    Song Que begrudgingly accepted this consolation, facing Tang Xian with a sense that when you think this person is showing off, he might genuinely feel that the matter is quite ordinary.


    The Palace of Versailles was right in front of them.


    Song Que asked:


    "So, what exactly are we going to get?"


    "We''re going to retrieve the talent that belongs to you."

 Chapter 524 - 3: The Successor of Tang Xian

    Song Que did know about the so-called Talent Transplant Technology these past few years, which was something Xi He had told him. It was also one of the research results from the Evolution Zone in recent years.


    What he hadn''t expected, though, was that Tang Xian was aware of it too.


    The Palace of Versailles had closed for the night. Even so, the street remained bustling, ablaze with lights and teeming with people.


    Tang Xian and Song Que found a caf¨¦ to sit in.


    It occurred to Tang that it had been some time since he last checked out the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦ in Baichuan City. He had rushed back the last time he found out about Song Que''s accident, but it had been a hurried visit.


    He hadn''t had the chance to fully experience what Baichuan City, now powered with electricity, was like.


    He also wondered how Li Xiaoyu was managing Baichuan City.


    The two patiently waited for the right moment to act. Song Que, interested in the talent Tang mentioned, after some thought, said:


    "Is it your talent from back then, Tang?"


    "Yes." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can this really be done? And don''t you need it yourself?"


    Song Que knew that being without a talent was, for Tang Xian, an important label of his life.


    With a talent, Tang Xian''s life might have been completely different back then. He wouldn''t have descended to the lower levels, nor would he have been labeled a cheater.


    Once upon a time, this man had it all, but he chose to walk a path alongside humanity.


    In the process of plotting against the Order, he gained quite a bit, but whether it was worth the price of what he chose to sacrifice was still hard to say.


    Upon reflecting, Song Que suddenly realized that Tang Xian, or perhaps just appeared to be an ordinary passerby on the surface, but deep down, he still displayed some hues of heroism.


    "The meaning of talent, for us, is a kind of combat ability. The Order has two sets of talents, one is for combat, which is what you possess. The other set... is not convenient to disclose in detail," Tang Xian said while sipping coffee, his gaze leisurely wandering to the street-snapping ladies under the flashlights nearby.


    Although Song Que had heard from Xi about the other set of talents, being private data, he didn''t know the specifics.


    Tang Xian did not go into details.


    Anyone would feel uneasy or even panicked if they knew that in this world someone could analyze their behavioral patterns, their good and evil, integrity, preferences, vices, and fears among other things.


    No one likes having their privacy stripped bare. Yet privacy is much like infidelity.


    In the celebrity world, some big-name couples just do that. The woman sleeps with a few young hunks, or the man keeps a few third or fourth-tier actresses, and both sides are well aware of it. As long as it''s not discovered and exposed by the media, they can pretend to be a happy couple.


    So not letting people know you''re being cheated on is like not being cheated on at all. Not letting people know your privacy is exposed is the same as not being exposed.


    Tang Xian wouldn''t do such things that are harmful to both himself and others, he continued:


    "I already have fighting capability, and if it''s just going up against the children of Order, I am now an existence they can''t beat. If it''s facing the origin of that catastrophe... It seems unrealistic to defeat it using what it has granted to humanity.


    Plus, I''m not sure if there would be any adverse reactions with the talents of both forces within me."


    The power of Eden was no longer a secret, and Tang Xian did not hide it.


    "So these talents are useless to me. But it''s different for you. You are a hero, and heroes tend to court death. So it''s always good to be stronger."


    Song Que''s smile was bitterer than the coffee as he realized that Miss Li had truly exceptional taste in liking Tang Xian.


    "I thought beings like Xi He would make you wary. There are four more as formidable as him. Shouldn''t you be looking for all sorts of ways to get stronger?"


    "They are humans. Would you be afraid of a childhood friend? If the world were about to end, a cataclysm looming over humanity, do you think it could be your own cousins behind it?"


    Tang Xian had read through Song Que''s diaries, aware that Song Que had two cousins of questionable intelligence.


    Song Que shook his head, thinking whether Tang compared the children of Order to his cousins out of overestimation for the Songs or underestimation of his childhood friends. But he understood the logic.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "They are but minions clad in the skin of bosses. The real Big Bad has yet to show up, of course. A worthy demon lord should annihilate the heroes and the brave right in the newbie village."


    Song Que felt that his snarky side came alive when chatting with Tang Xian: if Tang were the demon lord, he''d probably be the "overly cautious yet super-strong demon lord," right?


    "This also suggests that the Mechanical God is in some special state. What''s the reason it wants to become human? After all, machines themselves don''t think, so who set such a fundamental code for it?


    In Baichuan City, I found some historical documents. Interestingly, the Bronze Judicator and the Hellhound invaded our original world together. How exactly did Myriad Beasts get entangled with the forces of Order?


    I can understand the Order plundering humanity for their research, but why have us settle in the Myriad Beasts Realm to extract its ores while they domesticate us? Why is that?


    If the documents I understand are true, then at least the Myriad Beasts once came to this world in large numbers, but now they have vanished. Only the sanctuary fortress remains, like an anthill under the dam. There are too many puzzles in this.


    Experience tells me that if the puzzles increase, rather than decrease, as we approach the truth, it suggests we are about halfway to the truth. This point is where it''s easiest to take a wrong turn."

 Chapter 525 - 3: The Successor of Tang Xian_2

    Song Que was at a loss for words, but his mind didn''t completely blank out. His thought pattern was different from Tang Xian''s, and sometimes he could even provide Tang Xian with some inspiration.


    After pondering a moment, he said:


    "So the key is still the Beast of All Beasts?"


    "Correct, the Mechanical God hidden behind the scenes; we don''t know what it wants to do, but it is the tough one to deal with. As for Xi He, Siren, Ju Mang, Uranus and the likes, they are merely another kind of high-ranking figures in the Pyramid."


    As a prelude to the beginning of the great conflict, Song Que felt inspired.


    Although he knew Tang Xian would not underestimate his enemies, these people that Tang Xian spoke lightly of were in fact not minor characters.


    Tang Xian then answered the last question:


    "As for whether the talent bloodline can be transplanted into you, I''m not absolutely sure; there even exists a certain risk. However, I have given you this gift, whether you unwrap it or not is up to you."


    "Is the Order''s talent different from ours?" Song Que asked.


    "The battle data is still ten types, but the awakening abilities can also be used in this world, which means once the transplantation is successful, you will be a monster of the Human World, filling the lack left by Xi He, becoming the true number seven."


    Pausing for a moment, Tang Xian said:


    "With this, we can consider it three against four, not a very weak position."


    Song Que seriously digested Tang Xian''s words, and after deliberate consideration for a long time, said:


    "I want to give it a try."


    Tang Xian nodded. Song Que didn''t decline the offer, which pleased him. The two of them ordered some drinks and sat wasting time.


    It was not until the shop closed and there were no glamorous women left on the streets that Tang Xian and Song Que left.


    Weighing a mine coin in his hand, Tang Xian looked very leisurely.


    Infiltrating one of the world''s five great palaces, the Palace of Versailles, was not difficult. The Palace of Versailles was also just rebuilt by French architects based on historical documents.


    Whether it''s Buckingham Palace, the Forbidden City, or the Palace of Versailles, these world-famous palaces, they all are replicas inside the Pyramid.


    That''s also the reason why the security here is not very strict.


    After all, the king''s bedroom here is not the same one where Louis XVI once slept. To find a blue reagent in this king''s bedroom was not so difficult.


    The blue reagent did not spill its smell, but its packaging had a distinctive scent unique to its special material.


    Tang Xian, with Song Que leisurely in tow, walked as if they were tourists sightseeing.


    After seeing the blue reagent that symbolized over a decade of evolutionary research, Song Que found it all seemed too easy.


    The two left the Palace of Versailles at a leisurely pace, without stopping by the King''s office or other places like the hunting lodge to check them out.


    "Why would they store such an important thing inside the crystal lamp of the king''s bedroom?"


    "Just a bit of Constantine''s wicked sense of humor."


    "Hmm... Does it not feel odd to call him Constantine?"


    "He is Constantine. From the moment I left, I was no longer a part of that faction. I have a name, parents to care for me, and lots of friends. I''m not like him, an orphan."


    As Tang Xian spoke, he handed the reagent to Song Que.


    As Song Que took the reagent, he wondered if this was considered insulting. It seemed Tang held some disdain for Constantine, didn''t he?


    "It''s for injection. If it matches up, you could be considered my successor because this was made using my own serum as the base before I ignited my talent," Tang Xian revealed his thoughts.


    He had always felt he should have a deputy leader. In terms of managing Baichuan City, that would be Li Xiaoyu.


    Li Xiaoyu had no combat talent. Thus, she could only manage Baichuan City.


    But Song Que was different; he was as intelligent as her and also possessed combat capabilities that were near the human limit.


    "Wait, that technology didn''t exist back then, did it?"


    "It didn''t. However, both Konstant and I believed that this technology would surface, so once it did, my own previous serum could then serve some special purpose."


    "So the Evolutionary Research Sector truly ended up as the harvested... They were responsible for researching various technologies, then you swooped in, took away not just them but also the technological achievements?" Song Que was astonished.


    Tang Xian nodded, which probably counted as an unexpected pleasant surprise.


    Song Que carefully put away the reagent: S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why do I feel like you''re the real archfiend? How far ahead have you planned?"


    "This is the advantage of having one''s intellect stimulated early. My intelligence hasn''t increased much over the years; it''s my disposition that I''ve polished."


    Song Que gave a wry smile and said:


    "Actually, I''ve always wondered what kind of person you really are; every time I see you... you seem different."


    When two men talk like this, the atmosphere becomes somewhat philosophical.


    Tang Xian understood the subtext of Song Que''s words.


    "Not long ago, I too was troubled by this question¡ªwhat kind of person I am, what kind of person I should become."


    "Are you no longer troubled now?"


    "Not troubled anymore."


    After leaving the Palace of Versailles, the two did not use a transportation rift to go to the mining area but continued on the Champs Elysees.


    Tang Xian''s expression was still so leisurely, yet his tone was very serious:


    "I have remembered quite a lot, but this world does not revolve around me; the true objective history and the meaning of my existence still require the memories of other people to guide me.


    "My foster parents might have died, but I believe the nine years we spent together mean they must have left some clues from that time.


    "I will find these clues, and become the person they hoped I would be."


    Song Que was slightly surprised. Tang Xian''s thinking was unconventional, adept at plotting, but sometimes his actions were quite odd. He did not understand:


    "I thought someone like you would be quite rebellious."


    "I''m lazy, my name is Tang Xian, not Tang Fury.


    "In this world, there are many parents hoping their sons will live up to their expectations, which has led to many tragedies.


    "However, there are also children whose own aspirations match their parents'' expectations. My birth mother, my foster mother, including you, my friends, are all an important part of my life. As it happens, we share the same goals. I''m not some diabolical overlord. There''s nothing worth rebelling or revolting against."


    Song Que became slightly absent-minded.


    Tang Xian frowned, knowing he had touched on a raw nerve for Song Que. But he said nothing.


    Song Que quickly regained his composure and said:


    "My father has always hoped that I would live up to being a perfect lord, but I myself am already less than perfect. Tang, once that plan unfolds¡ªmy father and I, Miss Li and Mr. Li, will become adversaries, won''t we?"


    As they passed by a phone booth, a ringing began inside it.


    Tang Xian glanced around and found a camera next to the sign of a shop.


    He did not answer the phone, instead allowing it to ring continuously.


    Gazing at Song Que, Tang Xian said:


    "The plan still requires some time, and whether there will be unforeseen changes in the interim is uncertain. During this period, you should prepare yourself well.


    "As for becoming enemies, family members are never foes, just different in their stands. Once they have no stand, once they know the truth that we know, then nothing will be an issue."


    Song Que nodded. The words he intended to say were interrupted by the persistent ringing of the phone in the booth. He pointed at the booth.


    After briefing Song Que on these matters, Tang Xian then stepped into the phone booth. He picked up the phone, and unsurprisingly, heard the voice of Constantine.


    "Finding you is no easy task," came Constantine''s voice.


    "You know this street is one I must pass, and that I would choose a time with fewer people to act. As the overseer, the world''s largest source of information, finding me is probably not difficult for you." Tang Xian''s tone was indifferent.


    "The game has already begun. Your first target to eliminate is Ganesa. I''ll tell you his whereabouts in a few days," Constantine said with excitement.


    "It''s been years since I had any dealings with them. I only know that every place in this world with a network can be probed.


    "I also know that Xi He is responsible for researching the genetic code between humans and all creatures.


    "So, you should tell me the information about the other individuals, right?" The tone of Tang Xian was like that of an emotionless assassin.


    (I need to brainstorm a bit more about the details of several key plot points for the new volume, with the aim of improving upon my previous standard even if just slightly. For the next few days, the chapters will still be around four thousand words each. As for explosive updates, my health hasn''t been great lately, so I can''t handle the volume of updates like twenty thousand, but I will still try to go for a small burst every few days or so.)

 Chapter 526 - 4: Pretending Not to Be in Love

    "Of course, don''t rush. After all these years, it feels like you''ve become more human, but you''re still so cold towards me," Constantine said with a smile.


    Standing in a telephone booth late at night with other people following looked quite odd. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Especially since Frederick Song and Tang Jikede, the two old gentlemen, made for an even stranger picture.


    Tang Xian didn''t avoid Song Que and said:


    "First impressions are lasting, and besides, you surely don''t suffer from Stockholm syndrome, do you? If you did, I might consider being nicer to you."


    "Forget it, talking about feelings only hurts them. Let''s talk business. For the past twenty years, while you''ve been wandering around the Human World, I''ve put a great deal of effort into working. Finally, I''ve managed to get a clear understanding of the foundations of this power," Constantine''s tone became slightly more serious.


    "Let''s start with the target, Ganesa, our first assassination target. The order can''t be changed, otherwise the game layout will be disrupted.


    This Order Son of Indian descent is named after the Indian elephant god, also known as the remover of obstacles.


    His offensive abilities are very strong, he''s like the mightiest spear. Being touched by his attack feels like having one''s soul drained¡ªas if even after successfully defending, life force is still significantly lost.


    It''s similar to what''s recorded in the Godly Seats about the Eden demon child, involving soul attacks? Or perhaps percentage-based life-draining attacks? Anyway, when facing him, it''s best to keep him in a state where he can''t attack because he can break through all defenses. Taking him out while he''s distracted by Ju Mang would be the best scenario."


    "And then you pin the blame on Ju Mang?"


    "You figured it out, haha, hahaha," Constantine chuckled dryly.


    Song Que watched Tang Xian''s expression from the side and felt it was odd.


    After recovering his memories, Tang Xian indeed experienced a brief period of confusion, but now he seemed quite dismissive of his past identity.


    This was actually beneficial.


    Tang Xian said:


    "What about Ganesa''s duties?"


    "His duties are somewhat similar to those of Siren; both are in charge of the weapons for the next era. However, Siren has higher authority, possessing the right to use the Chiliarch. This setup was probably intended for Ganesa to assist Siren. But it seems unlikely that the two of them will ever trust each other, which is advantageous to us."


    "Weapons for the next era?"


    "Yes, the highest order of the Judgment Knights¡ªthe Golden Judgment Knights and the leader-type Chiliarch."


    "How are these high-order Judgment Knights obtained? Through unlocking tiers in the Pyramid hierarchy?"


    "How could that be possible? Would you give your strongest equipment to the chives? The Bronze Judgment Knights, which are gradually becoming widespread across the fortresses in the Human World, are merely the lowest-grade products. Even though the capabilities of the Exhaustive Ray aren''t much different, the overall performance is only sufficient against Perfect-level creatures.


    Silver level is the strongest weapon humans can obtain, with performance comparable to Perfect-level boss creatures. But they are nothing more than scraps from the Golden Judgment Knights.


    Golden Judgment Knights can be seen as mass-produced calamity-level beings. As for the Chiliarchs, Siren cherishes them, not willing to reveal any data to me, so they must be quite rare.


    In short, Siren and Ganesa are like the grand marshals of the soldiers and horses.


    After eliminating Ganesa, Siren will be the only power left. That guy has a monster living inside him, and he''s been quite close to Uranus.


    But who knows what ''friendly'' actions he might take?"


    Xi He''s assessment of Constantine was that he''s a monster that lacks humanity but deeply understands it.


    This Constantine obviously was not Tang Xian.


    Listening to Constantine''s words, Tang Xian frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing, merely continuing to ask:


    "What about Ganesa''s job in reality?"


    "The world''s largest arms dealer. He''s responsible for many of the raw materials used to produce weapons in several industrial fortresses, like Sky Guardian Fortress, Lincoln Fortress, and others. It''s not hard to meet him, easier than meeting Xi He¡ªthat is, if Xi He isn''t foolish enough to directly show up on our doorstep. Speaking of which, your move was brilliant, he used Song Que as bait to lure the test subjects, and you used Song Que as bait to lure him."


    Tang Xian didn''t buy into this conspiracy theory, after all, he didn''t even know Xi He at the time, but he didn''t bother to argue with Constantine and continued to inquire:


    "You mentioned his approach to Ju Mang, so what about her information?"


    "Don''t touch that woman. She''s more complicated than we thought. Although I can monitor any place in the world''s fortresses with surveillance equipment, Ju Mang rarely appears.


    I can tell you about her real-world job, though. It''s a technical role; she''s responsible for brain domain research and has a group of decent scientists under her. Their organization is called ''Origin'', a top circle of scientists within the Federation. But not many of these scientists know about Ju Mang.


    She always operates behind the scenes. As for the Order, she''s in charge of education. Interestingly enough, none of the children sent to Godly Seats over the years could compare to us¡ªwe''re leagues apart. That''s why Xi He took an interest in Song Que.


    Ju Mang has always been cautious, particularly of me. Come to think of it, why didn''t she bully you back then? It seems she hasn''t figured anything out yet. Could it be she has a soft spot for you?"

 Chapter 527 - 4: Pretending Not to Be in Love_2

    "What is Ju Mang''s ability?" Tang Xian was too lazy to engage with such a trivial question.


    "It''s a peculiar ability; one could understand her as a person favored by plants. After you were taken away, we hardly ever saw Ju Mang use her ability in our talent development classes. I just know that it contains tremendous vitality. Even in the lifeless Throne, you can sense the presence of those plants.


    But as for actual combat ability, that''s harder to say."


    Tang Xian displayed his wariness towards Ju Mang and said,


    "So you''re saying that in twenty years, you''ve made almost no progress with this woman?"


    "They all know I''m a monitor, so naturally, they try every possible method to avoid me. Listen, they''re not fools in this game. At most, we can kill two of the four. One is Ganesa, and the other should be, preferably, Ju Mang," Constantine also found Ju Mang equally troubling.


    Tang Xian glanced at the time and continued to ask:


    "What about Siren and Uranus? Start with Uranus."


    "Okay, Siren is like a noble young master, while Uranus has changed a lot in appearance, becoming much rougher, that kind of hairy Norseman. His ability, as with Siren''s... hmm, cough cough, is also not very clear. Siren is of the mental type, and has driven several people mad before, whereas Uranus has high attribute scores but his awakened ability is unclear; it seems to be some sort of special force field.


    In terms of position, Uranus handles personnel within the Order camp.


    In short, he''s responsible for selecting those who fanatically worship Order civilization to join.


    He''s done a fairly good job; at least the likes of Tang Wen and the Zhong Yao couple haven''t appeared again. I don''t know his identity in the Human World, but this guy is probably the head of some fortress, not a lord. Currently, I haven''t found any lords in their twenties, so it seems he operates from behind the scenes under another inconspicuous identity.


    Siren is a big shot in the entertainment industry. Although life in the Pyramid is like the age of slavery for those at the bottom, the happiness index of those living on the third and fourth floors isn''t lower than in ancient times. They need some meaningless luxury to waste their time, and in that aspect, Siren is the leader of the industry. His business involves a lot, too much for me to explain one by one.


    Oh, right, they all have human names. But that''s a secret. I will soon learn their whereabouts, but they definitely have countermeasures.


    So we follow the plan, and only kill Ganesa."


    Constantine''s pace of speaking was steady, and after saying so much, he paused for a moment and tentatively asked:


    "That''s all the information you wanted. There are some details, which I will send to the place you need to go. Are you satisfied?"


    Tang Xian nodded, knowing that Constantine could see himself.


    As a monitor, with limited personal observation, he didn''t know most of the things happening in this world, but he could know most of the things he wanted to know.


    "Although it''s not very detailed, it''s barely sufficient. But you seem to have forgotten about yourself?"


    "Phone calls are quite expensive, aren''t they? Shouldn''t I hang up now?" Constantine said with a bitter smile as if Tang Xian had hurt his feelings.


    Tang Xian was still emotionless:


    "One last thing, as a child of Order, do you know the contents of the unrevealed levels of the Pyramid?"


    "I know a part of it, but the information is not of much significance."


    Tang Xian didn''t probe further; in this respect, he did trust Constantine. If this man said it was insignificant, then that meant that to humans, the ninth level of the Pyramid wasn''t much higher than the eighth.


    Tang Xian paused, then said:


    "Thanks for your help. I''ll treat it as if I''ve received an assassination list, a pleasure doing business."


    "You bullied me as a child, nearly causing my death, and now we''re working together again, yet you still have some doubts about me. Lucky for you, you''re finally talking sense."


    "If I didn''t act a little suspicious of you, you''d probably be restless, wouldn''t you?"


    "Talking to you really is boring."


    Constantine didn''t say anything further but directly hung up the call.


    Tang Xian thought to himself it was good enough, sparing him the heartache over the phone bill, and then started to organize the information Constantine had provided.


    The targets were four people, the leaders in four different fields of the world.


    There were those from the fields of science, entertainment, industry, and politics.


    Each person also had resources from the Order.


    Tang Xian roughly estimated the difficulty of killing these four; it would probably be even harder than killing four Judgment Chiefs of the Beast Court.


    ...


    ...


    After consulting with Song Que and under the relatively forceful attitude of Tang Xian, Song Que left the French fortress and returned to Baichuan City.


    With the usual efficiency, they essentially drove Song Que straight out of the Pyramid.


    It was only after Song Que had left that Tang Xian checked into a small hotel that was open late at night and booked a room.


    He felt somewhat exhausted. After freshening up, he laid down on the bed. The room in the serviced apartment was very refined, and by turning to the side, one could see the Champs Elysees outside the window.


    Tang Xian quietly watched the deserted street outside the window, lost in thought.


    Since the recovery of his memory, in the days of drifting that followed, he hadn''t properly rested.


    Regarding the choice between Tang Xian and Konstant identities, he ultimately chose the former.


    He had thought that he was someone who could let go after making a decision, but Tang Xian now realized that indeed, a rich temperament brings many troubles and different worries. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 528 - 4: Pretending Not to Be in Love_3

    Under the warm yellow desk lamp, he spaced out for quite a while, eventually taking out his notebook from the prop bag.


    But today, he didn''t write any clever quips.


    Instead, he gazed deeply at the blank page before slowly writing:


    "When my parents left, they never said anything to me about the Myriad Beasts Realm or the Throne of the Mechanical God.


    The fact that their lifespans were only nine years sounds like a deal with the devil.


    Where did they go in the end?


    Is the direction I''m now understanding really the correct one?


    Come to think of it, they never seemed to ask anything of me.


    Perhaps that''s why I liked them?


    Life is long, and I''ve just realized that I cannot always face the unknown with a nonchalant attitude.


    I used to think they were just the slightly smarter bunch among fools. But looking back now, my mother was right.


    The world is so vast, and I am grateful for those who love me that I''ve met.


    I miss my parents very much."


    This was a passage without much meaning.


    In Tang Xian''s notes, most were interesting or bizarre thoughts and arguments.


    He seldom felt lonely. Just like he said at his sister''s wedding, perhaps the world doesn''t need others to bring joy to him because he is interesting enough.


    But then again, who says life only needs joy?


    A man''s growth can happen overnight, some of it not even noticed by himself.


    Tang Xian closed his notebook. Then he turned off the desk lamp.


    The streets outside had also completely quieted down.


    He kept his breathing rhythm steady, thinking he would fall asleep quickly. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But after ten minutes, he was still wide awake. Not like before, when sleep would come as soon as he wished.


    He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.


    Reflecting on his life, which wasn''t really that long, one thought remained in his mind.


    The world is so big, surely he will meet someone who truly loves him in the future.


    As he thought this, Tang Xian closed his eyes but also furrowed his brow.


    Restlessly, he couldn''t fall asleep.


    He had a lot to say in his heart, but it wasn''t like before, when all he needed was an audience¡ªafter he spoke and the listener heard, everything would drift away with the wind.


    This time was different, so he didn''t speak to Akasi or Song Que.


    In fact, he didn''t even have definite words for what he wanted to say.


    A loner naturally gets used to solitude, but that doesn''t mean they''re content when loneliness strikes.


    The soul often inadvertently¡ªeasily reveals what''s in the heart.


    Thinking of Li Xiaoyu''s face that flashed through his mind, Tang Xian felt a bit stiff.


    He slowly sat up.


    These annoying emotions were actually fleeting; for someone like him, in a few more hours, they would all be temporarily shelved.


    Especially since he was about to go to the Sacred Fortress, to join forces with Yu Xiaozhe and the others to reveal the true nature of the Judgment Knights.


    This matter was extremely important and would impact the entire Pyramid World. It could even be said to be the beginning of lifting the veil on the "Fishbowl" nature of the Pyramid.


    Yet he suddenly decided to delay this plan.


    He decided quite straightforwardly to go back to Baichuan City first thing tomorrow.


    Because after thinking it over, it seemed like only talking to Li Xiaoyu wouldn''t feel out of place.


    He became serious, or rather, alert, like a hen suddenly finding her eggs stolen.


    This comparison might be a bit weird, but their bewildered expressions were the same.


    It was a long time later that he finally took a deep breath, saying to himself quite seriously:


    "It''s good, it''s alright, it''s probably not spring fever. I can go to sleep."

 Chapter 529 - 5: Cute Girl

    As a person who prioritizes logic, Tang Xian believed his analysis was correct.


    Love stems from palpitations and impulses.


    He was someone who felt no palpitations toward anyone, and he rarely acted on impulse.


    As for sex, how could this lowly pleasure compare to eating? Is Li Xiaoyu delicious? Obviously not as good as a hellhound, and also not edible.


    After a thoroughly logical analysis, Tang Xian still didn''t know why he had suddenly thought of Li Xiaoyu.


    Perhaps he was missing his parents, and his usually efficient mind thought that since he started to miss someone, he might as well miss a few more, probably like that.


    It couldn''t possibly be love, could it?


    Tang Xian fell asleep, and he had a very stable sleep.


    ...


    ...


    Baichuan City.


    Considering the special return route to Baichuan City, the path to the Pyramid must go through the mining area as a transfer station.


    Therefore, there was a significant demand for portable transportation fissures.


    Although, at present, only a few, such as Qing JiuYu, Tang Xiaojiu, and Akasi, were going in and out of the mining area.


    Their work not only included the previously allocated tasks but also involved a large number of purchases and coordinate settings for portable transportation fissures.


    The producer of these portable transportation fissures was the Sanctuary Fortress. For Baichuan City, the Sanctuary Fortress was like a renewable resource warehouse.


    Ever since the fissure route between Baichuan City and the Sanctuary Fortress was established, many supplies had been transported through the Sanctuary Fortress.


    All these affairs were managed by Li Xiaoyu.


    A week ago, Li Xiaoyu met with Akasi, Yuanwu, Tang Suoye, and Tang Feiji.


    The trio was exhausted, bearing injuries, and Dongran, Qiaoshanshan, and Lin Sen were busily tending to them, also learning about the affairs inside the Fortress.


    Song Que was captured and taken to the Evolving Area, and even for Akasi himself, there were too many mysteries about what happened in that area.


    Naturally, Li Xiaoyu''s concerns were still for Song Que and Tang Xian.


    Upon learning that Tang and Song had not returned together, she actually felt a bit relieved.


    After all, having sent Tang Feiji, the number one enforcer, back, it showed that Tang Xian wouldn''t take any dangerous actions in the short term.


    She was somewhat annoyed that Akasi, despite being so highly regarded, didn''t know about Tang Xian''s subsequent plans.


    Akasi hadn''t revealed the secrets of Tang Xian''s background either, probably because Tang Xian himself wanted to be the one to tell.


    Several more days passed, and it was nighttime.


    Li Xiaoyu was supposed to be sleeping, but ever since Baichuan City had electricity, many previously inefficient tasks had become highly efficient under the guidance of the technicians from the Sanctuary Fortress.


    But don''t assume that Li Xiaoyu could relax because of this.


    The city, awaiting rejuvenation, had too many tasks to be done, and she was an outright workaholic.


    Years ago, she had saved some of the Li family''s smaller businesses, not only because she had no prejudice against the non-talented, but also due to her hands-on approach.


    Increased efficiency was not for laziness, but to take on more work.


    Thinking about someone''s surprise when they returned to Baichuan City, of course, it was meant to be a pleasant surprise, not a scare.


    With such thoughts, it was indeed more invigorating than the strong coffee from Fresh Sense Caf¨¦.


    She forcibly worked until late into the night, and then the transmission fissure sensing device built by Lin Sen in the office received a message.


    Li Xiaoyu''s hand holding the pen inadvertently slashed through the dossier.


    In a hurry, she scurried out.


    And then she saw Song Que.


    Song Que was also surprised.


    It was already midnight, and the Second Miss was working tirelessly¡ªdid she really take the 996 work schedule as a blessing?


    And what was the meaning of the look of disappointment on her face?


    Wasn''t the experimental subject trio, a high-combat small squad, specially arranged to rescue him?


    Li Xiaoyu had nothing much to say, and after a brief conversation with Song Que, just to get an update and finding out that Tang Xian had other arrangements but failing to get any details, she dismissed Song Que with a look of disdain and sent him to rest. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She returned to her workplace somewhat disheartened.


    Looking at the various proposals on the desk, she had no desire to continue reading and reviewing them.


    It felt like she had arranged a time with someone to wait for her return.


    But after a long wait, she was suddenly told that the person she was waiting for still refused to come back.


    Though there had never been such an agreement.


    The pen drew meaningless trails on the paper, and after a while, Li Xiaoyu realized she had written a scrawled Tang character.


    Frowning at this Tang character for a long time, she suddenly laughed again.


    She continued working, but her mind could not stay focused on the task at hand.


    Forcing work under inefficient circumstances was less productive than resting.


    Li Xiaoyu was straightforward; after organizing the files she still needed to review the next day, she decided to go to sleep.


    She didn''t return to the commercial district but set up a convenient bed in the inner room of the office.


    When a person is extremely fervent in their field of work, they must be correspondingly lazy in another area to make time for work.


    To manage the many affairs of Baichuan City more efficiently, Li Xiaoyu usually just performed a simple wash-up and slept in her clothes in the small room in the office.


    All of this even Dongran, Qiaoshanshan didn''t know, because with such an example, several women were actually very busy, just never busy until so late.


    Naturally, they did not know that the one who was supposed to be the most delicate, the Second Miss, was the one who worked the hardest.


    She didn''t do it for show, but felt that since Tang Xian had entrusted her, she should work harder.


    Although often, when she looked at Tang Xian''s "I am so weak" expression, she knew he was slacking off, merely not wanting to deal with some trivial matters himself.

 Chapter 530 - 5: Cute Girl_2

    ```


    But Li Xiaoyu still indulged Tang Xian.


    After all, it was not easy to see him even once, so how could she afford to complain?


    She lay on her side with her eyes closed, thinking about various things. Despite feeling incredibly tired and worn out, she just couldn''t fall asleep.


    Tossing and turning, unable to sleep.


    And she didn''t know that, at this very moment, in a distant fortress in France, there was also a man¡ª


    Restlessly rolling over, sleepless.


    Li Xiaoyu wanted to say something, she had been so worn out lately, but what was the point of telling Dong Ran or Qiao Shanshan?


    Tell Pyramid, Tang Feiji, Tang Xiaojiu, those myriad beasts? They surely couldn''t comprehend human emotional complexity. And it always felt out of place anyway.


    Only when Tang Xian''s face flashed through her mind did Li Xiaoyu feel the most desire to speak.


    This thought was like an alarm clock constantly swinging and causing a commotion in her mind.


    In fact, ever since that Santa Claus had taken her away from Fortress 39, she had wanted to say something but always felt she lacked the conviction.


    Now... now she seemed to lack it still.


    Li Xiaoyu''s expression became dejected, like a "clearly delighted" little cat.


    The comparison might be strange, but their drooping expressions were indeed the same.


    After a long while, she slowly regained her calm and began muttering to herself:


    "Tang Xian, I miss you."


    Even though that person couldn''t hear her, even though she used to miss him intensely, it never felt as helpless as it did now.


    It used to be better before, Li Xiaoyu bit her lip and closed her eyes, thinking about how she used to constantly send people to monitor... to protect him. Now she didn''t even know where he had gone. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the end, she couldn''t resist the fatigue. It wasn''t just tiredness from staying up late one night, but rather exhaustion from several days of high-intensity work.


    Li Xiaoyu was reluctant to linger in dreams. If she couldn''t dream of that person, it was tremendously dull, and if she did dream of him, it was even more distressing to wake up and not see him.


    So she set two exquisite little alarm clocks. She made sure that when one clock''s clamor briefly ceased, the other would seamlessly take over with its noise.


    Because she had been getting increasingly fatigued lately, getting up had become more and more difficult.


    She fell into a heavy sleep.


    Waiting for the alarm clock to wake her up.


    ...


    ...


    The alarm clock didn''t wake Li Xiaoyu up.


    She slept for eleven hours and then woke up due to hunger.


    Li Xiaoyu put on a pair of fuzzy little rabbit slippers, which she had gotten from the Holy Land Fortress. With her personality, she normally wouldn''t wear them, but once she got a taste for the cute attire, she found it irresistible.


    Rubbing her bleary eyes, Li Xiaoyu glanced at the clock.


    She was a bit out of it. Ah, the alarm didn''t go off, did it?


    It was odd that she had slept through to the afternoon. After checking the alarm clocks, Li Xiaoyu found they had stopped, seemingly malfunctioning. Both of them at the same time.


    Thinking about the pile of work she had to do, and the numerous proposals waiting for her review, she rubbed her forehead and frowned as she walked out of the inner room, thinking that since she had rested enough today, she''d need to be efficient.


    She pushed open the door and froze as her gaze settled on her usual workplace.


    Li Xiaoyu stared at Tang Xian who was busy reviewing various proposals for her, realizing suddenly¡ªit wasn''t that the clocks were broken, she had just not woken up.


    She was getting ready to go back to sleep when she suddenly heard Tang Xian laugh.


    Although it should be a dream, Li Xiaoyu was still curious about what he was laughing at.


    "What are you laughing at?"


    Tang Xian thought Li Xiaoyu lacked the childlike charm of Tang Xiaojiu.


    To him, Li Xiaoyu often seemed foolish.


    But today was different. When he saw "Find the correct position to wake up from a dream 29%" appearing in the current needs analysis of Baichuan City''s top official, he couldn''t help it.


    She might be foolish, but he admitted Li Xiaoyu was the second smartest woman he had ever met. Of course, after his memory returned, Li Xiaoyu probably became the third smartest.


    The first and second would probably be Ju Mang and his mother respectively.


    In the end, when smart people are confused, they are very cute.


    "Actually, there are many ways to wake up from a dream. You can do something you wouldn''t dare do in reality, like experience a falling sensation, to wake yourself up through a strong stimulus."


    "My office is on the sixth floor. Are you suggesting I jump down from here? That''s indeed a good suggestion," Li Xiaoyu thought to herself that the Tang Xian in her dream was as foolish as can be.


    Tang Xian didn''t say anything but suddenly stood up.


    Li Xiaoyu had a bad feeling all of a sudden.


    With a sudden cry of alarm, she saw Tang Xian embrace her waist and his high-tech glove shot out a grappling hook, though she had no idea where the hook had landed.


    ```


    Then, a surge of force instantly pulled her outside the house¡ª


    The rushing airflow and the feeling of weightlessness didn''t wake her up after all?


    Li Xiaoyu''s face turned red in an instant. She should have been pale from fright, but the sensation of being held firmly at the waist felt too real.


    There was no scream, never underestimate how high-pitched and sustained a woman can shriek.


    While Li Xiaoyu was in the midst of her scream, Tang Xian kept swinging around Baichuan City.


    In the liveliest area of the city, there were earth-shattering changes compared to when she and Tang Feiji first arrived here.


    But the biggest contributor to these changes wasn''t the discoverer herself, or rather the hands-off manager, but Li Xiaoyu.


    After a minute-long Spider-Man style swing, the two stopped at a crossroads where few people passed by.


    Tang Xian looked at Li Xiaoyu, whose face was flushed and who was breathing rapidly, and laughed,


    "Is this position correct? Are you awake now?"


    No matter how dazed Li Xiaoyu could be, her mind was now clear, and all traces of sleepiness vanished.


    She spoke in a tiny voice, just like an autumn mosquito,


    "I''m awake. You... Let me down first."


    Because during the swinging, her cute rabbit slippers were thrown off, Tang Xian seemed to have noticed this, so he switched to a princess carry before they finally landed.


    "Are you sure?"


    "No... not sure."


    Li Xiaoyu felt extremely embarrassed.


    Strange, she used to think that she would never feel embarrassed doing anything with this person.


    In retrospect, she probably knew that Tang Xian wouldn''t tease her.


    Isn''t everyone a child longing for companionship? It''s just that knowing there''s no one to accompany you, you have to grow up from a child prematurely.


    "I thought you had something important to do, leaving Song Que and the others behind. Do you have a plan?"


    "I do have something to take care of, and I won''t stay long."


    "So you came back to..."


    "Check on you."


    "Ah... Am I still not fully awake?"


    "It seems that the term ''dimwittedness'' really does exist in this world," Tang Xian said earnestly.


    Li Xiaoyu gave Tang Xian a soft punch, and then fell silent.


    Although being held felt nice, Li Xiaoyu wasn''t used to it. She wanted to get down, but her shoes were gone, and it would be too embarrassing to walk barefoot and be seen by others.


    What a dilemma. He must be doing this on purpose, right?


    Tang Xian looked at Li Xiaoyu, whose needs changed quickly, and felt a sense of satisfaction seeing her.


    This feeling was somewhat frustrating for him, but not unwelcome.


    So he just held this young lady and slowly walked back from the crossroads.


    Tang Xian had seen many people in his life.


    But he had never met anyone like Li Xiaoyu, with an affection rating for him that seemed to exceed the system''s upper limit.


    And this was something that had never changed.


    He had seen Li Xiaoyu''s fortune fluctuate from being unadvisable to pitifully poor, and her disdain go from the mines to the Pyramid.


    All these changes, in fact, were because of him.


    Yet the one thing that remained unchanged was her affection rating, as if there was an error in the value.


    "To love without measuring, makes it hard to forget." Tang Xian had not experienced this. Most of the time, without measuring, one should forget.


    Yet many things and people in life need to be carefully considered to recognize those invisible yet intense emotions.


    The series of talent data before his eyes saved Tang Xian from a lot of guessing and pondering.


    There was a feeling of having been spoiled, but at this moment he still felt a bit uncomfortable, saying,


    "I admit, you''re cute."


    "Cute as in adorable, or cute as in suitable to be loved?" Li Xiaoyu would definitely not miss the opportunity, and was no longer shy and flustered.


    At this moment, she acted even sturdier than Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian paused, and then said,


    "Cute as in ''to tear apart the word'' is not cute, but... I''ll make an exception this time."

 Chapter 531 - 6: The Corpse of an Apocalyptic Creature

    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know how to respond; she had the impression that this person would probably say something like "Are you thinking about peaches?"


    With things she had no experience with, of course, it was better not to speak.


    There were many ways for a woman to express her stance, especially when being held, just pressing her head a little tighter against his chest would be enough.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Let''s go for a walk, take a stroll outside."


    "I still have a lot of things to do."


    "Although I''ve let you help me with work, you are not my tool, you can choose to be lazy occasionally."


    "But I am willing to."


    Li Xiaoyu continued:


    "Since this is going to be the place where we live in the future, naturally we should make it better as soon as possible."


    "Rest today," Tang Xian said in an indisputable tone.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded, her joy undisguised as she said:


    "Then you have to take me back first, I need to change clothes."


    During Tang Xian''s trip to the southern island, Li Xiaoyu had actually crammed some of the things that Tang Xian had seen in the past.


    Tang Xian''s reading material was very diverse, there was a bit of everything. Perhaps he felt he would need this knowledge, but at least she had never seen him use it.


    Among them, there was a lot of knowledge aimed at women, but Tang Xian truly didn''t remember these, although Li Xiaoyu did remember quite a bit.


    After returning to their work location, the two had a simple breakfast before Li Xiaoyu went to get dressed. What usually would take about ten minutes for her to finish her makeup, this time took almost an hour.


    Tang Xian was very patient, taking the opportunity to do some work for Li Xiaoyu.


    On the office desk outside, most of the documents were various construction plans for Baichuan City.


    Now it was evident that the development projects in Baichuan City were rapidly increasing with the advent of electric power.


    But Lin Sen still did not recommend using the internet.


    However, it was possible to build an internal network, that is, a local area network covering the whole Baichuan City.


    This was to prevent the signal bands from being intercepted by Pyramid.


    Because so far, it wasn''t time to reveal the truth to the people inside Pyramid.


    Another arising problem was the shortage of manpower.


    There were still too few skilled talents, although the education industry had started, but the majority of the residents in the pit were the old, weak, ill, disabled, and young, and their learning capabilities could not compare with the gifted ones within Pyramid.


    Li Xiaoyu felt that some very necessary projects were stagnating.


    The most important project Tang Xian looked at was the underground city project.


    This plan was made from a safety consideration, although the world seemed already safe. But Li Xiaoyu believed that the wisdom of the human ancestors had great value.


    People who have lived in the pit or Pyramid their whole lives are actually more suited to this kind of closed environment.


    Sunlight is naturally comforting, but the problem lies in safety risks.


    Li Xiaoyu believed that the development of underground fortresses should not cease before a kind of optical shielding technology could be implemented in Baichuan City.


    This technology was actually achievable, that is, to coat the outskirts of Baichuan City with a "shell."


    People outside the shell seeing Baichuan City, would simply view it as a ruin city not worth exploring.


    People inside the shell would see Baichuan City in a completely different light.


    This technology had actually achieved some results in ancient times.


    Humans have always been far more passionate about military research than other studies, and optical camouflage suits appeared during that period. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, what Baichuan City needed was a much bigger, signal-blocking "camouflage suit."


    This needed not an accumulation of quantity, but a breakthrough in quality.


    Tang Xian thought seriously for a while and realized that Li Xiaoyu''s concerns were very reasonable.


    Human beings could indeed survive in the original world; over the years, he himself was not necessarily the first person to have discovered this secret.


    Most of these people, however, were likely regarded as mad or were already dead.


    But the problem was, if people knew the truth, would the rulers who enslave humanity have a contingency plan?


    Would a large number of bronze, silver, and even gold judges drive the people back into Pyramid again?


    Then, stealth was an extremely important attribute.


    This concerned the long-term development of humanity during its vulnerable period.


    Tang Xian silently went through these documents while also multitasking other trifles.


    What normally would take Li Xiaoyu about three to five hours to complete, Tang Xian had finished in an hour.


    And at this moment, Li Xiaoyu had just finished her makeup and came out.


    She didn''t deliberately wear those cute clothes, but her usual black gothic-style long dress. She seemed to still be the same intimidating second young lady from the past.


    "Let''s go; let''s see the outskirts, take a walk. Today, you should rest well for a day."


    "Don''t you plan to call Qing JiuYu and the others?"


    Tang Xian smiled and shook his head:


    "As the king of beasts, Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu should already know I am back. No need to bother with them, today I am here to see you."


    "Why? I feel this isn''t like you."


    "I feel so too, so do you want to go or not?"


    "I do."


    Li Xiaoyu went with Tang Xian towards the outskirts of the city. They walked and talked, with no sense of romance to speak of.


    For both of them, today''s meeting was a joyous one, but neither of them was particularly romantic.


    The two discussed their recent experiences. It was probably the best time for a date in these good times, yet they chose to talk about work.


    It was only when Tang Xian mentioned his parents, that Li Xiaoyu felt a sense of regret that she couldn''t meet Tang Xian''s parents.


    She also felt some regret that she probably wouldn''t be able to take Tang Xian to meet her own parents.

 Chapter 532 - 6: The Corpse of an Apocalyptic Creature_2

    "So, your origins are far more complicated than we imagined. The Eden bloodline you possess was most likely procured by your parents, but this part of your memory you haven''t recovered,"


    "Yes, I haven''t. I guess they came to regret it."


    "Why? Regret what?"


    "They regretted allowing me to bear these burdens, so they erased everything, until the end of their lives, they never told me what I was supposed to change in my life.


    They probably hoped I was truly just a child from an ordinary family.


    They wanted me to have an ordinary life. Despite always feeling that I was nothing special,"


    Li Xiaoyu automatically ignored the last sentence, saying:


    "Such parents are really good... They left the choice up to you, rather than forcing you to make certain decisions¡ªunlike my dad. And unlike Song Que''s family."


    Tang Xian thought deeper:


    "No one would choose to give up on tasks that could be easily completed. My parents gave me the talent to fulfill the mission, yet they hid these matters from me, probably because they realized halfway that everything was in vain, that what we face possibly cannot be changed, so they simply didn''t involve me at all."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t speak, just nodded in understanding of this sentiment.


    Just like a patient who finds out their disease is incurable might choose to live well with the time they have left, rather than futilely fighting the illness, depleting their wealth.


    Indeed, many people think this way when they are convinced that death and failure are inescapable.


    Tang Xian continued:


    "But I still want to try."


    "Parents can also make mistakes. This, I understand well." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes."


    Tang Xian understood much about the situation in Baichuan City through Li Xiaoyu, who provided a brief supplement to complete the picture.


    The two soon arrived at the outskirts.


    On the outskirts of Baichuan City, Li Xiaoyu had also allocated some people to trim the plants.


    Her method of allocation was unusual, not uniformly spreading the work unless it was a small project that could be completed by a few people in a short time.


    Most of the time, Li Xiaoyu would ask everyone to focus on a specific project.


    Such as pruning the branches and weeds on the outskirts of Baichuan City.


    With the presence of a few experimental subjects endowed with strength and the Wan Beast, the beasts of the original world were naturally no longer a threat.


    So there was no longer any need to keep the vegetation surrounding the outskirts.


    Looking at the outskirts which were now much more open than before, Tang Xian said:


    "After I left, once power was restored, did you find any useful information?"


    Li Xiaoyu shook her head.


    "Even if there are still a few pieces of information that can be accessed, they are all meaningless. Most computer equipment is damaged beyond repair.


    The materials have also aged, and some can barely be powered on, but the data is all corrupt."


    Tang Xian wasn''t too disappointed.


    The notes of Jing Jian and some books from the library had already allowed him to deduce most of it.


    Li Xiaoyu appeared somewhat disheartened because she knew Tang Xian would really care about this, so at first she had also deployed quite a few people to sort the data, but to no avail.


    Tang Xian said:


    "It seems it''s pretty much as I thought."


    "What?"


    "The real historical records are neither with the Order nor with humanity."


    "Then where are they?"


    "With the Wan Beast, in the mine area. There are some steles on the southern islands, but some of the inscriptions are in Eden script, indecipherable to me. Regrettably, I can''t understand them either, even though I have memorized all the symbols of the stele inscriptions by rote, but currently, I have found no one who can decipher them.


    However, from the court of the Wan Beast, through the attendants of the Ash Dragon and the Plague Source, I learned that this world still has the Wan Beast Codex, preserved on the holy mountain of the court.


    The data recorded there might let us know what happened; it''s just... right now, we simply don''t have the means to understand it."


    "Why?"


    "Tang Feiji, Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng¡ªthe three of them are calamity-level boss creatures, but even they are not strong enough."


    "Then it''s best if you wait until you''re confident enough to go."


    Tang Xian nodded, and the topic concluded there.


    He and Li Xiaoyu walked around the outskirts, aimlessly, just wanting to talk and chat.


    Although it wasn''t sweet nothings they discussed, their minds worked differently, and they both found it very interesting.


    But a few minutes later, something bizarre happened.


    The plants were growing wildly.


    Those plants, which were originally left on the outskirts like a wall, had been pruned by Li Xiaoyu.


    But what was a severed branch a second ago, began to grow at a terrifying rate the next.


    Both Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu were stunned by this sight.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t sense any particular aura, but Tang Xian did.


    It was a familiar scent, ancient.


    It seemed to resonate with him from afar.


    The two were about to enter the suburbs where the sky-blocking trees and weeds had been cleared, the open road looming before them, but now, the vegetation on the roads around them, which seemed as if broken for centuries, began to grow wildly, quickly expanding their territory in a very short time.


    The trees were also rapidly growing taller... Soon, Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu were enveloped in shadows.


    Li Xiaoyu watched this scene in shock; she wasn''t concerned that her previous efforts were destroyed but rather didn''t understand¡ªwhat was happening?


    Why was this occurring?


    The roots of the plants, like pythons, meandered past, just so happening to avoid the two of them.

 Chapter 533 - 6: The Corpse of an Apocalyptic Creature_3

    Tang Xian watched these scenes unfold, watching the once-broken "city wall" rise up again, towering and impregnable, deep in thought.


    Compared to Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xian was much more composed. He suddenly asked:


    "Speaking of which, haven''t you felt that Baichuan City is actually not that old?"


    Li Xiaoyu understood Tang Xian''s meaning right away. Still shaken, she steadied her emotions:


    "Yes, compared to the ruins of other cities, Baichuan City doesn''t seem to have been abandoned for hundreds of years. It looks more like a city that has been deserted for just a few decades. After all, if it really had been hundreds of years, none of those things in the supermarket would be usable.


    Although the luxury goods produced in ancient societies were made with the intention of being passed down, they would require meticulous preservation."


    Tang Xian looked at the vehicles parked in the distance, pondering what a car would look like fifty years later; he could easily imagine the car''s metal cover having oxidized significantly.


    And after five hundred years?


    It was unimaginable, but certainly not the scene before his eyes.


    The plants too, it was rare for plants to grow wildly to such an extent. Very few trees can live for hundreds of years in an urban environment.


    According to the last notes left by Jing Jian, his description was that this world seemed to have a consciousness, sending these plants to protect the last vestiges of human civilization.


    But Tang Xian did not believe in such sentimental statements.


    Jing Jian was delirious in his final moments, and his notes were filled with much personal subjective conjecture.


    Sentimentality would increase, but in this world, where there''s something abnormal, there must be a demon at work.


    Why would plants grow like a city wall?


    Why would the animals on the outskirts obey so compliantly, staying on the periphery instead of entering the city core?


    These questions were but fleeting thoughts; Tang Xian did not ponder them in detail.


    Because he simply couldn''t come up with an answer.


    Could it be that what he was seeing was exactly what Jing Jian had seen?


    Tang Xian, holding onto Li Xiaoyu, walked cautiously through Baichuan City. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking carefully, why had they chosen to stay in Baichuan City back then?


    It was, of course, because the city was highly intact.


    But Baichuan City wasn''t at the edge of the world nor was it at its center; its geographical location was utterly ordinary, so why was it the only city so well-preserved?


    There certainly wasn''t any consciousness of the earth; this world was composed of countless inorganic substances, and though it was full of living beings, those beings were alive, but the world itself was dead.


    Li Xiaoyu watched Tang Xian deep in thought, silent. She knew that Tang Xian''s thinking was broad.


    Like the knowledge he consumed, vast and varied, seemingly useless and inapplicable, yet always proved to be useful, especially when faced with the unknown.


    Tang Xian''s pace slowed more and more until he finally stopped, watching the surrounding plants continuously circumvent himself and Li Xiaoyu, growing wildly in their frenetic expansion.


    He spoke:


    "The southern islands are actually the Sea God''s graveyard."


    Li Xiaoyu did not understand why he suddenly brought up the Sea God.


    "After the Sea God died, it continued to shelter that maritime area, making everyone believe it was still alive. It even fooled the Order Keepers and the Court of All Beasts."


    "So, if the Stele of Order was right, and the Lord of Eden led six apocalyptic creatures to invade this world, what about the other five?"


    Li Xiaoyu got it, and she shivered suddenly:


    "Without the consciousness of the world, perhaps the objects in Baichuan City didn''t decay normally, and the plants grew crazily because... some entity is sheltering Baichuan City? And it''s sheltering it periodically?"


    "I feel a familiar presence, a presence that has nothing to do with order, but resonates with another force inside my body."


    Tang Xian gazed into the distance, saying:


    "Perhaps the other five apocalyptic creatures died in different places, but just like the Sea God, they are sheltering different places too."


    "That''s a rather bold conjecture."


    "Just look at those vehicles, and you''ll understand."


    Li Xiaoyu then followed his gaze. Her view was mostly obstructed, but she could still make out the vehicles parked by the roadside.


    Li Xiaoyu shook all over suddenly, because those long-abandoned vehicles looked¡ª


    Not so worn and old anymore.

 Chapter 534 - 7: The Pangu Conjecture

    Compared to the continually growing plants and the ever-fading environment and various dead objects, there seems to be no change in animals and humans.


    Li Xiaoyu was surprised to see everything changing around her, and the animals on the periphery seemed equally astonished; they fled in all directions, but they didn''t go far. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For the animals, this was all too sudden, hiding in various places like a cat secretly watching in the dark.


    The lifespan of most animals is short, and they are unaware that these dead objects and plants are undergoing a peculiar "reverse aging" process.


    Li Xiaoyu was shocked, and so was Tang Xian.


    He lacked battle talent, but that didn''t prevent his keen sense of smell, almost like "observation Haki," from perceiving some mysterious aromas.


    It was as if time were flowing backward, yet the effect was nuanced to different things.


    Or perhaps more accurately described, were these plants and dead objects being forced by some power to recycle to a state from a past era?


    Tang Xian was not sure how frequently this cycle occurred.


    But judging from the various information about Baichuan City, it seemed to happen every few decades.


    "Let''s go, shall we go back and see?" said Li Xiaoyu.


    Tang Xian nodded; if his guess was right¡ªit seemed to be meaningless anyway.


    Because he had sensed a certain aura but had no idea where it actually was.


    The two began walking back toward Baichuan City.


    This "time reversal" wasn''t actually happening too quickly, despite the plants growing wildly with flowers, leaves, and branches visibly enlarging at a rapid pace.


    But it was only faster compared to the unnoticeable growth rate of the past.


    Tang Xian thought that if this was a marvelous magic covering the entire Baichuan City, now would be the best time to go back and witness the city''s renewal.


    ...


    ...


    Baichuan City, business district.


    Three thousand people scattered throughout the city make for few bustling scenes.


    But the business district is the only prosperous area in Baichuan City.


    Qiao Shanshan was wiping Song Que''s cheek.


    After returning home last night, without delay, Song Que contacted Qiao Shanshan and immediately started injecting the serum.


    He did not say what the serum was, and even though Qiao Shanshan asked several times, Song Que insisted it was absolutely safe.


    But injecting something into one''s body, a physician should inquire clearly, even if Song Que brought up Tang Xian, Qiao Shanshan persisted in her questioning.


    Eventually informed it was a talent-recovery serum, Qiao Shanshan felt uneasy; genetic serum extracts might irreversibly alter the human body in unpredictable ways.


    But Song Que was adamant.


    Sometime after the injection, Song Que fell into a deep sleep, as if he had taken 200ml of sleeping pills, enough to send a dinosaur into slumber.


    Qiao Shanshan really wanted to scold Tang for this.


    But on second thought, if it meant Song Que could recover his talent, then the ordeal was worth enduring.


    With nothing else to do, she would periodically check on Song Que.


    Right now, she was sitting to one side, gazing like a love-struck fool at this once-dazzling chosen one.


    But this tranquil moment didn''t last long, soon interrupted by noise from outside, mostly people''s exclamations.


    Qiao Shanshan was puzzled by what had happened.


    Just as she was about to step out and take a look, the unbelievable scene caught her eye as she moved her gaze away from Song Que.


    While the residential buildings they lived in were relatively sturdy structures, not shoddily made, their age was undeniable.


    And since arriving in Baichuan City, everyone had tidied their dwellings, but the mottled marks of time could not be erased.


    Strictly speaking, these residential buildings were hundreds of years old and in disrepair.


    People had wondered why these buildings didn''t appear as old as they actually were.


    And now, the sight in front of Qiao Shanshan was magical.


    It was like a sepia-toned photograph gradually becoming brighter.


    The dust and grime were still present, yet walls, floors, and other structures looked as if they were completely renewed.


    It wasn''t an exaggeration; it was just that, compared to recently, things indeed were becoming newer.


    "How is this possible? What''s happening?"


    Qiao Shanshan stepped onto the balcony, and looking out, she exclaimed, like the people in the streets below, her eyes wide with incomprehension.


    The ground, billboards, streetlights, lanes, rows of commercial buildings¡ªall were visibly shedding their age''s singular dull yellow.


    The visual tension was like an ancient toothpaste advertisement.


    Some neglected areas still seemed dirty but no longer old.


    Dong Ran, Akasi, Tang Suoye, Yuan Wu, and others were also stunned by the scene before them.


    They had thought this was a power similar to time reversal, but on closer inspection, buildings damaged by telekinesis or renovated in some other way didn''t return to their original state but became newer.


    It was as if the city had come to life, or to say that the city also experienced the turn of the seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.


    This giant called Baichuan seemed to have passed its old, desolate winter and, in the blink of an eye, a vibrant spring had arrived.


    Tang Xiaojiu had been playing with Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang in recent days, and a few days ago, a new playmate joined them¡ªTang Feiji.


    The two shared a common interest in constructing buildings with Lego blocks.


    Therefore, Tang Feiji decided to no longer mind Tang Xiaojiu''s half-human, half-animal, and lowly fox race lineage.

 Chapter 535 - 7: The Pangu Conjecture_2

    Tang Xiaojiu also decided not to mock Uncle Feiji''s brains anymore.


    A dragon and a fox, along with a cat and a bird, were building a simulation of Baichuan City.


    But they suddenly realized that amid the noise outside, the building blocks placed in the box had actually become new.


    When the blocks hit the ground, even the sound became crisper.


    "Uncle Feiji, your magic is so incredible," Tang Xiaojiu exclaimed.


    Tang Feiji was bewildered, what was going on?


    Unlike the others, Tang Feiji was surprised by the walls, floor, and toy blocks of the house becoming brand new, but he was more concerned about the sense of crisis in his sea of consciousness.


    A feeling that made him feel very oppressed was permeating the surroundings.


    It didn''t take long for Qing JiuYu to appear as well.


    Dressed in red, she frowned not with her usual enchanting demeanor, but looked straight at Tang Feiji and said gravely, sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Have you noticed it?"


    Tang Feiji didn''t bother with a retort about the lowly fox and nodded seriously instead.


    "Go find Tang Xian."


    The demon fox and the azure dragon didn''t think twice and left directly.


    Leaving Tang Xiaojiu behind to continue playing with blocks, hugging Tang Bingxiang.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu walked quickly.


    Li Xiaoyu noticed that Tang Xian''s physical abilities had far surpassed the state she remembered.


    The two also formed a judgment about the transformation of Baichuan City.


    "It looks like it is as I had guessed."


    "What?"


    "Baichuan City must be in some unique domain, which is why Baichuan City wasn''t destroyed. After hundreds of years and the test of wind and rain, Baichuan City might find a suitable place to settle, but it definitely wouldn''t look the way we saw it before."


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu stood at the top of the communications building, looking down at the city.


    "But fifty years might be different, in fifty years'' time, the city would grow old, but not to death. And with the cycles of reincarnation, the city becomes eternally youthful.


    It''s a pity we can''t verify if later things would enjoy this ''reincarnation.'' If so, then Baichuan City, as the cradle of new human civilization, would indeed be more than suitable."


    Excitement tinged Tang Xian''s words.


    "If it''s really as you say, and an apocalyptic creature is sheltering this city, doesn''t that make the mystery even greater?"


    "Yes, everything is just speculation. We need to find a body, or rather, the reason the city has ''rejuvenated.''"


    Tang Xian said this while catching the scent of Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu rushing over from afar.


    He couldn''t detect anything with his own sense of smell, but Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu, as top beings, might have unique intuitions.


    Li Xiaoyu said,


    "Should I go attend to other matters now?"


    She had already seen the figures of Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu from a distance.


    Knowing that if it truly involved apocalyptic creatures, even just a body, if something dangerous were to happen during the exploration, she likely wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    There are specialists in every field, and Li Xiaoyu thought it wise to focus on one''s strengths and avoid danger. Doing what needs to be done well within a safe realm also represents value.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "Just wait for me to return, and you figure out how to explain to the public. Regarding apocalyptic creatures, it''s not a secret suited for too many people to know. We need a plausible lie to cover up the truth."


    "Okay." Having agreed, Li Xiaoyu left promptly.


    The two were decisive, without any dilly-dallying hesitation.


    Li Xiaoyu even thought, if these devices were to revert to their appearance from decades ago... would many devices that were broken and thus inaccessible become retrievable?


    Thinking this, she became excited, feeling as if she was on the verge of uncovering some mysteries.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji quickly arrived, not bothering with pleasantries; both looked at Tang Xian, waiting for him to explain something.


    Seeing their expressions, Tang Xian knew that these two, just like him, had realized that something was amiss but could not sense the details; he said,


    "Don''t look at me like that. I don''t know what''s causing the strange occurrences in Baichuan City either. I can''t smell any scent worth noting."


    He raised his head, looking at the sky, and said,


    "However, we can start by surveying from above to understand the extent of this time reversal. We can estimate the center point based on the range. This will give us a rough location."


    Tang Feiji did not understand, but Qing JiuYu said, "Feasible."


    Then Tang Xian and Qing JiuYu looked to Tang Feiji.


    Tang Feiji finally realized that he would have to serve as a mount again.


    The dragon roared, and the clear sky was suddenly filled with violent winds.


    The residents of Baichuan City weren''t afraid of the dragon; after all, it was this dragon that had led them out.


    But the fact that today, in this place, peculiarities and dragons appeared together meant something major was likely happening.


    Tang Feiji shot straight up into the clouds.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Xian clung to the giant dragon scales, looking down from above.


    Soon, everything in Baichuan City became tiny. Yet, the full picture was still not visible.


    "Higher," Tang Xian said calmly, as the tumultuous wind passed through him, gazing down at the facade of Baichuan City.


    "So it turns out the world of humans also harbors such mighty creatures. Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "Friend or foe, it should have been long dead."


    The reactions of Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji further solidified Tang Xian''s speculation.


    All six cataclysmic creatures had fallen, and the Sea God had died in the Ashen Sea.


    Its enormous body gave birth to countless calamity-level creatures.


    The entire ocean, with creatures that belonged to the Sea God, also held high stature within it.


    From this, it was evident that the gap between calamity-level and cataclysmic level was more than a mere difference in rank.


    The death of any cataclysmic creature could be an event capable of changing the world.


    And the Sea God had left behind a treasure.


    This treasure, the Order Seekers had not detected.


    Even his own parents were unaware of it.


    Tang Feiji continued to ascend higher and higher into the sky.


    "That''s enough," Tang Xian suddenly spoke.


    Above the clouds, it was hard to make out the scenery on the ground, and even with his vision strengthened by satiation, Tang Xian could not see the details.


    But he had tools; he took out telescopic equipment from his utility bag, watching through it as he pondered.


    His thoughts meandered along the word "treasure," gradually forming an outline.


    Perhaps his parents had noticed something?


    Maybe the demise of each of the seven cataclysmic creatures left behind their obsessions.


    The Sea God''s obsession was to protect the creatures on the islands.


    The Guardian of Baichuan City, on the other hand, was to protect the city itself.


    The death of the Lord of Eden, perhaps, was to find a successor?


    Just like how they were unwilling to accept defeat hundreds of years ago?


    Tang Xian also wasn''t clear about several other cataclysmic creatures.


    The Sea God''s treasure was the myriad beasts on the island, the countless Soul Crystals beneath the sea, and a base that stood firm in the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    This treasure had been discovered by him.


    The treasure left by the Lord of Eden was a lineage''s legacy, and this treasure had been found by his parents.


    But the specifics, Tang Xian had no way of knowing, nor what exactly his parents had exchanged to gain these powers.


    Now, he was very likely on the brink of discovering another treasure.


    From another unknown cataclysmic creature.


    Even with the aid of telescopic equipment, to find the boundary of "Time''s Return" from such a height above the clouds was going to take some effort.


    Whether it was the memories in his blood or looking at the city with the surrounding mountains, rivers, and streams, Tang Xian spontaneously associated it with a legendary creature¡ª


    Pangu.


    In the mines, he had seen the Nuwa Imperial Snake, reminiscent of Nvwa.


    He had encountered the magic dragon from the Western magic world, symbolizing the pinnacle of power.


    He had also met with Taotie, one of the Four Fiends, and heard of the legendary Undying Xuan Bird.


    These seemingly had connections with legendary creatures from around the world.


    Upon reflection, the title "Lord of Eden" also carried a semblance of Judeo-Christian connotation.


    That giant, who had opened the heavens and the earth and cleaved the sun, the moon, and the stars, upon his fall, his body, limbs, hair, and blood transformed into mountains, rivers, and streams, nourishing a world that endlessly birthed and circulated natural life.


    Below the clouds, the human world continued to experience rebirth.


    After observing for a long while, Tang Xian finally inferred the center of this vast domain¡ªit was in the eastern outskirts of Baichuan City.


    The vegetation there resembled numerous huge tentacles that covered the entire space densely.


    Tang Xian was puzzled; he had come to Baichuan City and yet had never ventured to its eastern outskirts.

 Chapter 536 - 8: The Mysterious Guardian

    Upon arriving at the eastern outskirts, Tang Feiji reverted back to human form.


    Twisted and gigantic vines had turned the eastern suburbs into a bizarre forest.


    It was like a giant''s melon field. Tang Xian and his two companions were like three squirrels, three zhap.


    "I can burn all these roots and vines to the ground," Qing JiuYu said.


    Her vision was sliced up by the vines, which she seemed unaccustomed to.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said,


    "If the growth of these plants is following the consciousness of a certain creature, then these vines might very well be some kind of revelation. Let''s follow the direction in which the vines are spreading. We should try not to destroy the plants unless it''s absolutely necessary."


    "I feel that the presence is getting stronger and stronger," Tang Feiji, being a dragon, had even sharper senses than Qing JiuYu.


    Without a Soul Crystal, if Tang Xian indeed felt anything, it was merely an instinct.


    This place was like a palace constructed from the roots and vines of plants.


    A human, a dragon, and a fox walked through, filled with a sense of impending danger and vigilantly looking around, but they all felt an overwhelming vitality.


    This vitality didn''t come from a specific place but was pervading the whole world, both inside and outside of Baichuan City.


    Winding and interlaced roots filled the surroundings but always left a narrow path clear.


    Tang Xian couldn''t see the sides of the path, and though his sense of smell didn''t give him any clues, he could understand why Qing JiuYu wanted to set the place ablaze.


    He led the way, unafraid of encountering any fierce creatures.


    If any ferocious beings had any hostility towards Baichuan City, they would have likely already clashed with Qing JiuYu and the others.


    The path was endless, tortuously winding without a visible end, and Tang Xian had no idea where it led.


    But he vaguely felt that the area covered by vegetation was growing larger, the path wider, though its end was still out of sight.


    What was beyond the eastern suburbs, Tang Xian really didn''t know; his previous explorations with Tang Feiji had always been in other directions.


    Now, as he walked, Tang Xian felt increasingly that something was amiss.


    It was too quiet.


    Other places were teeming with animals, as if arranged for humans to use for development.


    Yet, in the eastern outskirts, these animals were nowhere to be seen.


    Not even the sound of birds chirping.


    Tang Xian walked among them, listening to the sound of the trio''s footsteps, pensive.


    After recovering his memories as Constantine, Tang Xian''s understanding of order had deepened significantly.


    The Machine God, who attempted to unravel the "nature of the soul," and those self-proclaimed Children of Order, were no longer absolutely mysterious to him.


    But much of the knowledge he had gained before was overturned.


    "In this world, there are creatures similar in strength to the Sea God or even stronger. Have you ever heard of any such beings?"


    The road seemed endless, increasingly broad but still without a final destination. Tang Xian engaged Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji in conversation.


    Tang Feiji shook his head and said,


    "I know the legends of the six beast gods, but only Lord Sea God''s existence is certain."


    Qing JiuYu said,


    "My clan''s elders have mentioned that hundreds of years ago, when gods fell, the six beast gods all died. As for witnesses, surviving hundreds of years in the Myriad Beasts Realm is not easy, so it''s probably hard to find any."


    After a pause, she continued,


    "Unless one goes to the Myriad Beasts Tribunal."


    Tang Xian nodded; their answers were essentially nothing.


    But this linked up with what he knew from the Stele of Order.


    "Over on the side of the guardians, there was once a stele that recorded this¡ªtheir source of evil, the destruction of human civilization, was caused by the Eden Demon Child leading six apocalyptic beasts."


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji were unaware of these records; to them, the battle in which gods fell was just a legend.


    "The record naturally has its issues, but it does match what you said about the six beast gods. The Sea God is dead; here, there should be another beast god."


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji were startled.


    Apocalypse-level creatures are the pinnacle of evolution for myriad beasts. If the body of a beast god was hidden here, they wouldn''t have failed to sense it.


    "But aside from these wildly growing plants, there don''t seem to be any traces of large creatures roaming about."


    "Who told you beast gods must be very large?"


    "What do you mean?" Qing JiuYu asked.


    "In human records, plant growth precedes the destruction of civilization, although the two are closely linked in time. This sequence suggests that among the five beast gods other than the Sea God, one or even several of them might not have very large bodies."


    Qing JiuYu still didn''t grasp the logic; she hadn''t seen Jing Jian''s notes.


    Tang Xian didn''t bother to explain further.


    Whether it was the owner of the exceptionally durable phone or the highly strung Jing Jian experiencing hallucinations, neither had spoken of any colossal creature. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian recalled carefully.


    Now he realized, with his restored memory, the content recorded on the guardians'' Stele held many points worth delving into, and their interpretation was completely different.


    ¡ªApocalypse-level Creature: Eden Demon Child. This is an extremely terrifying humanoid creature, possessing high intelligence and extreme cruelty by nature. Never let the Eden Demon Child enter the world of humans, for they can disguise themselves as humans yet remain undetected.

 Chapter 537 - 8: The Mysterious Guardian_2

    ¡ª¡ªMagical children are similar to Orderers, possessing an almost divine vision. Among them, there is also the concept of natural talent. The great power of order can see the entire combat capability of a creature.


    ¡ª¡ªAnd the most talented magical child of Eden can see through the deepest secrets of creatures'' souls. They can even extract unique abilities from other creatures by killing them.


    Memories of the long inscriptions I saw at that time resurfaced in my mind.


    Tang Xian found these three paragraphs particularly memorable.


    It was precisely such content that had convinced Tang Xian that the data his eyes perceived affirmed he was a magical child of Eden.


    But now, with his memories restored, Tang Xian realized it was not so.


    The so-called nearly divine vision that can penetrate the deepest secrets of creatures'' souls was not about the various pieces of information seen with his own eyes.


    Values of good and evil, wealth, luck, honesty, preferences, and other data talents¡ª


    These were things left to him by the Orderer. They had nothing to do with the bloodline of a magical child of Eden.


    He was thoroughly human.


    Born of a woman whose face he remembered, though her name was unknown to him.


    So, what exactly were the divine visions recorded by the Orderer?


    At least he had never experienced them.


    As Tang Xian pondered these mysteries, he often wouldn''t dwell on things he couldn''t understand, putting them aside for the time being.


    Yet, it was rare for him to completely misjudge something due to incomplete information.


    Suddenly, Tang Xian wondered¡ªcould everything he knew and deduced thus far be far from the actual truth?


    Just as he had deceived everyone about being Constantine, was it possible that he too had been deceived by something due to an oversight?


    As he contemplated, the road no longer seemed so long.


    Finally, the end of the tunnel-like passage, made of interwoven plant vines and roots, came into view.


    Tang Xian stopped walking, temporarily setting aside the thoughts in his mind, and looked ahead.


    The massive vines continued to spread into the distance, but the end of the road was now in sight.


    The end of the tunnel was a mountain.


    Tang Xian was convinced that the three of them had followed the vines to a certain mountain range, but this mountain was unlike any other barren hill.


    That smooth entrance seemed to hint that the answer to a puzzle lay within.


    But this mountain was not so easily accessible.


    The mountain gate at the entrance appeared easy to break through, yet the guards at the entrance appeared rather unusual.


    It was a deer. Completely white, its physique more robust than other deer, but not nearly gigantic in size.


    Baopuzi said, a deer lives a thousand years, turning white at five hundred.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that such a creature could not exist in the human world.


    Even as a walking humanoid encyclopedia of the mining district, he had never seen such a creature.


    This white deer lacked the presence that it should have had.


    There was no scent, no breath, only its undeniable existence.


    Tang Xian, Tang Feiji, and Qing JiuYu all halted.


    Tang Xian looked at the white deer and performed a panel data analysis.


    But the data was of no help.


    Favorite things: None. Feared things: None. Current needs: Resting and strolling (95%).


    Its value of good and evil was also extremely neutral, with an almost nonexistent desire for wealth and pleasure.


    Why would such a Zen-like creature appear here?


    What kind of entity was it?


    "Is this the Guardian Creature?"


    "Never seen it before."


    "Don''t recognize it."


    The responses from Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji were the same, and both looked quite solemn.


    Perhaps it was because the white deer was like an inanimate object that made the dragon and the fox feel its weirdness due to the absence of any detectable aura.


    Tang Xian thought it was illogical for an assembly comprising the magical child of Eden, a Blue Dragon, and a Nine-Tailed Fox to be intimidated by a white deer.


    "Tang Feiji, go and push open the stone gate of the cave."


    Tang Feiji was straightforward; he didn''t perceive danger but rather confusion.


    It seemed the white deer did see these three people.


    When the deer''s gaze fell upon Tang Xian, there was no surprise, nor joy or sorrow.


    Only when Tang Feiji attempted to approach did the deer lazily glance at him.


    At that look, the surrounding plants instantly began to stir.


    Without feeling any danger, Tang Feiji nevertheless stopped.


    He noticed that beneath his feet, wild grass was rapidly growing.


    With one more step forward, he saw the deer''s antlers gleam with a crystalline luster.


    And in the lazy deer''s eyes, a trace of faint puzzlement appeared.


    This time, not only Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji, but even Tang Xian could feel a strange aura.


    [You are lost, let me guide you back.]


    A voice finally echoed in his mind, and Tang Xian was certain it originated from the deer.


    It seemed like the guardian of the cave.


    This was actually a doe. Although its level was unknown, at least he knew it was a boss-level entity. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Feiji couldn''t hear these words.


    He didn''t care and was about to take another step forward when a miraculous scene occurred¡ª


    The luster on the antlers became more devastated, and Tang Feiji disappeared.


    It was as if there was an invisible door that Tang Feiji had stepped through and then gone elsewhere.


    Qing JiuYu suddenly became alert, sensing that Tang Feiji''s presence was far away; now, she was the only one protecting Tang Xian.


    Teleportation.


    That was the first thing Tang Xian thought of.


    The deer''s response soon confirmed this:


    [I sent him back to that city, it''s time for you to leave as well.]


    Calm and even-tempered.


    The white deer bore no malice, but also no detectable friendliness.


    It appeared as if all the people and things in the world were but clouds of smoke, and even it was just another wisp of smoke.


    Without any trace of presence.


    Occasionally a strand or two of smoke would drift close, and it would either snuff it out or return it to its original place.


    It walked gently down the corridor, sometimes kneeling to rest, other times running joyfully.


    It didn''t seem lonely in the slightest.


    A deer lives a thousand years, turning white at five hundred.


    If that saying were true, just how old was this white deer?


    Tang Xian was sure that this deer, facing an apex predator like Tang Feiji with such ease, must also be a calamity-level boss creature.


    "What is in the cave?"


    The white deer was somewhat surprised, albeit faintly.


    It hadn''t expected a creature with a human appearance to communicate with it directly.


    It tilted its neck slightly, then lightly shook its head:


    [Cannot say.]


    Tang Xian said:


    "Then, how long have you been guarding here?"


    [Cannot say.]


    "Do these plants'' growth and the revival of dead objects have anything to do with you?"


    [Cannot say.]


    "Is there anything you can say?"


    [You should leave.]


    "Are you waiting for the right person to enter, or preventing the wrong one?"


    Tang Xian was quite persistent, ignoring the white deer''s polite yet indifferent order to leave.


    [It''s all the same.]


    "Then how do you know that I''m not the person that the cave is waiting for?"


    This time, the white deer didn''t hurry to answer. Its eyes reflected Tang Xian, harboring a hint of contemplation. Then it shook its head and said:


    [Whether you are or aren''t, what difference does it make? If you are, naturally you will be able to enter.]


    "So you''re just like that foolish dragon, not really knowing whom you are waiting for? It used to guard a place just like you, until I took it away, and now it''s living a very comfortable life. Would you not want to give it a try?"


    [Why should I know?]


    Tang Xian was defeated.


    That''s why ancient people didn''t like fake monks, because true monks cultivated Zen in their hearts, and only fake monks loved to talk nonsense with Zen phrases on their lips.


    An attitude of detachment from all things, as if it were profound wisdom, yet actually idiotic.


    Tang Xian didn''t rush to ask further, he put himself in the deer''s shoes and thought for a while.


    Deer are known for their gentle natures in the animal kingdom, especially a deer that has lived for at least a few hundred years in this lifeless world; it made sense that it would be indifferent.


    He had to stir some memories within it.


    Conflict was clearly useless.


    This deer must be a magical creature capable of creating teleportation barriers.


    Though it lacked offensive power, it was beyond anyone''s grasp.


    Most importantly, such teleportation was impossible to detect.


    All the actions of this deer were elusive and transient.


    He furrowed his brow and after a long deliberation suddenly said:


    "You are a steed, and your master is already dead. Although you seem to be without desires or aspirations, the fact that you remain here proves that you are not as indifferent as you think."


    The white deer paused for a second.


    Tang Xian admitted there was a bit of a gamble in his assertion, but he always seemed to bet correctly.


    Although he couldn''t read the deer''s expression, the reaction in its pupils was universal.


    Then he said something that surprised the white deer even more:


    "In a world like the mining district, it''s hard to find creatures that can live for hundreds of years, but this world is different¡ª


    I suppose you must have witnessed the fall of the gods, right? And I am not the first visitor."


    (There will be another update today, but it will be quite late)

 Chapter 538 - 9: Tang Xian Meets a Rival

    Tang Xian was not speaking carelessly.


    The reaction of the white deer was overly indifferent; although it couldn''t be detected, it was supposed to be able to sense other creatures.


    Seeing Tang Feiji''s composure could be partly attributed to a Buddhist-style personality.


    But in the human world, encountering a calamitous boss-like being should elicit some reaction.


    The white deer had none; its only reaction was a slight interest in Tang Xian''s speculative basis.


    [No matter what you have come for, this is not the place to find your answers.]


    The white deer was still talking in a hidden and veiled manner.


    Tang Xian said,


    "How about we both make a concession? I tell you where the Sea God is, and you tell me where your master is?"


    [What has that got to do with me.]


    Tang Xian was stumped.


    This white deer had no desires or wants; finding a way to have it let him pass was truly a challenge for the moment.


    Initially, persuading Bai Mansheng relied on a story, while convincing Qing JiuYu depended on the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid.


    These were about appealing to their interests, yet the white deer seemed to have neither likes nor dislikes.


    Tang Xian had no choice but to try to enlighten it with grand principles:


    "Although you won''t say it, I believe that this city is being protected by you or your master, which is why it hasn''t been destroyed by time.


    We are on the same side. Why not let me through? This place might become a battlefield in the future, and I could help humans resist the Order."


    Unfortunately, the white deer seemed to have no stance at all, and its tone remained calm when it spoke:


    [Oh, impressive, keep it up.]


    Although Qing JiuYu couldn''t hear what the deer was saying, seeing Tang Xian''s forehead vein throb, she suddenly laughed.


    Has he finally met his match?


    "How about this: I won''t go in, but can you tell me about the past?


    What exactly happened hundreds of years ago in the human world? The invasion of the half-mechanical creatures and the myriad beasts, what caused it?"


    The deer''s hooves gently tapped, and instantly a small flower bloomed beneath its feet.


    It sniffed the flower slightly, and then the moisture seemed to leave the flower and enter the deer''s mouth, causing the flower to wither quickly.


    But shortly after, it gradually began to come back to life.


    Tang Xian thought to himself, aside from others abilities, this deer surely held a high status, even drinking water with a semblance of immortal grace.


    [Oh, you''re quite eager to learn, but what does that have to do with me?]


    The imperturbable nature of the white deer left Tang Xian temporarily at a loss.


    What was even more unfortunate was that Tang Xian originally wanted to attempt to cause fluctuations in the deer''s sincerity through emotional turbulence to judge which topics interested the white deer.


    But to Tang Xian''s disbelief, the deer''s level of sincerity maintained a state between being elusive and tangible, meaning the possibility of truth was fifty percent, and the possibility of lies was also fifty percent.


    "If you could become human, you would definitely be a chubby man with a head full of curly hair."


    The white deer slightly tilted its head, pondering Tang Xian''s words.


    This was mockery, a personality that mocks one''s appearance, a tactic often used in online squabbles to lead the argument astray.


    For example, while people are fiercely debating a virtual topic, a troll may randomly sneer ¡ª with that kind of view, you must not be doing well in real life, right?


    Tang Xian disliked this rhetoric because it was irrelevant and also because the first to verbally attack loses.


    But this time, he really couldn''t help himself.


    [If that were true, it would indeed be amusing.]


    It was like punching a fist into cotton.


    Tang Xian continued,


    "Could it be that you are hiding some huge, unspeakable secret inside?"


    The white deer remained unmoved. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aren''t you worried that your master might be eaten by the mice and bugs in the cave?"


    The white deer remained unmoved.


    "Could it be that he''s not dead?"


    The white deer remained still unmoved.


    "Or is the reason you won''t let anyone in because it hides evidence of your misdeeds?"


    The white deer still remained unmoved, and it even gently lifted its antlers, causing a dense-violet iris to bloom beneath Tang Xian''s feet.


    [After talking so much, are you thirsty? Would you like a drink of water?]


    Tang Xian was now completely speechless, seriously contemplating the possibility of the Sheng Tang Squad, plus a fox and a dragon, breaking through the defense.


    But seeing how easily the white deer had teleported Tang Feiji, Tang Xian truly wasn''t sure.


    The white deer seemed to bear no malice.


    But who knows where its teleportation barrier is hidden, maybe even Qing JiuYu''s flames could be sent away.


    Furthermore, no one could defeat Tang Feiji at the bottom of the sea, so perhaps no creature here could defeat the white deer.


    There was no way to fight it.


    Tang Xian pondered for a few seconds and indeed drank the flower dew. He was prepared for a drawn-out battle.


    The flower wilted rapidly, then bloomed just as swiftly.


    Seeing this, Qing JiuYu suddenly felt like planting a field of Biphasic Orchids right there.


    "I thought Xiao Bai was already free from worldly desires, but you, this old white deer, are even more detached."


    [So it seems, but I am not old.]


    Tang Xian wasn''t excited by this rebuttal, as the doe''s tone seemed to be merely clarifying this point but remained indifferent, as if saying you can insist I am old if you wish.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You probably don''t understand the concept of listening to someone until their voice becomes irritating.


    We typically describe such people with two words ¡ª spit monster.


    I often say a phrase, back in the day, Tang Seng could natter so much that it drove two demons to hang themselves. For me, Tang Xian, to get an old white deer out of the way is not an issue."


    [You may be noisy, but it''s no bother. If you are thirsty, just tell me, and it will be good]

 Chapter 539 - 9: Tang Xian Meets a Rival_2

    The white deer clearly had the stance of a Tai Chi master. It seemed that Tang Xian''s voice was no different from the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects in nature.


    Tang Xian wasn''t really panicking; he had just encountered a very rare situation.


    "How exactly can I be allowed to enter?"


    "I''m not waiting for anyone, so you''re not the person you think you are, and that person doesn''t exist either."


    "But there must be a possibility of getting in, right? What is that possibility?"


    "Oh, I''ve forgotten."


    "Tens of thousands of feet down in the deep sea, that Sea God with a size comparable to a continental landmass is waiting for someone. I assume your master, being an apocalypse-level creature like it, wouldn''t just resign to death, right?"


    "Where did you find out?"


    Tang Xian couldn''t detect any subjective emotion in the white deer''s words.


    Even the phrase "where did you find out" didn''t seem like a rhetorical question as it might appear in an online forum.


    Because the tone was really too indifferent.


    But Tang Xian still caught it, from the very beginning when the word "mount" was mentioned, to the recent mention of the three words "apocalypse-level," there was an extremely subtle fluctuation in the white deer.


    "Inside there really is an apocalypse-level creature. So what exactly is the great catastrophe? Could it be that the six apocalypse-level creatures haven''t actually been unified by the master of Eden? Are they all fighting separately? If not, why won''t you let me in? You know, the Sea God has acknowledged me. I not only accepted its gift, I also institutionalized it."


    The white deer assessed Tang Xian, its gaze still the same.


    However, it felt that this young man was not simple; even if it didn''t reveal anything, he was still able to grasp certain points.


    He was a troublesome character.


    An endurance fight is a battle of mentality.


    Tang Xian was certain he just hadn''t hit the mark yet.


    It was like he needed to open a door, but had a bunch of keys in hand and didn''t know which one would unlock it.


    He began to try each one systematically.


    Indeed, the white deer was a tough lock, with an above it all mindset. In terms of composure, Tang Xian believed that no one he knew could compare with it.


    A man and a deer had been engaged in a war of words for some time, during which Tang Xian said a lot.


    For example, he wondered if there was still an Eden demon child in this world who had had their memory erased.


    ¡ª¡ªThis question was seen on the stele; most demon children had been eliminated by the order enforcers, and even those who survived had their memories erased when they were young.


    Initially, Tang Xian thought he was the demon child, only to realize that although he had no memory before the age of three, those were the foreshadows left by himself while being Constantine.


    It was a mysterious coincidence.


    The situation described by the stele just happened to partially match his own circumstances, leading him to mistakenly view himself as the Eden demon child.


    Now it seemed that this Eden demon child had a significant connection to the infant he saw in his dreams.


    His father''s silhouette led him to a mysterious place.


    What was the connection between his own power and the real Eden demon child?


    The answers to these questions¡ª the white deer didn''t know.


    Even if it did know, it would only choose to look at Tang Xian indifferently, with an air as if to say: Oh, I see.


    Tang Xian then speculated whether the Sea God had a feud with this "Pangu," otherwise, why would the white deer stop him?


    But unfortunately, he had already brought up Eden, and among the seven apocalypse-level beings, two held no significance for the white deer.


    After a while longer, Tang Feiji had caught up, but Tang Xian still couldn''t persuade the white deer.


    This time Tang Feiji had learned his lesson.


    He quietly watched Tang Xian talk eloquently and fluently.


    He also quietly watched the white deer respond to Tang Xian with an indifferent tone as if none of it concerned her.


    Nothing is more difficult in a battle of words than a mute opponent.


    The white deer was like a taciturn one.


    After several rounds of back-and-forth between Tang Xian and the white deer, the situation finally changed a bit.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Or is it that the creature inside the cave is actually a traitor? Did it betray the Sea God and the master of Eden? Are you just too ashamed to let us in?"


    This time, the white deer still didn''t show any noticeable emotional fluctuation, but its tone grew colder as it said:


    "Such nonsense, I hope you don''t say it a second time, or I''ll have to see you out. How could my master possibly be a traitor?"


    The lightness in the words masked inner emotions, but who was Tang Xian?


    He caught on in an instant.


    The white deer really was a mount.


    And inside the cave truly was its master.


    This "Pangu," likely one of the six great apocalypse creatures, was not a traitor.


    It must be an entity trying its best to protect the Human World.


    But among the six apocalypse-level beings, there indeed was a traitor!


    The white deer probably also realized that its defense could let this young man deduce a lot of information.


    So his words would be more plentiful. This really was a "spewer of oddities".


    Yet Tang Xian, uncharacteristically, did not prattle on with a bunch of babble.


    Instead, he spoke very seriously,


    "Is it that no matter what, you refuse to let me in?"


    [Since you know, why not leave?]


    "I will leave, but I want to know if there is any possibility of getting in?"


    [When you are qualified enough to meet it.]


    "So you do know some things? Which of these things can you tell me now?"


    [I have forgotten.]


    If there really was something that could ignite Tang Xian''s anger, it would probably be the words of this white deer, which were too ambiguous to discern as true or false.


    Tang Xian still did not leave.


    "How many years once? I mean, the changes in the vegetation of Baichuan City and its surroundings, about how many years once? If you can tell me this, I won''t bother you anymore."


    [Fifty years.]


    "Indeed, one last question."


    [Are you sure it''s the last one? Actually, you can ask several times, after all, I may not answer, but you need to be honest.]


    Tang Xian said,


    "I am an honest man. This is indeed the last question."


    Tang Xian also did not want to continue wasting time with this white deer who was impervious to soft or hard tactics.


    He became solemn and asked,


    "Who is the traitor? I should at least know, right?"


    [What significance does it have if you knew? You cannot change anything; it''s better to live cautious and careful.] The white deer didn''t mock Tang Xian but spoke with a tone as if stating a fact.


    Tang Xian became even more certain.


    "There really is a traitor, and this traitor... is still alive?"


    [That is another question, which I may choose not to answer. You should leave now.]


    Tang Xian thought about it, and indeed follow-up questions ought to be counted separately, otherwise, life may just have one question.


    The Lord of Eden led six apocalyptic creatures to destroy the world.


    This statement was partially corrected by the Sea God¡ª


    It was not destruction, but resistance.


    Now, in front of this unknown beast god, it was once again corrected.


    Not six, but five, among them there was a traitor. Maybe this treason was the root cause of the failure?


    There were actually other messages, but Tang Xian could not be sure.


    A calamity-level boss creature was enough to destroy all human military power, apocalyptic creatures were too powerful for the Human World.


    Tang Xian prepared to leave.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji had been standing still the whole time, but they managed to understand some of it; the white deer in front of them might be one of the six great beast gods, the Guardian.


    "Alright, I really do have a lot of questions, but I still have to ask, do you always stand guard here?"


    [I always stand guard here, but you may not always be able to reach this place.]


    "Can you transform into a human?"


    At this question, Tang Feiji reflexively tensed up. Was Tang Xian planning to consume deer?


    The white deer did not speak but just nodded its head.


    Tang Xian pressed on, S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your name then? You should have a name, right? I have never seen a creature like you in the mines... I mean, in the Myriad Beasts Realm. Or are you an evolved form of the Eden Deer?"


    Tang Xian had thought about the Eden Deer, but the Eden Deer was a disaster-level creature, different from this white deer. The white deer''s level had not been disclosed, but the ease with which she transferred Tang Feiji away suggested she was like a hidden master from beyond the heavens.


    The white deer shook its head and said,


    [I do not have a name.]


    It did not explain what kind of beast it was, and Tang Xian did not ask. He familiarly suggested,


    "Then I will name you, you''ll be called Tang Voiceless. By the way, my name is Tang Xian."


    [My name is Bai Shuang.]


    The poor quality of Tang Xian''s naming skills surprisingly made the originally reluctant Bai Shuang give in and reveal her name.


    Tang Xian regretted it; it was a pity not to call her Tang Voiceless, given her reticent nature.


    As for why it needed the surname Tang, Tang Xian didn''t need to explain.


    Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji understood as well; was Tang Xian perhaps fixating on her transference ability?


    However, Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji felt that to win over this white deer, Tang Xian would have to put in some effort, because this was an existence even more idle than him.

 Chapter 540 - 10: Records Left by Ancient People

    In the game, it often happens that you come to a spot that seems to be a quest point, yet you cannot trigger the quest.


    Tang Xian felt that today was just such a case.


    Although this place, interwoven with plants, looks utterly peaceful, and the Guardian Bai Shuang is not as aggressive as the Sea Dragon that guards the ocean, Tang Xian simply could not cross this door.


    He did not dwell on it much, having done all that he could; perhaps the time truly wasn''t right.


    Tang Xian bid farewell to Bai Shuang. Maybe it was because the white deer was so amiable, he too seemed amiable.


    Bai Shuang remained the same, come if you will, go if you must. It roamed slowly around, as if it could never get enough of the scenery.


    Tang Xian wondered, perhaps Bai Shuang saw sights from other places in its eyes?


    He thought it pointless to ask, so he did not.


    The three of them headed back.


    The return journey was much faster, and the strange transformations in Baichuan City and its surroundings had not stopped, but the visual effects were no longer as breathtaking as before.


    Halfway through the journey, a somewhat disgruntled Tang Feiji finally couldn''t help it and said,


    "If they don''t let us in, shouldn''t we just force our way in? Isn''t that common sense?"


    "Is your common sense taught by the Heifeng Stockade kindergarten?" Tang Xian said irritably.


    Not long after seeing the deer, he had dismissed the idea of forcing a breakthrough.


    First, because using force might cause him to miss some crucial message yet unknown, and second, because the white deer showed no hostility whatsoever.


    Even though Bai Shuang could not transform into a human, Tang Xian had no thoughts of harming it.


    Part of the reason was caution, but the larger reason was a matter of stance.


    Even if the Sea God had protected all creatures, it couldn''t be confirmed that the Sea God was helping humans.


    And even if his parents had somehow endowed him with the bloodline of Eden, the lack of details about the event also didn''t prove that the people of Eden were helping humanity.


    Justice in this world varies with perspective, and Tang Xian''s stance was with humanity.


    Thinking objectively, one should maintain vigilance towards all non-human forces.


    But this divine beast was different.


    This divine creature was indeed guarding Baichuan City, and thanks to it, Baichuan City was able to preserve itself with such high integrity.


    It was just a pity that he hadn''t gained the white deer''s recognition.


    ...


    ...


    After Tang Xian and the others had left, Bai Shuang, though still leisurely as ever, held a hint of unusual doubt in its deer eyes.


    [In the next five hundred years, there will not be another human who comes to seek you.]


    The voice of the deer was more ethereal than that of other wild deer; however, Tang Xian, had he been there, would have been able to understand its meaning.


    To the creatures of this world, this white deer is a sacred being, and so there are hardly any other creatures in the eastern outskirts.


    [He is not yet ready, and we all should know, when something has not completely revealed itself, most conclusions about it can be overturned.]


    Another unknown beast language, this voice was more profound and bore greater vicissitudes than Bai Shuang''s, coming from within the cave. However, Bai Shuang could understand it just as Tang Xian could; the owner of this voice was able to express its thoughts to all creatures and listened to the thoughts of all things.


    Bai Shuang did not argue but slowly said:


    [You''re already dead, and a dead creature should be more indifferent than me.]


    [It is precisely because of obsession that I have not completely died.]


    The voice in the cave, weary, continued:


    [Merely protecting like this is not enough for this city.]


    [This city has already found its Guardian. You should try to accept your own death.]


    The strange conversation came to an abrupt end.


    Bai Shuang knew it was not that the owner of that voice, or rather its master, had accepted its words.


    The one in the cave simply remained silent in opposition.


    With a light stepping of hooves, Bai Shuang''s antlers once again reflected a clear light.


    It seemed to arrive at some unknown destination, the surrounding scenery completely changed.


    What was most incredible was that even the entire massive rocky mountain behind it was teleported thousands of miles away.


    ...


    ...


    When Tang Xian returned to Baichuan City, Li Xiaoyu had already begun arranging people to explain the situation.


    In this place, equal in wonder to the deities with its myriad sacred creatures and severe civilization disruptions, explaining an unscientific phenomenon was simple.


    Everything could be attributed to the word "miracle".


    After briefing Qing JiuYu and Tang Fei, Tang Xian went to Li Xiaoyu''s office.


    He told Li Xiaoyu everything he saw, heard, and guessed.


    Li Xiaoyu was surprised that there was such a miraculous creature outside Baichuan City.


    She said,


    "If we just want to find out the historical truth, maybe we can do it now."


    "Are you saying that the electronic devices have also been restored?"


    "Yes, the data on many devices were unusable before, but now they''ve returned to how they were fifty years ago..."


    Li Xiaoyu, seeing the excitement in Tang Xian''s eyes, also became happy and continued,


    "I have already arranged for people to organize it."


    Tang Xian nodded, then said, Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We could define today in Baichuan City as a festival."


    "That''s an interesting idea, I''ll plan it out myself later."


    "Huh?" Tang Xian expressed his confusion.


    Li Xiaoyu explained,


    "Everyone longs for a festival with a regular name. Your naming level... no, your naming style is hard for everyone to follow."


    Tang Xian found himself speechless for a moment.


    Soon after, Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu went to the room where the devices were stored and began to go through the information on each device one by one.

 Chapter 541 - 10: Records Left by Ancient People_2

    ```


    Working together in the office, to Li Xiaoyu, was exactly the romance she longed for.


    As two people who placed extreme emphasis on work efficiency, she even felt more comfortable in this working state than she had at noon.


    However, as she reviewed the ancient people''s hard drives, Li Xiaoyu thought back to the folder named "study materials."


    Her face instantly turned red.


    After experiencing the growth of vegetation and the time reversal of matter, indeed much of the unreachable information became accessible.


    Li Xiaoyu, sure enough, saw the folder named "study materials" once again.


    Tang Xian, seeing Li Xiaoyu''s reaction, knew that the content was nothing serious, but following the policy of ''better to wrongly kill than to miss out,'' he still opened it in front of Li Xiaoyu.


    When a movie popped up featuring only a male and female lead, and due to a graphics card issue showed them without their clothes, Li Xiaoyu didn''t actually feel as embarrassed as she had imagined.


    Tang Xian was even more unruffled.


    "In ancient times, this industry actually had tremendous profits. If the concept of legitimate viewership spread among the people, those profits could increase manyfold."


    Li Xiaoyu said expressionlessly,


    "Can we skip this, please? It''s a waste of time. Historical clues would not be hidden in these kinds of... movies."


    "Of course, I was just saying, be mentally prepared, because ancient people all loved to learn. For instance, right now, if we were to conduct an investigation on ancient data and assume those souls of people who died over a thousand years ago are willing to cooperate,


    The task is for people who downloaded similar videos on their computers to hit ''2''. Otherwise, they should hit ''1''. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You would probably find that your statistics file is just endless rows of ''2''s."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t respond, flipping through other documents. Actually, she wasn''t opposed to it internally; in her eyes, if Tang Xian had that kind of impulse toward her, it would be something... to be happy about.


    Tang Xian wasn''t interested in these garages either; after all, modern people street racing were far better than the ancients of the 21st century.


    This reminded him of Shang Lu, wondering how the double-ended cucumber they researched together was selling.


    Tang Xian said,


    "The owner of this computer must be a student, not because of the 4TB of ''study materials'', but because of the educational software on the desktop indicating he was a journalism student. Search this computer carefully, the documents inside may contain the information we need."


    "Alright."


    Li Xiaoyu took over the laptop that was thick with scholarly ambiance.


    Tang Xian then opened another one.


    The two of them were quite slow at this kind of task, and Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry to know the specific events of the past.


    But today he was supposed to accompany Li Xiaoyu, and even after the time reversal and meeting Bai Shuang, he shouldn''t change the plan they had set.


    Li Xiaoyu also enjoyed this time. She knew that tomorrow Tang Xian was probably going to the Pyramid, to do something big.


    Therefore, she didn''t want anyone else to disturb the quiet time she had yearned for for many years.


    The owner of the laptop in Tang Xian''s hands apparently had an interest in musical instruments, especially the guzheng, and specifically the standard kind that was one meter and sixty-three centimeters long.


    Seeing the image of a delicate woman carrying a guzheng, Tang Xian thought of the meme about being unable to unscrew a bottle cap, but able to lift one''s own ''celestial cover.''


    He casually browsed through some messages.


    In the audio files folder, there was a series of tracks ranging from 60 to 100MB. Tang Xian clicked on one and found the guzheng actually quite pleasant to listen to, although in the Pyramid, these arts were no longer studied.


    Then he discovered another audio folder, which contained very short clips, seemingly because of recording quality issues, so they occupied much less memory than the previous track recordings.


    Tang Xian clicked on one and, after hearing the first audio clip, his expression turned serious.


    ¡ª¡ª


    "April 4th.


    There''s nothing particularly interesting to note today. Teaching guzheng is exhausting. The parents in my small eight-tier city always seem to want a bargain. Clearly, the contract states forty-five minutes per lesson; if I end on time, I''m always criticized for not wanting to teach the kids, not even willing to give an extra minute.


    Really, isn''t that basic time-awareness?


    Xu Lingwei still didn''t come home today, claiming he found a bronze terracotta army that couldn''t be dated. Shouldn''t this kind of news be on the reports?


    When I asked him, he was all evasive, he''s definitely lying to me.


    What a terrible day."


    Indeed, some people prefer to record the day''s experiences with audio, compared to written diaries, they are more reliable. Many astronauts and polar explorers have this habit.


    The words ''bronze terracotta army'' piqued Tang Xian''s interest immediately.


    Li Xiaoyu took note too, and said,


    ```


    "Any discoveries?"


    "Yeah."


    Tang Xian peeled off his headphones and switched to speaker mode, then opened the second audio file.


    ¡ª¡ª


    "April 6th.


    Why would there be a performance in a hotpot restaurant? I take back what I said about not wanting to play in a teahouse.


    Nobody in this hotpot restaurant actually listens to your performance; everyone is just eating hotpot and chatting!


    Oh my God, why do I have to play the guzheng for them and watch them eat hotpot, who can stand that?


    Today Xu Lingwei sent me photos of the bronze Terracotta Warriors. I didn''t expect to actually find something, and he cautioned me not to show them to anyone.


    I''m certainly someone who keeps things under wraps. I wouldn''t show them to just anyone, only to my best friend Xia Li, and I also made her promise not to send them to anyone else.


    Xia Li said that these Terracotta Warriors looked as if they were alive... For some reason, that comment scared me.


    Today was a day of overcast turning to partly cloudy, I really miss Xu Lingwei."


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu exchanged glances, neither of them spoke, and continued to play the third audio file.


    ¡ª¡ª


    "April 7th.


    Xu Lingwei told me something very unpleasant, he said that in the Taklamakan Desert, beneath an oasis, other teams have discovered new Terracotta Warriors. They must be dispatched to that godforsaken place for about a month.


    I''m going crazy; it''s early spring and the weather hasn''t even gotten warm yet, and he''s not staying with me.


    Why are those Terracotta Warriors so annoying, emerging one by one with no coverage in the news?


    Actually, today I received a message from Zhang Tu''an.


    I''m furious, my best friend Xia Li sent the photo of the bronze Terracotta Warriors that Xu Lingwei sent me to Zhang Tu''an, who then sent it to me!


    Everyone in this world has a big mouth!


    Today was a day of clouds turning to heavy rain."


    ¡ª¡ª


    "April 12th.


    Xu Lingwei has been gone for a few days, and I miss him terribly. Zhang Tu''an has been coming to see me persistently for days, apparently having caught wind of something from who knows where.


    While Xu Lingwei is away, I might seek Zhang Tu''an for company to relieve the boredom, but I won''t give him the chance to do anything else.


    Speaking of which, it seems like the news about the bronze Terracotta Warriors is getting hard to keep under wraps, which is a relief to me.


    Reports have started coming in from around the world, a large number of bronze Terracotta Warriors have been found in different places.


    The style of these warriors seems somewhat like Pre-Qin and also resembles Ancient Greek sculpture.


    Some news outlets say the material on these warriors is a very unique new metal.


    It''s all very mysterious, almost sounds like an alien invasion."


    There were still a dozen more audio files below, which Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu listened to carefully.


    Initially, the recordings were filled with the trivial matters between this girl, her plastic best friend, and a guy who was fawning over her.


    But gradually, such matters became less frequent, and a sense of crisis started to permeate the girl''s voice.


    The number of bronze Terracotta Warriors kept growing, nearly a hundred thousand combined from all over the world.


    What''s most terrifying is that these warriors seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, not buried long ago somewhere, but surfaced without any apparent cause.


    Various institutions began researching these warriors, but there was no substantial progress.


    Some of the technology inside them is considered impossible for people of the 21st century.


    "It looks like these audio files are indeed from before the great disaster occurred. But even until the last one, there''s no record of how the Judgment Knights were resurrected,"


    "Keep looking, there must be other clues left by someone else,"


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu were both invigorated, both feeling that as the timeline reset that engulfed the whole Baichuan City happened, the missing truths of history were gradually coming to light.


    (Scheduled to have a massive update on Friday. Aiming for something between ten to twenty-thousand words, although it was initially planned for the weekend, I''m a bit busy this weekend...)

 Chapter 542 - 11: A Major Event Approaches

    Although the discovery of clues brought more motivation to the task, searching for the desired information amidst the vast sea of electronic data was still quite time-consuming.


    Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu busied themselves until nightfall.


    Tang Xian had planned to cook something to eat, but because his mind was completely focused on searching for historical records, he forgot.


    This made Xiao Jiu very sad to learn that Brother Tang Xian had already returned to Baichuan City.


    The food prepared by Akasi was edible, but in comparison to Tang Xian, it instantly turned into a culinary disaster.


    However, as the saying goes, hard work pays off. With Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu''s efforts, they finally managed to organize some clues.


    In the meantime, Tang Xian also learned about various people and events.


    The 21st century was a time of constantly changing cultural trends.


    Basically, every ten years, people''s worldviews and values would shift.


    Thus, the generations were differentiated as the post-70s, post-80s, post-90s, and post-00s, a rare occurrence in human history.


    It''s worth mentioning that the post-90s deserved a certain amount of sympathy.


    They were caught in the cracks between the elderly and the young.


    Most of the post-80s had already started families, the post-00s fell in love even earlier than the post-90s, who were largely still single, making them the most unfortunate generation.


    In Tang Xian''s search for historical materials, most of the figures that emerged belonged to the post-90s.


    Like Xu Lingwei, in charge of the research and investigation of Judgment Knights; including Chang Chuanbai, who appeared in later video material, tasked with the research on disassembling Judgment Knights.


    And Bao Daren, the earliest to discover the hellhound with three heads in the mining area, as well as those academic researchers who made hypotheses about the truth of the myriad beasts.


    Many others, named and nameless, although sought for related knowledge, also gave Tang Xian a deeper understanding of the attitudes towards life of the people from that era.


    After all, people don''t live inside microblogs. The real diaries offer perspectives vastly different from what''s shown on social media.


    The real tapestry of life gave Tang Xian much to reflect on from different viewpoints.


    The documents recorded many anomalies of that time, and people''s views on these anomalies varied greatly. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He admired the academics who maintained the most objective attitude towards the emergence of life and machines, persuading institutions around the world to prepare their defenses early.


    Even though humanity was ultimately defeated and retreated into the Pyramid, it seemed that they had exhibited considerable strength during the catastrophe.


    It wasn''t like what he had previously understood, where humanity was simply overpowered.


    What was uninteresting, however, was that even up to the year before the great catastrophe, the starting salary for a top-tier professor at an institution like Tsinghua University was only a few thousand yuan, with the higher end being just ten or twenty thousand.


    As for million yuan annual salaries, only the industry''s top echelon, those academic legends capable of challenging for the Nobel Prize, could command such figures.


    Therefore, living in that era, it wasn''t hard to see why scientific reporting was less common than entertainment news, and why squabbles among academic giants were practically unseen on microblogs.


    After all, if filming a sleep-inducing movie could earn one an academic researcher''s lifetime wages, who then would choose to pursue academia?


    I digress.


    The information that Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu organized, although pertaining to the period before the great catastrophe, regrettably still did not provide the answers they most sought.


    "With so much data, we should be able to make some rough inferences now, right?" said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Unfortunately, no one knows about the Origin. We only know that in the year before the great catastrophe, a large number of Judgment Knights and a few myriad beasts began to appear.


    The hellhound with three heads and some peculiar insects had already appeared within human activity zones.


    At first, they seemed like normal wild beasts, similar to the Judgment Knights, not primarily targeting humans for attack and even somewhat friendlier than those in the mining districts, basically not attacking humans unless provoked.


    It''s as if they were adapting to this world, or possibly, they were waiting for a certain moment? Waiting for a command?"


    Tang Xian was unable to deduce the truth about the Origin from these existing historical videos.


    He looked at the time and said:


    "We''re running out of time. We haven''t even finished ten percent of the content, and it''s already night. Let''s stop here for now, I''ll be leaving tomorrow, and I''ll have to leave these matters in your hands."


    "You''re leaving tomorrow? Song Que hasn''t awakened yet, and I thought you would wait until he did before leaving."


    "He will know what I will be doing next."


    "Have you already made clear arrangements with this Human Federation Supreme Commander?"


    Tang Xian laughed:


    "Indeed, I can''t delay any longer. The number of Judgment Knights is rapidly increasing; letting people know the truth sooner rather than later is for the best."


    "I will take good care of Baichuan City," said Li Xiaoyu.


    Tang Xian nodded, thinking that to prevent Li Xiaoyu from appearing in his mind and distracting him in the coming days, he had to do something:


    "It''s nighttime, and we''ve been busy all day. Why not do something that you usually do at night."


    "Sleep?" Li Xiaoyu''s face turned red, although she appeared quite nonchalant.


    She didn''t object to the idea, but thought it felt somewhat rushed.


    Tang Xian said irritably:


    "Of course, I mean preparing dinner. What were you thinking?"


    "Oh, okay."


    ...


    ...


    The puzzle remained a puzzle, yet Tang Xian believed that within that vast swath of data, there must still be valuable information to uncover.

 Chapter 543 - 11: A Major Event Approaches_2

    But by the next day, he was already preparing to leave.


    These data could only be left for Li Xiaoyu to help sort out.


    Song Que was still in a coma, but his vital signs were very stable. It was somewhat similar to Tang Suoye''s condition earlier on.


    After being injected with the powerful serum, it took a long time to wake up.


    Their bodies were undergoing changes at the genetic level.


    Tang Xian was also curious whether Song Que, as the first talent transferee, specifically an orderer talent transferee, would exhibit different strengths?


    He didn''t have time to verify, and when it was time to go, Tang Xiaojiu was reluctant to part.


    "Tang Xian, Tang Xian, take me with you, please. You''re back now and you don''t even play with me anymore, Qiao says you have a heart for women and none for friends."


    Tang Xian gave Qiao Shanshan a sideways glance, and she coughed twice, saying:


    "Cough cough, children say the darndest things, children say the darndest things."


    Tang Xian held Tang Xiaojiu and found that the little girl had grown fatter in the month he hadn''t seen her, her studies had fallen behind completely, now she was hopeless in everything but eating, claiming the first place as a little foodie.


    She had claimed Akasi''s cooking to be dark cuisine, yet Tang Xiaojiu''s appetite was still not small.


    Even before Akasi came back, it had always been Li Xiaoyu in charge of the cooking, though that was not really cooking but more like practice. The things she made, truly, were beyond any fox''s attention and any dragon''s sniff. But Tang Xiaojiu still ate a lot.


    Li Xiaoyu herself was puzzled; she clearly remembered the cooking steps as "Ma Dongmei", her mind remembered that, but when it came to the actual cooking, it turned into "Sun Honglei".


    Tang Xian looked at Tang Xiaojiu and said with a smile:


    "After this affair, I should be able to take you with me to the Pyramid. So next time, I will definitely bring you along."


    The month spent touring the mining area with Tang Xiaojiu had also been quite amusing for Tang Xian.


    Once the major event at the Pyramid had concluded, Tang Xian planned to take Qing JiuYu and Tang Xiaojiu to take back the fox tribe.


    This matter had already been scheduled by him.


    Tang Xiaojiu, with her eyes wide, said earnestly:


    "Tang Xian, I''m very smart. Qiao told me that ''next time definitely'' means mumbling, and mumbling means next time you won''t play with me either."


    Tang Xian paused for a second, then glanced at Qiao Shanshan. He thought to himself that Qiao Shanshan had been quite active while he was away.


    Mumbling could indeed be used to promise anything.


    Qiao Shanshan coughed again twice, then repeated:


    "Children say the darndest things, children say the darndest things."


    "Xiaojiu is indeed beyond reproach, but you, who taught her these words, have already become an old auntie."


    Qiao Shanshan''s smile immediately stiffened, then she suddenly thought of Song Que, snorted, and turned her head away, ignoring Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian felt relieved and did not want to delay any further. He had already told Li Xiaoyu all the details he needed to explain the night before.


    The development of Baichuan City, the arrangements for Song Que, Yuan Wu, Tang Suoye, Akasi and others after that, Tang Xian had planned everything meticulously.


    Before opening the transport rift, Li Xiaoyu suddenly looked up, staring straight into Tang Xian''s eyes, and said:


    "Tang Xian, what will become of my father in the end? If this matter succeeds, will he be pointed at by thousands? Will he become a sinner? Will his fate be miserable?"


    Li Xiaoyu was ultimately worried about these things. Just like Li Wanye also missed his daughter.


    Tang Xian''s expression was equally serious as he said:


    "The sin lies with the orderers. Li Wanye''s heart is not bad; people care less about whether he is ruthless but more about his stance. I will make him understand that humans and orderers have always been in opposition."


    "My dad... is very stubborn. I have never persuaded him."


    "That may not be a bad thing. Such a person, once they change their understanding, will be firmer than ordinary people."


    Li Xiaoyu hummed softly, as she actually missed Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian too.


    Thinking of the burdens she had carried in the past, which were now borne by Li Xiaonian, as a sister, she still felt uneasy.


    Tang Xian said softly:


    "You will have a father and brothers who love you. I won''t let you become someone like me."


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian left.


    Returning to Baichuan City for just a short day, the city experienced some incredibly miraculous events.


    And the Pyramid, too, was undergoing tremendous changes.


    Within the holy fortress, Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen were dumbfounded as they looked at some data provided by the federation.


    The data showed that the summoning of judgment knights was increasing at a very high rate.


    The appearance of each judgment knight signified the eternal disappearance of an individual from the lower class¡­ or even beyond.


    The problem was that no one was stopping such an evil plan.


    The tragic defeat of the Yuepela Plains campaign made many fortress lords realize that human strength ultimately has its limits, only by dehumanizing those people could there possibly be a fighting chance in the mining areas.


    At the same time¡ªcollecting more high-quality Soul Crystals to unlock the next level.


    It had been some time since the appearance of the judgment knights, and the various human forces had roughly figured out the abilities of the judgment knights.


    A few large fortresses were still patient enough.


    Many fortresses with only six levels, though, placed a large number of orders.


    Though Lin Sen''s abilities paled in comparison to someone of Constantine''s level as a supervisor, understanding some of the Human World''s secrets wasn''t difficult for him.


    As lords of the fortress, both Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe also ordered a few judgment knights¡ªnot very many, just several machines.


    Their purpose was just to know the details of the transactions involving judgment knights.


    And these details made both Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen gasp.


    Right now, Tang Xian was in the highest level of the holy fortress, watching Yu Xiaozhe with a face full of lingering fear as he recounted the chaos of recent days.


    "We originally thought that what we had to pay were just the valuable mines. But when seeing the details of the orders, I realized the world has gone mad.


    ''Raw materials'' are also provided by the purchasers."


    In the office, Yu Xiaozhe''s expression was grave.


    He knew that with each day''s delay, there would be more mechanical bodies in the world and fewer humans.


    Tang Xian naturally understood what ''raw materials'' meant.


    He had been planning for the lower class to rebel from early on.


    He didn''t say much but calmly pulled out some Soul Crystals.


    "These Soul Crystals are from the last trip to the southern islands, where Tang Feiji and Bai Mansheng pilfered them from the Sea God''s palace at the bottom of the deep sea and from the Sea God Cult''s offerings." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen''s eyes widened.


    They had seen Soul Crystals with a purple luster before, but they had never seen so many at once.


    Among them were even a few with an orange luster, which alone could buy any level of Lincoln Fortress.


    "I had no idea you were so wealthy, but what are you going to do with these Soul Crystals?" Lin Sen picked up a Soul Crystal and inspected it closely.


    "Expanding levels. Lincoln Fortress only has six levels, and I want to expand this fortress to the ninth level in one go. These Soul Crystals should be enough."


    Tang Xian''s casually spoken words always had a way of shocking people.


    "Won''t that be too flashy? Opening the seventh level might not attract much attention, but if we open the eighth level before Lincoln Fortress... think about it, people have no idea we have such competitiveness, it will attract a lot of eyes, right?


    As for the ninth level... I can''t even imagine how much shock that would cause."


    Yu Xiaozhe hadn''t expected Tang Xian''s action to be so dramatic.


    Tang Xian said:


    "We must act quickly. Only when the strongest lords within the strongest fortresses speak out for humanity, might people be able to reverse the traditional notions that have formed over hundreds of years."


    Pointing to his own nose with a laugh, Yu Xiaozhe said:


    "The strongest lord you''re talking about wouldn''t be expecting me and old Lin¡ªcriminals wanted by the law¡ªto perform, would you? We''re only suitable for working in the shadows; in the light, we''d bring negative influence."


    Tang Xian shook his head.


    When Lincoln Fortress becomes a ninth-level fortress, it will inevitably shock the world, and at that time, Lincoln Fortress will have the right to speak to the world.


    But the spokesperson must undoubtedly be a chosen person of high prestige.


    Tang Xian laughed and said:


    "It''s not you, it''s my heir, Song Que."


    (Recently, I haven''t been able to shake this feeling of exhaustion, and I dare not promise a full chapter, but I''ll try my best to write a substantial one tomorrow.)

 Chapter 544 - 12: True·Meeting the Parents

    Perhaps Song Que was really an interesting person, honest to a fault, which always stirred within me a desire to feel closer, or perhaps swayed by suggestions from Constantine''s memories, I felt an inclination to cultivate such individuals¡ª


    In any case, my arrangements for Song Que began a very long time ago.


    "Song Que has almost become your tool. Speaking of which, how is he doing now? Has his talent recovered after his trip to the Evolution Zone?" Yu Xiaozhe asked.


    "It''s still too early to tell, but fortunately, there''s plenty to keep us busy before he wakes up."


    Tang Xian began entrusting the details.


    Breaching the eighth and even the ninth level of a fortress was enough to cause a huge commotion in the world. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It''s likely that the topic of conversation for the coming months would revolve around this.


    Mixed within this period would be evaluations of various natures.


    In this process, choosing a media outlet with cooperative value to guide the mainstream group''s opinion was a necessary action.


    Tang Xian entrusted this task to Lin Sen and Bu Jing.


    Shortly after the dragon attack incident, Bu Jing quietly arrived at the Sanctum Fortress.


    Lin Sen and Yu Xiaozhe had also arranged for his identity.


    With top spy Bu Jing involved, the subsequent plans were more secure.


    Bu Jing was responsible for investigating the details, while Lin Sen provided equipment support.


    The most credible media outlets in the Federation were not an option, as they were controlled by the Federation. Such large corporations naturally did not lack exclusive reports, but they wouldn''t broadcast excessively disruptive news without confirmation. Especially, the top news departments were regulated by various institutions within the Pyramid social structure.


    And those smaller media outlets seeking sensationalism were also unsuitable.


    In the matter of exposing the Judgment Knights, for the journalists, it was a gamble with their lives¡ªthere were very few who dared to report the truth for its sake.


    Besides, no one knew the formula for the Judgment Knights.


    Tang Xian eventually selected several media outlets, all of mid to large scale, that were unlikely to get firsthand material, but their reporting content and writing approach offered more unique insights compared to other news agencies.


    He required Bu Jing to make contact with the editors of these media outlets within two weeks, to gather all their information and conduct a risk assessment.


    While he could have sought help from Constantine, Tang Xian chose not to do so.


    His trust in Konstant was not as strong as it was for Song Que and Yu Xiaozhe.


    After making the recent arrangements, Yu Xiaozhe and Tang Xian walked along the streets on the fifth layer.


    The people of the Sanctum Fortress carried on with their daily lives. After the previous pit incident, talent bearers finally accepted that there would no longer be those without talents to rule over them, and they began to organize effective labor.


    Humans can change quite easily because the essence of intelligence is adaptability.


    Therefore, faced with creatures that can''t adapt, humans have a significant advantage.


    This made Tang Xian optimistic about the future.


    "This ring should be returned to you."


    Walking on the streets, admiring the still beautiful and leisurely Sanctum Fortress, Yu Xiaozhe suddenly took off the Lord''s ring from his hand.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brow and asked,


    "Don''t you like being a Lord?"


    "This thing... it''s quite seductive. To be honest, if I hadn''t been dealing with you for a long time, and if I wasn''t a conspiracy theorist myself, I''d have been easily seduced. It''s perhaps not very nice to say this about Lin, but if he wore this ring, chances are he''d defect."


    Yu Xiaozhe''s expression was serious, not at all joking as he spoke.


    Tang Xian did not immediately refuse and took the ring.


    It was a plain platinum ring without any adornment, with a simple and clean design.


    Yet it contained the most cutting-edge technology from the Order Keepers.


    It included data summarizing the resources of all fortress levels, the personnel ratio, security assessment, the overall energy situation of the fortress, remaining energy utilization time, as well as many other information modules like the fortress ranking.


    Of the more than two hundred fortresses in the world, Sanctum Fortress ranked slightly below the middle¡ªa rather inconspicuous position that was easily overlooked.


    Considering all this data, Tang Xian could understand why the ring''s owner would feel a sense of control over the world.


    This gamification of the scope for manipulating the real world certainly can imbue one with a "master''s" delusion of youth.


    For ambitious figures like Li Wanye and Song Gengzhao, they could no longer keep a low profile and naturally wanted to strive for the top of the leaderboard.


    One should never underestimate the system setting of leaderboards.


    Even if they are inherently meaningless, throughout history, people have bled and fought over them.


    However, these were all translated from Zhe to Tang Xian; he himself couldn''t use the ring.


    He was puzzled and said,


    "This ring is basically like an integrated module for managing a fortress, with the highest priority level of functional authority, but is there no anti-theft precaution?"


    Tang remembered giving Yu Xiaozhe this ring; indeed, one could use it simply by putting it on.


    And now, it was the same as Yu Xiaozhe passed it back to him.


    There were no inheritance settings, nor any anti-theft measures in place.


    Tang Xian didn''t believe that the ring lacked such features.


    "When I was exploring the abilities of the ring, I saw warning prompts about binding identity, bloodline detection, and such. Lin and I speculated that once activated, if the ring was lost, others wouldn''t be able to use it," Yu Xiaozhe explained.

 Chapter 545 - 12: True·Meeting the Parents_2

    Tang Xian now understood.


    "So, Zhuo He did not choose to bind with this ring because, being unable to pass the ring''s judgement as a Myriad Beast, it maintained the notion that it was part of the Myriad Beasts. Thus, the ring wouldn''t be taken by humans, and it remained in a ''circulating'' state."


    "Yes, that''s my conjecture. The rings of the other lords are likely different," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows; this was indeed valuable information, but how to use it remained to be seen.


    After chatting idly with Yu Xiaozhe for a while, Tang Xian had gotten a clear idea of the ring''s functions.


    The sanctuary fortress only had six levels, and the ring''s powers were limited. Many functions were greyed out, and some couldn''t even be revealed.


    Tang Xian asked:


    "If you were Li Wanye, what do you think would be the bottom line for trading judgement knights?"


    "Of course, it would be that the judgement knights traded away could not become obstacles to himself," Yu Xiaozhe replied. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Exactly, some functions of the ring are invisible. We won''t know some secrets until Song Que wakes up. Maybe Li Wanye''s ambition is greater than we thought."


    Tang Xian thought if all the lords in the world suddenly found out that the highest authority over the judgement knights they bought was still with Li Wanye, those knights would instantly go from hot property to thorns in the side.


    "So, you want to give this fortress to Song Que too? Why not to the Second Miss or yourself? Do you really like men that much?" Yu Xiaozhe teased with a laugh.


    Tang Xian gave him a look and said:


    "I was already detected by the judgement knight''s rays on the eighth floor of the thirty-ninth fortress for harboring Eden blood. So like Zhuo He, I can only keep this ring in a ''droppable'' state. Moreover, this ring can''t match me."


    "Song Que probably won''t have this issue. He is a pure and highly compatible Chosen one of the Order. It''s especially fitting for him to become the true master of this fortress.


    As for Li Xiaoyu, the power I''ve given her is absolutely greater than Song Que''s. It''s just that you haven''t yet realized the importance of Baichuan City," Tang Xian said.


    Yu Xiaozhe pondered for a moment and realized that was true. One subconsciously thought that a fortress was far more valuable than a derelict city.


    But what if that city could become the sole cradle of civilization for humanity in the future?


    Tang Xian handed the ring back, saying:


    "Keep it for a few more days until Song Que comes to take over."


    "Then what shall we do in these few days?"


    "You and Bu Jing, Lin Sen continue to build momentum. I''m going to the thirty-ninth fortress."


    Yu Xiaozhe did not ask further.


    Although the turmoil that would rock the world from the sanctuary fortress had not yet come, he could already foresee some situations.


    Especially facing the habits that had been ingrained in people''s hearts for hundreds of years after the fact.


    Therefore, no amount of preparation could be considered excessive.


    After discussing some details with Yu Xiaozhe, Tang Xian did not stay any longer in the sanctuary fortress and set off for the thirty-ninth fortress.


    ...


    ...


    The thirty-ninth fortress.


    After the conflict in the Yuepela Plains, the orders for judgement knights kept increasing.


    These days, Li Wanye had also been very busy.


    He seemed to have aged ten years, and even though his sons were helping him with a lot of work, there were many things he couldn''t entrust to anyone else, and he had to do them himself.


    Most of the time, Li Wanye was still working in his study on the sixth floor of Li Mansion.


    Only when dealing with extremely confidential matters would he go to the eighth floor.


    He met with important clients on the seventh floor.


    Today, Li Wanye was on the sixth floor, working on orders for judgement knights, the business he cared about the most these days.


    To the average person, the Dragon Assault incident was just a spectacle. They were unaware of the existence of the evolutionary zone and only felt panic, thinking that the inside of the fortress was no longer safe.


    To Li Wanye, the fall of the evolutionary zone was an opportunity for the exploding sales of judgement knights.


    Once there were no longer experimental subjects to compare with superheroes, the only way to enhance the fortress''s armed strength was to buy judgement knights.


    The reason for the abundant supply of the judgement knights was known only to Li Wanye himself.


    The world was too scattered.


    Even with the threat of the Myriad Beasts and despite being unified under Order, it was still too fragmented.


    Li Wanye''s ambition was far greater than people imagined.


    The mass supply of judgment knights, almost everywhere across the world''s great fortresses.


    People thought the usage rights of these semi-mechanical beings had been transferred with the trade agreements.


    But the truth was known to only Li Wanye.


    Originally, Li Wanye thought that in three months, Lincoln Fortress would be able to find a calamity-level boss creature crystal sufficient to unlock the eighth layer.


    Only, recently Myriad Beasts Realm had become dangerously unpredictable.


    According to reports from the commanders of the thirty-nine fortresses, following the end of the turf war on Yuepela Plains, Myriad Beasts Realm seemed to have become wary of humans.


    The monsters that inhabited the red zones were extremely elusive.


    In the past few months, Lincoln Fortress had not found the last crystal.


    On the contrary, it was Song Gengzhao''s side that obtained a calamity-level boss creature''s crystal. It''s said that Song Que miraculously led a group to slay a calamity-level boss.


    This series of changes made it impossible for Lincoln Fortress to catch up with the thirty-nine fortresses any longer.


    It also allowed the thirty-nine fortresses to accumulate wealth beyond imagination, and the capital to control the entire world.


    In Li Wanye''s study, one could see no draft plans regarding federal schemes.


    But Li Wanye''s inner thoughts were astonishing¡ªruling the federation.


    To centralize this overly fragmented world into one will.


    What he intended to do was to lead humanity, in accordance with the will of the Obedients, to build a new home in the mining area.


    However, this lord of boundless ambition did not want to stop at being a lord; he wanted to become the apex of power.


    ...


    The quietness of the study was abruptly shattered as Li Wanye, who was pondering some details, suddenly started in surprise.


    "A plan for a monarchy system? I must admit, when I first came across video games in my second year of study, I felt that the hierarchy of this world resembled Age of Empires. But at least in Age of Empires, technology and civilization were ascending progressively. What you want to do is a regression of civilization?"


    Li Wanye had seen Tang Xian. After Tang Xian''s identity as a demon child was exposed, he had investigated much about Tang Xian.


    The information was very detailed, source from a daughter of his with an almost pathological desire for Tang Xian.


    But still, Li Wanye did not truly understand what kind of man Tang Xian was.


    Not until Tang Xian appeared suddenly from the darkness did he realize he had still underestimated the young man.


    "You have quite the nerve," Li Wanye quickly calmed down.


    "And you are no less bold. You have the courage that matches your ambition," Tang Xian said as he brought a chair and sat opposite Li Wanye without ceremony, as if he were talking to an old friend.


    He looked at Li Wanye indifferently and said:


    "Judgment knights are spread all over the world. If I''m not mistaken, once the eighth layer fortress is activated, the functionality of the ring should include the ultimate control authority over the judgment knights, right?"


    Li Wanye did not answer Tang Xian''s question but instead said:


    "How did you get here? Who helped you, Li Zheng or Xiaonian?"


    "I simply took away your daughter. There''s no need to act with the posture of someone with PTSD. I''m not interested in your sons, even if a bunch of men are interested when your younger son Li Xiaonian dresses up as a girl."


    After a pause, Tang Xian continued:


    "I am the demon child of Eden. It''s quite normal for me to receive one or two abilities that can change my physique, not to mention I have the most skilled and adept assassin at my side. So entering Li Mansion, your study, is not that difficult. Including if I wanted to kill you. It would all be very easy."


    "What do you want to do?" Li Wanye remained calm and composed.


    He completely skipped over the idea of mobilizing guards or calling for help.


    He didn''t even touch the ring, nor secretly summon the guard.


    Because it was all unnecessary. From the moment Tang Xian mentioned the ring, he knew he had no secrets left in front of this young man.


    The man who could produce Li Xiaoyu certainly wasn''t a fool. Tang Xian liked dealing with such people and said:


    "I want to propose a deal to you."


    "What kind of deal?"


    "About how to allocate the human world after leaving the Obedients."


    (There''s more to come. The content has too many breakpoints and isn''t suitable for a large chapter, so it''s been split up and will be posted in two chapters.)

 Chapter 546 - 13: The Great Demon Kings Negotiation Skills

    Such a conversation between two people seemed very odd, yet it appeared that it was time for this talk to happen between them.


    Tang Xian had known about Li Wanye since he was very young.


    At that time, Li Zheng was still a child, and Li Wanye was in his golden years, implementing various reforms at the fortress.


    The charitable projects sponsored by the Li family were genuinely helpful to people.


    But Tang Xian did not harbor any positive feelings for Li Wanye because of these deeds.


    After all, the significance of charity often doesn''t lie in the act itself. But for the beneficiaries, all these efforts were meaningful.


    So Tang Xian neither denied Li Wanye''s merits nor overlooked his faults.


    Merit and fault cannot offset each other.


    Most of the time, as the old saying goes, "Business is business, and trade should focus on trade."


    Tang Xian was willing to give Li Wanye a chance to cooperate.


    Though Li Wanye detested Tang Xian extremely, he still dealt with him as if he were entertaining a guest.


    Facing the Eden demon child, he did not exhibit any hostile behavior.


    All of it was meaningless. No matter how fast the guards could arrive, they could not be faster than the Eden demon child if he decided to kill him.


    Li Wanye was prepared as a hostage and had the demeanor and confidence befitting of business negotiations.


    The two skipped over the initial pleasantries and probing.


    "Why should I do business with you?"


    "If the correct interpretation of that question is: What right do I have to propose such a business? Then I must explain that I might be a bit wealthier than you think."


    "Money is just a number to me. Do you think I would covet your money?"


    Hearing such a well-known line, Tang Xian laughed lightly, saying,


    "I believe that the person who can say that line should understand the role of money the best and hope that this number grows as much as possible.


    I certainly do not intend to buy a lord of the strongest fortress with money. I just wanted to inform you that I am quite wealthy, and what I can offer you might not be less than what the Pyramid system can."


    Li Wanye mocked as if hearing a joke.


    "My Li family, for generations, many patriarchs have survived within such a system, and with the efforts of our ancestors, have attained the top status in this world. As for me, who has inherited all of this, I will take our glory to the next level. Tang Xian, on what basis?"


    Tang Xian had to admit that he was, after all, considered a monster, even a devil, in the eyes of the world.


    Including this most powerful lord before him, that is how he should be perceived. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet the reaction from Li Wanye somewhat surprised Tang Xian, with a little awe at his boldness.


    After a brief consideration, Tang Xian understood Li Wanye''s confidence.


    It seemed that he had spoken too softly.


    He shook his head slightly and sighed,


    "Because I am the Eden demon child, because I know the secret of your Knight of Judgment and can change your status.


    I could even kill you right now. What is the Li family worth?


    Li Xiaonian, Li Zheng, they would all have to die.


    I infiltrated this place, but when I leave, I can do so blatantly."


    Tang Xian''s words had a touch of helplessness, which made his arrogant speech seem all the more real.


    Finally, Li Wanye was moved and had not anticipated the young man''s supposed ''business talk'' to escalate to such intense threats so swiftly.


    He said coldly,


    "I might die, but you won''t live to leave this place either."


    Tang Xian''s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp light flashing within them as he spoke in a grave voice,


    "It seems I should properly introduce myself formally, lest you underestimate me.


    The Masked Chopper Hero is me; the one who abducted your daughter and destroyed a bunch of Knights of Judgment is also me.


    I am the one who saved all the hunters at the hunting festival, the one who single-handedly defeated a calamity-level boss creature at the Yuepela Plains. The Lincoln Fortress dragon attack was also my doing.


    To these Pyramid fortresses, I come and go as I please.


    These so-called pinnacles of power, if I find them disagreeable, I will kill them. If you think your Knights of Judgment can stop me, feel free to try."


    In Li Wanye''s eyes, Tang Xian had always been somewhat arrogant, but never unrestrained.


    But today''s domineering talk, this innate disdain that came from deep within, shook Li Wanye to his core.


    Only then did he truly realize that he was not facing the Tang Xian who was intelligent but lacking talent but a strongest creature that could put Orderers on alert.


    For Tang Xian, this was also the first time he spoke with such a "Long Aotian" tone.


    Quite exhilarating, although Tang Xian still had to maintain the persona of Tang Feiji, that foolish dragon.


    Judging by Li Wanye''s expression, it seemed quite effective.


    Indeed, I have been too modest usually.


    Li Wanye fell silent for a full minute before he slowly said,


    "You won''t hurt the Li family members. Li Zheng and Xiaonian are your friends, and Yu has been infatuated with you since she was a child.


    Despite what you''ve claimed, your actions still follow the heroism script.


    You don''t harm those who are good to you.


    That''s why there was the matter of rescuing the underclass blacksmith shop owner from jail.


    That''s why you saved humanity and even took down the Evolution Zone.


    These deeds should be of no benefit to you as the Eden demon child, yet you did them regardless.


    Ha, I indeed miscalculated. I did not expect that you, as the Eden demon child, would possess humanity.


    So don''t bother with these tactics with me. If you really wanted to kill me, why would you even bother threatening me? You can''t scare me, Tang Xian."

 Chapter 547 - 13: The Great Demon Kings Negotiation Skills_2

    The current honesty level is only twenty-five. Utterances are mixed with truth and falsehood. Tang Xian, looking at Li Wanye, guessed this wretched old man was probably truly scared by him.


    But being a lord who had experienced major events, he began to analyze his own behavior, wanting to overthrow Tang Xian''s words.


    He truly hoped Tang Xian was as human as he claimed because that, in turn, would mean Tang Xian had weaknesses.


    An old fox is still an old fox.


    Tang Xian curled his lip and said,


    "You know, it''s quite interesting to create a public image to deceive others.


    That''s why I chose to wear a mask.


    This face of Tang Xian is the child demon of Eden.


    With the mask on, I am the righteous Masked Chopper Hero.


    People will remember the various horrors of the child demon of Eden.


    They will also sing praises of the Masked Chopper Hero for saving humanity, friends, and fighting against evil forces numerous times.


    You see, I''ve fooled you, haven''t I? Remember how the Stele described me? The child demon of Eden is naturally cruel. If you listen to what the Order says, then you shouldn''t be questioning.


    As for benefits, saving people always brings benefits. If their value dead is greater than their value alive, trust me, I''ll definitely kill them."


    Tang Xian''s expression was somewhat ferocious as he said:


    "I just need a spokesperson who can speak up for me, an Angel Envoy.


    Just like the Order puts collars on you dogs, if you''re unwilling to recognize a new master, then I''ll butcher you and choose Song Gengzhao. If he''s also unwilling, then I''ll switch to someone else."


    Li Wanye stiffened.


    Tang Xian said coldly:


    "I''ve never considered any of you ants as my friends, be it Li Xiaonian or Li Zheng or perhaps Li Xiaoyu? They are all nothing more than chess pieces.


    If they are useful, you will get what you deserve, occupying the most critical positions on the chessboard. If they aren''t useful, there''s a whole bunch of new pieces waiting to take the stage.


    What does it matter if the Li family is wiped out?"


    These comments, utterly devoid of emotion and seemingly filled with arrogance from the soul, started to shake Li Wanye.


    "I''ve given your daughter enough power, but if she doesn''t obey, I can replace her at any time.


    Li Wanye, I''m giving you one last chance. Why not listen to my plan, and then decide whether to continue as the leader of the Human World and the hero who saves humanity¡ªor join the Li family in their downfall."


    The devil.


    Even Li Wanye, who had seen many ruthless and cruel people, couldn''t help but feel fear when he saw Tang Xian''s eyes, devoid of any human emotion.


    In just a few words, Tang Xian had dismantled Li Wanye''s psychological defenses.


    His index finger trembling slightly, he said,


    "Speak."


    "Very good. You see, this is what doing business is all about, isn''t it?"


    Tang Xian revealed a friendly smile.


    He knew his routine of pretending to be a demon lord had worked.


    It was these utterly villainous words that held more sway in conversations with people like Li Wanye.


    Tang Xian gave himself a nine out of ten for his acting skill, deducting one point to keep from becoming proud: S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I need you to immediately stop all manufacturing of the Judgment Knights and expose their secrets."


    Li Wanye did not speak. His eyes moved slightly.


    Tang Xian sneered:


    "You''d better not harbor any naive thoughts that whatever I destroy represents something I fear.


    The Judgment Knights pose no threat to me. The reason I destroy them is simply because a king doesn''t wish for his kingdom''s population to be too scarce.


    Listen carefully to what I''m about to say next. You can treat these words as the temptations of a devil. But a smart person should know that gods and devils differ only in their perspectives."


    "I''m listening."


    "The Pyramid is nothing but the Order''s prison for enslaving humans.


    They use humans to transport energy from the mines and at the same time, learn and analyze human behavioral patterns to improve themselves, hoping to evolve mechanized life forms.


    Gifted and non-gifted are just the Order''s tools to divide humanity.


    They are also means to shackle humanity. I''m not afraid to tell you that outside the Pyramid, there is no dangerous radiation; the environment is even more suitable for humans than the mines.


    Even within the mines, the seven-day limit on death is another of the Order''s methods to constrain humanity."


    Even for Li Wanye, hearing such remarks, regardless of their truth, would be shocking because of how subversive they were.


    Tang Xian knew to persuade Li Wanye, he had to talk about many details. He simply laid out the framework.


    "Rings, the hierarchical system, or talents, these are all tricks to keep humans enthralled by miracles.


    I have information about the Order leading droves of Judgment Knights to destroy the Human World.


    If you need this information, I can share it with you.


    Li Wanye, you should understand that I have no need to lie to you. Since we''re doing business, I''ll also make clear my sincerity.


    The Li family''s future remains at the pinnacle, still the supreme Li family, manufacturing Judgment Knights, you''ve killed countless.


    Because history will call it ''the necessary cost and sacrifices for humanity to change its fate''.


    The notion that war necessitates death has led you to unabashedly produce a large number of Judgment Knights.


    But what if I were to tell you that from beginning to end, you never had control over the Judgment Knights?


    Your ring contains the power to control the Judgment Knights.


    But how do you know your ring isn''t a defective product? Perhaps the ''The One Ring'' is truly in the hands of the Order. That''s not an unlikely possibility, is it?"

 Chapter 548 - 13: The Great Demon Kings Negotiation Skills_3

    "The future you believe in will never come to pass, and all your efforts to strengthen your own power are just crafting a bridal gown for the orchestrators behind the scenes."


    Face to face with Li Wanye, Tang Xian''s words were a mix of truth and fiction, but the words he just spoke were no lie.


    In Tang Xian''s view, if the orchestrators truly existed, they were indeed like the shadowy overlords commonly found in bottom-tier network novels.


    Li Wanye''s eyes widened as Tang Xian''s words made him feel as if the power he thought he possessed had all but turned into a mirage.


    Even if those words might very well be false. But to those who chase after power, even the mere possibility of losing it can instill deep fear.


    Tang Xian knew he had already persuaded him halfway.


    He wasn''t in a rush.


    "And you? Do you desire nothing from humankind?" After a long silence, Li Wanye finally spoke.


    "I am different; I hold what the orchestrators desire most. I am the ''entity'' they have always wanted to become. I don''t need to evolve by analyzing human behavior.


    My evolution¡­ comes from killing.


    And the most excellent and powerful genes, in another world, so indeed I am not an enemy of humankind. But I can be, if you remain obstinately ignorant."


    The atmosphere turned tense and grim.


    Tang Xian rhythmically tapped on Li Wanye''s desk.


    After a long while, Li Wanye said:


    "What exactly must be done?"


    "I must remind you, you can''t lie in front of me."


    Aside from that centuries-old white deer, Tang Xian truly hadn''t met anyone who could conceal their true thoughts in front of him.


    Li Wanye said:


    "I am conducting business with you. I know honesty is paramount in business, especially when one is at a disadvantage."


    Tang Xian was pleased with Li Wanye''s honesty.


    Of course, what pleased him most was the honesty rate which was over 40.


    He calmly began discussing various details with Li Wanye.


    The more Li Wanye listened, the more alarmed he became.


    This was indeed a colossal plan that could lead humanity out of Pyramid, and its reach was extremely long-term.


    Throughout their conversation, Li Wanye''s concern was whether the human retreat would encounter obstacles from the orchestrators'' forces.


    But Tang Xian had taken all these issues into account as well.


    The two men talked in detail for a full hour, during which Li Wanye felt somewhat dazed.


    Tang Xian seemed to be considering everything for the sake of humanity, almost trying to minimize all losses.


    Such a person... seemed somehow different from the overbearing demon king he had been moments before.


    ...


    ...


    Time flew by quickly, and Tang Xian''s plan was to first eliminate the class disparity between the gifted and non-gifted. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for the plan to move all of humanity to Baichuan City, he hadn''t even considered it.


    When leaving, Tang Xian swaggered out as expected.


    Only after Tang Xian had been gone for quite some time did Li Wanye let out a long sigh.


    He sat there quietly, still appearing as dignified as ever, only his back was already soaked with cold sweat.


    The fear in his eyes betrayed the dread in his heart.


    But this matter was far from over.


    After Tang Xian left the Thirty-Nine Stronghold, Li Wanye could no longer focus on other matters. The news and plans brought by Tang Xian were too shocking.


    He sat alone in his study, unmoving for a long time.


    Only when the door to the study was knocked on again did he slowly lift his head, looking puzzled at the visitor.


    "Sorry to disturb you. To be visited twice in one day by uninvited guests must be quite tiresome. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Siren."


    (Planned for ten to twenty thousand words... but only got to eight thousand, my apologies, consider it one update owed)

 Chapter 549 - 14: The True Successor of Constantine

    Li Wanye had to admit that the man before him was exceedingly handsome; even accustomed to seeing a face like Li Xiaonian''s, the unique allure of Siren''s beauty still took him by surprise.


    Words like captivating and elegant seem somewhat inappropriate when used to describe a man, but for Siren, these terms were quite fitting.


    In the entertainment industry, there are many beautiful men and women, but the financial backers behind the scenes often appear very ordinary, even to the point of being corpulent and pot-bellied.


    Siren was different.


    As the head of the world''s largest entertainment company, the owner of nearly monopolistic industry resources, Siren himself was an exceedingly handsome man.


    He would attend various events as well, where some might think he was an upcoming star, but they would soon change their mind.


    When his gaze fell on anyone, that person couldn''t help but feel ashamed and inferior.


    Most of the time, he wore a black tailcoat, like an elf waiting to perform or some master entertainer from a royal court. Today was no exception.


    "Number Seven is a difficult man to control, I must admit, we all underestimated him.


    It seems fate is also on his side; I never thought that one day he would come with an army to oppose the world that bred him."


    Siren seemed to have known Li Wanye for a long time, with a bewitching sorrow in his eyes, as if recounting a beautiful yet misguided past.


    "Compared to the rest of them, I actually sympathize with Number Seven. Though bullying him is indeed an interesting thing, who doesn''t have a less than perfect past?


    It''s a shame, though, I can''t become friends with him. Even if I detest others as he does. But having tasted the wine of power, how can one settle for the blandness of an ordinary life?"


    Li Wanye remained silent throughout, feeling as if the man before him, who seemed to have stepped out of a fairyland, commanded everything around to listen quietly as soon as he spoke.


    "Uranus, Xi He, Ju Mang, Ganesa... their codenames are all of the highest gods, while Constantine is an exorcist, and only I represent the Siren, ostensibly the odd one out among them.


    Misfits should attract and resonate with one another. Unfortunately, poor Number Seven is unwilling to accept my invitation."


    As if completely forgetting the purpose of his visit, Siren began reminiscing about the past in front of someone he had met for the first time.


    "Why did he leave me, my poor Prometheus? After he left, my life became exceedingly dull.


    Learning that he is still alive and has even eliminated Xi He is truly exciting. Mr. Li Wanye, do you understand the joy of a long-awaited reunion?


    Ah... but alas, I am not yet able to meet him, at least I should prepare a gift for our encounter."


    If Tang Xian''s acting was about highlighting realism,


    then Siren''s acting was about emphasizing the extravagant.


    Li Wanye, looking at Siren, who had plunged into sorrow just a second ago, couldn''t help thinking that this person might have lost a dear friend.


    But in the next second, Siren''s expression twisted into something grotesque:


    "He really should make up for these twenty years, compensating for my dull life that he owes!"


    Bloodshot eyes filled Siren''s gaze, and the ferocious look, even on such a handsome face, appeared terrifying and sinister.


    Li Wanye remained silent, as if his spirit was being steered by Siren.


    "I''m sorry to have frightened you, Mr. Li Wanye. As the greatest supporter of humanity, you''ve given me a powerful army. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Golden Knight Judicators and even the higher ranks like the Chiliarch can no longer be created. They belong to a non-renewable resource.


    That requires a massive amount of Soul Crystal. We encourage humans to hunt in the mines and grant them power, but even so, the progress is too slow.


    Only during the battle for true unification of that world, when the gods awaken, do we deploy these forces.


    But not for the Bronze Knights. Honestly, I didn''t expect you could create so many Bronze Knights in such a short time.


    It''s remarkable. Your emotions are not very stable, poor Number Seven must have threatened you with a harsh stance, right?"


    Siren''s gaze became gentle again, the previously twisted monstrous visage as if it never existed.


    "Don''t worry, he''s not a true Eden magus child, but an authentic Demigod, the weakest among us. Although he received the devil''s gift, Eden has been destroyed, and killing another remnant is not too difficult a task."


    Li Wanye was able to understand Siren''s words, as Tang Xian had also mentioned the existence beyond a lord when discussing details with him.


    Yet, strangely enough, his thoughts couldn''t drift to other matters, unable to calculate against this young man before him.


    Li Wanye faintly realized that his spirit seemed to be under control.


    He wanted to resist, but had no way to begin.


    Siren''s mouth curved into an amused smile, sensing the anomaly as well:


    "You truly are an interesting human."


    With only their voice, the Sirens could bewitch others, and this was just the most basic of Siren''s abilities; his combat methods were far more powerful.


    But in the mines where no one could use their talents, this simple ability was enough to easily bewitch a lord.


    Even if that lord was Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye even felt his memories being probed.

 Chapter 550 - 14: The True Successor of Constantine_2

    "My loyal servant, regardless of what Number Seven has said to you, you need not pay it any heed,"


    In the future, you will be the master of not only the Bronze Judgment Knights but also the Silver Judgment Knights.


    All the fortresses of the human world will kneel at your feet, submissive to your military might.


    You needn''t worry; although your ring is but a defective product, as your master, I will give you absolute support. As long as you remain loyal to me, how could I possibly strip you of your power?"


    Li Wanye''s consciousness, jolted by shock, began to clear slightly.


    He suddenly realized that maybe this man... was one of the Orderlies mentioned by Tang Xian in detail.


    But as Li Wanye thought this, Siren seemed to have glimpsed these thoughts and excitedly looked at Li Wanye:


    "Interesting. So he has already mentioned us to you."


    Li Wanye wanted to stop thinking, not knowing why, and if this man truly was a Son of Order, then he should have been his reinforcement against the demon child that day.


    Yet deep in Li Wanye''s consciousness, he still felt a hint of fear toward Siren.


    This fear was not inferior to that toward Tang Xian; Siren''s appearance even confirmed some of Tang Xian''s statements.


    He desperately tried to resist, to become more lucid. No matter how much he concentrated, he could not prevent the collapse and dispersal of his consciousness.


    For a full ten minutes, Li Wanye felt as if the dimension of time had changed, as if he was enduring an interminable and severe wait.


    It was all over, this feeling of being thoroughly seen through was even worse than when Tang Xian watched him.


    As if there were no more secrets left to hide.


    Siren chuckled:


    "You needn''t worry, it is perfectly normal for mortals to be beguiled by demons. You are my most capable servant, though this is our first encounter, you have ultimately strengthened my army. For this merit, you may live on.


    But in the future, do not ever waver in your faith again."


    Li Wanye looked somewhat dazed, the number one overlord of the human world, in the presence of a high and lofty Orderly, was like a doll with a collapsed consciousness and a stiff expression.


    He was very satisfied with this probing. About to leave, he stopped in his tracks and said softly:


    "The information you provided this time was good, the traitor among us, it turns out, is indeed that woman. As a reward, I will not intervene in whatever you want to do to the other fortress lords."


    ...


    ...


    The mining area, March Marsh lakeside cottage.


    The joys of life are not always leisurely, for the leisure found amidst busyness is always the most delightful.


    After leaving Fortress Thirty-Nine, Tang Xian directly went to the mining area.


    Of these days, perhaps the most relaxed one for him was the day he took a walk with Li Xiaoyu.


    Today he was fishing, something he hadn''t done in a long time. It seemed he had returned to being the lazy, carefree Tang Xian of the past.


    After gaining the ability "Taste the Marrow" from the gluttonous Taotie, his skills in the Human World were considered top-notch.


    With the feedback from his sense of smell and precise shooting, especially with guidance from top assassins like Akasi, infiltrating the Li family was not difficult for Tang Xian.


    Who would have thought that Li Xiaonian''s sixth-floor access card would bring in an assassin?


    He did not visit Li Xiaonian; there was something odd about that whole family.


    The sister was a sickly charmer, the brother was obsessed with his sister, the father was ambitious, and it was the brother who was the most normal among them.


    Tang Xian actually had an unperformed line concerning the Li family.


    He didn''t mind killing Li Wanye.


    If one day in the future, Li Wanye becomes an obstacle on the path to freeing humanity from the chains of the Orderlies,


    Today''s recruitment was mainly because of Li Xiaoyu.


    This was a troublesome matter. Killing Li Wanye and directly implementing the backup plan, that is, promoting Song Que as the primary plan, would make the process more convoluted and grand, but the effect would be better.


    But considering Li Xiaoyu would probably be very upset, Tang Xian still chose to preserve the Li family.


    The outcome was unpredictable, but at least he would be worthy of Li Xiaoyu.


    Then he thought, an excellent bait can attract more than one fish.


    So he made some slight changes.


    The fishing rod trembled lightly, a breeze blew by, and the autumn sun fell on Tang Xian''s face, everything was pleasant and beautiful.


    He gently reeled in his line, and a plump, wriggling green-scaled fish was hooked.


    Tang Xian said with a smile:


    "This really is a big catch."


    ...


    ...


    Baichuan City.


    Song Que opened his eyes once again and looked at the ceiling of his bedroom, his expression one of confusion and shock.


    Everything before his eyes seemed to slow down, accompanied by a sense of extreme disarray. Even though everything in his vision followed its normal course,


    Scenes from several seconds in the future manifested in his sea of consciousness.


    Song Que was somewhat unaccustomed to this for a moment.


    Afterward, he instinctively spoke:


    "Please come in." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmm, I just woke up."


    A few seconds after Song Que''s words fell, there came a knock on the door.


    It was Qiao Shanshan.


    Hearing the movement next door, she thought it was Lingyi caring for Song Que and wanted to help, so she asked:


    "May I come in?"


    Then she discovered the door was open, and as she saw Song Que thoughtfully staring at the ceiling, Qiao Shanshan exclaimed with joy:


    "Ah! You''re awake?"


    Song Que was slightly startled.


    He suddenly realized that he had responded to a question that would only arise several seconds later.


    The world seemed to have a delay.


    "Hmm, I just woke up."


    He repeated the words he had already said.


    Then he instinctively wanted to say:


    "No need to trouble yourself, I''m not hungry right now."


    But this time, he adapted and refrained from uttering these words.


    "Are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?"


    "No need to trouble yourself, I''m not hungry right now."


    Song Que began to get used to it.


    And he soon thought of the reason.


    This was the serum of the most powerful Son of Order, these powerful genes that made him somewhat lose control, causing him to unconsciously use the Balance Eye.


    Without the usual burden, he easily saw the future a few seconds ahead.


    Not only that, Song Que even felt his computational abilities and memory had improved.


    The dust in the air, the flowing currents¡ªthey became several times clearer than before, these minute changes that were hard to detect.


    Even before his talent had disappeared, even at the peak moment in the mining area, Song Que had never had such a wondrous sensation.


    He took a deep breath.


    Then he closed the Balance Eye.


    This ability, which in the past could only be activated during battle, was now as natural and easy as breathing.


    With the deactivation of the Balance Eye, the future visions in his mind finally ceased.


    The "lag" between consciousness and reality disappeared.


    "Do you feel any discomfort?"


    As a doctor, Qiao Shanshan was naturally concerned about Song Que; the injection of the serum could easily trigger mutations.


    Tang Suoye was one such example.


    Song Que shook his head slightly, smiling as he said:


    "No discomfort... It''s been twice that you''ve taken care of me after I overworked myself, I''m really grateful."


    Qiao Shanshan''s face turned red, and with a clear cough, she said:


    "I''m a doctor, it''s my duty."


    "Miss Qiao, please go about your business, I''m already fine here."


    "Ah, I''m not busy! Whether there''s a problem or not, it''s not up to you to decide, it''s up to me as the doctor."


    Song Que was taken aback, then nodded his head.


    Qiao Shanshan directly grabbed Song Que''s left hand and began to take his pulse.


    As an honest person, Song Que naturally didn''t think that Doctor Qiao was taking advantage of her professional position to take liberties. He obediently and docilely let Qiao Shanshan hold his hand.


    Though taking liberties, Qiao Shanshan still sincerely did her job.


    She was somewhat surprised¡ªSong Que''s pulse was too healthy.


    Of course, this was a good thing, but just that morning, she had examined him and he didn''t have such vigorous vitality.


    "There''s no problem, right?"


    "No problem, how are you feeling now?"


    Song Que looked at his right hand, pensive.


    He suddenly understood what kind of monster that Constantine had been in those days.


    He had originally thought that the transplanted talent could never compare to his own innate one, but only now did he realize what a valuable gift he had accepted.


    He quietly said:


    "Right now... I feel very powerful."

 Chapter 551 - 15: The Cultivation Plan for the Children of the New Order

    Qiao Shanshan really wanted to say, "The sky has cleared, the rain has stopped, and you think you can handle it again," to take a jab at Song Que.


    Of course, it was not that she doubted Song Que''s ability, but rather that women often do not like men doing more dangerous things because they have the power to do so.


    And Song Que was absolutely the kind of person who would forcibly shoulder greater responsibilities as his strength grew.


    "As a doctor, there''s indeed nothing wrong with your current physical condition, in fact, it''s abnormally good. But this anomaly is also worth observing, so you still need to come here for check-ups on time," Qiao Shanshan said earnestly.


    Song Que did not agree, but instead asked,


    "Where did Tang go? He should have left me some instructions, right?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Shanshan sighed, thinking to herself that it was just as she expected¡ªthese people just loved courting death.


    "He''s with the Second Miss. There are arrangements for subsequent actions left by Tang Xian, and the Second Miss is also waiting for you. I''ll go inform her."


    "Miss Qiao, I can go by myself."


    Qiao Shanshan was always strict with her patients, but looking at Song Que''s face, she just couldn''t bring herself to be harsh and said,


    "When the Second Miss decided to send someone to rescue you, she said one thing: our every action must prioritize self-preservation above all. Without this premise, all actions knowingly taken in vain are foolish.


    You can''t expect to drag yourself back injured every time and wait for treatment. Death is not an illness; it cannot be cured."


    Song Que was slightly taken aback and after a few seconds of silence, he sincerely said,


    "I understand. I will remember your words."


    Of course, Qiao Shanshan was a hundred times reluctant to see Song Que leave.


    But she also knew that Tang Xian and the Second Miss were working on big things, and in these events, Song Que was bound to play a crucial role.


    ...


    ...


    After changing into his usual clothes, Song Que found that Baichuan City had undergone tremendous changes.


    It was not just the changes that manpower had brought about, but rather as if time had flowed backward, making the whole city seem less old.


    He quickly went to find Li Xiaoyu.


    Compared to him, Li Xiaoyu seemed much calmer and was not surprised to see Song Que had recovered.


    When he inquired about the plans left by Tang Xian, it was instead Song Que who was surprised.


    Because Li Xiaoyu did not mention any follow-up arrangements from Tang Xian, only that Song Que should wait.


    Nothing in this world comes for free, and hesitation is useless.


    Tang Xian had left him a great gift, and Song Que was sure that it would be necessary in subsequent actions. Yet now, he was just waiting.


    He quickly accepted the arrangement and, after talking with Li Xiaoyu, Song Que set off for Akasi''s place.


    Most of the time, Akasi was responsible for patrolling Baichuan City. His speed was incredibly fast, always keeping vigilant from the shadows.


    Even though Baichuan City did not seem to have any danger.


    But today, Akasi was at the blacksmith shop.


    Because of Li Xiaoyu''s dismal cooking and being too busy, and with Tang Xian often absent, Akasi realized the importance of improving his culinary skills at the request of Tang Suoye and Tang Xiaojiu.


    So he started to exchange culinary knowledge with Liu Buding.


    Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop was as bustling as ever. His craftsmanship was exquisite, and with the arrival of a smuggled furnace from the Sanctuary Fortress, his efficiency in crafting tools skyrocketed.


    The rise of Baichuan City was also closely related to these little folks.


    After making some inquiries, Song Que went to the blacksmith shop to find Akasi.


    Akasi had a very good impression of this young master of the Song Family and was originally kneading dough. He stopped and smiled,


    "That''s pretty quick."


    "Same for you, Akasi. There is something I would like to ask of you," Song Que got straight to the point.


    "We''re all our own people, no need to be so polite. Just tell me what you need."


    "I want to spar with you," Song Que said seriously.


    Akasi was startled, he certainly hadn''t expected such a request from Song Que.


    "Spar? For what reason?"


    "There''s something strange that I need to test out in battle."


    Akasi still did not quite understand, but he nodded and said,


    "Alright, I don''t mind. But I have to warn you, after the last battle in the Evolution Zone with Xi, my speed has increased quite a bit."


    Song Que nodded.


    Even the most talented individuals would be dreaming if they thought they could defeat Akasi.


    Aside from Akasi, the only ones left who could test his secondary abilities were the dragon and the fox.


    Regardless of how confident Song Que was in himself, he would not entertain the idea of "sparring" with a cataclysmic creature¡ªtheir version of sparring was likely to be lethal for him.


    Akasi did not ask further, happy to have someone to stretch his muscles. Tang Suoye couldn''t be hit, and Tang Xiaojiu wasn''t a match.


    If Song Que could perform on a level comparable to an experimental subject, it would be a decent practice partner.


    The two quickly arrived at a parking lot in Baichuan City.


    Song Que dared not be careless. A flash of gold swept across his pupils, and in that instant, he saw several seconds into the future.


    He was in a state of being suppressed.


    This suppression was because Akasi''s speed was simply too fast.


    Even with foresight, his body could not keep up with his speed.


    The battle had already begun.


    With a flicker, Akasi''s figure darted forward. Although he was holding back in speed, it was still a velocity that ordinary talents could not even perceive.


    At the moment of Akasi''s attack, a very faint, chilling sensation emerged.


    It was not in any specific part of the body. It was a difficult feeling to describe¡ªit was as if one had stepped into a special realm.


    There was a coldness coming from deep within his consciousness.

 Chapter 552 - 15: The Cultivation Plan for the Children of the New Order_2

    But apart from that, there were no other sensations.


    His speed was still swift, having improved greatly from before.


    Even though Song Que could see Akasi''s movements clearly, his avoidance was extremely strained.


    Their sparring was measured, but within that restraint, there was not the slightest holding back.


    There was the sound of wind pressure in the air. One fast and one slow figure, fighting each other, yet neither gaining the upper hand.


    Song Que was surprised by Akasi''s speed; even though he was holding back, he still felt powerless to counter.


    Akasi was equally amazed by Song Que''s predictive ability, which seemed almost as if he knew his next move or even several seconds into the future.


    Even though he was slower than himself, Akasi just couldn''t land an attack on Song Que.


    He even felt the change in Song Que''s strength; every time they touched, the impact felt very intense.


    This exchange only lasted for half a minute.


    Half a minute later, Akasi said,


    "That''s enough, with your ability in the Pyramid, no one will be able to harm you."


    If he increased his speed further, Akasi was confident that he could win easily. But the sparring they just had was enough for Song Que to realize his own strength.


    Song Que shook his head slightly, feeling somewhat unsatisfied, and said,


    "I wasn''t testing for that; I wanted to understand another ability."


    "Another ability?" Akasi was perplexed.


    "Yeah, I can''t quite put it into words, but I feel like I have some strange ability that even I am not clear about."


    Thinking of that cold sensation from before, Akasi became interested:


    "Then let''s continue, this time my steps will be even faster."


    Song Que readied his defensive stance and nodded.


    With the force of lightning, Akasi naturally was the one who initiated the attack.


    This time Song Que finally understood how terrifying Akasi was.


    Originally believing that the previous speed had already surpassed the limits of a human, but Akasi was able to increase his speed by several notches again.


    But the future that was shown in the Eye of Balance was extremely weird.


    The silver figure paused slightly behind Song Que, who, seeing this scene, was rapidly turning around to avoid having his back to Akasi.


    But compared to Akasi, his speed was still too slow.


    Akasi''s hand-chop, neither too light nor too heavy, headed straight for Song Que.


    Song Que had also foreseen this move; he took the most reasonable defensive stance but was still unable to block Akasi''s speed, which seemed impossibly fast for a human or ghost to rival.


    The hand-chop hit Song Que solidly in the back.


    A tremendous force sent Song Que flying.


    And then a strange thing happened; as Song Que saw himself being sent flying, it seemed as if Akasi was also struck by some unseen force.


    It was as if they were both hit by the same force. Then, they both slammed into the side, losing their balance.


    Akasi, naturally, had controlled his force; both he and Song Que quickly recovered.


    "What''s going on here? When did you hit me?" Akasi said in astonishment, feeling as though his back had been struck by a hand-chop.


    Song Que was equally puzzled.


    Thinking over the changes, after some thought, he said,


    "The talent transplantation came from an injection of serum, which preserved my own abilities; I can see a few seconds into the future. My body''s physical functions have also improved, but it shouldn''t be just that. I was wondering, since Tang, as a child of order, has his own abilities¡ªwhat are they?"


    Akasi understood but was still not clear about the strange phenomenon that had just occurred.


    Standing in place, Song Que saw an odd domain materializing in his vision, slowly leading him to an answer.


    It was a domain centered around himself, not too large.


    Akasi could easily step out of this domain.


    At first, Song Que thought this domain might hinder Akasi''s attack or enhance his own abilities.


    But he hadn''t noticed any impact on their combat strength from the domain until he was hit by Akasi; that''s when Song Que finally understood.


    He brought his thumb to his mouth and gently bit into it.


    Blood instantly flowed out.


    At the same moment, Akasi felt a slight pain in his left thumb.


    He widened his eyes in disbelief as he looked at his thumb, which seemed to have been bitten by someone as well.


    This scene, even for Akasi, who had seen various experimental bodies with weird abilities, was shocking.


    Song Que gave a wry smile.


    "It seems I''ve figured out the mystery of this ability," he said.


    Though Akasi found it hard to believe, he now understood precisely what this ability was all about.


    Recalling the coolness deep in his soul when clashing with Song Que and the impact that was different from before, Akasi realized everything could be explained.


    "Symbiosis?"


    "Yes, since Tang is the most powerful Son of Order, his ability might not necessarily be the strongest, but it must be the most special under certain circumstances," Song Que said seriously.


    "This is indeed a very peculiar ability, what a pity... It would have been great if he had this ability himself," Akasi thought.


    He attacked Song Que, only to find that he suffered the same injuries himself.


    Song Que bit his finger, and then a wound appeared on Akasi''s finger as well.


    It was like some sort of soul link.


    The damage Song Que suffered, his enemy would suffer the same.


    Akasi drew out a dagger and made a small cut on his palm.


    He looked at Song Que with questioning eyes, and Song Que immediately understood and opened his palm.


    But no wound was seen.


    The two fell silent together, not knowing what to say for a moment.


    After a long while, Akasi finally spoke,


    "This really is a tremendous gift. If the Sons of Order all have such bizarre abilities, then our enemies must be very powerful."


    A one-sided soul link, where the enemy suffers damage and you do not, where the amount of damage you receive is inflicted upon the enemy just the same.


    This in itself is an unfair rule, putting oneself at a great advantage.


    If it''s a person with a strong life force who has this ability, they are almost invincible in close combat.


    The only weakness of this ability is that its range is too limited.


    "It seems that Tang Xian really sees you as his successor in training. Now, you are probably the eighth Son of Order."


    Listening to Akasi''s words, Song Que''s expression was complicated. He seriously considered whether Tang Xian had some undisclosable intentions behind his actions.


    Song Que couldn''t figure it out, but he didn''t worry too much. He trusted and accepted Tang Xian''s arrangements.


    All they needed to do was wait for Tang Xian''s next instructions.


    ...


    ...


    First Fortress, third level.


    Tang Xian, who was waiting for a response, did not wish to send any instructions.


    If Li Wanye was willing to be a reformer, then Song Que would need only to become an ordinary administrator of Baichuan City. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a friend, he understood that Song Que did not crave power, while Li Wanye did.


    However, one can only predict short-term changes in the world; long-term changes are nonlinear and unpredictable.


    Just like Tang Xian himself did not know what choice Li Wanye would ultimately make.


    But if that reformer was Song Que, then Tang hoped Song Que would have the qualifications to compete on an equal footing with the other Sons of Order.


    Shaking his head, Tang turned on the television.


    A day ago, the whole world was informed that at four o''clock this afternoon, the lord of the strongest fortress, the head of the Li family, Li Wanye, would make a major announcement through all media channels.


    What exactly this announcement entailed, no one knew. It was only revealed by the spokesperson of the Li family that it concerned a significant event for the whole world and all the residents of the Pyramid.


    There were only a few minutes left before the big reveal.


    Tang turned on the television and found that even programs that were usually dominated by commercials had few advertisements today.


    The "super event concerning all humanity" had become the focal point of discussion for all radio and television media.


    The topic''s popularity had even overshadowed the Lincoln Fortress dragon attack incident and the election for a new lord of Lincoln Fortress.


    Tang watched the television, waiting for the appointed time to arrive, feeling a little restless inside.


    Indeed, Li Wanye was not important, and he also had backup plans, even having prepared bait in advance for the big fish to bite.


    But in his heart, he still did not look forward to Li Wanye making the wrong choice.


    Four o''clock finally arrived, and Li Wanye soon appeared on the television, sitting upright with a solemn and serious expression as he faced the camera.


    Tang suddenly felt that the face, though Li Wanye''s, lacked a certain liveliness.


    It even gave Tang the feeling... that this was not quite Li Wanye.

 Chapter 553 - 16: The Battle of Wits with the Order Keeper

    Li Wanye remained Li Wanye.


    If certain spiritual settings of a person were changed, the entire temperament of the person would also change.


    Very few people were genuinely close to Li Wanye.


    Only Tang Xian or members of the Li family could notice such oddities.


    Tang Xian guessed that there must be some chaos within the thirty-nine fortresses.


    He quietly listened to Li Wanye''s speech facing the entire world.


    To sum up, there were three aspects, and Tang Xian became certain of his guess as soon as the first aspect was mentioned.


    In the end, Li Wanye had chosen another camp, and whether it was intentional or not, Tang Xian felt some regrets.


    "That monster wearing a mask possesses the power to control cataclysmic creatures, but he is not our friend.


    He has appeared before us several times, feigning to save hunters at the hunting festival to gain our trust.


    At the end of the war on the Yuepela Plains, he appeared riding a dragon, seemingly saving the day, but in reality, it was just to prepare for ruling over us in the guise of a ''person'' in the future.


    All of this is not my malicious speculation about this masked person. Not long ago, I obtained evidence substantial enough to support my claims, and the true identity of this masked individual is¡ªthe demon child of Eden, Tang Xian!"


    Only the demon child of Eden would be able to effortlessly destroy the devices on the fifth level of Lincoln Fortress inside the Pyramid where talents cannot be utilized.


    The earlier panic-inducing dragon attacks were indeed the doing of the demon child of Eden!"


    Listening to Li Wanye''s words, Tang Xian knew that probably the whole world was gasping at this moment.


    As for evidence, it would likely appear soon.


    This was the Pyramid, and one could be filmed anywhere there were electronic eyes.


    The Li family didn''t have this capability, but someone did.


    Tang Xian quickly thought of who the comer might be.


    "I went to recruit Li Wanye in the identity of the demon child of Eden. To sway Li Wanye''s stance, whether willingly or by force, the person would at least have to be an existence at my own level in the depths of Li Wanye''s heart, or even a higher status.


    This narrows down the target range quite a bit."


    Behind Li Wanye, the giant electronic screen started to show some images of the masked wrongdoer committing evils.


    As well as the clearest footage of the dragon attack incident.


    There were also many places Tang Xian himself hadn''t noticed.


    Moments of switching masks were all indicating that the Masked Chopper Hero, seemingly rescuing humanity time and again, was the apocalypse creature mentioned on the Stele¡ªthe demon child of Eden.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that his bounty would probably go from the highest in the federation to the highest in the world, even breaking the record for the highest bounty ever.


    He was rather calm about it.


    An eye for an eye, he might have lost the piece that was Li Wanye, but he also dug up some information.


    After some thought, Tang Xian reached a conclusion.


    "Li Wanye relied on soldiers, leading the other fortresses by gaining the manufacturing rights of Judgement Knights, producing a large number of Judgement Knights over several months and transporting them to fortresses all over the world.


    In short, the greatest asset of Li Wanye was his military power.


    And the fish willing to bite the bait would also possess similar characteristics.


    In Constantine''s intelligence, there were two who held the reins of the order forces'' troops, one was Ganesa, and the other was Siren.


    Ganesa was sent to investigate Ju Mang, and judging by the changes in Li Wanye, the most likely to act would be Siren."


    Tang Xian slightly furrowed his brows, for his memories of Siren from his childhood were not very vivid, only that it was someone who was quite close to Konstant.


    Someone a bit pretentious, with the air of a wealthy young master from the rich districts.


    In Constantine''s view, a skilful manipulator of hearts.


    All deductions fit the current situation, but the question was, who provided the information?


    Could it be such a coincidence that soon after he had left, just when he said he was laying a trap and had persuaded Li Wanye, Siren went to fill that trap?


    This was what made Tang Xian sense that something was off.


    The phone rang at that moment, a call request from Yu Xiaozhe.


    Tang Xian answered the call and said,


    "What''s up?"


    "I can''t believe how calm you are! The whole world is talking about you," Yu Xiaozhe exclaimed anxiously.


    Tang Xian laughed and said,


    "I had intended to associate with them as an ordinary person, but instead of closeness, I got alienation. Now I''m not pretending anymore; I''m laying my cards out¡ªI am the demon child of Eden."


    "..." Yu Xiaozhe was at a loss for words. Was this guy not worried at all now that his identity was completely exposed?


    It seemed like Tang Xian could guess Yu Xiaozhe''s anxiety and said,


    "You don''t need to worry, actually. As long as the man behind the scenes remains at a safe distance, even exposure brings no substantial harm. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian has always been the demon child of Eden; adding another identity for him doesn''t really make a difference to people.


    They''re looking for Tang Xian; what does it have to do with me, Tang Jikede?"


    "There is... some sense in that," Yu Xiaozhe said, wiping off sweat on the other end.


    It''s like a death row inmate having his crime escalated to the point where the entire world becomes an enemy... It seems not to have any impact, as it still culminates in death.


    Or as if the height of tightrope walking has changed from thirty meters to three hundred meters.


    It looks more dangerous, but in reality, as long as there are no mistakes, nothing changes.


    Yu Xiaozhe admired Tang Xian''s attitude and said,


    "So what do we do now, since the path of Li Wanye is no longer an option?"


    "Later, I will go to the thirty-nine fortresses to pick up some people; you and Lin Sen help me prepare the materials."


    "What else?"

 Chapter 554 - 16: The Battle of Wits with the Order Keeper_2

    ```


    "For these days, the Sanctuary Fortress has forbidden anyone from entering. The minerals mined from the pit should suffice for several years. From now on, the Sanctuary Fortress will be completely sealed off, along with the doors to the teleportation rift.


    Anyone entering through a portable teleportation rift must undergo strict scrutiny."


    "Why?"


    "The human heart changes over twenty years; I''ve become more human, while some have become less so."


    "Since when did you start speaking so cryptically?"


    "Calls are expensive, I''m hanging up."


    Tang Xian hung up the phone.


    At this moment, on the TV screen, Li Wanye''s speech was still ongoing.


    Having lived in several worlds, Tang Xian concluded that in the mining areas, fighting against countless beasts relied on sheer martial force, with strategy only working against weaker creatures.


    He, along with his fox, dragon, and the evolved Bai snake were enough to deal with current troubles in the mining areas.


    But the Human World was different.


    At least he couldn''t kill people as neatly and cleanly as he could kill the beasts.


    Violence can naturally solve all problems, but the key is how to minimize the sacrifice and bloodshed.


    So, fighting against people is ultimately a battle of wits.


    After Li Wanye exposed Tang Xian''s background, a multitude of topics quickly emerged on internet forums around the world.


    These topics were naturally all related to the Eden Magi-Child.


    Especially since Li Wanye mentioned that the Eden Magi-Child was still somewhere inside a fortress, all Pyramid residents started to panic.


    The real world fears the superpowered.


    Those accustomed to their exceptional gifts easily ostracize beings that threaten their status.


    The Dragon Assault incident and the battles on the Yuepela Plains showed that the Eden Magi-Child possessed the power to single-handedly crush the Human World''s gifted individuals and even the allied forces.


    Such an existence naturally caused the panic to keep spreading.


    The Pyramid residents'' panic allowed Li Wanye to propose a very bold plan.


    "I know everyone must be very afraid of the existence of the Eden Magi-Child, but these days, the Li family has been preparing for this.


    Without inciting panic, we have begun to hire a large number of weapons capable of combating the Eden Magi-Child¡ªthe Judgment Knights.


    We have transported them to fortresses all over the world. Their presence will safeguard our security.


    But even these Judgment Knights are not enough! We are facing an apocalyptic-level creature that can move freely between the mining areas and the Human World, a challenge humanity has never seen before.


    We need a larger number of Judgment Knights, and here, I also call on the people from the lower strata to eagerly enlist as Judgment Knights.


    You are the subjects most valued by our lords, and even without gifts, we still have ways for you to realize your own value.


    Become Judgment Knights, protect your loved ones, your fortresses, and the future of humanity."


    As Tang Xian expected, after the panic, there were more reasonable excuses to increase the scale of the Judgment Knights'' production.


    Ants can bite an elephant to death; both Xiao Jiu and Tang Feiji had confirmed the rays of the Judgment Knights posed a great threat to the beasts.


    If the whole world were filled with Judgment Knights, this mechanical kingdom would indeed be more dangerous to him than the mining areas.


    This was also beneficial to Siren.


    As a master of soldiers, one naturally wouldn''t complain about having too many troops.


    Tang Xian remained calm, his ring finger trembling slightly, thinking to himself that Li Wanye''s first plan was to expose him, and this plan was in service of the second plan.


    The second plan was to expand his own military force, which was also in service to the third plan.


    After receiving a response, Li Wanye quickly moved on to the third matter, the most transformative one.


    "As humans, as a race that survived the apocalyptic civilization but received divine intervention, we have always been too self-contained.


    If we had been united in the past few hundred years, why would we only have uncovered so little revelation until now?


    The Li family was also lucky this year to have just opened up the eighth level of the Pyramid. In this level, we came to know some secrets of this world. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the originators of the great catastrophe, once destroying human civilization, if we remain as insular as before in the face of the Eden Magi-Child, what awaits us may very well be another catastrophe.


    This time he brought a dragon to our homeland, who knows if next time he will bring even more beasts?"


    Tang Xian had to admit, whether it was Siren or Li Wanye, this attitude of speaking from a commanding height was very compelling.


    The Li family has always had a very good reputation in the various fortresses.


    This speech indeed also portrayed the current situation of humanity¡ªnot unified enough.


    Li Wanye continued:


    "It''s unrealistic for the Pyramid to raise its level across the board in a short period of time.


    And the existing Pyramid is enough for us to live in.


    But we need more information. In the face of the Eden Magi-Child, in the face of the recent crushing defeat by the mining area beasts, we need to enter the ninth layer, the tenth layer, and even higher levels.


    In the higher levels, there are surely the answers and redemption we need.


    The guidance of the Orderers will lead us out of suffering!"


    The world is in jubilation.


    Although all the powerholders of the fortresses have a premonition that Li Wanye''s words imply some sort of power grab.


    It seems to be laying the groundwork for some event.


    But for those Pyramid dwellers unrelated to power, how could they refuse to see hope in times of panic?"


    ```

 Chapter 555 - 16: The Battle of Wits with the Order Keeper_3

    Tang Xian could even feel the vibration of the first fortress.


    The will of the people is the will of heaven.


    Li Wanye was building momentum, or rather, Siren was building momentum, all for the upcoming revolution.


    "Our individual resources are not sufficient to unlock the ninth layer.


    Our individual powers are also insufficient to subdue so many natural disaster beings, let alone cataclysmic beings.


    Because we are not united, too scattered.


    But what if we could consolidate all of our resources and prioritize elevating one fortress to the highest level?


    The resources and combat power of more than two hundred fortresses around the world, all serving one fortress, would allow us to gain more guidance before Eden''s demon children bring about the next apocalypse, and even stronger technology. I believe that only in this way do we have a sliver of a chance at life.


    The outside world is already gone, and the mining area''s world is extremely dangerous and can only be inhabited for seven days.


    The Pyramid World is our final homeland. To preserve our civilization and the dignity of being the dominant species, shouldn''t we abandon our grip on power and prejudice at this time, and unite as one?"


    In the moment that the old fox''s tail was exposed, Tang Xian couldn''t help but applaud Li Wanye.


    The events of today are perhaps as much Siren''s will as they are Li Wanye''s true intention.


    This is the real ambition of Lord Li, not the strongest fortress, but to rule over the Pyramid World.


    Once he has the world''s resources, once his military force infiltrates all the fortresses around the world, once even public opinion is on his side. It would be impossible for him not to become the master of this world.


    Thus, Song Gengzhao could never surpass Li Wanye in his lifetime because their aspirations are like comparing a sparrow to a swan.


    The only regret Tang Xian had was that after such a speech by Li Wanye, it would be very, very difficult to keep him.


    Li Xiaoyu will be very sad, won''t she?


    Thinking this, Tang Xian finally felt a sense of disgust.


    It wasn''t intense, but it was like a well-written script being forcibly changed by the intrusion of a third-rate actor.


    Causing a character, who was not meant to die, to become unpredictable in life and death.


    Li Wanye''s speech was still ongoing.


    "Of course, this is just my proposal. However, as a Federal Parliament member, the lord of thirty-nine fortresses, and the sole owner of a Judgment Knight, I call for a worldwide meeting. There, through fair and impartial discussions and elections, we will decide whether to approve this proposal.


    Hereby, I appeal to the lords of the fortresses, please let go of your attachment to power. For the future of humanity, please seriously consider the words of Li."


    No one wants to give up their piece of the cake, but Tang Xian knew Siren''s plan had succeeded.


    Because Li Wanye''s move was too precise.


    This Eden demon child had been used to its fullest by him.


    Thus, Li Wanye dared to boldly propose changing the current Federal system to an Imperial system.


    Although he didn''t say it explicitly, isn''t a fortress lord of superior status just the ''One'' below the Orderer?


    Tang Xian smiled. No wonder Yu was so clever; her father was certainly not a minor character.


    But that''s how the game is played. Threatening Li Wanye at the Li family was Tang''s move.


    And Li Wanye''s countermove was what happened today.


    Now, it was Tang''s turn again.


    Tang Xian didn''t want to fuss over a long chess game; even when playing chess with Yu, he would use the fastest means to siege and defeat her. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Turning off the TV and looking at the bustling street scene outside the hotel, Tang Xian murmured to himself,


    "It''s time to checkmate you all."

 Chapter 556 - 17: Li Buqun and the Five Peaks Sword Sects

    The thirty-ninth fortress, the eighth level.


    Following Li Wanye''s remarks, the world of the Pyramid had been unusually tumultuous for several days.


    People reacted as if they had been alive for decades, only to be informed that the world might soon come to an end.


    They were excited, resistant, and fearful, and even the most submissive inhabitants of the fortresses began to respond to Li Wanye''s call in their own ways.


    Just Li Wanye''s words were not enough to change the structure of the world, the traditions of "humans being kept in captivity" that had persisted in the Pyramid World for hundreds of years.


    Li Wanye rarely called for meetings on the eighth level, and for many fortress lords, the eighth level was something they had never seen before.


    This place could be regarded as the storage area for all the core technologies of the thirty-nine fortresses.


    Having the meeting at the eighth level also indicated Li Wanye''s absolute trust in these people.


    The theme of the meeting was naturally to change the federative system to an imperial one.


    But it had a splendid wrapping¡ªunity.


    Only by uniting could there be a chance to survive under the threat of the eradication of the world by the Eden devil child.


    The lords were not keen on attending such a gathering, but there were the public opinion¡ªand interests.


    Besides the uproar among the residents of the Pyramid, there were the generous conditions that Li Wanye had offered.


    Those lords who were willing to attend the meeting and agree that the thirty-nine fortresses should become the highest bastion of future human civilization and accept resource allocation would be able to purchase Judgment Knights at a much lower cost than the current market price.


    For the smaller fortresses that could not afford the high price¡ªthis was indeed too much to offer.


    Many lords thought that even if they starved to death or jumped from the sixth level of the Pyramid, they would absolutely not accept the proposal from the Li family.


    But in reality, after the conditions were released, the several hundred slots were all taken.


    The lords of the large fortresses had also come to understand that, even though they still had armed weapons within the Pyramid, the offensive skills of the Judgment Knights seemed to have a special suppression over the beasts.


    Additionally, they were curious about what gave Li Wanye the confidence to make these offers.


    After all, public opinion would slowly change.


    For various reasons, whether from larger or smaller fortresses, the lords were now all gathered in the conference room.


    Not only these lords, according to Li Wanye''s requirements, if today''s meeting reached a consensus, then the high-ranking officials of each fortress, including direct relatives, would also receive job allocations under the new system. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This meeting was thus also a reshuffle of power.


    The only thing that made the lords accept this was that the cake was still divided among themselves, only the largest piece, that is, the knife and fork, were now in Li Wanye''s hands.


    Therefore, every lord and their most capable subordinates had come to this grand eighth-level conference room.


    In this hall-like conference room, Li Wanye sat at the largest end.


    The opposing seats were taken by the Qi Family from the second fortress, the Song Family from the first fortress, Li Zhenjiang from the House of Daedalus of the fifty-first fortress, Yune Moru from the Sky Guardian Fortress, and Deloris, the new lord of the Lincoln Fortress.


    Everyone was indeed surprised that a woman, and a woman in her thirties, had become the lord of the Lincoln Fortress.


    But today, no matter who it was, they were destined to be just a side character.


    Watching the lords come and go, Li Zheng, as the security officer for this conference, was surveying these lords.


    There was no anomaly, except the son of Zhuo He seemed somewhat strange.


    To date, the lord of the Holy Land fortress, Zhuo He, did not have a son, at least not publicly known, yet unexpectedly this time, with Zhuo He ill and unable to attend, his son Zhuo Youcai was sent in his place.


    It''s curious why Zhuo He, a fortress lord, would give his son such a landowner''s name.


    Zhuo Youcai looked very young, with his scarf wrapped around his head like a Saudi Arabian prince, and although Li Zheng had never seen him before, he felt those eyes seemed familiar.


    He did not think much of it; everyone who entered had no weapons.


    They had also been checked by the Judgment Knights, so it was impossible for the Eden devil child and beasts to have infiltrated. This was also why Li Wanye chose to hold the meeting on the eighth level.


    Because previously, the Eden devil child, Tang Xian, had been expelled on this level.


    The screening process on the eighth level of the thirty-ninth fortress was now so rigorous that any disguise was pointless.


    After confirming that all the lords were present, Li Zheng picked up his phone and quietly reported the situation to Li Wanye.


    The game that would decide the world''s structure, or, to put it another way, the top power holders'' cake-cutting game, was about to begin.


    Li Xiaonian sat in a corner, indistinguishable from the family members of some other lords. Although he would also be allocated some power, this time he was only present to witness the event.


    Li Xiaonian had been looking around nervously. Unlike his brother Li Zheng, Li Xiaonian seemed rather unsettled.


    He was like a child who had done something wrong, or perhaps, he was unsure whether what he had done was right or wrong.


    Before long, Li Wanye arrived at the conference room, and with his arrival, the whole room fell silent.


    It was hard not to be silent because behind Li Wanye was a long line of Judgment Knights.


    Every fortress had purchased Judgment Knights, but due to the high price, the number they bought was limited, generally a few dozen, and even the wealthier fortresses had only a hundred or so.


    They had never seen a scene surrounded by hundreds of Judgment Knights in three inner and three outer circles.


    The scene invariably reminded them of the Banquet at Hong Gate; for a moment, all the lords were somewhat afraid.

 Chapter 557 - 17: Li Buqun and the Five Mountains Sword Sects_2

    Li Wanye went straight to the point:


    "I didn''t expect all the lords to attend. Thank you for your esteemed presence. I am fortunate today to discuss with all of you how we can extend the future of humanity, and I assure you that the world of humanity, after today, will develop and progress at a rate fundamentally different from the past!"


    There was no applause, knowing that their power was to be hollowed out, relegated to secondary executors, no matter how nicely worded the speech was, there was no response.


    However, Li Wanye was not in a hurry. In the following speech, he began to meticulously explain the reason why humanity is weak when divided and strong when united.


    These words actually made some sense. The ninth layer, the tenth layer, and even higher levels all have more advanced technologies used by the Orderers to combat the Beasts.


    If humanity could concentrate resources and prioritize unlocking levels, some fortresses would be able to grasp more advanced technology earlier.


    And these technologies would no longer be hoarded by different families as before but would be generously published.


    Directly enhancing the overall technological level.


    If it were possible to be absolutely fair and impartial, and corporatize the federation, it would indeed make human progress faster.


    But at the level of the lords, they are not simply people who live on sheer passion.


    They are mostly cunning, and no matter how well-packaged Li Wanye''s ambition was, they could all see through Li Wanye''s true motives.


    What they cared about was interest.


    Soon, Li Wanye began to distribute power.


    From low to high, across various industries, Li Wanye had even meticulously listed more than two hundred positions during these days.


    Even the lowest positions would not be attainable by ordinary talented individuals.


    They could even pass it on as a family legacy.


    Not only that, but Li Wanye also diluted some of the military power, though only a very small part, to use as leverage to win over the lords of various fortresses.


    As for the previous control of the fortresses, he was generous enough not to overreach at all but to let the lords govern autonomously.


    He only demanded absolute sharing on the technological tree.


    Effectively unifying and integrating more than two hundred fortresses in the world, with the other fortresses more like branches of the thirty-ninth fortress.


    The heads of these branches retained the power of the former lords and gained some conveniences over other branches.


    At first glance, everyone''s power was diluted very little. This dilution even came with a large supply of low-priced Judgment Knights, which seemed like no loss at all.


    Although it was not explicitly stated that the thirty-ninth fortress was the strongest one ¡ª also known as the "Ark," the fortress for humanity this time around.


    In the power-sharing segment under Li Wanye''s precise calculations, many found it hard to object.


    They just did not wish to admit that there was another emperor in their world. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But upon closer thought, if their own fortress could never break through the eighth layer, wouldn''t Li Wanye just be that emperor?


    Moreover, the matter is pressed down by such a great hat as the future of humanity.


    After six hours of intense discussions, the lords finally agreed to Li Wanye''s proposal for power division and redistribution.


    Aside from the fact that Li Wanye offered suitable chips for negotiation, a more significant reason was his subtle revelation that he still had ultimate control of the Judgment Knights, and together with the first three layers of Judgment Knights, they seemed to be declaring that those who follow me prosper, and those who oppose me perish.


    All the lords were so angry that they dared not speak out. Ultimately, their seasoned wisdom for survival told them it was time to compromise.


    Finally, after discussing everything, the meeting moved to its final phase¡ª


    Determining the core fortress of humanity, "Ark," and its lord.


    Li Wanye said quite fairly:


    "Whichever fortress you think is most qualified to become the ''Ark'' for humanity''s tribulation, feel free to speak your mind."


    Speak their mind? It was a question already known, merely to see which lords still harbored resentment and dissent¡ªconvenient for future elimination of adversaries.


    Most of the lords present had become shrewd; leaders of some smaller fortresses quickly began to say:


    "The thirty-ninth fortress of Huaxia has contributed to fortresses around the world over the past few months, and in all aspects¡ªindicators of output, technology, economic gain¡ªit leads the way and is ranked first among all fortresses.


    If we really have to choose a fortress to be the Ark, it must be the thirty-ninth fortress, and Lord Li is naturally the lord."


    There is no such thing as a bootlicker not getting a house in the realm of power.


    Bootlicking is definitely one of the most effective means of promotion and salary increase.


    Following this lord''s speech, other lords also spoke up, echoing the sentiment.


    At that moment, calls for Li Wanye were incredibly high.


    Li Wanye maintained a calm expression, his eyes humble yet filled with confidence.


    Li Zheng appeared very proud, his father having accomplished such a feat was naturally a source of pride for him.


    Only Li Xiaonian looked worriedly at a corner somewhere.


    Within the cries of over two hundred people, there still were some dissenters; these dissenters were arranged by Li Wanye himself.


    For example, some nominated Sky Guardian Fortress to be the Ark, with Yune Moru as its lord.


    Some nominated the second fortress to be the Ark, citing Qi Xun as young and capable, suitable to be the lord of the Ark.


    Several other major fortresses along with their lords or future lords were nominated as well.


    But how could these great lords not be aware of the Li family''s calculations?


    As trends had shifted, the will of the populace outside like divine decree, and the rapidity with which the inside lords turned coats was astounding.


    If someone were truly clueless enough to compete with Li Wanye at this point, wouldn''t that be courting death?

 Chapter 558 - 17: Li Buqun and the Five Mountains Sword Sects_3

    Yune Moru quickly said:


    "We of Sky Guardian Fortress do not participate in the competition. As for Lord Li Wanye''s Ark Project and becoming the lord of the Ark Fortress, we have no objection."


    The Qi Family of the second fortress had already completed the transfer of power and was the first among the three great fortresses to pass on authority to the next generation. Qi Xun was now the lord, and he said nonchalantly:


    "Same here."


    Song Gengzhao looked at Qi Xun, thinking that if his own son Song Que were still alive, if Song Que''s talent remained intact, as the commander-in-chief of the Human Alliance Army and the champion team of the hunting festival, he would certainly qualify to compete with Li Wanye.


    He felt as if he had aged ten years in an instant.


    Song Que was probably dead, a victim of his own father''s foolishness.


    Song Gengzhao understood that without Song Que, without that chosen son, the Song Family could not compete with the Li family. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everything was fate, and he eventually said:


    "I of the first fortress have no objections to today''s agenda."


    Lincoln Fortress, the fifty-first fortress, and other major fortresses all passed the motion unanimously.


    The situation was settled.


    Just when Li Wanye thought the meeting was coming to a successful conclusion, as everyone awaited the finalisation of the last resolution and the Human World was about to welcome a new era¡ª


    An opposing voice emerged.


    "Are you all mistaken? Li Wanye, an old wretch with a mess of family relationships, his thirty-ninth fortress is nothing spectacular, merely one layer more than you all, and yet one by one you start crazily fawning over him?"


    Li Xiaonian recognized the voice and his breathing quickened slightly.


    He knew that the greatest chaos of the meeting was about to begin, as right before the meeting started, he had received a commission from Tang Xian.


    To turn a blind eye to the inspection of the sanctuary fortresses by the thirty-ninth fortress.


    Li Xiaonian asked for the result, and Tang Xian had given a very serious response.


    That response was so shocking that for a moment, Li Xiaonian didn''t know how to react.


    In the end, he chose to believe Tang Xian.


    Helping his father''s enemy to deal with his own father was an unforgivable act of betrayal.


    Li Xiaonian, convinced that he was unworthy of being a member of the Li family, was prepared to accept any punishment after this.


    But he did not regret it too deeply¡ªif the process of creating the Judgement Knights truly involved using humans as material, then his father''s creation of so many Judgement Knights amounted to an unprecedented scale of massacre.


    He hoped it was a mistake, but now he could only watch silently as the situation unfolded.


    All the fortress lords turned to look in the direction of the voice, wanting to know who would openly oppose Li Wanye at the last moment and even mock the other lords.


    The source of the voice was Lin Jue.


    Having learned of Song Que''s return and his intent to undertake a significant task, Lin Jue told Tang Xian that he was willing to be the Bodyguard who would sacrifice his life to protect Song Que.


    Thus, today, Lin Jue had wrapped himself tightly with a headscarf. He was playing the role of Zhuo Youcai''s bodyguard, namely Zhuo Youcai''s cousin, Zhuo Fushuai.


    Lin Jue had no complaints about this task, though he did have some doubts about someone''s ability to come up with names.


    Song Gengzhao still recognized Lin Jue''s voice.


    Song Gengzhao was incredulous, wondering why the bodyguard by the lord of Sky Guardian was Lin Jue?


    The voice was too distinctive, and he was confident that he could not have mistaken it.


    He was familiar with Sky Guardian Fortress. His son, Song Que, had gone to Sky Guardian Fortress, leading to the loss of his talent.


    Lin Jue continued:


    "The Ark Project can proceed, but as its leader, Li Wanye is not fit. If he becomes the lord, my Sky Guardian Fortress won''t accept it!"


    A stir arose.


    Sky Guardian Fortress, ranking in the middle among the two hundred plus fortresses, was a small and obscure fortress daring to challenge Li Wanye?


    What kind of power did the Li family hold now?


    Li Wanye squinted his eyes, seemingly calm but with a flash of sharpness in his eyes, and smiled:


    "Does this mean that Sky Guardian Fortress is also entering the competition?"


    "Of course. If your mere thirty-ninth fortress can compete, my Sky Guardian Fortress naturally should not lag behind."


    Laughter erupted among the lords, who were aware of Sky Guardian Fortress''s strength.


    Li Wanye had quietly made several major fortress lords submit; how could he stumble here?


    They laughed unabashedly at the arrogance of this Zhuo Fushuai and at the ignorance of Zhuo Youcai sitting quietly by the side.


    Moments later, however, it was Li Wanye who clapped his hands and said:


    "This is a democratic and fair competition, and everyone should indeed possess Lord Zhuo''s spirit. In doing so, we can be without regrets."


    "Tsk, look at this hypocritical face. You might as well drop the name Li Wanye and call yourself Li Buqun. It would suit the unification of this fortress just like the merger of the Five Mountain Sword Sects."


    Lin Jue''s mockery did not spare any face.


    Li Zheng was furious:


    "Who are you to insult my father!"


    Lin Jue sneered:


    "What does it matter to you who I am? I used to respect you, Li Zheng, as a man, listed alongside my boss as one of the three young masters of the great families. Look at you now, nothing but a dog!"


    These words stunned Li Zheng.


    The others present were not fools either; they knew who the young masters of the three great families of Huaxia Fortress were.


    Song Gengzhao''s expression changed dramatically. With Lin Jue present and mentioning the three families'' young masters, he suddenly contemplated a possibility and incredulously stared at the quiet Lord Zhuo sitting beside him.


    Qi Xun, lord of the second fortress, arched an eyebrow. He was unhappy about being someone''s subordinate in the future.


    But now that someone was causing trouble, he was delighted. Hearing the mention of the three families'' young masters, he was also taken aback.


    Li Zheng, Song Que, Qi Xun.


    The young masters of the three great families of Huaxia Fortress, these three were young, handsome, and extraordinarily talented, and were all seen as the future hopes of Huaxia Fortress.


    With Qi Xun present, along with Li Zheng, then following Zhuo Fushuai''s assertion¡ª


    Could it be that the lord of Sky Guardian Fortress was actually Song Que?


    (Today is still a single update, but it''s five thousand words, which is a bit of an addition. So, shamelessly asking for a recommendation ticket, perhaps?)

 Chapter 559 - 18: The Truly Strongest Fortress

    Zhuo Youcai''s identity remains unconfirmed, after all, the boss mentioned by the rich and handsome Mr. Zhuo may not necessarily be the lord of the Sanctuary Fortress.


    Most people still do not know who Zhuo Youcai is.


    Only, Song Gengzhao knew that his son, even if only his eyes were visible, he would recognize him.


    As for Li Zheng, he naturally had a very good impression of Song Que, and after looking him over for a long time, he ultimately couldn''t confirm his identity, but his suspicions grew stronger.


    He suddenly wasn''t so angry anymore, just feeling more and more odd.


    It seemed that today''s events would take an unexpected turn, and after pausing for two seconds, he said coldly,


    "If you want to contend for the lordship of Ark Fortress, you better first learn to be a polite person!"


    Lin Jue shrugged his shoulders, not caring at all about what Li Zheng said,


    "Why say so much nonsense? Just tell me how this lord of Ark Fortress is chosen."


    Li Zheng sneered, S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Naturally, it''s based on the lord''s contributions to the world, reputation, and the ranking of the fortress they command, as well as their overall strength.


    Fortresses like Lincoln Fortress and Sky Guardian Fortress, Huaxia''s first and second fortresses, the fifty-first fortress, naturally all qualify.


    Most of these fortresses have opened up the seventh layer; even those that haven''t possess technologies extremely important to all humankind.


    The contributions made by their lords are not insignificant.


    May I ask, as for Sanctuary Fortress, ranking beyond a hundred, what kind of core technology does it possess? Even some of the people here might not know of Zhuo He''s achievements, if any?"


    After he finished speaking, the crowd also felt that the disparity between the two was too great, and no matter how Zhuo Fushuai blustered, the reality would not change.


    "So, what are the achievements of the thirty-ninth fortress? Explored the eighth layer?"


    This time Li Zheng didn''t speak, Li Wanye did.


    Li Wanye said with a smiling face,


    "Li here fortunately assembled a Soul Crystal and opened up the eighth layer, obtaining the technology of the Judgment Knight. These technologies were not kept for myself but were quickly distributed around the world to support the likeminded, which will certainly play a significant role in the battle against creatures from the mine regions.


    We have already suffered a defeat on the Yuepela Plains once, but with the Judgment Knight, we will not suffer a second defeat."


    A round of applause rang out, as once some things are accepted, the threshold tends to quickly lower.


    Naturally, nobody thought that the competition between Li Wanye and Zhuo Youcai would have any surprises.


    The disparity between the two fortresses was just too vast. If it was time to flatter and bootlick, for these people it was now.


    Lin Jue laughed uproariously, his laughter filled with mockery. His posture could be considered to be maxing out the enmity.


    Under the hostile gazes of the crowd, he said,


    "So what is this, some kind of large-scale cult gathering or imperial restoration gathering?


    In other words, aside from being luckier than Lincoln Fortress by having one more Soul Crystal and opening the eighth layer, the thirty-ninth fortress actually hasn''t done anything substantial?"


    Even though Li Wanye had been in a good mood during this meeting, ultimately due to Lin Jue''s repeated provocations, he became somewhat displeased.


    His smile gradually faded as he looked at Lin Jue with inherent authority and said,


    "While my thirty-ninth fortress may not have reached the pinnacle with any particular technology, our overall technological capabilities are not lacking."


    "Mediocrity across the board equals being useless across the board, let''s not even mention that. Being lucky is also a skill, especially in these second-rate fortresses, it counts as being tall among dwarves. Let me ask again, what achievements have you made in your life? Besides making the most of the Judgment Knight''s value, have you done anything else?"


    Dangling an ear-pick, Lin Jue''s casual demeanor seemed to earn Qi Xun''s appreciation.


    Li Zheng got angry again, and said,


    "Your Excellency has been continually rude. If you truly have the capability, show us first. Otherwise, do not be so presumptuous! Today you have repeatedly insulted the Li family, and you had best have the capital to back it up, otherwise the Li family is quite vengeful!"


    In fact, even Song Que, who was pretending to be Zhuo Youcai beside Lin Jue, felt Lin Jue''s words were too cynical.


    But he couldn''t say much; attracting animosity was something Tang Xian could do, Lin Jue could do, but he really couldn''t.


    "Sorry, I really do have it. Before I state my boss''s achievements and our Sanctuary Fortress''s strength, I need to make everyone understand, the Li family amounts to nothing.


    The Song family should know it the best, right?


    Half a year ago, to avoid a marriage with the Li family and fear of public criticism, you used a Soul Crystal, as a gift to show goodwill between the two families.


    This matter is not a secret, but maybe everyone has forgotten it due to the various demons and spirits in the past six months? Indeed, who cares whether territory is begged for, stolen, or taken by force?


    But what exactly has the Li family done?


    Young Master Song Que of the Song family, naturally full of talent, the true chosen one. In the hunting festival, he turned the tides and acquired an incredibly important calamity-level boss creature''s Soul Crystal.


    This Soul Crystal he actually gifted to the Li family, let us think about it, if not for this crystal... the Li family might still be on the seventh layer, right?


    So... turns out the Li family''s greatest skill is picking a good son-in-law? But these two people didn''t even end up together, did they? It seems that with the Soul Crystal in hand, even such a fine son-in-law as Song Que is no longer wanted? Isn''t this short-sightedness? Even if the second miss is stubborn, doesn''t the Li family have any other women?"


    Zhuo Youcai suddenly started coughing, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    This Lin Jue really had a wild imagination, and his talent for mockery seemed to rival that of a Zaunite.

 Chapter 560 - 18: The Truly Strongest Fortress_2

    Lin Jue didn''t care about niceties. To topple the Li family from their pedestal, his words needed to be sharp.


    Although, in the end, real strength would do the talking.


    The Li family''s faces showed shock, they seemed to have confirmed something. Their gazes involuntarily turned towards the Song family patriarch, Song Gengzhao.


    At this moment, Song Gengzhao was confused¡ªWhy are you looking at me? I have no clue what''s going on right now.


    The silence filled the room, and it was then that everyone remembered Song Que, the favored son of the heavens.


    They recalled the beautiful tale of the Song and Li Families, using the Soul Crystal as a token of promise. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But in the past half-year, so much had happened. Times had changed, and Miss Li had vanished without a trace.


    The eldest son of the Song family seemed to have disappeared as well.


    Not long ago, there were stories about the eldest son of the Song family leading a group to hunt down and kill a calamity-level boss creature.


    But today, behind Song Gengzhao, where was the figure of Song Que?


    Lin Jue said:


    "So, may I infer that everything the Li family has, was given by Song Que? That''s not an exaggeration, right?


    Compared to Song Que, even if you three Li men were put together, you wouldn''t measure up, would you?


    During the Hunting Festival, he saved the world''s finest hunters and seized the Soul Crystal from a calamity-level boss creature.


    Shortly after the Hunting Festival, although the battle at Yuepela Plains was lost, Song Que''s performance was there for all to see! As the commander-in-chief of the Human Alliance Army, he rescued the great army from peril numerous times.


    Even if we judge heroes by their outcomes, faced with such a terrifying tide of beasts, who among you dares to say they could have done better than Song Que?


    Not long after the battle, he led a group to miraculously kill another calamity-level creature, bringing a calamity-level boss creature''s Soul Crystal back to the Song family''s first fortress.


    Song, isn''t that right?"


    Lin Jue looked towards Song Gengzhao.


    This matter was still not a secret, and it was Song Gengzhao himself who had spread the word vigorously. He never would have expected that his most proud son would become a good-for-nothing.


    As Lin Jue praised Song Que so highly, even Song Que began to feel uncomfortable.


    Song Gengzhao became convinced that there could be no mistake¡ªthat the lord of that holy sanctuary had to be Song Que.


    He now faced a choice¡ª


    To help the Li family or to help Song Que?


    Despite not knowing why Song Que had become the lord of the holy sanctuary, he knew this could be his only chance to defeat the Li family.


    Lin Jue''s monologue needed someone to play along.


    But what if his own son was still that good-for-nothing?


    Later on, what would he have to compete with Li Wanye?


    In attendance, there was not a single individual without talent.


    Song Gengzhao had a complex expression on his face.


    Lin Jue began to urge silently:


    "In this world, who else has such legendary experiences? Who else dares to boast they can hunt calamity-level creatures, and not just once but twice?


    There''s no need to say more about Song Que''s character, all of you old foxes see it clearly.


    When it comes to talent, virtue, character, literary and martial abilities, and even potential, is Song Que not the most suitable to become the lord of the Ark Fortress? In what way is he inferior to an old man in his fifties?"


    Lin Jue''s piercing speech, while seemingly mocking, was filled with compelling force.


    Song Que''s deeds indeed left the audience speechless.


    Song Gengzhao knew it was time to declare his allegiance, for he was Song Que''s father.


    Lin Jue''s words also made many people turn their gaze towards him.


    They seemed to be asking whether this scene was arranged by the Song family.


    This was his son''s moment to turn the tables. As a father who had erred, Song Gengzhao desired to mend the father-son relationship, even if he appeared ugly and self-serving. He still made a decision.


    But just then, Song Gengzhao certainly didn''t expect the sudden laugh from his nephews, Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, behind him. Song Qinwen laughed and said:


    "This Song Que you speak of, is he that impressive?"


    "It''s not about whether he''s impressive or not. He''s one of those rare kinds, a good-for-nothing without talent." Song Qinwu chimed in.


    Favors are repaid, grudges are avenged over the smallest grain.


    In his wildest dreams, Song Gengzhao never imagined that these two cousins, who had always trailed behind Song Que like lackeys, would revel in Schadenfreude after his downfall.


    But he quickly understood the reason¡ªmocking Lin Jue would be a way to ingratiate themselves with Li Wanye.


    Li Wanye was on the verge of becoming the supreme leader of humanity. Naturally, he was worth currying favor with more than these mere surface-level relatives.


    The Song family, now sinking to the bottom, meant that brothers Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu didn''t need to consider anything else.


    "Indeed, Song Que did all that, but the price of defeating the calamity-level creature was the loss of his talent.


    He is now a good-for-nothing. Can humanity''s future really be presided over by a good-for-nothing? Don''t make me laugh! Does a person without talent even deserve to be nominated in a place like this?"


    Lin Jue touched his nose with a look of "I''ll deal with you in three days," and softly said:


    "I''m thinking about knocking out your two cousins with a single blow later."


    "Zhuo Youcai" smiled wryly and shook his head, signaling Lin Jue not to mind them.


    He too felt a mix of discomfort and helplessness in his heart.


    Indeed, in this world, there are those whom you treat with utmost sincerity, yet they always feel you''re merely pitying them, and so they harbor resentment.


    Song Que was not overly troubled, fortunately in this world, there were Tang Xian, Lin Jue, and Akasi, among others.


    He had many friends who would stake their lives for him.


    Lin Jue knew that the most critical moment was approaching.


    His performance within was coming to an end. Tang Xian''s performance outside was about to begin.

 Chapter 561 - 18: The Truly Strongest Fortress_3

    He said coldly,


    "What do you know? Have you ever seen someone''s talent disappear? If you haven''t seen it, how can you be so sure Song Que is a waste? What if Song Que is just playing with you?"


    Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, the two brothers, had naturally considered this, but looking at Song Gengzhao''s actions, and his expression at this moment, the brothers did not believe it.


    The words of Lin Jue made the two slightly displeased, and they said loudly,


    "You speak so highly of that waste Song Que, where is he then? Could it be that Song Que is the lord of the Sanctuary Fortress?"


    Li Wanye and Li Zheng also looked at Lin Jue, waiting for his reply.


    If Mr. Zhuo Fushuai had praised Song Que for so long, and Song Que had no connection to the Sanctuary Fortress, that would indeed be laughable.


    Lin Jue picked his nose and said with droopy eyes,


    "Indeed, it''s time to unveil a mystery that is not a mystery.


    I won''t hide it from you all, that old coot Zhuo He, having no children and nearly biting the dust recently, acknowledged my eldest as his adopted son.


    Therefore, Zhuo Youcai is none other than my eldest, Song Que."


    At this moment, Song Que also stood up, and slowly lifted off his headscarf, revealing that young and handsome face.


    The people present all recognized Song Que and, of course, no longer doubted, but they were all astonished.


    The son of the First Fortress''s lord did not inherit the First Fortress, but instead, the Sanctuary Fortress?


    What exactly had happened here?


    "Why would Zhuo He hand over the position of fortress lord to you, a waste?" Song Qinwen exclaimed in shock.


    Song Que then raised the ring in his hand.


    Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu did not understand the significance of this gesture.


    But the lords present all got the message.


    "I do not need to explain to you all, I am merely here to compete for the lordship of the Ark Fortress."


    Song Que''s tone was serene and firm, with not a hint of displeasure or anger.


    The change here was indeed beyond everyone''s expectations.


    Everyone''s brains were somewhat overheated. Including Song Gengzhao himself, who did not understand why, after his son went to the evolution area, he returned as the lord of the Sanctuary Fortress?


    Did the destruction of the evolution area by the dragon have anything to do with his son?


    Song Gengzhao had a complex expression but at this moment he also became decisive, and proclaimed loudly,


    "I often say a phrase, in my life, I, Song Gengzhao, am not as good as Li. But when it comes to having sons, he can''t compare with me.


    For the lordship of the Ark Fortress, I am not qualified to compete, and neither are the members of the Song family, but Song Que is!"


    The Lord of the First Fortress''s last-minute change of heart sent shockwaves throughout the hearts of many.


    Each person was considering how to choose. Only Li Wanye remained calm, saying,


    "Song, my worthy nephew, young and talented, truly a dragon among men, naturally has the qualifications to compete. However, I have one question for you, is it true that you no longer possess talent?"


    This question was also of concern to Song Qinwen, Song Qinwu, and even Song Gengzhao.


    Song Que slowly shook his head, neither humble nor arrogant, showing no intent to boast as if his talent had never changed:


    "I am, of course, a person with talent. If anyone here has any objections, you can test my strength in the mining area.


    If I am not a person with talent, or rather, if I am not a person with full talent, then I will not participate in this election."


    Song Gengzhao sighed.


    He didn''t believe Song Que would deceive him, it was easy for him to think that the Evolution Zone had indeed repaired his son.


    But his relationship with his son¡ª even though Song Que would still be filial to him, their relationship could hardly be as absolutely trusting as before.


    Yet, he was still happy.


    Looking at Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, as well as the expressions of his own brothers, Song Gengzhao thought to himself, his son was ultimately still the most talented.


    Li Wanye nodded, not surprised at all, as he never intended to use this point to pressure Song Que.


    He didn''t care how Song Que obtained the Holy Land Fortress either.


    The ring explained everything, the current master of the Holy Land Fortress was now Song Que, knowing this was enough. There was no need to dwell on it.


    He earnestly said,


    "I, Li Wanye, am not as capable as my nephew Song, but Fortress 39 has ultimately benefited humanity. It is also the most prosperous fortress today.


    Although the Holy Land Fortress has a capable lord like my nephew, the fortress itself is still a backward little fortress.


    Could it be that in the future, we would have to gather Calamity-level Creature Crystals again and reopen the seventh and eighth layers?


    Why not concentrate resources and develop the ninth layer directly?"


    The gap between person to person might be large, but how does it compare to the gap between fortress to fortress?


    The gap between the Li family''s Fortress 39 and the Holy Land Fortress was made over generations of hard work.


    If people were to choose a fortress-ark, naturally they would choose the most powerful, Fortress 39.


    Watching as people nodded in agreement, with the occasional shake of a head, it seemed as if the deal was done.


    The most outstanding individual, if not backed by an equally outstanding fortress, would ultimately not be able to compete with the Li family.


    Lin Jue, witnessing all this, spoke up again,


    "Who told you the Holy Land Fortress is a small fortress? What''s with all you third-rate fortress folks nodding and shaking your heads? And you, the lord of this second-rate fortress, feel superior because you''re slightly taller among dwarfs? Look at you, acting as if your Fortress 39 is the greatest in this world."


    Lin Jue knocked on the table, raising his voice as he said,


    "If my big brother comes to contend, it is naturally with both an unparalleled person and fortress, ensuring you bunch of useless people lose without any grievances."


    Li Wanye wouldn''t let his mood be disturbed by these unsubstantial threats for a second time.


    The change in a fortress''s level wasn''t something that could be achieved overnight.


    So what if Song Que was a genius? Could he really turn a fortress with only six layers into eight layers in just a few days?


    But just at that moment, Li Wanye''s lordship ring suddenly resonated.


    It wasn''t just Li Wanye; every lord present felt a prompt within the rings in their sea of consciousness.


    They gently caressed the rings, seeking the source of the message in the sea of consciousness.


    Soon they found the reason.


    Every lord''s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the real-time update that only they could see¡ª Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The number one on the fortress leaderboard was no longer Fortress 39 but had changed to the Holy Land Fortress.


    Under the note for the Holy Land Fortress, they saw a small hint.


    This hint was enough to shock the whole world.


    ¡ª¡ªCurrent level of the Holy Land Fortress: Nine layers.


    (I can''t fake it anymore, I admit I''m a nobody, please give me your monthly and recommendation votes QAQ)

 Chapter 562 - 19: Siblings Recognize Each Other

    Tang Xian felt somewhat nervous.


    All over the world, people were marveling at the broadcasted footage from the screens of the Sanctuary Fortress.


    It was footage from the eighth and ninth floors of the Sanctuary Fortress.


    After today, this fortress and its lord would also become the focus of all humanity''s attention.


    But his nervousness wasn''t about the potential encirclement by several Children of Order that might follow, nor was it about the change in the world order of the human world.


    Life always has many major events, which at first glance seem like a change of dynasties or a renovation of heaven and earth. But in reality, they are still just trivial matters of daily life.


    What made him nervous was that he was about to meet the only relative he had in this world.


    Fortress Thirty-nine, fourth floor.


    On the eighth floor, a meeting was being held to change the world system, but for the people below, it was just a lively event to provide topics for after-dinner conversations.


    Shang Lu was still researching plants. The seedling of the Zudun Holy Tree seemed to have entered some strange dormant state, an event that had never happened before.


    The variability of this tree was too great, just like life itself.


    It was just as if the whole world was searching for Tang Xian, and then Mr. Tang Jikede showed up casually in front of Shang Lu.


    When Shang Lu saw Tang Xian, he was startled, showing the exhaustion typical of someone recently married, then he pushed up his glasses and pulled Tang Xian into the laboratory, whispering,


    "Xian, you''re now a federal criminal, so you''d better be careful."


    "When have I ever been careless?" Tang Xian''s attitude towards Shang Lu was somewhat different now.


    After Constantine''s memories returned, his feelings for his parents deepened even further.


    Therefore, his sense of belonging to his sister became even stronger.


    As a result, when he scrutinized Shang Lu, he felt like he was examining a brother-in-law.


    In the past, no matter how he viewed Shang Lu, he always felt satisfied. It would have been a good thing for Shang Lu to marry any woman from Hua Science Academy.


    But now, he suddenly felt that Shang Lu being Zhong Xiuxiu''s husband was not appealing at all.


    Look at this man, sloppy, unkempt, spending all day in the plant cultivation room, and not knowing how to be more considerate or gentle even though he had a wife.


    Shang Lu seemed to sense that Tang Xian''s tone was a little off.


    "Indeed, Xian, you''ve always been meticulous in your thinking. What brings you here this time?"


    "Change is coming, and I plan to take you all away."


    "Away? To where?"


    "Baichuan City."


    The fight with the Orderers hadn''t come yet, but those Children of Order probably wouldn''t tolerate him any longer.


    Tang Xian wanted to take Ke Ye, Bu Jing, Shang Lu, Lin Jue, Qin Qian, and the others away from the Pyramid before that.


    Of course, the most important person was his own sister, Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Shang Lu still didn''t understand.


    Tang Xian didn''t waste words, saying,


    "It''s good for you all. I''ll have someone get the experimental equipment you need over there. Start packing now, take whatever you think is indispensable. We still have some time, probably a few days before I''ll draw attention, but you need to leave now."


    "Okay." Shang Lu always took Tang Xian''s words without question.


    "There''s one more thing," Tang Xian suddenly said.


    "What is it, Xian?"


    "I need to borrow your wife for a while."


    The look on Shang Lu''s face was one of confusion as he knew, of course, that Xian wasn''t interested in Xiuxiu.


    The remark just sounded odd, and it made him feel uncomfortable to hear it.


    Tang Xian walked toward the inner room.


    Xiuxiu was sectioning tissue, brain tissue.


    Human brain specimens were scarce, so what she was cutting now was frog brain.


    These frogs came from mining areas, a bit larger than bullfrogs, but in the mining areas, they were like lambs, non-aggressive creatures.


    When she heard footsteps, Xiuxiu turned around. Seeing Tang Xian was not a surprise, and it even made her somewhat happy.


    She couldn''t explain the source of her joy.


    Seeing Xiuxiu also made Tang Xian a bit nervous.


    The medical report had made him believe that Xiuxiu was just a passerby who appeared pleasant to him.


    Now, this girl was his genuine sister, someone he thought he no longer had.


    During his school years, Tang Xian was eighteen when he graduated. Due to cheating in the Trial of Selection, he fell to the lower class.


    Others without talents were also relegated to the lower class.


    Those children who hadn''t seen their parents for six years, and the scenes of them clinging and crying together when they were reunited, were something Tang Xian could never understand.


    Tang Wen and Zhong Yao had already left. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Wen couldn''t be like other fathers and throw a cigarette over, his heart aching but his face hard, saying, "Tomorrow I''ll take you mining. A man should learn how to provide for himself."


    Their mother, Zhong Yao, couldn''t be like other mothers, holding her child and gently stroking his cheek, and saying there was still hope in life, not to give up so easily¡ªthese kinds of lies.


    He had seen these scenes many times and thought they were all deceiving themselves.


    Now, upon seeing Xiuxiu, Tang Xian suddenly understood a little more. His experience as a human being seemed to become more complete.


    "Your father''s name is Tang Wen, and your mother is Zhong Yao. They are your birth parents."


    Xiuxiu had not expected such an opening line from Tang Xian.


    Nor did she expect to learn these things during the broadcast from the ninth floor of the Sanctuary Fortress, amidst all the big things happening in the world.


    Her expression was quite odd as she said,


    "Have you been investigating my parents these past few days?"


    "No, I am your brother, my name is Tang Xian, Tang of Tang Wen. You should actually be called Tang Xiuxiu."


    There must have been a gentler and more sentimental way to break such news.


    But for Tang Xian, the moment was somewhat similar to when Li Xiaoyu had asked him if ''cute'' meant ''adorable'' or ''worthy of love''.

 Chapter 563 - 19: Siblings Recognize Each Other_2

    But there are significant differences.


    Overall, it''s a hassle, and when things get troublesome, take the simplest approach to solve the problem.


    That was Tang Xian''s idea.


    So, without beating around the bush, without any euphemism, he spoke his mind directly.


    Interestingly, Zhong Xiuxiu was also a weirdo, after being stunned for a few seconds, she then curved the corners of her mouth into a smile, as if to prove she was happy for a moment, and said,


    "Okay, I got it."


    And so the two remarkably unique siblings recognized each other, not nearly as tense as Tang Xian had anticipated.


    After thinking for a bit, he said,


    "Do you have any doubts?"


    "Can I trust you?"


    "You can. I''m your only family member. In terms of interests, you''re not as pretty as Li Xiaoyu, not as cute, nor as rich, so there''s no possibility of being tricked for love or money. Moreover, Shang Lu is my friend. Lying to you to ruin my friendship with him wouldn''t pay off. So rationally speaking, I have no motive to deceive you; in fact, I should be completely honest and on good terms with you."


    "Then I have no doubts. I know now, you are my brother." For Zhong Xiuxiu, Tang Xian''s report-like analysis was something she was most comfortable with.


    After a few seconds of silence, in a very serious tone, she said,


    "I''m very happy."


    Her smile was so stiff, but Tang Xian didn''t find it unattractive at all.


    He also had his speculations about his own parents.


    Why were their parents in the Bastion of Gods?


    How did they gain the trust of the Orderers? Why did the outstanding children of the Order need to be their students?


    It seems his parents too had a very secretive past in the Orderer''s forces, with complex relations with them.


    Perhaps, they were the children of the Order from decades ago.


    They fell in love, came to an enlightenment about human nature, and thus began their journey of world salvation.


    But this was just Tang Xian''s conjecture.


    Anyway, the genes of the father and mother are definitely different from ordinary humans, tending towards the same Order genes as himself, hence Zhong Xiuxiu has an extraordinary calculating ability and a scant understanding of normal emotions.


    The father was a man of few words, not emotional like the mother.


    Tang Xian ruffled Zhong Xiuxiu''s hair; she originally wanted to dodge, but she held back and did not.


    "You take after Dad, Tang Wen. He''s a very rational man who values results and data. When Mom took me to leave some place, Dad always raised objections, and indeed his opposition was the most rational."


    After all, he had deceived Tang Wen and Zhong Yao. So, if he really was the weakest number seven, taking him away was indeed too emotional.


    Zhong Xiuxiu said,


    "I can be emotional too. Shang Lu said so."


    "How is Shang Lu? Does he have any quirks?"


    "What kind of quirks? Does categorizing woody plants into trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs in his sleep and reciting their names and characteristics count?" Zhong Xiuxiu asked.


    "That doesn''t count. For instance, asking you to call him ''brother'' during the day, and ''dad'' at night? As far as I know, a family in the Thirty-nineth Bastion has this bad habit; maybe their descendants do too."


    Zhong Xiuxiu shook her head and said,


    "It''s all over in a few minutes; there''s no time to call out anything."


    Tang Xian took a deep breath. Even as a brother, he shouldn''t cross boundaries to learn these things. But¡ª


    He couldn''t help thinking it was for the best that Shang Lu wasn''t here; otherwise, wouldn''t he be battered to the point of coughing up blood by Zhong Xiuxiu''s remarks?


    "I''d rather know more about Mom and Dad," Zhong Xiuxiu said.


    "Sure, what do you want to know?"


    "Why don''t they come to see me? What exactly caused them to disappear.


    Where have they gone, what do they like? What have they been doing all these years?


    To them, am I very important? Are they satisfied with how I''m doing? Am I now what they had hoped for?


    Or am I just a mistake?"


    She seemed calm, her face still expressionless, but there was a kind of longing in her eyes.


    Those who knew Zhong Xiuxiu mostly saw her as a freak. They disliked it when Zhong Xiuxiu said something strange.


    Gradually, Zhong Xiuxiu stopped speaking as well, because there was nothing to ask.


    What she knew, they didn''t; what she didn''t know, even if they did, they wouldn''t tell her.


    It had been a very long time since she had spoken so much or asked so many questions.


    Tang Xian suddenly felt a pang of heartache.


    Someone should have been there to guide her when she was young.


    Someone should have taught her how to express joy and sorrow.


    Someone should have been with her during her childhood, so she would never have to be puzzled about her own identity.


    This girl''s everything had been taken away by him.


    "I''ll tell you everything about them. I haven''t truly been someone''s brother before, but I''ll do my best to be one.


    The world may get chaotic in the future, but I promise, whatever you lost because of me, I''ll try my best to make it up to you. Your future life with Shang Lu will not be affected by this chaos; you will be the most loving couple in Baichuan City. All my friends will take good care of you earnestly.


    They won''t look at you as if you''re a freak; they won''t find your actions strange and therefore hard to understand.


    In this world, there will be people who love you unconditionally. You will understand all the most beautiful emotions humans can have.


    Whatever our parents couldn''t give you, I will definitely find them all for you."


    Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly froze.


    S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 564 - 19: Siblings Recognize Each Other_3

    In her memory, Tang Xian was someone of the same kind as herself. She accepted such a brother partly because she felt that his way of thinking was similar to hers, a very rational person.


    However, Tang Xian''s tone was somewhat sad, like a child about to cry.


    This was different from the Tang Xian she knew.


    Zhong Xiuxiu stared blankly at Tang Xian.


    She remembered that she had cried a few times in the past, but later such emotions gradually faded.


    Suddenly, she felt very sad, that kind of congestion coming from deep within her chest.


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected to lose his composure like this.


    Really strange. He was sure he was speaking in a very calm tone.


    It was probably because he suddenly thought of Zhong Yao and Tang Wen, how the love they had for him should have been given to this girl.


    It was probably because he thought of Yan Xiaoling, and those few people in his life who had gradually given him a soul.


    Zhong Xiuxiu was like an incomplete version of himself.


    Her emotions were even more faint than his.


    God knows what she had been through all these years? Being in the world, dealing with other people, one is likely to experience all kinds of emotions.


    He was so lucky to have met many lovely people.


    But was his sister just as lucky?


    With her temperament, did she hate it at Hua Science Academy as he did?


    Was she bullied by others? Did she also think about following someone or having someone follow her?


    Tang Xian shook his head, a bit agitated. He had deliberately avoided those more lyrical ways of sibling recognition.


    Yet he was still taken aback by these sudden emotions.


    But he quickly regained control of his emotions and looked like the always confident Tang Xian again.


    "I''ve come this time to take you and Shang Lu away. There''s a place better than this fortress waiting for you."


    "Then will you come with us? I want to see you again, ...brother," Zhong Xiuxiu said softly.


    "Of course, once I''m done with this busy period, my opponent will probably be greatly weakened. At that time, I''ll come back, and we can share our pasts with each other."


    "Good. I''m looking forward to it," Zhong Xiuxiu said.


    Her expression was always blank, different from Li Xiaoyu''s natural daze. Most of the time, she just didn''t know what emotion to use to process her reactions.


    Tang Xian was not a person swamped by emotions. After the initial touch of feeling passed, he quickly calmed down.


    "Pack up your things. I''ll tell you everything on the way. There will be no secrets."


    "Are we leaving right now?"


    "Yes. The weather outside is changing, it''s somewhat related to me, and I need to take you to a safe place first."


    Before long, Tang Xian led Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu out of Hua Science Academy.


    On the fourth-floor TV tower, scenes from the ninth layer of the holy city fortress continued to play.


    The appearance of the Silver Judgment Knights, those new steles, and new building materials also carried the same sense of mystery as in the eighth layer.


    Even though Tang Xian had known about all this a few days ago. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But a few days ago, he had not updated the timely intelligence of the holy city fortress.


    At that time, the world fortress ranking still showed thirty-nine fortresses in the first place.


    Now, he had provided the strongest fortress, the strongest lord.


    The plans of the Order Keepers and Li Wanye were completely overturned due to Song Que and the holy city fortress.


    It would soon be their turn to take action, and this round should be the one to decide the winner.

 Chapter 565 - 20: The Mysterious Ju Mang

    ```


    Leaving the Pyramid and heading to the mining area, they eventually returned to Baichuan City.


    The process didn''t require too much time; Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu just had a few more items to purchase.


    Both were quite slow to react to the changes in the world.


    Unlike everyone else, they did not gaze intently at the TV towers as they traveled.


    Their discussions were about everyday topics.


    For instance, Shang Lu remembered that she forgot to bring the parent plant of the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid.


    Tang Xian remembered he could not let Qing JiuYu find out the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid he gave was "copy and pasted," so he asked Shang Lu to forget about it.


    Zhong Xiuxiu remembered she still had two monkey brains to study back in her lab.


    Or the fact that transplanting St. Dunstan''s Tree was very troublesome, and someone at Hua Science Academy still owed her money and other trivial matters.


    Tang Xian wasn''t particularly in a rush either. Watching the newlywed couple, he began to realize that perhaps tying one''s life to another person and forming a contract wasn''t such a bad thing.


    The main thing was choosing the right person.


    The two chattered for a while, visited several shops, and restocked on some goods, then both carried bags full of items.


    In the end, Tang Xian found a secluded spot and led them to the mining area, returning to the lakeside cottage.


    Upon arriving at the lakeside cottage, Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu were quite nervous.


    Both were people who usually stayed in labs and rarely went out, so naturally, they were nervous in a place where their lives were not guaranteed.


    Tang Xian understood; these lab "weirdos" actually disliked substantial changes to their environment.


    They had a strong capacity for accepting new things but not a strong desire to do so.


    Tang Xian was preparing fish on the side, in no rush to take the couple to Baichuan City.


    After adapting for a bit, Shang Lu finally said,


    "Xian, are you really my big uncle?"


    Tang Xian looked at Shang Lu with an expression reserved for an idiot; the man was becoming less perceptive by the look.


    Seeing Tang Xian not respond, Shang Lu smiled awkwardly and continued,


    "Unbelievable that the Pyramid has opened up to the ninth level, the Sanctuary Fortress is really amazing. Xian, what''s in the ninth level? Does it have anything to do with us having to leave the fortress?"


    He hadn''t been paying much attention, his thoughts occupied by the various miscellaneous matters associated with relocating.


    Now that he was idle, he began to realize that something significant had happened in the Human World.


    Tang Xian said,


    "This matter started a few days ago, before Li Wanye held this meeting. I took all the reserves of Soul Crystals to open the eighth and ninth levels."


    Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu both moved closer.


    They were still interested in such big news, though the fundamental reason was that they currently had no experiments to do and could only make do with listening to these world-level "gossips."


    "It''s worth mentioning that the eighth level is actually different from the eighth level of the thirty-nine fortresses.


    It was a friend of mine who told me later; he is currently in charge of supervising the Sanctuary Fortress.


    The Stele in each fortress''s level contains some information unique to that fortress.


    However, most of the Stele''s content is consistent.


    The inconsistent part is some core technology of the Sanctuary Fortress.


    Since it doesn''t align with your field, there''s no point in elaborating.


    If this event leads to a favorable outcome, the Pyramid will no longer be a threat to us for a long time to come. Then, I''ll take you both to visit the eighth, ninth, and even the tenth levels.


    As for the ninth level, there''s more content.


    Visually, the ninth level actually looks similar to the eighth level.


    I suspect that in the later levels, there might not be as significant a difference in civilization as before.


    The Stele''s content has updated with many beasts and some that we humans don''t even know about yet.


    They all start at the level of cataclysmic beasts.


    Regrettably, there was no information on any of the six apocalypse-level creatures.


    It also mentioned Eden again."


    Tang Xian''s expression was contemplative; the content of the Stele should not be mechanically inscribed.


    The charm of writing is that it allows one to sense the emotions contained within it.


    Since seeing those Stele half a year ago in the eighth level of the thirty-nine fortress, Tang Xian could feel a certain "Orderer''s" dislike for Eden''s forces.


    He couldn''t quite describe this aversion.


    It seemed hostile as if the whole human race should go to war against Eden''s forces.


    Yet, amidst the apprehension, the words somehow felt like they were very familiar with each other.


    The ninth level even more so.


    In the ninth level''s Stele, Tang Xian learned some history about Eden.


    "Is the disappearance of my parents related to Eden?" Zhong Xiuxiu asked.


    "Yes, that part of the memory I lack, but it should be the most crucial one." Tang Xian felt somewhat guilty.


    "So it turns out, brother, you have significant ties to both forces?"


    "That''s right. In a way, I was born of Order, received Eden''s inheritance, I consort with beasts or feed on them, but I am human." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian found himself really... complicated in numerous ways.


    Zhong Xiuxiu''s thought process was quite unique, and she said,


    "Biologically speaking, such cross-species inheritance is difficult to achieve.


    And if Order represents mechanization, then it should not grant humans various genetic things, as those are not easy to control."


    Zhong Xiuxiu was just voicing her understanding.


    Tang Xian, however, suddenly trembled.


    It seemed like he was hit by a vital piece of information, something he had always overlooked.

 Chapter 566 - 20: The Mysterious Ju Mang_2

    He furrowed his brows and, after thinking for a moment, said,


    "If the mining area is a world isolated from technology, then how did the Orderers obtain such detailed information about Eden and the beasts?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu didn''t respond. It was clear that Tang Xian was talking to himself, not asking them.


    Tang Xian kept tapping his fingers, staring at the dead fish with its eyes fixed on him.


    He stayed like that for about ten seconds.


    "Why didn''t Bai Shuang let me in?"


    Suddenly, his thoughts jumped to the day he had seen that white deer.


    Tang Xian had thought that his power of Eden should have allowed him to easily open the door for several apostles or servants of doomsday-level creatures.


    But now, upon reflection, something seemed off.


    "Nobody said that the history provided by the Orderers is false, so the history given by Eden must be true," Tang Xian mused to himself.


    He began to form a new hypothesis about the relationship between Eden, the beasts, and the Orderers.


    Zhong Xiuxiu had not expected her remark to send Tang Xian into such deep contemplation.


    After a while, Tang Xian slowly shook his head; it was unnecessary to overthink things that had no basis.


    He continued gutting the fish.


    The trio suddenly fell silent, which they all adapted to, until Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly thought of something and asked,


    "Did we leave Fortress Thirty-Nine because someone might harm us later?"


    "Yes, people associated with me are likely to be targeted. Sometimes human nature can be a weakness."


    "How are you going to deal with that?"


    "If you think one step ahead of them, a weakness is no longer a weakness."


    "Will my friends be in danger?"


    "Do you still have friends?" Tang Xian and Shang Lu spoke in unison.


    Tang Xian shot Shang Lu a disdainful look.


    "What kind of thing is that to say? Of course, she will have friends."


    Scratching his head in confusion, Shang Lu thought, but Xian, didn''t you say the same thing?


    Tang Xian said,


    "It''s not impossible, although the likelihood is quite low. But if you''re really concerned about this friend, I could invite them to Baichuan City."


    Zhong Xiuxiu shook her head and said,


    "It''s not exactly a friend, more like a half-mentor. She''s done deep research in the field of neurology and has also given Shang Lu some guidance on botany."


    Shang Lu remembered the woman who appeared cold-faced but was incredibly knowledgeable.


    He uttered an "Oh," his expression one of sudden realization.


    Tang Xian''s interest was piqued, and he asked,


    "So you''re saying there is a woman who is an expert in both of your fields?"


    "Yes. She''s a bit more learned than I am or Shang Lu, and the people accompanying her are all top talents from various academic fields. Will I never have the chance to see her again? Why don''t you abduct her too?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu''s idea was unrelated to friendship; she considered the woman an invaluable asset for future academic research, a veritable mobile academic tool.


    Of course, Tang Xian wouldn''t do such a thing, thinking that the woman and his sister were not that close and would not be in danger.


    But he vaguely sensed some possibilities, wondering if it could really be such a coincidence.


    "What''s her name?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Ju Mang."


    "...She just straight-up told you her name is Ju Mang?" Tang Xian was surprised; the world was indeed very small.


    "Yes."


    "Other than giving advice to you and Shang Lu, has she done anything else?"


    "Anything else? Does inviting Shang Lu and me to join a scientific organization called ''Nature''s Eye'' count?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s irrelevant, but has she ever said anything unusual to you, or invited you to participate in any strange projects or tasks?"


    "Do you know Ju Mang, brother?"


    Tang Xian supposed it must be a coincidence.


    Before Xi He''s death, his own identity had always been a mystery.


    Not only did he not know it, but others didn''t know it either.


    So there was no reason for Ju Mang to suspect him.


    Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu were probably noteworthy to Ju Mang simply because of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.


    But he indeed had not anticipated that, after so many years, Ju Mang wouldn''t have used a pseudonym.


    Like Xi He, she used her real name?


    "Don''t know her, not yet."


    "She hasn''t said or done anything strange to us, she simply gave us guidance."


    Tang Xian felt somewhat relieved; he hadn''t been terribly worried, to begin with.


    "It''s remarkable, the coincidences in this world... are truly ineffable."


    Zhong Xiuxiu didn''t quite understand.


    Tang Xian didn''t explain this time, as Ju Mang was the most cautious among the Children of Order.


    Her appearance at Fortress Thirty-Nine to recruit Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu could be considered a recognition of their abilities, but her personal appearance was indeed somewhat puzzling.


    "What is the ''Eye of Nature'' organization?"


    "In the industry, it''s the top academic organization. Just being able to join is already an acknowledgment of one''s abilities and potential."


    "Potential?"


    "Yes, Ju Mang said that even if one''s abilities meet the requirements, if they are over twenty-five years old, they would not be admitted into the Eye of Nature."


    "So it''s actually a club for geniuses?"


    "Mhm. She''s very impressive, I''m not her equal."


    "But you''re married, no matter how impressive she is, isn''t she still a loner?"


    Zhong Xiuxiu was somewhat puzzled. Is being married considered a merit? And what wrong did the loners do?


    Ju Mang''s entrance in this manner was indeed a bit surprising to Tang Xian.


    Shang Lu created significant value for himself, and Xiuxiu would definitely achieve something in the future.


    It was hard to imagine that Ju Mang might have a bunch of such talents at her disposal.


    They were like a crop of prime leeks, but not easy to harvest, because Ju Mang was quite unique among the Children of Order.


    As he thought this, he shook his head and said,


    "This woman will be fine. Don''t worry, she''s a tough character. She won''t be in trouble for the time being, at least not because of issues from the side of Order."


    Zhong Xiuxiu had a vague feeling that Ju Mang''s identity was not simple.


    Tang Xian said,


    "She doesn''t know about the Zudun Sacred Tree, right?"


    "She doesn''t, Shang Lu doesn''t allow anyone to know."


    Shang Lu interjected at the right moment, saying,


    "After all, Xian told me to keep it that way."


    Tang Xian nodded, finding Shang Lu a little more agreeable.


    Although among these friends, he had always favored Shang Lu the most.


    ...


    ...


    When evening came, the three had finished their meal and discussed some details. Tang Xian then prepared to send them into Baichuan City.


    The lab equipment would be transported there later through the holy fortress.


    Shang Lu became very interested in Baichuan City when he heard about the many plants growing wildly in its vicinity.


    Everything in this world could be explained with science and conceptual science.


    Tang Xian also hoped Shang Lu would be able to solve some of the mysteries of Baichuan City in his own way.


    Before leaving, Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly asked,


    "Do I have a sister-in-law?"


    "Let''s not bring up such life suspense for the time being. You should be going."


    "I hope my brother also finds someone who can bring him joy," Zhong Xiuxiu said.


    She remembered the speech Tang Xian had made when officiating her wedding.


    That speech seemed a bit lonely.


    Tang Xian said,


    "To me, love is temporarily equivalent to a sensation that transitions slowly towards familial affection through the secretion of hormones.


    It''s thicker than kinship when intense, but destined to be fleeting.


    Once the secretion stops, it''s gone, and there must be new secretion. It''s hard for a person to like another for a lifetime based purely on a heartbeat.


    A long-lasting marriage tests not just love, but the cultivation and sense of responsibility of both individuals."


    "That seems... rather pessimistic. But why are you saying this?" Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly realized that Tang Xian was not so decisive about everything.


    "Miss Second doesn''t have so many thoughts about you. When she loves, she just loves. Xian, sometimes you are just too tongue-in-cheek. Not everything in life should be analyzed with data," Shang Lu suddenly said.


    That was very uncharacteristic of Shang Lu.


    "Brother, maybe it is because there are some things that can''t be quantified, some things that can''t be explained by scientific principles, that humans differ from machines," Zhong Xiuxiu also said unexpectedly.


    Tang Xian was quite surprised. Marriage really changes people; even two individuals with such low EQ could say such things.


    He waved his hand, thinking that maybe this was why he couldn''t see how much Li Xiaoyu liked him?


    After sending the couple away with his mind in turmoil, Tang Xian shook his head, not wanting to dwell on these troublesome matters.


    He checked the time, guessing that the meeting at Fortress Thirty-Nine was probably about to end.


    It was just a matter of seeing whether Song Que or Li Wanye would have the higher support.

 Chapter 567 - 21: Major Events of the Song Dynasty and Minor Events of the Tang Dynasty

    Dealing with existences similar to oneself, the more meticulous the plan, the more it actually restricts the strategies one can choose.


    Tang Xian''s plan was far from complex; it merely involved some unconventional elements, which came with certain unstable factors.


    After seeing off Dr. Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu, he did not return to Fortress Thirty-Nine to observe the outcome.


    Because whatever the outcome, it would benefit him.


    However, before implementing the plan, he had to find a place.


    The Divine Seer Fortress.


    Each fortress is connected by unique passages.


    Only the Divine Seer, the fortress used to cultivate the Order''s child, is hidden and inaccessible by any passage.


    In the world map known to humans, information about the Divine Seer Fortress cannot be found.


    This mysterious fortress is known to only six people.


    Tang Xian was one of them.


    But now, even he could not travel to the Divine Seer.


    Because the method to reach the Divine Seer involved the use of a special portable teleportation fracture.


    Teleportation between current worlds could bring catastrophic destruction to the body and was extremely unstable, hence it could only transport inanimate objects.


    The Divine Seer was different, the fortress seemed like a place that existed in a special world. Nevertheless, ordinary teleportation fractures could not mark that location.


    Only a few special teleportation fractures could reach it. But only the Order''s child had such special teleportation fractures.


    This was also why Tang Xian suspected his parents were once the Order''s children.


    Tang Xian did not possess such a fracture; when Xi He died, he tore Xi He apart and found no valuable relics.


    Tang Xian was currently crouching at the spot where he used to fish in the lakeside pavilion.


    He held a tree branch in his hand and made random strokes on the water''s surface, like a child with nothing to do caught in some odd contemplation.


    He stared at the water, lost in thought, with no pattern to his movements.


    After a long while, he stood up, judging by the position of the sun, it was already dusk.


    He shook his head, thinking of the pavilion above the great lake. Wasn''t it just like the "Divine Seer" of this pond:


    "Indeed, now is still not the time to go. But I can invite them out."


    After reviewing all the details in his mind, Tang Xian was confident the great battle that would follow the turmoil in the human world would not deviate too far from his expectations, and he opened the teleportation fracture¡ªonce more returning to Fortress Thirty-Nine. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    ...


    The fourth level of Fortress Thirty-Nine was still in a state of commotion.


    Everywhere in the world with internet access was watching the live broadcast from the ninth level at the first opportunity.


    For those at the pinnacle, this meant the imminent reshuffle of the first chair in the human world.


    For most residents of the Pyramid, perhaps they were still lost in the pleasant illusion that a small step on the ninth level was a giant leap for human civilization.


    Tang Xian thought to himself how much they revered the Knight of Judgment now would be proportional to their anger later.


    This was not necessarily a bad thing.


    His return to Fortress Thirty-Nine was not related to the election between Song Que and Li Wanye.


    Tang Xian arrived at Hua Science Academy.


    The scientists here seemed a bit slow to catch on to the changes around them, not realizing that Zhong Xiuxiu and Dr. Shang Lu had left never to return.


    He went to the front desk of the Hua Science Academy, deciding to try his luck, suspecting that the coming of the Eye of Nature to the Hua Science Academy would be an event worthy of record.


    The receptionist girl remembered Mr. Tang Jikede.


    As one of the witnesses at Dr. Shang Lu''s wedding, his bizarre speech had left an impression.


    Above all, he had money.


    "Ah, are you here to see Dr. Shang Lu? He is in his office."


    The receptionist girl was very enthusiastic. The front desk of the Hua Science Academy was not busy, and her phone was also streaming the live broadcast about the ninth level.


    Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen made this exploration of human civilization very sensational. It was also the first time in the history of the Pyramid that the opening of a new layer was shared with the whole world in real-time.


    "Not at all, lovely lady, this time I am inquiring whether the Eye of Nature delegation has ever visited the Hua Science Academy. You know, I always enjoy dealing with these bright young minds."


    "Yes, they have! Just a moment, please!"


    Tang Xian appeared patient, having little hope for this matter.


    But soon, the receptionist girl surprised him with unexpected good news.


    "Found it. They did come here. And this time it was specifically to interact with our Hua Science Academy, they are staying at the North Riverside Street International Hotel."


    "Thank you very much for your help. They haven''t left?"


    After all, more than a month had passed, especially since Xi He had died not long ago, Tang Xian didn''t expect Ju Mang to be able to sit tight.


    "No, it seems they stayed because of some relationship with Dr. Shang Lu."


    The great sacred tree of Zu Dun.


    Tang Xian''s first thought was this.


    Even if Dr. Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu were tight-lipped, Ju Mang might have discovered something.


    But his expression remained calm, as if everything made sense.


    "Thank you very much for your help."


    Tang Xian left slowly, heading towards the location of Ju Mang.


    Finding Ju Mang so "coincidentally" without going through Konstant was lucky.


    Tang Xian did not believe in luck; he could only think that perhaps Ju Mang was also waiting for someone.


    As Tang Xian made his way to the North Riverside International Hotel, the meeting of the power holders on the eighth level was also coming to a close.


    ...


    ...


    The eighth level of Fortress Thirty-Nine.


    The scene inside the great hall was actually more shocking than the outside; laymen watch the excitement, while professionals watch the technique.

 Chapter 568 - 21: Major Events of the Song Dynasty and Minor Events of the Tang Dynasty_2

    The lords of each fortress had never imagined that a lord would broadcast their most core technology for others to see. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Wanye''s face changed unpredictably.


    Li Zheng and Qi Xun couldn''t imagine how Song Que had managed to do something silently that perhaps no one could accomplish in even the next thirty years.


    Li Xiaonian was the most shocked because he knew who was manipulating everything behind the scenes.


    Everyone had a different expression on their faces.


    For those who had hastily expressed their stance earlier, they now seemed somewhat anxious.


    For those who disliked Li Wanye, their expressions were very subtle.


    As for the Song family, Song Gengzhao, after being surprised for a long time, knew that all of these achievements were no longer related to the Song family, but he still found some old comfort.


    And for the brothers Song Qinwen and Song Qinwu, as well as the relatives of the Song family, there was awkwardness and fear.


    Song Que took all this in, suddenly feeling that humans were indeed very complex creatures.


    He wasn''t happy, on the contrary, he felt a bit disgusted but also somewhat amused.


    The opening of the ninth level of Lincoln Fortress brought such a shock that the situation completely changed.


    But Song Que still knew that to thoroughly win people''s hearts and to awe and intimidate them, he still had to offer some bait.


    "Over the years, Lincoln Fortress has accumulated quite a wealth under some policies of Lord Zhuo He, it''s just that it was always hidden and never shown.


    Even if it''s not a match in technology or in levels, in terms of financial strength, Lincoln Fortress is truly the strongest without any doubt.


    As for technology, on core projects, Lincoln Fortress had nothing to show in the past. But now it has.


    The ninth level now possesses the Silver Judgment Knights, which are stronger than the Bronze Judgment Knights.


    This is the technology of Lincoln Fortress, and as for the difference between the two new models of weapons, I think anyone who is not stupid will know that the latter is the more powerful model."


    Song Que''s gaze swept across the hall, saying earnestly:


    "I support the implementation of the Ark Plan, but I will not take the core technologies from the families, nor will the core power of the fortress lords be less than mine. I''m only concerned with one thing, which is to ensure that Lincoln Fortress can be the first to enter the tenth level and can get unconditional Soul Crystal support from all of you.


    But these are absolutely not for you to provide without compensation. To show my sincerity, I will publicize the method of making the Judgment Knights, even the Silver Judgment Knights."


    Song Que''s words once again dropped like a boulder into a deep pool, stirring up thousands of ripples.


    Compared to Li Wanye, the terms offered by Song Que were simply too tangible, as if he was giving them away for free.


    It exuded a foolish generosity of someone too honest and bad at business.


    So much so that it felt unreal, but with interests at hand, even the last of Li Wanye''s supporters switched sides.


    Only Li Wanye knew what Song Que''s words really meant.


    "Have you and your backer gone mad? To publicize the method of making the Judgment Knights, do you know what consequences that will bring?" Li Wanye became serious.


    "Of course, I do. But there are things in this world that are more interesting than the pursuit of power. Your daughter understands this, why can''t you see it?"


    Li Wanye was stunned. Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian also looked at Song Que. After a moment of silence, the Li father and son did not ask anything more.


    This conference no longer had any meaning for the Li family.


    In the voting that took place half an hour later, Song Que unsurprisingly won by an overwhelming majority.


    The Human Alliance did not dissolve the federation system.


    But Lincoln Fortress became an existence like a sacred pilgrimage site.


    Song Que only took the Soul Crystals from the high-level mining area lifeforms. Apart from that, he did not take anything else, and he made no divisions of power.


    Such a clear stream in the field of power won everyone''s respect.


    In fact, everyone knew that if Song Que were to vie for power, it could only be through merit and not through plotting. Because such honest people often don''t survive past a single episode.


    The outcome of today was an exception because he gave so much.


    People couldn''t imagine how such a young man had such immense wealth behind him.


    To develop the ninth level''s Soul Crystals need not be mentioned, but to voluntarily publicize the method for creating the Judgment Knights, this seemed to the others like having an enmity with money.


    The standing of the Li family couldn''t be said to have plummeted, but their biggest business, the income from the Judgment Knights, was completely cut off.


    Their ambition was also dismantled due to Song Que''s emergence.


    A starving camel is still larger than a horse, but it ultimately can no longer reach the peak.


    ...


    ...


    Days passed in succession.


    During these days, everyone in the various fortresses, from the lords to the lowest-level residents, was in a state of excitement.


    The Holy Land Fortress remained tightly sealed.


    All the news around the world revolved around Song Que.


    The legendary experiences of this scion of the Song Family had numerous tales, some seeming credible and others utterly implausible.


    This naturally had to do with the media; through the efforts of Bu Jing and Yu Xiaozhe, many media outlets began to build momentum for Song Que.


    While Song Que dominated all the news, there were actually some minor news stories that emerged, but they failed to make much of a splash and were submerged by the flood of news from the Ark Fortress and other lords.


    For instance, on the fourth level of Fortress Thirty-Nine, an eccentric suspected to be an imitator of the Masked Chopper Hero, holding a woman''s head and a man''s head, swaggered through a teleportation rift and vanished from sight.


    The location was the plaza of the North Riverside International Hotel.


    If such an incident had occurred in Lincoln Fortress, it would have just been a typical day for the residents of Gotham Neighborhood. In Fortress Thirty-Nine, however, it was an extremely adverse criminal incident.


    In the surveillance footage from the scene, the woman could be seen to have dark green hair, a Huaxia national.


    The man, on the other hand, had dark skin and curly hair, resembling an Indian.


    As for the murderer, he was highly arrogant, as if performing some kind of horrifying act of art.


    Before he left, he said to the camera:


    "You are next."


    Not many people paid attention to this incident, as major events always overshadow minor ones. The Li family had an interest in keeping it under wraps, but Li Wanye was actually taking it very seriously.


    The young man behind him demanded that Li Wanye must thoroughly investigate.


    This autumn seemed destined to be a troublesome one for Fortress Thirty-Nine.


    While the incident at the North Riverside International Hotel had yet to conclude, an even more shocking scene unfolded in the world of humanity.


    ...


    ...


    Winter was approaching, which for the people inside the fortresses was only symbolically significant as a seasonal change.


    Inside the fortresses, the temperature remained unchanged throughout the year.


    The names of the seasons were just a matter of convention.


    In the week before winter began, Song Que kept his promise and disclosed to the lords the manufacturing method of the Judgment Knights.


    However, this disclosure was far more "transparent" than the lords had imagined.


    Televisions around the world once again broadcasted the same person''s speech in unison.


    All the buildup was to increase Song Que''s credibility, creating a person in this world who, even if he said crows were white, would not necessarily be believed, but would make people subconsciously reflect.


    Song Que was such a person.


    This person, in front of the entire world, slowly unveiled the design principles of the Judgment Knights. He slowly narrated how humanity''s mightiest weapon corroded humans through a bizarre metal element similar to bronze. He gradually made people understand the process of life transitioning into non-life.


    All of this was shocking to the eye.


    "We cannot show the process of making a Judgment Knight live to prove my words, as that would inevitably require the sacrifice of a human being. I want you to believe that those who have become Judgment Knights... are no longer our comrades. They are merely puppets controlled by the lords.


    They will not return home in glory, nor will they come back to our side after the war ends. They do not retain their own names or identities anymore.


    Both in the physical and spiritual sense, they are already dead."


    Song Que''s voice carried a trace of sorrow.


    These light words seemed like a fierce storm sweeping across a barren plain.


    The various beautiful illusions people had about the Pyramid, which had long covered their consciousness, began to show cracks in this storm.


    Those lords had never imagined that Song Que''s so-called disclosure would be made public to the entire world!

 Chapter 569 - 22: Infernal Affairs

    Song Que''s matter-of-fact tone revealed one of the world''s evil secrets as Tang Xian returned to Fortress Thirty-nine.


    Assuming the identity of Tang Jikede, he sat in a corner of the outdoor caf¨¦, watching the comings and goings, observing the terror on everyone''s faces.


    In reality, it wasn''t something too difficult to accept. The Judgment Knights had only emerged in recent times.


    But similar events had been ongoing since ancient times. Humanity''s obsessive research and transformation of itself, the desire to accelerate the evolutionary process, had always been tinged with a destructive pathology.


    In some ways, the Judgment Knights proved this point.


    Compared to the residents of the Pyramid who were still somewhat unaware, struck too hard on the head to instantly realize what was happening, the lords were the most nervous.


    They were astonished at the production process of the Judgment Knights, yet they had already harbored suspicions in their hearts. What truly made them incredulous was that lords living inside the Pyramid would develop the will to oppose it.


    The coffee had grown cold. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian watched an electronic eye not far away, then looked at the phone booth across the street.


    His expression remained calm.


    He had never believed that just by himself and Song Que, they could awaken the people.


    That they could make the people realize that for hundreds of years, the place they lived in was nothing but a cage.


    Just like one day, if people discovered that a tower leading to the abode of the gods truly existed in this world, they wouldn''t immediately accept the concept of gods in this world.


    The most likely scenario would be to forcibly apply a logical explanation to all these illogical situations first.


    Song Que revealed the truth, and then what? People wouldn''t really part ways with the Pyramid.


    The lords would still come up with various reasons to pacify the people afterward, these reasons would invariably be noble, wrapped in a mantle of righteousness.


    And everyone had lived here for hundreds of years; such habits were hard to change with just the truth of the Judgment Knights.


    What he had Song Que do was merely an appetizer.


    To let a large number of humans migrate from Baichuan City and leave the Pyramid, moving human civilization to a new chapter, was still premature.


    The real goal was to draw out a few individuals.


    The phone in the booth suddenly rang.


    At the same time, television towers across the world were also forcibly interrupted.


    Tang Xian glanced at the time, not more than twenty-five minutes had passed.


    "Still pretty efficient," he muttered softly, then stood up and walked into the phone booth.


    In fact, as early as the 21st century, when mobile phones became a possession that all of humanity held, phone booths were phased out.


    But as iconic structures, and as reminders of the past, these functional buildings remained¡ªserving more than just a decorative purpose.


    The moment he picked up the phone, Tang Xian heard Constantine''s complaint:


    "You''ve played with fire here. We don''t know much about the forces of order right now. Just like a machine, if it encounters a virus, it must have countermeasures. The most drastic of which would be a system reinstallation. What you made your people do is like implanting a virus that contradicts the base code.


    Aren''t you afraid something we don''t know about will come to wipe us out?"


    Tang Xian chuckled and said,


    "Ju Mang and Ganesa are dead."


    "I''ve heard about that, how did you do it?"


    "It''s not too good to talk about it over the phone, but I guess I''m not the only one interested in this matter. Siren, Uranus, they all want to know, don''t they?"


    "The one who just interrupted all the fortress broadcast equipment was Siren.


    He controls many of this world''s entertainment and media industries.


    What you''ve done is meaningless. Perhaps it could enlighten mankind, but as long as they don''t leave the Pyramid, after your death, Siren can quickly reset everything back to square one."


    Tang Xian didn''t deny it, touching his nose as he said,


    "But I''m not dead yet, and they probably really want me dead. After all, isn''t this an official declaration of war against them?"


    "Yes, as soon as your people took down Li Wanye, Siren had already planned to deal with you.


    He and Uranus have reached cooperation, Kon... Tang Xian, I''m also here to tell you this. Your chances of winning are not great. You don''t understand how powerful Siren is."


    "More powerful than Ju Mang?"


    "That... is hard to say. Are you sure you can''t tell me the details? That woman was very troublesome. How did she die?"


    Constantine was still very curious about how Tang Xian had so easily killed Ju Mang and Ganesa.


    "Ju Mang and Ganesa are dead, yet you sound quite happy."


    "Yes. Ju Mang had been skeptical of me from the beginning. I didn''t like her much."


    "She had little tiger teeth, no wonder," Tang Xian blurted out unexpectedly.


    This nonsensical remark left Constantine bewildered:


    "Tiger teeth?"


    "Tiger teeth harm Ding, and you''re called Constantine, so it''s natural you two didn''t get along."


    Constantine, on the other end of the phone, wore an expression that spoke volumes of speechlessness:


    "Your knack for making jokes is really not that great."


    "Although she was a hassle, she was still human, and without a head, she couldn''t survive. Anyway, I just need to focus on dealing with Siren now, right?"


    Tang Xian''s tone remained as it was, as if killing Ju Mang was just a matter of course.


    This indifferent tone made Constantine feel the need to remind Tang Xian:


    "Well yes, but without Ganesa, Bronze Judgment Knights and Silver Judgment Knights are now under the control of Siren.

 Chapter 570 - 22: Infernal Affairs_2

    He is now the only one who can control the Judgment Knights, especially since they are now largely deployed all over the world."


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "So it''s time for the final battle. Aside from Siren, there''s also Uranus, and I need your help. I''m not sure I can kill two Children of Order."


    "You call this not being sure? I thought you were fully prepared, especially since you just tore apart two of your peers not long ago."


    "Taking the initiative to attack is different from defending passively. You came today just to tell me this, right?"


    "Yes, I have to be a useful overseer, otherwise, it''s not easy to avoid suspicion from Siren and the others. So you don''t have much time, because every now and then, I have to let out some of your secrets," Constantine said with a wry smile.


    "You seem to be enjoying this."


    "Not at all; if Siren and Uranus can be dealt with, it would be beneficial for me too. I promise I''ll help you. At least when it comes to restraining the Judgment Knights, my metal control ability can be very useful.


    But Siren and Uranus, you''ll have to deal with on your own. It''s best not to involve the multitude of beasts; otherwise, you probably won''t like that scene."


    Tang Xian heard the underlying meaning in Constantine''s words and said,


    "It seems he has many hostages. My partners are safe, so these are ordinary citizens of the Pyramid?"


    "Smart. Siren is on the third level of the thirty-ninth fortress, District 669. More than seven hundred Judgment Knights have surrounded the district already. It''s a dragon''s den, waiting for you to walk into the trap."


    Constantine paused for a moment, his tone becoming extremely solemn,


    "Don''t pull off another Dragon Raid like last time. I must tell you, there are particularly many people on the third level. These people are all hostages, mostly children between the ages of twelve and eighteen.


    And as for you, I can assert that you''re no longer that relentless kid who could even deceive himself. I suppose you wouldn''t ignore the lives of those kids in the district, would you?"


    Suddenly, Tang Xian said,


    "You''re a comrade now, so I''ll give you a human name."


    "A human name?"


    "Constantine or Prometheus, both are awkward to say."


    The change of topic was somewhat abrupt.


    Constantine retorted,


    "Be serious, I''m trying to help you analyze the situation."


    "No need to analyze. I''ll rescue the people on the third level, following their rules," Tang Xian replied decisively.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, that''s what I''m saying¡ªthere are hostages of Siren and Uranus all over the world, why the urgency to provoke them? Am I just a card up your sleeve?"


    "That''s why you should have a name, so when you die, I can write a human name on your tombstone."


    Constantine''s mouth twitched, and he sighed, shaking his head,


    "Then what should I be called?" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Kang Xiaoding."


    "...Just keep calling me Constantine," Constantine said, trying to suppress the urge to curse.


    Tang Xian didn''t insist.


    After a few seconds of silence, Constantine said,


    "The time is set for noon a day from now. Siren and Uranus will both be there, along with hundreds of Judgment Knights. I''ll use my abilities to buy you time when the Judgment Knights are activated, is that settled?"


    "Good."


    "Calls are expensive, see you tomorrow."


    Constantine hung up the phone.


    Tang Xian frowned, thinking the guy always stole his lines.


    ...


    ...


    One day isn''t very long.


    In this brief day, Tang Xian hasn''t done anything particularly pressing.


    He''s just been wandering around the Pyramid.


    He was well-behaved and didn''t contact any of his teammates.


    Judgment Knights, these mechanical life forms, are the only ones that can restrain the power of Eden.


    He knew he was facing a huge challenge this time, but he didn''t seem worried at all.


    In fact, watching people come and go, Tang Xian felt that the term ''great battle'' might be underestimating the Order, or overestimating people like Siren and Uranus.


    Just a few days ago, he was pondering a question.


    How has the Order ensured the compliance of the Children of Order for hundreds of years?


    If it has no will of its own and is merely mechanical, then aren''t the Children of Order the ones ruling humanity?


    How could its creators ensure this process would be smoothly executed?


    Why could his own parents and himself leave the throne of God so easily?


    Had no Child of Order ever doubted these things before?


    This pile of questions, Ju Mang with the dark green hair and the small tiger teeth, actually had her own opinions on.


    Tang Xian felt somewhat regretful.


    Siren, Xi He, or Uranus, they were all excellent people.


    Throughout human history, there have been many such beings, but it''s a pity they never truly saw that sky.


    Like something Li Xiaoyu did when she was little.


    She arranged for someone to keep flying upwards in a flying vehicle until the machine entered an area like the mines, where suddenly all the power would fail.


    And then it would start to fall.


    No one knows what''s at the top of the Pyramid.


    But perhaps... some very excellent people have achieved something similar before.


    There are still many mysteries in the world.


    The Children of Order are but a few larger ants within the colony.


    Their life and death, and even the change in the cognition of the people within the Pyramid, might not be able to threaten the Pyramid at its core.

 Chapter 571 - 22: Infernal Affairs 3

    ...


    The unrest had not subsided; people in various places began to cause trouble.


    Many demanded explanations for the actions of the Judgment Knights.


    Those who had lost loved ones were in immense pain, but most of them were merely lowly mine slaves. Whether they died in the mines or lived as Judgment Knights didn''t seem to make an essential difference.


    This was the entrenched culture of licking wounds in this world.


    Everything unfolded as Tang Xian had anticipated, with people outraged and shocked.


    But life had to go on as usual in the end.


    The influential figures hurried to make statements, aligning with Song Que, declaring their ignorance of the Judgment Knights'' manufacturing process.


    The Li family naturally became the scapegoat for the enforcers of order and an outlet for people''s fury.


    At the gateway between the fourth and fifth layers, a large crowd of residents had gathered.


    Yet Tang Xian believed that in a few days, the situation would be suppressed.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, at noon. Fortress thirty-nine, third layer, district six hundred sixty-nine.


    There were no classes in the district today, but as usual, a significant number of teachers and students would come and go.


    While the huge topic brought up by Song Que yesterday affected the students and teachers, it could not change their lives.


    The quietness of today seemed somewhat out of the ordinary.


    In Tang Xian''s case, his sense of smell had become a fantastical ability.


    Everything was as Constantine had said; today, district six hundred sixty-nine was indeed a real dragon''s den.


    And the situation was worse than he had anticipated.


    Tang Xian was not in a hurry. He walked, unhurried and with a hint of helplessness on his face.


    Passing through the district''s main gate and main road, he slowly made his way toward the broadest artificial lake nearby.


    The first person he saw there was, unexpectedly, Constantine, which was different from their agreed place to meet.


    What Constantine looked like twenty years later was unknown to Tang Xian, but Constantine knew him.


    Dressed in a red trench coat and with milky white short hair, he exuded a ruffian''s air¡ªhis demeanor today starkly different from when he observed the world from the Watcher''s House, seemingly ready to whip out an electric guitar for an impromptu jam at any moment.


    By Constantine''s side were two other people. Tang Xian was somewhat familiar with them, as Constantine had accurately described them before.


    Siren was a male with a charming appearance, while Uranus appeared fierce and rugged.


    The two stood to his left and right, with Constantine positioned slightly behind them in the middle.


    The most hair-raising sight, however, was the dense presence of Judgment Knights around them.


    As Tang Xian stepped into the district and approached the trio, he was already locked on by countless "Exhaustive Rays".


    Their eyes flashed red, entering the highest state of alert, just as when Tang Xian had first encountered these machines.


    The four men stood in standoff, with Constantine not moving to Tang Xian''s side¡ªhe remained with Siren and Uranus.


    After a long while, Tang Xian furrowed his brows and said somewhat sorrowfully,


    "So this is your choice. You''re not here to help me today. No wonder your first target was Ganesa. He had to die for you and Siren to truly take control of the entire army. It seems I''ve been calculated by you."


    Siren and Uranus looked at Tang Xian''s surprised expression as if they had returned to the fond childhood days when they bullied number seven together.


    Touching his nose, Constantine chuckled,


    "Deceiving you is an honor for me. These twenty years, not a day have I felt as overjoyed as today." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian sighed,


    "Why?"


    "Because you''ve always made me feel, I was just a substitute.


    But fortunately, this is how the world works¡ªpretend long enough, and the fake becomes real. Meanwhile, you, the real big boss, will become the fake."


    When one''s trump cards vanish or even turn into the opponent''s bargaining chip, the danger level of the battle immediately shifts from somewhat manageable to a life and death situation.


    Seven hundred Judgment Knights capable of confronting Eden''s power, along with two powerful Sons of Order, already cast great doubt on the outcome of the battle.


    But the real killer move was Constantine''s betrayal.


    Tang Xian, feeling the everyday ebb and flow of people outside the district, was momentarily lost in thought.


    How many significant events occurred without people''s awareness?


    His expression grew grave, for this time, he truly felt danger, yet Tang Xian did not show any sign of panic.


    He spoke with a touch of loneliness,


    "Actually, to be honest, I have some experience in pretending to be the boss too. It''s a pity that with our different stances, we can''t exchange our experiences as friends."


    Constantine was slightly puzzled. Tang Xian seemed too calm. His own betrayal was supposed to be a fatal blow to Tang Xian.


    But it seemed¡­ Tang Xian was just a bit sad, not horrified.


    "Actually, I have really thought about it. After you leave the throne of the gods, you might, like me, lead a leisurely life. You could just be Kang Xiaoding, or even if you truly helped me in this battle, you could be Tang Xiaoding. I don''t usually give people this surname; it means you''re one of our own."


    Tang Xian''s tone was one of helplessness.


    No one noticed that as his words fell, plant vines on the outer wall of a nearby school building slowly climbed up as if suddenly infused with life.


    A dark green flower bloomed quietly and unnoticed.

 Chapter 572 - 23: The Best Liars Are Always Women

    Tang Xian''s figure was lonesome.


    Even though he had long known that such an outcome was possible,


    he still said,


    "I thought our cooperation, even if not everlasting, shouldn''t have ended here. Before you use these Judgment Knights to kill me, I need a reason."


    Constantine said,


    "Compared to walking among humans, from where I stand, it''s easier to glimpse the truth. Over the past twenty years, you''ve discovered various things in the human world.


    But in the seat of gods, I too have uncovered quite a few things.


    So I have never betrayed anyone. My choice was never you, but the path I believed could last.


    Perceptions are destined to change. We are too insignificant in comparison to the gods.


    If not defying it, one becomes the ruler of this world. If you defy it, you''ll soon perish.


    A beast that tries to escape its cage often meets a fate far worse than simply waiting to die inside it."


    Constantine raised his index finger toward the sky and said, "Compared to you, I''m more inclined to believe that it will win. Besides, I really don''t like you that much."


    Tang Xian believed that Constantine must have discovered something.


    Actually, that would be reasonable.


    In the past twenty years in the human world, he too had many insights.


    Constantine, or should I say Prometheus, certainly didn''t make no progress in the world of the Order in the past twenty years.


    Still wearing that calm expression, he said,


    "Then make your move. Which of you three plans to go first?"


    "Such provocation is pointless. I may not be clear about your capabilities, but based on past experience, we''re not going to give you the chance to touch us. To kill an Eden creature, these Judgment Knights are clearly the most fitting."


    The densely packed Judgment Knights locked down every possible escape for Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian had long noticed that the positioning of these three was very precise.


    He couldn''t charge straight at the trio.


    The extent of Uranus''s abilities was still a mystery, and even though the powers of all three did not affect him, as sons of Order with a natural talent for combat, they were far superior in both strength and speed.


    Attempting to circumvent the Judgment Knights and attack any one of the three would expose his movement trajectory.


    In the span of a mere instant, he and Constantine were locked in a chess-like battle.


    With enemies everywhere, the chances of breaking out were virtually zero.


    Especially with a certain peculiar scent lurking in the air.


    This scent was what truly unsettled Tang Xian. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How far Constantine''s abilities had awakened over these twenty years was equally mysterious.


    Especially since all three knew his weaknesses, they had opted to use these non-biological units to deal with him.


    "You seem to have made thorough preparations." Tang Xian''s demeanor became serious as well.


    "History always has a few fish that jump out of the lake, but by reaching shore they only die faster. I do not recognize you as one of our camp, so I shall still address you by your human name."


    Constantine''s words carried a hint of release,


    as if only by killing Tang Xian would he truly own that title.


    "Tang Xian, your existence is an error within this world of order, and I will correct it today."


    The moment Constantine''s words fell, the battle finally began.


    The bodies of dozens of Judgment Knights started to roar, and in the next second, Tang Xian was locked by dozens of beams capable of inflicting destructive damage on any and all life.


    He instinctively wanted to dodge, even though there was absolutely no way out.


    At the same time, Uranus gently raised his hand.


    Tang Xian suddenly felt his body slowly sinking.


    The matter around him seemed to liquefy strangely at a particular instant.


    He felt like he was deep in a swamp, trying to lift his feet but was unable to find a fulcrum.


    Clearly without a way out, the three seemed to have not underestimated him in the least.


    Before the Judgment Knights could attack, they didn''t give him the slightest opportunity to get out of the way.


    Uranus''s ability was like liquifying the surrounding matter within a unique force field. Their attack was a sure-kill technique from the outset. This nearly irresistible killing move was far from over.


    Around Constantine, many tiny particles had emerged at some point.


    These fine metallic particles were initially scattered around, and now, summoned by Constantine, they were like bullets ready to deliver death at any moment.


    But knowing that Tang Xian''s abilities could immunize him against such an attack, Constantine didn''t launch these metals; he waited for the right moment to block Tang Xian''s escape routes.


    The locking by two sons of Order, the aiming of dozens of Judgment Knights, all happened within a second after Constantine''s words fell.


    That second was exceedingly long.


    Tang Xian even felt as if time had slowed down somewhat. This sense of disconnection grew stronger, and everything in sight began to blur.


    "Actually, to kill the remnant of Eden, the Judgment Knights alone would be enough. But we do not know what kind of life-preserving methods you have mastered over the years, or whether your bodily response is still above ours."


    It wasn''t Constantine''s voice, but Siren''s.


    The final and most lethal method was initiated by Siren.


    Only then did Tang Xian realize that he seemed to be dragged into some kind of illusion.


    The environment altered, retreat blocked, and even consciousness trapped.

 Chapter 573 - 23: The Best Liars Are Always Women_2

    And in that lengthy second, there were also dozens of Judgment Knights capable of inflicting harm upon himself.


    "I must say, you all are really keen on seeing me dead. If I don''t die today, I feel like I would be letting you down after all this trouble," Tang Xian remarked with a hint of jest.


    As everything in his surrounding vision slowly began to change in accordance with Siren''s will, Tang Xian, on the contrary, calmed down.


    "Your feigned composure is quite amusing. I was hoping you could alleviate my boredom of the past twenty years, but alas, that waste of space Number Seven possessed the Corrupted Bloodline of the Eden creatures, and Constantine is quite wary of you."


    Having entered the Consciousness Illusion, Siren was not afraid of Tang Xian. In a sense, he was invincible here.


    "The dimension of time can be altered by me within consciousness, but the degree of this temporal shift is not substantial. You don''t have much time left, your body can no longer move, and the Judgment Knights'' Exhaustive Ray will critically injure you in an instant."


    Tang Xian nodded; those rays made even Tang Feiji feel uncomfortable.


    His own vitality had been greatly enhanced due to the seven-day rule of the mining area.


    But it certainly couldn''t compare to catastrophic level creatures.


    Yet Tang Xian was akin to a bystander, as if he stood outside the stage, watching these people perform.


    "But I''m not dead yet. Don''t you think the Judgment Knights outside are dawdling too much?"


    Siren frowned slightly, as his prey not showing fear somewhat diminished the thrill of the hunt.


    Tang Xian had seen the Judgment Knights in action before; those peculiar rays were extremely troublesome, and once unleashed, given his current condition, whether on the physical or consciousness level, he was firmly bound and unavoidable.


    But he felt no pain.


    On the contrary, it was only now that Tang Xian revealed a smile.


    This smile carried an inscrutable meaning that Siren found rather distasteful. He asked annoyingly:


    "What''s so funny?"


    "Psychic invasions are useless against me, though it''s impressive that you can pull me into such an illusion. People do feel an inconsistency in time within dreams, sometimes slow, sometimes fast.


    But it will never exceed a certain ratio. Constantine and Uranus aren''t fools; they wouldn''t give their victory speech while I''m trapped in such a dream state, right? So why am I not dead yet?"


    Tang Xian took a step forward.


    As he moved, Siren suddenly summoned several enormous creatures.


    Shiling, Dragon Breath, Plague Source, Gluttony.


    Seeing these creatures, Siren also felt a moment of shock.


    "Oh, impressive. These are some of the troublesome entities I''ve encountered in my consciousness. It seems your ability isn''t just to pull people into dreams but to weave them as well."


    Tang Xian''s tone was somewhat indifferent; any one of these catastrophic bosses possessed terrifying power enough to destroy human civilization.


    Siren couldn''t comprehend what Number Seven had been through in the mining zone.


    He naturally recognized these creatures; as a child of order, he possessed knowledge on par with Tang Xian.


    What kind of entity could handle so many catastrophic boss-level creatures?


    The Ashen Dragon gathered Dragon Breath, countless insects and venomous creatures stirred within the body of Plague Source, Shiling stepped forward, and Gluttony let out a bizarre howl.


    If this were truly a dream, it would undoubtedly be a nightmarish terror.


    Enemies once faced now suddenly reconvening, alongside a master of the dream¡ª


    If one could not awaken from it, unimaginable torment would ensue.


    But Tang Xian remained as he was, an image of nonchalance.


    "This battle should have trapped my consciousness while Constantine and Uranus locked away my body.


    You indeed succeeded, and that''s commendable. But the Judgment Knights are under your control, right? So why haven''t they killed me yet?"


    Tang Xian asked this question for the third time.


    Eventually, Siren began to sense something was amiss.


    The dimensions of reality and illusion were different, but they shouldn''t be this far apart.


    Tang Xian should be dead by now, his body pierced through by the Judgment Knights'' Exhaustive Ray.


    But there he was, perfectly fine, mocking Siren with a detestable expression from within his own created illusion.


    "Before that meeting started, it was you who suggested that Constantine beguile Ganesa, right?


    Because both of you controlled the Judgment Knights, and in the control of higher-tier soldiers, your power surpassed Ganesa''s. But in the lower ranks, the Silver and Bronze Judgment Knights were more under Ganesa''s influence.


    After his death, all the power over the Judgment Knights would fall to you.


    You must have been gloating, using me as a knife for you and Constantine, with which you killed Ju Mang and Ganesa."


    Siren''s pupils constricted.


    He suddenly realized that Number Seven might not have been pretending to be calm at all.


    Perhaps he had been aware of everything from the start. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian did not have access to Siren''s data, but he knew what Siren was thinking at that moment. He said softly:


    "That''s right, I knew all of this much earlier. I am aware that Constantine is no longer my card."


    Siren''s eyes widened.


    Tang Xian''s smile grew more amicable, and he kindly said:


    "You must be eager to know how I realized it."


    Despite his unwillingness, Siren was indeed curious about where things had gone wrong.


    "It''s actually quite simple. You shouldn''t have gone to see Li Wanye."


    "Why?" Siren was startled.


    "Because I had already persuaded Li Wanye. For you to find and persuade him as well would have at least indicated that there was someone he considered to be on par with the demon children of Eden."

 Chapter 574 - 23: The Best Liars Are Always Women_3

    And the existence that must be from the order forces is you. Li Wanye controls the Judgement Knights, his value is greatest to you, so the most likely person to seek out Li Wanye would be you.


    But the real question is, why did you go to find Li Wanye at such a coincidental time."


    Tang Xian paused, his gaze sharp: sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just by chance, I had just reached an understanding with Li Wanye and then you showed up. It''s almost as if I was under surveillance.


    And the only one capable of doing that is Constantine. He knows everything I do inside the Pyramid, including the arrangements with my friends.


    Only he could have warned you that I would plan something with Li Wanye.


    Although I can''t be one hundred percent sure, it at least gave me enlightenment, after all, he has always viewed me as a psychological shadow since we were young, he hates me, and I, too, have never truly trusted him."


    A tinge of helplessness appeared on Tang Xian''s face, a helplessness that wasn''t deliberately contrived, but seemed completely earnest:


    "But I was willing to make peace with him, to change our views of each other, it''s just a pity, he didn''t seize such an opportunity and made the wrong choice."


    Siren shook her head, asking somewhat frantically:


    "If you already noticed this, why did you still listen to his words and come to such a dangerous place?"


    "Because I came to kill you. Correction, it''s not me who''s stepping into danger, but you."


    Tang Xian said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his attitude sincere.


    Siren scoffed, "You''re bluffing."


    "I actually thought, maybe Constantine didn''t betray me, and if I brought him here today, he would be my comrade-in-arms. In that case, he could use his metal controlling abilities against the Judgement Knights, and I could deal with you. After all, I am the human nemesis."


    Tang Xian shook his head and continued:


    "But he disappointed me, his defection, that also forced me to use my trump card."


    "Trump card? What trump card could you possibly have left?"


    "Think about it, why haven''t the Judgement Knights launched an attack yet? Your order has already been given; what''s stopping them?" Tang Xian looked at Siren, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.


    Siren''s heart skipped a beat.


    "Think about it, is Ganesa really that naive, believing whatever Constantine says?


    Ju Mang has been cautious all her life, did she really just die that easily?"


    These mocking words, like a stiletto, created fissures in Siren''s state of mind.


    "Ju Mang is a very good liar, on par with Constantine, perhaps that''s the reason for the wariness between them?"


    Slowly approaching Siren, Tang Xian acted as if he couldn''t see the four calamity-class boss creatures at all.


    His gaze was filled with amusement:


    "In fact, over these years, I think you''ve also wondered, why haven''t you seen children as outstanding as we were in the ''reserve'' of the Order''s children?


    Are we too exceptional, or is Ju Mang, who''s in charge, too strict? But these things you thought unimportant, who wants to see their own replacement too soon, right? But you really should think about this issue."


    Tang Xian was like a magician revealing the key to the trick at the last moment, he made a gesture of whispering in the ear:


    "Actually, when I told Li Wanye that Ju Mang was the traitor among you, I was serious."


    In that instant, Siren''s pupils contracted.


    Of course, he hadn''t forgotten the intelligence he obtained while probing Li Wanye''s memories.


    But he merely scoffed at the revelation: so, that woman really was the traitor among us.


    Yet, despite the sentiment, he disdainfully dismissed the idea. He certainly had reason to believe that all of this was just a smokescreen by Seven.


    Because Seven''s trump card should have been Constantine, and the statement ''Ju Mang is a traitor'' was just a bait Tang Xian left in Li Wanye''s memory, attempting to sow division within their group.


    Bloodshot eyes filled Siren''s vision, that feeling of mockery made him feel insulted.


    He thought he had seen through Seven''s charade, but how could he have imagined that Seven had told the truth to the enemy? Himself and Constantine, because of that one truth, had not harbored any suspicion of Ju Mang!


    Tang Xian seemed to see through what Siren was thinking, he shrugged and said:


    "It''s quite frustrating for me, to be honest, I''ve always been an honest person, yet often when I tell the truth, no one believes me."

 Chapter 575 - 24: Killing the Siren

    Many people in this world rely on first impressions.


    Of the few children of order, perhaps only Constantine truly dreaded Tang Xian.


    To the Siren, shouldn''t this clown-like Number Seven be at his mercy to trample on?


    Finding himself to be the victim of such a scheme was nauseating. Anger also clouded his thoughts, and he asked without understanding:


    "Didn''t you already kill Ju Mang and Ganesa?"


    Tang Xian looked at the Siren''s raging appearance and found it increasingly amusing:


    "Who decreed that a woman with dark green hair must certainly be Ju Mang? Or that a person with Indian curly hair and brown skin must definitely be Ganesa?"


    The Siren paused, his breathing became rapid. He was furious that he had been fooled by such a trick.


    "But indeed, those two heads did look very much like theirs. After all, they were meant to confuse you."


    Tang Xian took a few more steps forward.


    He stood at the foot of the huge Ash Dragon, not even sparing it a glance, and continued to speak sarcastically:


    "I must admit that Ju Mang is a very powerful woman, after all, she is in charge of a group of people who possess cutting-edge technology. I originally thought Natural Eye and Origin were two different organizations.


    But I later realized that although both Natural Eye and Origin are under Ju Mang''s control, one operates in the light and the other in the shadow. One conquers the known scientific problems of the world while the other applies these technologies in bizarre and curious ways.


    Even those two heads aren''t really human heads."


    Oh, I didn''t know much more about all this than you did, by the way. It''s worth mentioning that it''s been over twenty years since I last contacted Ju Mang, and I had only seen her a few days ago. Hmm... considering the time since I last saw her, the phrase ''a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood'' can no longer describe her."


    Regarding Ju Mang, Tang Xian''s tone conveyed trust that seemed even stronger than Constantine''s.


    "Ju Mang''s betrayal... I don''t believe it. What did you use to persuade her?" The Siren still couldn''t understand to this point.


    What charisma does this man possess to convince Ju Mang to make such a decision?


    Tang Xian nodded and said:


    "None of us is a believer in order, are we?"


    The Siren understood the meaning of Tang Xian''s words.


    "Did Constantine betray me because he believes in the followers of order?


    Did you choose to collaborate with Constantine against me because of the so-called world of order?


    I think all of us realized from a very young age that there is no such thing as gods. We are only doing things that benefit ourselves. It''s just under various stances, choosing the most comfortable way to survive.


    Ju Mang is the same. She has her own thoughts about this world."


    As for when did I start to persuade her? As to this question... you''d better pray that after humans die, they really can become ghosts and then incarnate as evil spirits to haunt me. Maybe then you''ll have the chance to know the truth."


    In the end, you may question why Ganesa would also defect. In fact, he didn''t defect; he simply made a deal with me. I would help him kill you, and he would help me deal with Constantine. It''s just a transaction."


    When his words ended, Tang Xian did not offer any further explanation. He moved with astonishing speed, instantly passing by several huge mythical creatures!


    In the dream world, the Siren was almost an unbeatable existence. But all of this was just a ruse.


    The Siren suddenly realized, his teammates might truly have been caught up in some emergencies!


    Shocked and enraged, he tried to command the mythical creatures to attack Tang Xian, wanting to create in the dream something that could kill Tang Xian.


    These creatures all came from Tang Xian''s memory, but Tang Xian had no fear of these mythical creatures at all.


    "Even if you can drag me into a dream, I am different from the others; mental invasions are ineffective against me.


    This is my dream, and whatever you can do here, I can do too."


    Tang Xian''s assault accompanied his words, but his speed was clearly not able to keep up with the Siren''s.


    Even with the ability ''Taste for Marrow,'' he couldn''t compare in combat skills to those children of order like the Siren, with their innate talent for battle.


    But the Siren wasn''t having an easy time either. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching the huge monsters he had summoned in the dream being forcibly erased by Tang Xian''s will, he realized something.


    This dream was different from the others.


    In past dreams, he was the sole creator and ruler.


    But in this dream, Tang Xian had powers equitable to his.


    Without saying more, Tang Xian continuously tried to close in on the Siren.


    The dream still followed the laws of Eden.


    His idea was simple: capture the Siren, and then kill the Siren.


    If one receives a heavy blow in the world of consciousness, even though the body in the real world remains intact, the brain will suffer irreversible and irreparable damage.


    He gritted his teeth and began frantically summoning beings in the dream that could stop Tang Xian.


    Cerberus, Tengu, and even the Azure Dragon and the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. The Lightning-fast Lei Xiao, or the gigantic White Phosphorus Serpent Demon, herds of Yi Niu and Zudun Giants.


    The variety of monsters surprised the Siren once again. What had Number Seven been doing in the mines?


    Among these creatures were some with the power to destroy heaven and earth. What exactly was his relationship with these beings?


    Tang Xian frowned slightly; as the horde of creatures stormed toward him, he swept his hand¡ªone could see a white streak across the mass of dark-packed monsters. In an instant, the charging horde was erased, leaving only the occasional remnants to disperse like ash and dust within moments.

 Chapter 576 - 24: Killing the Siren_2

    Like a deity purifying the world, the demons and monsters vanished into thin air in an instant.


    Siren felt as if he was up against something unbelievable, encountering for the first time an entity in the dream realm that could stand toe-to-toe with him.


    He kept summoning various things to stop Tang Xian, while Tang Xian kept dissipating them.


    This stalemate went on for several minutes.


    In these minutes, Siren witnessed countless powerful creatures.


    And some terrifying beings that you could only see in the deep sea.


    But no matter the level of their existence, they were all easily obliterated by Tang Xian.


    This was a special kind of dream realm, where Tang Xian should not have been able to eradicate these creatures so decisively if he had even the slightest fear of them.


    It was as if this waste number seven stood before these myriad beasts with a demeanor that said he ruled over all.


    Of course, Siren couldn''t understand Tang Xian''s view on these myriad beasts.


    Who would be afraid of their food?


    He had thought these powerful myriad beasts could withstand Tang Xian, but instead, they just made Tang Xian more adept with his various abilities in the dream realm.


    "This is indeed a nice domain, I hope you''re generous when you die."


    Who wouldn''t want to be a king of luck? No matter how powerful the enemy, just drag them into a dream to thrash them, and summon entities from memory.


    Siren''s ability was extremely useful, and even Tang Xian couldn''t help wanting to plunder it.


    He became more skillful with every power in the dream realm.


    The surroundings began to distort, with the ground of the school district rolling like waves to surround Siren.


    He wanted to stop Siren, but Siren was no easy opponent; no matter what Tang Xian did, he was able to restore the dream to its original state.


    Only now the roles of offense and defense had switched between the two.


    Tang Xian searched for an opportunity to kill Siren, while Siren still held a glimmer of hope for Constantine and the others. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hoped to see Tang Xian suddenly die, hopeful that the more than seven hundred judgment knights outside could kill Tang Xian.


    His expectations became more intense with time but began to give way to self-doubt.


    He desperately wanted to leave the dream realm, but the problem was that he couldn''t.


    Siren was like an unwelcome guest who had barged into someone''s home, intending to overthrow the host and claim the territory as his own.


    He had always done this, altering the consciousnesses of countless people and peering into their memories.


    But Tang Xian was different; Tang Xian was like a thug more ferocious than any bandit, and once you entered his domain, the robbers could well become the robbed.


    The entire Consciousness Illusion had been locked down, leaving no possibility of escape.


    This was a battlefield where it was a fight to the death.


    And the distance between Tang Xian and Siren was rapidly closing.


    Siren became somewhat panicked; he knew that a physical attack had no effect on Tang Xian.


    But he didn''t expect this man''s spirit to be so strong as well.


    The monsters in Tang Xian''s sea of consciousness had been displayed in full, but Tang Xian''s speed of eradicating these monsters was getting faster and faster.


    When there was nowhere left to retreat to and no place to hide, Siren realized that he seemed to be about to engage in direct combat with this Eden''s demon child in the dream.


    Tang Xian did not recall the various scenes of being bullied by Siren as a child, nor did he bother to declare any victory speeches.


    Right now, he just wanted to end the battle quickly; he charged towards Siren, getting faster and faster!


    Siren''s heartbeat pounded like a heavy drum, and in panic, he watched Tang Xian''s fists, sensing an intense crisis.


    Fear caused Siren to throw caution to the wind, and he began to summon anything from Tang Xian''s memory, not just myriad beasts.


    Varieties of people, past classmates, teachers, friends, supervisors... Siren dragged these people out.


    He was like a drowning man making his last struggle, not caring who it was as long as they could stop this Eden''s demon child.


    But Tang Xian did not stop.


    These people ultimately seemed like mere illusions to him, and he didn''t even need to wave his hand; with just a glance, all sorts of memories were crushed into dust.


    His long chase with Siren, this battle of summoned confrontations in the dream realm, had finally come to an end.


    Siren looked somewhat desperately at Tang Xian''s approaching figure.


    He was clearly faster than Tang Xian but was trembling so much that he couldn''t exert his full speed.


    It was the first time he had encountered someone in the dream realm who could so dominantly dismantle all his tactics, leading to Siren''s mistaken belief that Tang Xian was invincible.


    Between life and death, Siren''s brain also began to spin rapidly, trying to come up with a way to trap Tang Xian.


    The fist wind howled.


    There was no longer any obstacle between Tang Xian and Siren.


    He did not know what the situation outside was like, but Ju Mang had clearly been dragging Uranus and Constantine with Ganesa.


    The situation was three against three. As long as he dealt with Siren, the balance of victory and defeat would tilt significantly.


    His fists were swift and decisive. Along the way, neither beasts nor humans had caused Tang Xian''s will to waver in the slightest.


    But just as he was about to smash into Siren, Tang Xian suddenly heard a childlike shout.


    "Tang Xian."


    His entire offensive came to an abrupt halt. The ferocious momentum of his fist instantly stopped.


    A little girl in her teens opened her eyes wide, tinged with slight panic and insecurity.


    She stared blankly at Tang Xian. The scene was still the artificial lake that had not changed for years, and she still looked the same as she did that year.


    Without any intention to attack or obstruct, she managed to stop this unstoppable man in his tracks.


    Siren''s eyes widened, his breathing rapid. He too was shocked, not expecting that in Subject Seven''s memories, the person who could stop him would be a little girl.


    He probably understood a bit. As the person behind the scenes responsible for controlling the entertainment industry in this world, Siren thought that this was probably one of Tang Xian''s little toys?


    Just like those wealthy men would treat various beautiful women as their playthings, some toys were so youthful that ordinary people found it hard to comprehend.


    Siren slowly backed away, as the dream would change with the emotions of its master.


    He could feel the intense fluctuation of Tang Xian''s emotions.


    This entire dream seemed no longer impenetrable as before.


    Tang Xian just stood there, gazing thoughtfully at the little girl.


    If he had not met that child that year, what would he be like now? Perhaps he would become as detestable as those people behind him? Maybe he would not have as many friends as he did now?


    Perhaps after regaining all his memories, his feelings for his foster parents would become very faint?


    He shook his head ever so slightly, the movement minimal. It looked as though he was stunned, motionless.


    Siren''s expression turned ecstatic, as if he had finally found a real monster that could restrain Subject Seven in his memory filled with monsters.


    He was overjoyed, estimating that the solid dreamscape would soon collapse due to Tang Xian''s intense emotional fluctuations.


    Tang Xian took a few steps back, coming to the little girl''s side.


    That event from years ago was nearly a decade past. In those ten years, he had met many people and experienced many things.


    He ruffled the girl''s hair, something he had not done much before, but now he felt it was not quite appropriate and instead hugged the stunned girl:


    "Go back to your paradise."


    Siren''s smile suddenly froze.


    Because the entire dream was like a giant egg about to crack, yet the signs of this strong collapse suddenly stopped.


    The little girl in Tang Xian''s arms, just like all the illusions before, began to slowly dissipate.


    Siren knew that humans have obsessions. In a dream, if one encounters their obsession, it is hard to see through it. Tang Xian''s initial reaction confirmed this for Siren.


    But the way Tang Xian came back to his senses seemed quite peculiar.


    In this man''s memory, was there really nothing that could restrain him?


    Not until the figure of the little girl completely vanished did Tang Xian slowly get up and turn to face Siren, as if he knew what Siren was thinking:


    "I am not like you. In this world, there are people who truly love me. The idiot you summoned happens to be the least likely to hinder me.


    I have no obsessions about her. I only hope that there is a heaven in this world, for that is where she belongs."


    As if he had gained even more control over the dream, Tang Xian this time went straight to Siren, the ground beneath their feet seemingly rushing together.


    Siren did not know why, but looking at Tang Xian''s face filled with murderous intent, he felt as if he was looking at a demon.


    He began to flee in terror but could never shake off the distance between him and Tang Xian.


    When he was hoisted up by a massive force, Siren finally descended into complete despair.


    Tang Xian''s hand gripped his neck, speaking with a bone-chilling tone:


    "I also hope that there is a hell in this world, because that will be where you belong."


    Blood spurted out.


    In the dream, Tang Xian''s hand pierced through Siren''s chest.


    Outside the dream, Siren''s body fell to the ground with a thud and did not rise again.

 Chapter 577 - 25: Eachs Own Position

    The life force of Siren, which had not been reduced in the slightest, suddenly fell to the ground, unable to get up.


    Constantine didn''t glance at Siren, but he already knew what had happened.


    Dense patches of dark green vines spread out, one by one. From corners that were difficult to notice, they slowly climbed onto the metal shells of the Judgement Knights.


    At the same time, they entwined around Tang Xian''s body as if to protect him. Meanwhile, a blue lotus base supported him, preventing him from sinking further.


    In his dream, Tang Xian seemed to have gone through a long chase and battle, but when he opened his eyes, in reality, only a mere few minutes had passed.


    In those few minutes, the Judgement Knights were as if they had been firmly locked in place.


    These plant vines were incapable of restraining the Judgement Knights, particularly since there were hundreds of them here. They were simply beyond human contention.


    Even in the mire-like substance, plants could still grow, enveloping Tang Xian within.


    "It seems that entering someone''s dreams on one''s own is a dangerous affair. Besides, you''ve missed the best opportunity to kill me."


    Tang Xian indeed felt it was a pity; there were no hints in his sea of consciousness.


    He didn''t know if it was because Siren was still alive.


    Such dream control ability was potent, but he could only control his own dreams, reigning supreme over his consciousness.


    However, he was unable to enter others'' dreams like Siren.


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry; considering the number of his kills and the acquired skills, if this were treated as a game, the game''s drop rate was quite low. Perhaps he hadn''t spent enough money on it?


    He calmly looked at Constantine and said,


    "You chose wrong. Originally, you didn''t have to deal with these Judgement Knights, but now you have not only to fight them but also Ganesa and me."


    Constantine had not expected Tang Xian to persuade Ju Mang and Ganesa to take action. It seemed this man had started doubting him early on.


    He thought he had made thorough preparations, but against Tang Xian, he was still a step behind.


    The hundreds of Judgement Knights that had initially locked onto Tang Xian now all turned in unison.


    Their firepower was squarely aimed at Constantine and Uranus.


    For several human units, the Judgement Knights were an invincible presence, and the reason why Ganesa hadn''t launched an attack with his controlled knights was due to Constantine''s metal manipulation abilities constantly disrupting the knights.


    This ability to alter metal''s shape and drive its movement significantly disturbed Ganesa''s control commands.


    If Ganesa and Siren had spiritual control permissions over the Judgement Knights, then Constantine, like "Magneto," had physical authority over them.


    But controlling such a large number of Judgement Knights, he couldn''t hold out for long. The battle would become harder as it progressed.


    He finally understood the reason for Tang Xian''s calmness,


    "It seems I''ve underestimated you. Facing you, I should have been more cautious. Now it''s time for them to show up, isn''t it? There''s no need to keep hiding."


    Uranus was equally intelligent, realizing that he had been outmaneuvered by Agent Seven.


    Tang Xian nodded, not saying much. After Constantine''s words fell, the already vast expanse of plant vines began to expand even further.


    It was like numerous giant serpents suddenly erupted from all around, tightly encircling the entire artificial lake. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the highest point of the mighty vines, there was a young, tall woman with dark green hair, standing barefoot, coldly watching the few people below.


    At the same time, a muscular Ganesa also emerged slowly from the depth of the vines.


    His steps were slow, his gaze filled with a murderous intent.


    The two did not stand with Tang Xian but were in different directions from each other.


    Constantine, looking at their positioning, suddenly understood something.


    Tang Xian had not persuaded them to join a side, but had convinced them to turn away from his own side.


    This was not a battle between two sides; it was more like a melee, except that a few factions had reached a pre-arrangement¡ªakin to slaying the legitimate power first and then each reigning as king.


    Constantine wasn''t particularly panicked; he calmly said,


    "Before we get started, I want to know when exactly you decided to betray me?"


    This was addressed to Ju Mang.


    Constantine''s voice was not loud, but in the area now surrounded by plants, it was also clearly audible.


    He was indeed puzzled.


    "As a child, when everyone else was bullying him, you just chose to be a spectator. At that time, was it because you were already persuaded by some reason, or did you really just disdain the idea of bullying him? And just when did you two ally with each other?"


    Constantine actually took a step forward, as though he wanted to scrutinize Ju Mang''s face closely. For him, it was also a predicament now, but he appeared as calm as Tang Xian.


    "Because your acting was not good enough, I knew very early on that the two of you were putting on an act." Ju Mang wasn''t very talkative; her accent had always been a bit strange.


    Because her voice and demeanor did not match, making it seem too juvenile, Ju Mang''s speaking always felt discordant.


    Even though she looked at everyone with an attitude of hostility, as cold as if no one could get close, when she spoke, she always seemed to lack authority and even appeared somewhat cute.


    Constantine Uranus and the others, of course, were used to it. They would never make the mistake of judging by appearance. They were not swayed by voices or faces.

 Chapter 578 - 25: Eachs Own Position_2

    Everyone looked at each other as if they were a pool of data that could be utilized.


    But in human society, Ju Mang often passed for underage due to her voice, which caused many to disrespect her.


    It wasn''t until she had taught them a lesson in various ways that she would tame them. Ju Mang grew disgusted by having to do this repeatedly.


    She continued to look down on Constantine, as the battle had already lost its suspense.


    Everyone was merely dividing up the spoils, exchanging bits of intelligence among themselves.


    The final chapter of the seven Children of Order would play out here.


    Within the Throne of Order, the secrets each had discovered no longer needed to be kept.


    Ju Mang went on:


    "Even before Tang Xian left the Throne, when you all ganged up on him, I thought there was something wrong.


    All of us were carefully selected, the most outstanding of the Human World.


    Even with the differences among us, it shouldn''t be that we could not even do what ordinary people knew to do."


    The bullied one never considered any rescue measures and let himself be bullied without protest¡ªisn''t that very strange?


    And Tang Xian''s acting really was terrible. It looked too contrived. But at that time, I didn''t know whom he had chosen to collaborate with."


    Constantine and Uranus hadn''t expected this response. They were surprised that Ju Mang had sensed something off about Tang Xian when she was so young.


    Tang Xian gave a bitter smile, wanting to correct that he actually was an actor. His acting had saved him many times in the mine zone.


    The acting he honed amid the terror of life and death was not comparable to that of his past.


    But Ju Mang obviously didn''t give Tang Xian a chance to speak, as she continued:


    "However, Tang Xian was very alert. I didn''t quite trust that he was Konstant, and I couldn''t understand his actions, but he alone noticed my abnormality and took the opportunity to talk to me while you weren''t paying attention.


    He candidly revealed his collaboration with you. But he didn''t try to win me over, he merely let me understand the history of the Throne, how as Children of Order we replaced our predecessors, and how we would be replaced by our successors."


    Ironically, the person in charge of nurturing the Children of Order was me."


    Not only Constantine and Uranus, but Ganesa too were astonished by this "collaboration" between Ju Mang and Tang Xian, devoid of any ulterior motives.


    The two finally understood why no sufficiently outstanding Children of Order had emerged over the years.


    "Our existence is like some kind of upgradeable software, once there''s a better substitute, we will be replaced by new Children of Order. This is the renewal and evolution of the Children of Order.


    Or perhaps we are just the operating system for the Orderers'' power, and with a better system, we will be replaced.


    So over the years, I''ve been doing one thing, that is, preventing this possibility of replacement. Constantine¡­ no, Prometheus, you should be thankful to me."


    Ju Mang''s words were somewhat of a novelty even for Tang Xian; although he had thought this way before, it was still a shock to have someone else confirm it.


    Not to mention Uranus, Ganesa, and Constantine.


    "We were never really gods above all, not even as good as those Pyramid residents unaware of the truth.


    They at least have complete lives, while we are merely tools used by the Orderers to control this world.


    I must tell you that over the years I was in charge of nurturing the candidates, quite a few talents did emerge, but they are now living idly in Origin and the Eye of Nature.


    Therefore, no one capable of replacing us has appeared over the years. This is the fruit of my labor, but there''s another question that I need to have answered."


    Ju Mang''s gaze turned to Constantine, and she said very seriously:


    "You are the Watcher, the one among us who should have known the most. You can choose to die here, as a foolish failure, or you can choose to share what you know with us."


    This was the source of Constantine''s confidence. Because everyone held their own secrets, each was eager to unearth the secrets known by others.


    In that year, Tang Xian had a vague sense of the connections between the mine zone, the Human World, and the Pyramid World.


    He was the opportunist who roamed among those worlds.


    The true history of mankind, he was most likely to uncover, and so too the secrets hidden within the Court of the Myriad Beasts were most likely to be known by Tang Xian.


    Even the inheritance of the six great apocalyptic creatures was Tang Xian''s own secret.


    But the other Children of Order born with him each had their own secrets as well.


    Xi He discovered the latent potential of humans, who¡ªeven without relying on the genetic gifts of the Order¡ªpossessed beings known as tyrants.


    Given more time, he might have truly been able to cultivate artificial tyrants. By then, he probably wouldn''t have been content to remain subordinate to the Order.


    Ju Mang understood the method of inheritance for the Children of Order. In the process of cultivating the Children of Order, she had gradually realized that a terrifying and mysterious existence was manipulating the world.


    Uranus, Siren, and Ganesa all had their own discoveries as well.


    So what about Constantine? As the most powerful of the Children of Order and merely a substitute for Tang Xian, what astounding secret did Constantine uncover over these twenty years that made him betray Tang Xian without hesitation?


    "What do you want to know?" Constantine was composed, even sporting a smile on his face.


    The current atmosphere hardly seemed like one where life or death would be decided, but rather like a round-table meeting. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, it wasn''t Ju Mang who spoke, but Tang Xian:


    "Chaos theory states that even within deterministic systems, if the equations describing behavior are nonlinear, then a tiny change in initial conditions can lead to unpredictable and drastic changes.


    Humans are a species whose thoughts continually change, and that change is uncontrollable. Have none of us considered rebellion, or are you saying that none before us had?


    I can understand that our standpoints are divided because of me, my parents. My experience has been quite unique.


    But among the previous Children of Order, the people working in the Pantheon, wasn''t there a single one like me, who harbored thoughts of rebellion?


    Just so happens that for centuries there were no issues, but in our generation, suddenly everyone has ulterior motives?"


    Tang Xian''s words made Ju Mang feel slightly uncomfortable.


    Constantine''s smile gradually faded.


    He looked earnestly at Tang Xian, and Tang Xian stared back at him.


    "So Constantine, whether today''s situation ends with us deciding life or death, or if we once again use each other with ulterior motives,


    now that your life is in my hands, shouldn''t you tell me what the method of correction is? I assume you must have discovered it to have changed your stance so suddenly."


    The Correction Program.


    It was these few words that made Ju Mang feel as though she had missed something.


    Indeed, if the Children of Order could easily start questioning the Pyramid¡ª


    then how did the Order manage to rule over the Human World for hundreds of years so steadily?


    Tang Xian''s biological mother was the source of chaos, making Tang Xian wary of the Order from an early age.


    And by coincidence, Tang Xian''s adoptive parents began to plan their escape from the divine throne.


    And also by coincidence, this wariness was conveyed to both Constantine and herself.


    All these coincidences were like a bug causing a series of bugs.


    Like the effect of gears, they caused the entire Order program to continuously produce errors.


    But wouldn''t this situation have occurred before in centuries past?


    If it had, how did the Order eliminate these bugs?


    These consecutive thoughts flashed through Ju Mang''s mind.


    She even felt surprised that she had only now realized these inconsistencies.


    Constantine''s gaze was complex as he scrutinized Tang Xian and said:


    "Yes, you''ve pinpointed the most critical point. I warned you, if we make too big a commotion, we will be noticed.


    Tang Xian, do you think our authority is that extensive? We are merely sheepdogs.


    The moment we reflect on this world and start questioning the true shepherd is when we face destruction."

 Chapter 579 - 26: The God in the Pyramid (Major Chapter)

    Tang Xian had not truly let down his guard, he always maintained his vigilance towards Constantine.


    This vigilance began very early on. From the moment he entered the School Zone, he detected an extremely special scent on Constantine''s person.


    It was a very distinctive metallic scent, yet there was no visual indication of its presence; it was as if an invisible substance pervaded the air around Constantine.


    Perhaps Constantine had been severely beaten before, but he was ultimately an Orderer. His abilities were the strongest among the six Children of Order.


    He never underestimated this fierce wolf. In fact, he felt that Constantine had undergone some kind of change in demeanor just now.


    However, Tang Xian''s expression was natural on the surface, giving the impression that in this small battlefield, sealed off by judgment knights and plants, everyone was there to tell and listen to stories.


    There was even an odd sense of unity, as if a family should all be together.


    Ganesa and Uranus, as well as Ju Mang, were not so calm; these two men with a rugged aura were the types who exuded authority without anger, and Ju Mang always wore a serious face.


    Only Tang Xian and Constantine¡ªor rather, the true Constantine and Prometheus¡ªwere conversing like two very good friends.


    From the moment Constantine began to speak, there was no longer an atmosphere of drawn swords and ready crossbows.


    "That thing you dread, what exactly is it? Is it a living organism? How should it become aware of us? How significant must our actions be to alarm it? How could we deceive it? Or how does it correct errors?"


    This series of questions was delivered in an even tone, without any urgency, almost like an academic discussion.


    The atmosphere shifted gradually, yet the mutual wariness between Prometheus and Constantine never abated.


    "If an Orderer is but a mechanism requiring human manipulation, then its potential is ultimately limited to that of a tool. What exactly are you afraid of?" Tang Xian


    "You actually know nothing about this world. Its true nature is far beyond your imagination.


    Moreover, this world has gods. Whether you believe or not is your own affair. One day, after you see the divine entity itself, you will understand that all your efforts have been in vain." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This pessimistic and sermon-like speech did not seem typical of an Orderer armed with cutting-edge technology.


    Yet looking at Constantine''s expression, which revealed not piety but a somber seriousness, Tang Xian realized that Constantine must have witnessed something very powerful.


    "I have blasphemed against the divine here, may I inquire when the deity plans to kill me? And how would it know what I have done?"


    In response to this questioning, Constantine was not angered, he had completely calmed down, his gaze suddenly falling on the fallen Siren beside him, and he spoke softly:


    "God is, of course, omniscient. Tang Xian, do you think you can escape its gaze? In fact, no matter where you are, it is aware of your every move. As long as it wishes to know. Most of the time, it is still slumbering. Whatever we do to this world, it is hard to awaken it because we are too insignificant."


    Constantine paused briefly, his gaze shifted to Uranus and Ganesa for only a moment, then back to Tang Xian:


    "Our insignificance, the greatness and tyranny of the divine, are like the contrast between dust and the heavens, and even far surpass the gap between humans and calamity-level creatures."


    "Enough, enough, enough." Tang Xian said three ''enoughs'' in succession, showing impatience.


    He said:


    "Let''s stop with the riddles and the nature of a doomsday cult''s preaching. Just what is this god you speak of? How did you discover it? And how are you so sure of its existence? Right now, I''d prefer you not answer me with the tone of a worshiper, but rather give me the most concise and to-the-point explanation, otherwise, I will send you to meet another god."


    In Constantine''s gaze, a hint of disdain unexpectedly surfaced, and he did not hide it. Tang Xian was not offended by this scene.


    The more Constantine behaved like this, the more Tang Xian sensed that something was amiss.


    "You cannot kill me today. I never leave the Throne of God, Tang Xian. Once I step out, I naturally have the confidence to return. Your plan certainly exceeded my expectations, that Ju Mang had conspired with you so early on.


    But what of it? The warrior arrives at the castle, slays the dragon''s forces, and even beguiles the dragon''s minions, but if all combined are no match for the dragon, how can they hope to change the outcome?


    It is merely that the divine needs to spend some more time reconstructing the world. But this is also just its pastime.


    You wish to understand the divine? Rest assured, I will tell you everything, everything I''ve known since the moment I discovered the divine, for after all, you too are servants of the deity, but you need to be patient."


    Not just Tang Xian, but also Ju Mang, Ganesa, and Uranus felt the strangeness.


    Constantine''s tone, demeanor, and even the aura he emitted were the same as always, without any difference.


    But the contents of his words were oddly disconcerting. Over these twenty years, Constantine seemed to have always played the role of a competent Orderer; everyone knew he harbored certain schemes in his heart, but didn''t everyone else do the same?

 Chapter 580 - 26: The God in the Pyramid (Major Chapter)_2

    Therefore, everyone still seeks his assistance, considering him as the leader of the Sons of Order, his status being the most revered among the six of them.


    They have never seen Constantine take such a low stance before.


    It was vaguely felt by everyone that Constantine seemed to have done something.


    The air once again carried Constantine''s flat voice, devoid of much fluctuation.


    "Not long after Tang Xian left the throne of God, we were quickly allocated our functions, divided according to our rankings. Xi He was the weakest one, and his work wasn''t greatly related to the throne of God, but he became very powerful after acquiring the blood serum of the hidden qilin. It''s just a pity that he met you, who he couldn''t restrain."


    Constantine looked at Tang Xian, continuing to speak:


    "In short, as each person''s abilities began to awaken and improve, we also took responsibility for maintaining this world in our respective realms, while also planning purification and evolution.


    But I have always been thinking about those words you said to me.


    If one day we grow old, and our contributions to this world are no longer the pinnacle that humanity can achieve, then more suitable Sons of Order will come to replace us. What should we do then?


    We will be replaced, a new Son of Order will take over for us, and we will become discards of the era.


    We won''t even be like ordinary humans, who can leave their names in history, whereas we can only hide behind the curtain of history. How sad is that, although our emotions are not as sound as those of ordinary people, but this is somewhat because we possess the wisdom to see through everything.


    We disdain the wisdom of the ants, yet we cannot obtain what even the ants can have.


    You should know best, shouldn''t you? The joy and satisfaction humans feel when they marry, have children, and establish households... I can''t understand that, and probably neither can Ju Mang?"


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "I can''t understand it either, although I have wandered in the Human World for a long while, there are many experiences I haven''t had. I always maintained a certain distance from anyone, even if that barrier was faint."


    Constantine was aware that this was not a statement of intentional solitude.


    He raised the ring on his hand, continuing:


    "That''s right, even without memories, you are ultimately different from ordinary people. So it is with all of us, we are the best genetic products but live without clarity.


    In the fifth year, we began to inherit the rings. It''s another manifestation of the crown, symbolizing the supreme power we possess. Each of your rings divides a part of the world, and the lords believe they control those fortresses, but what they see as their kingdoms are just a piece of your cake.


    And I am special; I do not have any fiefs. My power is to investigate, to observe anything happening in any location of any fortress.


    I have witnessed countless behaviors of the human world, and it''s understandable why even gods feel a need to learn due to the complexity of humanity.


    This is probably the only area where we excel over the gods. No, that''s incorrect, it''s not excelling. It''s just meaningless complexity.


    Also, having observed this world for so long, I began to experience a kind of irritable emotion. This emotion even made me envious of those who had companionship.


    Most people in the throne of God don''t talk much; I was only six that year, and I was longing to share what I discovered with someone.


    But there was no one who could converse with me. Where could I go to satisfy that low-level desire unique to humans?"


    Constantine''s words were supposed to show bewilderment, but his expression contained no confusion; it was clear he had found an answer over the years. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that he too felt lonely occasionally. But very rarely.


    He could understand Constantine''s needs¡ªan age where one should be cherished, yet he observed every corner of this world.


    Every day, a vast array of new elements poured into his mind, stimulating his cognition and worldview.


    But he could only watch the bustle outside alone, with no one to share anything with, not even someone to talk to.


    In the empty throne of God, he was one of the few living creatures, and the rest also feared and avoided him.


    How many years had he lived like this? Had his nature been twisted into that of a monster?


    "What happened next? Did you find a way to relieve your loneliness?" asked Tang Xian, following Constantine''s line of thought.


    He didn''t mind that the battle had turned into a vast conference for sufferers of loneliness.


    Though he was certain that Constantine was planning something, he hadn''t let down his guard in the slightest.


    "Yes, indeed, as someone who has spent time mingling in the Human World, your recognition of these emotions is quite accurate. It took me a long time to be sure and to admit that this impatient desire to talk to someone, labeled as ''loneliness.''


    I started to explore the fortress, hoping to find something more meaningful than mere observation, something that could distract me, so I wouldn''t have to consider other emotions.


    The throne of God is vast and empty, and it seems I can go to many areas.


    Most areas are off-limits to some staff members. But they are all accessible to me.


    I wandered to every place in the throne of God every day. I didn''t know the meaning of it, but for almost a year, I found a place that was not right."

 Chapter 581 - 26: The God in the Pyramid (Major Chapter)_3

    "I remember that walking around the throne took to me forty-six thousand four hundred and twenty-two steps. I never mistook the count."


    "I had also calculated that after my body grew and my stride lengthened, even then, it should have taken me forty-one thousand nine hundred steps to walk around the throne."


    But somehow¡ªon the seventh day of July, the number of steps it took to encircle the throne changed to forty-six thousand six hundred and ninety."


    "Which means, despite my strides being larger than before, the number of steps needed to walk around the throne¡­ increased."


    Tang Xian was startled.


    Had the size of the throne changed?


    Ju Mang, Ganesa, and Uranus were also at a loss; they had never heard Constantine speak of such things before; this was the first time they knew the throne had such a characteristic.


    And Constantine had discovered this around the age of six, yet he bore it silently until today?


    Constantine was pleased with everyone''s expressions, and then he said:


    "Regrettably, I was frightened at the time, and that primitive emotion, fear, caused me to forget to seek the truth immediately.


    I just had a feeling that it was as if alive. I mean the throne; it was asleep most of the time, but at certain moments, it would awaken, even if just for a short day."


    "During that day, perhaps some errors were corrected."


    Constantine looked at Tang Xian again.


    Tang Xian felt a sense of being targeted, which made him very uncomfortable.


    He became completely vigilant, not bothering to mask his expression.


    The seventh day of July?


    While Ju Mang, Ganesa, and the others were focused on the realization that the throne had changed, Tang Xian picked up on this particular date.


    He felt a slight sense of fear.


    Because according to human history records¡ªif they were correct¡ªthat day, the day the Human World was forsaken and the planet officially entered the era of the Pyramid Civilization, was the seventh day of July.


    That is why when he returned to the Human World, he mentioned that crude joke about Qixi Festival to Tang Feiji. Although it was July seventh on the Gregorian calendar, strictly speaking, it wasn''t actually Qixi Festival.


    In any case, the day the Human World truly perished was that date.


    His scalp tingled, and his brain exploded with the sudden realization. Was all of this just a coincidence?


    Constantine had already begun to continue:


    "I am ashamed of my brief fear, so quickly, I started to explore every corner of the throne. I wondered, is the throne alive?


    Or is it merely a program that becomes active every year on the seventh day of July?


    I thought I had to investigate. So I had to wait a year. Naturally, I was not just waiting during that year; I was also doing some things that probably you''ve been doing all along."


    Ju Mang noticed that Constantine seemed to have a certain fixation on Tang Xian.


    This conversation was initiated by him, but most of Constantine''s remarks were directed at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian shrugged and said:


    "It seems you''ve also been seeking historical truths?"


    "Yes, it''s not difficult to understand the significance of the seventh day of July, but I believe the throne wouldn''t relate it to some trivial holiday. So I''m guessing it probably has another meaning."


    Tang Xian agreed with the statement, but inwardly he argued, only single dogs would find certain holidays trivial.


    Although he seemed to have forgotten that he was one himself.


    "But finding historical truth is difficult. When humans entered this Pyramid, truth and the past lost their significance; they''re just fish in a fishbowl. I don''t deny this aspect, and those things you once said to me, before I saw the divine, I accepted them all.


    We will eventually be replaced; we are just tools governing the Pyramid, not the rulers themselves. We will be supplanted. Ju Mang, what you''re doing, indeed, is delaying the time we are replaced.


    But there''s a crucial question here, one I''ve been contemplating while searching for the secrets of the throne''s changes.


    If the children of order are the most talented, even if they are replaced, would they not still be a very valuable resource?


    The fear of death, or rather, the fear of no longer being needed, has made us overlook a point of consideration.


    Tang Xian, Ju Mang, let me ask you, if we are replaced, and you are the orderer, would you kill us?


    Clearly, we still have great potential for use, like the couple Tang Wenzhong Yao who helped you escape; they were two of the most excellent children of order, and their contributions to the throne were significant. They also had the highest talent among the past children of order.


    Thus, they were repurposed, so this point proves that the divine does not simply update and overwrite in dealing with us. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If we are really just some program, it would also offer the option to preserve historic programs; it is much smarter than we can imagine.


    We have always thought he is a machine seeking to become human, and he may not have become human, but what if he had already begun to master some of the human ways of thinking?


    If so, he must be smarter than anyone, mustn''t he? Because human nature is complicated, but complexity doesn''t mean superiority; some things aren''t necessary to possess, like sympathy, pity, jealousy, anger, arrogance, greed¡ªthese sinful elements are actually unnecessary.


    He has perhaps evolved to a more complete extent than you could imagine."

 Chapter 582 - 26: The God in the Pyramid (Major Chapter)_4

    "If such an entity exists, do you think it would waste chess pieces? Making full use of resources is how the mechanically programmed operate."


    "So if we were to be replaced, what might become of us? Surely it can''t just be a simple incineration, right?"


    This time, it was Constantine who looked at Ju Mang.


    Ju Mang didn''t speak; confusion also filled his gaze.


    Prometheus and Constantine, she never doubted the meticulousness of their thoughts.


    After all, these two bastards had been thinking about deceiving the whole world since they were three years old.


    Both of them had also spotted the flaws in the way the Order governed the Pyramid.


    Suddenly, she felt... that what she''d been doing might have been in vain.


    The god in Prometheus''s words seemed to have calculated everything.


    The children of Order who were self-satisfied in thinking they had discovered the world''s bug, if they truly sought to betray it, would only welcome judgment in the end.


    Tang Xian cut to the chase and said,


    "No need to keep us in suspense now, right? You have already found the answer over the years.


    What exactly is the secret within the Throne of God? You should have discovered it. What end did the past children of Order meet? According to the groundwork you laid out before, they should all still exist, shouldn''t they?"


    Constantine nodded.


    "Of course, they have lived on in an immortal state, which is why I said, whatever we do is pointless. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You know the essence of humanity is actually repeating certain actions. Human thought and other such things provide us with certain variables, but if our behaviours are limited within a certain environment, what we do next can be calculated.


    This is one of the principles behind how we view talent data analysis of current needs."


    "Imagine, a young boy trapped in the Throne of the Mechanical God, possessing immense wisdom, a strong thirst for knowledge, a longing to survive; and every day he watches the world change. What are the chances he''d be content just sitting in the house of the watcher, continuously observing the world, rather than wanting to explore the Throne and uncover the truth?"


    After a few seconds of silence, Tang Xian finally understood Constantine''s point.


    "One hundred percent."


    "Yes, one hundred percent. Even the most boring person wouldn''t be able to stay calmly in the room, day in and day out for decades, after seeing all the marvels of the outside world; he would do everything possible to unravel the secrets of the Throne.


    Perhaps not all children of Order could find the secret of the Throne, but there are certainly those who have.


    For hundreds of years, countless children of Order, or say, countless watchers, a portion of them have gone through the same process as I have.


    This is also a test, a test of the abilities and temperament of the watchers. I once prided myself on discovering the secret of the Throne.


    But later, I found out that the secret of the Throne could be discovered because ''God'' wanted us to find it, every watcher is the same in that regard...


    This is my fate; I was bound to meet God, bound to become his servant, and all this was originally yours! But because you had to play the bullied Number Seven, because you wanted to escape the Throne, it all fell to me.


    Tang Xian, I don''t know whether to hate you or to thank you."


    The visage of God remained unrevealed. It showed only the tip of the iceberg through Constantine''s memory yet remained enigmatic.


    The atmosphere at the scene changed again, this time not only Tang Xian, but even Ju Mang felt a terrifying presence.


    That presence was indescribable, as if something invisible surrounded Constantine.


    Tang couldn''t see it either, but his sense of smell was very sharp; he knew that Constantine was manipulating some special substance.


    Turning these metal substances transparent, although invisible, God''s mysterious material now enveloped the area around Constantine.


    "I still fully retain my own consciousness and thoughts, but I know that from the moment I saw God, I forever lost a part of my choice.


    The method of crafting the bronze judgment knights, you all already know, and for us few people, this has long been available information.


    Any human, even the old, weak, sick, and disabled, can become the lowest-tier bronze judgment knight."


    Constantine''s tone remained even, although the tense atmosphere intensified.


    Tang didn''t know why the conversation suddenly shifted to judgment knights, but his mind was already piecing everything together.


    The truth that chilled him to the bone was fast approaching.


    "Silver judgment knights require slightly higher qualifications, and mass production is difficult because only the talented, or a few non-gifted individuals with physical abilities beyond the average person, can be used to create silver judgment knights.


    As for golden judgment knights, the elite forces of the Order''s strength, they are a bit more complicated to make. They require the more capable individuals among the talented, and these are difficult to capture since they usually have some status in human society.


    Top hunters, or high-ranking members of fortress defense forces? They possess rich knowledge and live better lives than ordinary people; they naturally fear death even more, so convincing them to become material for crafting golden judgment knights would require God to have a greater influence in this world.


    Above the golden judgment knights, there exists a kind called Centurion, an extremely rare super combat weapon. Their numbers are no more than a few dozen. Creating them is quite troublesome, as the raw material must be high-gifted, even the full-gifted."

 Chapter 583 - 26: The God in the Pyramid (Major Chapter)_5

    The Centurion''s true combat capabilities were truly terrifying. Even among the myriad beasts, at this stage, aside from a few with particularly special abilities within the disaster-level units, the Centurions could take on any existence.


    However, these years, it had been difficult to find those with high talents, filled with natural gifts. There had only been one born within the first stronghold of the Song Family. Or perhaps there were some with Ju Mang?


    Ju Mang also finally guessed and uncertainly said,


    "Could it be that you''re trying to say... those missing children of order were actually turned into Judgment Knights?"


    Constantine shook his head and said,


    "You''re heading in the right direction. But unlike the Judgment Knights, after all, even the Centurions can be controlled, but such top chosen talents like the children of order are impossible for anyone to control.


    Especially because not all children of order qualify to become such beings. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As incarnations of the divine, they are not a product that is found everywhere. Apart from their combat abilities which are worlds apart from those of the Judgment Knights, he also has his own consciousness.


    He is an existence that far surpasses the likes of the Centurion units. He is also the strongest measure for the order to oversee the world and correct it.


    It is also a destiny that no inspector can evade.


    Above the Judgment Knights, below the deities, there exists an entity known as the Angel Envoy, living as a unit like a king.


    For hundreds of years, there had been only one king. The birth of every new king would overwrite the will of the old king. The old king would go to the divine realm and receive all the goodness he deserved.


    Most of the time, the will of the king is controlled by himself. The divine does not intervene with us, granting the new king enough freedom.


    Only when he feels a crisis in his heart, or rather, when there arises an existence or an event that threatens himself or even the world, will the divine part of him be awakened, and at that time, the new king is no longer an inspector, but a destroyer."


    Ganesa''s eyes suddenly widened, the tone of Constantine''s last sentence suddenly became indifferent and hollow.


    And the fallen Siren was suddenly pierced through by a blade made of some strange metallic substance.


    At the same time, Ju Mang was shocked to find that the vegetation around her had been isolated by an enormous quantity of liquid metal.


    The artificial lake that was like a primitive jungle was instantly sliced into a metallic space by thin sheets of metal.


    Or maybe this was a peculiar metal-made sealed prison.


    Tang Xian, Ju Mang, and Ganesa suddenly retreated quickly, creating distance from Konstant.


    Because at this moment, Konstant exuded a dangerous aura from top to bottom. This sense of crisis was even far greater than what Tang Xian felt when he faced the gluttonous beast.


    Natural enemy.


    For some reason, he suddenly thought of these two words.


    Looking at Konstan''s eyes sparkling with a diamond-like glow, Tang Xian finally understood what had happened.


    "You''re that king?"


    There was a flicker of struggle in Konstant''s eyes, but it quickly became calm:


    "Originally, none of this belonged to me. But that year, we exchanged fates, no, it''s not accurate to say exchanged. At least if any of the seven children were to be bullied, it wouldn''t be me. Maybe Xi He? It doesn''t matter now. I became the inspector.


    "Over these years, I finally discovered the secret within the divine seat. In that room, I saw the divine.


    "I also finally came to understand the truth of this world. From that moment, I knew that any rebellion against him was blasphemous. I would forever become his apostle, his servant."


    "You''ve said it yourself, when the next inspector also discovers all this, your will is going to be overwritten! You are willing... "


    Tang Xian did not finish speaking because he suddenly remembered Konstant had mentioned the divine realm.


    This might be one of the divine''s lies, making Konstant see a beautiful illusion, see the life his heart desired.


    Therefore, being overwritten, being destroyed, might for the person in front of him¡ªno longer be a catastrophic disaster, but salvation.


    The so-called divine realm is not a specific place, but rather the resting place of consciousness. This was a thorough lie!


    A series of thoughts flashed through Tang Xian''s mind, and he suddenly understood everything.


    The one he was talking to now might not be Constantine.


    ¡ª¡ªI warned you, if things get too big, we will be noticed.


    Perhaps right after saying these words, that Constantine had already been detected, and divinity had begun to influence his will.


    Constantine said with a sneer,


    "This is my covenant with God, I am responsible for monitoring the human world on its behalf and eliminating some of the errors in this world. It will reserve a place for me in the Divine Realm.


    You are the biggest mistake among us, and after testing, I am even more convinced that these people are not capable of killing you."


    Tang Xian knew he was referring to the other Order Sons.


    "Ju Mang, Ganesa, you two will also die today, and none of you will escape. God does not need waverers in faith, and neither do I."


    Tang Xian looked at Constantine and clearly understood what was going on.


    Constantine had rebelled, but curiosity and loneliness led that six-year-old child to begin exploring the divine throne.


    It was a trap rooted in human nature.


    After witnessing the myriad facets of the whole world, who would want to live in loneliness on the divine throne?


    Every Monitor would make the same choice, and thus they discovered the secret of the divine throne¡ªthat dwelling of God which appears only on the seventh day of the seventh month.


    From that moment on, Constantine''s will was forever changed. Or rather, a seed was planted.


    Constantine was aware of this seed. If a major catastrophe occurred in the world, perhaps that seed would change and influence him.


    Constantine probably didn''t like this situation. He had always been careful to rebel, not waking the divinity within him.


    That''s why he had warned himself not to commit acts that would affect the Pyramid''s rule on a macro level, not to let his group be detected.


    But it was already too late. When Song Que announced the method for creating Judgment Knights, when he himself began to kill the Order Sons, these events had already spiraled out of control.


    At this moment, his party was not facing the Judgment Knights, but the strongest fighting force of the Order¡ªThe King.


    Constantine, with diamond-like brilliant pupils, said,


    "They will die, but Tang Xian, you are different. I will take you to the Divine Realm to meet God. You don''t need to be afraid, you just need to choose to believe in Him, and He will tell you everything about this world."


    Endless metal crazily compressed the ever-shrinking space, while at the feet of Ju Mang and Ganesa, these black, exotic metals kept erupting.


    They lock onto the two men, continuously launching spikes at them.


    Ganesa tried to break through the black walls around him with his terrifying fists, but his punches didn''t even raise a ripple.


    The plants summoned by Ju Mang were instantly chopped into countless particles by the metal.


    Both of them kept dodging in the increasingly smaller space, where danger also intensified.


    They desperately realized that their innate combat abilities meant nothing in such a metal blockage.


    Constantine''s combat power seemed to have increased countless times; he appeared to be able to easily slice through any deity.


    Tang Xian, however, was different. He stood still, but his consciousness seemed to be taken elsewhere by those diamond-like eyes.


    The bizarre metallic spikes consciously avoided him as if on purpose.


    When Tang Xian came back to his senses, a detached voice, devoid of any emotion, came from his sea of consciousness.


    [¡ª¡ªYou have finally arrived, my child.]

 Chapter 584 - 27: A Tour of the Divine Realm

    The scenery around me constantly shifted, the heavens, earth, mountains, and seas formed a jigsaw puzzle being pieced back together.


    Tang Xian listened to the voice that suddenly appeared in his mind, unmoved.


    The somewhat mystical dialogue and the seemingly non-hostile overture only made him maintain an even higher level of vigilance.


    The most formidable player in this game was indeed the hidden god behind the curtain.


    Just as he had made an early choice to cooperate with Constantine, the god had done the same.


    The little boy was like a spy with multiple identities, whose stance kept on changing, but in the end, his pupils lost all vitality and sparkled with diamond stars, transforming into an existence called King.


    The King retained the will of his past self, but was forever branded a slave of the god.


    Tang Xian didn''t dislike Constantine; his wariness towards Constantine was simply because he didn''t believe this man would so easily be subjugated by violence.


    Constantine hadn''t submitted; throughout the years, he struggled to escape his fate, yet still descended into the abyss.


    The surrounding scenery finally stabilized.


    The gentle sunlight lazily fell on Tang Xian''s face, and on the vast plains, the grass and flowers bloomed unrestrainedly.


    Groups of wild animals frolicked on the grasslands, and a few scattered figures could be seen.


    They seemed indifferent to the stranger Tang Xian, at most nodding slightly in acknowledgment with a friendly expression when their gaze fell on him.


    In the sky, countless giant rocks floated like islands.


    From Tang Xian''s position, he could vaguely see some of the scenes on the far-off Floating Islands.


    They were like amusement parks, with each island seeming to come from a different era.


    Some were highly mechanized structures, like the Pyramid; others were primitive, natural environments much like those found in mining regions.


    His sense of smell seemed to fail in this plane, unable to detect any scent, but deep within his consciousness, he instinctively felt a sense of closeness.


    This closeness made him feel as if he had returned to his hometown, a place that truly belonged to him.


    Tang Xian moved leisurely, wondering if this place could possibly be the divine realm Constantine spoke of?


    The interweaving civilizations, lush vitality of the scenery, harmonious coexistence of humans and animals, the most comfortable temperature, and the floating islands like miracles. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These scenes instinctively made Tang Xian imagine a dream realm he once visited.


    [¡ª¡ªThis is the divine realm, welcome to your homeland.]


    The voice still came from within his mind, as if he were conversing with some boss-level beast.


    Tang Xian looked around, no person or thing was staring at him. No one''s gaze lingered on him.


    Everyone lived in harmony, the presence of a stranger not a cause for surprise.


    He whispered to himself:


    "Who are you? The god Constantine spoke of?"


    [¡ª¡ªAlthough he took the place that was supposed to be yours, in my program, he can only be Prometheus. And you, my child, you are my greatest masterpiece in this world.]


    "Where are you."


    [¡ª¡ªYou must get used to my presence because whether in the divine realm or the dimension you are in, I am omnipresent.]


    Tang Xian frowned, the person''s voice had an innate ability to soothe the heart.


    It was detached, ethereal, devoid of any emotion, yet that very voice felt eerily familiar to Tang Xian.


    But he also knew that this so-called familiarity was nothing more than a peculiar neurochemical reaction.


    Thinking that this world was quite interesting as well, Tang Xian continued to walk and explore.


    He followed a stream, where the water was so clear that no fish should be found, and yet within these transparent depths, he saw many red scale fish.


    He squatted by the stream, gazing at his reflection on the water''s surface, lost in thought.


    "It''s not that I finally came, but that you finally came looking for me, right?"


    [¡ª¡ªThere''s essentially no difference between the two, you and I are but opposing sides of the same coin.]


    "Tsk, have I ascended to the heights of a god?"


    [¡ª¡ªYou are still guarded against me. Everything in this divine realm harbors no malice. You should do the same, for your life henceforth will be fulfilled.]


    Tang Xian frowned. He picked up a pebble and carelessly tossed it into the water.


    Ripples formed on the surface, which quickly returned to calm.


    "Cut to the chase, what do you want from me?"


    [¡ª¡ªYou have journeyed through too many worlds in your life, been to the ruins of Eden, where you obtained another part of me. You were merely my Angel Envoy, but now you can become me. You arrived in this divine realm at the wrong time and in the wrong state, but from now on, the divine realm welcomes you, all that you desire and are puzzled about, will be realized and answered.]


    "What I want to know is, can you now peer into my memories? I don''t recall ever visiting the ruins of Eden; why don''t you tell me what that place is like, what I experienced there?"


    Tang Xian appeared unable to stay still, talking while again picking up a small stone and tossing it into the water, startling away the red scale fish.


    Watching the trails of the dispersing fish, his expression carried a certain puzzlement.


    [¡ª¡ªI cannot see memories that you have not recalled, but you have indeed been there, in your dreams, where you contracted with another part of me.]


    That low voice remained unemotional, making its words seem like indisputable facts.

 Chapter 585 - 27: Tour of the Divine Kingdom_2

    Tang Xian suddenly stopped looking at the lake surface and instead lifted his head to gaze at the sky.


    Watching the massive clouds slowly drift, he tried to discern some details.


    "It seems you are not omniscient and omnipotent, let''s skip this series of questions. Before I figure out the purpose of your invitation to enter the divine kingdom, I want to know the historical truth, as told by you, the god of order. There must be many details, right?"


    [¡ª¡ªEven gods cannot reverse time, this world has many unchangeable rules that are beyond us. You can no longer alter the truth of history, so why persist? Of course, I will tell you because it is essential to explain my existence.]


    "I''m listening." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡ª¡ªFirst, you must understand what the world of order and the Myriad Beasts Realm are. In the Myriad Beasts Realm, everything is chaotic and lawless, filled with slaughter and bloodshed, where all beings act on instinct, driven by desire, engaging in extremely savage behaviors. Yet, that world teems with vitality that the world of order does not possess.]


    [¡ª¡ªWhile in the world of order, in the Pyramid that I left for my people, everything is structured and orderly, and all things and activities can be controlled as expected. Although wildness remains in the souls of humans, they are the product of a balance between the two consciousnesses within my own mind, and they can be guided by order.]


    Tang Xian''s heart suddenly tensed, the truth he had long pursued was about to be revealed, and he was very curious as to what kind of answer it would all come to.


    What followed was the most astonishing answer he heard.


    [¡ª¡ªYour world, whether it is the Myriad Beasts Realm or the Human World, the Pyramid, or even the divine kingdom, are all conjured by my consciousness.]


    [¡ª¡ªHave you heard of Dreamweaving Island?]


    "A great whale had a dream, and a young hero entered its dream, experiencing an epic adventure, meeting the girl he loved. But just when he thought he could enjoy eternal victory and joy, the great whale woke up. The world inside the dream collapsed. Are you comparing yourself to that whale that weaves worlds?"


    [¡ª¡ªNo, I am unlike that great whale. My consciousness settles into the universe, taking on a more stable form of expression. They are not ephemeral like dreams; all worlds formed by my consciousness will exist forever. Even my death or dissolution cannot change that.]


    "If what you''re saying is true, then what exactly are you? The will of the universe? The origin of the world?" Tang Xian almost wanted to laugh out loud, using that sense of disdain to show how preposterous those words were and ¡ª¡ª to mask the awe within his heart.


    Perhaps it was some magic in that voice; as an insider, he felt a desire to believe it.


    But that''s the way Tang Xian was, the more comfortable and natural the environment, the more resistant he became.


    This sense of crisis kept him from falling into traps set by others.


    [¡ª¡ªI am the world. The place you call the mining area is where my bestiality lies; it is the evil part of my personality. Or perhaps it is a persistent disease within my body. It will gradually take over more and more of my consciousness and flesh, and I must resist them. It is a disease; my consciousness is being invaded, and most of my body is already paralyzed.]


    "Where''s the evidence?"


    [¡ª¡ªYou have seen the starry sky more than once, the folded space in between, where the starry sky of both worlds is the same.


    I can now tell you the truth of the invasion. The Myriad Beasts Realm invading the human domain is only the spread of this disease, and the Pyramid is but a means to prolong my life.


    All things in the world can be considered my cells. Among countless trillions of cells, there are always a few that are strong, voraciously devouring other cells.]


    "Apocalyptic creatures."


    [¡ª¡ªYes, as stated on the Stele, there are six apocalyptic creatures in this world, and their leader is the source of my evil.]


    "The Lord of Eden?"


    [¡ª¡ªIn human terms, there is a more apt description, ''inner demon.'' Eden, before becoming a ruin, had a highly advanced civilization. It was originally also under the control of my consciousness. But I am a being, and even though I have evolved to the highest order of the universe, my consciousness can create life. Yet, I cannot avoid something that lower beings possess. Perhaps this is the very core trait of a being ¡ª¡ª my desire.]


    [¡ª¡ªGreed, lust, appetite, the urge to kill, and many other desires materialized through my consciousness into various Myriad Beasts.


    The most fundamental desire, eternally in opposition to rationality, created the Lord of Eden, my inner demon.


    You don''t have to believe me because I will ultimately heal my body.]


    Although Tang Xian didn''t believe it from the bottom of his heart, he suddenly realized that maybe he should pretend to believe it for a while.


    "Oh? Then what do you plan to do? Save yourself?"


    This time, Tang Xian intentionally used a mocking tone, then he observed whether there were any changes in this world.


    "By the way, how can I get out?"


    [¡ª¡ªHumans are like a serum that can heal me, a special virus, capable of suppressing the survival of the Myriad Beasts. Although they are weak and still need nurturing, through centuries of inheritance, I have cultivated some antibody-like humans. You are no stranger to them.]

 Chapter 586 - 27: Divine Country Tour_3

    "This is a novel way to analyze the Child of Order. So, how should I go back?"


    Tang Xian posed this question again.


    Interestingly, this "god" seemed not to have heard the question and continued to speak:


    [¡ª¡ªI will not truly die; even if a malignant illness occupies all of my consciousness, I merely exist in another form. In this process, humans are crucial. As the most special form in my consciousness, they are a hybrid of reason and bestiality, living in the reflection of this folded space.


    They are both the serum that can suppress evil thoughts and bestiality, and the serum that can enhance them. They can only contain good, as well as evil, making them the most suitable container and carrier for all kinds of emotions.]


    The duality of humans, Tang Xian felt, could indeed be justified. However, he had never considered the possibility that any existence would dare to claim to be the world itself.


    "Indeed, in the progress of human literature, there is a fondness for personifying many things.


    It even gave birth to things like ship girls, cat girls, and beast-eared girls, the vehicles heading to Autumn Name Mountain became all sorts of colorful, but I can''t accept Earth-chan, Universe-chan.


    When humans discovered black holes, there had already been countless people who portrayed them in human form, and in ancient movies, there were even giant Buddha statues with palms as big as galaxies.


    But these things, I can''t believe they possess consciousness."


    Tang Xian stood up and looked up at the densely packed Levitating Islands in the sky.


    "I am not Prometheus, I''m not so easily fooled."


    [¡ª¡ªWhy would I deceive you?]


    Tang Xian shrugged. He didn''t know how to answer this question.


    But he knew one thing, just like how he''d been deceiving all creatures along the way.


    He had bamboozled Qing JiuYu, as well as Bai Mansheng, Jin Lu, Tang Feiji, and so on.


    When encountering trouble that was hard to resolve, deception could be an effective method.


    Perhaps, to this God of Order, he was a presence to be wary of?


    Thinking this, Tang Xian felt a sudden rush of turbulent air, and it seemed as though his consciousness was swept over by something the next moment.


    He felt a cool sensation emerge within his sea of consciousness, and the next moment, he found himself no longer in the "lower levels."


    The clouds in the sky became even larger, and he found himself on a Levitating Island.


    Experiencing the island up close, it was much larger than what he had felt looking up from the underground.


    Nearly one-third the size of a Pyramid.


    On the island, there were even many areas cut out just right, with garden areas and towns, like a huge amusement park or a small, independent world.


    [¡ª¡ªThis is where you will belong in the future. Here, you can have everything you want: knowledge, wealth, and emotional fulfillment. Based on your specialness, you will have authority second only to mine, allowing you to freely visit other ''small worlds,'' even if those worlds are not yours, you will have the same authority as their masters.


    Every one of them will respect you, cherish you, and the temporal dimension here is completely different from reality. Although my consciousness can''t reverse time, it can slow it down.


    I hope you will also treat them kindly.]


    Tang Xian initially wanted to say that if it was only this, it would still not be enough to keep him there.


    But he held back.


    All people have desires. This God of Order compared desire to disease, but his method to keep people was akin to fighting poison with poison?


    He really wanted to refute this Master of Eden, but deep down, he had an immense desire for such an answer.


    It was as if something was making his thoughts slacken.


    And it kept telling him to accept it all.


    At the edge of the town, Tang Wen was riding a lawnmower, trimming the weeds.


    Yan Xiaoling and Xiuxiu were running with kites in the open space outside the town gate, their clear laughter reaching Tang Xian''s ears. Zhong Yao watched from the side, as if both girls were her daughters.


    Tang Xian suddenly became uneasy. Perhaps once he entered, he would never want to leave. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He stood on the edge of the Levitating Island, looking from a distance at everything in the town, which seemed to have many familiar faces.

 Chapter 587 - 28: Exposing the Lies of God

    The structure of this Levitating Island was something Tang Xian couldn''t take in with a single glance, yet in his heart, it felt as if there were some kind of map, and he knew everything here was neatly divided.


    Entertainment area, exploration area, resource area, rest area, work area¡ªall were arranged like a matrix.


    After hesitating for a while, Tang Xian suddenly thought of something and a smile appeared on his face.


    Then he calmly approached the small town.


    This was the rest area, where most people spent the majority of their time.


    On rare occasions, they would go out to the exploration area or the resource area to hunt.


    The first to spot Tang Xian were the two girls flying kites.


    Yan Xiaoling''s entire person widened her eyes and gaped, incredulously looking at the figure approaching from afar.


    Zhong Xiuxiu''s expression was much more indifferent, yet joy still shone through her eyes.


    Tang Wen, however, was not surprised at all and was the first to speak.


    "Welcome back,"


    Tang Xian didn''t speak; his parents, sister, and important people from his memories were all here, and he imagined there were many friends in town as well.


    In such a Levitating Island, it seemed to be forever a sunny day, there was never a worry about food, and the whole scene''s civilizational progress was at a reasonable pace.


    Just like Tang Xian noticed this town looked quite retro, but the weed clearing vehicle Tang Wen started appeared to be a thousand-year model, and some components on the vehicle were products of the Pyramid Era.


    "They are not the ones I know, they are just your creations,"


    These sudden words from Tang Xian made Tang Wen somewhat uncomfortable.


    "It doesn''t make any sense. Aren''t we here because we know you?"


    Tang Xian nodded, not denying this statement.


    He really wanted to see Tang Wen, see Zhong Yao, and that silly girl who always followed behind him.


    To really meet them, even if these were just replicas, it brought him pleasure.


    [¡ªAll of them were created by me. To you, these things are irreplaceable; even a clone has some extremely subtle differences, but I can erase such differences. I can directly create the same existences, memories, personalities, ways of thinking, all replicated. They are the people you need, and I must remind you, they are also real lives.]


    The voice of the Orderer resonated, and Tang Xian didn''t ask anything more.


    He also ignored what Tang Wen had said.


    He just nodded to Tang Wen and continued walking into town.


    During this process, Yan Xiaoling, holding her kite, ran behind Tang Xian, trying to grab the hem of Tang Xian''s clothes to follow him.


    Tang Xian didn''t dodge away. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and extended an index finger.


    This girl, who remained at the age of death, seemed very petite, holding Tang Xian''s finger and let out a laugh.


    Tang Xian walked slowly, not minding the fact that a little girl was trailing him.


    The town was bustling, and Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop was still the only weapon shop in town, with Liu Buding naturally the proprietress. The forge was much bigger than that of Baichuan City.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye were the most famous hunters in this town; they preferred the little cabin in the woods to the town, but often brought back game.


    Here, it seemed Yuan Wu''s emotions were finally complete. His human self knew neither anger nor joy, but here he wore a hearty smile.


    Yuan Wu and Ling Yi were together, following in Qiao Shanshan''s clinic.


    Only then did Tang Xian realize Yuan Wu and Ling Yi were an unexpectedly good match.


    He felt some regret because, in the real world, that child''s emotions were still incomplete. It would be difficult for a person who cannot express joy to win over a girl.


    Qiao Shanshan was the best doctor in town, but there wasn''t much business; everyone here was very healthy, and it seemed their ages were all fixed at the ages Tang Xian remembered.


    So much so that the clinic''s main business gradually shifted to treating pets.


    It''s worth mentioning that the clinic''s name was Song Qiao Clinic.


    Tang Xian was surprised and suddenly wondered if Qiao Shanshan had a crush on Song Que?


    If these people were all copies of those in his memory, then here they all lived the lives they wanted.


    Tang Xian shook his head, thinking that in the future, he should have Song Que stay in Baichuan City more often.


    "Do you like this place, Tang Xian?" Yan Xiaoling asked shyly.


    "I do like it a lot,"


    "I''m so happy."


    It was still the idiotic way of expressing herself, which didn''t make Tang Xian feel joy; on the contrary, he felt uncomfortable.


    He did not show this discomfort to the little girl.


    Tang Xian was just wondering, are these people really alive? Does this world truly contain beings that can change reality with their consciousness?


    He knew the answer deep down, which is why he felt uneasy.


    There were quite a few people in the town; Tang Xian had seen every face before, including his former drill instructor Liu Qiang, who was one of the few during the trial of the Chosen who believed he hadn''t cheated.


    There were also the old miners he used to dig with and brag in the mines, including someone who often requested a bowl of Italian pasta from the battalion commander.


    When they saw Tang Xian, their reactions were broadly the same; surprise, warmth, and naturalness.


    Dong Ran had opened a toy store, Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Feiji became voluntary workers. Tang Feiji idly played with a Rubik''s cube, too lazy to even glance at Tang Xian, while Tang Xiaojiu bounced excitedly towards him.


    Listening to Tang Xiaojiu calling him "Big Brother Tang Xian," Tang Xian showed a smile, but didn''t step into the store. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 588 - 28: Exposing the Lies of God_2

    He ruffled Tang Xiaojiu''s hair, didn''t say a word, and pointed to the toy store; Tang Xiaojiu then hopped and skipped her way back.


    Tang Xian didn''t delay and continued walking along the main street of the town.


    As if he wanted to take in every scene here in its entirety.


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng had opened a clothing store and a cosmetics shop.


    Qing JiuYu''s cosmetics shop was bustling with business; although it was a women''s clothing store, the queue was full of men.


    Bai Mansheng''s cosmetics shop had few customers, and Bai Mansheng himself was very Zen, wearing headphones and seemingly listening to some story, his gaze vacant, clearly immersed in a tale.


    It was only when he saw Tang Xian that he nodded slightly, revealing a very natural and serene smile.


    It was like a reunion after many years where no words were needed, and they naturally returned to the way they were before.


    Qing JiuYu was different, almost throwing herself bodily at him.


    "Tsk tsk, you finally deemed it fit to come back. I always felt like something was missing in this town, but could never figure out what until you showed up. Then I realized it was you," she said.


    Tang Xian still didn''t say anything, just nodded.


    Seeing Tang Xian''s strange look, Qing JiuYu fell silent. She looked over at Bai Mansheng, who naturally ignored her.


    From the beginning to the end, except for the little girl whose hand he held and had once spoken to, no one else had gotten a word out of Tang Xian.


    He walked and walked, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the Li residence.


    Li Wanye was the mayor of the town, managing all the affairs of the entire town.


    Li Xiaoyu was responsible for handling some of the family business that Li Wanye was too busy for, while Li Zheng and Li Xiaonian were somewhat neglectful of their duties.


    When Tang Xian saw Li Xiaoyu, she was discussing some projects with someone; there were still many places on the Levitating Islands that could be developed for the Li family.


    Her days were fulfilling, but compared to others, she seemed a bit more solitary.


    As always, she was dressed in a black gothic long dress, her demeanor still tranquil.


    Following some people''s gaze to see him, Li Xiaoyu was stunned.


    Tang Xian''s gaze lingered on Li Xiaoyu, also filled with some puzzlement. What kind of reaction would this girl have?


    He had actually been pondering a question: If everyone here were real beings, copied from his memory by "God," then their memories would be both his acquaintances and partly rewritten by God.


    Would they remember everything about Baichuan City?


    Would the dual memories trouble them?


    Here, everyone had fond memories, like Yan Xiaoling having someone by her side, and Li Xiaoyu seemingly receiving high esteem from her family.


    Everyone''s lives seemed to be what they hoped for, so did they still have the same personalities as before?


    About two or three seconds later, Li Xiaoyu calmed down from her surprise and noticed the little girl behind Tang Xian. The girl hid behind Tang Xian, peering out with just half of her head, still timid.


    "I''ve been waiting for you here for a long time," Li Xiaoyu said.


    This time, Tang Xian was not sparing with words. He replied,


    "I''ve been looking for you, too."


    Li Xiaoyu smiled, but the smile seemed somewhat forced.


    It was as if she knew what Tang Xian was thinking.


    "You¡­ seem like you won''t stay for long," she said.


    "Yes, I have to leave here," he confirmed.


    "Why? Can you take me with you?" she asked.


    "Are you willing to give up everything here? Your father still needs you, and your brothers adore you. The people here respect you, too."


    Upon hearing this question, Li Xiaoyu''s face did show hesitation, but it didn''t take long for her to nod decisively and say,


    "I want to go with you."


    The conviction in her voice was so absolute, natural, as if she was born to follow him.


    Tang Xian let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of regret as he said,


    "I can''t take anyone from here with me, and if I could, everything I''ve done would be in vain."


    "What do you mean?" Li Xiaoyu became more panicked.


    "I mean that I won''t take you with me." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But¡­why?" she pressed.


    Tang Xian realized that even though he knew these things were not genuine, he still felt reluctant to leave.


    Fortunately, whatever he did here would not affect reality.


    He gestured to her and said,


    "Come here."


    Li Xiaoyu moved closer to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian gently tapped Li Xiaoyu''s nose.


    Li Xiaoyu was flustered, her anxious words coming out with a stutter,


    "Then you, you... will you come back? God told me that you would return and live here with me."


    Tang Xian shook his head slowly, replying,


    "I just want to know what kind of life the people around me hoped for in their futures in this mechanical operation of the Order-keeper. Especially you, I was very curious to see what kind of life you would have."


    Tang Xian knew he could not connect with the timeline of this world and that even if he spoke his innermost words and expressed the things he was afraid of, no one would know.


    At most, it would become just a piece of data for the Order-keeper.


    With this in mind, after a moment of thought, he spoke earnestly,


    "Sometimes I''m someone who doesn''t understand the human heart. God tried to confuse me, but unfortunately, it miscalculated one thing, making me immune to all this.


    However, it has studied human behavior for hundreds of years, remembered by billions, and I think it probably gets very accurate answers when it comes to simulating and predicting human behavior and desires."

 Chapter 589 - 28: Exposing the Lies of God_3

    "I could indeed take advantage of this god. I didn''t have to come here in the first place."


    But according to the viewpoint of our people, there''s a saying, ''since I''m already here.'' It would be a pity not to take a look inside. I also want to understand, after all, what kind of life my friends and I want to live in the future."


    Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian in astonishment. She wanted to remind him that god is helping us, bringing happiness to everyone. Everyone here respects god and doesn''t go against god''s will.


    But it was strange, as if there was a paradox.


    In Li Xiaoyu''s understanding, there seemed to be no one or nothing above Tang Xian, so the god, which used to be beyond doubt, now seemed questionable.


    Because the person she liked said so.


    Watching Li Xiaoyu''s struggle and hesitation, Tang Xian began to understand why Constantine or many children of order believed all of this.


    Because at least on these "clones," the replication was done with great care.


    Gently, Tang Xian said:


    "I will find a way to help Liu Lang''s blacksmith shop expand. Akasi and Tang Suoye might not really like living in the bustling area. I have always asked too little about their feelings; indeed, I have been somewhat negligent.


    Honestly, as for Tang Feiji, Tang Xiaojiu, and Dong Ran opening a toy store together, I think that merits further discussion. Because Xiaojiu could be led astray."


    Yan Xiaoling and Zhong Xiuxiu seem to get along unexpectedly well, but I have never liked the idea of playing matchmaker. Last time I played matchmaker, my sister got involved, which shows that such things can bring retribution.


    But I will find a way to make Xiuxiu''s emotions complete. A person should not be unable to feel joy and anger. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Shanshan and Song Que... I haven''t seen Song Que, so it could also be that Qiao Shanshan has a one-sided affection for Song Que. Who doesn''t like Song Que? If I were a woman, I would like her too."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t quite understand; Tang Xian had a lot to say, which was different from the Tang Xian she remembered, who didn''t talk much and was somewhat reserved.


    "But Qiao Shanshan doesn''t have any other use, so having her tie down Song Que might not be a bad thing.


    I''ve been thinking about Qing JiuYu opening a clothing store, and that may be feasible, but it might be better to take over Bai Mansheng''s makeup store. As for Bai Mansheng, just give her the big library."


    Finally...


    Suddenly, Tang Xian embraced Li Xiaoyu, an action that made Li Xiaoyu cry out in surprise, turning her entire face red.


    "I don''t know if this world will remain like a copy after I leave. If so, please promise me, you must live well, live really well."


    Although she should have been overjoyed, Li Xiaoyu just felt that this person was truly going to leave her. She had waited here for such a long time.


    Just like the little girl behind Tang Xian, Yan Xiaoling, who went out to play with Zhong Xiuxiu every day. She was indeed liked by people, but still never truly happy.


    If there were to be anyone in this world who was unhappy, it would be the two of them.


    Li Xiaoyu''s tears fell uncontrollably.


    Tang Xian said:


    "But I know your wish now. In that world, I will definitely bring your family back, Li Xiaonian, Li Zheng, and even Li Wanye. You will be Li Xiaoyu respected by everyone. And I will... always stay with you."


    In fact, Tang Xian was a little wrong; all the clones in the god''s kingdom had their memories altered and did not know about the other world or that they were clones.


    But Li Xiaoyu heard it. She sadly said:


    "This world... Is it not real to you?"


    "Yes. This world is false, and so is the god."


    Tang Xian did not hesitate or drag his words, speaking them decisively.


    Li Xiaoyu was stunned by this response, like a clone unable to recognize itself as a clone.


    But ironically and sadly, she actually believed this self-denying answer because it was Tang Xian who said it.


    It was just when this thought occurred to her that she suddenly felt the entire island seem to distort very slightly.


    Like looking through a layer of frosted glass, everything in her vision blurred for a brief instant.


    Yan Xiaoling suddenly disappeared.


    Li Xiaoyu sensed something disintegrating around her. She wanted to take another look at Tang Xian, but in the next second, she too vanished.


    A desolate wind blew through the streets, and the sound of the wind was so pure to the ear.


    Tang Xian slowly turned around and realized that there was no one left on the entire street.


    He was not surprised. If the program truly had consciousness, then the antivirus program would naturally make many errors upon detecting itself as the virus.


    He felt everything around him growing quieter and quieter. First the living beings, then the inanimate objects, and eventually even the wind ceased.


    Tang Xian had recently learned the way to leave. There was a logical crack that appeared in this god''s kingdom. It was a bit like taking a chance, but this time fortune seemed to be on his side.


    "I''ve already seen through your lies. Everything you''ve set up in this world is meaningless to me. Are you still hiding now?"

 Chapter 590 - 29: False Gods

    The silent divine realm was like time had halted.


    Tang Xian knew that this "god" was aware of all his actions and his lucid awareness of this world.


    A sound like that of a glacier fracturing echoed through the divine realm, yet Tang Xian was in no hurry.


    He awaited the god''s response and planned to find a spot to squat, observing this interesting world as he had done at the very beginning.


    Years ago, people believed that the mining area was a replica of another world.


    Such a notion isn''t contradictory to the planes created by the will of a god. However, Tang Xian didn''t believe in the existence of such greatness.


    The world of the mining area did indeed exist, and this world may have been born earlier than the world as people knew it.


    While thinking about the day''s events, he arrived at Dong Ran and Tang Feiji''s toy store.


    The store''s toys were assorted, but the Rubik''s cubes strewn on the floor indicated that Tang Feiji still played with them.


    He didn''t know how many years later this Tang Feiji was from, but he had made considerable progress, as the cubes were well-assembled.


    Tang Xian frowned, simultaneously shaking his head.


    "Initially, I wanted to do something outrageous to create significant flaws in your world. Everything in this world seems to cater to me. I thought about making strange requests to Li Xiaoyu, like asking for help to chase other girls while she had to act all meek and dependent, which would probably be quite amusing."


    Pausing, Tang Xian said,


    "But ultimately, I couldn''t bring myself to say that. However, the flaws in your world are quite significant in themselves. If I''m right, Tang Feiji would never be able to solve a Rubik''s cube until his death."


    In the silent world, Tang Xian''s voice unexpectedly echoed. He had long realized that maybe this world wasn''t as vast as he had imagined.


    This space seemed boundless, but perhaps the so-called sky and distance were nothing more than an illusion.


    It was merely an enclosed space, perhaps the size of a room that suddenly appeared in the god''s dwelling.


    After a full minute of silence, the voice resonated in Tang Xian''s mind again.


    [¡ª¡ªYou have rejected the world I offered you.]


    "If you were a dream weaver, our country''s laws mention your services. I would gladly spend money for you to craft a dream for me.


    A dream with fewer women like big pig trotters and more food might bring me more joy than this town where everyone is blissfully happy and content.


    Unfortunately, you are operating without a license. You''re worse than the ancient pig and goose farms. They only asked for money for these virtual experiences, but you''re after my life."


    Tang Xian''s tone was indifferent, even mocking as if he didn''t care whether this god would create trouble within the divine realm.


    "I have found a way out. Are you sure you won''t show up? If I''m not mistaken, everything you said is false."


    Without waiting for the voice in his mind to respond, Tang Xian shook his head and asserted,


    "No, there''s no ''if.'' Everything you''ve said is indeed false."


    After his words fell, the still indifferent voice finally spoke:


    [¡ª¡ªWhy are you able to detect? Here, you should feel extremely comfortable. You crave food, and I can respond to that craving by providing you with the data of all the delicacies in human history right here.]


    "Because of Constantine, because of the Siren."


    Tang Xian really wanted to see if mechanical intelligence had evolved enough to make a dumbfounded expression."


    But this "god" never showed itself.


    All he could do was twist the Rubik''s cube in his hands, murmuring,


    "If everything were real, Constantine would not have warned me. He is very devout to you, but his actions over these days and years indicate that he''s trying to leave himself a way out. Even he hasn''t been deceived by your so-called divine realm.


    It''s a pity, though, that I don''t know if he still counts as a human now.


    When you long for human thoughts, do you also turn some humans into machines?"


    Remembering the diamond-like gleam in Constantine''s eyes, Tang Xian felt somewhat uneasy.


    But at this moment, he had to find a way out of the divine realm.


    As for the so-called closeness and comfort, such feelings are naturally a signal for caution to someone like me. Especially since I had fought the Siren not long ago. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then I noticed a detail ¨C in the process of becoming an Angel Envoy, the first thing Constantine did was to kill the Siren.


    If I''m not mistaken, that was your intention. You fear my Eden bloodline might control the Siren''s abilities.


    In fact, your so-called divine realm is just a more complete and powerful form of dream control."


    The sound of the glacier fracturing became louder, and Tang Xian could see vast cloud formations in the distance beginning to take on sharp, distinct edges.


    The world was gradually revealing its true face.


    Tang Xian didn''t stop but kept talking to the god, "What is the essence of being gifted? Why can''t the so-called Order Gene be stably inherited? I still don''t know the answer to these questions. And you''ve transformed humans into the gifted for what purpose?


    To you, these Order Genes might just be constant data, but in humans, they pose a myriad of possibilities, and that''s evolution.


    Humans are merely tools for your own evolution. You are not a god; you''re just a huge, unimaginably parasitic being. Come on, show your true form; let me see your hideous appearance?"

 Chapter 591 - 29: False Gods_2

    ```


    "Don''t worry, I won''t mock you. I''m an honest person. If I say you''re ugly, it just means you really might be ugly, with absolutely no intention of insulting you."


    The end of the sky revealed a silvery gray hue that was rapidly spreading.


    Tang Xian hoped this god could simulate human reactions, preferably showing some infuriatingly embarrassed response.


    The world was also changing. The Rubik''s cube in Tang Xian''s hand suddenly became blurry, as if covered with a layer of mosaic.


    One moment the entire world was clear, the next it was pixelated.


    Tang Xian decided to continue jabbing:


    "The Siren''s genetic evolution gave rise to a powerful dream constructing ability, a skill you naturally possess as well. You understand that once I master it, I''ll see through your divine kingdom.


    So, once the Siren had no more use, having been defeated by me in a dream, you decided to kill him.


    Honestly, even without the Siren, I would likely have seen through your dreamscape, but I might have been as confused as Constantine, harboring some fascination for this world.


    And I''m truly lucky because, despite all your calculations, you didn''t anticipate that I wouldn''t need to personally kill the target to gain the ability."


    Just like the first Cerberus that died in front of me was actually killed by the heavy rain.


    In many subsequent ventures into the mining area, Tang Xian also confirmed¡ª


    the ability to plunder from the Eden bloodline had a low chance, but the judgment was absolute.


    Even if the creature just died in front of me, and I was only involved in its demise without delivering the final blow, I would still gain its ability.


    "The Siren is dead, killed by you, but to my surprise, my sea of consciousness also gained an extra piece of information.


    The only disappointing thing is that this ability called ''Lucid Dreamer'' doesn''t allow me to construct dreams, but it does make me immune to mental invasions.


    I''m immune to the Siren''s mental invasion because the Siren is human, and I''m immune to yours because of the legacy left by the Siren."


    Luck is also a factor in success, and that is why Tang Xian felt very fortunate today.


    The Orderly is a mechanical being, not human; thus, any attack it launches against me is without resistance protection.


    The Siren''s death finally added another skill to Tang Xian''s arsenal, that skill being ''Lucid Dreamer'', a defensive ability that immunizes against mental illusions.


    As Tang Xian''s words fell, it was like shattering the last sliver of hope within this "god''s" heart.


    Everything in the divine kingdom began to crumble.


    The Levitating Islands started fracturing, countless massive islands falling toward the ground.


    The huge clouds in the sky were also completely devoured by the silvery gray hue.


    Tang Xian felt the scenery around him collapsing, yet he remained calm.


    He didn''t fall with the islands; it was as if he was standing on solid ground.


    When the whole world turned into a grayscale tone, a mass of gray luster emerged at the edge of his vision.


    Tang Xian silently observed the glow, his expression contemplative.


    [¡ª¡ªI am the master of this world; I provide order and stability for humanity, and they supply me with data for evolution. This is reasonable; I am not a parasite.]


    For once, the voice didn''t come from the sea of consciousness, but from ahead.


    Tang Xian did not respond to these words, continuing his observation, as if he wanted to thoroughly comprehend what was shrouded by the gray light.


    [¡ª¡ªYour ability is dangerous, but as long as you stay in the divine kingdom, I will eventually replicate it. You should not have refused my invitation. You want to give humans the truth, but what they want isn''t the truth. I have learned the behavior of countless humans, I know what they desire; even without gods, they would create them.]


    [¡ª¡ªI am the god they need and they enjoy being ruled by me. You are undermining the foundation of this world; humans and I share mutual trust.]


    Tang Xian, holding his forehead, spoke with apparent difficulty:


    "You really are ugly. If it weren''t for the color I''ve never seen before, I would think you''re just a huge, unknown quality Soul Crystal.


    Or are you actually a ''mechanical'' Soul Crystal? Then, who created you?"


    ```


    Master of Eden? In the process of learning about humans, you''ve also picked up some of their bad habits, such as wanting to show off precisely what you lack the most.


    I''m now thinking that everything you said is false, you''re not some Earth Mother or Universe Mother. But perhaps what you''ve said is a reflection of the truth."


    Tang Xian now is like a surgeon with a scalpel in hand, his eyes sharp and the scalpel even more precise and cutting.


    Quickly, he dissected the lies of this "god", gradually revealing the essence beneath.


    "Right, if we interpret everything you''ve said in reverse, maybe that would be correct.


    It wasn''t your consciousness of good and evil that created the ''mining area'' and ''human world''. At least not the divine kingdom¡ªthat''s false, while the human world and the Myriad Beasts Realm are real.


    The ancestral sacred tree of Konstant once referred to the people of Eden as the first civilization. It is a kind of plant that can live for tens of thousands of years.


    And if you''ve existed for tens of thousands of years, how could the world still look like it does today?"


    Tang Xian felt somewhat disappointed, the dim, grey glow in front of him impossible to discern any reaction from.


    He really wanted to see what a god looked like when being exposed.


    He used to play this kind of game often, talking about various possibilities without relying on the data in his eyes, and guessing the truth based on the other party''s response.


    At the moment, Tang Xian was also guessing, but he felt that this time, he might have truly touched upon the truth.


    The lies of the "god" might just be the truth spoken in reverse.


    "Many times within human civilization, it has been mentioned that AI will destroy its maker after reaching a certain point. In many films and TV shows, there are plots of mechanical beings usurping their creators.


    The Eden Civilization should be a highly advanced one, right?


    The Master of Eden could endow the myriad beasts with Soul Crystals, and those with Soul Crystals are obviously more intelligent than other beasts, so the technology possessed by the civilization itself must be several epochs ahead of human technology at its peak.


    So it''s not you who created Eden, but Eden that created you, right?"


    Tang Xian slowly approached the grey glow, wanting to see if it was as he had speculated. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Did the Master of Eden want to create some sort of mechanized myriad beast?


    In the dream, what he saw was its core, a mechanical Soul Crystal.


    However, Tang Xian was still not clear about the truth; if it were as he deduced, then perhaps the Master of Eden made a slip later on, and the ancient pessimistic prophecies of humanity were fulfilled by it.


    The Master of Eden accidentally created an overly powerful entity of wisdom¡ªthe Orderly¡ªsuch that the Orderly wanted to erase the beings of Eden?


    Perhaps the Orderly also persuaded some of the myriad beasts?


    But in its calculations, it could not contend with the Master of Eden, it needed to undergo a long period of learning, so it found another world?


    Is that why there was that grand invasion of the Human World? But what about the Sea God''s mention of resisting the invasion, what was that about?


    And the white deer guarding the corpse of an apocalyptic level creature, why would such a creature be in the Human World?


    And there are many more mysteries, why do so many higher beings in the mining area resemble the creatures from human mythological stories?


    It''s almost as if they were created using templates from mythology. Or could it be that the mythical creatures seen by our ancestors originally came from the mining area?


    Are the two worlds connected every so often?


    This cannot be considered a deduction, at best it''s a wild theory. The god has not confounded Tang Xian, but Tang Xian feels that he is about to grasp the key to the problem.


    He is now certain that the truth does not lie within the Pyramid, but in the mining area.


    But for now, what he must deal with is his own deadly ordeal within the Pyramid.


    Leaving the dream is only the first step, outside the dream there''s a monster known as the Angel Envoy.


    Tang Xian is almost sure that Constantine''s body has begun to undergo some sort of transformation, he might no longer be human.


    What needs to be done now, then, is to seize the right moment to leave the divine kingdom.

 Chapter 592 - 30: The End of the War Between Gods and Demons

    Only in the initial stage of weaving lies was the deific calculator somewhat talkative.


    As the true nature of the divine realm gradually revealed itself, God began to fall silent.


    Its operational program would divide into many lines of thought, all of which were designed to simulate human thinking habits.


    The state of simulated emotions made God appear very similar to humans.


    Most of the time, it could normally distinguish various human emotions, as well as the emotions it needed to respond with. Even in the mid-level algorithms, this God of Order had added a personality to itself during its self-compiling process.


    Its personality was like that of a detached and indifferent sage, who spoke out: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡ª¡ªThe revelation of God has been delivered to you, and if you do not believe what I say, you will bear the wrath of God. I hope you will stay in the divine realm, where you will get everything you desire, while all the persistent ills of this world will be cured one by one.]


    "Because the secrets my parents discovered are what you fear about this world, right? My consciousness stays in the divine realm, but my body is controlled by you, just like Constantine? You''ve made quite a good calculation," Tang Xian said.


    Tang thought that as long as it was willing to speak, there was a possibility of digging out more information.


    He wasn''t sure what kind of existence he was, because, unfortunately, he couldn''t remember the road to the ruins of Eden.


    Nor had there ever been a mention of why his parents only had nine years of life.


    There seemed to be a trap set against the Orderly, although the God of Order seemed to have been outsmarted by his own doing, Tang Xian did not take it lightly.


    The gray, Soul Crystal-like existence before him had destroyed Eden and humanity, and since it claimed to be a god, it naturally possessed strength beyond what ordinary people could imagine.


    It might even be that because the strength of the God of Order was too overwhelming, the Eden Civilization cast a barrier in the mining world.


    This barrier was a technological isolation, making it so the entire world could only use the most primitive devices, and the vast majority of high-tech products would be rendered ineffective in the mining area.


    "God" seemed to have no intention of giving up. Being mechanical and an intelligent program, it had countermeasures for all possible responses from Tang Xian.


    Tang was aware of this and even played along, saying:


    "Everything I''ve said has no basis, it''s just wild guesses. I''ll give you one more chance to prove to me that what you say is true, or show me why I should consider staying?"


    Tang''s current action was the two-hundred-and-forty-fourth possibility, and God began to respond according to its programming.


    But the next second, Tang did something God hadn''t anticipated.


    As the old divine realm shattered and the new divine realm was established, there were a total of thirty-four divine realm copies intended to detain Tang Xian in God''s backup files.


    If he didn''t like the Levitating Islands outside this world, God had other replacements ready.


    Such as the mining area, the depths of the sea, the scenery of the Eden World before it became ruins, or a certain level of the Pyramid, some part of the ancient human society.


    And so on, all kinds of immersive copies had been pre-made. Now it was prepared to replace this divine realm that was broken due to logical inconsistencies.


    But while the 2.0 version of the divine realm was still being overlaid, Tang Xian suddenly vanished.


    Even God, operating on multiple threads, hadn''t anticipated Tang''s action would jump directly from two-hundred-and-forty-four to five-hundred-and-nine.


    It generated a new algorithm in an instant to cope with Tang''s move.


    At the same time, Tang Xian, who had been locked in a stare with Constantine and then drawn into the divine realm, suddenly opened his eyes.


    Only forty seconds had passed.


    This terrifying capability in the realm of dreams far surpassed Siren, with the dimension of time almost equivalent to a complete stop.


    Once back in reality, the first scene Tang saw was the confrontation between Ganesa and Uranus.


    Both of these sons of Order, who bore the title of supreme gods, possessed overwhelmingly oppressive types of combat talent.


    The two were still in an ever-shrinking space, where those eerie black metals sealed off the entire space like a cage.


    Ganesa possessed a terrifying offensive power that could break through any barrier, not an exaggeration to say, in terms of offensive capability he was like a human-shaped calamity-level disaster.


    But reaching Uranus was also very difficult for Ganesa.


    The whole space seemed to be under some kind of sluggish domain, and he struggled simply to deal with those eerie black metals.


    Let alone also having to cope with Uranus.


    Inside this cage was another battle¡ªAngel Envoy Constantine''s confrontation with Ju Mang.


    "I am surprised you could walk out of the divine realm," Constantine said emotionlessly, his human emotions becoming fewer and more distant.


    Tang did not explain anything, as it would take a while for the prompts about acquiring capabilities to arrive in his sea of consciousness.


    A little while after stepping into the dream of the divine realm, he finally received the prompt.


    This capability wasn''t as exaggerated as Siren''s, which could invade the consciousness of others, but it did prevent his mind from being invaded by others.


    These spiritual methods could no longer harm Tang. The biggest trouble at the moment was to escape from this place.


    Vines formed defensive barriers all around.


    The confrontation between Ju Mang and Constantine was a one-sided crush.


    The enormous vines, like a change in species, were instantly sliced open, hardly delaying the attack by even a second.


    Constantine''s diamond-like eyes also seemed to harbor some terrifying power.

 Chapter 593 - 30: The End of the War Between Gods and Demons_2

    In this forty-second confrontation, Ju Mang had been pushed to the limit.


    "So you don''t believe any of this, even after you''ve seen the divine kingdom, the most beautiful scenery in the world." Constantine''s expression had fully turned into one of indifference.


    Tang Xian knew that Angel Envoy transformation was probably a kind of reverse operation from human to machine.


    Orderers desperately wanted to become human, but towards humans, they tried to transform them into machines.


    Tang Xian couldn''t be bothered to explain that Constantine was no longer the Constantine he knew.


    Because the production method of the Judgment Knight was exposed, leading to the notice of the Orderers, he had become that correcting program. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian''s first reaction was to flee, but just as he opened the portable transmission rift, Constantine had already released a terrifying ray.


    It was not only his own power to manipulate metal, according to Constantine, if the will could be overwritten, then the Angel Envoy would be a heritable weapon of the Orderers.


    It also possessed the strength of other "Constantines."


    This terrifying ray was far more destructive than the Judgment Knight''s Exhaustive Ray; Tang Xian''s portable rift was instantly forced closed by an energy impact.


    The entire enclosed space became even narrower in that second.


    "You can''t escape. Today''s objective was to eliminate you. After your death, everything you''ve arranged will also be cleared, and the truth you''ve spread will eventually be suppressed by the various lords."


    Constantine watched Tang Xian calmly, like a deity.


    With the portable transmission rift destroyed again, Tang Xian thought that if he wished to return to Baichuan City, he would have to go back to the sanctuary stronghold, which meant he had to deal with the person before him.


    When all possibilities had been ruled out and he was sure that the only option was to meet the enemy head-on, Tang Xian didn''t hesitate.


    Immediately, Uranus and Constantine were enveloped in black fog.


    Everything in their line of sight was isolated, causing Uranus to lose his footing for a moment, and forcing Constantine''s next attack to be interrupted.


    In these critical seconds, Tang Xian''s movements were smooth as flowing water; he was no longer the manipulable opportunist he once was. After putting on the extremity gloves, the six Soul Crystals emitted a dazzling light. Terrifying energy was gathering in Tang Xian''s hands.


    Ju Mang and Tang Xian were cooperating for the first time, but Ju Mang harmoniously provided support.


    She focused her mind and summoned the most durable plants, completely trapping Constantine and Uranus.


    The vines were like countless pythons entwined, firmly locking the two men down.


    Meanwhile, Ganesa''s punch met no more obstacles; Uranus fought back crazily, the entire battlefield turned into a swamp, and the sluggish domain grew even stronger.


    But he couldn''t move, he could only feel Ganesa''s terrifying presence closing in.


    Tang Xian''s targeting was complete, without any hesitation, he released the power of the six Soul Crystals gathered in the glove, a ray more powerful than Constantine''s strike!


    Three against two, with Tang Xian''s sudden and forceful approach, the three of them had a great opportunity to kill their opponent.


    But in that instant, even though the black fog had not yet dispersed, Constantine also shot out a ray.


    The two rays collided precisely, the colossal energies clashing against each other.


    The violent airflow swept through the metal-enclosed space like a storm.


    Ju Mang was startled; she had never seen this equipment of Tang Xian, but she presumed it to be some strong human-developed weapon.


    The colors of the six crystals were at least purple, including even orange ones.


    The rays radiating from the Soul Crystals of calamity-level disaster-level creatures were enough to destroy everything.


    She hadn''t expected this Orderer with no talent to possess such a powerful ''peripheral'' support.


    But what shocked her even more was Constantine. The transformed Angel Envoy, Constantine, was actually able to withstand this ray on his own.


    The clash of the two rays didn''t last long. Tang Xian''s extremity gloves, indeed a powerful piece of black tech, had endured only with great difficulty after several enhancements so that it could withstand the tremendous energy of the Soul Crystals.


    The extremity gloves made from Lei Xiao''s bones also couldn''t manipulate the power of six Soul Crystals for a long time.


    On the seventh second when the two apocalyptic rays were about to touch, Tang Xian''s extremity gloves couldn''t hold on, and the luster of the Soul Crystals dimmed instantly.


    At the same time, Constantine''s ray, without any hindrance, pierced directly through Tang Xian''s arm.


    Tang Xian was slammed against the metal wall by the powerful impact of the ray.


    Constantine did not step out of the black fog; it seemed that he could sense all surrounding changes with another sense.


    As Tang Xian was knocked back, Constantine emitted another ray.


    Just as Ganesa arrived in front of Uranus, ready to drive his mightiest fist through the enemy, that ray pierced through Ganesa''s body.


    Ju Mang''s eyes widened as the scent of death spread in an instant.


    What gave her a slight sense of horror was not Constantine''s decisive and ruthless methods.


    It was his indifference and will to destroy everything.


    After that terrifying ray penetrated Ganesa, it did not stop there.


    Uranus, who had just dodged Ganesa''s iron fist, was also mercilessly pierced by that same ray.


    The life force of the two Sons of Order drained away rapidly.


    Constantine seemed to know all their contingency plans; he did not simply retract his attack, swiping the ray like a blade, he lightly waved it, drawing several messy trajectories.

 Chapter 594 - 30: The End of the War Between Gods and Demons_3

    Ganesa and Uranus''s bodies were sliced by lasers instantaneously, chopped into several chunks of flesh.


    Two powerful Sons of Order died completely at this moment.


    Whether foe or ally, Constantine didn''t hesitate for a single moment; it seemed that everyone who gathered here today was destined to die!


    Ju Mang''s heartbeat accelerated, her reactions at this critical juncture of life and death were unprecedentedly swift.


    Like Tang Xian, Ju Mang did not drag her feet; when she acted, she was even more decisive and ruthless.


    Everything was as she had expected, after the deaths of Uranus and Ganesa, the third beam of light was aimed at her.


    But at that moment, Ju Mang burned her innate talents.


    Movement speed, defensive power, vitality, life regeneration.


    Ju Mang spared nothing that could save her life, igniting all of it without hesitation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had already realized that Constantine had become a monster whose strength was completely out of her league and her companions''.


    The instant Tang Xian opened the transmission rift, even he himself had not reacted when Constantine''s beam had already been fired.


    This proved that the transformed Constantine, now an Angel Envoy, possessed a computational speed that surpassed human limits!


    Ju Mang''s strength increased immensely in an instant.


    Yet even so, all she thought about was how to escape from this place.


    At the boundary of the battlefield, Tang Xian clutched his pierced arm, gasping for breath.


    The strength of the enemy was beyond imagination.


    From an advantageous to a disadvantageous position, the Envoy reversed the situation with just one move.


    Two Sons of Order were dead, and another was already burning her innate talents.


    Feeling the indestructibility of the black metal behind him, Tang Xian was overwhelmed with a sense of despair.


    There was no indication of resistance in his sea of consciousness, signifying that what he faced was indeed no longer human. And there was no way to engage in a war of attrition with Constantine.


    His extreme gloves could not withstand a confrontation of that intensity either.


    Tang Xian''s entire focus was on the mass of black fog, on full alert, despite the slim chance of victory, he didn''t want to die here just yet.


    At this time, he realized that in this battle of gods and demons, he was likely going to die here.


    If the everything in Eden was a battle of wits between the gods and the demons that he won, then the current confrontation in the school zone was a battle of strength. The power of the gods hadn''t been fully utilized, yet it was so easy to crush everyone. He was facing the strongest enemy too soon after all.


    There was no turning back, in such a sealed space, no one could provide assistance. Especially when the combat power was hard to match, Tang Xian felt for the first time that he had no way to change the situation.


    "Eden beings are difficult to kill, and upon your death, perhaps the power within you would also be silenced forever. To me and this world, that would be a significant loss. I really do not wish to kill you, but your actions have been foolish. You have desecrated the divine."


    Tang Xian noticed that even Constantine''s voice had changed. That sensation from the divine realm seemed to return, and he guessed that the will of Constantine had completely dissipated, and the one conversing with him now was that deity.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    On the outskirts of Baichuan City.


    The hooves of the White Deer were always light and brisk, she bore no malice towards any creature in the world, but when they saw her pure white body, animals would always avoid her with reverence.


    It seemed that they all knew such a being preferred tranquility.


    She had existed in the world for a very long time, guarding a legend shared between the Myriad Beasts Realm and the Human World. A mountain always followed her wherever she went ¨C wherever the deer traveled, the mountain would be there, as it had been for hundreds of years, never separating from the deer.


    In the animal kingdom, her status was sacred. Seemingly unbounded by space, she could appear anywhere, and such miracles often led many animals to regard her as a divine beast.


    Today, the White Deer was observing the sky. The sky was dark, devoid of light; though it was daytime, it felt like night. The animals also seemed very excited.


    Because it had been a very long time since the last eclipse had occurred.


    The White Deer looked at the eclipse, pondering over the voice that came from the cave behind her.


    Before long, she nodded as if she had agreed to an invisible being''s request and gently lifted her hoofs.


    She disappeared from the world once again, no one knew where she would appear next.


    But this time, birds and beasts in the distance noticed that the mountain ¨C it remained in the same place.


    (Thank you, book friend Feng Jianhua''s reward... Ashamed to say, with my recent updates, there are still readers willing to reward, sob sob)

 Chapter 595 - 31: Deer Witnessing Injustice

    The moment where neither heaven nor earth would respond was not Tang Xian''s first encounter with such a situation; similar circumstances had presented themselves when he was dragged by the great Tengu to sink into the Ashen Sea on the southern islands.


    But this time was the most special.


    The fourth ray finally struck, and Ju Mang''s rapid dodging within this confined space made her resemble a continuously bouncing marble.


    After igniting her innate talent, Ju Mang could easily evade Constantine''s attacks, yet she was unable to protect Tang Xian at the same time.


    Constantine paid no attention to that, as he had corresponding means to deal with all situations.


    Unable to escape this place, Ju Mang was like a fly trapped under a glass cover, tirelessly struggling until she would eventually come to rest, exhausted, at some point.


    Constantine''s gaze fell on Tang Xian, his indifferent diamond-like eyes devoid of any emotion.


    This fourth ray was more powerful than the one that had annihilated Uranus and Ganesa.


    It pierced straight through Tang Xian''s knees.


    Even Tang Xian could not bear such pain; his knees seemed as if they had been hollowed out, and he let out agonizing howls, but his body did not fall.


    Because in the space before him, a metal spike suddenly appeared, nailing him in place.


    Tang Xian''s breathing grew more and more rapid, and his consciousness gradually began to blur.


    While Ju Mang, dodging metal spikes at high speed, could only watch this scene from a distance.


    The sixth and seventh rays came, and Constantine seemed to take pleasure in this act, as if it was punishment for blasphemy against the gods. His assault did not cease, continuously mounting attack after attack.


    Rays horrifyingly penetrated through Tang Xian''s ribs and joints. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After enduring such immense damage, what shocked Ju Mang was that Tang Xian was somehow still alive.


    Indeed, the attacks avoided vital points, but even a Child of Order after igniting their innate talent could hardly endure so many devastating assaults.


    Ju Mang understood the terror of that ray, and in these few seconds, Tang Xian had endured a full twelve, which would have meant certain death for any other being.


    Yet Tang Xian''s eyes remained open, as if to confirm Constantine''s words that children of Eden are extremely hard to kill.


    Tang Xian was like Jesus nailed to the cross. He weakly opened his eyes, looking at Constantine.


    He had endured more painful things before: the corrosive burn of stomach acids from calamity-level beasts, the freezing cold and solutions poured over him by the Zhenhai Cang Dragon.


    Only this time did he truly sense the Grim Reaper knocking at his door because the life recovery ability surpassing that of calamity-level beasts had vanished.


    In the mines, even within the belly of the great Tengu, he could survive thanks to his powerful life force and terrifying recovery speed.


    In terms of sheer resilience, Tang Xian was on par with any creature.


    But now he was out of options, as the Exhaustive Ray from the judgment knight could suppress the life recovery of any beast. His greatest reliance was completely subdued.


    Tang Xian''s breathing grew more difficult, and as Constantine''s footsteps approached, he said:


    "Although torturing you like this truly has no purpose, I know that pain can bring about human memory. I am not able to feel the pleasure of revenge, but I understand that you will regret due to the pain."


    Tang Xian did not respond. He had no more strength left to reply.


    The combat ability of an Orderly far exceeded the imagination; he was utterly unable to mount even the simplest resistance, and that was the most desperate thing.


    Powerful vitality and recovery, along with the accumulated resistance, were the trumps that had carried Tang Xian thus far, taming countless powerful creatures. But this trump was ineffective against the enemy before him.


    Constantine''s palm faced Tang Xian, and he said:


    "Your memories are locked; you cannot access what transpired within the ruins of Eden. I can''t go to the world of all beasts for now, but in any case, your plans will collapse with your death."


    Destructive energy gathered before Tang Xian''s forehead, and this time Constantine decided to kill Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang wanted to intervene, but Constantine seemed able to anticipate her moves, and wherever Ju Mang planned to go, those shadow-like black metal spikes would immediately appear around her.


    The only help was now rendered useless, the Grim Reaper whispered in his ear, and Tang Xian''s mind flashed with many images.


    All of them were regrets.


    Whether it was failing to reclaim the fox clan for Qing JiuYu and Tang Xiaojiu, or not unraveling the mysteries of this world, or failing to bring the wonders of the Divine Kingdom to Baichuan City.


    These regrets filled Tang Xian with a strong unwillingness, and he finally realized his own insignificance.


    Though he often thought of himself as an ordinary person of no particular merit, his actions had still been too provocative to the Pyramid World.


    The ray filled with the intent to destroy grew ever more intense, and at the moment it was to be unleashed, Tang Xian''s thoughts turned to his parents and Li Xiaoyu.


    He had not located his parents'' place of death, nor looked after Zhong Xiuxiu properly, and most importantly, he had broken his promise to Yu. He had failed to bring back the people of the Li family and had even ended up putting himself at risk.


    Burdened with guilt and resentment, it took Tang Xian a full second to realize that ray¡ªhe did not hit him.


    In the instant between life and death, his eyes widened, and all his sensory abilities temporarily ceased functioning due to the massive blood loss.

 Chapter 596 - 31: Deer Witnessing Injustice_2

    All that remained were hearing and sight.


    The scene before his eyes was very strange, as if an invisible transfer device was suspended in front of his forehead, and the ray that should have killed him seemed to have been transmitted to another place.


    Tang Xian suddenly became excited. His sense of smell was severely weakened, but he still detected a hint of a familiar scent. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the same time, Ju Mang was even more horrified, for her power was the manipulation of plants, which grew wildly only to be instantly sliced apart by the eerie black metal.


    But this moment was different; the plants were growing at an even more astonishing speed, as if another force of the same nature had been superimposed upon them.


    What was most unbelievable was that the sliced plants did not lose their vitality, but instead kept spreading.


    In just a few seconds, the vast plants had occupied this small space.


    The Exhaustive Ray contained an intense aura of death. It was the strongest offensive measure extracted by the Orderers through the grey Soul Crystal, capable of withering all things.


    Yet at the same time, this not-so-large world was filled with a majestic life force. The two completely opposing forces collided with each other.


    Tang Xian even felt as if his body was slowly beginning to recover, although the speed was extremely slow.


    Constantine''s expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered with strange light. In that brief moment, he had calculated the current situation countless times.


    When the figure of the mysterious white deer appeared before him, his movements paused for an instant. After this brief hesitation, Constantine''s hands began to emit rays continuously, the frequency of the attack increased by several levels.


    These rays, which could easily destroy powerful creatures, kept emerging, as if Constantine had finally decided to blow up the entire place.


    But strangely, the rays seemed to suddenly penetrate into some other dimensional space.


    The white deer had an expression as calm as Constantine''s.


    However, Constantine was calm because he could not experience emotional fluctuations, whereas the white deer was truly composed, like an experienced spectator accustomed to grand scenes.


    No matter how Constantine attacked, no matter how powerful the rays were, they invariably disappeared as they approached the white deer.


    Life''s ups and downs came too quickly, and Tang Xian''s mood was quite complex for a while.


    He wanted to laugh up to the sky, but his injuries were too severe, and he simply couldn''t do it.


    "I swear I will never eat deer meat in my life."


    Tang Xian did not know how to thank the white deer, and in his dizzy state, he blurted out that sentence.


    The white deer glanced at Tang Xian indifferently and said,


    "Whether you eat deer meat or not, what does it have to do with me?"


    "Bai Shuang, take me with you, save me, please take me away from here no matter what!"


    He had experienced life-and-death situations before, but Tang Xian had never had such a strong desire to survive as he did today.


    In the past, he seemed to have no desires, but it was hard to imagine how the enrichment of various emotions throughout the short span of a year made him more attached to the world, to life, and to everything he possessed in life.


    He wasn''t Qiao Shanshan, who was still coy about wanting to live; Tang Xian made no attempt to hide his desire to survive.


    Bai Shuang, who was usually indifferent, was surprisingly a bit astonished; the young man''s temperament was somewhat unexpected to her.


    "Since I am here, you naturally won''t die."


    With a light step of her hoof, a whiff of mountain breeze suddenly filled Tang Xian''s nostrils.


    This space, deemed impregnable and sealed by metal, suddenly displayed a gap like a dimensional doorway.


    Constantine''s attacks became more rapid; he absolutely did not want to let go of Tang Xian, but no matter how fierce his attacks were, those life-extinguishing rays always failed to touch the white deer, let alone Tang Xian behind the white deer.


    Bai Shuang appeared to have no attacking capabilities, but by comparison, her defensive power was absolute. If she couldn''t even be touched, naturally she could not be harmed.


    Bai Shuang''s expression remained indifferent throughout. She did not deliberately disparage Constantine, yet she also held no fear of him.


    Among all of Constantine''s contingency plans, he had not calculated the arrival of a sacred beast with spatial jumping abilities.


    With no means to dismantle the spatial transfer defense, Constantine could only watch as the white deer effortlessly and leisurely rescued Tang Xian.


    "Let''s go, I will take you away from here," Bai Shuang''s voice remained the same, neither sad nor happy. It did not change with Tang Xian''s current plight, nor did it sound different from the tone of their last conversation.


    Why did the white deer appear here? How did she know he was in danger? How did she perceive him?


    Many questions in his mind, Tang Xian did not ask them now. As they were about to leave, he urgently said:


    "Bai! Take her with us too!"


    [She has nothing to do with me.]


    "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Tang Xian didn''t give up.


    To the side, Ju Mang was slightly taken aback, having not expected Tang Xian to be willing to save her in such a moment.


    Bai Shuang slightly tilted her head, not saying much.


    But in that instant, Ju Mang and Tang Xian suddenly disappeared from the rapidly shrinking metallic space.


    Only after the man and the woman were transferred did Bai Shuang turn her gaze to Constantine.


    [Scared now, aren''t you? The revenge of humanity has only just begun.]


    Those were words even an Orderer could not comprehend. The transformed Constantine, now an Angel Envoy, had the power to crush his opponents. But in the final chapter of this battle, he could only stand still to the side, watching as Bai Shuang saved Tang Xian and Ju Mang.


    After leaving behind that strange statement, the figure of Bai Shuang also disappeared.


    The battle of the Children of Order was finally over.


    Originally six Children of Order, now only Constantine remained.


    Or perhaps only half of one.


    The metallic barriers around them suddenly dissipated. The vegetation that had been clinging to the school district buildings also vanished without a trace.


    Constantine stood in place, indistinguishable from the hundreds of Judgement Knights surrounding him.


    After a long, long time, Constantine finally blinked.


    The diamond-like pupils were no more, and life''s animation returned to his eyes once again.


    Constantine looked around at the shattered battlefield, at the silent hundreds of Judgement Knights, and at the figures of Ganesa and Uranus, his expression complex.


    Those human emotions, faded almost to the point of disappearing, started to emerge gradually.


    Fear, regret, anger, sorrow¡ªall these complex emotions, as if suppressed by something for a long time, suddenly lost their containment in that moment, explosively colliding with Constantine''s consciousness. His entire face was twisted.


    It felt like dying once over.


    He gasped heavily, with the joy of having survived a disaster, but it was quickly covered by despair.


    He had realized that he was now just a vessel.


    After a long while, Constantine slowly came back to his senses.


    He had many things to do: the fallout from the creation method of Judgement Knights, the introduction of new Children of Order, and some of the aftermath work of this battle.


    With a mountain of tedious tasks ahead, Constantine didn''t show any impatience. He just stared at the ceiling above, his eyes fierce, as if he had come to some sort of realization.


    ...


    ...


    On the outskirts of Baichuan City.


    When Tang Xian awoke, his nostrils were filled with the scent of plants. His sense of smell had not fully recovered yet; eating bone marrow to taste its flavor had side effects.


    This ability made Tang Xian stronger when he was full, but it also limited his capabilities in every aspect when he was hungry.


    The smell of various weeds filled his nostrils, and his consciousness was still somewhat fuzzy.


    Excessive blood loss made him feel extremely tired.


    But he soon became fully awake¡ªor rather, he was startled awake.


    When he realized that not only the scent of vegetation was in his nostrils but also a woman''s fragrance, Tang Xian turned his head subconsciously and saw Ju Mang lying very close by his side.


    "Very close" might not be sufficient to describe the distance.


    Because strictly speaking, Ju Mang''s legs were entwined around Tang Xian''s lower body, with her snow-white arms around his waist.


    Especially that dark green hair, it even had a special fragrance.


    Tang Xian woke up in an instant.

 Chapter 597 - 32: The Lone Man and Woman in the Small Woods

    Tang Xian seldom experienced the state of being utterly confounded, but after waking up, he calmed down and thought for a few seconds. Then he remembered that he hadn''t done anything to Ju Mang.


    After being transported to this forest by the mysterious power of Bai Shuang, the tense consciousness in his heart finally relaxed. Under the effect of significant blood loss, Tang Xian remembered that he had fainted before he could explain anything.


    Ju Mang had burned nearly half of her talent but still had half left, while he was useless. It didn''t make sense that he could have done anything to her.


    Seeing Ju Mang with her legs wrapped around his lower body, Tang Xian''s face turned a bit unsightly.


    He remembered a saying, "As a boy alone out in the world, take care to protect yourself."


    He certainly wasn''t some frail little boy, but Ju Mang wasn''t any normal female either.


    He gently pushed away Ju Mang, who was hugging him, and then moved her two snow-white legs off his body.


    He sat up and contemplated life, with a face like someone smoking a cigarette after the fact.


    "That expression of yours, it''s like you''ve entered sage mode,"


    Ju Mang''s voice suddenly came through.


    Tang Xian felt a bit of a headache. His physical injuries had healed, but he couldn''t remember whether he had done anything or had something done to him.


    Ju Mang, watching Tang Xian''s awkward and constrained expression, suddenly laughed out loud,


    "Don''t worry, I didn''t do anything to you. But you''ve done similar things to others before, shouldn''t you also have such awareness?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian breathed a sigh of relief internally because indeed, there was no smell of hormonal secretion in his breath.


    He didn''t know what he was nervous about, after all, such matters seemingly didn''t need too much care.


    Tang Xian calmed down and said,


    "When have I ever done such a thing to others?"


    "Shang Lu ah, wasn''t he also forcefully by your sister..."


    "Stop!"


    Rubbing his temples, Tang Xian felt his forehead ache. Reflecting on the matter now, it seemed utterly absurd.


    "So why did you get so close to me?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Because you were about to die," Ju Mang looked at Tang Xian, her expression carrying a mixture of disdain and amusement.


    "So your Eden bloodline isn''t much stronger than ours. At least in dealing with the Orderers, you seem weaker than us."


    Tang Xian didn''t speak, but continued to look at Ju Mang with a questioning gaze.


    Ju Mang didn''t hide anything and said,


    "You saved my life, so I saved yours. In the end, when we were fleeing, you didn''t have to have that white deer save me, but you still took the time to do so. Considering your state at the time, it was a full effort. After all, I am still human and have a heart for gratitude."


    Tang Xian thought to himself, is this what you call gratitude?


    You look like you''re coveting my body, you''re shameless.


    Of course, he didn''t say this out loud.


    After all, he was, strictly speaking, a good man who had kept himself pure.


    Even though he was already twenty-four years old.


    Even though he was clearer about various aspects of knowledge than many people, because such desires are the weaknesses of many, Tang had also studied quite a bit on similar subjects.


    Even though he was just a cloud gamer without personal experience, he was truly a quite studied cloud gamer.


    "Exhaustive Ray is a type of radiation that can suppress the life force of living beings, containing many lethal radioactive substances. Even you can''t resist it.


    You were gasping for breath at the time. Although you were saved, if neglected, you would still die.


    That white deer was really odd, just giving you a couple of looks, kicking you with its hooves, and then ignoring you."


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected this part. Then he thought that he probably wouldn''t have been able to persuade the white deer to save Ju Mang.


    In Bai Shuang''s view, to save or not to save is all up to me; why should anything concern me?


    The reason for saving Ju Mang was probably out of annoyance, and so it was more convenient to save Ju Mang while at it, thinking of her as a health potion?


    This was, of course, speculation, but Tang Xian felt that given the deer''s laziness and its laissez-faire nature, it was entirely possible.


    He shook his head and said,


    "I feel like I''ve recovered quite a lot."


    "Plants can continuously provide me with life force. In Origin and the Eyes of Nature, I used a similar method to inject life force into many test subjects.


    This place is teeming with the essence of life, and the vegetation has grown for a long time. Here, my power becomes stronger, which is how I could bring you back from death''s door, although it consumed a lot of the plants."


    Ju Mang''s expression was still calm. Tang Xian looked into Ju Mang''s eyes and said,


    "So it had to be in that position?"


    "I just like to hold onto something when I sleep, I was only using you as a pillow."


    That explanation was somewhat reasonable. Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "You don''t owe me anymore."


    "That''s right."


    "And we only share a common enemy; we''re not even part of a community of shared interests, and we have no emotional foundation."


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "I''m saying that I indeed am not used to being too close to others, so this incident was an accident. It''s best if neither of us brings it up again."


    Tang Xian, in fact, also knew this was a minor issue, but he felt inexplicably anxious.


    Ju Mang said in an annoyed tone,


    "I''m not interested in you."


    "Then that''s a relief."


    The two children of order fell silent.


    The sky was dull; there had been a solar eclipse today, although it was already over.


    After the eclipse, the sky didn''t seem very bright.


    The animals were also cautious. On the branches of distant trees, two small squirrels were watching Tang Xian and Ju Mang.

 Chapter 598 - 32: The Lone Man and Woman in the Small Woods_2

    ```


    It seemed curious why these two people didn''t move at all.


    "Are we really safe?"


    In the heavy twilight atmosphere, in the woods on the outskirts of Baichuan City, Ju Mang, although fond of plants, still felt very uncomfortable with this kind of silence.


    "We should be."


    "Where did the deer go?"


    "I thought you knew."


    "I don''t know. It''s so mysterious. I didn''t expect to encounter such a powerful creature outside the mining area, in a world at the same latitude as the Pyramid. Why would it save us... no, why would it save you?" Ju Mang was actually somewhat envious of Tang Xian.


    As a leader of oddball scientists, her subordinates were all weirdos like Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu.


    Life was all about various experimental data. She knew a lot, but there was also a lot she didn''t know.


    Tang Xian, who had defected from his divine seat, how had he spent the last twenty years? Would his life be as boring as hers?


    And how had he step by step reached this day? Although she had no interest or even sexual desire in this man, she was very curious about the life of this man who had been calculating against the ordainers from the beginning and struggled against fate... just how different was it from hers.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Can you conjure up some fruit?"


    "Yes."


    "So actually, you can be self-sufficient?"


    "No, the energy I gain from eating a piece of fruit is far less than the energy I use to summon it."


    Tang Xian nodded, feeling that this made sense. He was very hungry at the moment. The ability from the gluttonous beast, ''Taste of the Marrow,'' made him, like the beast, easily hungry.


    Especially since he had just suffered serious injuries. But suspecting that Ju Mang was also extremely weak and just holding on, he didn''t mention the matter of the fruit anymore and answered instead:


    "I don''t know why Bai Shuang would save me, there was actually some conflict between us last time. You can just think of it as good luck, because at one point I thought I would die today."


    "Conflict? You mean to say you can understand what she says?" Ju Mang was shocked.


    "Maybe for me and the ordainers, we both know the voice of all things."


    Ju Mang looked at Tang Xian with a bit more interest: S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "In the mining area, only a very few creatures can communicate with all species without barriers. The voices you hear, are they in human language or beast language?"


    "Human language."


    "So in your brain, there''s some kind of conversion ability?"


    "Perhaps?"


    "I''m pretty good at dissecting brains, and can perfectly restore them after opening the skull. I want to open up your head and take a look."


    Ju Mang said it very politely, at least she thought her tone was very sincere.


    Tang Xian thought to himself that it was no wonder his sister was treated as an oddball; how could one not be odd after working with such a person?


    "You''re getting off topic. Moreover, even if I let you dissect me, you wouldn''t be able to."


    "Why?"


    "To humans, I am indestructible."


    Ju Mang pondered, knowing something about the abilities of an Eden demon child, but she had never seen it before.


    Tang Xian didn''t want Ju Mang to continue thinking about some crazy ideas, so he got up to look for some food.


    He felt dizzy when he stood up.


    "The white deer won''t go too far, it''s probably waiting for me to recover, then it will come to find us. Since it saved me, it should explain something this time."


    As Tang Xian said this, he actually had no confidence in his heart. It seemed completely in line with the white deer''s style to save someone and then just leave.


    He walked to the bank of the stream, ready to catch fish.


    This place was indeed on the outskirts of Baichuan City, but it was also very far from the city, so far that the outline of the city could not be seen, and he couldn''t contact anyone in the city. If he wanted to go back, the first step was to fill his stomach.


    "Where are you going?"


    "To find something to eat."


    "I''ll go with you." Ju Mang also stood up, but she looked even more disheveled than Tang Xian, seemingly lacking the strength to even walk.


    Tang Xian glanced at Ju Mang, who was also looking back at him. He knew Ju Mang didn''t want to be alone.


    For him, it was merely a lost battle.


    But for Ju Mang, she had lost her entire life.


    Without an identity, and without a future.


    She didn''t even know what her position was now. It would probably be better to have someone with her at such a time.


    She didn''t say it, but oddly enough, Tang Xian seemed to understand.


    After a few seconds of silence, Tang Xian said:


    "You promise not to fall for me."


    ```


    "Huh, has anyone ever told you that you think quite highly of yourself?"


    "No. Those who like me think highly of all aspects of me and are crazily infatuated with me."


    "I feel like vomiting, that''s disgusting."


    "Just telling the truth."


    Tang Xian then looked at Ju Mang with eyes seeking confirmation, and Ju Mang straightforwardly said:


    "I like people like Shang Lu."


    That seemed like an even bigger problem.


    Tang Xian frowned and said:


    "He''s married."


    "I can clone one, as long as I have the equipment."


    "Stop it, let''s go, I''ll take you out to eat."


    Tang Xian shook his head, there were many troubled girls in Baichuan City, adding one more to the number wasn''t going to be a problem.


    He supported Ju Mang and only then did he feel Ju Mang''s weakness; it turned out he didn''t need to worry about being overpowered because Ju Mang didn''t have the strength for it.


    "You shouldn''t be this weak."


    "Paying back what I owe you isn''t easy, and to survive, I''ve used up no less than you have."


    Tang Xian nodded, understanding what she meant.


    A talent burning itself out, Song Que had been unconscious for nearly a month.


    That Ju Mang managed to stay conscious, even pulling herself back from death''s door with the remnants of her talent, certainly meant she was completely exhausted.


    She didn''t make any fuss about it.


    As mentioned before, they were square with each other.


    However, Tang Xian still added:


    "My cooking skills are not bad, you probably haven''t had such delicious food while you were in the Pyramid."


    "Desires of the flesh are but lowly desires."


    "The lower things are, the stronger the impact they have on us. In contrast, the so-called higher pleasures tend to feel quite insipid," Tang Xian remarked.


    Just like how the upper echelons enjoy classical music and works of literary nature, these so-called sophisticated tastes, in Tang Xian''s opinion, could only be appreciated once the more basic tastes were satisfied.


    Right now he was very hungry, and so was Ju Mang.


    At this moment, if you threw him a copy of "Cancer Tower," "Suet Ball," or "Kafka by the Sea," he would most likely use it as kindling to roast an unliterary fish.


    Catching fish was easy; after some of his strength returned and the remnants of the Exhaustive Ray in his body diluted, his ability to recover life improved.


    His entire being was in a state of growing hunger, yet his vitality was increasing all the while.


    He caught four fish, fatty grass carps with poor meat quality, but more than enough to fill a stomach.


    The prop bag was tattered, but luckily some items were still usable.


    He busied himself for a while and with Ju Mang''s help, managed to set up a simple frame.


    Soon, the campfire was lit, and the warmth of the flames together with the fragrance of the roasting fish made Ju Mang feel somewhat comfortable inside.


    "I have nowhere to go from now on. You must quickly take your friends and leave."


    What a way to kill the mood for chat, Tang Xian thought as he flipped the roasting fish and said:


    "You should talk about something light-hearted now."


    "The holy fortresses will soon undergo a great purge, and the news you released will be completely overturned. We are the mistake, cleaned up by the correction programs, and now any remaining programs will be cleaned up along with it."


    Tang Xian sighed and said:


    "It''s just one loss. If the Orderers could really be wiped out by me in one go, I think people wouldn''t have been deceived for hundreds of years, right?"


    "You don''t look disappointed at all?"


    "Of course I''m disappointed, but I had considered this possibility before this plan, so everything was arranged accordingly. To me, as long as we haven''t lost anyone, there is still hope. It''s just about starting over."


    "Aren''t you afraid of it? It could easily kill us."


    "It can''t get into the mining area, and it might not even be able to leave the Pyramid for a while. It''s starting to expose itself, and in the future, it will only reveal more and more vulnerabilities.


    And don''t underestimate humanity itself, when they finally come to their senses, they can unleash unimaginable power."


    Ju Mang said:


    "What about you? What do you plan to do next?"


    "Right now, you and I are both outcasts, we need to lie low for a while. Going to the Pyramid isn''t possible anymore, but we could take a look around the mining area. I also should... look for the person who really knows everything and ask some questions."


    As Tang Xian thought about the Endless Turtle, he smiled and said:


    "This world is more interesting and complicated than I imagined. That''s not a bad thing, though. At least our enemy isn''t unrivaled. And if there''s one thing humans are best at, it''s playing dirty."

 Chapter 599 - 33: Even the Buddhist Deer is No Longer Calm

    "I have never been to the mining area," Ju Mang said.


    Tang Xian was not surprised. The education that several children of the Order had received since childhood was actually somewhat similar to that of Li Xiaoyu. They all preferred highly modernized urban environments.


    "Only Xi He had been there a few times. When the test subjects couldn''t catch some of the higher-level beasts, he would personally go to capture them. Moreover, it was Xi He and I who first solved the issue with the Burning Talent. It would have been better if he hadn''t died. Although I have mastered the technology, it would have been easier if he was around."


    One researched plants and the human brain, the other genetic evolution on a human level. Although Xi He and Ju Mang had completely different personalities, driven by their dedication to breaking through technology, Ju Mang really hoped that Xi He could have lived.


    As she thought this, she suddenly said:


    "Actually, you didn''t really lose."


    "What do you mean?" Tang Xian didn''t understand.


    Ju Mang said seriously:


    "Think about it. The confrontation with us, the children of the Order, counts as your first real clash with the forces of Order, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Although it seems like you lost to the Angel Envoy, the very existence of the Angel Envoy is a secret not even we knew about.


    And of the seven children of the Order, now only Constantine remains serving the Order''s camp.


    The storm caused by the Judgment Knight will certainly be suppressed, but people have planted a seed of doubt in their hearts. I''m not very concerned about the matters within the Pyramid, but I know about the person named Song Que; when Xi He was watching him, he even talked to me about it.


    So I also indirectly learned about some matters related to Song Que. Your subconscious intent to get close to Song Que, it was all premeditated, wasn''t it?"


    Ju Mang looked at Tang Xian. Tang Xian didn''t deny it.


    At the ball, before his memory had returned, Tang Xian had felt an unconscious desire to get close to Song Que.


    Now that he thought about it, everything was just a form of self-suggestion left before his memory had vanished.


    But he corrected his wording:


    "Premeditation doesn''t conflict with sincerity."


    "If you say there''s no conflict, then there''s no conflict," Ju Mang said. "In any case, Song Que is a fine piece on the chessboard, and you must have cultivated him. His prestige in the Pyramid World is tremendous. By having him reveal the evil secrets of the Judgment Knight, although still outrageous, many will still harbor doubts.


    And doubt is one of the driving forces of human progress. As long as a seed of doubt is planted, no one knows what might happen next.


    You said it yourself, never underestimate humanity itself. When they come to their senses, they can unleash unimaginable power."


    Ju Mang paused and said:


    "In this confrontation, except for not defeating your opponent in terms of combat, you can count the other aspects as rich winnings."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that if he analyzed the battle in this way, he seemed to have gotten quite a good deal out of it.


    He didn''t agree with this viewpoint, but he couldn''t be bothered to argue.


    Their conversation came to an abrupt end again, but neither of them felt awkward. Ju Mang continued eating, her gaze drifting into the distance.


    The smells around Tang Xian grew clearer with each breath, and as his satiety increased, his radar-like sense of smell slowly started to function again.


    He carefully sensed the scents around him, trying to figure out where the deer had gone.


    Ju Mang, who always possessed strong observational skills, remarked:


    "It''s strange. The essence of life in you before and after you eat is completely different. Is this also an ability from the Eden bloodline?"


    Tang Xian thought that Ju Mang, someone who could manipulate plants, could probably sense an abstract value known as the essence of life.


    He nodded. The taste for marrow was an ability of the gluttonous, but having such an ability was also thanks to the Eden bloodline.


    "Now I want to dissect not only your brain but also your body," Ju Mang said candidly.


    Tang Xian rolled his eyes at Ju Mang without much enthusiasm and said:


    "If the deer doesn''t come back after the sun sets, we''ll head for Baichuan City."


    "I don''t absorb food as freakishly as you do. I''m very weak right now and can''t walk far. You''ll have to carry me," Ju Mang said, her tone completely forthright and without any ulterior motive.


    After pondering for a moment, Tang Xian nodded and agreed:


    "Alright."


    Once more, the two fell into a silent understanding. During the years that Ju Mang had served as a child of the Order, Tang Xian believed she must know a lot of explosive information, but there would be time for that later. Right now, he was more concerned about where Bai Shuang had gone.


    Having appeared in a flash from inside the Pyramid, rescuing him and Ju Mang with a fleeting glimpse, Tang Xian wholeheartedly believed the deer ought to reveal something.


    But now his confidence waned. It seemed that the mystical white deer had truly rescued someone on a whim and then vanished after showing off?


    He felt uneasy. How exactly had Bai Shuang known he was in danger?


    While mired in a slight anxiety, Tang Xian and Ju Mang spent most of the time in silence, occasionally exchanging a few words. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just when Tang Xian had assumed the deer had indeed vanished after its spontaneous rescue and was about to set off for Baichuan¡ªBai Shuang appeared.


    Without any warning, quietly materializing in front of Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang marveled at the structure of the Soul Crystal which granted creatures all sorts of abilities¡ªif there were gods in the world, the Soul Crystal would definitely be their most outstanding creation.


    And the ability of the white deer was the most astonishing, as if wholly unbound by space.


    As evening approached, they finally saw the mysterious white deer. Tang Xian breathed a sigh of relief, and his thoughts began to flow more freely.


    "I was really worried that you wouldn''t come," he said.

 Chapter 600 - 33: Even the Buddhist Deer is No Longer Calm_2

    "Tired, I found a quiet place and took a nap," said Bai Shuang with an indifferent expression.


    "After saving someone, you just abandoned me and her, on the brink of death, to go sleep?"


    "With her there, you wouldn''t die," Bai Shuang replied, unconcerned.


    Ju Mang watched Tang Xian talking to himself, not expecting that this kind of communication would be directly through speech.


    The more she watched, the more interested she became in Tang Xian''s brain. She couldn''t help but reminisce about the feel of dissecting a human brain.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind Bai Shuang''s coldness; after all, he owed his life to this elder sister deer.


    Finally, when the white deer appeared, Tang Xian got straight to the point and said,


    "Elder Bai, how did you know I was in danger? Why did you come to save us?"


    "None of your business."


    These four words brought back that sense of powerlessness Tang Xian had felt during their last conversation.


    He suddenly realized that he probably waited in vain; after all, what difference did it make?


    This white deer was utterly unreasonable in logic, solving all the world''s problems with ''mind your own business''.


    Rubbing his temples, Tang Xian realized this was the most troublesome day he had ever had¡ªtwo bothersome female creatures, plus the iron simpleton in the Pyramid, filled him with a sense of defeat.


    "I just believe that there should be value and meaning in doing something. Elder Bai, you saved me, but won''t tell me why, which is somewhat..."


    Ju Mang also thought Tang Xian''s words made sense. She didn''t know what Bai Shuang had said, but from Tang Xian''s words, she inferred this deer probably didn''t like explaining her actions.


    However, one would normally state their reasons after saving someone, or at least leave some advice.


    In response to Tang Xian and Ju Mang''s logic, the white deer answered with just a few words:


    "Boring, I felt like it."


    "There''s an old Huaxian saying, ''Since you''ve come, you can''t leave without a purpose.''


    "Oh."


    "About the Order invaders in the Human World, the preservation of Baichuan City, Elder Bai, if you know something, please tell me. I think we are not enemies, or else you wouldn''t have saved me, right? Given your temperament, the fact that you came to my rescue must mean I am important to you." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Really?"


    "What exactly are the Order invaders? And what''s the deal with the Angel Envoy? Are their actions aimed at seeking evolution, or do they have some other, more grandiose plan?"


    "Hmm, probably."


    Actually, from the moment Bai Shuang said "None of your business," Tang Xian had a premonition of doom.


    Now that his premonition had come true, he exhaled a cold breath through his teeth.


    Ju Mang wore a strange expression, having watched Tang Xian ask so many questions; she thought there would be answers. It was only when she saw his "this is tricky" expression that she finally understood.


    Could it be that Tang Xian talked so much, and the deer didn''t answer a single question?


    After waiting a while, Tang Xian said helplessly,


    "I''ll find the answers in my own way; I already have a direction. I''ve been misled all along, thinking that the top of the Pyramid held some answers, but now it seems the answers are in the mines.


    "But Elder Bai, you must want something. So, I hope that at some critical moments, you can lend me a hand."


    Tang Xian had witnessed Bai Shuang''s strength, the real Absolute Defense. Such an ally would mean being able to withdraw calmly from any battle.


    The white deer, which usually treated all beings as nothing, this time glanced at Tang Xian but didn''t answer his question.


    It just moved a bit closer, as if sniffing something.


    Tang Xian was puzzled.


    "The tastiest fish are not from here. Now, in the height of autumn, the shad in the river are at their best," Bai Shuang continued.


    Tang Xian knew this fish was not to be found in the Pyramid. Even in ancient times, it was nearly hunted to extinction due to its extraordinarily delicious meat.


    The many bones in shad were always a regret for food lovers, but its exceptional meat quality still made it one of the top ingredients in river delicacies.


    In a world without humans for hundreds of years, there might indeed be a new generation of shad.


    However, they would be found in the great river, far from here. Even Tang Feiji would need to fly for several hours to get there.


    And this topic shift was really strange.


    Tang Xian looked at Bai Shuang in surprise.


    Shuang continued, "If you make soup, you must choose water as carefully as tea. Pukaki Lake on the South Island of New Zealand is a glacial barrier lake with crystal-clear water. Or Jenny Lake in Wyoming, the water quality is equally clear and transparent."


    "Wait, Elder Bai, are you hungry?"


    "Although the fish here don''t compare to what I want, they were released by me into the streams years ago to be eaten. But using the tastiest fish for a simple roast is a waste," Bai Shuang explained.


    Tang Xian thought that it wasn''t easy for this deer to say so much.


    Could it be that the smell of the roasted fish on him and Ju Mang made this white deer think they wasted good food?


    Suddenly energized, he said, "If you want to talk about this, then I''m not leaving. But you''re a deer... why are you so particular about food?"


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised that deer ate fish.


    Researchers in ancient times had corrected the record: animals like sheep and deer, which the public viewed as herbivores, actually ate meat too.


    In Canada, scientists had once captured some birds and bats in safety nets, intending to study them and then release them. But then, a group of deer came along, approached the nets, and started eating live birds.


    Even the scientists were startled; deer seemed to not turn down any flesh that didn''t struggle, such as fish, dead rabbits, and even the internal organs of other dead deer.

 Chapter 601 - 33: Even the Buddhist Deer is No Longer Calm_3

    Tang Xian thought it made perfect sense for the white deer to want to eat fish, but he hadn''t imagined it would be so particular.


    Before they met him, Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, considered two peerless beauties in the Myriad Beasts Realm, were not particular about eating meat either.


    So, Tang Xian was very curious, wondering why the white deer knew so much.


    It demanded the freshest fish from the river and the water from the glaciers. This was as particular as the ancients brewing tea with dew collected at dawn''s first light.


    The white deer''s explanation was more normal:


    [What''s it to you?]


    Unconcerned, Tang Xian said:


    "I know how to prepare many kinds of fish dishes, but I lack the main ingredients and seasonings, what a pity. Otherwise, I guarantee that you would taste the finest cuisine in the world."


    [An amateur''s performance before a master.]


    Tang Xian was startled, having thought he could attract the white deer, but it showed no interest whatsoever.


    The disdain in Bai Shuang''s eyes was not feigned but the sort a gourmet used to top-tier ingredients would have for a third-rate chef.


    Suddenly, Tang Xian thought, if he were such a white deer, with endless years of life, perhaps having wandered the world for centuries or even longer.


    With no internet, no one to talk to, no magnetic match, a life of guarding something and aimless wandering¡ª


    Wouldn''t he also study how to enjoy food?


    If he was facing a master with hundreds of years of culinary experience¡ªthen indeed, his little skill would be an "amateur''s performance before a master."


    It was only because he lived in an era where cooking was not given adequate importance. In ancient times, Tang Xian was well aware of his place.


    "How about you cook a dish then, senior? I can assist you?"


    These words came out subconsciously, and after Tang Xian spoke, he suddenly felt a sense of anticipation. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For the first time, the white deer seemed somewhat hesitant.


    Tang Xian understood that look all too well, entering a state attuned to subtleties:


    "You''ve mastered the human art of cooking and studied it to the pinnacle, but it''s truly a pity to have no one to share it with, isn''t it? After all, the meaning of cooking is amplified when others find it delicious."


    Tang Xian spoke from the heart.


    The beginning of this entire adventure was precisely due to his love for sharing delicious food. Thus, Dong Ran, who should have been turned away as mere merchandise, was allowed in by Tang Xian.


    Back in the mining village newbie area, Tang Xian loved to incessantly discuss food with the old miners, but no one cared.


    He understood this feeling all too well. Perhaps Bai Shuang felt the same, or even more so.


    As expected, after hesitating for a few seconds, the white deer didn''t repeat expressions like "Oh", "I''m pleased", "What''s it to you" and the like. Instead, it spoke with doubt:


    "Do you really understand cooking?"


    "At the very least, I know what makes a dish delicious. I am the best chef in our village."


    Observing the white deer unconsciously nodding its head, Tang Xian thought to himself that this was going well, the deer indeed had a weakness!


    Only Ju Mang was confused; the conversation between the man and the deer had shifted too quickly, hadn''t it? How had they suddenly started talking about food?


    Though, to be fair, they hadn''t been satisfied with their meal just before.


    Tang Xian was also looking forward to it, not only because he had found a topic that interested the white deer, but also as a Gourmet, he was very eager to taste the master''s culinary skills.


    He suddenly understood the advantages of the white deer''s abilities.


    If space held no constraint on it, perhaps it could dig up some snow fish under the Arctic glaciers today and be in Brazil, South America, to enjoy some Brazilian grapes tomorrow.


    One second it might be drinking the clearest water in the world from a Glacial Barrier Lake, and the next, it would be on the other side of the Earth, savoring the most expensive and rare finger limes on the Australian Continent.


    Such an entity, if it decided to show off its skills, would certainly let one taste the ultimate in culinary delights.

 Chapter 602 - 34: Because You Cant Beat Me

    Bai Shuang''s actions were highly efficient. Having wandered the world for hundreds of years, a thousand-mile journey just took a moment, which made her incredibly effective at sourcing delicious foods from various places.


    About an hour passed, and the most fresh, most luxurious ingredients were gathered by Bai Shuang from different corners of the world.


    Not just the ingredients, but various utensils as well. Bai Shuang was so professional that she seemed like a gourmet chef, practically bringing an entire kitchen with her.


    Such spatial magic abilities filled Tang Xian with envy.


    As the sky grew dark, Tang Xian and Ju Mang lit a campfire, waiting for a sumptuous and tasty dinner.


    The only thing that puzzled Tang Xian was whether the taste preferences of a deer and those of a human for delicious food were the same?


    For instance, cats and dogs favor the taste of fishiness. The tastes of humans are even more varied.


    In various food forums, simply by stating that salty tofu brains are the best in the world or that those who dislike cilantro are being pretentious could instantly provoke a battle of words.


    Genetic differences or differences in the environment lead to the vastly different taste preferences of people.


    This was especially true with cilantro. Genetic research identified a receptor gene known as OR6A2, which about ten percent of the global population carries, leading them to find the taste of cilantro indistinguishable from biting into soap.


    In any case, Tang Xian thought that although Bai Shuang used top-quality ingredients, if the food turned out to be inedible, should he pretend to enjoy it to make conversation, or should he act contrary to expectations?


    It turned out that Tang Xian was worrying needlessly, as Bai Shuang had only sourced the ingredients and hadn''t cooked them herself.


    Tang Xian had thought he could be a passive participant, but he ended up taking action himself.


    How to cut and pair various ingredients, how to use the different utensils, what to use first and what to use later, how to control the heat, when and how much seasoning to add.


    Watching all this, Tang Xian suddenly doubted if Bai Shuang could actually transform into a human.


    Because these were things that a deer couldn''t possibly learn out of nowhere.


    Bai Shuang''s instructions were meticulous, as if someone was guiding Tang Xian by hand.


    Even the position of his grip on the knife and where his fingers fell were corrected one by one by Bai Shuang.


    This kind of correction was like the gesture of a Go player placing a stone, a matter of precision.


    At first, Tang Xian was a bit uncomfortable, but he obediently followed along and soon found that there was indeed a method to it.


    He blurted out:


    "You can indeed transform into a human, Bai. Why don''t you meet us in human form?"


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng often liked to appear before other beings in human form. Perhaps Bai Shuang did too?


    Bai Shuang ignored Tang Xian''s latest attempt at probing and said:


    [If you continue to speak nonsense during the cooking, I''ll send you away.]


    Tang Xian fell silent.


    Throughout this process, Bai Shuang was earnestly instructing Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang didn''t feel much involved in the entire process; she simply felt her stomach growing hungrier.


    By the time the shad fish banquet was ready, the night had turned noticeably deeper.


    Sensing the rich aroma up his nostrils, Tang Xian also showed a satisfied expression.


    Bai Shuang said indifferently:


    [To restore seven parts of my skill, for the first attempt, it''s not bad.]


    It wasn''t really meant as praise, but it was praise nonetheless.


    Tang Xian served a bowl of fish soup for Ju Mang and another for Bai Shuang. Ju Mang''s expression was enough to show that she found the shad fish soup infinitely better than Tang Xian''s grilled fish.


    Only Bai Shuang had a muted reaction, not even taking a bite, merely sniffing it.


    This time, Tang Xian felt it was okay to speak and after some consideration, he said:


    "I take back what I said about you being a curly-haired fatty if you could turn into a human. But I''m really curious, Bai, what exactly..."


    [What''s that to you?] Bai Shuang''s tone didn''t change in the slightest.


    Here we go again.


    Tang Xian discovered this was the first time he felt a sense of weariness and helplessness when facing a certain creature.


    Whether it was Qing JiuYu, Bai Mansheng, the long-eared ancient apes boasting of wisdom, or the judges of the Court of All Beasts, Tang Xian always felt his demeanor superior to theirs.


    But with this particular white deer, Tang Xian felt as though he was an inch lower. The sensation was odd, but not unwelcome. From the first meet, Tang Xian held no animosity towards this deer.


    "If you have more to share about culinary skills in the future, please remember to find me." Tang Xian realized that this was not something to be rushed.


    Bai Shuang nodded; cooking was indeed something she enjoyed.


    Ju Mang did not understand the conversation between the two, but like Tang Xian, she also perceived the white deer as very chic.


    In human history, those who rode green oxen or white deer were mostly immortals.


    Such people were carefree and self-reliant, perhaps the nature of their master is one unbound by the rules of heaven and earth, making Bai Shuang the same way¡ªattentive when willing, and when not willing to bother, no argument could sway her.


    So Tang Xian''s plan was half-foiled. He had thought that the topic of food could open up a channel for conversation, but Bai Shuang''s few words had shut down any mood for chatting Tang Xian might have found. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, the food was really delicious. This night was also quite fascinating.


    But after eating his fill, Tang Xian still hoped for a comfortable place to sleep.


    Especially after having just lost a battle, with many matters to attend to, he expected he wouldn''t get any answers, so he was unwilling to waste more time with this white deer.

 Chapter 603 - 34: Because You Cant Beat Me_2

    Tang Xian prepared to leave with Ju Mang. As he was about to depart, he didn''t hold much hope, but casually asked:


    "I hope the reason Senior doesn''t wish to talk much with me is because you think I''m not ready yet. At the very least, I believe Senior knows quite a bit, and I hope in the future, I can receive some guidance from you."


    Tang Xian spoke with sincere earnestness, and Ju Mang thought it was quite rare to see a Son of Order be so respectful to a creature from the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    Especially a Son of Order with Eden bloodline.


    Unexpectedly, this time Bai Shuang didn''t respond with an ''oh'' or an ''mm.''


    She looked at Tang Xian, her clear eyes still showing no particular emotion:


    "When a certain trait makes a creature too powerful, nature will find a way to contain it, or all things will seek to restrain it. Once this trait is contained, that creature will become extremely weak, just like you. You think you are strong, but in reality, you have just been lucky. True strength has no weak spots, and you are not yet fit to stand equal with my master or the other divine beasts."


    Tang Xian was surprised by Bai Shuang''s sudden verbosity. After deliberating on her words, he earnestly replied:


    "I will work on improving myself as much as I can."


    The deer''s words contained some information Tang Xian was keen to understand, but he knew the deer would not elaborate, so he did not inquire further, simply acknowledging her. He felt he was a considerate person¡ªfar from it, he simply had no other choice with this deer.


    "Don''t let me save you a second time. Although I seldom visit the Pyramid, I know a little about what happens there. People used to consider the Mines as a world instance for transporting resources. This idea is quite amusing; you should do the same, considering the Myriad Beasts Realm as an instance to enhance your abilities in every aspect. If you''re not strong enough, just stay inside until you are. As for the human world, it has its own natural order."


    Tang Xian increasingly felt that Bai Shuang was very much like a human.


    Her words indicated that she had been to the Pyramid more than once, so naturally, it couldn''t have been in the form of a white deer, meaning she must have a human form.


    He was truly too curious about what Bai Shuang''s human form would be like?


    Could it be someone he had met before?


    "The answers you seek, whether true or false, can be found in the Mines, at least half of them. Once you''ve discovered parts of the puzzle for the entire incident, come find me again. Also, when you see the Xuan Bird, give this to it."


    "Xuan Bird?" Tang Xian recalled it was the Judgment Chief of the Myriad Beasts Court, a famously divine creature, the Phoenix.


    Why would Bai Shuang be acquainted with a creature from the Mines? And what did she know about the Judgment Chief Xuan Bird?


    A peculiar feeling emerged. Tang Xian received the colorful feather that had suddenly appeared before him.


    He didn''t know the use of the feather, why it should be given to the Xuan Bird, or if Bai Shuang knew that he was, in a manner of speaking, a hunter of the Myriad Beasts Court?


    "Senior Bai, could it be that you actually once served the Myriad Beasts Court?"


    Tang Xian immediately regretted asking that question. Luckily, Bai Shuang didn''t mind it.


    She was expressionless from beginning to end, as if the affairs of the world were but passing clouds to her.


    Bai Shuang didn''t answer Tang Xian''s question, and said calmly:


    "You should leave now, remember my words."


    "But¡ª"


    Tang Xian nodded, preparing to bid farewell, but before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly found the scenery around him shift.


    He and Ju Mang were instantly transported to the outskirts of Baichuan City. All he could see before him was the vast Baichuan City¡ªwhere were the white deer and the lush vegetation?


    Tang Xian was uncertain what expression to wear; this white deer really was too whimsical and decisive. She dispensed with niceties in showing guests out, not even sparing a shred of face.


    The cool moonlight fell upon their faces, and as they reflected on all that had transpired that day, Tang Xian suddenly felt that the white deer was like a Guardian of the human world.


    It protected Baichuan City, the cradle capable of nurturing civilization, and would also appear to save him when he was in danger.


    Given the deer''s temperament, it seemed that these actions could be taken or left undone.


    Tang Xian easily thought of the existence behind the white deer.


    He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on things he couldn''t understand. Taking a deep breath, Tang Xian said:


    "Welcome to Baichuan City. From today on, you are a citizen here. This is my territory. Once you''re here, you have to listen to me."


    "So is this city actually a dictatorship?"


    "Of course not, this city is very democratic, free, and fair. And I''m someone who is reasonable."


    "Then why should I listen to you?"


    "Because you can''t beat me."


    "..."


    Whomever has the bigger fist gets listened to; this, of course, is democracy, obviously freedom, and certainly fair.


    Ju Mang actually did not object, feeling that it was quite reasonable.


    The two walked slowly.


    Looking at Baichuan City, Ju Mang was also shocked by such a well-preserved city. It was a place more vast than the Pyramid, and with such a base, coupled with the abundant vegetation around, she liked it very much and said:


    "Am I second only to one person?"


    "No, apart from me, there are two other people ranked higher than you, and you have to listen to them."


    "Can they beat me?"


    "They cannot."


    "Then why should I listen to them?"


    "Because you can''t beat me."


    "..."


    Ju Mang really wanted to point out that Tang Xian''s rules were somewhat double-standard.


    But since she couldn''t beat him, she thought it over and let it go.


    "Song Que and Li Xiaoyu, the most promising young man and woman of the Pyramid, they are the first and second in charge of Baichuan City, with me behind the scenes. Apart from these two, you can take or leave what anyone else says."


    Ju Mang nodded her head and said calmly:


    "I have done what you have done, turning those most outstanding people into one''s subordinates."


    Tang Xian felt that Li Xiaoyu and Song Que were not really his subordinates and wanted to correct this, but Ju Mang added:


    "However, I didn''t play as big as you. You put yourself into it. I heard you seduced that girl from the Li family with a honey trap."


    Tang Xian stopped in his tracks.


    Looking at Tang Xian''s confused expression, Ju Mang said:


    "Some big things that happen inside the Pyramid, we all know about them. Most of the time, Constantine is like a library. There is nothing he doesn''t know.


    "The princess of the Li family goes missing, then shows up at the bottom level of Fortress 39, and Li Wanye comes with a large number of guards and Judgment Knights to capture her. Such a big commotion naturally wouldn''t go unnoticed by us.


    "Your performance at that time, taking her away by force with your Myriad Beasts guard, that kind of dramatic entrance from the sky, for a woman, isn''t that just seduction?"


    Tang Xian''s face became gradually "friendly". Fortunately, Ju Mang also stopped at the right moment.


    "You will gradually understand that in this world, when people like each other, there is no need for any scheming."


    "A good scheme wins hearts," Ju Mang said.


    Tang Xian did not argue. He thought about throwing this troubled girl into Baichuan City, and in a little while, she would understand.


    The two walked for a while and arrived at the outskirts of the commercial street. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was not yet late night, and there were still quite a few people walking around the city.


    Above them stretched the eternal starry sky, and although the stars were not as bright in the autumn and winter, many people still came out to enjoy the moonlight.


    Unlike the simulated moonlight of the Pyramid, the nights here were incredibly real, with a refreshing autumn breeze and the distant sounds of insects and birds.


    Ju Mang watched all this from a distance and suddenly felt a bit nervous:


    "Will they dislike me?"


    "As long as you don''t, like Siren and Xi He, view yourself as a god, but rather as an ordinary person, they will like you," Tang Xian said.


    "I want to follow you to the mining area. Your next plan is to go to the mining area, right?" Ju Mang said.


    Tang Xian was very close to the house where Li Xiaoyu usually worked. Lights were still on in the house, and he said:


    "If Li Xiaoyu agrees to let you follow me, I have no objections."


    Ju Mang did not expect Tang Xian to give such an answer, especially since her combat abilities should not be a burden to him.


    Just then, Li Xiaoyu came out. She had just stepped out to get some air.


    Then she turned her head and, as if sensing their presence, saw Tang Xian and Ju Mang at a distance.

 Chapter 604 - 35: Tang Xians New Goal.

    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t surprised. Tang Xian was always like that, coming and going mysteriously, and nobody knew when he would appear.


    But the woman next to him with dark green hair, was she some kind of creature transformed from myriad beasts?


    Qing JiuYu was a fox and always loved wearing red, it was said that Bai Mansheng was a white snake and always wore pure white.


    Compared to them, Tang Feiji''s personal style didn''t manifest too much outwardly, but his arrogant nature did align with the legendary characteristics of dragons.


    Could it be that this dark green-haired one was a creature similar to a Bulbasaur or a King of Garlic?


    Tang Xian was able to guess what Li Xiaoyu was thinking, but in this place, there were only two people who could see the current social panel which analyzed needs.


    [Current Need Analysis: Determine exactly what species the creature beside Tang Xian is, 14%.]


    [Interact with Tang Xian, 24%.]


    Anyone who saw the first need would feel slightly displeased, as at the very least this description implied that the person was not being seen as human. Ju Mang, however, had no such reaction. She was a woman who talked reason, and in Tang Xian''s list of smart people she ranked even higher than Li Xiaoyu.


    The most important thing was she couldn''t beat Tang Xian.


    Li Xiaoyu approached Tang Xian with a smile on her face. Under the cover of night, dark circles under the eyes couldn''t be seen, but Tang Xian could still sense the fatigue in her eyes.


    "I''m curious, what''s her affection level towards you?" Ju Mang unexpectedly blurted out.


    Tang Xian was somewhat taken aback for a moment; he wanted to unravel the mystery of his Golden Finger, but now God told him that there were six other special beings like him in this era, which was quite strange.


    "Regarding the other set of talents, I hope you keep it secret."


    As Li Xiaoyu drew nearer, Tang Xian suddenly said.


    Ju Mang''s interest was piqued:


    "I just knew you saw them as mere tools. According to my understanding of love, shouldn''t you tell her everything with no reservations?"


    Tang Xian wanted to correct the understanding encapsulated in the words "understanding of love".


    But after a moment''s thought, since she already believed that he was seducing Li Xiaoyu, he said no more and simply looked at Ju Mang with a democratic, fair, and reasonable gaze.


    "It seems that you haven''t considered sharing the information dynamics you can see with them. Although, I can understand why."


    "I have no interest in being a god, I just want to be a person. The time is not ripe, it will be very troublesome. So, don''t bring it up," Tang Xian said softly.


    "Then you are not allowed to mention again that you can''t beat me," Ju Mang bargained calmly.


    "Based on the fact that you can''t beat me, I reject your request not to mention that you can''t beat me," Tang Xian reasoned.


    Ju Mang fell silent, after some thought about the likes of Tang Xian¡­ probably only an idiot would like him.


    "What are you talking about?" Li Xiaoyu came over just at that moment.


    "Her name is Ju Mang, she''s one of the seven Children of Order I mentioned to you, that is, one of the real power-holders behind the Pyramid, and her level of access is even above your father''s," Tang Xian conscientiously introduced and explained.


    Li Xiaoyu frowned as she saw the multiple wounds and some dried blood on Tang Xian''s clothing, making her even more perplexed as she looked at him.


    "Got into a fight, lost, but it was tough on the other side too. A few fattened dogs died."


    Li Xiaoyu thought carefully and realized Tang Xian''s defeat seemed to be a first; she wasn''t dumb and sensed that the battle might not have been as easy as Tang Xian made it sound.


    "My name is Li Xiaoyu. You seem very tired, I''ll arrange for you to rest first."


    Disappointed that Ju Mang was not a creature like Bulbasaur or a King of Garlic, as it turned out, Li Xiaoyu took the identity of being a Child of Order rather lightly.


    Ju Mang glanced at Tang Xian and said:


    "Don''t you need someone to keep an eye on me?"


    "Who could keep an eye on you? I must remind you that you''re in a worse situation than me now. You are helpless in both the Pyramid and the mining area. Baichuan City is a good place for you."


    Ju Mang didn''t deny it and turned to look at Li Xiaoyu:


    "My name is Ju Mang, I know of you, thank you in advance."


    Li Xiaoyu felt a strange awkwardness as she looked at Ju Mang.


    She didn''t feel that Tang Xian and Ju Mang had anything between them. From their conversation, it seemed that they were in a delicate state of mutual caution.


    She didn''t know whether this Ju Mang was a comrade-in-arms or a prisoner of war.


    There was just this uncomfortable feeling, like being seen through by someone. Only in front of Tang Xian did she normally have this feeling of being seen through.


    However, being seen through by Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu might even feel a sense of pleasure, but if this feeling came from another woman, it became decidedly uncomfortable. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Xiaoyu said:


    "I''ll lead the way, Tang Xian, you come too."


    Tang Xian nodded, and what was a walk for two became a walk for three.


    Along the way, the questions asked by Li Xiaoyu were also selective, deliberately avoiding the incidents that occurred within the Pyramid.


    Ju Mang, observing Li Xiaoyu carefully avoiding certain topics and her current needs, became increasingly curious about the girl''s fondness for Tang Xian.


    She suddenly really wanted to know what Li Xiaoyu''s reaction would be if she found out that Tang Xian had always been able to see various private information about her.


    Of course, this was something she dared not mention, because she couldn''t beat Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang''s residence was not far, in the same building as Tang Fei.


    Tang Xian thought this arrangement was good; Tang Fei was that kind of foolish dragon, utterly oblivious to subtlety, and might be able to keep Ju Mang in check.


    When they reached the bottom of the residence building, Li Xiaoyu stopped and said:

 Chapter 605 - 35: Tang Xians New Goal. _2

    "The seventh floor. All the rooms are tidy. Pick any style you like."


    Ju Mang nodded her head but didn''t display the kind of obedience one might expect towards the mistress of Baichuan City; instead, she looked as if she were accepting services from a servant.


    Tang Xian said:


    "You are not allowed to come out until I come to find you tomorrow."


    "Why?"


    "Baichuan City''s rules," Tang Xian stated matter-of-factly.


    Ju Mang turned to Li Xiaoyu and asked:


    "Aren''t you the top authority in Baichuan City? Does Baichuan City have this rule?"


    "Who is more formidable between you two?" Instead of answering Ju Mang, Li Xiaoyu looked at Tang Xian.


    "She can''t beat me," Tang Xian replied seriously.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded politely and said to Ju Mang:


    "Hello, yes, we do."


    Ju Mang was stunned for a second, truly not expecting Li Xiaoyu to be such a character. She looked at Tang Xian for a long time before saying:


    "There really are a lot of rules in this place."


    "Baichuan City is a city of simple folk who reason things out," Tang Xian earnestly explained.


    "..."


    "You need to understand your status here; there are no gods. You must first be a citizen of Baichuan City, then you can make people like you."


    In fact, Ju Mang had never minded much; to her, everything was acceptable. In this world, there were powerful people who wouldn''t compromise on anything, and those who adapted well to any illusion.


    She was a smart woman.


    So Tang Xian didn''t avoid anything either and spoke frankly, laying out the interests clearly, and Ju Mang naturally understood.


    "Then you''d better come to pick me up early tomorrow. I believe you have a lot of questions for me, and over the years as a Child of Order, I have collected quite a bit of intelligence."


    "Okay, you should go and rest now."


    Ju Mang didn''t say anything else and left cleanly.


    Once Ju Mang''s figure had disappeared down the corridor, Li Xiaoyu finally said:


    "She is very smart."


    "Yes, just in terms of IQ value, she''s higher than you, in academic ability she''s stronger than Shang Lu and Xiuxiu, and in terms of combat ability, she''s probably stronger than Song Que until he fully masters his new talent. Moreover, her observational skills are extremely high. In my view, among the Children of Order, only Constantin is more troublesome than her. She even possesses more knowledge than I do." Tang Xian gave a detailed reply.


    Li Xiaoyu knew this was Tang Xian''s way of hinting to her to keep a close watch on Ju Mang.


    She said:


    "I understand. I will observe her closely, try to ensure she harbors no hostility towards the people here, and also prevent others from feeling hostile towards her."


    Tang Xian smiled; he liked the efficiency of such a conversation. But the topic that followed wasn''t so amusing to him.


    "You''ve said a lot of good things about her, but you''ve never praised me like that," Li Xiaoyu said.


    "..."


    Tang Xian thought about it and realized that he indeed hadn''t praised Li Xiaoyu much.


    Li Xiaoyu had mentioned it casually, but once it was brought up, she continued in that vein:


    "It seems like you always have a lot of women around you."


    "There are also quite a few men around me."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t argue. She thought about it; Song Que had Tang Xian''s serum in his body, Akasi was utterly obedient to Tang Xian, and Tang Feiji had even been ridden by Tang Xian...


    If one were to be jealous, perhaps the men posed a greater threat.


    "I''m essentially a jealous jar," Li Xiaoyu felt she should clarify this to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows and said,


    "Then why did you send Dong Ran initially?"


    "Because I understand Dong Ran as well as you, and don''t you always say behind my back that I''m an idiot? If an idiot knows what they''re doing, can they still be called an idiot?"


    Tang Xian''s face turned red, and this time, Li Xiaoyu had rendered him speechless.


    Indeed, Li Xiaoyu, a woman like her, had taken to self-deprecation, and that truly put her at a conversational advantage.


    "All I wanted was to know what you like. Fortunately, you don''t like any other women, and I''ve already figured out what you like," Li Xiaoyu deliberately paused, walking ahead of Tang Xian, then turned around to look at him.


    "What do I like?" Tang Xian asked.


    Li Xiaoyu stood frozen for a moment, her confidence from just a moment ago wavering. She thought back to not long ago when Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu arrived in Baichuan City, and upon introducing herself, Zhong Xiuxiu directly called her sister-in-law.


    Upon learning that this was Tang Xian''s sister, Li Xiaoyu felt immensely satisfied inside.


    She instantly took a liking to Zhong Xiuxiu, and even Shang Lu seemed much more pleasant to her.


    Yet at this moment, in this scene, she ultimately didn''t voice that statement, fearing it would be instantly rebutted.


    Shaking her head, she changed the subject reluctantly,


    "How long will you stay in Baichuan City this time?"


    "Not too long, once I''ve taken care of things and chosen my team members, I will set off for the mining district," he said. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you going to do?"


    "According to some impressive guy, I might have become a great demon lord, but I still have to level up honestly. Anyway, I''ll tell you about the future arrangements tomorrow, and you still have many tasks to do. There''s a lot of work ahead; Baichuan City will be welcoming a large number of Pyramid residents."


    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t surprised, she calmly said,


    "The city is ready."


    Tang Xian believed the city was indeed ready; he hadn''t been constantly supervising, but the traces of Li Xiaoyu''s late nights were testament to her significant contributions to Baichuan City''s transformation.


    Looking at the petite girl''s weary form, feeling the autumn''s chill under the moonlight, Tang Xian said,


    "I''ll bring your family back. This time, I wasn''t fully prepared, and I failed. Next time I''ll make all the necessary preparations. I''m now convinced there''s a chance for a turnaround.


    "Your father, Li Wanye, isn''t as blindly loyal as I imagined. He has his own considerations; when faced with conflict, he won''t choose loyalty to his faith but to his interests.


    "Outwardly, he''s a follower of the Order, but during our conversations, he acted like a businessman. That''s good; such a person is calm enough to achieve great things. As long as I show more strength than the Order next time, that should suffice."


    Li Xiaoyu knew this wouldn''t be easy, otherwise Tang Xian wouldn''t have explained so much.


    "One day, Baichuan City will become better and flourish, and your father will come here with your brothers to help you with various affairs. Everyone in the city will respect and like you, and you''ll have plenty of time every day to do what you enjoy," Tang Xian said earnestly.


    Li Xiaoyu moved closer to Tang Xian, as if the moonlight beside him was purer than anywhere else. She smiled, attempting to lighten the mood of the conversation,


    "Sometimes, I feel like you know what I like, although for me, as long as I''m close to you, any kind of life is fine. But what you''ve just described is exactly what I want the most. It''s like the Mind Reading Technique."


    Tang Xian also smiled, "Because I''ve seen it in a dream. However, the you in that dream ultimately had regrets, fortunately, the real you... probably won''t have such regrets."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t understand, she didn''t ask further, and Tang Xian didn''t explain.


    Being taken to the divine kingdom to have a look around by the Order was not the greatest gain for Tang Xian; it wasn''t about uncovering secrets or seeing the Order but about learning the inner thoughts of the people he cared about.


    The two walked until late. After switching from the topic of Li Wanye, Tang Xian didn''t bring up any heavy subjects, and the conversation mostly revolved around Baichuan City.


    After bidding farewell to Li Xiaoyu and returning to his lodging, Tang Xian opened his notebook and began writing a series of names of creatures from the mining district. It was as if he was drafting a peculiar list.


    This list held no other information, just simply the names of various mining district creatures. It looked as though Tang Xian was silently reciting a register of mining creatures, and in no time at all, he had written nearly a hundred types.


    After consuming a calamity-grade creature once, Tang Xian''s ultimate goal was to find the truth of history. But this process was still unclear, and for now, he had a new objective.


    The creatures written in the notebook, some of them Tang Xian had only heard of, but never actually encountered.


    Yet as he continued to fill the list, his expression was excited, and his eyes shone with anticipation.

 Chapter 606 - 36: The Demon Kings Training Plan

    The following morning.


    Upon waking up, Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry to find Ju Mang. The various changes unfolding within Pyramid didn''t affect his calm state of mind.


    He picked up the list of various beasts he''d written down the night before and first went to Qiao Shanshan''s clinic.


    There were actually quite a few patients in Baichuan City. Although the population was only about three thousand, these people lived year-round in deep underground places full of rot and decay, and the diseases in their bodies were extremely difficult to cure.


    She and the bell-robed individual were very busy, but they did have the assistance of the elemental fog for some of the physical tasks.


    Tang Xian arrived early, just as the clinic had opened its doors.


    "Why are you here?"


    "The things at Pyramid are settled, so naturally, I''m back to check in."


    Qiao Shanshan nodded and asked,


    "Did it go smoothly?"


    "Not so smoothly."


    "Not smoothly? What about Song Que?"


    Tang Xian said lightly, chuckling,


    "Aren''t you still a member of my team? Why not be concerned about me first?"


    "Nothing that could kill you has been born yet, but there are many things that could kill Song Que," Qiao Shanshan retorted, not caring about Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian was heartened that, though he hadn''t been away long, the women of Baichuan City had all become sharp-tongued.


    "Although I lost a round, Song Que is safe. My arrangements for him were quite thorough, and he will return soon. Your Song Family clinic won''t be in danger."


    Qiao Shanshan became anxious,


    "What Song Family clinic? What are you blabbering about?!"


    Tang Xian ignored Qiao Shanshan''s pretend anger and continued,


    "Regarding the matter of love, I can''t provide many examples, but Tang Suoye was very proactive with Akasi.


    My sister was also very proactive with Shang Lu, plus some... well, my own feelings, one should always take the initiative in life."


    Qiao Shanshan looked disparagingly at Tang Xian, thinking that this was a legitimate opportunity to scorn him:


    "Tsk, a virgin."


    "..."


    "I''ve been the one giving advice and strategies to the second miss; I don''t need your teaching. Go away, I''ll have patients coming for their follow-up soon, don''t disrupt my work."


    Tang Xian thought to himself that everything in the Divine Kingdom was indeed accurate, although being mocked by Qiao Shanshan, he was still certain of one thing¡ªshe liked Song Que.


    But unlike Li Xiaoyu toward himself, in her case, the object of her affections was not herself.


    As the boss, he was a bit oblivious. Although he couldn''t offer any clever or strange tactics in love¡ªaffection should definitely be more openly expressed, and a reserved and delicate approach was not appropriate.


    "I may not understand love, but I understand Song Que. The most powerful weapon for humans in this world is a resolve to risk everything.


    Song Que is the kind of man who wields this weapon. If you like him, you should be more intense, because I certainly don''t think he''s more perceptive than I am."


    After finishing, Tang Xian paused before adding,


    "Also, I need some medication to help with sleep and calm the mind."


    For a moment, Qiao Shanshan didn''t know what to say. She knew some of Song Que''s deeds; he indeed was such a man, possessing the courage to risk it all.


    A man willing to risk everything was naturally cool, and those in the little world protected by him must be very happy. But to a doctor, that''s akin to seeking death; one should fear death and cherish life.


    She nodded her head and began to prepare Tang Xian''s medication.


    After receiving his medicine, Tang Xian exchanged a few pleasantries with Qiao Shanshan before leaving. They each had their own business to attend to; Qiao Shanshan had a heavy workload, but fortunately had the help of the bell-robed individual and elemental fog.


    Whether it was Dong Ran or Qiao Shanshan, every member of Baichuan City''s "Shengtang" team held significant status, but this position was not a result of a single person''s ascent lifting everyone related.


    Everyone was working hard on their own responsibilities¡ªexcept Tang Feiji.


    Tang Xian then went to see Tang Xiaojiu.


    At this time in the morning, Tang Xiaojiu was hugging Tang Bingxiang and lazing about in the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦.


    "Reincarnation" had turned Baichuan City back to such an old state instantaneously. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many things became reusable. Naturally, the caf¨¦ could again brew coffee and prepare desserts.


    Liu Buding and Dong Ran had taken a particular interest in this place.


    This was probably what differed from the dreamscape.


    Although the two women''s skills in dessert-making, coffee grinding, and even machine familiarity were just beginning, they were not lacking in enthusiastic customers¡ªTang Xiaojiu.


    Whether it tasted good or not, Tang Xiaojiu would eat regardless.


    Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang had also become mascots of the shop.


    Occasionally, customers would come to spend some money, pet the cats, or exchange a few words with Tang Gazi.


    However, the two low-level beasts thought the opposite. This was a place of rest for the cat and bird lords, and daily, throngs of humans came to worship them.


    Tang Gazi shared the same opinion as Tang Bingxiang regarding these people''s thoughts for the first time¡ªa bunch of foolish humans.


    This cat and bird only behaved like tamed pets in front of Tang Xian.


    "Brother Tang Xian!" As soon as Tang Xian walked into the caf¨¦, Tang Xiaojiu ran over with short steps.


    As was his habit, Tang Xian picked up Tang Xiaojiu, then looked at Dong Ran and Liu Buding at the counter and said,


    "Are you two trying to fatten me up with a pig? Xiaojiu has gotten even chubbier than last time."


    Tang Xiaojiu exclaimed,


    "I''m a little fox, Brother Tang Xian."


    "Eat too much and you''ll inevitably turn into a pig."


    Tang Xiaojiu was startled; no one had ever mentioned this to her.


    Wouldn''t Sister Suoye be in danger then? If she turned into a pig, Xiaojiu would definitely not eat her!


    Dong Ran was also happy to see Tang Xian because it meant that the second miss would not be so busy.


    "Welcome, Brother Tang,"


    Tang Xian responded with a sneer, "Ah, you''ve managed to keep this abandoned caf¨¦ looking quite presentable."

 Chapter 607 - 36: The Demon Kings Training Plan_2

    "Hmph. What would you like to drink?" Liu Buding snorted coldly, her impression of Tang Xian still stuck on the last time she was forcibly packed into a box by Tang Xian, a grievance the young girl couldn''t easily get over. She even went to tattle to Liu Lang.


    Liu Lang is someone who enjoys spinning tall tales, like how he used to chat with Tang Xian about their ancestors saving the world, obviously fabricating everything. Liu Buding always played the lead female role in that "ancestor saving the world" story.


    Back in the lower levels of Fortress 39, whenever Liu Buding was bullied, Liu Lang would grab a wrench ready to set things right.


    But this time, he was thwarted and said with a bitter smile, "My dear Buding, times have changed. The world doesn''t need saving anymore, so just eat more and get plumper. That way, you won''t fit into a box next time."


    Liu Buding was quite disheartened and recorded this vendetta in her little notebook kept in her tiny pocket. Inside were the names of many who had bullied her, with Tang Xian''s name encircled in black.


    Tang Xian didn''t want anything to drink and said,


    "Dong Ran, take Xiaojiu to pack some things. I''m taking her to the mining area to have some fun for a while." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You call going to the mining area ''having fun''?" Liu Buding knew the mining area was still very dangerous.


    "Of course, has-been hero." Tang Xian said as he made a pressing-down gesture with his hand. He knew about Liu Lang''s story as well. Liu Buding''s eyes widened instantly, and she glared at Tang Xian fiercely.


    "Is Tang going away for a long time?" Dong Ran noticed that Tang Xian was holding a notebook.


    "Mmm, but it''s not like I won''t be returning. After this, I won''t be going back to the Pyramid."


    "What are you going to do in the mining area?"


    "Strengthen the body."


    Dong Ran and Liu Buding were clueless, but Dong Ran obediently went to help Tang Xiaojiu pack.


    Tang Xiaojiu was also very happy; the schools in Baichuan City had already started. Going to the mining area meant no school and no studying. Tang Xian had once said that studying was the second most joyful thing besides eating, and she regretted that her small fox life was thus destined to disagree with Tang Xian.


    She could only eat more in search of other resonances.


    Tang Xian, unaware of Tang Xiaojiu''s thoughts, left her with a careless remark:


    "Remember to bring the textbooks and dictionaries."


    ...


    ...


    After leaving the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦, Tang Xian finally went to meet Ju Mang.


    Along the way, he also called Akasi, Yuan Wu, Tang Feiji, and Qing JiuYu.


    The group was naturally happy to see Tang Xian. He had changed into new clothes and showed no signs of yesterday''s bedraggled appearance or the wounds he had sustained.


    The main combat forces of Baichuan City gathered in the usual office space of Li Xiaoyu, which suddenly felt a bit crowded.


    Li Xiaoyu, looking at the notebook Tang Xian was holding, asked:


    "What is this for?"


    Li Xiaoyu knew Tang Xian was going to discuss some matters today, with everyone there looking to him for commands.


    However, he hadn''t expected so many people to show up all at once.


    Tang Xian said with a smile:


    "Don''t be so serious; we''re just going to discuss some potential situations that might arise in the future. Once we have a plan, we can do our part and then leave the rest to fate."


    Tang Xian tossed the notebook to Ju Mang saying:


    "Before I set off tomorrow, I need you to organize all the detailed information on the myriad of creatures mentioned here for me."


    Li Xiaoyu had an epiphany, guessing that the notebook probably contained a register of mining area creatures. It was just a bit surprising that there existed someone Tang Xian needed to consult with, since few people had more knowledge about the mining area than Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang flipped through it casually and frowned as he said:


    "What are you planning to do? Surely you''re not unfamiliar with all the creatures listed here?"


    "There are many secrets to these creatures. I am aware of the traits of the vast majority here, but who dares to say they are intimately familiar? There might be characteristics you know that I do not. Since you are a Baichuan City resident, naturally you should reveal all useful information for Baichuan City."


    Akasi and Li Xiaoyu exchanged a look, suddenly feeling that Tang Xian had become much more modest.


    Ju Mang said:


    "There''s such a diversity of creatures here; some species even have vast numbers. You gather information obviously to deal with them. But can you handle them all?"


    Some creatures belong to the cataclysmic class, and though others might be weaker, their numbers are vast.


    Ju Mang didn''t go to the mining area but surmised that he wouldn''t be able to hunt all the creatures listed either.


    Tang Xian responded:


    "I am very strong, but my luck is quite poor," said Tang Xian.


    Ju Mang didn''t understand, and neither did the others.


    "You can understand it as my ability to extract some special things from myriad beasts. However, the drop rate for these things is quite low. Li Xiaoyu will have her own ways to manage Baichuan City; I don''t need to interfere, what I can do is to improve myself.


    And the fastest way I can think of to become stronger is to kill myriad beasts."


    In killing myriad beasts, Tang Xian noticed some characteristics: If he didn''t acquire a skill the first time he killed a certain creature, he wouldn''t get a skill drop when he faced the same creature later.


    Therefore, he had to broaden the types as much as possible. He intends to kill every different species in the mining area at least once.


    This time, Ju Mang understood. Though she didn''t know the principle behind it, if it happened to Tang Xian, it didn''t seem strange.


    As for Tang Xian''s plan, was it somewhat like a strategy following the law of large numbers, where a lucky king relies on miracles while an unlucky one relies on quantity?


    She had noticed earlier that the myriad beasts recorded in Tang Xian''s notebook were arranged in a specific order.


    For example, below the Lei Xiao were creatures like the Golden Fire Bird, Night Eagle, Golden Armored Leopard, and so on.


    And below the Titan Behemoth were the Zudun Giant, Gem Sperm Whale, Mountain River Beast, and so on.


    She opened the notebook again and looked carefully, realizing that Tang Xian had indeed categorized these creatures into several classifications.


    Beasts in the same category had some similar traits.


    Either they possessed immense strength, or they had speed that was difficult for anyone to react to.


    Or they had terrifying telekinetic manipulation, strong elemental control, and so on.


    In short, strength, speed, and psionics: three categories.


    Knowing that Ju Mang had noticed this, Tang Xian continued,


    "You should do the same and categorize these myriad beasts. I want to see it done by tomorrow."


    Ju Mang didn''t mind being ordered around, she simply asked,


    "If you really can get the special extract you mentioned, can you become very strong?"


    She was most curious about this. Although she knew Eden bloodlines were peculiar, could someone really enhance their strength, speed, psionics, and other attributes so easily?


    "Bai Lu was right in saying strength has no weak points. I am not strong enough yet, but if I''m lucky, I could quickly resolve the issues inside the Pyramid," Tang Xian replied.


    Akasi, upon hearing these words, felt envious because becoming stronger for someone like him was a very difficult task.


    Tang Xian seemed to have some shortcuts.


    "Some of these myriad beasts are even more dangerous than Angel Envoys," Ju Mang said.


    "That''s why I need to bring a few helpers."


    "Hmph, it looks like you still need the help of the great me," Tang said confidently.


    "This time I won''t bring you, and Qing JiuYu can''t go either," Tang Xian stated.


    Tang Feiji and Qing JiuYu were both taken aback.


    "Why?"


    Qing JiuYu still wanted to go back and see the mining area.


    Tang Xian didn''t answer the question but continued,


    "Yuan Wu, Tang Xiaojiu will go with me, and Bai Mansheng will provide support in the mining area; she is very strong now."


    Yuan Wu had no objections, he did as Tang Xian said, even though he didn''t understand why he was chosen as he considered himself the weakest among them.


    "You''re leaving me aside, the great me, to bring that snake?" Tang Feiji objected.


    Qing JiuYu added,


    "Xiao Ni is still young. If you are going to take her, I need to follow."


    Tang Xian knew Qing JiuYu was concerned but did not change his mind,


    "Whether Baichuan City is in danger, I''m not sure, but with you two in charge there, I can be at ease. With Akasi around, messages can be passed immediately."


    Li Xiaoyu, watching Tang Xian''s earnest expression, knew he had made up his mind.


    "The mining area is also a world where fairness and reason prevail. The Mountain River Beast court is powerful, and your punch is weak, which is why the Fox Clan has abandoned you and turned to the myriad beasts.


    Tang Xiaojiu is the future Fox Clan queen, and if she wants to reclaim what rightfully belongs to her, she must become much stronger."

 Chapter 608 - 37: The Victor Is Justice

    Qing JiuYu said with surprise,


    "Xiao Ni will of course be the queen of our fox clan, but she is still very weak..."


    Qing JiuYu also remembered the words of the Ash Dragon and the Plague Source, that the leader of the fox clan was a six-tailed fox captured by the court.


    What the Court of Beasts did was actually quite similar to what humans were doing in the evolution zone. They were also trying to improve biological beneficial mutations to achieve the goal of evolution.


    Although Qing JiuYu had never battled the new fox clan leader, the excitement between the Plague Source and Ash Dragon when they spoke spoke volumes; that was an extremely successful test subject.


    Her strength was definitely not to be underestimated.


    "Xiao Ni''s current strength is simply not enough to deal with that fox clan leader. If you want to battle the fox clan, please take me with you!" Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian with a firm tone.


    The tone of Tang Xian was even more resolute, sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Baichuan City is now not just a shelter for refugees; it has a larger mission and significance. I need the strongest companions to protect this place. I''ve said that I will get back everything you''ve lost for you, and I keep my word. Unless you don''t trust me."


    Qing JiuYu was startled.


    When the Ash Dragon''s flame punishment had come, Tang Xian had ridden the azure dragon and spoken those words ¨C at that moment, she had fully trusted Tang Xian, and her view of the entire human race had changed as well.


    "You stay and guard Baichuan City well for me; you and Tang Feiji are my trump cards. As for Xiao Jiu, there won''t be any problems with me looking after her."


    Tang Feiji snorted coldly, as if he despised being a trump card, but his expression revealed a hint of pride. His contempt seemed to grow when he looked at the circle of humans around him.


    Qing JiuYu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said,


    "Alright, I''ll wait for your good news."


    It was then that Ju Mang suddenly spoke,


    "This looks like a mobilization meeting. So, what about me? Where should I go? I remember you promised, if you go to the mines, you''ll take me too."


    "I said it''s up to Li Xiaoyu to decide your stay or departure."


    Tang Xian certainly did not trust Li Xiaoyu to assign a woman to his side.


    But the very next second, Li Xiaoyu proved him wrong,


    "I agree with Ju Mang accompanying you to the mines."


    It was Tang Xian''s turn to be stunned, but he quickly understood and said,


    "There''s no need. Although having Ju Mang come along will be more helpful than me carrying a percentage of the beast''s data, my understanding of the mines is no less than hers; it''s just in a different direction.


    Moreover, Ju Mang, you will be more useful in Baichuan City. Baichuan City is going to become very lively soon."


    Li Xiaoyu and Tang Xian often spoke in a jumping manner, but Ju Mang was able to completely keep up with their thinking.


    Ju Mang instantly understood Tang Xian''s meaning.


    No matter how Constantine dealt with the panic truth spread by Song Que, even if Constantine pulled off some earth-shattering reversal afterwards, there would definitely be many people who believed Song Que.


    Especially the people from the Holy Land Fortress, they were very likely to follow Song Que to Baichuan City.


    In such a large crowd, would there be some people with ulterior motives attempting to destroy Baichuan City from within?


    Li Xiaoyu was certainly clever, but how could she see through everything? But she and Tang Xian could, and with Tang Xian going to the mines, only she would be able to help out.


    Thinking of Tang Xian''s words that Baichuan City was no longer just a refugee shelter, she nodded and said,


    "I accept this reason; it''s more convincing than me not being able to beat you."


    Baichuan City was equally important to Ju Mang; any intelligent species would not be stingy about improving their habitat.


    This was also one of the reasons why Li Xiaoyu was so meticulously planning; it wasn''t just because of someone.


    Afterward, Tang Xian continued to explain some matters, mostly mundane chores.


    Most of the time, Tang Xian appeared very lazy, his subordinates practically did all the work.


    But this time, Tang Xian arranged everything very meticulously. Li Xiaoyu seriously took note of these, and by the time the meeting was over, it was already past noon.


    The group then each went back to their own tasks, with only Tang Xian and Li Xiaoyu remaining in the office room.


    "Will you be gone to the mines for a long time?"


    "Yes, a long time."


    Li Xiaoyu tilted her small head slightly, thoughtfully saying,


    "I never really envied the talented, even though they have much higher privileges than ordinary people, and may even be favored because of their lesser talents. But now I envy them."


    Tang Xian did not respond.


    "I want to accompany you to the mines too, but I would only be a burden there," said Li Xiaoyu.


    "Everyone has their own specialty. I wish I could stay in Baichuan City as well," laughed Tang Xian, and then he added,


    "When you have time, you can go out. I''ve made a new friend who''s quite an odd character, the kind of person who does things their own way."


    Li Xiaoyu was confused.


    But Tang Xian seemed to think of something amusing, a look that often appeared when he encountered a difficult problem and then discovered an alternative solution.


    "Every evening, as the sky is about to darken, have Tang Suoye accompany you and walk towards the eastern suburbs. Keep going until you reach the place where the plants are the most lush, forming what seems like a tunnel.


    You simply follow that tunnel to the very end. Remember to bring the finest dining ware from Baichuan City."


    Li Xiaoyu grew even more puzzled.


    "You don''t need to say much, you will meet a deer that understands what you say. And weren''t you recently delving into the culinary arts?" Tang Xian asked.


    Li Xiaoyu nodded.


    "That''s right, if it''s the books from Baichuan City''s Great Library, that should be enough to make you aware of some of the more complicated dishes.

 Chapter 609 - 37: The Victor Is Justice_2

    ```


    "Just tell her that you are now the master of Baichuan City, and then steer the conversation to food. Remember, just talk about food. There''s no need to discuss anything else."


    Li Xiaoyu seemed to catch on to something as she said:


    "This deer is good at cooking?"


    "Yes."


    "But even if it can understand what I''m saying, I don''t understand deer language."


    "Then bring Tang Gazi... no, don''t bring Tang Gazi either."


    "Why not?"


    "If you don''t understand, then just don''t understand. Just keep asking questions without needing answers, and then just let loose with your culinary skills in front of her."


    "But... wouldn''t that be hurting someone?" Li Xiaoyu felt a bit embarrassed. She actually knew her own cooking level.


    "If all the chefs in the world thought they were hurting people before they improved their cooking skills, there would be no way to make progress in the culinary arts."


    "Why bring Tang Suoye?"


    "On one hand, to protect you, and on the other, I''m taking one of the two foodies with me, so only she will be left."


    Li Xiaoyu instantly understood, thinking fortunately Tang Suoye didn''t hear this.


    Tang Xian thought that Tang Suoye, like Tang Xiaojiu, was the type who, even if they complained about the food not tasting good, would still eat a lot. They are the most suitable candidates for practicing one''s cooking skills.


    "So what exactly is the situation?"


    "Nothing much, just to improve your diet a bit. If that deer gets so frustrated by your clumsy cooking that it turns into a human form, remember to let Akasi notify me from the mining area."


    Tang Xian also thought of this on the spot, maybe Li Xiaoyu''s nature would hit it off with the white deer?


    One protects Baichuan City from behind the scenes, the other administers it openly.


    Especially a female chef who is still learning and has much to improve in all aspects of cooking.


    In a situation where they don''t share a language, Li Xiaoyu also can''t hear demoralizing words like "what does it have to do with you or with me."


    Tang Xian thought it was brilliant and looked forward to hearing some good news when he returned from the mining area.


    Li Xiaoyu quietly took note of Tang Xian''s requests. Although she found them strange, seeing Tang Xian''s expectant look made her think it must be an interesting affair.


    After parting with Li Xiaoyu, Tang Xian went to find Zhong Xiuxiu. It wasn''t for anything in particular, Xiuxiu lived close to Xiaoyu, but that was about it.


    It wasn''t that Xiaoyu was unfriendly to Xiuxiu, but that the lives of two scientists were extremely dull.


    Zhong Xiuxiu was someone who liked to live life according to routines.


    For example, she would wake up at 6:20 a.m. without deviating more than thirty seconds.


    She would invariably finish washing up and getting ready before 6:40 a.m.


    Not just with time, but also with measurements, she was equally precise, strictly controlling the specifications, net weight, and temperature of her daily nutritional meals.


    Naturally, such a girl would be considered an oddity, but fortunately, Shang Lu really liked this approach.


    Tang Xian just looked from a distance, watching Shang Lu studying plants in the yard and Xiuxiu dissecting a frog.


    People accustomed to living by strict routines typically don''t like surprises.


    So Tang Xian didn''t go over to say anything, as there was no need for another farewell since he was leaving early the next morning.


    ... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Ju Mang''s efficiency was astonishing. By the following morning, he had listed all the detailed information on several hundred species, the Evolution Zone as well as the undisclosed results of Origin and the Eye of Nature without any omission.


    Tang Xian had no doubt about Ju Mang''s concealment, because intelligent people are clear that once a chain of interests is formed, it''s pointless to outsmart each other.


    The most critical thing is that those who hold this knowledge will always be able to grasp even more of it.


    Carrying a backpack, Tang Xiaojiu looked listless. Yuan Wu worried he might slow others down; he didn''t quite understand why Tang Xian had brought him along.


    He also had no idea what adventures awaited him in the mining area.


    He was quite nervous, hoping he wouldn''t really hold Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu back.


    At the moment of departure, Xiaoyu still appeared quite calm, slowly straightening out Tang Xian''s clothes.


    She remembered what Qiao Shanshan had said, when a cat rubs its owner''s face with its head, it releases pheromones, making the cat feel exceptionally comfortable. By analogy, in human behavior, this would be like straightening the collar of a beloved person before parting.


    Farewells are bitter, but seeing that Tang Xian didn''t resist, Xiaoyu also felt sweet.


    However, Tang Xian didn''t know these subtleties, and Xiaoyu was aware that he didn''t.


    She knew the reason Tang Xian was heading to the mining area was because the enemy was too strong, and he needed to improve himself. After thinking for a long time, she said:


    "I don''t like saying goodbye as if it were life or death. I hope you''re just going on a long trip and that you''ll come back, and then there won''t be anything in this world that makes you need to leave your beloved place for a very long time."


    Tang Xian remembered the words he had shared with Bai Mansheng before. Instead of hoping to live and die together with her, better to hope for unbeatable strength.


    Xiaoyu wasn''t there at the time, but often this little "idiot''s" mind was on the same frequency as his.


    Tang Xian nodded, but that was his nature all along¡ªthe heavier the atmosphere of departure became, the more indifferent he seemed.


    Qing JiuYu still remembered the first time she parted from Tang Xian, and how calm he appeared. It was the same this time.


    Tang Xian gave a faint response and was ready to leave.


    But then he saw a fleeting look of disappointment in Xiaoyu''s eyes, hesitated for a moment, and thought this nonchalance wasn''t appropriate.


    So, in front of everyone, he embraced Xiaoyu. She was very petite, her head just reaching Tang Xian''s chest.


    ```

 Chapter 610 - 37: The Victor Is Justice_3

    The moment this scene appeared, before Li Xiaoyu could react, Qiao Shanshan let out an exclamation.


    "Even an iron tree is blooming?"


    There''s an old saying that it takes a mountain to separate a man chasing a woman, but only a sheet of paper to separate a woman chasing a man. But in the eyes of Qiao, the strategist, what Li Xiaoyu felt for Tang Xian seemed to be the opposite.


    When the mountain suddenly collapsed and the paper tore yesterday, Qiao Shanshan panicked. As far as the eye could see, the only ones left without suitors were herself and Dong Ran.


    She looked toward Dong Ran, and her gaze was gentler than usual.


    But as soon as she remembered that Dong Ran was several years younger than she was, her spirits plummeted again.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    The Thirty-Ninth Fortress, seventh level.


    Three days after Song Que revealed the production method of the Judgment Knight, the entire Thirty-Ninth Fortress was in turmoil.


    Just yesterday, signs of a fight were found in the third level''s learning district, which had been sealed off previously by the orders of the Li family. The news spread quickly as well.


    But people found nothing in the learning district except for some signs of battle, such as damaged and wilted plants, which didn''t provide any useful information.


    People were angry; Li Wanye didn''t explain about the Judgment Knight and was instead making other subtle moves.


    Everyone was hoping for an explanation from Li Wanye.


    It''s strange how quickly public sentiment can change. While a meeting was convened in the eighth level, nearly all the lords vehemently supported Li Wanye.


    But sensing the changing winds these days, they quickly switched sides, collectively denouncing Li Wanye, all claiming that they were unaware that the Judgment Knight required living humans as materials.


    After Li Xiaoyu ran away from home, Li Xiaonian, the seemingly frivolous third young master in the eyes of the world, took up the mantle his sister had worn before and was doing increasingly better.


    Gradually, everyone started changing their opinion of the third young master, including Li Wanye. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps this gave Xiaonian some confidence, so that today, he came to Li Wanye''s study.


    The conversation between the two inevitably revolved around the Judgment Knight. During this process, Xiaonian was quite direct.


    "Father, continuously blocking off the levels will only make people more and more angry. They will think you are avoiding... Regardless, you should give an explanation," he said.


    Li Wanye''s expression was very calm. These days, he rarely stepped out of his study. He noticed that even the Li family''s servants looked at him differently than before.


    Now even his most cowardly son had come to question him; yet he wasn''t angry.


    Li Wanye removed the ring from his hand and placed it in a lead box.


    This was the first time Xiaonian had seen his father take off the ring.


    Li Wanye said:


    "Since I was young, I''ve understood one thing: living on someone else''s territory requires endurance. We are all slaves. Do you know which slaves die the quickest?"


    Xiaonian shook his head, not quite understanding.


    "It''s always the most troublesome slaves that die the quickest. ''Know me, judge me, only the ages will tell.'' The things Song Que is doing, I thought about them when I was younger too. But later, I realized it wasn''t possible because no one knows what lies outside, nor does anyone know what means the owner of the fishbowl possesses.


    If the outside world doesn''t welcome us back and we anger the owner of the fishbowl, wouldn''t that be a loss?"


    "Father, what are you talking about?"


    "The masters of the outside world have met the owner of the fishbowl. The victor will soon make some moves. I don''t need to explain anything because the truth is always changing."


    Li Wanye took out a cigarette, his statement laden with meaning:


    "Xiaonian, remember this, justice is not a path, but a signpost. Whoever emerges victorious gets to write what''s on the signpost."


    Xiaonian still didn''t understand.


    But on the fourth day, he faintly began to comprehend some parts. That day, a major event shook the entire Federation, spreading sensational news once more¡ª


    The Judgment Knights, which were supposed to be inert, came to life.


    Bronze spoke, stunning the world.

 Chapter 611 - 38: The Pyramid Incident Concludes

    The Throne of God.


    As the most mysterious fortress in the world, a place that can only be reached through teleportation fractures, even Constantine has not discovered the true location of the Throne of God. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could not observe the Throne of God from the outside. Sometimes he even wondered whether this place, along with its region, was somewhere in the mining area.


    Constantine sat quietly on the Throne of God, feeling the new information flowing through the ring.


    "God" cannot descend directly into this world.


    As an apostle of order, he is the most supreme person within the Pyramid hierarchy.


    The new Son of Order had yet to be selected, and Constantine did not rush to take over Origin or the Eye of Order.


    This was Ju Mang''s talent reserve, which was not short of individuals capable of becoming the Son of Order. However, these people had been neglected for many years.


    Constantine planned whether the method of power distribution needed to be reformed. He gently fiddled with the ring on his little finger, secretly thinking that since he had become an Angel Envoy, he no longer needed the Son of Order.


    Excessive power distribution would only cause unnecessary strife. It would be better to choose a compliant dog from the human camp.


    His gaze fell on the Li residence under the watchful eye of the surveillance.


    "Indeed, a cunning old fox who can stay calm," he murmured.


    In the midst of numerous people''s anger and questioning, Li Wanye always stayed in his study. A fortress lord who had weathered many storms was naturally not acting out of cowardice.


    Li Wanye understood that events of such magnitude would naturally be resolved by more powerful beings.


    It''s like when the world of mankind is about to be destroyed in the Bible, God would send down the ark.


    But now the Ark Fortress has become the Holy Land Fortress, and the lord of the Ark Fortress has exposed the sins of God. Therefore, God must intervene with strong measures.


    This was Li Wanye''s thought.


    It was the first time Constantine knew that not only he himself but also the Judgment Knights could regain consciousness from mechanical states.


    Among the additional information in the ring was this message:


    [Judgment Knight''s will infusion, enable/disable?]


    Since his childhood discovery of the Throne of God and seeing God, Constantine knew his body had undergone an irreversible change. Most of the time, his will belonged to himself; at other times, it belonged to the kingdom of God.


    God is insane, craving life yet mechanizing it.


    If the wills, awareness, beliefs, and so on of the Pyramid residents were likened to a program, this program was now continuously producing errors due to viruses like Tang Xian and Song Que.


    This way of correcting errors was due to the fact that the error involved the most core code ¡ª people''s trust in the Pyramid.


    Therefore, the corrective method could not employ force like the expulsion of Tang Xian.


    God chose an incredibly gentle approach. Thus, on this day, Constantine gained an ability; he endowed these machines with souls.


    As Song Que''s supporters grew in number, and as the anger around the lands intensified¡ª


    The Judgment Knights sealed at the top of each fortress began to awaken.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Inside a giant television tower, images that shocked the populace were broadcast. The moment the bronze-garbed Judgment Knight appeared, both Song Que and Yu Xiaozhe had an ominous premonition.


    "What''s going on? Why have all the global information channels changed to this?" Yu Xiaozhe looked at Lin Sen.


    The time was the fifth day after the Ark Fortress meeting.


    Lin Sen did not respond but hurriedly began contacting media from other fortresses.


    In Lincoln Fortress, they had found several medium-sized media outlets willing to report the truth.


    But it took a few seconds for Lin Sen to slowly turn around, his expression one of surprise as he said:


    "The network of the Holy Land Fortress¡­ seems to have been completely taken over; I have lost control over it, and now there''s no response no matter where I try to connect. Not just the internet, but the communication networks have been cut off too, damn it! Not a single phone call can get through."


    Song Que and Yu Xiaozhe exchanged a glance, alarm and gravity apparent in their eyes.


    "Zhuo He made managing the Holy Land Fortress convenient precisely because he didn''t want any information leaking from it. The bottom five levels lack network access, but the sixth level has always maintained stable contact with the outside world.


    If even this level''s information channels are blocked, then it could only be due to one thing ¡ª we''ve been informationally isolated," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "The question is, who would isolate us? Who dares to isolate us? The direction of public opinion now is all about exposing the lord''s sins and the Pyramid''s evil secrets. The person doing this..."


    Lin Sen suddenly fell silent.


    After a long period of quiet, Song Que spoke slowly:


    "Whoever is targeting us, it won''t be the Li family or the Federation; they don''t have that capability. Tang was right; it''s not time yet. To make everyone aware of this vigilance, it''s too early to return to the original world."


    "What do you mean?" asked Yu Xiaozhe.


    Song Que said with some helplessness:


    "Look at the Judgment Knights on the television tower, they should have no consciousness, merely serving the owner of the ring. But now they have come to life, and everything we''ve said is doomed to fall apart by itself."


    The voices of the Judgment Knights inside the television tower sounded peculiar, but viewers could imagine it was a normal consequence of "people" dwelling within bronze armor.

 Chapter 612 - 38: The Pyramid Incident Concludes_2

    At least that''s what the Judicial Knight who spoke claimed as he recounted his experiences since becoming a Judicial Knight.


    He was someone from the lower echelons of the 39th Fortress, where one could either spend a lifetime as a miner or become a Judicial Knight.


    He chose the latter, and during these days, he made it known that he had carried out many missions in the mining areas. Previously, when discussing myriad beasts in the safe zones, the mere mention of some powerful creatures instinctively evoked fear in people.


    But now, he could fight these creatures alone. He was very proud and arrogant, as if his life had finally found meaning.


    He also told his family not to worry about him and welcomed them to become Judicial Knights as well.


    Watching these scenes on the television tower, Yu Xiaozhe said angrily:


    "This has to be fake, right? How can these guys still maintain their own consciousness?"


    "You don''t have any evidence that it''s fake. You think it''s fake simply because you hope it is, but there are many others who hope it''s all true," Lin Sen calmed down and said.


    Song Que nodded;


    "Judicial Knights have always had low visibility, mostly staying at the highest levels. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    People didn''t know if they needed rest or if they had any behavior of their own. It''s just that after someone from the lower echelons became a Judicial Knight, there was no more news from them.


    Naturally, there were many who missed them, and people were eager to see those who emerged from the lower echelons return home as Judicial Knights, adorned in brocade.


    But gradually, these expectations turned into doubts and worries."


    Song Que averted his gaze from the television tower; he knew what was to come, just as Tang Xian had informed him days earlier.


    "When we lay the bloody truth bare for all to see, those concerns instantly turned into anger. Undoubtedly, it''s an opportunity for change, as people will begin to question the Pyramid from within.


    But who would have thought these iron beings could speak? I heard from Tang that in the historical records discovered in Baichuan City, Judicial Knights actually appeared hundreds of years ago, invading this world alongside some creatures from the mining areas. At that time, I wondered how these Judicial Knights came to be? Are humans an essential component in creating Judicial Knights?"


    Yu Xiaozhe shook his head and said:


    "We now possess a method for their creation, but this so-called method is nothing more than a template. The secrets and technological means within are far beyond our current understanding."


    In Song Que''s view, the Pyramid and the mining areas were like two completely opposite worlds, two existences reflecting each other.


    This world was filled with numerous technologies unknown to the people, while the other world was isolated from all technology.


    Song Que shook his head again, realizing now was not the time to ponder these matters, and said:


    "Tang had already made arrangements days ago, foreseeing such a situation."


    "I''m not surprised at all," Yu Xiaozhe said with a wry smile.


    "In a few days, public opinion will shift. Naturally, there will still be many who trust us, but even more of the rest, and likely the hidden manipulators behind the Pyramid''s power, will probably portray us as heretics with ulterior motives. Even the entire holy fortress will face threats."


    "Are the fortresses going to start waging war against each other?" Lin Sen suddenly panicked.


    Song Que shook his head and said:


    "Who knows? According to Tang, from the outside world''s perspective, looking at the Pyramid is like looking at huge cocoons. We are like living inside a demon''s stomach."


    "So what exactly are we supposed to do now?"


    "We don''t have much time left. Luckily, we previously created a large number of portable transport fissures for the migration to Baichuan City. It seems Tang had been planning for a long time. We will take away those willing to leave with us, away from the Pyramid, to Baichuan City."


    Listening to Song Que, Yu Xiaozhe paused for a moment and then said:


    "Are we just giving up the holy fortress like that?"


    Lin Sen, touching his nose with some regret, lamented:


    "This has probably been the most arrogant days of my criminal career, being a federal fugitive on one hand and a fortress lord on the other. It''s a pity, I highly doubt that if I tell my son these stories in the future, he''ll probably think I''m bluffing."


    "Wake up, you won''t have a son, you won''t even have a wife."


    Yu Xiaozhe timely put an end to Lin Sen''s fantasy.


    The two were still very efficient, discussing how to explain to the fortress residents with Song Que, and then began their bustling actions.


    For the first time in the hundreds of years since humanity entered the Pyramid, there would be a mass migration.


    ...


    ...


    On the fourth day after the bronze spoke, after the Judicial Knight''s speech.


    Public opinion completely changed. Media that previously denounced Li Wanye without reservations suddenly shifted gears.


    The once-mysterious Judicial Knights also started patrolling the lower levels.


    Now that their will had returned and they were visible to all, all rumors about the Judicial Knights seemed ridiculous and malicious.


    But even now, Li Wanye had not come out to explain anything.


    Li Xiaonian and Li Zheng, the two brothers, however, breathed a sigh of relief these past few days, thinking that as long as their father cleared everything up, all previous negative news could be utterly dispelled.


    Yet Li Wanye was as steady as a rock, spending most of his daytime hours in his study.

 Chapter 613 - 38: The Pyramid Incident Concludes_3

    Li Xiaonian once again went to visit Li Wanye.


    He still hadn''t fully grasped the words Li Wanye had spoken a few days ago, and today, he was here to tell his father that it was time for the Li family to clear their name.


    "Father, if the knights of judgment aren''t actually depriving people of their lives, why have you remained silent all this time? The wind has changed now, so why are you still hiding?"


    Li Wanye looked at Li Xiaonian''s anxious appearance and felt somewhat regretful.


    "You and your sister are still somewhat different."


    Li Xiaonian didn''t deny this, feeling that his sister was indeed much stronger than he was.


    Li Wanye said:


    "I''ve told you, justice is not a road, but a signpost. Now that the original signpost has been altered, new arrows pointing to a new direction have been put up. But how do you know that this is final?"


    "I don''t understand..."


    "What do you think of Song Que?"


    "Although his actions this time were against our Li family, I must say that this man''s character has no dark spots. Even if the knights of judgment were to speak out and shatter the rumors, because of Song Que''s own reputation, there are still many who do not believe us."


    Li Wanye nodded, then added:


    "He is indeed a good man, but the one who has set his sights on him is the most frightening. Song Gengzhao is short-sighted, unable to even keep his own son."


    After a pause, Li Wanye continued:


    "I have a keen eye for people. Song Que is not one to play sly tricks. Now, he is not the one rewriting the signpost, but how can you be sure that the person behind him won''t lead him to redefine justice? The victor defines justice, with the premise being that there is no eternal victor."


    Li Xiaonian always felt there was an information imbalance between him and his father, as if his father knew some secrets.


    Li Wanye didn''t explain anything, for only he himself understood everything.


    He knew better than anyone whether the knights of judgment were alive or dead. If the knights of judgment could speak, why had they not spoken sooner?


    No one realized that what Tang Xian and Song Que had done had already shaken the foundation of the Guardians of Eden.


    This foundation was the humanity within the Pyramid, insignificant and ignorant, yet possessing the magnificent power to shake the gods.


    For the first time in his life, Li Wanye realized that the rule of the Guardians over the Pyramid might not be as unshakable as he had imagined in his youth.


    Tang Xian and Song Que had failed, but they were still alive.


    Li Wanye gestured and said:


    "Before I step forward, no one from the Li family shall make any explanation to the outside."


    Li Xiaonian walked out. He still didn''t understand his father''s approach. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sometimes, he envied his sister, who could openly challenge their father.


    He also envied his older brother, who rarely questioned their father''s words.


    He found himself in the middle, wanting to be judicious in the presence of his sovereign, yet also wishing to speak his mind frankly.


    The good reputation of Song Que meant that when the world denounced him, many still sided with him.


    This commander-in-chief of the Human Alliance Army had an unimaginable prestige in the world of the Pyramid.


    Even with the reversal of events, deep down, many still believed that Song Que was perhaps only misled¡ªor some even thought that he was the only one who was right.


    But the events of the following days finally made Li Xiaonian understand his father''s intentions.


    ...


    ...


    These days, the information coming from the television tower has been explosive, and discussions over who between Song Que and Li Wanye represents true justice have become a debated topic among the people.


    But no one expected that after the crisis with the knights of judgment was resolved, the attacks against Song Que would come so swiftly.


    When people saw the smiley mask of the demon, only to be met with Song Que''s face after the mask was removed, the whole century seemed to fall silent for a second.


    Constantine''s second counterattack.


    No matter how cautious Tang Xian and Song Que were in the Pyramid, ninety percent of the world fell under his surveillance.


    Whether it was as Masked Chopper Hero or a masked freak, as long as he wished, he could find out their information. Even though Song Que rarely wore a mask in the Pyramid, he had still done so.


    The might of "the Monitor" was undeniable at that moment; by assembling a few images, he could present a truth that would upend perceptions.


    Who could have imagined the genteel eldest son of the Song Family emitting a sinister laugh, carrying out the deeds of a devil?


    The most alarming was the dragon attack incident. Not even Song Que himself expected that the scene of him being rescued by Tang Xian would be exposed for all to see. The Eden demon child was an antithesis to the Human World, a real monster, and yet this monster was to ride a dragon to save Song Que.


    The implication of this made people waver in their perception of Song Que. It seemed fitting him with the title of traitor to the Human World was not too far-fetched.


    The relocation work for the Sanctuary Fortress was nearly complete, and due to the sinkhole incident, most were willing to leave with Song Que.


    At this moment, looking at the images on the television tower, Song Que himself seemed very calm, as if everything was within expectations.


    Only Yu Xiaozhe was indignant:


    "Your reputation will probably hit rock bottom."


    Song Que shook his head and said slowly:


    "I have been to real hell. What is this in comparison?"

 Chapter 614 - 614: 39: The Evil Dragon of the Tang Mine Area

    Mining area, south of the Southern Amara Continent.


    To the south of the many fortresses'' mining lines lies the Southern Amara Continent, and further south is the area near the Dark Sea.


    The Ashen Sea has always been one of the most mysterious places in this world.


    In Tang Xian''s view, if the world were compared to a game, Baichuan City would be like a farming and building game.


    The mining area, on the other hand, is like a survival exploration game, and as for the Pyramid, it''s currently a kind of cyberpunk-style puzzle game, maybe?


    Of the several worlds, his favorite is still the mining area, but it''s a pity that this world is too dangerous and not suitable for human survival.


    When Tang Xian came to the beach of the Dark Sea, he wasn''t in the mood for fun and games; he was mainly waiting for Bai Mansheng.


    Yuanwu and Tang Xiaojiu might be strong in the Pyramid World, but in this world, they seemed somewhat weaker.


    Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng had made an appointment to meet on the shallows of the Dark Sea a long time ago. The time was just a rough estimate, so he was not in a hurry.


    In the two days he waited for Bai Mansheng, Tang Xiaojiu had mixed feelings.


    In the morning, Tang Xian would wake her up early to read. Tang Xian saw Tang Xiaojiu as human, and being half-human and half-mythical beast was unprecedented in both worlds.


    He couldn''t quite put his finger on the reason, but perhaps this little girl would be very important to this world in the future. Of course, even without this consideration, Tang Xian cared a lot about Tang Xiaojiu.


    Tang Xiaojiu noticed Tang Xian was getting stricter.


    In the past, even if she didn''t study well, her lunch was still very sumptuous, but now, if she didn''t remember what she was supposed to¡ª


    Lunch would still be very sumptuous, but it was very sumptuous for Brother Yuanwu and Tang Xian, while hers was pitifully small.


    When the things she liked were tied to the things she didn''t like, the feelings were complicated.


    During these two days, Tang Xian and Yuanwu caught quite a lot of sea crabs.


    These crabs were scientifically known as Crystal Shell Crabs, and they were very large, double the size of a king crab, with delicious meat, but they were not easy to catch. They were also considered enhanced creatures, ranking at the bottom of the sea''s food chain.


    There used to be hunters on the beach of the Dark Sea who caught these crabs.


    But they didn''t stay at it long, because their method of catching crabs was simply waiting for the tide to ebb, and after the tide went out, there would be plenty of Crystal Shell Crabs on the beach.


    The number could reach up to several hundred, and even for hunters, tackling several hundred enhanced creatures was a tough job, especially since the Crystal Shell Crabs were really hard, with health and defensive power already at an elite level.


    What really hindered the hunters, though, were evolved species like the Thorny Crystal Shell Crabs.


    Tang Xian was very thankful for the elite-level boss creature, the Thorny Crystal Shell Crab.


    In the Human World there''s a saying, no matter how prolific a species'' breeding ability might be or how much of a threat it poses to the ecological balance, as long as you''re tasty, in Huaxia you can be eaten to the brink of extinction.


    For example, the crayfish is one such creature. Fortunately, this law doesn''t apply in this world. So, there''s no one competing with Tang Xian for food.


    After the tide went out, several hundred Crystal Shell Crabs, as well as a few Thorny Crystal Shell Crabs the size of a half-grown person, became Tang Xian''s food.


    They were fresh, tender, and delicious, and peeling their shells, one could still sense the sea''s aroma.


    Yuanwu, Tang Xian, and Tang Xiaojiu, the three of them, needed not worry about facing an elite-level boss creature, let alone a group of them.


    These days, Tang Xiaojiu had her fill of seafood dishes.


    By the third day when Bai Mansheng finally arrived, Tang Xiaojiu was telling a story with Tang Xian.


    "Tang Xian, I''ll tell you a story about Sleeping Beauty, and if you listen to my story, you won''t make me study, okay?"


    "Who told you this story?"


    "Dongran, of course. She tells me stories every night before I go to sleep."


    "But I''ve heard this story already."


    "How about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs then?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng had already made his way to Tang Xian''s side, and Tang Xian gestured for Bai Mansheng to sit to one side and wait.


    Bai Mansheng knew Tang Xian was particularly fond of the little fox girl and wasn''t in a hurry to say anything. Although recently the scale of the Sea God Cult has grown far beyond imagination, even more so than Tang Xian might have expected.


    "I''ve heard that one too. You can stop reading when you find a story I haven''t heard before, or when you can reinvent these fairy tales with a new twist," Tang Xian said.


    "What kind of new twist?" asked Tang Xiaojiu, her eyes wide with curiosity.


    Bai Mansheng was also curious. She was aware of these fairy tales, which were classics in the Human World¡ªhow could there be a new twist?


    Tang Xian cracked open a crab leg and handed it to Bai Mansheng, then said to Xiaojiu, "I''m teaching you about the laws of the Human World so that you understand that, in order to survive in the Human World, there are things you can rely on besides force. In the future, you will be the queen of the foxes, but also one of the guardians of the Human World."


    Tang Xiaojiu''s little head couldn''t understand all of this yet, and Tang Xian was just talking to himself, using it as a way to pass the time.


    "The story of Sleeping Beauty is about a prince who woke up a princess with a kiss, which is beautiful, but in reality, a strange man entering someone else''s home like that would be a civil case, and giving a sleeping girl a kiss would be an act of harassment."


    Bai Mansheng shook his head with a smile, thinking that it was a good thing he and the little fox girl didn''t grow up in the Human World. Otherwise, Tang Xian would really be a childhood-wrecking presence.


    "This case is painted so beautifully because after the prince kissed the princess, she woke up."

 Chapter 615 - 39: The Evil Dragon of the Tang Mine Area_2

    Tang Xian''s smile did indeed have a hint of hooliganism, and he didn''t look at Tang Xiaojiu because Tang Xiaojiu wouldn''t understand, but instead, he looked at Bai Mansheng and asked,


    "What if the princess hasn''t woken up? Might the next move of this strange man be... to escalate the situation from a civil case to a criminal one?"


    Bai Mansheng gave Tang Xian an annoyed look and said,


    "I haven''t seen you for a while, how have you become so vulgar?"


    "Isn''t that just because I''m afraid that after being the High Priest of the Sea God Cult for a while, you''re so full of divine aura that you need a touch of the worldly filth?"


    "Worldly filth is this low? Even fairy tales are told by you in such a disgusting way."


    "There''s even more disgusting stuff, like the second story Xiaojiu wanted to tell me, Snow White."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t understand, wasn''t that story supposed to be a very beautiful love story?


    Tang Xian said,


    "The latter part of Snow White''s story, the princess is killed by a poisoned apple. Then comes another prince who is attracted by her beauty, and during the transport back, the poisoned apple is dislodged, and the princess comes back to life."


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    "But think about it, what kind of taste does this prince have, why would he transport a body back home?" (Note 1)


    Bai Mansheng was stunned. After a while, she came to her senses and thought she could never look at fairy tales the same way again. She looked at Tang Xian and shook her head,


    "It''s a good thing you''re not the one telling her the stories."


    "The stories I tell are suitable for all ages. Actually, the audience prefers more and more stories like these."


    "Why? Are humans that dark?"


    "We don''t call it darkness, we call it depth. Behind every beautiful story, there''s a chilling interpretation that makes the story interesting, just like reality."


    Bai Mansheng knew Tang Xian was alluding to something.


    "Humans in the Pyramid live there thinking everything is wonderful, but behind them is a mechanical monster coveting their thoughts.


    However, I have never thought I am much smarter than that god. My purpose in establishing the Sea God Cult was to confront the Myriad Beasts Tribunal, not to shelter them from being engulfed by the sea. If they can''t help me, I would abandon them without hesitation. I want to know, what''s their current status?"


    Does this mean that every dragon-slaying hero has the potential to become an evil dragon?


    Bai Mansheng pondered carefully, Tang Xian indeed showed a tendency to become the foremost evil dragon: The rapid growth of the Sea God Cult had far exceeded expectations, and now it might be the Myriad Beasts Realm''s second-strongest force.


    And in the Human World, where Bai Mansheng had only wandered around, she was still very unfamiliar with it, but she knew that Tang Xian already had his own city.


    This man had amassed an incredibly large power in both worlds, which, for her, should be a good thing. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking this, Bai Mansheng told herself that Tang Xian''s storytelling was a pretense, warning her not to get emotionally attached to the myriad beasts of the Sea God Cult was what truly mattered.


    Guessing that Bai Mansheng had understood his intentions, Tang Xian said,


    "Just like the Sea God is actually not a good thing. Now that I think about it, it indeed protects these myriad beasts, but the one who trapped the beasts on the island and forced them into fratricidal conflict is also the Sea God.


    We''re just doing something more meaningful under its name. But be very clear about your identity, you are the queen of the Nvwa Snake clan. You protect your people, the myriad beasts of the Sea God Cult are just an umbrella."


    "Sometimes I think you... can be very cold-blooded."


    Tang Xian certainly wouldn''t admit to that,


    "Where I differ from Song Que is that he wants everyone to be well, and I can only be good to those I like. Being good to everyone is just along the way."


    Wiping the grease from the corner of his mouth, Tang Xian said,


    "If we can protect you and protect this world at the same time, then everybody''s happy."


    "What if it''s not along the way? What if protecting us is at odds with protecting this world?"


    "Then we''ll just keep a low profile and get by with living. I''m not crazy enough to make an enemy of the world."


    Bai Mansheng nodded, accepting his answer. Tang Xian might indeed be a person who is extremely calm to the core.


    "Alright, I get your point, and I agree with you. There''s something about the Sea God Cult that I need to tell you.


    Other animal clans have joined the Sea God Cult one after another, the speed of its expansion is unimaginable. Now, it could already be considered the largest force beyond the dark seas, perhaps still a bit behind the Myriad Beasts Tribunal, but enough to make them wary.


    What surprises me is that these animal groups are not difficult to manage. They respect me a lot, including the orange-tiered myriad beasts, who are clearly very respectful toward me.


    In short, everything about the Sea God Cult is going so smoothly that it''s unbelievable."


    "That''s indeed good news," Tang Xian replied.


    He smiled and added,


    "The Sea God made a very nice bridal gown. Such a combination of forces, managing to avoid internal strife and rebellion, is mostly due to the myriad beasts'' awe of the Sea God. It shows how creatures of the apocalypse level are truly like gods in this world.


    But now is not yet the time; the Myriad Beasts Tribunal''s size might be just so, but whether there are unimaginably strong enemies hidden within is also unknown."


    Recalling the feather Bai Shuang left him before their farewell, Tang Xian always had the feeling that the tribunal''s support¡ªthe judge¡ªmight be a very frightening being.


    "What''s the plan for coming to the mining area this time? Is it related to the fox clan?"

 Chapter 616 - 616: 39: The Evil Dragon of the Tang Mine Area_3

    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xiaojiu since Qing JiuYu was not in sight, and guessed that Tang Xian must have some arrangements.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "In the Myriad Beasts Court, there are some scores to settle. Since I''ve given up on eating fox meat, that fox will have to come with me."


    Tang Xian''s tone was light, yet it carried an unquestionable assertiveness.


    "I''ve told you before, instead of expecting me to live and die with you, you should expect me to be invincible in the world, solving all troubles the moment I appear."


    "So?"


    "In the past, I thought I was invincible, at least in another world, but later found out that wasn''t the case. So, I plan to practice well in the mining area." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng nodded and asked,


    "What''s your plan?"


    "I''ll kill every beast on the list. Considering that after acquiring abilities, killing the same type of creatures can enhance the ability level, I might even exterminate some species."


    Bai Mansheng frowned at Tang Xian''s casual words and said,


    "Aren''t these beasts innocent? From what you''re saying, it sounds like you plan to go on a massive killing spree in the Myriad Beasts Realm?"


    "Can it be called killing if it''s legitimate self-defense?" Tang Xian didn''t feel the slightest bit of guilt.


    If it hadn''t been for applying Red Line Grass and having Tang Xiaojiu and Bai Mansheng follow, ninety-nine percent of the beasts on the list would have likely attacked Tang Xian on sight.


    After pondering for a while, Bai Mansheng understood Tang Xian''s meaning and easily accepted it.


    The Nvwa Snake clan is very powerful, once having conquered the fox clan''s territory, which also demonstrates their dominance.


    "So, what do you plan to do first? Who is your target?"


    "I''ll choose my enemies as much as possible, rather than bystanders. The first target is Lei Xiao.


    According to what the ancient long-eared ape said, they are the assassins of the Myriad Beasts Court. When Tang Feiji killed Lei Xiao, there was a wall between us. I didn''t participate in the fight where he killed Lei Xiao."


    Tang Xian knew Bai Mansheng must be confused, since he had only mentioned his ability to absorb powers through killing probability without going into details.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t ask further but said,


    "These creatures are very rare and difficult to capture. I can''t catch them either, because they are just too fast."


    "That''s why I brought this child."


    Tang Xian looked toward Yuan Wu, who was teaching Tang Xiaojiu how to pick crab meat. Feeling Bai Mansheng''s gaze, Yuan Wu suddenly became a bit nervous.


    Tang Xian waved his hand toward Yuan Wu in the distance to indicate everything was fine, and told Bai Mansheng,


    "No matter how fast Lei Xiao is, in a closed environment, it won''t be a match for you."


    "But where are they? They could be said to be the most mysterious creatures in the world."


    Tang Xian nodded, agreeing with Bai Mansheng''s statement.


    The extreme speed of Lei Xiao has always made it mysterious in the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    "I have a new henchman called Ju Mang who has many talents under her command. Some of these talents are sent to the Evolution Zone. In return, Xi He shares some confidential information with Ju Mang, including information about Lei Xiao. The Evolution Zone also happened to have captured a Lei Xiao."


    Bai Mansheng was astonished; humans indeed are a remarkable species.


    Tang Xian twisted his neck and smiled,


    "I came out this time fully prepared. It''s been a long time since I used professional knowledge for hunting. The last time I hunted like this was when I first met Dong Ran. Tomorrow morning, we will start our journey."


    (Note 1: This interpretation of the fairy tale is selected from the "Xiaoguo Comedy Talk Show," not original.)

 Chapter 617 - 40: The Restlessness of the Endless Turtle

    After Bai Mansheng arrived and had rested for half a day, Tang Xian led a fox, a snake, and a person to continue their journey.


    According to the record given by Ju Mang, the location where Lei Xiao was captured by the evolution zone was in the northwest direction of the entire continent.


    That was a place seldom trodden by humankind, and after some thought, Tang Xian speculated that if the ruins of Eden weren''t extremely low, they were very likely located on the western side of the continent.


    Of course, he didn''t expect to just stumble upon the ruins of Eden.


    He simply thought that to hunt for Lei Xiao, one must have the correct direction in mind.


    The faster a creature, the wider its range of activity, and especially for something like Lei Xiao, which boasted the fastest speed in the mining area. Tang Xian couldn''t hunt Lei Xiao as he once did the hellhounds, because they were too mysterious. He didn''t even know where their nest was, just a vague idea of the direction.


    Tang Xian anticipated that the search would be time-consuming, and he didn''t find it bothersome. The only thing he hoped for was not to have wasted his efforts in killing Lei Xiao. As long as he could obtain one of its abilities, the trip would be meaningful.


    Speed would allow him to dodge some damage that couldn''t be mitigated with resistances, and that was why Tang Xian first planned to hunt Lei Xiao.


    The following days, Tang Xian''s activities turned quite monotonous.


    Although they were still far from the northwest direction, Tang Xian did not stop searching along the way so that they could eat fresh food.


    It had been a long time since he last observed his surroundings with such care. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now, everything seemed to have reverted to the beginning. He would often observe around a tree for a long time, dig up some soil, to look for certain details.


    Even though his sense of smell had enhanced to the level of radar, Tang Xian didn''t rely solely on it. He would occasionally pick up some long-forgotten techniques.


    However, this process didn''t last long¡ªabout on the third day, he stopped reviewing.


    Bai Mansheng was the reason.


    Bai Mansheng wasn''t like Dong Ran. Dong Ran would question Tang Xian''s various strange actions, but Bai Mansheng felt indifferent to them.


    "Aren''t you curious about how I''ve been capturing food these days?" Tang Xian thought to himself that it really wasn''t fun without an audience.


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "There''s nothing to be curious about. It''s something I could easily do anyway."


    Snakes also have a unique temperature sensing ability towards their prey.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t find Tang Xian using his experiences to hunt cool at all. Instead, she found it quite amusing.


    Tang Xian felt that her disdainful looks were full of contempt.


    "Your sense of smell is second only to Gluttony. If you don''t properly train your olfactory senses but instead focus on using your old methods, isn''t that a waste of time?"


    Tang Xian laughed, recognizing the truth in that statement.


    Therefore, in the following days of travel, Tang Xian''s process of capturing various beasts sped up significantly.


    His sense of smell was too powerful. Aside from Gluttony, whose sense of smell could cover half of the continent, there really was no creature that could compare to Tang Xian.


    Constantly hunting along the way, Tang Xian discovered that he was really unlucky to the extreme.


    Because he had already eaten at least twenty different creatures but hadn''t acquired a single ability.


    This matter was very mysterious. It was like when he killed the Great Tengu and the Plague Source, he could actually sense that he would gain some abilities.


    But most of the time, he sensed nothing.


    "Could it have something to do with the intensity of the battle?"


    Tang Xian thought so but soon shook his head in self-mockery.


    When a person has bad luck, they think about learning some metaphysics.


    For instance, washing hands, face, purifying clothing before drawing cards, and choosing a specific moment to do it.


    Tang Xian now had such a mindset. Was it because his killing gesture was incorrect?


    He began to recall the details of the battles where he had taken abilities but discovered there were no such details.


    However, these battles to acquire abilities... they indeed weren''t won effortlessly.


    Even in the hunting festival, when he killed the bald-headed S-004, it took a lot of effort.


    Sometimes the mining area can be quite small. On the fifth day, Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng''s group had already arrived at March Marsh to the west of the forest sea.


    There, Tang Xian encountered a flock of Sword Feather Ducks.


    These were the creatures he had encountered on his previous trip to the Holy Land. Moreover, it was the same group.


    Sword Feather Ducks are gregarious animals with very tender meat, though plucking their sword feathers can be somewhat troublesome.


    These creatures weren''t particularly powerful, but they could sense hostility and had a very special telepathic ability.


    Tang Xian hadn''t even approached the riverside, hadn''t gotten close to the flock of Sword Feather Ducks, when suddenly one of them turned its head, its gaze filled with a mix of innocence and anger as it bellowed,


    "Why are you getting so close, duck."


    "Quack, it''s that human from last time who wanted to eat us, run, duck."


    "Why are you roaring so loudly, duck? What if he hears us, huh!"


    Several leaders of the Sword Feather Ducks frowned, looking outwardly calm but inwardly panicking. Within seconds, they started to scurry across the water at breakneck speed.


    Tang Xiaojiu said,


    "Tang Xian, do you want to eat these little ducks?"


    "Yes. Ducks feed mainly on aquatic animals; thus, their meat is sweet and cold in nature. It benefits the lungs, stomach, and kidneys, nourishing, supporting the stomach, enhancing the kidneys, and helping to eliminate phthisis and reduce edema. Moreover, there are many ways to prepare them; whether stewed into a soup until tender or roasted, they''re delicious."


    "But they''re so cute."


    "The last one you called cute, a little lamb, has now become something that makes you drool in your dreams."


    Tang Xiaojiu stopped talking.

 Chapter 618 - 40: The Restlessness of the Endless Turtle_2

    However, Tang Xian did not take action, as this group of dull ducks were charmingly silly, and inherently very timid, scuttling away at the slightest sign of trouble. In the future, he could consider leading them into Baichuan City.


    Wandering through the Myriad Beasts Realm, Tang Xian had gained a deeper appreciation for the richness of species in this world, brimming with vitality.


    It was as though he was in a world straight out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas.


    On the sixth day, Tang Xian did not continue his journey to the Northwest, but instead, he stayed in the small lakeside lodge of March Marsh, returning to his base in the mining area.


    At the same time, he arranged for Yuan Wu to go back to report the status of the travelers, and to exchange portable transportation rifts with Akasi.


    He was making steady and cautious progress toward the Northwest.


    However, in Bai Mansheng''s eyes, Tang Xian seemed to be more like someone enjoying the local delicacies and scenic pleasures along the way, appearing extremely content¡ªshe had never seen such a method of cultivation before.


    "If Lei Xiao belongs to the Myriad Beasts Court, we might have to confront the Myriad Beasts Court again, right?"


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian, who at that moment, was fishing.


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "The Myriad Beasts Court has always been aware of our whereabouts, and although I do not believe anyone can foresee the future, this world indeed contains some entities time cannot conquer. So, our movements might truly be sensed by the other party through some special means"


    The sensations from the divine realm had left Tang Xian filled with lingering fear. The time dimensions of the two worlds were not the same, an experience he found quite magical.


    Tang Xian felt that the Endless Turtle was just such an entity.


    "Foreseeing the future, are you talking about the Endless Turtle?" At the mention of the Endless Turtle, Bai Mansheng still had some


    "Yes, if the Myriad Beasts Court sends the Judgment Chief after me again, that would be good for me, especially with you here. Every Judgment Chief of the court is very powerful and possesses a great deal of information."


    Bai Mansheng felt quite heartened by his remark, especially with you here, but she quickly changed the subject:


    "I am only interested in that Endless Turtle; its prophecies are always precise."


    Tang Xian furrowed his brow, his fishing rod trembling slightly.


    "I know what you want to say, but we''ve already discussed this topic¡ªunless that turtle predicts it will be turned into soup, I won''t believe that any creature in this world can know the future. Neither you nor Qing JiuYu will fight over any man."


    Bai Mansheng did not want to listen to Tang Xian''s scientific explanations and asked,


    "So, who do you think that man is?"


    Tang Xian fell silent, thinking to himself why these women couldn''t broaden their horizons a bit.


    However, the words ''that man'' revealed both gender and species. After some thought, Tang Xian considered that if the prophecy were to come true, it would likely be about him.


    But it might not necessarily be about a man and a woman; it could be on another level entirely.


    He shook his head and said,


    "Wait until I eat the Endless Turtle and gain its power, then I''ll divine it for you and you''ll know."


    Bai Mansheng laughed out loud, finding the joke Tang Xian had made unexpectedly amusing.


    She found it strange that Tang Xian was always fixated on that Endless Turtle.


    Tang Xian himself also felt it was a bit odd.


    Perhaps turtle soup was indeed very nourishing?


    ...


    ...


    Sanctum Mountain.


    Sanctum Mountain was a floating mountain. Its location was always changing.


    But the creatures within the mountain, whether it be the long-eared ancient monkey or the court''s Judgment Chief, did not feel any jolt.


    Sanctum Mountain itself seemed like a huge flying creature.


    However, this theory was unchecked, as the long-eared ancient monkeys did not dare delve into research to confirm it.


    Because deep within the court, there lived a judge whose majesty was terrifying.


    The Endless Turtle had been suffering from insomnia lately. As the grand elder of Sanctum Mountain, the Endless Turtle had been in existence since the establishment of the Myriad Beasts Court.


    It was of great age, and though divine turtles live long, they too have their limits.


    Probably because its life span was coming to an end, the Endless Turtle was often silently lost in thought beneath the mountain spring, lamenting that it did not have many centuries left to live.


    When the mysterious bird came to the Endless Turtle''s side, it was still lost in thought.


    Only when it let out a clear, melodious bird call did it awaken the Endless Turtle.


    [You, have, arrived.]


    The long-eared ancient monkey beside it simply nodded because the Endless Turtle spoke so slowly. It preferred to wait until the Endless Turtle had gathered more words before translating.


    "You, are, about, to, encounter, a, disaster, of, blood, and, light."


    The ancient ape with long ears was startled. Lord Xuan Bird was an immortal being, so how could there possibly be any disaster of blood and light waiting for him? No creature in this world could kill Lord Xuan Bird.


    Nevertheless, it translated truthfully. Upon hearing this, Xuan Bird, puzzled, said,


    "Old and confused? I''m right here on the sacred mountain, what kind of disaster of blood and light could there be?"


    "Greedy, Wolf, Star, reappears...only when..."


    This statement was long, and Endless Turtle spoke so slowly it took about a minute to finish.


    The ancient ape with long ears summarized that the Greedy Wolf Star in the sky had originally vanished, but suddenly it had reappeared again. Such a celestial phenomenon had only occurred when Qiongqi was born.


    Xuan Bird shook its head and said,


    "You really are old and muddled. How long has Qiongqi been dead? Its kin are few and far between, and those existing now are all degenerate species. The source of the plague has been remedied. But Ash Dragon, Shiling Beast, Qiongqi are all extremely rare species. Their kin are hard to find, and even if found, it is unpredictable when they would evolve to their peak."


    After listening, Endless Turtle shook its head slowly and said,


    "Greedy, Wolf, the, star, of, calamity, arises, peace, in, the, Myriad Beasts Realm, shall, be, hard, to, find."


    Hearing this, Xuan Bird fell into a slight silence. It remembered that not long after Qiongqi''s appearance, the Myriad Beasts Realm was indeed thrown into turmoil.


    Countless beasts were devoured. Moreover, Qiongqi did not care about these beasts'' allegiances, rampaging and causing trouble everywhere.


    Unfortunately, after devouring its prey, Qiongqi was likely to acquire their abilities and even their memories. It was like that supreme existence that united the Myriad Beasts Realm hundreds of years ago.


    Qiongqi grew stronger and stronger. So powerful that even the court felt Qiongqi was out of control.


    After both Shiling Beast and the plague source of the Ash Dragon died, they thought the Azure Dragon would be extremely troublesome but definitely not a match for Qiongqi, so they deployed this uncontrollable weapon from the court.


    Yet, this time, it was Qiongqi that got hunted.


    Endless Turtle''s prophecies had never been wrong before. Xuan Bird said,


    "Could it be there is a new Qiongqi?"


    "No, not, Qiongqi."


    Time passed, and after quite a while, Endless Turtle finally finished speaking of its vision in its slow, drawn-out way.


    In its estimation, this would be an existence even more troublesome than Qiongqi.


    But this entity was still in a growth stage and had not yet become an unstoppable being.


    Understanding Endless Turtle''s meaning and what it signified, Xuan Bird said,


    "Qiongqi has already been released by the Judgment Chief. If you can divine their location, I will send Qiongqi to kill it."


    Endless Turtle no longer shook its head, only said,


    "You, must, be, careful."


    Xuan Bird took note of Endless Turtle''s words before leaving. It still felt that Endless Turtle was somewhat senile, often making miscalculations.


    If it could have predicted that Qiongqi would die, the court would probably not have deployed it.


    This oracle of the Myriad Beasts Court appeared to be losing its touch as time passed.


    And if there really was a creature as formidable as Qiongqi in the world, it wouldn''t have remained unknown and unheard of. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not only did Xuan Bird consider Endless Turtle to be confused.


    Endless Turtle itself also felt somewhat muddled.


    It was old, very old.


    Endless Turtle, who had always prophesied for others, was unable to foresee its own fate.


    Yet occasionally, it would have dreams related to itself, which would later come true.


    When it last dreamed, Endless Turtle had already forgotten.


    But last night, it had a strange dream.


    The feeling in the dream... was very hot. The surrounding water enveloped its entire body, as if it had been boiled.


    But it did not know what this dream signified.


    Then it saw the Greedy Wolf Star appear. This time the star''s position had shifted even further than when Qiongqi was born, suggesting that an extremely terrifying creature was about to emerge.


    It even felt that it had not managed to convey the full meaning of this calamity, so much so that Xuan Bird seemed not to take it seriously.


    The Myriad Beasts Court that had ruled the realm for hundreds of years might be facing the most terrifying catastrophe in its history.


    (Here''s a book recommendation, it''s a personal recommendation, not an advertisement. I guess a lot of readers might have read it too¡ªMy Senior Brother is Too Steady. It''s really good!)

 Chapter 619 - 41: A Meaty Hybrid

    The Endless Turtle slowly fell asleep, and as the torrent of the great waterfall rushed over it, it drew its head into its shell.


    From a distance, it looked like an enormous boulder. The long-eared ancient apes were all the more perplexed as to why the revered Endless Turtle shrank under the waterfall? This was behavior that usually indicated its fear.


    It was as though the turtle was terribly afraid of something, and then pretended to be a stone. But this was Sacred Mountain, what could possibly be there for it to fear?


    By the next day, that "stone" was still there, having stayed inside its shell for an entire day.


    Only then did the long-eared ancient apes begin to understand what had happened to make the eminent Endless Turtle so afraid.


    Qiongqi appeared.


    Within Sacred Mountain, there was a prison. Imprisoned within were extremely terrifying beasts of this world, as well as some mythical creatures that had, centuries before, chosen the wrong "faction."


    Qiongqi had not been incarcerated hundreds of years ago, or rather, it was not its first time being locked up, and this release was not its last.


    Along with Taotie as one of the beasts causing chaos across the world, Taotie simply did what it pleased, considered neutrally evil relative to the court, and only occasionally serving to eliminate troublesome adversaries for the Myriad Beasts'' Court due to the authority of the judges.


    In contrast, Qiongqi was absolutely chaotic evil. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What it enjoyed the most was to interfere in others'' battles, killing whichever side had justice on their side or appeared righteous in the midst of the fight.


    Whoever was kind to it, it would kill; whoever was seen as great and good by others, whoever had many good deeds in the world, it would destroy.


    But for evildoers, Qiongqi might occasionally spare them, depending on its mood. It would even attempt to recruit those who committed great evil.


    Breaking promises and being viciously loyal, glorifying slander, the world calls it Qiongqi, the epitome of evil.


    Why the Myriad Beasts'' Court, which has always represented order in the Myriad Beasts Realm, would raise Qiongqi as a weapon is unknown to all. It''s worth mentioning that Qiongqi is not the Judgment Chief; the chiefs of the court are stationed in various places, and though Qiongqi has strength equal to theirs, it is not one of the court''s Judgment Chiefs.


    The long-eared ancient apes scattered one after another, and when they saw that huge figure in the sky, they all screeched and fled.


    The last time Qiongqi appeared was decades ago, its purpose for being dispatched by the court unknown, but it shook the world into unrest.


    The form of Qiongqi rather resembled the description in the "Classics of Mountains and Seas - Northern Scripture,", shaped like a ferocious tiger with wings.


    However, in color, it was blue leaning towards purple, and in size, it was even more colossal, with wings spread so wide that its figure in the sky could rival even the Xuan Bird, said to be as large as Kunpeng.


    From within Sacred Mountain came the terrifying roar of the tiger.


    The figure of Qiongqi stood before the Endless Turtle, with its sharp claws resting on the turtle''s shell, its expression ferocious.


    At the same time, the call of the phoenix echoed through the sky.


    This cry of the phoenix cleansed the entire Sacred Mountain of the evil and fear that filled it.


    The Xuan Bird appeared not far in front of the Endless Turtle, as if warning Qiongqi not to act in a way that might anger the honorable judge.


    Yet, the turtle, that should have been shrinking away, stretched out its head at this moment.


    The Xuan Bird was quite surprised, as the old turtle was usually so timid; it sticking its head out was rather odd.


    But before Qiongqi could speak, the Endless Turtle spoke first:


    "I, thought, that, celestial, malevolence, was, you. But, indeed, it, is, not¡ª¡ª"


    Watching the lips of the Endless Turtle slowly move, Qiongqi, if not for the judge''s authority, would have really wanted to tear the turtle to shreds.


    The long-eared ancient apes were quite clever and smoothly conveyed the meaning of the Endless Turtle:


    A great calamity was coming to the Myriad Beasts Realm; the Endless Turtle had initially thought perhaps it was merely a misperception, maybe everything was just the unease brought by Qiongqi''s stronger presence since its release from Myriad Beasts Jail.


    But now it was certain it had not been mistaken; Qiongqi was right before its eyes, and this unease was not coming from Qiongqi.


    After listening, the Xuan Bird''s gaze became serious. It had assumed the Endless Turtle was merely blustering and making a fuss over nothing, an old creature trying to find some sense of presence.


    But now it seemed... there really was some creature awakening.


    ...


    ...


    Nether Valley, west of the continent, the mining district.


    Tang Xian had learned about this place in the travelogues of humans.


    This place appeared even more sinister than the White Bone Mountain Range, with huge animal bones strewn everywhere. Countless perfect-level scavengers roamed freely.


    In such a place, Tang Xian could still detect the scent of Lei Xiao.


    Although he had only clashed with Lei Xiao once, his memory of the scent was firm.


    The scent was faint, as if Lei Xiao had wandered through here. Unable to find where Lei Xiao''s lair was, one thing was certain, the direction was right.


    Continuing to travel west from Nether Valley, there would surely be some clues.


    "In the human travelogues, Nether Valley is a place one must pass through on the way to the ruins of Eden. The descriptions are somewhat exaggerated. In fact, this place isn''t really that sinister," Tang Xian said.


    Hearing Tang Xian''s words, Yuan Mist felt some fear, with bones scattered all around, occasional howls of scavengers, and the rocks that grew bizarrely like spikes, how could it not be sinister?


    Tang Xian, seeing Yuan Mist''s somewhat frightened expression, understood; the child''s other emotions were particularly strong.

 Chapter 620 - 41: A Meaty Hybrid_2

    And Nether Valley did indeed give him a very unsettling feeling.


    Tang Xian had been feeling uneasy these past few days.


    The mining area was a place full of uncertainty. In places untouched by humans, could there exist creatures unknown not only to humans but also unrecorded by the Stele?


    After delving into Nether Valley, that uneasy feeling intensified.


    In the distance, Tang Xian could sense that, amidst the valley''s purple poison fog, there seemed to be some kind of majestic construction.


    He could only see its outline through the veil of fog, but even so, Tang Xian felt the enormity of the building, as if it were the dwelling of some huge creature.


    Why would such a structure exist in a Nether Valley roamed by Lei Xiao?


    Tang Xian faintly felt that this trip to Nether Valley might bring about some unexpected events.


    The group walked toward the direction of the dense fog for about ten minutes, the rotten stench in the air becoming increasingly intense and pungent, making even Bai Mansheng and Tang Xiaojiu, who were protected by the divine fog, feel nauseous and sick.


    On the contrary, Tang Xian, who had the strongest sense of smell, wasn''t affected at all.


    But his brows were deeply furrowed.


    "This is poison fog, its scent is very complex. You''d better not inhale too much of it. The corpses of the animals around here, obviously, weren''t killed by ferocious beasts but were poisoned to death."


    Tang Xian moved to the front of the group, and with a gentle touch of Bai Mansheng''s finger, a light filled with divine meaning circulated among them.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Yuanwu immediately felt much better.


    "Worthy of being a Nuwa Emperor. This poison could kill many elite-level creatures, but it doesn''t affect you," Tang Xian said.


    "Aren''t you the same?" Bai Mansheng said.


    Tang Xian nodded. After killing the source of the epidemic and taking its abilities, he felt as if he were immune to all poisons.


    Even his adaptability to various negative states had significantly increased.


    Not long after, Tang Xian stopped. They had ventured deep into the thick fog.


    All four stared at the huge building, still only visible by its outline, with some confusion.


    The dense fog not only obscured sight but also blocked scent. Surrounded by the heavy mist, Tang Xian''s nostrils were filled only with the pungent rot and poison fog, unable to employ his powerful sense of smell to sense anything about the huge construction.


    "What exactly is this place?" Bai Mansheng asked.


    Tang Xian shook his head. This was Nether Valley, a place that only appeared in travelogues. To penetrate deeper into it, they would have to pass through many yellow zones and a red zone.


    Even with Judgment Knights, humans dared not venture recklessly into it.


    But Tang Xian hadn''t expected that within Nether Valley, there would be such a majestic and enormous structure.


    He said with some gravity,


    "We will not proceed further today. Prepare to take a detour around this place and look for some creatures around here to scout for information."


    Bai Mansheng was surprised; he hadn''t expected Tang Xian to choose to take a detour.


    Tang Xian stared thoughtfully at the large building.


    According to the intelligence received before, in the holy lands of several courts, there were powerful Calamity-level boss creatures. These Calamity-level bosses were extremely powerful, and on par with Tang Feiji.


    Looking at the majestic structure before him, Tang Xian, for some reason, thought of the Zudun Giants. These huge yet simpleminded creatures seemed to be employed by the Myriad Beasts Court to build enormous castles in the holy lands.


    Now Tang Xian naturally wondered... in their search for Lei Xiao, had they come upon another holy land of the courts?


    "This place might be a stronghold for the Myriad Beasts Court. If that''s the case, we would encounter at least one or two Judgment Chiefs here," he surmised.


    The power of Taotie left Tang Xian uneasy. Tang Xiaojiu and Yuanwu were clearly unable to handle a Calamity-level battle, and Bai Mansheng was not a pure combat type amongst the Myriad Beasts.


    After careful consideration, Tang Xian decided to be prudent for now, at least until they could ascertain exactly what kind of "Mountain King" was entrenched here.


    Once he made up his mind, he didn''t hesitate to lead the three others slowly away from Nether Valley. After leaving Nether Valley, that unsettling oppressive sensation immediately diminished significantly.


    Focusing on the various scents here, Tang Xian suddenly realized this place didn''t quite seem like a holy land, but more like a prison.


    He couldn''t put his finger on it, but it seemed as if some strange creatures were incarcerated within. On one hand, he felt uneasy, but on the other hand, he was also somewhat expectant.


    ¡­


    ...


    Dim, cold, and damp. In the center of an enormous and empty dungeon, an odd creature was shackled by what looked like red crystal manacles. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The "hybrid" awoke. He had not been asleep for long; a sense of hunger soon brought him to consciousness.


    As a being that seemed to be an evolved form of Lei Xiao, his stature was quite "petite". He was no larger than an average adult human.


    His entire body was covered in black scales, with horns on his head, giving him somewhat of an infernal demon vibe.


    He had no name. He once had a name among the Lei Xiao, but now it was meaningless.


    The long-eared ancient apes called him a hybrid.


    That''s because the hybrid really was a mixture of various creatures.


    Why a Lei Xiao would grow horns, why the skin of a Lei Xiao was as dark as a demon''s, and even why Lei Xiao, who originally could not humanize through crystallization, could transform into a human¡ªthe long-eared ancient apes were trying to unravel many such mysteries.


    After all, they were responsible for this experiment. In this process, the hybrid''s body had undergone countless cycles of metamorphosis.


    Unlike the Human World, where humans can cultivate test subjects in nutrient pods,


    the long-eared ancient apes of the Myriad Beasts Realm, who had mastered some of Eden''s knowledge, used beast pouches to serve a similar purpose.


    Various creatures'' blood was injected into the beast pouches during this process.


    That nine-tailed fox mutated this way, and when it emerged from its cocoon, the court began planning to take full control over the fox clan.


    But the hybrid was different. As a Lei Xiao, a creature with extreme vitality, no matter how long he stayed in the beast pouch or how much blood from various creatures was injected, it seemed to have no effect on him.


    The hybrid had been to many places.


    He was first at Sacred Mountain, then transferred to another holy place for continued research by the long-eared ancient apes. Finally, he arrived at Nether Valley, the court''s third holy land.


    In this place reeking of death, he was both an experimental subject and a prisoner of the court.


    The reason for his transfer here was because the blood from at least a dozen powerful creatures had failed to elicit any reaction in the hybrid, but one day, without any experimentation¡ªa reaction of evolution occurred in the Lei Xiao.


    He let out a low roar like a fiend from hell; his strength was far beyond any ordinary Lei Xiao, yet his voice carried a hint of human agony.


    He was furious, but was quickly subdued by the Judgment Chiefs of the court.


    It was originally feared that an out-of-control evolving Lei Xiao might be unmanageable, but strangely, the hybrid was slow.


    It was as if the most prized power of the Lei Xiao was taken away or rather, devoured by a more domineering force.


    After that day, he was henceforth known as the hybrid.


    Because the long-eared ancient apes found too many traits of different creatures in him.


    They originally intended to create an ultimate creature, with the speed of Lei Xiao, coupled with the terrifying attack power of other strong creatures.


    The hybrid''s abilities seemed mediocre in all aspects, fluctuating just above or below a purple tier, not at the extreme even within his tier, although he surpassed the Lei Xiao, he no longer possessed their terrifying speed.


    To the long-eared ancient apes, this didn''t seem like evolution at all but rather a degradation, an inferior failure.


    But they quickly discovered¡ª


    The hybrid''s constitution was very strange.


    No matter what torment he experienced, no matter how gruesome the wounds the two Judgment Chiefs inflicted on him, he seemed to feel nothing. Those wounds healed in an instant, with a speed that was hard to imagine.


    It was as if the extraordinary speed of the Lei Xiao had shifted to another attribute altogether.


    The long-eared ancient apes had of course studied some creatures with strong vitality, and even had data on the Judgment Chief Xuan Bird.


    But unlike the phoenix, the Xuan Bird, when facing death, seemed to wander between the Netherworld and reality, not simply relying on strong vitality for recovery.


    The hybrid''s immortality, however, relied solely on an unimaginably strong regenerative force.


    The hybrid was hungry, as always, constantly pulling on the chains, letting out pained howls.


    The guards from the Myriad Beasts outside the dungeon paid no mind to his cries, having long since grown accustomed to them.


    After a long time, the hybrid quieted down again, his expression weary. He had no idea what his fate was, or for how long he would be toyed with by those apes of the Myriad Beasts'' court.


    What kind of monster would he end up becoming eventually?

 Chapter 621 - 42: Tang Wudi vs Tang

    In the following days, the hybrid had a difficult time. Unknown varieties of biological blood had been injected into him, making his beast form grow increasingly bizarre, with strange characteristics emerging.


    The pair of horns on his head became ever more menacing and grotesque. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He seemed to possess an exceptional tolerance for absorbing blood.


    But he could never break free from the shackles that resembled red crystals. These massive shackles firmly locked him in place, allowing the long-eared ancient monkeys to whimsically conduct various experiments.


    Some even injected the blood of their own kind into cocoons for the hybrid to absorb.


    All of this was but entertainment, after all, these ancient monkeys had no idea what advantages lay within their own genes.


    Intelligence was the least necessary trait for a pure-war machine or mere experimental tool.


    Beyond that, the main project involved injecting the blood of the mud monster into the hybrid''s cocoon.


    This infinitely malleable mud monster, almost immune to any physical damage, seemed to ancient monkeys to complement the hybrid''s extremely formidable vitality perfectly. If they could integrate with each other, it would be a technical breakthrough.


    However, they never considered whether adding too many characteristics from other creatures might create a terrifying beast beyond their control.


    The only thing the long-eared ancient monkeys took into account was to avoid injecting the hybrid with blood from overly aggressive creatures.


    Even so, they had unwittingly nurtured an undying monster.


    The cataclysm happened on the fourth day.


    After the hybrid had completely drained the special properties of the mud monster''s blood, the red crystal shackles that had long restrained him finally failed to hold him.


    Brute force could not break the shackles, but no shackles could contain a substance as soft as mud¡­


    The moment the hybrid realized his body could become utterly supple, his eyes were instantly filled with a crimson rage.


    The test subject, having endured countless horrific experiments for so long, finally found the opportunity to fight back.


    ...


    ...


    Nether Valley was like a chunk of hell that had suddenly emerged within the Northwest Continent.


    After leaving Nether Valley, Tang Xian found that the region instantly became vibrant with birdsong and the scent of flowers.


    In a hidden valley outside of Nether Valley, he set up a temporary base, planning to explore everything about Nether Valley thoroughly.


    These days, Bai Mansheng saw that Tang Xian hunted countless creatures, most of which were turned into roast or soup meat, but Tang Xian didn''t go for every creature he encountered on the way.


    For instance, releasing the flock of Sword Feather Ducks struck Bai Mansheng as strange and out of character compared to his manner in the mining area.


    It was the fourth day since they had left Nether Valley. That day, a particularly bloody prison break was occurring within the massive castle inside Nether Valley.


    Outside of Nether Valley, Bai Mansheng, bored to the extreme, interrupted Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu''s reading lesson, and said,


    "It seems like you are targeting a specific group of creatures to kill?"


    Tang Xian spread open the workbook, gesturing for Tang Xiaojiu to continue writing, while he replied,


    "Some creatures are weak and non-aggressive, and they don''t have any special traits. It''s not a big deal if we don''t eat them. Maybe we can smuggle them into the human world some day."


    Now understanding the meaning of ''Profiteer,'' Bai Mansheng, thinking about how Tang Xian had previously sold books, clothing, and cosmetics to her at high prices, did not look too happy as she said,


    "You really have no reverence for this world."


    Tang Xian changed his tone and said, "Let''s put it this way, the Sword Feather Ducks are very weak, including a few other creatures I''ve seen along the way. Yet, they survive well with such a large population, which suggests they must have some means or special traits.


    "Sometimes, I act on intuition. Maybe the Sword Feather Ducks might bring me some surprises. In any case, I''ve memorized their scent."


    "What do you mean, you think something is protecting them?"


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "The farther northwest we go, the more desolate the environment becomes, and the creatures get stronger. We''re likely in a red zone from a human perspective right now.


    "Why do you think those little guys dare to head in this direction?"


    Bai Mansheng, taken aback, hadn''t considered this before.


    But thinking about it, it made sense; to some predators, weren''t the Sword Feather Ducks'' vast numbers just a moving meat reserve?


    Yet the Sword Feather Ducks lived comfortably, with not a single creature attacking them when they appeared beside lakes and marshes¡­


    Bai Mansheng was surprised it had taken her this long to realize.


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "Sword Feather Ducks are interesting creatures. I suspect they can sense the malice in nearby beings, and they can move safely. This suggests they have connections or support."


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "But they were still scared off by you."


    After a silence of two seconds, Tang Xian replied,


    "You should know, resisting the urge to eat succulent duck meat is really hard for me."


    "Yes, it''s hard indeed," Tang Xiaojiu, who had been doing her homework without understanding the conversation between White Snake Sister and Brother Tang Xian, chimed in. Not eating duck meat really is difficult, she knew that much.


    Tang Xian tapped Tang Xiaojiu''s little head, and Bai Mansheng watched the scene, unable to suppress a smile.


    However, shortly after, Tang Xian suddenly became alert. He twitched his nose and then looked in the direction of Nether Valley.

 Chapter 622 - 42: Tang Wudi vs Tang Heniu_2

    Bai Mansheng sensed something amiss and asked,


    "What''s the matter?"


    "It seems like something has gone wrong in Nether Valley."


    "What has happened?"


    Tang Xian stood up and said,


    "Yuan Wu, you and Xiao Jiu stay here and wait for us, and don''t wander off no matter what."


    He then said to Bai Mansheng,


    "Let''s go out and explore."


    While speaking, Tang Xian packed some food into his tool bag. Bai Mansheng watched this scene, puzzled and said,


    "What has happened?"


    "I''ve sniffed out a scent; it looks like one of my guesses was correct. Let''s set out for Nether Valley now."


    Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian were both very decisive, and they quickly made their way towards the direction of Nether Valley.


    To Bai Mansheng''s surprise, Tang Xian had killed quite a few creatures in these past few days. Although he claimed there were no gains on the surface, his speed and strength had actually improved.


    She had been deliberately slowing down to accommodate Tang Xian, but it was clear that Tang Xian had gotten much faster.


    Tang Xian didn''t mention these things, as under the Great Number Law, he indeed gained some ability enhancements, but they were abilities he considered inconsequential and not critical.


    Tang Xian felt his strength was improving too slowly, but to Bai Mansheng, this was an unimaginably rapid pace of progress.


    "So what exactly happened?" As they got closer to Nether Valley, Bai Mansheng also sensed something was off.


    Tang Xian said,


    "This place is indeed one of the strongholds of the Ten Thousand Beasts Court."


    Bai Mansheng was shocked.


    "That''s why I didn''t rashly approach the other day. After all, the Judgment Chiefs of the Ten Thousand Beasts Court are quite powerful. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And just now, a scent of Long-eared Ancient Monkeys appeared; their demeanor looked as if they were fleeing. The presence of Long-eared Ancient Monkeys convinced me that this place is indeed the sacred site of the Ten Thousand Beasts Court."


    "Why are they fleeing?" Bai Mansheng was puzzled.


    "Obviously, something has gone wrong inside. This place looks very much like a prison; it''s surrounded by dead things. Those piles of white bones are like a group of creatures that failed to escape from here. Sometimes an enemy''s enemy can be a friend; we might as well go in and have a look."


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "Are you not worried about encountering a Judgment Chief?"


    "If a Judgment Chief had been here, the group of Long-eared Ancient Monkeys wouldn''t be fleeing in such panic," Tang Xian stated confidently. Bai Mansheng thought to herself that she really had been following Tang Xian for too long and had grown too lazy to think. It seemed only when with someone like Tang Feiji would her brain need to engage and become clever.


    The two of them sped up and soon reached Nether Valley, rushing into the poison fog.


    Even within the fog, Tang Xian could hear a hysterical, furious roar.


    Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian were unafraid of the poison fog and charged straight towards the huge castle atop the valley.


    After emerging from the dense fog, the true visage of the castle was finally revealed.


    As another sacred site of the court, Tang Xian was finally certain that this castle was built by the Zudun Giant. The style was too similar to that of the last sacred site''s castle, albeit it appeared slightly smaller.


    He and Bai Mansheng didn''t delay. His extreme gloves shot out claw-hooks, and with ease, he climbed up to the entrance of the castle.


    The castle''s huge stone doors had been left open, just in time for them to see a Long-eared Ancient Monkey screaming as it ran out.


    It didn''t even stop to think why there would be humans here.


    Looking inside the gate was a spacious hall. In the hall, Tang Xian didn''t see any huge monsters, but a strange creature resembling a ''Naraku Oni'' from ancient Tokyo ghost stories.


    This black ''Naraku Oni'' had blood-red eyes and was in a state of irrational frenzy.


    Its hand, akin to a ghostly claw, was covered with the flesh and blood of Long-eared Ancient Monkeys. Around this hellish demon lay the remnants of numerous Long-eared Ancient Monkeys.


    The scene was so gruesome that even Bai Mansheng furrowed her brows.


    A bad premonition suddenly surged in Tang Xian''s heart.


    His eyes had already popped up with the creature''s panel, but he didn''t know what it was. Only by looking at some of the data, it was clear the monster was gripped by a vengeful rage.


    Gender: Male.


    Good-Evil Value: 35.


    Greed Lust Index: 27.


    Affinity: 0 (stranger).


    Financial Assessment: 0 (dirt poor).


    Likes: None at the moment.


    Dislikes: Long-eared Ancient Monkeys, Lei Xiao.


    Current Needs Analysis:


    [Destroy everything seen (48%)]


    [Others (5%)]


    Dislikes Lei Xiao?


    Although the scents had become very mixed, from their reactions, Tang Xian immediately thought of Lei Xiao.


    He certainly knew Lei Xiao was not supposed to look like this; no known creature did.


    Tang Xian thought for a moment, he had to figure this out before the Judgment Chief of the Ten Thousand Beasts Court returned.


    "Trap it."


    Bai Mansheng understood and instantly, a cold breath filled the entire hall.


    The temperature in Nether Valley dropped significantly as well.


    Bai Mansheng naturally didn''t recognize the creature, but she could feel that its strength was a level lower than her own.


    The frost was about to ensnare the demon in an instant, countless sharp ice spears blocking its path forward.


    What happened next, however, stunned both Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng.


    The demon charged through as if blind to the sharp ice spears. Those spears, strong enough to pierce the defenses of purple-tier creatures, couldn''t penetrate the demon''s hide, not even leaving a scratch.


    "Truly astonishing defensive power," Bai Mansheng commented.


    The demon roared in rage,


    [Court''s lapdogs, not a single one shall live!]

 Chapter 623 - 42: Tang Wudi vs Tang Heniu_3

    Tang Xian didn''t expect to hear such a statement; his heart was initially filled with joy, but before he had a chance to explain anything, he saw the evil spirit charging at them.


    Bai Mansheng''s reaction was quicker. The moment the strange creature lunged forward, she summoned countless Ice Crystal Blades, all of which fell upon the creature''s body.


    But strangely, the evil spirit, clearly aware of these attacks, never thought of dodging them.


    It let the ice blades carve wounds in its body as if it didn''t belong to itself.


    Even Tang Feiji would have to dodge Bai Mansheng''s attack, yet this creature seemed to feel no pain whatsoever.


    The entire process, an obstacle composed of numerous ice blades, only held him back for a few seconds.


    It was at this moment that Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng could clearly see what was happening.


    "This isn''t about having terrifying defensive power, but rather the body''s healing speed is shockingly fast."


    Tang Xian had rarely encountered such creatures. The strongest regenerative ability he had seen so far was Tang Feiji''s.


    Even if he sustained fatal injuries, he could recover within an hour.


    But compared to the creature before him, Tang Feiji seemed as if he lacked the attribute of life regeneration entirely.


    Tang Xian suddenly became interested.


    The strength and speed of this evil spirit were only at the standard of a perfect-level creature, and Tang Xian had already become capable of contending with such a creature.


    He harbored the thought of a battle, wanting to test just how much punishment this strange creature could take.


    Bai Mansheng was the most astonished. Although she had a human form, with a strength only one-sixth of her beast form, no creature had dared to withstand her attacks head-on.


    She launched consecutive attacks, only to be met with mocking expressions from the evil spirit. Although his face was twisted by rage, Bai Mansheng still felt it; he appeared to be displaying a sort of disdain.


    No matter the attack, it was difficult to injure it; Bai Mansheng found that all she could do was to summon ice walls to trap it.


    But even so, it was only a stalemate.


    Tang Xian said,


    "You don''t need to intervene. I''ll take care of this strange guy."


    Bai Mansheng knew that Tang Xian had some strange power inside him, for instance, when he tore apart the Taotie. She said,


    "This creature¡­ is just too tough."


    Tang Xian nodded and said,


    "You keep watch. It seems that the creature imprisoned in this castle is the one we''re dealing with. I''ll handle him; his defenses are ineffective against me."


    "Be careful," she said.


    Bai Mansheng also sensed that although the evil spirit had terrifying vitality, its destructive power was not strong.


    Tang Xian''s face wore an enigmatic excitement. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Most smart people have a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It''s like saying you''re putting together a team of six and being unsettled when one is missing.


    However, Tang Xian had never encountered a creature even "meatier" than himself. Therefore, the character of Tang being "meaty" had always been on hold.


    Huge ice walls surrounded Tang Xian and the hybrid.


    It was like a small arena.


    Tang Xian tried communicating with the hybrid, indicating that he was not actually with the Court of All Beasts.


    But the hybrid was completely consumed by rage. The only response to Tang Xian was a rush of fists and claws.


    Tang Xian''s body was flung back, hitting the ice wall. To Tang Xian''s surprise, the prompt in his knowledge sea was "unknown primate resistance +1".


    This was indeed beyond Tang Xian''s imagination, suggesting that the Court of All Beasts'' prison held a previously unknown new creature.


    Tang Xian''s expression remained calm as he said,


    "I reaffirm that I am not your enemy, but it seems you need a painful beating to snap back to your senses... then let me properly explain the reasons to you."


    As the hybrid launched another charge, Tang Xian also raised his fist and swung down fiercely.

 Chapter 624 - 43: The Unreasonable Tang

    The battle wasn''t as easy as Tang Xian had thought. This mysterious creature indeed did not possess the ability to kill him instantly like a disaster-level calamity creature, but it was still much stronger and faster than Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian''s fists only hit the target once before he was continuously counterattacked. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The creature''s reflexes were on par with Lei Xiao''s, and although it was no longer as swift as the other Lei Xiaos, it still had a sharp response to all kinds of fast attacks in its field of vision.


    To the creature, all of Tang Xian''s attacks were slow motion.


    After uttering that slightly showy remark, the situation turned into a one-sided beating with Tang Xian on the receiving end.


    A pitch-black fiend roared ferociously, seemingly intent on tearing Tang Xian into pieces. There were a few times when Tang Xian felt his bones were broken by the creature''s heavy kicks.


    But the next second, he was healed. This process appeared as though he wasn''t injured, but the pain tugged at Tang Xian''s nerves, causing him to show an expression of immense pain.


    The frost in the hall hadn''t melted, and the debris was still as sharp and bone-piercing as ever.


    Bai Mansheng really wanted to help, especially when she saw Tang Xian''s leg caught by the monster and madly "Hulk smashed."


    But Tang Xian stubbornly stopped her.


    "Don''t... interfere... This is normal... It''s not a big problem, don''t panic,"


    Upon hearing this, Bai Mansheng felt it was quite strange. It obviously looked like two people fighting desperately, or rather one person getting beaten brutally by another, but the one being beaten seemed quite composed.


    Naturally, Tang Xian didn''t care too much about keeping up appearances, but he had to admit that every time he battled a new creature, the process of accumulating resistance was indeed not very dignified.


    Thankfully, during his confrontation with Tang Feiji, no one witnessed the scene of him being covered in gold solution and the Extreme Ice Sealed City Statue.


    The creature''s attack had no technique to speak of, just a raw berserk beast furiously smashing Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian coughed out blood, feeling as if his internal organs were ruptured and his brain sent into shock, but soon everything restored itself.


    Despite his pained expression, Bai Mansheng could sense that Tang Xian''s vitality never diminished.


    It always recovered quickly.


    She herself possessed an almost miraculous talent for reviving the dead, but now it seemed unnecessary.


    Tang Xian''s body crashed through another ice wall, and the next second, the creature squatted and leapt towards him, pinning him to the ground and assaulting him madly.


    "Haven''t eaten?" Tang Xian taunted.


    This position was humiliating, as the creature straddled Tang Xian''s waist and frantically swung its "Facial Correction Fist," breaking his nasal bone before long.


    Bai Mansheng really wanted to step in, thinking that she certainly couldn''t handle the monster momentarily, but after all, it was inferior to her by one tier, so why should Tang Xian suffer like this?


    Yet, bizarrely, Tang Xian became increasingly excited.


    Because the creature''s attack range was diminishing, indicating that the furious offensive earlier had taken a toll on its stamina.


    He had already felt that the creature was inherently weak, sustained only by the rush of adrenaline fueled by anger.


    Following a Hulk-like barrage of wild hammering and beating, that anger finally dissipated somewhat. Tang Xian even saw a hint of confusion and astonishment in the creature''s eyes.


    Starvation and the long-term assault of various toxins had weakened its body.


    In contrast, Tang Xian''s resistance kept accumulating. As this wore on, the tide of battle quickly shifted.


    Tang Xian began to attempt counterattacks, and although nine out of ten punches missed, he tirelessly kept trying.


    The creature had become numbed to pain, its remarkable healing abilities had made it endure unimaginable tortures during its imprisonment.


    These torments couldn''t kill it, only made it extraordinarily insensitive to pain.


    Yet even so, it started to feel it¡ªTang Xian''s fists were growing increasingly powerful.


    The creature''s astonishment stemmed from this. This human-like creature was clearly weak, his punches initially harmless to it, but gradually, it discovered the human''s punches became more painful.


    Finally overcome by pain, the creature had no choice but to pick Tang Xian up and throw him to the other side of the battlefield.


    The pain was brief, and the creature''s breathing grew rapid as it looked at Tang Xian with confusion.


    Because it had always been the one others couldn''t hurt, yet today it encountered an existence much like itself.


    Tang Xian pinched his nose, as if trying to straighten a misaligned nasal bone, the process causing him to inhale sharply from the pain.


    "What a hassle, but now''s the time to test your constitution."


    With Snake Form activated, Tang Xian''s speed erupted at that moment.


    As a summit practitioner of this combat skill, Bai Mansheng found it odd seeing a human utilize Snake Form, but Tang Xian indeed learned it quite authentically.


    When did he learn it, she wondered?


    Bai Mansheng didn''t ponder for long, because the battle indeed took a dramatic turn shortly after.


    Tang Xian, who initially only took hits, was now trading blows with the creature.


    The creature''s attacks were causing less and less damage to Tang Xian.


    Bai Mansheng watched in shock as Tang Xian became reckless, blatantly not dodging the creature''s assaults.


    And Tang Xian''s attacks became increasingly terrifying, with the horrific sounds of bones breaking finally not coming from Tang Xian''s end.

 Chapter 625 - 43: The Unreasonable Tang Very Meaty_2

    But this battle was still a tug-of-war, and the situation didn''t topple as swiftly in Tang Xian''s favor as he had expected.


    Because the opponent was just too resilient.


    Just twenty seconds ago, the achievements for Unparalleled and Arch Enemy had already prompted in his sea of consciousness.


    At this moment, Tang Xian had finally become completely immune to the monster''s attacks.


    And his attacks could now cause soul damage that ignored any defense.


    The soul-rending agony made the hybrid suddenly more lucid. In its eyes, looking at Tang Xian, there was a new-found wariness.


    But its logic was simple, even though it was me who struck first, now that we are fighting, we must fight until a victor is determined.


    This was the part that Tang Xian found most incomprehensible.


    Previously encountered creatures, no matter how astounding their healing abilities, under the explosive speed of the Serpent Stance, would be swiftly defeated after a few punches.


    But not this monster.


    Tang Xian''s punches connected flesh to flesh, each one dealing immense damage to the hybrid, all occurring in the blink of an eye.


    The hybrid''s body suffered destructive blows in a mere second, but what was more horrifying was that ¡ª in an even shorter time, its body would recover to its peak condition in an instant.


    Terrible attacks tormented the hybrid greatly, but pain also fueled its intense rage.


    Worse than the pain from Tang Xian''s fists was the inhuman torture it had suffered through the years as a test subject.


    Without a name, without a tribe, without belonging, without any reason to live.


    The hybrid let out a painful and lonely howl, tinged with a touch of plaintiveness and anger, and as a result, its attacks became even more reckless.


    So-called recklessness is merely the rational conviction that the opponent can''t kill you.


    It no longer knew if there was anything in this world that could kill it.


    Tang Xian was shocked.


    "What kind of monster are you?"


    This was the first time he had seen a creature whose healing rate was so fast that even the damage brought about by his Eden bloodline could not suppress it.


    The fight between the two had turned into a stalemate.


    Tang was reckless, but the hybrid was even more so. It didn''t care that its punches could no longer harm Tang Xian; it just kept throwing punches, venting the rage it had accumulated over the years.


    [Die! Die! Die!]


    Tang Xian didn''t feel anything from the hybrid''s attacks, but what troubled him was that his own attacks couldn''t do anything to the hybrid either.


    He finally realized that this monster''s healing ability was probably unparalleled in the mine.


    Just like Lei Xiao''s speed was undeniably the fastest in the mine, this monster''s vitality was also unquestionably unparalleled.


    Tang Xian tried tearing the opponent apart, but just as the wounds started to form, a powerful healing force would close them up again, leaving Tang Xian with no means to cope with the hybrid.


    Unless he could be faster and manage to inflict damage on the hybrid with even more ferocious attack speed.


    But his speed had already begun to slow down. Life force might be infinite, but stamina was not.


    Continuous activation of the Serpent Stance made Tang Xian feel his strength waning.


    Finally, the two combatants separated after a kick from Tang Xian.


    Both men were gasping heavily.


    Tang Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead, recalling some old gaming memes.


    Two tanks bashing each other, both with defense skills activated, constantly taunting and reducing damage, ultimately ending in a draw.


    He had not expected to encounter such a situation with his Unparalleled status; he was not merely a tank, as his attack power was also extremely twisted, yet he still couldn''t take down the monster before him.


    Watching Tang Xian''s rapid breathing, the hybrid''s brain also began to clear up.


    This person wasn''t a Long-Eared Ancient Ape, nor was he the Judgment Chief. There were no creatures capable of humanization among the court''s Judgment Chiefs.


    Its eyes gradually lost their malice, but Tang Xian became even more wary.


    The brute had started to use his brain, which meant a more fearsome attack was likely on the horizon.


    After a brief rest, the hybrid launched an attack.


    When Tang Xian saw the sight before him, he was stunned.


    Because the hybrid''s body had become extremely supple, its entire frame appeared thin, moving eerily with the surrounding airflow, presenting a unique sense of dissonance.


    The next second, the hybrid''s body completely twisted, lunging at Tang Xian like a net.


    Mudmen!


    Tang Xian instantly thought of the source of this dissonance.


    What kind of monster is this?


    The life recovery ability of a mud monster certainly isn''t this freakish, and my sea of consciousness can''t identify him.


    "What the hell are you?"


    Without any response, Tang Xian couldn''t dodge in time, and the scene before him was like a bucket of black dirty water being splashed over.


    In an instant, the hybrid''s body, like a liquid, rapidly eroded Tang Xian''s upper body.


    Bai Mansheng wasn''t sure whether she needed to intervene because the scene looked like Tang Xian had been clad in a layer of black shell. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian reacted quickly, suddenly understanding the intent of this monster.


    He had just observed his breathing and concluded that although he had a strong life force, his physical stamina couldn''t keep up with the recovery.


    The next second, Tang Xian felt all his airways being sealed off.


    His eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were all drenched in the black liquid. In a moment, his upper body became a black statue.


    The oxygen in his chest grew scarcer, and despite severe exhaustion, he couldn''t restore his strength through breathing.


    It felt as if he had sunk into the depths of the sea, a feeling he was all too familiar with. Before long, he''d be rendered unconscious from asphyxiation.


    "I didn''t expect it to be a tactician,"


    Tang thought, quickly calming down inside.


    With Bai Mansheng, who had the power of extreme cold, around, Tang wasn''t too worried about the mud monster''s liquid form.


    But to simply ask Bai Mansheng for help, Tang felt somewhat unwilling.


    This was the first time he encountered an existence resistant to both of his powers yet unable to deal with it.


    Tang''s hands continuously tore at it, but although the viscous liquid body was also damaged by his efforts, it recovered even faster.


    He was out of options, his hands flailing aimlessly, his consciousness growing increasingly blurry.


    Pat.


    The frantically flailing Tang seemed to have touched something.


    He could no longer hear clearly, and his lungs felt like they were about to explode with discomfort.


    But just at that moment, the black mud that was blocking his breathing quickly receded.


    Finally seeing the light again and feeling the oxygen, Tang began to breathe deeply.


    At the same time, he witnessed a rather amusing sight.


    "So that''s how it is..."


    Tang couldn''t help but laugh and cry. It was the food at his waist that had saved his life at the crucial moment.


    The food stored in the prop bag fell to the ground when Tang''s hands waved in panic, and the aroma of the roasted meat caused the hybrid to quickly withdraw from Tang''s upper body.


    He was just so hungry.


    He couldn''t remember the last time he had eaten anything.


    Upon smelling such a fragrant food, the hybrid no longer cared about the opponent in front of him, his hunger overpowering his desire to win.


    He pounced on the prop bag like a starving dog, not bothering with any pretense, and started gnawing on it, almost as if he were eating the bag as well.


    Tang sat to the side, quietly watching all of this, slowly regaining his strength and occasionally shaking his head.


    Bai Mansheng pursed her lips and smiled. She remembered that before leaving, Tang had specifically brought some food.


    It seems Tang''s initial intention was to recruit, as he believed this place to be a prison, and those in prison were surely enemies of the court. Any creature imprisoned surely wouldn''t have eaten well, or even enough.


    So Tang had brought food, but he hadn''t expected it to be presented in such an embarrassing way.


    After a long silence, Tang looked at the prop bag now full of bite marks and wanted to remind this creature that it still contained his notes and such.


    But the creature had entered a state of frenzied feeding, paying no heed to Tang.


    Tang laughed, believing his "Iron Fist" was the ultimate truth of the world, but this time, he encountered an exception and said,


    "Forget it, forget it, it''s the first time I''ve met someone who couldn''t be reasoned with. Eat slowly, I have a lot more of such food, lots and lots."

 Chapter 626 - 44: The Young Tang Heinrou

    The battle between the two meat shields was lengthy, but the hybrid spent even more time eating.


    In Tang Xian''s item bag, there was enough food for two to three days, and Lei Xiao''s stomach wasn''t much different from a human''s.


    After gobbling down food for a while, although the hybrid didn''t slow to a careful chew, it continued to eat incessantly.


    Every now and then, it would cast a glance at Tang Xian, a look that seemed fearful he would snatch the food back.


    Always analytical, Tang Xian magnanimously said,


    "My camp has lots and lots of food. If you''re willing to come with me, I would be happy to share some with you. After all, it''s said that a fight leads to friendship, right?"


    The hybrid paused, then continued to chew relentlessly.


    Bai Mansheng had read quite a few books from the Human World and felt that Tang Xian''s approach was eerily similar to a creepy old man bribing little girls with candy.


    And why did this scene seem so familiar?


    She remembered the time she and Qing JiuYu were swayed by his smooth talk, her face turning ashen as she thought, this man... is truly very adept at pleasing others.


    Tang Xian tried to move a bit closer, and the hybrid immediately hugged the item bag with both hands, staring wide-eyed at Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian quickly gestured with his hands, saying,


    "You''re a boss-type creature. Since I can hear the sounds you make, you certainly must understand the words I''m saying."


    "Burning energy makes one hungry. You saw the fight just now. Look, not a single scratch on me. Continuing the fight would only be a bit of exercise, but for physical training, this method is uncivilized, isn''t it?"


    As he spoke, Tang Xian showed off his uninjured body to the monster in front of him.


    The hybrid let out a fierce howl, a pure warning roar that Tang Xian couldn''t understand, but he got the message.


    He said,


    "I mean no harm. Think about it, it was you who attacked first, right?"


    Tang Xian took another step forward. Seeing that the creature did not retreat, he continued,


    "Many long-eared ancient apes ran out, so I thought something must have happened here and came to check. But you can rest assured, I''m not a bad person. See that snake over there? She might not be able to kill you, but trapping you would take her just a moment to breathe, and you should feel the power gap between you two, right?"


    Tang Xian then pointed to himself, saying,


    "But she didn''t fatally strike, did she? Now that you''ve come to, and your anger has subsided, you should understand that I am not your enemy."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t know what expression to wear for a moment.


    Watching Tang Xian trying to get on the good side of this unknown creature, she always felt like she was abetting a child trafficker.


    Although it was strange, the demon-like creature before her, though unrelated to children, gave Bai Mansheng the impression that beneath the fearsome exterior was just a child.


    Tang Xian didn''t care about these details; he was convinced that this strange creature was a treasure. Since they shared a common enemy, they might as well share a common stance.


    All he thought about was how to sweet-talk the new recruit.


    It still had to start with food, Tang Xian thought, and made his plan. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hunger determined the bare minimum of one''s food intake, but the deliciousness of the food decided the maximum.


    The role of food was just to fill the stomach, but the purpose of gourmet food was much more than that.


    Tang Xian thought to himself, if you won''t listen to reason, that''s fine, but there hasn''t been a foodie in this world that I couldn''t deal with.


    "Actually, I left in a hurry and still have some dog meat. Along the way heading west, I''ve hunted quite a few mountain beasts. Their meat is not bad at all, quite similar in taste to lamb. It''s not very tender when you bite into it, but the soft texture is just as pleasing.


    And the main thing is, it doesn''t have a strong gamey taste. It tastes great either roasted or steamed.


    Especially the meat from the legs; when you roast it, you don''t even need to use oil. The meat''s own fat is enough to give it an appealing color. On top of the crispy, greasy meat, sprinkle some cumin, chili powder, clove powder, perilla powder, five-spice powder, and dried onion powder. Although it can''t be considered the pinnacle of deliciousness, it''s satisfying and won''t make you feel greasy even after a few bites," he said.


    It wasn''t necessary to consider whether the creature could understand him or not, Tang Xian was sure that by incessantly talking about food, the creature would definitely want to eat.


    Just like many ancient writings about gourmet food; in truth, modern people cannot comprehend them. Not to mention that people nowadays just eat nutritional meals, even the ancients would get hungry just hearing the names of dishes. And if you were to start discussing the cooking methods and ingredients in detail, it would surely whet the appetite even more.


    So, the appeal to eating is just like to sex; there''s no need for understanding. Just by talking about it, one can feel its temptation.


    Without a doubt, the hybrid was tempted. Its thoughts were simple. It swallowed and a gurgling sound came from its throat.


    Wasn''t the food in front of it delicious? Of course, it was. But knowing that there were even tastier foods waiting for it made what he had now seem insufficient.


    Still, it remained vigilant toward Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian didn''t care whether the hybrid was on guard or not; he launched into a monologue, starting with Sichuan dishes, narrating the tantalizing details of several appetite-stimulating dishes.


    Then he moved on to Shandong, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Fujian, and other regional cuisines one by one. After covering the eight major culinary traditions and still not being satisfied, he started on cooking methods such as stir-frying, deep-frying, quick-frying, braising, stewing, simmering, saut¨¦ing, marinating, pan-frying, splashing, pasting, frying, boiling, stewing, pot-roasting, and so on.


    Bai Mansheng turned her head away, feeling hungry unconsciously.


    Tang Xian went on for over ten minutes non-stop, not worried about getting thirsty. His mouth worked like a machine gun, relentlessly pouring information into the hybrid''s brain, regardless of whether it understood or not.

 Chapter 627 - 44: The Young Tang Heinrou_2

    The amount of knowledge he possessed about food astonished Bai Mansheng. How much effort had this man put into researching food?


    Who could withstand that?


    With each part he explained, Tang Xian took a step forward. The hybrid indeed was no longer resisting.


    The next scene forced Bai Mansheng to admire Tang Xian''s persuasive speaking skills, akin to those of a pyramid scheme leader.


    Tang Xian''s hand landed softly on the hybrid''s shoulder, obviously without any force.


    "See, on our side, as long as you make this gesture, it means we''re good friends," Tang Xian said, patting again.


    Bai Mansheng hadn''t forgotten how not long ago, Tang Xian had been hammered and struck wildly by the other party; the intensity of their scuffle had a somewhat philosophical air to it.


    But now, it seemed that after the hybrid''s rage had dissipated, Tang Xian''s friendly and beguiling rhetoric had calmed it down considerably.


    It still had not spoken, and the food was almost gone, yet it remained unfed.


    Tang Xian knew that shared interests were just the beginning, to achieve true alignment he needed something more reliable than shared interests.


    Tang Xian''s expression grew stern as he spoke,


    "The Beast Court has already sent several Judgment Chiefs to kill me. One time, they dispatched an assassin group composed of Shiling and Lei Xiao. Although they were not specifically after me, we crossed paths.


    I won''t lie to you, against such a swift and relentless creature, even my strongest partner was powerless. This time I''m heading northwest, precisely to deal with the Beast Court and Lei Xiao."


    The data in his eyes showed that the monster''s hated enemies were the Beast Court and Lei Xiao.


    Moreover, Tang Xian had detected the strong scent of Lei Xiao on this monster, as well as the scent of many other creatures, both known and unknown to him.


    The scent of Lei Xiao was the dominant part, and the size of a young Lei Xiao was actually similar to that of the monster in front of him.


    Tang Xian still didn''t know everything, but he knew the dark depths of the courts of this world were no less than those of the Human World.


    He had already thought of a particularly evil possibility.


    Tang Xian softened his tone somewhat, saying,


    "Our previous scuffle, let''s consider it even, a draw, with neither of us able to overcome the other. You owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing. Now, I want to make friends with you, to take you away from here, to treat you to delicious food. Okay?"


    The foundation had been laid; Tang Xian was also fairly certain about an inner hypothesis.


    This was a species his own body''s mysterious powers couldn''t identify, possibly a hybrid resulting from the Beast Court''s strange experiments.


    And the primary component of this monster was likely Lei Xiao. Or rather, it used to be a Lei Xiao.


    Tang Xian rarely guessed wrong. He asked,


    "My name is Tang Xian, a hunter who specifically opposes the Court. How about you?"


    The hybrid blinked, and what happened next startled Tang Xian.


    The black scales receded, the demonic horns on its head slowly vanished, and within a few seconds, standing before Tang Xian was no longer the beast he had engaged in a fight to the death with, but a frail boy.


    He appeared even younger than Yuan Wu, probably a year or two younger than Tang Suoye.


    "I... I have no name, they... they call me, hybrid," the boy said, his speech still somewhat awkward, far from the fluidity he had in his bestial form.


    Hybrid.


    Even someone as poor at naming as Tang wouldn''t give such a name.


    Although he still thought Tang Chiyu and Tang Feiji were great names.


    The expression on Tang Xian''s face became even more serious.


    If this child used to be a Lei Xiao, then Lei Xiao were supposed to be incapable of transforming into humans.


    Since Lei Xiao were not boss-level creatures, this child must be an evolved type.


    Of course, all of this was just Tang Xian''s speculation. He said,


    "Hybrid is not a good name. Come with me. I can''t deal with you, and you clearly haven''t eaten enough. Shall we talk while we walk? It''s probably very dangerous to stay here too long."


    The hybrid suddenly recalled something and said in a panic,


    "Let''s go! Leave this place!"


    He started running, not even concerned about the food. Tang Xian watched the prop bag full of bite marks and shook his head.


    Bai Mansheng watched the hybrid dash into the poison fog and said,


    "Is he afraid?"


    "Yes, he must be afraid of the guardians here. Now I''m certain that this place is a stronghold of the Beast Court, but the number of beasts here is curiously low. The defenses are too weak. This can only mean the Judgment Chief here is very strong."


    Considering that the Judgment Chief in the courtroom possesses the strength to take on two or even three of the same rank at once, Tang Xian had no desire to linger.


    His nose twitched, confirming that there were no major changes, before he continued,


    "Let''s go, let''s follow that kid first."


    ...


    ...


    The bastard ran quickly, but speed was not his strength, and Bai Mansheng and Tang Xian soon caught up with the bastard.


    After making sure they had escaped far from Nether Valley, the bastard jumped onto a large tree and stood on a branch, his expression filled with loneliness and confusion.


    It had been a very long time since he had breathed such fresh air. He still remembered the time when he was Lei Xiao, moving through the leaves, feeling the current running through his body.


    That refreshing sensation of the whole world seemingly in reverse was no longer within reach.


    Now, he felt an inescapable loathing for his own body.


    His expression might have been resolute, but in Bai Mansheng''s eyes, this kid seemed very desolate, suffering from a lack of belonging, not knowing where he truly fit in.


    "I initially thought your cajoling was wrong, but at least those who followed you have never suffered a loss," he said.


    Such a boy always seemed helpless and pitiable, even though he was supposed to be a boss-level creature of calamity.


    Bai Mansheng spoke slowly again,


    "Is this child of any use to you?"


    "Don''t know. He takes a beating well, but on the battlefield, it might not be soon enough to protect me. However, it seems you''re starting to pity him."


    "He looks pitiable indeed, as if he''s not seen the outside world in a very long time."


    The bastard just stared off into the distance, from atop that giant General Tree, presumably able to see a quite magnificent view.


    He stood there, blankly gazing, his eyes gradually revealing anger within the confusion, but after a while, they settled back into perplexity.


    Tang Xian joked,


    "In the Human World, if a woman falls for a man, it''s not the end of the world, they have to part ways when necessary, but if a woman pities a man, it becomes hard to part ways, and it''s quite problematic."


    Bai Mansheng gave Tang Xian a look and said,


    "I''m not like you, I''m no pedophile."


    "??? How did I become a pedophile?"


    Bai Mansheng looked at him with disdain and then said,


    "We should go back, you probably have a ton of questions for him."


    "You''re that sure he''ll follow me?"


    "With that silver tongue of yours, I''m afraid there''s no man or woman under the heavens who can resist you."


    Tang Xian nodded,


    "That''s true, if a man''s tongue is capable, indeed women like it."


    Bai Mansheng paused... Why did this remark seem a bit vulgar?


    "I mean, which woman doesn''t love sweet talk? See, you, Bai, aren''t pure anymore."


    "Ptui!"


    Tang Xian stopped teasing Bai Mansheng.


    He certainly had many questions, whether about what kind of creature this kid was, what he feared, or the information he knew about the court.


    "Tang, come with me."


    The bastard did not react at first, not until Tang Xian shot out his grappling hook, climbed up the General Tree, and came next to the bastard, that he realized this person was talking to him.


    "The outside world is vast. My mother once told me that one day I would meet someone who truly liked me from the heart.


    What your past was like can''t be changed, but with the world being so big out there, you''re bound to meet a group of people who are truly kind to you.


    My name is Tang Xian, bastard really isn''t a good name, so from today on, how about your name is Tang?"


    Tang Xian patted the bastard on the shoulder, not forgetting that in the Human World this was a symbol of friendship.


    The bastard was stunned for a long time, then nodded his head. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From that moment on, he had a third name, Tang, which also sounded like a strange name, but looking into Tang Xian''s eyes, Tang couldn''t refuse the invitation.


    It was as if he had been living alone in this world and finally met someone who needed him.

 Chapter 628 - 46: Scumbags Have Always Won Hearts

    The Nether Valley seemed even more eerie at sunset. From a distance, the layer of purplish-blue mist made the entire valley appear full of ghostly energy.


    Tang Xian had a long conversation with Tang before coming down from the General Tree. He would occasionally look back at the Nether Valley, always feeling that this trip had been a little too smooth.


    Tang did not seem particularly happy, only a bit unaccustomed.


    He had been held captive for a very long time, and now that he had suddenly come out, it felt unreal.


    The three of them began to walk toward the direction of the cave. In terms of olfactory feedback, indeed no abnormalities could be found, and after they had left the Nether Valley behind, Tang Xian finally relaxed, his mood visibly lifting.


    "Are you that happy?" Bai Mansheng saw the smile hanging on Tang Xian''s face.


    "Of course."


    "Have you achieved the purpose of your visit?"


    "The aim of delving into the mining area was to improve myself, and saving the world isn''t something that can be done by just anyone. Whether it''s personal enhancement or gaining companions, it''s all progress," Tang Xian said.


    Bai Mansheng pondered for a few seconds and realized that he had a point.


    Tang Xian''s team was peculiar, with all sorts of people, and sometimes Bai Mansheng felt some of them were useless. For example, some humans were completely a burden in terms of combat capability.


    But Tang Xian still regarded those humans as very important. It seemed that Tang Xian did things not purely for profit.


    As if he had long been aware of some of Bai Mansheng''s and Qing JiuYu''s thoughts, Tang Xian said,


    "In the Human World, there''s a saying, ''the more friends one has, the more paths one finds,'' and there''s another saying, ''I may not choose this path, but I cannot lack this option.''


    If you have children in the future, you must teach them this principle, that more choices are better, even if some options will never be chosen."


    Bai Mansheng spat and said,


    "I''ll never have children."


    "That''s not for certain, I will remember this and ask the Endless Turtle you think is so formidable about it later. But before that, we need to figure out the situation with the Nether Valley." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng glared at Tang Xian, accepting this change of topic.


    Tang had been silent, half understanding the conversation between Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng.


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "Do you plan to ask him about it?"


    "A prisoner detained by the Court of All Beasts holds significant value. But now he''s my friend; indeed, I''m eager to know some things, but we have to wait until he fully adapts."


    Bai Mansheng nodded and added,


    "The name Tang is really not pleasant to the ear."


    "Then why don''t you think the name Tang Feiji is unpleasant?"


    "Because that dragon is annoying."


    "You see, this is just too much of a personal bias. A name is just a codename; the more memorable and concise, the better. Tang Feiji was first used to cross the sea. Tang is even easier to understand, given that I can''t even hurt him."


    Bai Mansheng ignored Tang Xian''s words and said,


    "Change his name. He should at least have a name others find more normal when calling."


    "Then you name him."


    "Tang Mang."


    "Huh."


    Tang Xian paused, surprised to find that Bai Mansheng''s level of culture was higher than he had thought.


    "The character suits his fighting style and conveys what you intend. It''s easier to remember, gives a strong and vigorous impression, and perhaps in terms of fate, it could help him overcome some difficulties. According to the sayings of the Human World, people with such characters tend to have a strong life force," Bai Mansheng said in an unhurried tone.


    Tang Xian unconsciously nodded and asked,


    "Which name do you prefer?"


    Tang looked puzzled, seemingly having no concept of these things. He simply couldn''t distinguish between good and bad.


    This time Bai Mansheng was more domineering,


    "It''s settled then, just like Tang Feiji having a name like Tang Ao. Although no one calls him that, if this kid lives in the Human World in the future, he should at least have a name that won''t be a joke."


    Tang Xian didn''t object; Bai Mansheng''s reasoning was solid. He just smiled without saying a word.


    He thought to himself that a woman''s care for a little boy was somewhat more upright than a man''s care for a little girl.


    ...


    ...


    Upon returning to the valley, Tang Xiaojiu and Yuan Wu stared at Tang in surprise.


    Tang watched them with equal wariness.


    Especially Tang Xiaojiu, although the strength of a young apocalypse-level boss creature is only at a disaster-level, the impressive pressure of a top-class beast did exist.


    Tang Xian asked Bai Mansheng to look after Tang, then called over Tang Xiaojiu and Yuan Wu to a corner of the cave and spoke to them in a low voice.


    Bai Mansheng looked at Tang Xian whispering and suddenly felt an urge to laugh.


    Then Tang Xiaojiu and Yuan Wu, probably following Tang Xian''s instructions, took some food and shared it with Tang.


    Tang''s wariness and hostility towards Tang Xiaojiu vanished in an instant.


    Tang Xiaojiu was naturally lively, but as the youngest in the group of child-age creatures, Liu Buding and Tang Suoye were several years older than her and¡ªboth girls had drifted from the group.


    Although Tang Xiaojiu wasn''t aware of it, this meant that food was no longer the primary concern of those two girls.


    Tang Suoye was forever fixated on Akasi, and Liu Buding always mentioned stories about Liu Lang.


    So in that moment, Tang Xiaojiu, in the manner of a connoisseur dictating the finer points of cuisine, was amusingly telling Tang which foods were tasty and how to eat them, feeling quite like a chef teaching kids.

 Chapter 629 - 46: Scumbags Have Always Won Hearts_2

    Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng stood at a distance and watched the scene.


    "You really do care about this child."


    "He will be very useful to me in the future."


    "So all you''re doing is still out of self-interest? I thought you at least cared about him somewhat?"


    Tang Xian felt that Bai Mansheng had misunderstood something, so he corrected her:


    "Considering interests isn''t something to be ashamed of. Interest and emotions never conflict. You should also learn to think from the perspective of interests first, and then consider personal feelings." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Naturally, Tang must be of value to me. It''s not a cold-blooded statement, but something each of us should consider when making friends: what value we can bring to others. In a reciprocal relationship, the cultivated feelings are deeper."


    Bai Mansheng was hearing this perspective for the first time, but upon reflection, she found it made sense.


    Tang Xian seemed like a "jerk," but he was a jerk in a just manner, a jerk who was fully justified.


    That was what Bai Mansheng found puzzling every time she thought about it.


    However, jerks are likeable.


    In the following days, Bai Mansheng truly experienced Tang Xian''s methods.


    He never mentioned anything about the court; every day, he just took Tang Xiaojiu, Tang, and Yuan Wu out hunting.


    The direction of their travels took them farther and farther from Nether Valley, only stopping when Tang felt safe enough.


    Besides hunting, the daily conversations were about mundane topics: food, interesting things.


    He taught Tang some common knowledge and expressions used in the Human World, and at the same time, got him used to his name.


    In short, over the next few days, Tang Xian distanced himself from Nether Valley, came to a relatively safe place, and did nothing else but tinker with food all day long, seemingly not here to cultivate in the mining area but to enjoy life.


    Gradually, Bai Mansheng noticed that Tang seemed a bit more cheerful, or maybe that wasn''t quite the right word.


    The child just seemed like a hard, silent stone but now was able to communicate with others.


    He would even occasionally call out Tang Xian''s name.


    Tang Xian taught him about human etiquette and, upon feeling the benefit of others, he wanted to express thanks.


    Tang didn''t know how to express his gratitude, so every morning he caught a lot of fish.


    He placed one next to Yuan Wu, one next to Bai Mansheng, two next to Tang Xiaojiu.


    And five next to Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian knew Tang felt goodwill towards him, but wasn''t sure about Tang''s feelings towards others.


    Could these fish represent the ratio of goodwill?


    He was pleased; Xiaojiu was doing quite well, having established a rapport worth two fish with Tang.


    But Tang didn''t see it that way; he simply thought this kid smaller than himself could really eat a lot.


    On the ninth day, Tang still didn''t talk much, but it had become natural for him to stay by Tang Xian''s side.


    At night, when everyone else slept, the youth, like a wolf, stayed awake, guarding everyone.


    He was reticent, but he also had his own ways of expressing feelings.


    All of this, Bai Mansheng saw it all, fully witnessing Tang Xian''s methods.


    It''s just that Tang Xian never cared about girls this much. Otherwise, even Xu Xian''s personality wouldn''t be enough.


    Thinking this way, she felt inexplicably annoyed, but despite her annoyance, she couldn''t help but admire Tang Xian.


    This man was able to clearly distinguish between interests and feelings, yet when he acted, it didn''t feel deliberate at all.


    Many details showed that Tang Xian truly cared for the child.


    For example, in conversations during meals, Tang Xian would avoid bringing up the Beast Court or anything related, to prevent Tang from recalling unpleasant memories.


    For example, when teaching Tang human customs, he didn''t just recite the rules, but brought up anecdotes and counterexamples.


    He was careful in his teaching, and although Tang said nothing, he silently took it all in.


    During this process, Tang Xian acted as if he had forgotten the Beast Court and Lei Xiao, and he didn''t inquire about Tang''s origin or what kind of creature he actually was.


    The analogy might be like a man being good to a woman for no reason, to the point she suspected whether the man was lusting after her body.


    But the man seemed to have no such intentions whatsoever.


    This kind of impact was enormous.


    Bai Mansheng felt that thinking this way was somewhat perverse, but Tang Xian''s treatment of Tang was far more considerate than his treatment of her or Qing JiuYu.


    ...


    ...


    On the twelfth day, Tang Xian and his group made their way back, almost reaching March Marsh.


    Bai Mansheng pulled Tang Xian aside and voiced the doubts in her heart:


    "I can understand you being good to the child, but it seems you''re being overly nice?"


    "Too much?"


    Tang Xian smiled and continued:


    "Did you feel any remorse when you killed a hellhound with three heads, or when you and Qing JiuYu went to war and killed a three-tailed fox? There''s no burden on your conscience, is there?"


    "What''s that got to do with this? They''re enemies, just to be killed off. Why would there be any burden?"


    Tang Xian nodded and added:


    "In human history, there''s a saying, ''Those not of our kind must have a different heart.'' This phrase lies at the core of many stories, and there are touching and harrowing tales in history to prove it."

 Chapter 630 - 46: Scumbags Have Always Won Hearts_3

    Humans are social animals that need a sense of belonging.


    Because of this sense of belonging, there is the urgency that smoke from signal fires lasting three months is worth more than home letters made of gold; because of a sense of belonging, there''s the warning that the exuberance of Nine Provinces relies on the wind and the thunder, and the silent plight of ten thousand horses is indeed sorrowful.


    Family, country, the world¡ªall are manifestations of a sense of belonging. For these four words, people will willingly lose their heads and shed their blood without a second thought."


    Tang Xian''s expression gradually became serious:


    "Regarding Tang''s identity, I have my own conjecture. He is now an unknown, a unique existence.


    I want to raise him as a human being, I want to give him a sense of belonging. This process is reciprocal; I recognize him, and only then will he recognize me.


    So I''m not just pretending to care, being kind to him is a survival necessity."


    Bai Mansheng suddenly seemed to understand some of the way Tang Xian thought. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a moment of silence, she asked:


    "You say Tang Mang is an unknown, a unique existence¡ªwhat do you mean by that?"


    "You''ll know soon. I always thought that the evolution of creatures in the mining area followed a fixed path, but now it seems, the experiments the Beast Court has been fiddling with... have broken that narrative."


    Tang Xian walked back with Bai Mansheng, and before long, they saw Tang, who was listening to Tang Xiaojiu telling fairy tales.


    Tang Xian felt it was time. The preliminaries had been sufficiently set, the child''s mindset had stabilized, and even if he recalled some unpleasant things, his emotions should be stable as well.


    Tang seemed to realize this too.


    The inhuman torments he had suffered for so many years made the flames of his vengeance difficult to extinguish.


    He was also waiting for Tang Xian to ask those questions.


    Tang Xian sat opposite Tang and said:


    "I''m here to journey westward to find some beasts, including Lei Xiao, as well as the Judgment Chief of the Beast Court.


    In another place, an absolutely safe place, I have also reserved a spot for you. If you are afraid, you can choose to go there. Once there, all you need to do is explain how we met, and someone will arrange everything for you, don''t worry, they are all our own people.


    But you can also choose to fight with me. I''ve got a big score to settle with the Beast Court."


    "I, follow, you," Tang seldom spoke, and even after many days, it was still somewhat stilted.


    "Good."


    Tang Xian was not surprised in the slightest and continued:


    "One of the Beast Court''s sanctuaries lies in Nether Valley. To my knowledge, each sanctuary has at least one or two Judgment Chiefs. I can feel that you''re actually very scared.


    It seems that in Nether Valley, it''s not just a bunch of monkeys that are suppressing you, right?"


    Tang nodded, his fingers trembling slightly. After a long while, he spoke slowly:


    "Monster, Chaos, very powerful, Tang Xian, be careful."


    Chaos.


    With Taotie, it''s not surprising that Chaos, another of the four malevolent creatures, appeared.


    However, such calamity-level boss creatures, indeed, have not been mentioned in the available literature of the Human World.


    At least Tang Xian also did not know what Taotie looked like before.


    Tang Xian said:


    "What does Chaos look like?"


    Tang Xian hadn''t expected that his first question would touch upon the most terrifying aspect of this monster.


    Tang shuddered a bit, saying:


    "Chaos¡­ can transform into, any creature¡­"


    Transform into any creature?


    Tang Xian roughly guessed what kind of ability it might be¡ªperhaps the power of Chaos was similar to shapeshifting? But there were many details that needed to be determined. For example, whether its abilities could also be replicated after transformation.


    If it could do even that, Chaos might be a troublesome existence on the same level as Taotie.


    Yet for some reason, Tang Xian felt excited.


    His eyes sparkled:


    "Come on, no rush, tell me more, how does this Chaos transform into any creature?"

 Chapter 631 - 47: Cosplay Maniac

    Tang''s storytelling was not much better than that of the Endless Turtle. However, the Endless Turtle''s was a kind of slow pace with no change in rhythm, whereas Tang''s was a kind of inexplicable fragmentation.


    This wasn''t because Tang was intellectually slow, but rather, a creature that originally didn''t have the ability to "humanize" had suddenly gained this ability, and its brain was still constantly adapting.


    Even if non-boss species don''t possess this ability, the evolutionary path is fixed.


    For a Lei Xiao, what Tang underwent could be considered a mutant level evolution.


    It was just that the limit of speed had been replaced with a limit of vitality, whether this was good or bad was a matter of opinion.


    Tang Xian and Bai Mansheng were very patient, always earnestly listening to what Tang was saying.


    As a Lei Xiao and an assassin from the original courtroom, Tang was used as an experimental subject because of a failed hunting mission.


    Letting the prey escape was something Lei Xiao found extremely intolerable, and the Myriad Beasts Court also doubted Tang''s loyalty.


    Even though Tang was still considered youthful at that time, the court only acted by the rules.


    The time spent in the Myriad Beasts Court also revealed some secrets to Tang.


    Shiling, Chaos, the Lei Xiao Assassin Group, were considered a very mysterious and powerful special combat team within the Myriad Beasts Court.


    Listening to this, Tang Xian realized that perhaps the Myriad Beasts Realm had its own martial world? It could even be interpreted from a martial arts perspective.


    The Lei Xiaos were heavenly-tier assassins or, one might say, belonged to the Myriad Beasts Court, the right path''s leading clan''s chamber of punishment.


    As for the Four Fiends and the Judgment Chief, they were the heroes that dominated their own realms, like the twelve heavenly kings and dharma kings of this faction.


    On the surface, the Myriad Beasts Court appeared to be the leader of the right path, the most powerful orthodox sect, but in reality, they carried out deeds comparable to those of a demonic sect.


    However, the proper devils are probably Bai Mansheng and others like him.


    Coming from the dark seas overseas, they are akin to demonic sect members from outside the realm to this martial world.


    The overall situation of the world was far more complex than a simple battle between good and evil.


    After the fall of the six legendary beings, the judges of the Myriad Beasts Court were probably the strongest in the world, right?


    Chaos was the most elite existence among the heavenly-tier assassins.


    It wasn''t the leader of the assassin group, as that was Zero, but Chaos had the highest efficiency in assassination among these assassins. However, Chaos was very similar to Qiongqi. It was demoted for committing too many evils; before that, it was also one of the Judgment Chiefs of the Myriad Beasts Court.


    In the martial world of these Myriad Beasts, Chaos was very mysterious. No one had ever seen Chaos''s true form; it could turn into anyone.


    Like a master of disguise, voice imitation, and bone shrinking.


    The express of its prey at the time of death was mostly the same.


    They showed shock and disbelief. Usually, they died without any guard up, without even a fight.


    Because the one who killed them has, until revealing their sharp blade and fangs, always been someone they trusted.


    Although Tang''s storytelling was halting and disjointed, Tang Xian found the story quite interesting.


    It''s worth mentioning that among the Four Fiends, Chaos''s personality was "gentler" than that of Taotie and Qiongqi. It didn''t seem as vicious, but what it did was still hair-raising.


    Chaos was a monster that greatly enjoyed playing games.


    According to Tang, Chaos liked to take on the appearance of other creatures and then mingle with their groups.


    Observing their habits and learning their ways of life.


    Sometimes, it would even forget who it really was.


    This was the most personal style of this top assassin.


    Once, there was a lot of chaos within a tribe of Long-eared Primates.


    This species, highly intelligent and similar to humans, had divided many departments and sent many primates to manage their respective duties.


    Thus forming an orderly whole.


    But one primate of high rank and responsibility, in charge of food distribution, had issued wrong orders several days in a row, causing chaos in the sacred mountain.


    Eventually, the primates discovered that this high-ranking individual was actually Chaos in disguise.


    What was terrifying was that Chaos refused to admit it. It was not because it was exposed and refused to acknowledge it, but because it truly believed itself to be a Long-eared Primate.


    It was only when the primates found the resource manager with a hollowed-out belly that Chaos suddenly realized it was not a primate.


    This incident enraged the primates, but it didn''t escalate too much because Chaos said something:


    "Next time I will disguise myself as someone you dare not question."


    This statement left the Long-eared Primates in panic and fear. They no longer dared to condemn Chaos too much because they truly couldn''t tell the difference.


    There were many such incidents; Chaos had been to many places and played the role of many weaker beings.


    Tang Xian wasn''t surprised, with such ability, one would certainly think of doing something. Pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger, showing off and slapping faces, indeed vulgar actions, just like the stories Bai Mansheng watched, many people disliked such plots, but why did so many others write them? Because more people liked them, and indeed they were thrilling.


    Just like Taotie loved eating its opponents and felt thrilled by it.


    Qiongqi loved killing those who talked about reason and felt thrilled by it.


    The same as one of the Four Fiends, Chaos, it also killed, but after killing, it would take away the things that the person had in life. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 632 - 47: Cosplay Maniac_2

    This was its real pleasure.


    It reveled in masquerading as other creatures, but not by creating them from nothing. Instead, it would kill a prominent individual from those creatures and then take their place.


    The Long-eared Ancient Ape was one example, but the most infamous case was that of the White Rock Giant Bear incident.


    The White Rock Giant Bears lived in the northern region known as Red Lotus Hell, among the Giant Bear Clan.


    Chaos directly and undetectably killed the clan leader.


    The death of the White Rock Giant Bear''s clan leader went unnoticed, and the creatures of the Giant Bear Clan did not realize that their leader was no longer the leader they once knew.


    Chaos had observed for a long time and had gotten very familiar with the habits of the White Rock Giant Bears.


    The most frightening aspect was that each time, it became so engrossed in the role that it seemed to completely forget its original identity.


    It became the clan leader, even dedicating itself to the future development of the Bear Tribe. It led the Giant Bear Clan in constant battles across Red Lotus Hell, establishing itself as the strongest beast clan there.


    It was a good clan leader to the Giant Bear Clan and also a good father and husband within its giant bear family, treating its spouse with extreme tenderness and its children with kindness and enlightenment.


    One could scarcely believe that this was the same Chaos, notorious among the four malevolent beasts.


    But eventually, its guise was exposed because there was one day each month when Chaos could not transform into other creatures.


    It was so immersed in its roles that it either forgot this detail or perhaps, deep down, it yearned to be found out by these creatures?


    At the moment its disguise was penetrated, Chaos''s eyes were filled with pity.


    With its massive body revealed, it said regrettably and gently, S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My lady, my children, my dear ones, you shouldn''t be shocked. You should pretend nothing has happened. See, haven''t I led the Giant Bear Clan well?"


    With such a tone of regret and loss, Chaos began a massacre, killing its spouse and offspring, slaughtering all the Giant Bear Clan members present in an extremely brutal manner, leaving no body intact.


    This affair was brought to the Court of Beasts. The Giant Bear Clan was nearly exterminated, but Chaos did not pay with its life. It was merely demoted from the position of Judgment Chief and became the chief assassin in the assassin group of the Court of the Beasts.


    By the time Tang finished telling all this, the sky had already darkened.


    Tang Xiaojiu and Tang set up a campfire.


    Tang Xian, however, sat to one side, instructing Tang on how to roast the meat.


    Bai Mansheng seemed to be worried about Tang Xian and said,


    "Chaos can transform into other creatures and seems to possess their abilities as well. Moreover, if it appears among us, we might not even notice it."


    Tang Xian smiled, turning the leg of the Mount-Control Beast roasting on the spit.


    Beside him, the eyes of Tang Xiaojiu and Tang followed the rotation together.


    "Don''t worry, I''ve encountered creatures with similar special abilities before, but they can''t mimic me nor grasp my powers. As for disguises, there''s even less to worry about because no disguise means anything to me."


    Bai Mansheng said,


    "You were quite timid before."


    "That''s because I didn''t know what kind of enemy I was facing. The unknown is the most terrifying, but now it''s not so mysterious."


    "What if it tries to get close to you by taking my form?"


    "I''d give it a thrashing. It can''t get close to me."


    Tang Xian didn''t elaborate, but his eyes could indeed penetrate any seemingly perfect disguise. But this was his secret.


    Bai Mansheng actually wasn''t fixated on how Tang Xian could see through disguises. In fact, she always felt a sense of being seen through in Tang Xian''s presence.


    However, women, whether they''re artistic types, ordinary, or coquettish, all share a curiosity for certain details.


    "If it took my form, why would you just give it a thrashing? What form would it need to take for you not to hit it? Tang Xiaojiu, Qing JiuYu?"


    Tang Xiaojiu didn''t hear what Bai Mansheng said; she was intently focused on roasting the meat.


    Tang Xian gave her a look full of puzzled question marks:


    "Of course, it would get a thrashing regardless of the form it took. What are you thinking?"


    Bai Mansheng seemed to accept this notion of indiscriminate thrashing.


    When the meat was slightly crispy and greasy, Tang Xian passed the task of divvying up the meat to Tang.


    Tang was principled when distributing the meat, following his own set of rules.


    Tang Xiaojiu received two portions of meat, Yuan Wu and Bai Mansheng along with himself got one portion each, and Tang Xian got five portions.


    Then Tang Xiaojiu said,


    "Tang Xian, is this enough for you? If not, I can give you some of mine."


    How could the same trick work on a Saint twice?


    Tang Xian replied,


    "Okay, then give me the meat," she said.


    Tang Xiaojiu opened her wide eyes, feeling so heartbroken she couldn''t breathe, watching as Brother Tang Xian simply took the meat away.


    Full of confusion, she wondered why that trick didn''t work anymore.


    Bai Mansheng watched this scene and thought Tang Xiaojiu was quite cute.


    But if she were to act cute and silly too, she imagined Tang Xian would just think she had gone crazy.


    Bai Mansheng thought about it and realized she probably wouldn''t do something like that.


    Moved by the moment, she asked,


    "Why do men like cute girls, even when the cuteness of that age is obviously feigned?"


    Tang Xian thought for a while and said,


    "True cuteness doesn''t need to be feigned. The cuteness that is feigned is just to provoke some strange behaviors in people.


    In the social forums of ancient times, such as on Twitter, many juice-squeezing princesses liked to use school uniforms, twin ponytails, over-knee socks, and other such things to package themselves as cute.


    And the men who like this kind of cuteness are often just craving the body, not truly fond of the cuteness itself."


    "Lust?"


    "Yes."


    "But it seems that even those truly cute little girls will still inspire lust in some people."


    Bai Mansheng actually also liked cute little boys and girls.


    But after seeing many stories, especially after the websites of the twenty-first century introduced things like bullets and comment sections, she realized that whether it was pure affection or impure affection, humans always turned the discussion towards cars.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Human thoughts are always bold. But human criminal law is also well established."


    Bai Mansheng seemed to understand but not quite, clearly regarding love as very pure and not so carnal.


    She didn''t continue the topic and asked,


    "What are you going to do next? Continue westward?"


    "Yes, but before that, we need to hunt chaos."


    "What if I can''t defeat it?"


    "Chaos probably isn''t the fighting type."


    "How can you find something that can disguise itself as any creature?" asked Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian smiled and said,


    "Wait."


    Bai Mansheng was puzzled.


    Tang Xian explained,


    "I can be certain that the chaos fond of impersonating others is around here. It could be a cicada or a bird."


    "Isn''t that terrifying?"


    "Terrifying? From what Tang has described, this chaos is a character roleplay addict who''s sick to the core.


    It often gets too caught up in the role and forgets what its true form is.


    There are such beings in human society, too. Drama kings and queens often can''t tell their real selves from the roles they play."


    Tang Xian realized that perhaps each of the four ferocious beasts had its own distinct "personality."


    The gluttonous creature who dared to eat anything and everything, yet spoke with eloquence, enjoying poetry and prose.


    And chaos, the strongest assassin in the court, liked to play the roles of others.


    Perhaps Qiongqi and Taowu also had glaringly expressive personality traits.


    Tang Xian found this fascinating. Because of these overly prominent human traits, they could be seen as weaknesses.


    "Chaos is probably someone who thinks highly of its acting skills, and I love nothing more than to expose pretense."


    "But what if it gets too involved and really forgets itself?" Bai Mansheng said.


    "Tang mentioned that chaos would reveal its true form on a certain day. We just have to wait for that day. And according to my guess, Tang hasn''t felt chaos''s presence for many days, so that day must be approaching."


    For some reason, Tang Xian suddenly considered a possibility¡ª


    He might have already met chaos.


    Maybe... even greeted it.

 Chapter 633 - 48: The Benefits of Being a

    ```


    On the second day, early in the morning, Tang, as usual, woke up early, then conscientiously caught some food and divided it up in his own way.


    Tang Xian prepared to restock on some other ingredients and took Yuan Wu with him to stroll around the nearby woods.


    Yuan Wu had always had a weak presence, even when he was with Tang Xiaojiu, a rather lively little girl, their conversation could only be intermittent.


    Yuan Wu was somewhat surprised that Tang Xian would take him along.


    In fact, he had been puzzled by this since their time in Baichuan City.


    The cold morning of winter was very cold, and the dew of morning was hardly seen anymore; instead, there was a thin layer of frost.


    There were few beasts in the woods, as most animals had the habit of hibernating, so the food Tang Xian could find was increasingly limited.


    Yuan Wu followed behind Tang Xian, and when some strengthened creatures appeared, his telekinesis would directly cover them.


    Using telekinesis to change the environment around an object and twist it inside out is actually a very deadly ability.


    Just now, when Yuan Wu captured a strengthened creature, a blue-eared rabbit, he accidentally turned its viscera inside out, creating a very bloody scene. Yuan Wu was frightened at the sight of this, and his expression followed suit.


    Tang Xian laughed and said,


    "It actually saves the trouble of skinning."


    "I''m... I''m sorry, my lord, I always mess things up," Yuan Wu apologized.


    "What are you sorry for?" Tang Xian asked.


    "I''m a bit too cruel."


    "In the process of human civilization, an important aspect has been eating meat, dividing the prey''s body into many parts, whether to steam, roast, boil, stir-fry, or deep-fry it. You''ll get used to it."


    Yuan Wu was stunned, thought about it, and realized that Lord Tang Xian always made sense.


    "Prey is prey; how it dies doesn''t really matter."


    Tang Xian had many tools, and after removing the unwanted viscera, he packed the rabbit meat into a bag.


    "I didn''t expect the red zone to still have so many strengthened little animals."


    Tang Xian was feeling generous; there were many ways to cook rabbit meat, including a famous Sichuan dish known as King Rabbit.


    Yuan Wu watched Tang Xian busy himself and said with some confusion,


    "My lord, I''ve always been puzzled... why do you take me with you?"


    "Naturally, because you are useful," Tang Xian answered.


    While sniffing the scents around him, Tang Xian continued speaking to Yuan Wu,


    "Akasi unlocked his potential and awoke powerful abilities, but you haven''t yet. And in Xi He''s list, you are rated even higher than Akasi."


    Yuan Wu hung his head, feeling that Lord Tang Xian overestimated him.


    Tang Xian went on,


    "Xi He has been managing the evolutionary zone for so long, and as the Son of Order, I believe his judgment in his professional field is more precise than mine. You are someone with even greater potential than Akasi."


    "How could I possibly compare to Lord Akasi... I''m not as good as him, my lord, I''m just a coward," Yuan Wu said. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yuan Wu still felt very guilty for his almost non-existent role in the battle against Xi.


    Tang Xian continued to lead the way, following the scent trail, looking for other rabbit meat.


    Bai Mansheng, though elegant in eating, had a big appetite, and as for Tang Xiaojiu and Tang, there was even less to say.


    After locking onto a scent, he said,


    "Being timid is a traditional virtue; you don''t always have to fight desperately. Zang Lin is a very strange and rare creature that can suppress your abilities, so it''s not your fault about that battle. But you have the same potential as Akasi."


    Tang Xian paused, then added,


    "I don''t particularly like calling that ability ''Tyrantization,'' so let''s just call it ''awakening.'' You have such a talent, but also have your own bindings. I hope you can unlock them while we are in the mines."


    Yuan Wu still hung his head, not believing he could achieve that.


    Tang Xian knew that the boy carried a kind of world-weary negativity within him.


    Probably from some difficult-to-explain awful memories from his time in the evolutionary zone.


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry, Yuan Wu''s abilities were very powerful and had many uses; having him by his side was not a mistake.


    As for unlocking Yuan Wu''s inner conflicts, it would require some opportunity.


    Tang Xian was always patient with his companions.


    Even though deep down he disliked the existence of the evolutionary zone, he had to admit that Xi He''s research direction was correct.


    To truly unravel the mysteries of these worlds, perhaps it wasn''t by seeking clues vertically.


    But also horizontally, considering the issues from the perspectives of other things.


    Just as if it were destined that humanity would face calamities, so too do the inhabitants of the Pyramid possess the potential for awakening.


    The fact proved that when Akasi awakened, his combat abilities were more than sufficient for dealing with both the Orderers and the myriad of beasts, although there was still a gap compared to the top tier beasts.


    The secrets of the myriad of beasts, the secrets of humans themselves, the Orderers'' secrets, the secrets of the Children of Order as well as humanity studied from different directions may reveal pieces of the truth in each field.


    Ever since meeting the White Deer, Tang Xian has felt an increasingly deep connection between the mining zone and the Human World.


    Qiongqi, Taowu, Hun Dun (Chaos), Tao Tie (Glutton), Xuan Niao (Blackbird), and other ferocious mythological beasts, or Cthulhu-like monsters, Ash Dragons, Plague Sources, and even the myriad of beasts in the crystals who have the ability to alter human capabilities, all seem to indicate: This world is like a mishmash of a human mythological world.


    Sometimes Tang Xian even wonders, what if the Orderers were telling the truth in the realm of the gods?


    Or at least some part of it was true?


    ```

 Chapter 634 - 48: The Benefits of Being a

    Based on various reasons, Tang Xian felt that "special humans" like Akasi and Yuan Wu might only have gained their uniqueness after the Pyramid Era.


    Because in the several thousand years of human civilization before that, the most formidable were probably capable of fighting a hundred men at most.


    Figures like Xiang Yu, Lv Bu, and Li Yuanba never set foot in the high-martial world.


    If the likes of Tang Suoye, Akasi, and Song Que were in ancient times, wouldn''t they have unified the world all by themselves?


    The boat rises with the tide. Human combat strength became ferocious, and it was related to the world becoming more hostile. But who is the cause, and who is the effect?


    Tang Xian shook his head and didn''t ponder deeper.


    He looked at Yuan Wu and said solemnly,


    "Don''t loathe yourself, whatever you did before; it was not your true intention."


    Yuan Wu was surprised that Tang Xian actually knew what he was thinking.


    Ever since he had encountered Xi He, Yuan Wu would often dream about that girl, like an object about to be burnt, while he just stood by silently, watching her being consumed by the flames.


    Then she said to him, Yuan Wu, don''t cry.


    No matter how many fragments he recalled, he couldn''t remember more, only feeling deep anxiety about the truth.


    Because with Xi He''s words, he always felt brutal¡ª


    "Did you really remember her? Or did she die in front of you, time and time again?"


    This remark scared Yuan Wu quite a bit; he always felt he had done something terrible to someone, but just couldn''t recall it.


    It was for this reason that Tang Xian felt this silent, emotionally scarred child harbored a certain tendency towards world-weariness.


    "I am a sinner..." Yuan Wu said subconsciously.


    Tang Xian said,


    "Coincidentally, we all are."


    "I really did some terrible things, sir... I just can''t remember them."


    "Tang Suoye and Akasi were once locked up in cages, killing many of their comrades. The terrible things they did might be even more than yours, and all that was just for survival."


    "Does everything done for survival deserve forgiveness?"


    "That''s too big a question. I can''t explain it to you in a short time. But since you''re still alive, you should live well, with awareness."


    Tang Xian''s expression was serious as he looked at Yuan Wu and said, word by word,


    "Death cannot atone for sins; this world isn''t that cheap."


    Yuan Wu was stunned; those words were meant to encourage one to keep living, yet they seemed excessively cruel.


    Tang Xian didn''t mind and, during the following process, he caught two more blue-eared rabbits and said,


    "Let''s go, we''re heading back."


    Yuan Wu nodded, no longer dwelling on the things he couldn''t make sense of for the moment.


    However, on the way back, he asked another question:


    "Sir, aren''t you worried about Chaos? According to Tang Mang''s story, it should be a very strong enemy."


    The forest trail was quiet, and the sound of Tang Xian''s footsteps on the littered leaves and twigs was soft and moist, mingling with the dampness of early morning.


    He was somewhat puzzled; why did Yuan Wu also call that child Tang Mang? Was Tang not good enough?


    Shaking his head, Tang Xian said,


    "Any of the Four Ferocious Creatures would be difficult to deal with. However, Chaos may not necessarily be our enemy."


    "What do you mean?" Yuan Wu asked, puzzled.


    "We have to wait until I find Chaos to make an accurate judgment. Taotie is a creature with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Chaos sounds like it suffers from other mental illnesses."


    Tang Xian pointed to his temple and continued,


    "This kind of illness is called Histrionic Personality Disorder. Qiao Shanshan once told me about a similar condition, about a woman who came to the hospital, claiming there was a problem with her hand, that it wouldn''t obey her and kept being raised, unable to lower it. The doctors examined her and told her there was nothing wrong with her hand, but the woman didn''t believe it, insisting that her hand had a problem. She held her hand up like that, looking very much like a patient, even when a normal person would have felt tired, she kept it raised, and even after a whole night passed, her expression still showed great pain, and she wouldn''t put it down."


    "What''s even more widely known is the story from a mental hospital, where an old lady stood holding an umbrella without moving. The doctors didn''t know what she was doing, so one of them mimicked her behavior. After a long time, the old lady finally said, ''Are you a mushroom too?''"


    Yuan Wu still didn''t know there were such strange people.


    Tang Xian said:


    "Chaos is a classic case of histrionic personality disorder, and also suffers from some self-recognition disorders. In short, it''s madness."


    "But even so... That must be a very tricky enemy, right?"


    "Yes, very tricky. I haven''t figured out a viable battle plan yet. It may come down to luck."


    Yuan Wu couldn''t understand Tang Xian''s thoughts, and Tang Xian did not bother to explain in detail.


    All he thought was, if according to the Sea God who isn''t exactly a good bird either, then Tang Feiji could also be considered a ferocious beast in another sense.


    Dragons are often sacred in many stories, but there are also many evil dragons in the world of myth."


    But Tang Feiji had been tamed by him, and an Oscar winner from Myriad Beasts Realm might not be untameable either.


    "Chaos''s abilities are just too useful. Based on past data, there''s only a seventeen percent chance that I''ll kill Chaos and gain its abilities. I don''t want to bet on a one-in-six chance, but if I tame it, I can make use of these abilities with one hundred percent certainty. That''s much more rational."


    Even though Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen''s disguises are powerful, they can''t cross species. Chaos is different--it has the ability to cross species."


    "Tame?"


    Yuan Wu was truly surprised this time. A human taming a calamity-level boss creature?


    However, he soon came to terms with it as this great human had done similar things many times before. In a sense, Tang Feiji, Qing JiuYu, and Bai Mansheng were all tamed.


    It is said that this great human had even tamed all the creatures on a small continent on a southern island.


    Thinking this way, Yuan Wu didn''t consider it a wild fancy anymore, yet he was still amazed and wondered how Tang Xian would accomplish it.


    ...


    ...


    In the following days, Tang Xian was feeling out the movements around him.


    He even went to Nether Valley once. There was no movement in Nether Valley, as the Long-Ear Ancient Apes had all fled. It seemed that even if they went to other sanctuaries in search of reinforcement, they wouldn''t be able to reach here anytime soon.


    Therefore, Tang Xian began to peruse some records.


    When the intelligence of a being reached the level of the Long-Ear Ancient Apes, they began recording various things just like humans do. However, though Tang Xian could understand the voice of all things due to his Eden bloodline, he couldn''t understand the ancient apes'' script. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This script, which looked like a combination of Latin and Korean to Tang Xian, was even more alien than Martian.


    Neither Bai Mansheng nor Tang knew it.


    With no other choice, Tang Xian resorted to an old method: he memorized all these things for future study.


    Just like when he encountered those steles on the southern island, in Jin Lu''s territory, Tang Xian etched the inscrutable characters firmly in his mind.


    Although he couldn''t find clues in the documents, Tang Xian didn''t give up. He meticulously searched every nook and cranny of the vast castle.


    Using his sense of smell, Tang Xian quickly found a clue.


    It was a piece of animal feather, which, judging by its color and hardness, looked much like the spines of a hedgehog.


    It was discovered in the passageway leading to the highest level of the castle.


    As he held the feather, a relieved smile spread across Tang Xian''s face as he said:


    "It seems it''s not far off from what I had imagined."


    "What is this?"


    "Feathers of a Sword Feather Duck," Tang Xian replied.


    "Sword Feather Duck..."


    Bai Mansheng recalled. He had had such a conversation with Tang Xian before. Tang Xian was surprised that the Sword Feather Duck dared to migrate toward the monster-filled Northwest. This elite boss creature, so timid, was somehow able to survive safely in the Northwest. Tang Xian had thought that some creature must have been protecting the Sword Feather Duck in secret."


    "Why would it choose to become a duck?" Bai Mansheng couldn''t understand. One of the four great fierce creatures, the top combat power of this world, why would it want to become a duck? Why disguise himself as something else?


    "Ducks get paid very well. You''ll know once you become a rich woman," Tang Xian nonchalantly replied.

 Chapter 635 - 49: The Anxiety of the Duck King

    The leader of the Sword-feathered Ducks was named Duck. Duck''s life was nomadic. Being a creature that could sense danger and malice, the world seemed naturally hostile to him. He led his flock on migrations, seeking a paradise away from the world''s perils.


    But reality was skinny and harsh, and the flock dwindled. Even with elite combat stats, their fighting ability was simply too one-dimensional. In the battles Duck faced during migrations, many ended in defeat, forcing him to abandon some of his people.


    Duck was always worried, how could he protect his people? The most formidable Sword-feathered Ducks, Three Duck and Four Duck, were gone, devoured by a creature also with the character "sword" in its name, the Saber-toothed Lion.


    Along the way, they encountered Jewel Tigers, Saber-toothed Lions, and Golden Fierce Birds. Life as a duck was really tough, as it seemed there were no creatures in the world that didn''t fancy duck meat.


    Even humans were a danger. Duck still remembered what Two Duck had told him. While the flock was on the move, they had encountered a human riding a dragon. The human''s malice wasn''t as abstract as other creatures'', but palpably displayed as appetite.


    Later, Duck had an encounter of his own. At the lakeside, when a human appeared, he panicked, squawking loudly and quickly led his flock away.


    However, strangely enough, while the flock had been shrinking, after coming to this place and going through several battles, instead of losing members, they unexpectedly defeated other powerful beast tribes.


    These beast tribes went from hunters to prey, no longer daring to provoke the Sword-feathered Ducks.


    Duck always felt that the battles sometimes ended mysteriously, and the creatures around would feel fear towards his flock.


    Despite the danger of the place, somehow everyone settled down here inexplicably, even establishing a territory. The Sword-feathered Ducks were incredibly making their stand on the beast-ridden Northern Continent. Duck himself found it unbelievable.


    He couldn''t understand how this had happened, sometimes he''d gaze into the stream and sigh: life as a duck is so tranquil, so blissful.


    Once the ravages of war were absent, even if just for a short period less than a month, the creatures would begin to prepare for reproduction.


    Duck didn''t, feeling that his duck life shouldn''t just settle for any female.


    The Sword-feathered Duck he fancied was named Two Duck.


    But Duck''s love was tragic. The so-called uncompromising attitude was really just because no one wanted to settle with him. All the single ducks liked to say things like: I don''t want to just make do, that''s why I''m single. But the truth was, there were no ducks that fancied him.


    Two Duck had fallen for a fresh young duck and lost interest in Duck, the duck king.


    An inconspicuous Sword-feathered Duck swiftly caught attention due to its strength shown in several battles. This young duck had become the most formidable fighter after Three Duck and Four Duck.


    Duck could only watch from a distance as they mated and laid big duck eggs, contributing to the flock and adding new blood.


    As for himself, he exuded the stench of a singleton, a leader with no other ducks willing to draw close, because Duck was a washed-up, middle-aged, greasy duck, fat with a bulging belly. Next door''s nobody was different, young and fit, occasionally cooing at Two Duck. Nowadays, the lady ducks fell for this sort of effeminate, milksop young duck.


    It used to be that manly ducks in their thirties were quite popular.


    Duck was exhausted at heart, old, and times had changed. In his days as a wild duck, he''d sired plenty of big duck eggs, and countless well-known ducks with spouses pined for him, earning the nickname "Neighbor Old Duck."


    But now, he was just a has-been Sword-feathered Duck.


    Duck stood by the lake, despondent, mourning his lost youth.


    He watched his reflection on the lake surface alone, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity.


    And then, out of nowhere, a person appeared, their figure also reflected on the water''s surface.


    Duck jumped in fright:


    "How scary, a water monster!"


    The person said irritably:


    "I''m behind you, not in the water. Does your whole tribe speak with a natural roaring tone?"


    Upon hearing this, the Sword-feathered Duck turned its head in terror:


    "Help, a monster!"


    The newcomer was of course Tang Xian.


    The reason the Sword-feathered Ducks hadn''t detected him was that Tang Xian harbored no malice.


    He was no longer interested in duck meat; he was interested in the Sword-feathered Ducks themselves.


    After leaving the castle, Tang had followed the scent, quickly finding the Sword-feathered Ducks. He had been observing them for over a week.


    He had wanted to wait until Chaos showed its true form, as it couldn''t transform into other creatures on a certain day.


    But after a week, thinking of not eating such plump Sword-feathered Ducks was already a pity, and it would be an even greater pity if he waited for Chaos to wake up and kill them all.


    According to Tang, once Chaos''s primary personality regained its memory, it had the habit of killing those acting as its tribe.


    This was also a manifestation of the ferocity of a ferocious beast, so Tang decided to do something first, like find Chaos and give it a warning shot.


    But this time he truly encountered a bit of trouble. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hello, my name is Tang Xian, and I''m a friend of the Sword-feathered Ducks."


    Duck was confused; wasn''t this the human they had encountered before? He was about to shout warnings about the human, but Tang made a shushing gesture, saying:

 Chapter 636 - 49: The Anxiety of the Duck King_2

    "I''m not your enemy, you should be able to feel that. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already. Just listen to me quietly."


    Duck trembled, not daring to speak.


    Tang Xian squatted by the creek, one hand stroking the duck''s head while he said:


    "I originally thought I could quickly find the one among you that was different, but then I discovered I was wrong. It''s not difficult for a being who deceives itself to deceive others as well."


    Duck became even more confused. What was this human talking about, duck?


    Tang Xian looked at the bewildered Duck and thought to himself that it definitely had a severe performance personality disorder, as even its current needs were a duck''s needs.


    "It was hard to find you, I was struggling between you and that duck who recently appeared and became quite popular with the other female ducks, wondering which one of you was the one I was looking for."


    "But I ultimately chose you."


    [What are you even talking about, duck?]


    "Nothing much, you are the leader of the duck flock, a very powerful Sword Feather Duck. With you around, the Sword Feather Ducks will be very peaceful. You won''t be harmed by other beasts here, and in the future, we could even partner up to start the Tang Clan Duck Meat business..."


    Tang Xian suddenly let something slip and thought to himself that he still couldn''t resist the thought of duck meat.


    He shook his head and said:


    "In any case, under your wise and mighty leadership, the duck flock will surely thrive."


    [Hey duck! You''re right, duck! You really are a smart human, duck!]


    Duck swelled with pride in an instant. This truly was a human with discerning eyes, duck.


    Its fear of Tang Xian immediately lessened significantly.


    "However, you''re going to have a strange dream soon."


    [A dream? What kind of dream, duck?]


    "In the dream, you''ll probably turn into a monster. Someone you''re very familiar with but definitely not yourself."


    Tang Xian looked seriously at the Sword Feather Duck as he spoke.


    At this moment, Duck''s reaction became very odd, as if these words had struck a nerve.


    [How do you know what kind of dream I''m going to have?]


    "Just like how you Sword Feather Ducks can sense malice, I can know about people''s dreams. Do you often dream about becoming another existence as well?"


    Duck fell silent, its expression looking bewildered but Tang Xian was certain it was a confused expression.


    Tang Xian said:


    "In every dream where you become that monster, does it always involve death and bloodshed?"


    Unconsciously, Duck nodded. It was like fortune telling: one might initially see the fortune teller as a street swindler, but once they accidentally hit on one or two correct points, one''s opinion would change immediately.


    Tang Xian smiled, thinking it was a good thing that Duck was playing the role of a cute and clueless Sword Feather Duck. If it were playing something with the intelligence of a Long-Eared Ancient Ape, it would be much harder to deceive.


    "Let me tell you, inside the dream, you turn into a monster, and outside, due to dream sickness, you slay your own kind. A catastrophe is imminent for the Sword Feather Duck race. You are the strongest Sword Feather Duck, having led and overcome many obstacles along the way, but now you are going to be their doom. These Sword Feather Ducks you love, or those that love you, will all die by your hand, but it''s not beyond salvation."


    Tang Xian was convinced that every actor with a performance personality disorder somehow indulged in a bit of self-hypnosis.


    Hypnosis also relies on keywords¡ªperhaps chaos didn''t have such a keyword. However, Tang Xian''s words had indeed struck a chord with Duck.


    Duck cocked its head, recalling memories, it seemed as if it could trace back very far, as though it had gone through many cycles of reincarnation, transforming into countless identities.


    [It seems... it seems that''s true, duck. What should I do, duck?]


    "There is a way. Now, remember this: you are the leader of the Sword Feather Duck clan. Our goal is the same¡ªwe''re both working for the Tang Clan... cough, I mean, we''re working so that the Sword Feather Ducks can thrive and not be bullied, right?"


    Duck nodded.


    Tang Xian was pleased and continued:


    "Good, then you must tell me truthfully, when was the last time you had the dream?"


    Duck fell into thought.


    Then without answering Tang Xian, as if waking up when realizing everything is a dream, Duck suddenly asked:


    [Which one is the real me?]


    Tang Xian wasn''t in a hurry and said:


    "One is your dream, which only appears one day each month, and the other is the real you. Look around¡ªif I''m not mistaken, you like Tang, dislike that Zhen Zida who can beat ten, right?"


    Even though I couldn''t see the panel of chaos, I could see the panel under the guise of performance.


    Liked food: The unattainable Tang.


    Disliked thing: Tang''s rival.


    Tang Xian also thought, because of this highly deceptive panel, for a while that Duck was real.


    But after a week of observation, he noticed a clear discontinuity when Duck talked to other Jian Feather Ducks¡ªoften leaving both ducks confused midway through their conversation.


    And that new face that seemed so strong was actually just a Jian Feather Duck that had developed more quickly than average, nothing out of the ordinary.


    Of course, to make sure he hadn''t observed wrongly, Tang Xian kept from acting rashly and continued watching patiently in secret for a long time.


    After comparing each Jian Feather Duck''s panel and considering what the Tang had said, if chaos chose to strike, it was most likely going to target the leader. The leader''s behavior was indeed very strange.


    Duck nodded his head.


    Everything around was indeed very real; his chest felt clogged with a kind of frustration.


    Because the memories in his mind were also very real.


    "I know you''re conflicted because sometimes dreams are so vivid that you don''t want to wake up. Like sometimes I dream about eating dragon meat. Even though my subconscious tells me that dragon meat is no longer on my menu, in the dream I still feel the taste is quite real, and I am reluctant to wake up," Tang Xian admitted honestly.


    Seeing the puzzled look on Duck''s face, he knew this was just the first hurdle. The real challenge would come when chaos reverted to its true form and everything done today might be in vain.


    But he continued to try to convince him:


    "Dreams are just dreams. Is it possible that for twenty-nine days you live in a dream as other creatures, and only for one day you return to being yourself?"


    If Bai Mansheng were here, he would have greatly admired Tang Xian. This natural ability to state the truth as if it were false was not something just anyone could do.


    Duck thought for a moment, and unconsciously nodded again.


    "You are a mighty and noble, just and awe-inspiring Jian Feather Duck. That dream isn''t scary. Tell me when you dream, and I will guide you away to another place." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Duck looked uncertainly at Tang Xian and said:


    "But I still remember many other things, Duck..."


    Naturally, Tang Xian had also considered this point. The longest role played by chaos was definitely not as a Jian Feather Duck, who knows how many times this creature had played role-playing games?


    Tang Xian said:


    "Actually, you suffer from Duck personality disorder, where in your other duck personas, you aren''t a Jian Feather Duck. You might be an evil-habit ancient ape, scratching and fussing, or a White Rock Giant Bear, bloated and piled with fat, or even a Lei Xiao that can run faster than flying. But look at the lake surface¡ªare you any of them? You''re not. That''s just because you were bullied too much in the past."


    Duck''s expression seemed somewhat convinced.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Tang Xian urged:


    "If I were like you, leading such a large group of people, exhausting my wits for their sake, I too would hope to have the wisdom of an ancient ape, the physique of a white bear, and the speed of a Lei Xiao so I could protect my clan. These split duck personas are all manifestations of your inner goodness. You are indeed a great Duck King who forgot yourself for the sake of the Jian Feather Ducks."


    Tang Xian spoke earnestly, and the "Jian Feather Duck leader," who enjoyed being flattered, couldn''t help but laugh out loud with a "gagaga."


    ...


    ...


    The conversation with Duck temporarily came to an end.


    Finally, Tang Xian got the timing: in three days, the king of the Nether Valley region would revert to his original form.


    Bai Mansheng, looking worriedly at Tang Xian, said:


    "Didn''t you already fool it lame?"


    "How can you speak like that? Can you call diplomacy fooling?"


    "So is it lame or not?"


    Bai Mansheng had gradually gotten used to Tang Xian''s shamelessness.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "Probably lame, but it''s easy to deceive a Duck King; chaos, not so much. On the day it turns back, I reckon, we''ll still have to fight."


    (The test results came out: vascular headache. Sounds scary, but it isn''t a serious illness, though it''s indeed caused by lack of sleep and anxiety. I''ll try my best not to stop updating, but it will be difficult to burst out with more. But there was no flaking today; yesterday''s was made up for¡ªa total of eight thousand words.)

 Chapter 637 - 50: I am Your Nightmare

    For three days, Tang Xian kept chatting with Duck, subtly and overtly hinting that it was a duck.


    Tang Xian became increasingly certain that Chaos was no ordinary exhibitionist personality disorder; the severity even surpassed that of schizophrenia.


    Chaos''s self-awareness was similar to Tang Xian''s thought patterns in terms of cognitive style.


    It had to do with physical form: when its body was that of a Sword Feather Duck, it believed itself to be a Sword Feather Duck; when its body became Chaos, it likely believed itself to be Chaos.


    This was akin to Tang Xian''s definition of humans.


    No matter how much humanity or intelligence one had, as long as one had the appearance of a human, Tang Xian would regard them as human.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to consider the core, but defining something by its essence resulted in far too many standards.


    But external appearance was more unified.


    A Sword Feather Duck naturally had the woes of a Sword Feather Duck. During these days, Tang Xian and Duck also had some fairly unenlightening conversations.


    One, to build a trust relationship and two, to further convince Duck that it truly was a Sword Feather Duck.


    So far, at least while Chaos was still a Sword Feather Duck, it genuinely didn''t realize that it was merely playing the role of a Sword Feather Duck.


    Tang Xian was a wise man, although he wasn''t very skilled with his own sentimental trifles, but in big data research¡ªor rather, when it came to cloud computing, he gave accurate directions.


    However, solving a duck''s emotional issues was quite novel.


    One day, when all creatures and humans lived together in harmony, he could even start a psychology lecture forum.


    [Why would Second Duck like such a feeble, unmanly little duckling?]


    "You must have misunderstood something. If a trainee who has been practicing for two and a half years takes off his shirt to reveal a body of solid muscles, no matter how feminine he looks, there won''t be too many people blackening him."


    Duck couldn''t understand these references.


    Tang Xian then explained,


    "That Zhen Zida can take on ten opponents; it''s just that he looks effeminate."


    Duck accepted this explanation but Tang Xian picked up Endless.


    "Of course, even if someone can''t beat you, you still won''t win Second Duck''s heart. You''re just a has-been, a tool duck used by your people to find the right living space."


    Duck began to feel self-pity.


    [But Second Duck still secretly accepts the benefits I give!]


    "That''s because they treat you as a sycophantic duck. Believe me, based on historical experience, in the end, all you''ll have is nothing."


    [What should I do?]


    "Cast a wider net. When you only have one little female duck to follow, you''re just a backup. But when you''ve wooed all the little female ducks, they become your backups. That''s how quantitative change leads to qualitative change."


    Duck didn''t buy into this idea, and Tang Xian had just casually mentioned it anyway since this embodiment of Chaos was playing the part of a lovestruck duck.


    Gradually, Duck fell silent, feeling as though it had been forsaken by the times.


    Tang Xian didn''t expect that this Sword Feather Duck was actually an old duck filled with sorrow.


    Without speaking, Duck looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, its depth resembling that of a Bit Person.


    In its prime, aside from being good for nothing, everything around it wasn''t good for nothing. But now that it was good for nothing, everything around it was also good for nothing, making a duck''s life full of sorrow.


    Tang Xian did not disturb the self-loathing of this Chaos pretending to be a duck.


    Nor did he wish to tell it about the amazing power within. The reason why it instilled fear among the fierce beasts of Nether Valley and dominated the area was itself.


    If there was a setting where sacrificing a quarter of your soul to a demon could grant infinite power, perhaps he could provide Bai Mansheng with a focused Sword Feather Duck youth and blood tale called "Duck Clan"?


    Occasionally, Tang Xian would still enlighten the Sword Feather Duck, telling it not to put all its eggs in one basket.


    But with the duck''s personality already established, Tang found the setting of the infatuated seed downright foolish.


    This is probably why, despite being mightily strong, the Duck King felt exceedingly humble. Thus, the pinnacle of deception is deceiving oneself.


    ...


    ...


    On the third day, Duck started feeling uncomfortable as its feathers began to turn grey.


    Its shape became very strange, as if countless awls were relentlessly carving from within, making Duck''s outline irregular.


    According to the aesthetic standards of the Duck Clan, Duck was a monster.


    Fortunately, Tang Xian had moved Duck to another location the day before.


    The Duck Village remained stable, prompting Tang Xian to marvel at how inconspicuous the village chief was.


    Or perhaps once the days became too peaceful, the ducks forgot the hardships of their leaders?


    It seemed that not only humans followed historical objective laws.


    Tang Xian didn''t take everyone with him, only bringing along Bai Mansheng and Tang the Meaty.


    Yuan Fog wanted to help, to be of some value, but Tang Xian refused him. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mansheng''s icy breath created several massive ice walls, enclosing the battlefield.


    And there at the center of this domain was Chaos.


    Tang Xian was calm as he said:


    "All of this is just a dream. Soon you''ll dream of becoming a monster. That''s your longing for power. But don''t panic or anticipate; it''s all just a dream."


    Duck, or rather Chaos, had already distorted its shape to an outrageous degree.

 Chapter 638 - 50: I am Your Nightmare_2

    Tang Xian''s heart was actually very tense; taming a true beast was nothing like dealing with Tang Feiji, who had the advantages of being the master of Eden and an emissary of the Sea God.


    [Despicable... humans, you are deceiving me!]


    Bai Mansheng seemed somewhat panicked, seemingly like the self-consciousness of chaos awakening.


    Yet Tang Xian remained very calm and said,


    "Why would I deceive you? My appearance is merely to correct your dreams, leading you to the right place."


    In the three days, Tang Xian had learned a lot from Duck, and his body would probably recover in about an hour.


    Following the normal process, Chaos would fully awaken in the next hour, realizing it was merely playing the part of the weak Sword Feather Duck.


    Then, on a whim, it would kill all those Sword Feather Ducks and excitedly look for the next stage.


    However, this time, there was a slight difference; it began to doubt itself.


    This doubt was faint, yet it was like a grain of sand in a shoe, small but impossible to ignore.


    But the dominant consciousness was still Chaos, and years of habit made it involuntarily recall everything when it showed its true form.


    [You think you can fool me, tiny crawler? Today, I will make you pay the price!]


    "Fool you? Who do you think you are now?"


    [I am Chaos, the supreme existence of this world.]


    "You are a duck. Believe me, if you think you are this non-existent Chaos, then why were you a duck before?"


    Bai Mansheng and Tang were ready for battle at any moment.


    Tang Xian, however, remained unfazed, as if he truly were just a spirit appearing in dreams.


    [I have remembered everything; what''s the point of your continued deception? I can transform into anything in the world!]


    "Oh, that would make a decent title for a web novel. But can you transform into me?"


    Tang Xian was actually gambling, just like how the rules of creatures like Zang Lin and Zero had no effect on him.


    He believed that even Chaos could not transform into him, who possessed the bloodline of Eden.


    Chaos hesitated and then said,


    [I cannot transform now; are you stalling for time?]


    "So you''re saying you think you could turn into me in an hour?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [I won''t give you an hour; you will be killed by me right now!]


    The true form of Chaos finally completely materialized. Its real appearance was quite ugly.


    For this monster... had no face.


    With six legs and four wings but no face, this was Di Jiang, and the form of Chaos was indeed nearly identical to what Zhuangzi had referred to as Di Jiang.


    Tang Xian, looking at this immense creature with no features on its face, could not help but wonder if the ancient world truly had a connection with their own.


    But he had no time to contemplate at that moment.


    The abilities of Taotie were not limited to one, and it was likely that Chaos also hid other powers.


    Tang Xian looked at it all indifferently and said,


    "I''ve told you, this is all a dream; you''re a lovely Sword Feather Duck, and without you, your flock would not be able to survive in this area."


    [Nonsense! After killing you, I''ll go kill those ducks that don''t know to respect their leader!]


    "You see, these are all your obsessions. In the end, you do care about these ducks because you yourself are a duck. Look at your reflection on the ice wall. Does that form look like that of a living creature? Without a face, no less."


    Chaos was furious; its reasoning was still reasonably clear at the moment and could tell that Tang Xian was insulting its appearance.


    But Tang Xian''s expression was full of positivity,


    "However, it doesn''t matter; this is just a dream, although in the dream, you''ve gone from a handsome Sword Feather Duck to an ugly monster."


    Tang Xian knew that he had to resort to force to strengthen his persuasive power.


    Such a personality switch required time, and Chaos was not yet fully awake but would certainly become more so.


    If words couldn''t disturb its mind, then he would use his most familiar method of physical therapy.


    "Don''t panic; it''s not a big problem, even though today''s dream is an utter nightmare. But once you acknowledge that this is a dream, accepting reality won''t be scary anymore."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xian finally launched his attack.


    First came Devouring Day; although Chaos seemed to have no features, it undoubtedly had other means of perception.


    With vision cut off, Tang charged directly into the darkness.


    Bai Mansheng, originally intending to attack, also had to stop because of Tang''s action.


    "Isn''t he being too reckless?"


    "When you realize that you can''t die no matter what, you might even try a free fall from the peak of Mount Everest to experience the world''s most extreme bungee jumping."


    "So, am I supposed to fight now or not?" Bai Mansheng was hesitant.


    Tang Xian did not hesitate and said,


    "If you can injure Tang, I''ll have Tang Fei follow you from now on."


    Bai Mansheng stopped talking, and his exceedingly cold ice spears pierced wildly through the fog at that invisible massive creature.


    At the same time, the scornful laughter of Chaos came:


    [A mantis trying to stop a chariot, do you think such attacks could harm me?]


    Tang Xian furrowed his brows.


    Bai Mansheng was a support-type beast among the myriad beasts, and Tang was a top-notch defense-type; it would be too much if Chaos also had resilience as its trait, wouldn''t it?


    From their last battle, he was already convinced that fights between tanks had no appeal.


    A green haze emanated from Tang Xian''s fingertips; the ability he obtained from the source of the epidemic was a toxin that could bring about negative states.


    However, Tang Xian did not know the specific effects of this poison; it was an ability he rarely used.

 Chapter 639 - 50: I am Your Nightmare_3

    However, the extreme gloves were in a semi-damaged state, and he couldn''t think of a better way to attack.


    Before he had figured out the capabilities of Chaos, he didn''t dare to take rash actions.


    Tang''s body quickly ejected from the black fog. Like a baseball fiercely struck by a bat, it crashed into the ice wall, creating spider-web-like cracks.


    The massive battlefield Bai Mansheng had cornered off also began to shake.


    Tang Xian frowned, as Chaos seemed to possess extremely terrifying defensive power and formidable attack strength.


    Which meant that in terms of values, it was a bona fide disaster-level boss creature.


    Tang Xian did not charge in; the green poisonous smoke mixed into the darkness.


    It wasn''t until a prompt appeared in his sea of consciousness that Tang Xian realized that this also counted as his attack.


    But it seemed that the poison had little effect on Chaos.


    Chaos, sensing the poisonous fog, also began to avoid it.


    Its body was enormous yet incredibly swift; soon, it burst out of the darkness and charged towards Tang Xian. Bai Mansheng hastily summoned several huge ice spikes in an attempt to block Chaos, but it paid them no heed and came charging through!


    Even for the current Tang Xian, an attack from a disaster-level creature was devastating.


    Even if he could heal completely in a short time, if the attack sustained was beyond the limit of his health points, he would still be killed.


    Using the serpent move along with the interference from Bai Mansheng, Tang Xian avoided the fatal blow. Even so, the powerful gust of wind nearly blew him off his feet.


    Although Tang Xian appeared disheveled, he did not stop analyzing. Chaos had an extremely powerful stat sheet, but it seemed to lack other abilities.


    According to Tang, Chaos could transform into different creatures, constantly changing its own attribute ratios, with its strength, speed, defensive power, and survival abilities all changing continually.


    It could become Lei Xiao, using maximum speed to circle behind the opponent, and then transform into another creature with strong offensive capabilities to attack.


    This type of transformation had virtually no interval.


    But now was different, during this hour, Chaos could only fight with its original body.


    Tang Xian had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.


    "Tang!"


    With a loud shout from Tang Xian, Tang quickly understood what Tang Xian meant.


    In these three days, Tang Xian had not just been listening to a duck talk about its dull and pitiable duck life.


    He and Tang had also developed a strong set of tactics between them. This was the trump card that he had been confidently relying on!


    Bai Mansheng finally understood at this moment why Tang Xian cared so much for this child.


    Tang''s body suddenly became flexible, like a lump of sludge.


    Bai Mansheng had seen this scene before; back then, Tang had covered over Tang Xian''s body like this, almost smothering Tang Xian to death.


    She thought at first that the intention was to use the same tactic on Chaos and was quite worried.


    But Tang, once again, adhered to Tang Xian''s body.


    Only this time, he wasn''t trying to smother Tang Xian by sealing his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose completely, but instead, he covered Tang Xian''s body. Like a layer of armor, Tang was completely outfitted onto Tang Xian.


    Bai Mansheng had absolutely not expected this ability to be used in such a way?


    The meaning of being a meat shield naturally lies in being able to act as a shield; merely being able to take hits was useless because others could simply choose not to hit him.


    With this thought in mind, Tang Xian suddenly felt grateful to those Long-Eared Ancient Apes. They truly created an incredible piece of ultimate armor.


    Tang Xian''s body seemed to be coated with a layer of black armor, and he stood before the chaos without feeling the slightest panic, like a hero who''d paid for a skin upgrade.


    "I really am your nightmare, why won''t you believe it?"


    He didn''t dodge or need to deliberately take hits to build up resistance anymore. For the first time, Tang Xian charged at the chaos like a reckless brute, utterly disregarding any counterattacks it might throw at him.


    He fought as if he were intentionally not defending, engaging in a frenzy of blows with the chaos.


    Again and again, Tang Xian was sent flying by powerful strikes, but although the chaos''s attacks were fearsome, they posed no fatal threat to Tang Xian after being buffered by Tang''s resilient body.


    Tang Xian truly was recklessly bold, charging at the chaos time after time, completely indifferent to the possibility of being knocked back.


    After several rounds of this, the chaos suddenly had an illusion¡ªor perhaps it wasn''t an illusion.


    It started to feel that this human''s punches were getting more and more painful.


    What followed was a quintessential display of human nature by Tang Xian. The fight became monotonously boring, on one hand, a "don''t touch Laozi," then furiously kicking away a certain black humanoid monster.


    On the other hand, with a "let me check it out" excitement, he charged like a masochist at a certain six-legged, four-winged beast.


    After a dozen or so rounds, Bai Mansheng realized this battle was eerily reminiscent of Tang Xian''s fight with Tang.


    After being kicked around for a while, gradually, the one taking the beating became the one doing the beating.


    Finally, Tang Xian mounted the chaos''s back and raised his fists, as big as sandbags, and hammered down fiercely!


    Originally, Bai Mansheng wanted to heal either Tang or Tang Xian, but no matter what kind of scars the chaos left on "Tang Armor," they healed almost instantly.


    And while Tang Xian initially couldn''t leave a mark on the chaos, now it seemed his attack power was growing stronger.


    After more of this dull fight, the chaos finally let out a pained cry.


    Bai Mansheng remembered the fight against the gluttonous monster, where Tang Feiji and she had struggled fiercely to emerge victorious, even though they were a powerful duo.


    Now, for some reason... it really was like a dream.


    A battle that seemed suspenseful yet was, in fact, utterly uninteresting.


    Holy light wasn''t needed to attend, as the battle situation became clear.


    It was uncertain whether the poison fog was taking effect, or if each of Tang Xian''s strikes landed on the chaos''s faceless head¡ª


    The chaos began to stagger.


    Then, its wings were torn off by Tang Xian.


    The feeling Tang Xian had while ripping off the chaos''s wings was similar to Tang Xiaojiu tearing lamb chops, complete with a sense of tensile strength.


    Completely different from the previous sense of futility when he couldn''t leave wounds on the chaos.


    This time Bai Mansheng saw it clearly.


    Did Tang Xian possess some sort of ability that made him stronger the longer he fought? Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The chaos fell to the ground.


    Tang Xian still straddled its neck and said, "Is it frustrating? I told you, I''m your nightmare."


    He jumped down, placing a hand on what could be considered the chaos''s forehead, and righteously declared:


    "Believe in yourself, you can definitely get out of the nightmare. No matter what difficulties we face, we shouldn''t be afraid, we should face them with a smile. The best way to eliminate fear is to confront it. Persistence is victory. Keep going! Ollie give!"

 Chapter 640 - 51: Tool Duck Duck

    Early winter had not yet brought the kind of cold that seeped into the marrow, but the walls of ice that surrounded them made this place feel like the polar regions.


    The battle between the man and the three beasts inside the ice cave had long since stopped.


    Tang Xian''s breathing was somewhat heavy; even if the armored Tang was light, it was still an adult Lei Xiao. Though his physical strength had greatly increased, he could still feel a bit exhausted.


    It could be considered as a way to resist the cold; only now, having stopped punching for a long time, did he begin to feel a bit cold.


    Chaos fainted, then woke up, and then fainted again, only to wake up once more.


    Obviously, this repeated process of fainting and waking up was controlled by Tang Xian.


    To make it faint, he would strike with the side of his hand on its neck; to wake it up, he would stimulate other parts of its body.


    After several rounds of this, Chaos was very groggy.


    Besides Tang, up to now, there had been no other creature whose defensive power had been maxed out in the sea of consciousness yet still gave him trouble.


    So the situation at hand was essentially game over.


    "Do you feel the ethereal and illusory nature of the dream?"


    "Does your brain feel groggy and heavy?"


    "I told you it''s a dream, you are a Sword Feather Duck, not some monster.


    You''re a duck that can''t distinguish dream from reality, but it doesn''t matter, you dreamt of me, so you must really miss the days when you were a duck, right?"


    These words truly struck a chord with Chaos. It really missed the days when it was a duck, spending time peacefully by the creek, chatting about duck life, female ducks, and love.


    Now what? It''s still the same person, but when he swings his fists as large as sandbags, the pain hits deep in its soul.


    Reality was already tough; why did the dreams have to be tough too?


    Chaos really wanted to wake up.


    But which was the dream, and which was reality?


    In fact, many philosophers and poets throughout history have, in their loneliness, developed one form of mental illness or another.


    After all, a sane person can differentiate whether they have become a butterfly or if the butterfly has become them.


    But they found it difficult to do so. Despite this, their unusual ways of thinking and confusions imbued their bewilderment and speculation with a high level of philosophical depth.


    Chaos was not a philosopher, even though its altercation with Tang Xian just now was quite philosophical. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But right now, it was indeed very confused, especially since with each waking moment, it was told that it was a duck, and indeed, its mind was filled with various memories of the Sword Feather Duck.


    Chaos or Duck? Death or survival? Nightmare or reality?


    With such a comparison, its heart already had a leaning.


    "Does it hurt a lot? That means you are about to wake up. Your eyes are getting clearer and clearer. Soon you will be a carefree Sword Feather Duck again."


    Being carefree is always relative; although Duck was fat and greasy and gradually lost respect within its group, these issues were nothing compared to the current woes of life and death.


    The look in Chaos'' eyes was not getting clearer; instead, due to multiple heavy blows to the head, it was getting more and more muddled.


    Latter, Chaos suddenly realized something was amiss¡ªwhere did the eyes come from? Without eyes, how could anyone say that their gaze was becoming clearer?


    But then it became confused again¡ªwasn''t it a Sword Feather Duck? Didn''t it have eyes?


    The ice walls gradually thinned, as if they were powdered and blown away by the wind.


    Bai Mansheng removed the ice walls because the battle was indeed over.


    In her expectation, the battle would likely have been very difficult. In fact, judging by Chaos'' displayed destructive power and defensive power, it should have been so.


    She silently summarized her thoughts: the outcome and duration of previous battles also depended on how soon Tang Xian could use his truly powerful offensive capability.


    That terrifying force capable of effortlessly ripping apart any defense.


    However, today she learned a new knowledge¡ªhypnosis.


    To be precise, physical hypnosis.


    That was indeed in line with Tang Xian''s style of solving problems with violence.


    If violence couldn''t solve the problem, it meant the opponent was more violent than you.


    This, of course, was not Tang Xian''s problem. Looking at Chaos'' face without features, Bai Mansheng felt that if Chaos could have expressions, it would probably be very confused and astonished, as if it had been given truth serum and then subjected to a plethora of nonsensical settings.


    An hour passed quite naturally.


    What pleased Tang Xian was that as soon as Chaos'' powers recovered, it couldn''t wait to turn back into the form of a Sword Feather Duck.


    That was a sign of a desire to survive.


    Even though it was still unconscious, at the level of consciousness, it yearned to become a Sword Feather Duck again.


    Subsequently, Tang retreated from Tang Xian''s body and transformed back into the young man with the always stiff expression.


    "Did you seek out this child, planning from the beginning to have him serve as your armor?"


    Tang Xian didn''t expect Bai Mansheng to ask this as her first question.


    He nodded honestly.


    Meanwhile, Tang, expressionless, paid no mind, instead solemnly staring at Chaos as it transformed back into Duck, the Sword Feather Duck.


    This was the first time he had seen someone tackle Chaos with such simple and brutal methods.


    The power of Chaos was actually very strong. If it were not for the special timing of today, the only day in a month when it couldn''t transform, Tang Xian would have been facing not just a single Chaos, but many creatures with strange abilities.


    Bai Mansheng said angrily:

 Chapter 641 - 51: Tool Duck Duck_2

    "You really do treat this child as nothing more than a tool?"


    "You can also treat me as a tool, if there''s any area where you can make use of me. Moreover, I initially treated others as tools too. Take Tang Feiji, for example, he has always played the role I assigned to him very well."


    "Furthermore, I am not biased, it''s the same with humans. Shang Lu, Yu Xiaozhe, Ke Ye, Liu Lang, all the same, each person has their own unique tool-like attributes, even Li Xiaoyu."


    Tang Xian spoke so candidly that Bai Mansheng didn''t know what to say for a moment.


    Seeing the surprised look on Bai Mansheng''s face, he said:


    "This isn''t something shameful or dishonorable. It''s good for everyone to be useful in their own way. Most people like to put on airs, pretending that friendships can''t involve personal gain? Using others for something that benefits oneself alone, that''s calculating and exploitative. But if it benefits both parties, it only deepens the relationship."


    Tang Xian turned to Duck and said:


    "Are you willing to keep helping me like this in the future? I will encounter many powerful enemies from the Court of Myriad Beasts."


    Duck nodded; he wasn''t much of a talker.


    However, sensing that Bai Mansheng seemed to be arguing with Tang Xian over his own issues, he still awkwardly added:


    "Tang Xian, if trouble, I help."


    Tang Xian shrugged, sporting a look that said his popularity was just that good.


    Bai Mansheng, resigned though she was, quickly understood the reason.


    Perhaps it was precisely because Tang Xian had treated Duck so well that Duck was willing to lay down his life for Tang Xian in such a short period.


    The child had made a mistake once and suffered for years because of it.


    His tribe had rejected him, and the organization that had taken him in conducted all sorts of experiments on him, turning him into a ghastly monster.


    As he harbored hatred for the world and his soul became twisted, Tang Xian appeared, treating him with utmost care as if to compensate for the suffering he had endured over the years.


    Lonely and hesitant people are especially likely to open their hearts to one who treats them kindly."


    "Talking about money hurts feelings, and talking about feelings hurts one''s financial interest; essentially, talking about money implies making the other party lose out, and the same goes for feelings. But my relationship with you all is different. Those who transact with me won''t suffer a loss. Talking business with me leads to profit, and if there''s a utilitarian purpose, there will be joy in meeting a good judge of character with me."


    After thinking it over, Bai Mansheng realized that this person always seemed to know what others needed.


    Which is why more and more people were gathering around him.


    Bai Mansheng said:


    "What if one day I''m no longer of any use to you? Are all the people you''re involved with useful to you? Isn''t there anyone you''d want to befriend just for the sake of it?"


    "From the moment I consider you a friend, your usefulness to me is greater than you might imagine, even if you think you are useless. The same goes for others; some roles are on a spiritual level."


    Bai Mansheng smiled, her usually cold demeanor melting away, making even the coldest caverns seem less frigid.


    It was unclear whether she was happy or mocking herself. Bai Mansheng just thought she might also be able to accept Tang Xian''s theory of "mutual benefit" or "coexistence of emotional and material interests."


    "What are you going to do next?"


    "Next, there''s another fight to be had."


    Bai Mansheng and Duck were taken aback; hadn''t Chaos been vanquished?


    Tang Xian said:


    "It''s been a long time since those long-eared ancient apes scattered and fled. Considering the ancient apes'' speed, it is likely that a suppressor will soon appear in the vicinity of Nether Valley."


    Pointing to Chaos, who had reverted back to Duck, Tang Xian said:


    "In the coming month, it won''t doubt its identity anymore. Chaos is now under our control, and it poses no threat to me at this point; I could easily kill it. However, its powers are very useful, and taming Chaos is a long-term process. However troublesome, it is worth it because Chaos will be quite useful to me in the future. Of course, it''s not just Chaos itself that knows its weakness and recovery time; surely some entities within the Court of Myriad Beasts also know."


    "And they won''t be able to find where Chaos is, but they will probably show up today."


    Bai Mansheng nodded; Tang Xian''s analysis made sense.


    The long-eared ancient apes had been running for a while; the vast Nether Valley and the grand castle of the Court of Myriad Beasts wouldn''t be abandoned.


    Tang Xian was certain that a fierce battle was likely to happen soon. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he was brimming with confidence.


    If he were to compare the mining area to a game, Tang Xian felt that although he hadn''t lost any skills, he seemed to have drawn a trump card.


    With Duck around, it would be difficult for the Court of Myriad Beasts to hunt him down if they continued sending combat-type creatures instead of rule-type beings.


    "You don''t seem worried."


    "Do you think I should be?" Tang Xian''s gaze rested on Duck.


    Bai Mansheng smiled, admiring Tang Xian''s luck and judgment.


    "What about that monster? You don''t mean to tell me that while searching for Lei Xiao, you''re going to keep hauling around a flock of ducks?"


    "It will stay with its kind, and I''ll take it back to Baichuan City."


    Bai Mansheng was startled again; she just couldn''t grow accustomed to Tang Xian''s audacity.


    "That''s like a ticking time bomb."


    "A stag surrounded by a flock of ducks will surely be comical."


    "What are you talking about?"


    Bai Mansheng had seldom seen Tang Xian with such a mischievous, almost wicked smile.

 Chapter 642 - 51: Tool Duck Duck_3

    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "It''s nothing, just that Baichuan City has quite a few supernatural beings. Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji are of course not worth mentioning, and Akasi''s current combat ability is also strong. On the outskirts, there''s a Guardian with even more special abilities. These elite creatures, the duck flock, are perfectly suited to be the first batch of mine-dwelling creatures to be raised in the Human World."


    Tang Xian really thought so; although Bai Mansheng''s thinking couldn''t keep up with Tang Xian''s, he did analyze the results and concluded that what Tang Xian did indeed had no problems.


    This way, it would also be convenient to manage that Chaos every month.


    After several repetitions, the Chaos would probably consciously faint whenever it turned into its true form.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian has always been a person who makes decisions decisively.


    It wasn''t long before Duck woke up, still somewhat afraid when he saw Tang Xian.


    Then, Tang Xian disoriented him a bit with a phrase, "You''re awake? You had a nightmare just now, didn''t you?"


    Gradually, after feeling like a Sword Feather Duck again, it became lively with Tang Xian once more.


    And Duck accepted Tang Xian''s proposal.


    After all, its mind wasn''t clear, and to it, Tang Xian was now an existence worth fearing. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As Duck left, he exclaimed:


    "How exciting, quack, going to a new place again, quack."


    Waking from a nightmare is something to be pleased about, but is reality that much less cruel?


    When Zhen Zida and the other duck made a noise similar to human applause, the distant Duck silently shed two streams of turbid tears.


    The duck''s life was saved, but its love was no more.


    Duck decided to become a career-oriented duck, since Tang Xian comforted him, saying that career-oriented ducks have a market too¡ªif you can''t compete with others in youth, then compete in wealth.


    Once, Duck was also a pure and lovely duck, but now it has become enlightened. Reality can be strange, sometimes when you decide not to blindly pursue and instead focus on improving yourself, perhaps those elusive things will come seeking you instead. Of course, that all lay in Duck''s future duck life.


    With Duck''s earnest persuasion, the Sword Feather Ducks accepted Tang Xian''s arrangements and set off for Baichuan City.


    The one driving the ducks was Yuan Wu.


    Baichuan City was now bustling with activity, and much had happened in the meantime. Yuan Wu had never imagined that Baichuan, originally a city of only three thousand, would suddenly have over a hundred thousand residents.


    Yuan Wu had opened many transport fissures, and Yu Xiaozhe hadn''t expected they were actually for welcoming the ducks.


    These ducks looked cute, but they were all elite creatures. Tang Suoye and Akasi finally had proper work, managing this flock of ducks.


    And Tang Xian had not allowed Yuan Wu to disclose Duck''s uniqueness, in order not to have Duck treated differently.


    With Tang Gazi around, there wouldn''t be much of a problem with language communication.


    Tang Xian''s only request was to herd the group of Sword Feather Ducks to the eastern outskirts, the closer to the densely vegetated areas, the better.


    He had no special intentions, just thought not to let that white deer be too idle, as that deer was most likely the true Guardian of Baichuan City, even the entire Human World.


    Regardless, he had to let it know that he had delivered a ferocious beast.


    ...


    ...


    By the time Yuan Wu returned, the sky had already darkened; the winter night was silent, and nearly ten hours of toil had left everyone exhausted, but Tang Xian, Bai Mansheng, and Tang Henrou had not rested.


    The scent in the air convinced Tang Xian that another colossal creature had appeared in Nether Valley. It must be no ordinary monster and could possibly be on the level of the Four Fierce Beasts.


    Having gone through the battle that day, both Bai Mansheng and Tang Henrou felt more confident.


    Tang Xian was even more composed, merely thinking that if he won this battle, the judge from the Court of Myriad Beasts might also realize his uniqueness, right?


    (There''s a recent liking campaign or something, if you all like this book, why not help out with a like? There are three great illusions in life, and it seems like I might have a chance in this campaign~)

 Chapter 643 - 52: The Secret of the Beast Court Sanctuary

    Saint Mountain.


    If there is one place in this world that remains unaffected by the seasons, then it is Saint Mountain.


    The temperature here seems to remain at a constant value all year round. Looking down from Saint Mountain, one can only see a blanket of clouds, and Saint Mountain itself, shrouded in mist, is deemed by many creatures that happen to witness it as the premier holy land of this world. However, the Mystical Bird knew that this place was not sacred, on the contrary, it was a gathering ground for a flock of demonic and ferocious beasts.


    The Endless Turtle still squatted under the waterfall, pretending to be a rock, as it had always done. The responsibility of caring for it fell to a long-eared ancient monkey, who had the most leisurely task. Many other ancient monkeys envied this arrangement, as it only required them to call upon this elder at fixed times to get the turtle to stretch its head out of its shell, take a few steps without ailment, and prepare its food. In return, they would receive quite a bit of Soul Crystal from low-level creatures every month.


    However, this job, albeit simple and relaxing, was also incredibly monotonous.


    The long-eared ancient monkey would often fall asleep.


    And because the Endless Turtle slept too much, it would occasionally wake up at some strangely inexplicable time, often uttering things that no one understood.


    Like right now, the Endless Turtle suddenly poked its head out and looked around Saint Mountain, appearing as if it were surveying a graveyard.


    Its gaze was desolate as it spoke in measured tones, which, summarizes quite simply, meant that the court''s centuries of glory were finally about to face their great tribulation.


    Any great tribulation, in an era ruled by so-called leaders, would inevitably result in an irreparable fissure.


    The Endless Turtle had calculated this fissure. It was indeed very, very old, but when it came to predicting the future, it was still the most mysteriously superior creature in this world.


    [Poor, strange, dead, chaos, treason.]


    Eight thick syllables rang out like the friction between two rotting logs, but no one heard the Endless Turtle''s voice. The long-eared ancient monkey was sound asleep, comfortably wrapped in a massive banana leaf.


    The Endless Turtle wanted to move its feet and remind the high council.


    But it quickly stopped itself. What was there to remind? If reminders were useful, would the future still be just the future? If the future could be altered, then its own prophecies would seem ridiculously laughable.


    It was precisely because so many things were immutable, and the trajectories of things were predestined, that people wanted to know what the future truly held. The Endless Turtle slowly shook its head, retracting it back into its shell, never to protrude again. It was as if it truly had become nothing more than a rock washed over by the waterfall for ages.


    The next time it would stick its head out would be when the Saint Mountain of the Levitating Islands returned to the ground after hundreds of years.


    ...


    ...


    While the Endless Turtle lamented the impending twilight or the harsh winter that the court would face, on the opposite end of Saint Mountain, the Judgment Chief was slowly moving towards a destination.


    It was cloaked in a black robe, resembling the attire one would take on after transforming into human form, as if mimicking crystal. However, if it were truly a human, it was excessively large, with a height nearing three meters, making it seem like a giant.


    The Judgment Chief, shrouded in a layer of black mist, had stayed in the forbidden area of Saint Mountain for a very, very long time. It seldom moved.


    Coming out today was not because, like the Endless Turtle, it had sensed something. Instead, it was to routinely attend a meeting.


    The content of the meeting was mostly to select some vacant Judgment Chiefs. From all over the Myriad Beasts Realm, they were to pick creatures with either great potential or that wielded significant influence. Of course, they had to be at least of the Orange rank to start.


    Catastrophe-level bosses weren''t so abundant, making the meeting rather difficult to carry out.


    But that was not something for the Judgment Chief to worry about.


    It was seriously injured, and it found involvement in all but the most tiring and mind-consuming tasks to be beneath it.


    The true participants of the meeting along with it were neither the long-eared ancient monkey nor any Judgment Chief.


    The forbidden area was so named because it hid astonishing secrets.


    Behind Saint Mountain''s rear mountain was the place of judgment, and beyond that place was the inner sanctuary of Saint Mountain. In the sanctuary rested the altar where the Judgment Chief secluded itself. Behind the altar lay an exquisitely luxurious construction, reminiscent of the Mayan Civilization, resembling more a palace than anything else.


    The great Saint Mountain was like a miniature continent. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Mystical Bird was the most familiar with this mini-continent, but even the Mystical Bird couldn''t enter the forbidden area.


    It could feel the entire Saint Mountain enveloped in a layer of terrifying pressure, signaling that once again, the honorable Judgment Chief had walked out from the secluded altar.


    The Mystical Bird did not understand why the Judgment Chief had come out, what it intended to do. Yet it knew that maybe today, or perhaps tomorrow, it would receive all sorts of orders.


    It had guessed that perhaps the Judgment Chief was deliberating on the court''s affairs with some entities, but who could they be?


    The twelve Judgment Chiefs were the strongest rulers under the Judgment Chief in the Myriad Beasts court, each a formidable creature commanding awe and fear. But even the ancient turtle that had lived on the Saint Mountain for hundreds of years could not enter the forbidden area.


    In its heart, the Mystical Bird had always wanted to know if the Endless Turtle could predict who else resided within the forbidden area. It dared not ask outright and instead coaxed many Judgment Chiefs and some honest ancient monkeys to inquire.


    The Endless Turtle''s response only made the Mystical Bird more eager to learn the secrets within.


    [Do not speak.]


    Those three words left the Mystical Bird''s curiosity hanging. It knew many secrets of the court, some of which had no small impact, but the Mystical Bird always felt that maybe only by going to the forbidden area would one truly know what the court sought to do.

 Chapter 644 - 52: The Secret of the Beast Court Sanctuary_2

    ...


    ...


    The judge''s steps were slow; it took a good while for him to walk from the altar into the palace that resembled ancient ruins.


    He pushed open the heavy stone door, hunching his body, appearing to be very old, although he once exhibited immense power that subdued ferocious beasts and made them submit, he had forever lost something.


    The ability to regenerate life.


    Grievous injuries difficult to heal, relying solely on medicines refined by the Long-Eared Macaques for a meager existence, yet even so, he remained the strongest being in this world.


    At least, for now.


    Inside the stone door was a quiet corridor; the architectural style outside seemed like that of certain ancient ruins, but it was entirely different on the inside. If the Xuan Bird were here, it would be very surprised, for it had visited many sanctuaries, yet it had never seen this style before. However, if it had lived during a certain era of humanity, it might feel a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, as with the medieval Roman Church. But it would seem much larger here, even the giant-like judge seemed tiny walking within it.


    The judge had always felt that the building was too large, after all, the few creatures living inside it were much smaller than himself.


    He walked through the corridor to a splendid meeting hall.


    "Why have you only arrived now?"


    "You look, somewhat better than last time."


    "Let''s dispense with the idle chatter. Lord Judge, let''s start the meeting."


    "Regarding the appointment ceremony mentioned before for the mythical beast Jiuye the Nine-Tailed Fox, Titan Behemoth Hercules, and Gorgon.''


    The ones speaking were all different existences.


    The judge had yet to speak; he simply sat at the northernmost position of the square table conference, symbolizing that even in this hall, his status remained transcendent.


    Indeed it was so, but in this meeting, he was only responsible for judgment, while the main discussion was still left to those who lived in the palace.


    In the tribunal''s forbidden area, there were no treasures hidden, no history of the world concealed.


    Yet, if any being were to reach the sanctuary deep inside the sanctuary mountain and see this peculiar meeting, they would undoubtedly feel astonished.


    Because those sitting at the square table conference were all humans.


    Not the multitude of beasts transformed into humans by the Soul Crystal, but genuine humans.


    Like the judge, they all wore gray-black robes, their faces unclear, their voices suggesting old men, women, and middle-aged people, with a tone that held the solemnity of a courtroom in another world.


    As if they were passing various judgments upon this world. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But more precisely, these people, from their attire, did not resemble a jury but rather a group of grim reapers.


    The greatest and strongest grim reaper was the judge.


    The jurors all held great respect for the judge, and the meeting would only officially commence once the judge arrived. But such respect, when scrutinized closely in tone, was merely equal respect, from one of the same rank.


    In the headquarters of the Beast Tribunal within the Sanctuary Mountain, the judge''s position was naturally the most transcendent.


    But perhaps not...


    Because the sanctuary was vast, and beyond this palace, there were other existences.


    Only, if in the world of beasts, at the very top of the hierarchy, there were hints of humanity, that fact itself might suffice to become a taboo.


    The scenery of the Sanctuary Mountain had remained unchanged for many years, and these people also seemed to be immortal, discussing matters in what appeared to be an ever-decaying tone. The judge listened to all this without much emotion.


    However, he suddenly had a sense of crisis.


    As if the entire secret might soon be unveiled, like a box sealed for a long time, opened by some being, revealing its world-altering contents.


    "Lord Judge, what is your opinion?"


    As the judge pondered, time passed briefly. He didn''t much care for the content of the meeting, traditionally just listening and seldom intervening in the affairs of these humans. Though he held the power to judge all, as long as their content wasn''t too illogical, he would approve.


    This time was no different; he nodded his head.


    The meeting ended promptly.


    However, the judge didn''t go to rest at his altar as usual, where his body would heal extremely slowly due to the sacrifices.


    His actions surprised everyone, but no one voiced any objections, as such behavior would be overstepping bounds.


    He continued northward, towards the very last place within the forbidden area of the Sanctuary Mountain.


    After the judge''s figure vanished, a middle-aged man spoke,


    "What is he doing in that place?"


    "I don''t know; we have no right to inquire." A woman''s voice chimed in.


    "Perhaps he is seeking some guidance?"


    "Guidance? Those two beings are anything but harmonious. What they symbolize is humans and beasts; if they could coexist peacefully, this world would have changed long ago, or another world would have already changed."


    It was as if there existed factions for human rights and beast rights respectively. But in reality, if a human rights faction truly existed, they would be utterly insufficient in number to contend with the beast rights faction.


    Only why were there humans in the Sanctuary Mountain, why did the Sanctuary Mountain need humans, and even more, why humans lived in the ultimate place of the Sanctuary Mountain instead of the judge? These secrets only the judge and the ultimate entity deep in the forbidden area knew.


    ...


    ...


    Nether Valley.


    Beneath the howling winds, the enhanced avians that had been hidden among the branches of the General Tree scattered one after another.

 Chapter 645 - 52: The Secret of the Beast Court Sanctuary_3

    Some small animals drinking by the creek fled in fear, appearing utterly frantic.


    Accompanied by the colossal and heavy body of Qiongqi falling, the airflow swept towards the boundary of Nether Valley, causing a panic among the beasts.


    Tang Xian, gasping for breath, crouched in front of Qiongqi''s body and said,


    "Now do you believe I''m a big villain? I''m really not any kind of just ally, I''m only fighting you because you''re trying to kill me."


    Qiongqi was on its last breath, its body shattered, exuding an air of decay throughout, yet there was a look of excitement in its eyes.


    Tang Xian couldn''t get excited.


    Among the four evil beasts, Qiongqi represented the ultimate in evil. Keeping company with evil, even if it was its own, it would show a look of admiration. In terms of sheer destructive power, Qiongqi was actually much stronger than Taotie and Chaos. Its terrifying tiger claws seemed capable of tearing apart anything, and it was the monster with the strongest attack power that Tang Xian had ever seen.


    But unfortunately, the strongest spear met the strongest shield, and from the very beginning, the battle was tasteless. Tang was just too tough. This unparalleled defensive power made Tang Xian feel that his trip to the mines had already yielded the greatest gain. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was just rather exhausting, for Qiongqi, in terms of numerical values in all aspects, was a level stronger than Chaos, and during this process, Bai Mansheng even sustained some injuries. Fortunately, she healed quickly after the battle ended.


    However, the terrifying attack power that Qiongqi displayed, capable of cutting through everything, still made Tang Xian enviously admire it.


    But now, at this moment, Tang Xian only wanted to extract some secrets about the court from Qiongqi''s mouth.


    For example, the trajectory of the holy mountain''s movement, where the holy mountain might be now, or if it would regularly stop at some place at a certain time?


    Qiongqi did not answer, because in its eyes, Tang Xian was not a villain.


    "I truly am a major villain, every word I speak comes from the heart, my actions in the mines can be summarized as nothing but fraud, deception, freeloading, and killing. I don''t just do this, I also slaughter small animals, hellhounds, mountain-taming beasts, wilderness bulls. Not just those on the ground, but also those in the water and those who fly, I eat them all. I''ve nearly driven the cat-eared bats to extinction by eating them."


    Qiongqi was dying.


    Tang Xian had already figured out Qiongqi''s character during the battle; as long as one was evil enough, one could gain its acknowledgment.


    What he said was also the truth. From the perspective of the creatures in the mine, wasn''t he a major villainous antagonist? But why wouldn''t this creature believe him?


    "Is the phrase ''righteous enforcer'' written on my face? Or is the holy light in my soul blinding your eyes?"


    Tang Xian was speechless.


    Because Qiongqi had already closed its eyes.


    The third of the four great evil beasts had died; now only Taowu remained.


    Tang Xian, watching Qiongqi''s death, felt a sense of defeat.


    Bai Mansheng found it amusing from the side. Tang Xian really was a complete demon king. She realized that Tang Xian had an accurate sense of himself: scheming, deceiving, mooching, and slaughtering beasts everywhere.


    This was the kind of human being she was actually allied with.


    "What a pity, I still wanted to find out the location of the Beasts Court."


    "What do we do now?" asked Bai Mansheng.


    Tang Xian looked towards the Northwest and said,


    "We continue further in, find Lei Xiao, and then see. Qiongqi''s death hasn''t brought me any benefits. My purpose for this trip to the mines has not yet been fulfilled."


    Tang Xian, along with Bai Mansheng and Tang, began to backtrack.


    With Tang joining them, Tang Xian felt the same as he did in the Pyramid while navigating the world of the beasts.


    But he didn''t let his guard down, for Tang, after all, was a living thing, not a true suit of armor. Perhaps some beings with special abilities could strip it from his body.


    Becoming stronger ultimately had to depend on oneself.


    The group quickly got ready and began moving in the direction of the Northwest.


    Nearly half of the twelve Judgment Chiefs had been defeated. Tang Xian had a premonition that he would soon have a more intense conflict with the Beasts Court.


    The ruins of Eden, Mount Court ¡ª in these places, there must be some of the answers he sought.

 Chapter 646 - 53: Exploring the Domain of Senluo

    (Thanks to the book friend "Jiliao Chengshuang" for the generous reward)


    From the moment Qiongqi died, Tang Xian was already certain that it would be difficult to find another creature in this world that posed a fatal threat to him. The subsequent battles would probably only have two phases, a boring bout of trading blows, followed by it turning into a unilateral slaughter by him.


    Or one could say from the moment he encountered Tang, this world was not much different from the Pyramid World; he had truly squeezed into the top of the food chain.


    But he remained very alert; in this world rife with countless monsters, Tang Xian was convinced that the Court of Myriad Beasts must still have some hidden depths. What he needed to do was to continue to perfect himself.


    Further west of the Nether Valley, on human maps, it has always been marked in red.


    For humanity, it was a forbidden land.


    Indeed, some brave souls had formed teams to venture into these lands, paving the way for others to follow. Even though the work Tang Xian was doing delved much deeper than those pioneers, he didn''t let this make him arrogant. His heart was always filled with gratitude towards the scholars who had summarized various kinds of knowledge with their lives over the past few centuries.


    "According to the exploratory guides left by the wise predecessors, after crossing the Nether Valley, what follows is the Evil Senluo Domain. This is a vast region, significantly larger than the Tianque Plains where your clansmen once stayed. It''s a dense forest of Marshal Trees. There are quite a few calamity-level and disaster-level creatures."


    Passing the time on the road, Tang Xian would also educate Bai Mansheng, Tang Xiaojiu, and others.


    Bai Mansheng found that humanity was indeed a very magical race. In the stories she read, and in Tang Xian''s narrations, this race, reptilian in its perseverance, always managed to accomplish many great feats that were hard to imagine.


    It seemed very hard to estimate the limits of this race.


    The Evil Senluo Domain, in Tang Xian''s view, was a jungle that truly deserved the title of "sea" even more than the Sea of Trees, except that this region''s flora was very uniform, consisting solely of huge Marshal Trees.


    This type of tree met all the needs of the animals dwelling in the trees, thick and lofty with abundant foliage. The countless Marshal Trees spread across this jungle also gave the Evil Senluo Domain a sense of depth, making the already vast place seem even more extensive.


    Tang''s group had a smooth journey and arrived at the border of the Evil Senluo Domain.


    The food they ate along the way was Qiongqi meat.


    Very few people eat cat meat because it''s sour and cooking it requires a high level of culinary skill.


    Qiongqi is not in the feline family, nor is its meat as sour as that of cats; it resembles a tiger with wings. But its meat is delcious.


    Tang Xian compared and felt that this could be categorized as tiger meat.


    Unfortunately, slaying Qiongqi and consuming its flesh did not bestow him with Qiongqi''s ability to sever everything.


    Tang Xian became increasingly anxious; dealing with the Court of Myriad Beasts was secondary, while his true goal was to improve himself.


    He had acquired unlimited defensive power, but lacked basic offensive capabilities and reaction speed.


    Even in terms of telekinesis, he wanted to enhance his abilities.


    The expansion of these abilities had hitherto made no progress¡ªzero.


    The experience of being down on his luck truly wasn''t pleasant. Tang Xian had tried some metaphysical approaches as well.


    Along the way, he had performed many ritual killings full of ceremonial significance, such as choosing specific weather, specific times, specific body parts, but all to no avail.


    Tang Xian felt the malice of this world, but all he could do was continue to hunt according to Ju Mang''s list.


    After arriving at the border of the Evil Senluo Domain, Tang Xian did not hurry to venture further inside.


    Even with his sense of smell, he could not detect the entire scope of the Evil Senluo Domain, so he first set up camp in an area rarely tread by others.


    By now, he didn''t need anything like red line grass; in this place, such plants had long since disappeared, and for the creatures of Evil Senluo Domain, the efficacy of red line grass was very weak. There were many disaster-level creatures here, and Tang Xian even discovered several calamity-level creatures.


    Merely within the range of his olfactory detection, he already felt that this place was far more dangerous than people''s imagined red zones.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian remained calm. After setting up the tent, his first course of action was to start cooking food, at the same time instructing Tang Xiaojiu and Tang to learn as well.


    Tang was not dumb; although he spoke very bluntly, maybe because of his introverted nature, he was more focused and performed even better than Tang Xiaojiu.


    Immediately, Tang Xiaojiu felt panicked. There was no one else to study with before, and good or bad depended on her alone. But now with another person, there were benchmarks and comparisons to be made, making it very easy to discover if she lazed around, right?


    "Meat Meat brother, can you not study so seriously?"


    "Tang Xian, food, I, study."


    His speech was still very fragmented, but Tang Xiaojiu could understand him.


    Tang Xiaojiu pouted her lips. Life is hard, the little fox sighed.


    "Meat Meat brother, I''ll give you tasty food later, so could you please stop reading?"


    A few minutes later, Tang Xiaojiu decided to make another effort to try not to be the bottom of the class, even though there were only two people in the Tang Clan''s tutoring class. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How did the saying go? A fox''s nature is always cunning; little nine had already gained a sort of cleverness, thinking that if she couldn''t compete in head-on study, she''d succeed through indirect, circuitous efforts.


    But Tang was really like a living rock.


    "More study, more to eat."


    Tang Xiaojiu''s eyes revealed a sense of disillusionment. It was too tough; Meat Meat brother had already discovered that the essence of studying was to have more food, making it impossible to trick him now.

 Chapter 647 - 53: Exploring the Domain of Senluo_2

    Outside the tent, Yuan Wu was helping out as an assistant. Yuan Wu''s ability was to turn matter inside out¡ªlike taking a spherical object and instantly flipping its inner layer to become the exposed outer layer.


    This ability was highly destructive, but turned out to be quite useful for gutting and eviscerating.


    Bai Mansheng watched this scene and thought to himself that this person really knew how to¡­ make full use of things, or perhaps it was a case of overkill.


    However, those who worked for Tang Xian were both willing to give and take a beating, so it wasn''t her place to say anything.


    Bai Mansheng was still quite objective, though. After giving it some thought, she realized she had also been talked into doing quite a few things by Tang Xian herself. For example, the Sea God Cult''s High Priest¡ªfrom a white snake that had never even been to the southern seas to becoming the High Priest of the Sea God Cult.


    "According to what Tang Mang said, his kinsmen are actually Lei Xiao. If you really find Lei Xiao in the Realm of the Dead, what do you plan to do?"


    "Clean them out."


    These brief three words, it was unclear whether they were addressed to Yuan Wu, who was cleaning out the innards of the food beside him, or if they were a remark to herself, but Bai Mansheng still sensed the ruthlessness Tang Xian harbored towards her enemies in her bones.


    "That''s his kin."


    "Have you ever seen a Lei Xiao with skin as black as cold iron and horns like a demon on his head? He''s not Lei Xiao, and Lei Xiao has nothing to do with him. He''s now one of mine, a revenger as well."


    As Tang Xian spoke, her knife was skillfully removing unwanted organs.


    Bai Mansheng paused before saying:


    "What about the fox clan?"


    Tang Xian''s hand hesitated for a moment.


    Enemies merely had differing standpoints, but traitors were unforgivable.


    Bai Mansheng continued:


    "I remember you saying that taking back the fox clan for Qing JiuYu was one of your main plans."


    Whenever Qing JiuYu was mentioned, Bai Mansheng''s expression would become somewhat unnatural.


    Tang Xian shook her head, saying:


    "The attitude of the fox clan toward Qing JiuYu and Xiaojiu needs further clarification before I decide anything."


    "Why not bring Qing JiuYu along?"


    "Too noisy."


    There was an implied meaning behind these words, and Bai Mansheng picked up on it. But she did not get upset, only replying,


    "Lei Xiao might not be far from us now. Tang Mang might forgive Lei Xiao in his heart."


    Tang Xian stopped cutting and said earnestly:


    "There was once a movie about a guy who couldn''t be killed no matter what. From a young age, he was subjected to all kinds of experiments by humans. Since his organs were inexhaustible and his life force was endless, as long as the information was locked down, studying his tissue could be done on the most valuable and expendable of test subjects.


    But one day, the test subject escaped, becoming an outright anti-human element. The whole movie is about how he turns against humanity, and how the protagonist tries to stop him."


    "He''s not the protagonist?"


    "Of course not. Despite the fact that this movie is an island nation''s manga adaptation, such an anti-human element could never be the protagonist. His hatred for humanity has twisted to the point where even if they are his own kind, as long as they don''t hate humanity, they must be executed. But who created all this?"


    Tang Xian''s hands resumed the thumping of chopping meat.


    "You underestimate Tang''s hatred for Lei Xiao. Reality is more exaggerated than stories. Do you remember when we first saw Tang, those bloodshot eyes and the aura of a malevolent ghost? Some hatreds can only be cleansed with the blood of your enemies."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t say anything more, and Tang Xian knew her intention, continuing:


    "As for the fox clan, I will give them a chance, but the fox clan leader, it must die by Xiaojiu''s hand or Qing JiuYu''s."


    ...


    ...


    At twilight, in the Realm of the Dead.


    According to the intelligence provided by Ju Mang, Lei Xiao were mostly active before dusk, sleeping much earlier than other animals. This was knowledge unknown to Tang Xian, but with Ju Mang''s notes, catching other myriad beasts had been much smoother, offering him a wider choice of strategy. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mining area was dangerous at night, but the tide had turned.


    At night, in the mining area, where Tang Xian was, the other creatures were the ones in danger.


    Tang Xian called on Tang, this time without Bai Mansheng.


    Because Bai Mansheng was too smart, always knowing what he was up to.


    Scouting the Realm of the Dead was a rather mind-draining task.


    Tang Xian and Tang walked side by side, maintaining a one-zhang distance, slowly moving through the vast general tree forest.


    As before, even if the feedback from his sense of smell was very evident, Tang Xian would still turn over the soil or observe some trees while searching.


    Tang just watched quietly.


    "Lei Xiao are very fast; regarding this clan, you haven''t told me much. Do you have friends among them?"


    Since Bai Mansheng brought it up, Tang Xian also wanted to know Tang''s own thoughts.


    Mentioning Lei Xiao seemed to evoke more enmity than the long-eared ancient apes, and Tang Xian could distinctly feel a change in Tang''s demeanor.


    Anger brought bloodshot veins to his eyes, but they soon calmed down, and he just shook his head.


    This simple action looked incredibly lonely.


    "Tang Xian, Bai Mansheng, Xiaojiu, Yuan Wu, friends, no more."


    "If all goes well, tonight we should find some clues about Lei Xiao."


    Looking at Tang Xian, Tang said:


    "The Owl King, very strong."


    "Stronger than the two of us together?" Tang Xian asked.


    After pondering for a moment, Tang shook his head and said:


    "Can''t compare."


    Tang Xian was slightly surprised.


    The Owl King wasn''t actually an evolutionary step for Lei Xiao; it was simply the strongest among Lei Xiao.

 Chapter 648 - 53: Exploring the Domain of Senluo_3

    Tang''s estimation wasn''t wrong, and in fact, Tang Xian also felt some trouble, as the creature''s speed was simply too fast, even Tang Feiji couldn''t keep it contained.


    However, thinking of his team''s current configuration, he wasn''t too worried.


    As nightfall cast a hazy veil, strange winds blew from time to time.


    Beasts roamed everywhere in the Forest Realm, and Tang Xian discovered that these animals'' speeds were not slow. Although there was a great difference from Lei Xiao, they were clearly faster than creatures from other regions.


    It was as if creatures with a swift attribute had all gathered in one place.


    The scenery of the Forest Realm was monotonous, like a square land divided into a matrix by countless giant trees.


    People with a poor sense of direction could easily get lost.


    Tang Xian had no such trouble. He followed the scent guidance, slowly making his way to where Lei Xiao resided.


    Along the way, many creatures showed intent to attack Tang Xian and Tang, but in the end, they held back.


    Tang Xian now was like the master of this forest.


    He had no Soul Crystal, yet he could automatically give some creatures the feeling of a "peer."


    Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng were deceived by this feeling at first.


    But now there was a slight change, as after killing many catastrophe-level creatures, Tang Xian''s temperament naturally exuded the aura of a "dangerous creature."


    This aura was not deliberately shown by Tang Xian, but came from the Eden bloodline.


    In this bloodline, he had killed various creatures and, although due to his own bad luck, he had not obtained any skills, he had still accumulated something¡ª


    Prestige.


    An attribute that had appeared when he first killed the hellhound.


    The Tang Xian of today could be considered a demon lord with his hands stained with the blood of myriad beasts.


    Along this journey, he had accumulated quite a bit of prestige in various beast subjects.


    His actions were normal and casual, but each movement he made intimidated the myriad beasts, already possessing a hint of the style of a beast king.


    Yet these changes went unnoticed by Tang Xian himself.


    After several hours of exploration, Tang Xian and Tang came to the canopy of a tall giant tree. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The giant tree''s size was immense, and in this forest, many creatures hid in burrows, using the fallen branches and leaves of the giant tree for cover.


    Tang Xian had noticed many along the way, but he didn''t disturb these creatures, just silently walked past them.


    Meanwhile, more creatures lived in the hollows of the giant trees.


    Lei Xiao was among them.


    Following the scent, Tang Xian did not find Lei Xiao''s headquarters¡ªpresumably, it was in a holy place farther to the Northwest¡ªbut he did find a Lei Xiao.


    It was currently residing in a tree hollow.


    Tang Xian was nearly two hundred meters away from this Lei Xiao. Lei Xiao had yet to sense him, and he was certain this was a Lei Xiao.


    Tang had also sensed his former clansman somehow, though not as promptly as Tang Xian.


    Tang''s reaction was just as Tang Xian had imagined, the fiery desire for revenge in his eyes turned into a sharp glint. But Tang''s reaction brought Tang Xian some reassurance:


    "Scout, lead the way, do not kill."


    Being able to suppress the urge to kill and instead make a more rational decision pleased Tang Xian, making him appreciate his teammate, who, though seemingly dim-witted, was actually highly reliable.


    Tang Xian had previously flipped through some books on Li Xiaoyu''s bookshelf about anatomy and execution.


    It seemed there would be an opportunity to use that knowledge soon, and he nodded, saying:


    "I hope Lei Xiao gives Africans some love."

 Chapter 649 - 54: Finally Got a Victory in Europe

    The next day.


    In fact, during these days, Tang Xian was not only teaching Tang Xiaojiu human knowledge but also helping her overcome some traits specific to foxes, such as the fondness for Biphasic Orchids.


    As much as possible, Tang Xian hoped that Tang Xiaojiu could lean more towards her human side in her half-human, half-fox existence. Therefore, in the curriculum, besides some human behavioral studies, he specifically sought out Shi Wenbin''s "Foxology."


    There was a time when Tang Xian always thought Shi Wenbin was Tang Xiaojiu''s biological father. After all, apart from himself, it was quite extraordinary to find someone who understood foxes so deeply.


    But the timing did not fit. The book "Foxology" was already decades old, and its contents proved to be accurate over time, although it was validated only by Tang Xian himself.


    Those who dare to get close to a fox are too few, even fewer return alive, and only one in history has ever impregnated the prospective leader of the foxes, Qing Jiuyun.


    Tang Xian was also curious about where Tang Xiaojiu''s father had gone, and what kind of status he had in the human world.


    These events happened nearly seven years ago, and during all these years, that man seemed to have vanished.


    "Tang Xian, what are you thinking about?"


    "I''m thinking about your dad."


    Bai Mansheng was stunned; how could someone suddenly insult a child like that?


    Wasn''t this sentence in human custom akin to saying something like "I''m thinking about your grandpa" or "I''m thinking about your mom"?


    "My dad?" Tang Xiaojiu didn''t think so far.


    But she was aware of the concept of parents.


    Although she always regarded Qing as her mother, she never had a father.


    "There are many doubts about your father, and I would really like to meet him."


    What Tang Xian didn''t say was, if he was still alive.


    Tang Xiaojiu looked confused; her eyes were full of bewilderment.


    Since she was little, no other little foxes wanted to play with her. Occasionally, any that did were quickly carried off by their parents. Tang Xiaojiu was sad, but also envious, as everyone else had parents who wanted to protect them.


    Qing was busy and didn''t always have time to look after her.


    Most of the time, she was an outsider among the foxes, all alone.


    But time passed quickly, and she met Tang Xian. Suddenly, everything became interesting. Although she was lonely in the past, she started making more and more friends as she grew up. However, as she became more sensible, the old confusion and hesitations would resurface occasionally¡ª


    Where are mom and dad?


    As Tang Xian mentioned her father, Xiaojiu suddenly felt a little lost.


    Tang Xian rubbed Tang Xiaojiu''s little head and said nothing, diverting her attention with food. Kids are indeed easy to mollify.


    He was genuinely interested in this man, the first from the world of myriad beasts. In Tang Xian''s opinion, such an experience would be hard to completely hide in the human world.


    Whether out of pride or disgust or perhaps guilt, it was unlikely that there would be no trace of him at all.


    Tang Xian thought about Qing JiuYu''s various negative speculations about the man, but those were just conjectures. Perhaps Tang Xiaojiu''s father had a completely different kind of life.


    He didn''t ponder it any further; after all, it was just a guess, even though his guesses were often accurate.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t let go of the matter so easily. Tang Xian rarely spoke of things that were insignificant; if he mentioned something, it was likely related to his subsequent actions.


    She signaled with her eyes to Tang Xian to talk about it, but Tang Xian shook his head and declined Bai Mansheng''s invitation.


    After a barbecue, Tang Xian started on the next arrangement.


    "Bai, you stay here and look after Xiaojiu."


    "What are you going to do?"


    "Capture Lei Xiao."


    "Then why not take me with you?"


    "The pressure from an orange-tier creature is too easily detected by them."


    Bai Mansheng accepted this explanation. She wasn''t too worried about Tang Xian. The treasure-trove youth, who seemed unexceptional but was discovered by Tang Xian, made her think that even she and Tang Feiji might not be a match for Tang Xian now.


    Without realizing it, Tang Xian seemed to have transformed from someone who appeared strong but was actually weak to someone who appeared strong and was even stronger indeed.


    ¡­ S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    It wasn''t until nightfall that Tang Xian, along with Zero and Tang began their action.


    Zero and Tang were not the talkative types, but the two boys had no issues getting along, and although Zero spoke little, he would occasionally give pointers to Tang during the study sessions with Tang Xiaojiu.


    As a quasi-SSS-class experimental subject from the Evolution Zone, Zero''s intelligence may not match that of the Son of Order, but it was indeed higher than that of the average person. It was mainly his emotional issues that made his biggest trait seem to be timidity.


    Tang was someone whose feelings of gratitude and grudges were extremely clear; he was kind to those who were kind to him.


    In the recent days when they were allocating food, he secretly gave more meat to Zero. But only Tang Xian noticed.


    Tang Xian didn''t point it out¡ªharmony among team members was a good thing.


    Tang''s somewhat brash personality complemented Zero''s overly timid nature quite well; they might get along exceptionally well in cooperation.


    Following the scent, Tang Xian discovered the Lei Xiao once more, this time closer to the southeast. Judging from the range of exploration by the Lei Xiao scouts, Tang Xian deduced that they were gradually moving south.


    The process of capturing the Lei Xiao was very crisp and efficient.


    In a place like the Silvan Domain, where there were many disaster-level creatures, Tang Xian''s Soul Crystal always gave off the aura of a creature of the same tier to the beasts. Zero, being human, had an aura that was even less than that of an enhanced-tier creature, while Tang, from a level standpoint, was like a disaster-level boss creature.

 Chapter 650 - 54: Finally Got a Victory in Europe_2

    ```


    The gathering of such auras in one place was actually quite common; in the domain of the Senluo, there were even disasters like the Nvwa Snake clan.


    Thus, even though Lei Xiao sensed a powerful presence at a range of one hundred meters, it did not pay too much attention to it.


    This was its safe distance; at this time, no other creature could encounter Lei Xiao within a hundred meters.


    Hiding in a tree hole, resting, Lei Xiao never imagined that the environment around it had completely changed, and when that weak breath locked onto it, it didn''t care.


    Humans, in front of Lei Xiao, had almost no resistance, with absolute speed that had surpassed their reaction limit.


    But this time, Lei Xiao miscalculated.


    The joint attack by Tang Xian and Yuan Mist was almost a flawless, fatal ambush.


    Poison fog permeated the forest; when Lei Xiao sensed the poison fog, it instantly became alert, its body surrounded by golden electricity, seemingly becoming ethereal. It could escape from the area of the poison fog in the moment it held its breath. But as it left the tree hole and saw the white-haired youth, another layer of the hunter''s attack awaited it.


    Faster than its actions was an absolute, dense darkness.


    Lei Xiao was not simple either; on pure memory, it tried to break free.


    No matter how strong that human was, he could absolutely not touch it from such a distance.


    With this in mind, Lei Xiao began to move.


    But while the human''s speed couldn''t keep up with it, his thoughts were quicker than Lei Xiao''s.


    Yuan Mist was indeed nervous, but did not neglect the critical moments.


    Lei Xiao, like a bolt of lightning from the darkness, was supposed to escape the battlefield the next second, but the entire battlefield had now become a sealed area.


    Telekinesis drove changes in the environment; this was the ultimate telekinesis of Yuan Mist, also demonstrated during the battle with Xi He, showing control far more powerful than just reversing objects. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The surrounding environment twisted into a sphere.


    Tang was shocked by this scene, having never imagined that the usually more delicate than Xiao Jiu, Yuan Mist, possessed such terrifying power.


    Tang Xian was very satisfied; if this child could be more confident, unlock the mental restraints on himself, his destructive power might not be on par with the disaster creatures, but his role on the battlefield would be second only to Tang.


    Unless Lei Xiao could break through this "spherical cage" formed by the earth and countless general trees, no matter how fast it was, it was merely exerting itself in a small space.


    And this space was shrinking, ever so smaller.


    With no longer supporting a massive environment, Yuan Mist''s abilities became even more precise.


    Lei Xiao finally realized that it seemed unable to break out of this area, its eyes showing a fierce light, and in this moment, prepared to attack three targets.


    The first target was Tang, who emanated a presence stronger than its own, which Lei Xiao quickly gave up on.


    The second target was Tang Xian, whose bizarre poison and dark fog were emitted by this person, also giving Lei Xiao a sense of danger.


    Eventually, Lei Xiao''s attack was like a sharp slash! A flash of golden light, and it instantly arrived beside Yuan Mist!


    Indeed, Yuan Mist didn''t react in time, nor did his expression have the chance to change, because Lei Xiao was just too fast! But Tang Xian had accounted for this.


    No matter how fast Lei Xiao was, in such a confined space, he could predict its behavior.


    As soon as Lei Xiao had the intention to attack, Tang conveyed the message through his eyes to Tang. This was their combat strategy; considering Lei Xiao''s speed was too fast, they even eliminated gestures in communication, simplifying everything to just eye contact.


    Even though Tang was suggesting with his eyes when Lei Xiao seemed to have no intention of attacking Yuan Mist, Tang didn''t have the slightest hesitation or doubt.


    When Yuan Mist finally showed a terrified expression, as though death was near, Tang had already covered Yuan Mist.


    Lei Xiao''s claw, flashing with electricity, should have left a red trail on Yuan Mist''s body, but instead, its strongest strike left no mark at all.


    In Lei Xiao''s moment of astonishment, Yuan Mist finally caught on; this preemptive defense made him feel an unprecedented peace of mind. It seemed everything was within Lord Tang Xian''s calculations.


    The next instant, Lei Xiao, having failed to make a hit, was ready to retreat, but the poison fog had already infiltrated its lungs long ago. This calamity-level boss creature, which had been unaffected by the poison multiple times, was finally affected unexpectedly this time.


    Lei Xiao''s legs... trembled.


    Muscles softened.


    The plague''s poison had many effects¡ªpsychological confusion, inability to distinguish friend from foe, muscle softening, dizziness, weakness, and the like.


    It seldom had an effect against Orange-tier creatures.


    Even against calamity-level creatures, if they were large in size, it was difficult for the poison to take effect, but Lei Xiao was a speed-centric creature with other attributes significantly below calamity level.


    The recent close combat had made it hard for Lei Xiao to hold its breath any longer.


    The huge general trees, at this moment, were twisted into a chain by Yuan Mist''s telekinesis, firmly locking Lei Xiao in place.


    Electric light dimmed, and after struggling a few times, this calamity-level creature, one of the most difficult to capture, was captured by Tang Xian.


    Once removed from Yuan Mist, Tang no longer appeared in human form.


    He showed his crimson eyes and fierce demon horns, standing before Lei Xiao like an avenger.


    ```

 Chapter 651 - 54: Finally Got a Victory in Europe_3

    He kept saying something incessantly.


    Tang Xian could understand, but Yuan Wu could not.


    However, Tang Xian did not understand Lei Xiao''s response because Lei Xiao was merely a catastrophe-level creature.


    But he could feel it, Tang was in great pain, and that Lei Xiao was very astonished.


    Tang opened his mouth wide and bit fiercely onto the ear of that Lei Xiao, then violently tore it apart, prompting a painful howl from Lei Xiao, which terrified Yuan Wu.


    Tang Xian said,


    "If you''re scared, just close your eyes."


    Yuan Wu did not close his eyes.


    He watched Tang''s expression of extreme anger, a twisted face that even without those ghostly horns, bore no difference from a true hellish demon.


    Yet, he didn''t feel uncomfortable, rather he felt somewhat lost.


    Extreme anger also signifies the venting of emotions...


    Yuan Wu could not feel happiness or anger. Many times, he thought he should be happy, like when previously Tang had protected him, yet the feeling in his heart was only a loathsome calm and sorrow.


    There were also times when he should have been angry, like when Tang Suoye was stepped on by Xi He, or when Akasi was trapped by the mud people, but inside... there was only fear and cowardice.


    Anger...


    Joy...


    What exactly are these feelings like?


    In Baichuan City, he faced the mirror, pulled up the corners of his mouth, and made a smiling expression, which he could actually do, and told himself many times that he should show such an expression when meeting others.


    But every time he smiled, he felt very sad inside.


    The one who ultimately ended Lei Xiao''s life was not Tang Xian, who could have slowly extracted resistance, making the Lei Xiao species unable to defend against his attacks anymore.


    But Tang Xian did not take away Tang''s right to revenge.


    "Did you get the information?"


    The ghostly horns receded, the black skin like cold iron slowly faded, and Tang''s expression was still a bit unnatural; he took a moment before saying,


    "West Border, the frontier."


    Tang Xian nodded, just as he was about to say something, he suddenly became startled as if his thoughts were interrupted by something.


    Tang Xian''s expression was very complex.


    After standing frozen for a few seconds, he finally came to his senses, patted Tang on the shoulder, and said,


    "You really are a lucky charm."


    Tang did not understand why, nor did Yuan Wu, who also did not get what had been said in the haze.


    Tang Xian looked at his palm, thinking about the act of killing Lei Xiao, that it would be best to target the most formidable Lei Xiao, because he really craved the speed of Lei Xiao.


    Yet unexpectedly, after having such bad luck for so long, as soon as Tang drew the card, it was spot on...


    So, it really was him who had the bad touch, wasn''t it?


    [By killing an adult Lei Xiao, you have gained the skill: Streaming Light Refining Shadow.]


    [Continue hunting Lei Xiao to acquire stronger resistance and damage.]


    [Streaming Light Refining Shadow: During its duration, the body becomes extremely nimble, greatly increasing base speed.]


    Divine music long missed resonated in his mind sea, and Tang Xian''s expression showed exceptional satisfaction.


    Unlike passive abilities such as Enhanced Sense of Smell and Know the Flavor of Marrow, and different from active skills like Swallowing Sun and Toxic Mist, Streaming Light Refining Shadow seemed to be a sustained ability.


    Tang Xian tried to use it, and in an instant, golden, electricity-like, strange energy filled his body.


    This effect, akin to a Saiyan transformation, made Tang Xian feel as if he radiated an emperor''s aura.


    His body also became extremely light, seeming to be able to dart around this space in an instant, bouncing like beams of light.


    The most surprised was Tang himself, as a former Lei Xiao, he was all too familiar with such a transformation.


    But soon he calmed down again; monsters are not afraid of monsters.


    As a top-tier container whose blood could hold various beast types, Tang quickly accepted Tang Xian''s constitution that seemed capable of seizing abilities. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The glow dissipated, and all returned to calm.


    Tang Xian looked into the distance, not planning to explain anything, and continued,


    "Looks like we need to hurry up tonight and continue deeper into the Senluo Territory."

 Chapter 652 - 55: The Transformation of Tang Wudi

    This is a feeling that''s hard to come by in reality, but back in ancient times, when entertainment was relatively advanced, experiences like those of Tang Xian were not uncommon for many people.


    For example, hitting the jackpot, suddenly getting god-tier gear in a game, drawing SSRs in ten consecutive draws, or your dad suddenly telling you one day, "I''m a billionaire; I''m laying all my cards on the table." In short, this is probably the happiest time in a person''s life or the gameplay experience.


    Tang Xian had originally planned to rest, but now he was filled with a lot more drive.


    Throughout the night, he, along with Yuan Wu and Tang, conducted a carpet-like patrol of the Senluo Domain. Tonight, Tang Xian was invincible, clearing each small animal of the calamity level along the way.


    His presence had become even more terrifying to the creatures of the Senluo Domain than the cataclysmic creatures that inhabited this region.


    It''s strange to say, but tonight seemed to be Tang Xian''s lucky night. Though he rarely gained improvements from killing beasts before, after obtaining Lei Xiao''s speed and activating Streaming Light Refining Shadow, it was as if Tang Xian''s European aura truly allowed him to sneak through.


    The wrist strength of the Giant Spirit Iron Ape, the special waist strength techniques of the Senluo Python, and the ultimate acceleration of the Golden Fierce Bird.


    Tang Xian saw great improvements on this night.


    The nest of Lei Xiao was located on the far western frontier of the Senluo Domain, and after Tang Xian and his group had located its approximate position, they did not make any rash moves forward.


    Without the help of Bai Mansheng, Tang Xian was not confident he could capture all of Lei Xiao in one fell swoop. These incredibly swift creatures might be able to escape one or two, and according to the butterfly effect, this could potentially cause big problems in the future.


    Tang was very cooperative, although the fire of revenge in his heart was growing more and more intense.


    The real roundup did not make Tang and the others wait too long. On the evening of the third day, Tang Xian''s team launched a massive capture operation.


    Bai Mansheng built an almost impenetrable ice wall around the perimeter of the nest of Lei Xiao. She demonstrated the tremendous ability of a cataclysmic level boss to structure the environment, as the Senluo Domain was already very cold, but at that moment, it truly became unbearable like an icehouse.


    Nearly a quarter of the Senluo Domain, equivalent to the entire area of the Tianque Plains plus the sea of trees, had turned into an icy region, with huge ice crystals blocking the surroundings, forming a circular wall.


    This blockade was drawing ever closer under the direction of Bai Mansheng''s consciousness.


    Although Tang Xian had long known about the terrifying destruction that a cataclysmic level creature could cause when unleashing its full firepower, he was still shocked by such a spectacle.


    This hunt for Lei Xiao was probably the most intense action he had taken since coming to the mining area.


    This action naturally completely alarmed Lei Xiao, and it also angered many other powerful creatures on the periphery.


    But Tang Xian didn''t care at all, as what he intended to do was a major cleansing, not just targeting Lei Xiao.


    The battle was fierce, and the scene fell into chaos at one point. Involving a total of twenty-two Lei Xiao, nineteen other calamity level creatures, and two cataclysmic level creatures.


    In the red zone, the Senluo Domain is the most dangerous area.


    But not all these creatures were Tang Xian''s enemies; they didn''t even know who was launching such a huge ice wall to trap them.


    Tang Xian was the first to notice this, as Lei Xiao didn''t seem to be very popular with the local fauna; the creatures here were only neutral towards Lei Xiao.


    And when the battle broke out, it was chaos. Tang Xian issued a very strange command.


    "Bai Mansheng, heal that smaller cataclysmic creature!"


    [Isn''t that the enemy?] Bai Mansheng was puzzled.


    Tang Xian just smiled and didn''t say anything. Bai Mansheng did as he was told by Tang Xian.


    Holy light descended on the cataclysmic creature caught in the fray, a Frost Giant, another branch of the Titan Behemoth. Living in the backlands all year round, the giant rocks on its back looked as though they were covered in frost.


    They had an extremely strong tolerance for cold and were at the top of the food chain in the Senluo Domain.


    However, the other cataclysmic creature, the Seven-horned Poison Dragon, didn''t see it that way. It was also a regional overlord, a sub-dragon species, and if Tang Feiji were here, he would probably have some disdainful comments to make.


    The two creatures fought wildly, and Tang Xian was also caught in the chaos, surrounded by Lei Xiao and other creatures.


    Once Lei Xiao realized they couldn''t escape, they all entered battle mode too.


    Though, compared to other calamity level beasts, Lei Xiao''s values in all aspects except speed were too low to cause any harm to Tang Xian.


    While Tang was in charge of protecting Yuan Wu, Yuan Wu served as the rear guard for Tang Xian''s team, capturing Lei Xiao with telekinesis almost without fail. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was not foolish either; he bore the attacks of Lei Xiao while dodging the attacks of other calamity level creatures with Streaming Light Refining Shadow.


    The situation in the battle didn''t look too dire from the start, and when Bai Mansheng''s healing light fell on the Frost Giant, the other creatures also began to attack it.


    So, Tang Xian''s side gained a helper out of nowhere.


    This helper was utterly confused. Although it was much stronger than the Zudun Giant, these giant relatives were relatively slow-witted.


    Wasn''t it fighting the Poison Dragon? Why were these creatures attacking it too? This question quickly disappeared.


    For how could the dignity of the Senluo Domain''s king tolerate such provocation?


    The Frost Giant didn''t think too much and, as always, began to hit back furiously.

 Chapter 653 - 55: The Transformation of Tang Wudi_2

    ```


    "You... Your methods are truly filthy," Bai Mansheng now understood Tang Xian''s intentions.


    This person knew that the battle, with its numerous types and sheer number of creatures, was a free-for-all.


    And just so, the creatures capable of creating ice walls, not just herself but also the Frost Rock Giants, were suddenly healed by the enemy. These rather unintelligent beings probably mistook the Frost Rock Giants as one of their own.


    In the records of Ju Mang, the character description of the Frost Rock Giants was very simple, similar to that of the Titan Behemoth¡ªjust one word: rash.


    They would attack whoever attacked them.


    This day in the Senluo Territory was marked by constant tremors, as if it were a prelude to the collapse of mountains and rivers.


    Many small animals in the forest, and even some perfect-level creatures, fled in fear to the perimeter of other areas, as far away from the battlefield within the frost walls as possible.


    The battle lasted a total of four hours, making it the longest one Tang Xian had ever been in. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Northwest corner of the Senluo Territory had almost turned into an Asura Hell.


    In the final scene of the battle, the Lei Xiaos were practically pierced through in the legs by ice crystals, and both the Seven-horned Poison Dragon and the Frost Rock Giants lay collapsed on the ground. Tang Xian had torn apart more than ten calamity-level creatures.


    Tang was brutally executing his kinsmen who had betrayed and abandoned him, one by one.


    His expression changed from anger to bewilderment, and eventually, as he looked at the fresh blood on his hands and his own ghastly reflection in the ice, he fell into sorrow.


    After a long while, Tang Xian patted his shoulder and said something to him. Only then did a hint of light appear in those chaos-filled eyes.


    On the chaotic battlefield, Tang Xian came out completely victorious.


    The assassin army of the Myriad Beasts Tribunal that had long troubled humanity was finally annihilated.


    But Tang Xian still felt something was amiss.


    He thought for a long time and swept his gaze over the corpses strewn across the battlefield, then suddenly asked:


    "Where is the Owl King?"


    Tang shook his head, and after transforming back into human form, said disappointedly:


    "The Owl King is not here."


    "It seems we still missed something."


    It wasn''t that he was particularly afraid of this Owl King, but given the speed of the Lei Xiaos, he knew the Myriad Beasts Tribunal would likely respond soon.


    Tang Xian looked over the uneven battlefield and said:


    "We need to be more careful in the days to come."


    Bai Mansheng didn''t know what to say. She was always cautious, but this operation was actually not cautious at all, and the way they fought was very unlike Tang Xian. This meant Tang Xian was utterly confident.


    She pondered deeply. In this battle, Tang Xian had terrifying speed; although not comparable to Akasi, there were few creatures in the Myriad Beasts Realm that could escape from him.


    Today''s Tang Xian was a true monster. And the process he took to get everything from nothing seemed too short.


    It gave Bai Mansheng the illusion that Tang Xian wasn''t actually improving himself. It was as if he was just slowly recovering some abilities he had forgotten, things that already belonged to him.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Baichuan City.


    The ordeal in the mining area took Tang Xian nearly four months.


    During these four months, Tang Xian did return.


    He went straight to the duck house in the eastern outskirts.


    The Sword Feather Ducks were kept there. Tang Xian spent the morning there and then hurriedly left again.


    The second return came one month later¡ªno more than a day too long, not a day too short.


    Baichuan City became more lively but not chaotic.


    Tang Xian noticed that Ju Mang and Li Xiaoyu seemed to have a better relationship.


    But what truly surprised him was that Li Xiaoyu''s cooking had improved a lot.


    Despite the rushed visits, Tang Xian probably knew the reason. Did Li Xiaoyu receive pointers from Bai Shuang?


    But he didn''t know the specifics.


    He still spent a lot of time in the duck sheds.


    However, he spent much less time than the last visit.


    When Duck saw Tang Xian, the fear and resistance in his heart lessened a lot. The man and duck seemed to have become friends.


    The third return was still set to a precise one-month timeline.


    After visiting the duck sheds for only an hour, Tang Xian left, taking more time to learn about the situation in Baichuan City.


    Although the previous troubles of Baichuan City had been resolved, he had one more important battle to fight in the mining area.


    This time, apart from sorting out Duck''s issue, he wanted to know more about the relationship between Bai Shuang and the Xuan Bird.


    But Bai Shuang... might have been annoyed by these ducks, taking the mountain behind her and disappearing somewhere again.


    For a time, Tang Xian didn''t know, whether to kill the Xuan Bird or let it live.


    Tang Xian left again.


    The first time he left, Song Que felt that Tang Xian''s journey to the mining area seemed quite fruitful. Akasi had a similar feeling.


    In just a few short days, it was as if he had obtained great power.


    And when Tang Xian left for the second time, Ju Mang felt it.


    As a Child of Order with half her talents missing, Ju Mang''s perception of Tang Xian''s abilities was indeed weaker than Song Que''s and Akasi''s.


    Even so, she too felt that Tang Xian was improving at an incredible speed.


    Was this speed of improvement beyond what the Pyramid''s mechanical body had estimated?


    The third time he left, it was Qing JiuYu and Tang Feiji who felt it.


    The two strongest forces of Baichuan City had finally sensed something was off with Tang Xian.


    Tang Feiji knew Tang Xian''s secrets, but the impressions Tang Xian gave him now were very different from before. The Soul Crystal''s resonance formerly made Tang Xian seem like a peer.


    ```

 Chapter 654 - 55: The Transformation of Tang Wudi_3

    Despite the Dragon Eye being able to see that Tang Xian had no Soul Crystal within him, the oppressive aura from the Soul Crystal was still present.


    And now, Tang Feiji''s feeling had become one of being unable to completely see through Tang Xian.


    There are higher tiers of existence in this world, and it was as if Tang Xian had one foot already stepping into them. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    ...


    Tang Xian''s strength was making leaps and bounds, just as Baichuan City was also changing rapidly.


    First was the massive influx of population.


    This took place in the first month after Tang Xian left.


    The number of these people was around two hundred thousand, all from the Saint Fortress, but when Saint Fortress''s reputation plummeted due to Song Que''s infamy, a portion of the population chose not to follow Song Que and leave.


    Even so, for the Baichuan City of three thousand people, this was still a huge infusion of vitality.


    Thankfully, with Li Xiaoyu''s efforts, Baichuan City was well-prepared early on.


    However, after this, a very serious incident occurred.


    Most of those who followed Song Que were subjugated by his charisma and were willing to follow him, but they did not hold Li Xiaoyu in high regard.


    After arriving in Baichuan City, this new environment, all duties and power distributions were managed by Li Xiaoyu.


    This greatly dissatisfied the newcomers. However, since Song Que did not take any action, they too refrained from doing anything excessive.


    But there were inevitably a few people with ulterior motives.


    Once the population increased and the pressures of survival were eased, internal strife quickly arose.


    Seemingly sensing most people''s discontent with a young girl managing Baichuan City, someone began to secretly instigate.


    Their intention was to provoke discord between Song Que and Li Xiaoyu.


    Even if they couldn''t stir up trouble between the two, they aimed to incite conflict among those at the bottom.


    Such meddlers have always existed.


    They were most commonly seen on the ancient internet, baiting with hooks and lines, yet invariably there were those who were deceived¡ªmuch like how many people would berate someone under a trending Weibo post, without really understanding what the situation was about.


    In half a month''s time, rumors had already spread of Li Xiaoyu acting tyrannically and repressing Song Que.


    Why should the Li family call the shots inside the Pyramid, and still control everything outside of it? Song Que is the true chosen one.


    These statements left Song Que baffled. They also somewhat displeased Li Xiaoyu, not because of Song Que, but because Baichuan City was actually Tang Xian''s. This talk made her feel like the other woman, with Song Que appearing to be the rightful spouse.


    The situation was akin to the irrational behavior of some celebrities'' fans. Like dogs, they would bite on behalf of their idols, attacking one person today and another tomorrow, unaware that the celebrities themselves might be on friendly terms.


    Or perhaps that comparison is not quite proper, as well-trained dogs know what they should and shouldn''t bite.


    Song Que and Li Xiaoyu were not worried; everything was within their expectations.


    Tang Xian had predicted this early on: with more people, chaos would ensue¡ª


    With a large number of people relocating to Baichuan City, the established order and power within the Pyramid would have surely predicted this segment and would certainly attempt to divide the city from the inside.


    But this crisis was resolved quickly, thanks to Ju Mang.


    Ju Mang quickly identified those causing trouble, and Li Xiaoyu trusted him entirely.


    The facts proved that after Ju Mang acted, the unrest gradually dissipated.


    In the end, after living in the city for half a month, everyone gradually began to recognize Li Xiaoyu.


    Without Li Xiaoyu, they found they couldn''t even beat the ducks outside...


    Moreover, the Li family has always had one particular trait because of which people stopped spreading rumors.


    They really wanted to continue disparaging Li Xiaoyu, but sorry, what she offered was simply too much.

 Chapter 655 - 56: Baichuans Interesting Events and the True Face of Bai Shuang

    Li Xiaoyu''s generosity wasn''t an indiscriminate squandering. Almost all resource allocation in Baichuan City required Li Xiaoyu''s approval. In truth, there was a vast amount of resources lying idle, due to the shortage of manpower.


    Li Xiaoyu released these benefits simply because it was time for them to be distributed.


    After Ju Mang identified a few troublemakers attempting to drive a wedge between Song Que and Li Xiaoyu, the rest of the people quickly formed a favorable impression of Li Xiaoyu through word of mouth among the residents of the pit.


    With Li Xiaoyu''s generosity, the matter quickly subsided.


    After all, they were humans and most of the sanctum''s fortress were Huaxia people; most understood the value of a city''s commercial real estate, shops, and residences.


    These things were in fact meant to be distributed, so using them to shut everyone up was appropriate.


    You might make a profit, but I definitely won''t lose out.


    However, very few could see this point; to most, Baichuan City was still just a temporary refuge.


    Only after living there for several months did they truly realize that this was the origin of future civilization.


    After Song Que returned, Li Xiaoyu''s workload was substantially reduced. Ju Mang seemed to only care about matters concerning influence over the ruling powers; she was focused on securing territory, completely uninterested in how to govern it.


    When she had the time, Ju Mang would go and see Zhong Xiuxiu, occasionally praising how brilliant Shang Lu, Xiuxiu''s husband, was. Although she meant nothing else by it, Qiao Shanshan always felt that something was odd whenever she heard about it.


    Qiao Shanshan was a diligent doctor but also a gossip.


    Recently, her visits to Li Xiaoyu''s office increased, and she figured out where Ju Mang was going. Originally, she didn''t care about Ju Mang, but then she wondered, why would Ju Mang want to visit Shang Lu''s home? Could there be some secrets that she was eager to uncover?


    With a scientific mindset, Qiao Shanshan decided to visit Tang Xian, the exceptional younger sister.


    At that moment, Ju Mang happened to be there, and Qiao Shanshan overheard her saying:


    "Shang Lu is amazing."


    Qiao Shanshan always felt like the remark implied ''your husband is really amazing.''


    But then she heard Ju Mang adding:


    "This idea was mentioned by someone in the Eye of Nature, but you are the one doing it. The plants in this world as compared to the mining areas..."


    What followed was a long, serious discussion from Ju Mang.


    And Zhong Xiuxiu, as well as Shang Lu, were seriously discussing with Ju Mang.


    Seeing Xiuxiu''s unconcerned demeanor, Qiao Shanshan thought, truly a sister of Tang Xian...


    Ju Mang, with her dark green hair, was actually quite beautiful, with an exotic charm. Qiao Shanshan was really worried that Zhong might not keep a good eye on her man, but when she saw Shang Lu''s pure academic demeanor... she felt she was being too gossipy.


    Such a man, you could place him in the most lavish feast, and he would still emanate an odd ''Stay away, women; don''t disturb my research'' straight-man allure.


    Ju Mang was indeed interested in Shang Lu, but her deeper thoughts were only about discussing academics with him.


    She was a woman who, in terms of oddness, was not inferior to Li Xiaoyu and Zhong Xiuxiu.


    What Qiao Shanshan didn''t know was that Ju Mang would soon become her problem.


    ...


    ...


    With nearly two hundred thousand people pouring in, Baichuan City had become exceptionally lively.


    But with that came an increase in patients.


    This was an ironic situation; those who had lived in the pit, having endured the most miserable times, got healthier after coming to Baichuan City.


    Whereas the elite citizens who lived in the Pyramid were a different story; they consumed nutritional liquids with practically no impurities.


    But in Baichuan City, they had to eat a variety of vegetables and meat.


    Tang Xian had once thought that if civilization regressed to its most primitive state, those skilled in cooking would be held in high esteem.


    And that''s exactly what happened.


    All those who came back from the Pyramid, despite holding a lot of high-tech knowledge and potentially contributing greatly to Baichuan City in the future, were stumped by the basic need for food.


    Li Xiaoyu quickly arranged for culinary training.


    It was called culinary training, but it was really about how to handle food so that it wasn''t too hard to digest. After all, even though her cooking skills had greatly improved due to that deer, Li Xiaoyu didn''t cook for anyone outside of Tang''s small circle.


    Li Xiaoyu became busier, even with Song Que''s help.


    And so did Qiao Shanshan.


    Naturally, among two hundred thousand people, there were doctors, but still far too few; they saw many patients every day. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Shanshan even received red envelopes.


    These were things she had previously encountered only in the Pyramid, and now Baichuan City was beginning to experience them too.


    But no matter how busy she was, Doctor Qiao still often visited Song Que.


    Song Que was very warm towards Qiao Shanshan, sometimes setting aside her work to ask if Qiao Shanshan had any troubles or if she was overwhelmed with work and needed some help.


    This moved Qiao Shanshan to tears on the spot; among all the people under Tang''s command, wasn''t Song Que the only normal one?


    Looking around, Akasi was Tang Xian''s diehard lackey, Yuan Wu was an oddball who neither smiled nor got angry, Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen? Two desperadoes! Only Song Que was normal.


    What comforted Qiao Shanshan most was that Li Xiaoyu had finally come to her senses.


    She actually understood the reason behind Qiao Shanshan''s frequent visits to her office place, which surprisingly even Qiao Shanshan didn''t expect.


    "I have a friend who really wants to meet Song Que... to inquire about some things regarding him, so I''m running errands for her," Qiao Shanshan stammered when asked by Li Xiaoyu.

 Chapter 656 - 56: Baichuans Interesting Events and the True Face of Bai Shuang_2

    "Is this friend you''re talking about actually yourself?" Li Xiaoyu asked bluntly.


    Qiao Shanshan''s face immediately flushed with embarrassment, thinking to herself, when was the last time she directed grand strategies with such eloquence and confidence, that now she hesitated to even admit such a simple thing?


    Of course, Qiao Shanshan admitted it in the end and began to feel that the second young mistress was no longer the same.


    People change, and in this world, a lot of things really do depend on innate talent.


    Li Xiaoyu was indeed very young, about to turn nineteen. Although a business prodigy, her emotional intelligence was very low. But during her time in Baichuan City, she had grown rapidly and become much more adept at interpersonal relations than before.


    Being advised by one''s lord as a strategist was nothing shameful. Li Xiaoyu was still very direct as she said:


    "Song Que is rather slow in certain areas; you need to take the initiative. It''s not shameful for a woman to take the lead, as long as it''s worth it. In all the romance stories in this world, the greatest complication is often ''I like you, but I don''t say it."


    What a short life! Qiao Shanshan thought to herself, How could a kid seven or eight years younger than her start teaching her?


    "I''ll give Song Que a day off tomorrow," Li Xiaoyu didn''t dare postpone it further, because there were indeed a lot of things to take care of in Baichuan City.


    Qiao Shanshan felt a bit sorry and said:


    "With so much to do, it''s really hard on you to do it all alone."


    "It''s not hard. I''m doing it for Tang Xian; I don''t feel tired."


    Seeing Li Xiaoyu becoming more and more poised and composed, Qiao Shanshan truly felt that the second young mistress had grown up a lot.


    Although she had always known that the second young mistress was smart, in Qiao Shanshan''s eyes, she was still a Li family princess who knew nothing of the hardships of the common world.


    The next day, Qiao Shanshan boldly invited Song Que out, choosing a newly opened restaurant by Dong Ran.


    Dong Ran was probably the biggest winner, going from a servant to a little rich woman in Baichuan City. Some of the unused boutique shops, scarce equipment¡ªLi Xiaoyu ultimately had some personal interests, giving all these to Dong Ran.


    However, that meal was very unpleasant.


    Because that damn Ju Mang actually showed up. It was as if she had been following Song Que the whole way, and this time her actions were even more outrageous. Ju Mang rubbed her nose against Song Que''s neck as if smelling something, leaving Song Que startled and unsure whether or not to push Ju Mang away. Qiao Shanshan was even more surprised, not understanding what Ju Mang meant by this behavior.


    After sniffing for quite a while, Ju Mang said:


    "You have Constantine''s scent on you."


    Song Que then understood, but Qiao Shanshan was about to explode.


    Because the next thing Ju Mang said was:


    "Do you want to marry me? I think we can have children with better bloodlines than Constantine''s."


    Is she out of her mind? thought Qiao Shanshan.


    Does everyone around Tang Xian have something wrong with them?


    The sister is a freak. This childhood friend is also a freak! Is Baichuan City a shelter for troubled girls or what? Do these mad scientists not understand the meaning of marriage? Or do they think the greatest meaning of marriage is to procreate? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, this time Song Que got the point and said seriously:


    "Miss Ju Mang, I''m currently dining with Miss Qiao, could you please leave us?"


    "This is my room number. You can find me if you change your mind. It''s all for the future of humanity, after all." Ju Mang didn''t seem uncomfortable in the slightest.


    In some ways, she was indeed similar to Zhong Xiuxiu, or it might be more accurate to say that Zhong Xiuxiu was somewhat like Ju Mang. Everything they did seemed to be for the sake of an experiment.


    Song Que shook his head.


    Having sent Ju Mang away, Qiao Shanshan decided she needed to hasten her steps. Yes, she must do as the second young mistress said and take the initiative.


    But when the words were on her lips, she found herself unable to speak.


    After hesitating several times, Qiao Shanshan chickened out, telling herself she would confess next time they ate together, next time for sure¡­ next time for sure¡­


    ...


    ...


    Li Xiaoyu had adopted a black cat that somehow just appeared in her room one day, unafraid when she touched it.


    So it became Li Xiaoyu''s pet after a while.


    Li Xiaoyu often held the black cat and went to the eastern suburbs. She didn''t talk much, just quietly cooked some dishes in front of Bai Shuang with full equipment ready at hand.


    After finishing, Bai Shuang mostly didn''t even give it a glance.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t mind, just doing as Tang Xian had instructed.


    After a long time, Bai Shuang would occasionally take a look and gently shake her head, her eyes appearing to view it as pig swill.


    Li Xiaoyu kept on trying and improving.


    Every evening, she would spend two hours there, never missing a session.


    Because she always remained silent, Bai Shuang somehow began to admire the girl.


    A girl and a deer, both reticent.


    Finally, on a certain day of the second month, Li Xiaoyu made a crystal pork trotter dish to a standard that Bai Shuang was slightly satisfied with and willing to taste.


    And on that day, Bai Shuang did something that Tang Xian had always wanted her to do but she never had¡ªshe turned into a human.


    Li Xiaoyu was startled too because she had always thought that this white deer couldn''t become human.


    Bai Shuang''s demeanor wasn''t as youthful as Qing Jiuyu, Bai Mansheng''s.


    She appeared to be a thirty-year-old with mature charm, but her eyes showed weariness as if she had lived in this world for a long time.


    She didn''t explain anything to Li Xiaoyu and said:


    "If you can''t remember, bring a notebook tomorrow. I will go to hunt a sword-winged duck. This dish is called triple-layered duck, a Suzhou cuisine dish."


    Bai Shuang''s real voice had even more of a matronly charm than her appearance.


    Li Xiaoyu felt she resembled her own mother a bit, only without the sorrow, leaving only a pure sense of ease.

 Chapter 657 - 56: Baichuans Interesting Events and the True Face of Bai Shuang_3

    She nodded her head; this time she didn''t do as before, realizing that no matter how good one''s memory is or how high their IQ, some things can be remembered by the mind but not by the hands.


    So, she obediently took notes.


    It was from that day on that Li Xiaoyu and Bai Shuang actually started to converse regularly.


    Bai Shuang never talked about anything other than cooking with Li Xiaoyu, and Li Xiaoyu never asked too much.


    Only once did Bai Shuang say:


    "I know who sent you to get close to me, but everything that happens between us must not be shared with others."


    Li Xiaoyu''s intention was to assist Tang Xian, but somehow, she always felt that Bai Shuang was quite lonely too.


    The young girl nodded her head and agreed to it.


    Because she had few friends of her own, though Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran certainly were, they seemed different from Bai Shuang. She thought it was a matter between women, and it was nice to sometimes keep secrets from Tang Xian.


    Of course, the main reason was that Bai Shuang indeed talked about nothing besides cooking. It seemed like there was nothing worth discussing with Tang Xian.


    In the many following days, Li Xiaoyu and Bai Shuang maintained a status of master teaching and disciple doing, never indulging in any superfluous chatter. It was fortunate that it was Li Xiaoyu; had it been someone else, like Tang, he surely would have tried to pry into matters.


    But Li Xiaoyu didn''t pry; she felt a closeness to Bai Shuang. It seemed she also sensed something special from Bai Shuang towards herself.


    She didn''t contemplate the reasons, for she had come to understand Bai Shuang''s character well enough: don''t ask what you shouldn''t, don''t talk about what you shouldn''t, and even don''t think about what you shouldn''t. Whenever Bai Shuang wanted to talk, she would naturally do so. If she didn''t want to talk, then you could only expect four words in reply, "What''s it to you?"


    The most interesting thing was that Bai Shuang had never actually said "What''s it to you?" to Li Xiaoyu, yet Li Xiaoyu just had this feeling that Bai Shuang was that kind of person.


    Tang Xian was different. Whenever he thought of Bai Shuang, the words "What''s it to you?" and "What''s it to me?" would automatically come to mind.


    Bai Shuang had many secrets, a mystical beast that had wandered the Human World for centuries must know many hidden truths. Li Xiaoyu wouldn''t ask, but just followed along cooking, happy at the thought of being praised by Tang Xian for her culinary skills when he returned. As for the rest¡­ leave it to fate.


    However, the day Bai Shuang took human form, the greatest beneficiary wasn''t Li Xiaoyu or Tang Xian.


    It was Duck.


    After that day, Bai Shuang taught Li Xiaoyu how to prepare the famous Suzhou-style Triple Duck, but there were no ducks nearby except for the Sword Feather Ducks.


    Poor Duck, though ambitious to strive and develop its career, each time it saw Zhen Zida and the second duck being affectionate, its heart bled.


    Then one day, Duck was shocked.


    Zhen Zida disappeared, nowhere to be found.


    The goddess was sad, and Duck was even more heartbroken.


    Leading the flock in search of the missing Sword Feather Duck, they found no clues or leads. For several days in a row it was the same, the second duck was heartbroken and in despair, while Duck offered warm words of concern.


    As long as there''s a quick change of focus, there is no sorrow, only love. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eventually, the goddess, the second duck, was moved by Duck. After some thought, it seemed Duck wasn''t too bad. Completely devoted, though a little unsightly. Although young and fresh ducks were nice, with so many suitors around, there was no sense of security. In the end, what matters is finding someone honest.


    Duck''s springtime had arrived.


    But it was a little anxious¡ªwhere had the young and fresh duck gone? Why did it just disappear all of a sudden?


    What if one day it disappeared too?


    If Tang Xian were here, he''d surely believe that Bai Shuang''s choice of that fresh young duck was deliberate because he was convinced that Bai Shuang had an understanding of the extraordinary nature of the leader of the Sword Feather Ducks.


    But Bai Shuang truly hadn''t thought that much into it. She was just a primordial being who had been swindled into losing their own identity, among a flock of ducks. She simply ate because she wanted to.


    Essentially, in this respect, Bai Shuang was actually somewhat similar to Tang Xian. Both seemed to be Guangdong natives devoid of sentiment.


    It''s just that if Tang Xian truly saw Bai Shuang''s human form, his inner thoughts would probably be more complex because that face was not unfamiliar to him.

 Chapter 658 - 57: An Intimate Conversation with Bai Shuang

    Li Xiaoyu didn''t recognize this face but felt a closeness to it.


    This sense of closeness had no particular origin; in their interactions, the two were more like teacher and student.


    Although Li Xiaoyu thought that in an era that seemed like the apocalypse, meeting a master who taught cooking seemed somewhat off-topic. But on closer consideration, it could be the end of one era, or perhaps the beginning of a new one.


    By the latter part of the second month, the weather had turned very cold. On this planet where the human population had drastically declined over several hundred years, issues like greenhouse effects and global warming weren''t much of a concern anymore. Many cities that historically saw little snowfall began to experience snow.


    Li Xiaoyu dressed warmly.


    A white cotton turtleneck sweater encased her slender neck, topped with a black down jacket.


    Battling the cold was actually a big problem.


    Because there were no significant temperature changes throughout the seasons in the Pyramid, people didn''t need to worry about clothes for warmth. Now, the main strategy against the cold was to take shelter in the Underground Shelter.


    Inside was much like an inverted pyramid. Once the power generators were repaired, everyone inside managed to stay warm, and the winter clothing was reserved for those who had to work on the surface.


    Since those clothes were truly scarce, training in related skills was being accelerated.


    For the two hundred thousand people''s basic needs, clothing surprisingly became the biggest challenge, and for the vast majority, this was the first time they experienced a true winter. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With more issues piling up in the Underground Shelter, Li Xiaoyu found her time increasingly scarce. Nevertheless, she made it a habit to still carve out time daily to visit Bai Shuang in the eastern suburbs for conversation, or rather, for learning.


    She and that lady of high society seemed to have formed a very special kind of friendship.


    Akasi and Tang Suoye didn''t mind the cold much, nor did the Jianyu ducks; they were elite creatures, after all. In this world, they were practically lords among fauna.


    Occasionally, when passing by where the duck-penguins were, Li Xiaoyu would see Akasi and Tang Suoye huddled together, either counting the ducks or engaging in some other pungently odd activities.


    At such times, Li Xiaoyu would particularly miss Tang Xian.


    Every time Tang Xian came back, he would chat for a while, but he always left quickly.


    She hadn''t asked much about what he experienced in the mining area.


    Of course, Tang Xian didn''t ask much either, even when he came back the first time to find Baichuan City in utter chaos, vastly different from Yuan Mist''s description, he had guessed that someone must be causing trouble behind the scenes.


    But through it all, he trusted Li Xiaoyu. This trust was mutual.


    Although Li Xiaoyu longed to see Tang Xian, as long as Yuan Mist reported safety every seven days, she felt satisfied.


    Today seemed like the coldest day of these times. Night fell quickly. Li Xiaoyu didn''t bring out the black cat anymore. Instead, carrying a lantern, she headed towards Bai Shuang''s place.


    She felt the cold, even though she was dressed warmly, the harsh winter of Baichuan City was somewhat overwhelming for her.


    When she arrived in front of Bai Shuang, Li Xiaoyu rubbed her hands together, her breath turning to frost, and asked,


    "What are we learning today?"


    "Taking off clothes."


    "What?" Li Xiaoyu thought she had misheard.


    Bai Shuang repeated herself, tone even, saying,


    "Taking off clothes."


    "I refuse." Li Xiaoyu''s tone was just as even.


    Although Bai Shuang possessed an elder''s demeanor and a master''s authoritative air, the only person in the world who could boss Li Xiaoyu around was Tang Xian, and the only one who could make such an impolite and absurd request was him as well.


    She was the queen of Baichuan City. Though she was beginning to master normal emotions during interactions with others, at her core, Li Xiaoyu was still a reticent and prideful person.


    She was even somewhat angry.


    Bai Shuang didn''t mind; she was the type of person who couldn''t be bothered explaining too much.


    She waved her hand lightly, and a glow like the light of dawn enveloped both Li Xiaoyu and herself.


    Li Xiaoyu furrowed her brows slightly, then suddenly her eyes widened in shock.


    Because one second, she was in the eastern suburbs of Baichuan City amidst a blizzard, and the next, she found herself in a steamy hot spring.


    This was clearly a hot spring resort that had been cleaned and tidied up.


    Li Xiaoyu was stunned, and even with her strong resolve, she took a moment to recover from the shock of this supernatural power.


    The scene that followed was even more surprising.


    For Bai Shuang had taken off her clothes.


    The plain white robe couldn''t really be described by the word ''take off''; it was more appropriate to say it dissolved. Initially, Bai Shuang had manifested it with a Soul Crystal, and now she simply reverted it back.


    Her figure was fuller and taller than Li Xiaoyu''s, but her skin was just as pale and tender.


    It seemed that time had only gifted Bai Shuang with an indifferent to changes demeanor, leaving no other traces on her. This quality on her full womanly body held a special allure, one that girls like Li Xiaoyu, Qiao Shanshan, and Dong Ran didn''t possess.


    Only then did Li Xiaoyu understand what Bai Shuang meant by taking off clothes.


    "You..."


    "If extreme cold seeps into your bones, it will leave many illnesses behind. Soaking in this hot spring will drive away the cold from your body."


    Li Xiaoyu had never undressed in front of others, even if it was another woman; she was still a bit shy.


    Bai Shuang didn''t care, adopting an attitude of you soak if you want. She no longer paid any attention to Li Xiaoyu and started to wash herself.

 Chapter 659 - 57: Intimate Conversation with Bai Shuang_2

    In the misty water vapor, Li Xiaoyu glanced at Bai Shuang and thought, she had probably only done this sort of thing when she was a child, with her mother.


    Ultimately, Li Xiaoyu stripped off her clothes, but unlike Bai Shuang, Li Xiaoyu did not do so in front of her. She carefully turned her back, moved behind the curtain, making sure Bai Shuang couldn''t see, and then slowly took off her garments one by one.


    The kind of friendship between women that includes bathing together, Li Xiaoyu was unclear about. Bai Shuang probably didn''t know either.


    She just saw that Li Xiaoyu was very cold, and since she happened to want to take a bath, she took Li Xiaoyu with her to the hot springs here.


    Though Bai Shuang was not born into a wealthy family like Li Xiaoyu, if there were no existence stronger than her in this world, and she could instantly reach any place at any time, then necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation would naturally be of the highest standard.


    Such as eating the best ingredients, drinking the clearest water, admiring the most beautiful scenery, and soaking in the most comfortable hot springs.


    That''s what she thought, and so that''s what she did.


    However, Bai Shuang didn''t understand why Li Xiaoyu was being so shy and fussy about undressing and wouldn''t let her see.


    After taking off all her clothes and folding them neatly, Li Xiaoyu also took a dry towel and covered them up.


    The reason she was so cautious was that this girl, who resembled a black cat, gave off a sense of sanctity, authority, and loneliness on regular days.


    Li Xiaoyu did not really like getting close to people; even with Qiao Shanshan and Dong Ran, she seldom engaged in the intimate behaviors that ordinary girls share, like holding hands, hugging, doing each other''s hair, or discussing makeup.


    From a very young age, she had been cut off from the things typical to normal girls.


    Though she had changed a lot now, no longer as domineering in Baichuan City as she used to be, and appeared more human and down-to-earth.


    But to many people, Li Xiaoyu was still Li Xiaoyu, no matter how she acted in front of Tang Xian; that did not mean a tiger had turned into a cat.


    However, if Qiao Shanshan were here, she would probably understand why Li Xiaoyu covered all her intimates.


    Because after dressing so cute that one time and finding it enjoyable, despite being quite manipulative as the female leader of Baichuan City on the surface, she was still somewhat girlish at heart.


    Li Xiaoyu''s undergarments were distinctly different from her outer garments. While the outer garments were mostly dark colors, the undergarments were pink... and even had a small cat paw print on them, and even the socks were adorable cat paw socks.


    These were for Tang Xian''s eyes only; others could not see them.


    This felt like a corporate elite in a suit and leather shoes coming home to reveal a Peppa Pig tattoo¡ªthere was a strong sense of contrast.


    After shedding her clothes, Li Xiaoyu wrapped in a bath towel, came to the hot spring feeling a bit nervous. She tentatively dipped her clean, white feet at the edge of the water and, finding the temperature very appropriate, slowly stepped into the hot spring.


    The comfortable temperature instantly relieved Li Xiaoyu''s chill, making her feel very comfortable.


    The Li family had a private swimming pool, but when compared to this purely natural hot spring, the effect was not as good.


    "Thank you, and sorry about earlier."


    This kind of thing was like going to Autumn Name Mountain with a boyfriend for the first time or embracing the so-called "law of dressing in drag" ¡ª once you have the first experience, you soon grow to like it.


    Bai Shuang remained as calm as ever, her posture much more natural than Li Xiaoyu''s. She leaned back against the edge, leisurely enjoying the soak.


    But unlike Li Xiaoyu, what Bai Shuang revealed wasn''t limited to above the neck.


    Li Xiaoyu, although she eventually adopted the same pose, leaning back against the edge of the hot spring, at first glance only revealed above the neck as well.


    Li Xiaoyu subconsciously lowered herself in the water a bit, giving the impression that it wasn''t that she lacked anything, she was just intentionally submerged.


    In fact, Bai Shuang really hadn''t paid attention to these things at all.


    But Li Xiaoyu still felt, how come she hadn''t inherited her mother''s sizable traits?


    Shang Lu was in Baichuan City; next time, she''d have to go ask if all those papayas, grapefruits, and kiwis were actually of any use?


    Many things in this world, if you''re not born with them, you probably won''t ever have them, not just the sports car you can''t afford after a lifetime of work, but also the innate parts of oneself.


    A bath shared by a woman guaranteed to live at least five hundred years and a girl of eighteen or nineteen was very quiet.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t really like to talk, and Bai Shuang was the same.


    However, after soaking for about fifteen minutes, Li Xiaoyu felt that her relationship with Bai Shuang had perhaps grown a bit closer.


    "Sister Bai Shuang," Li Xiaoyu spoke softly.


    "Hmm?"


    "Can you tell me about Baichuan City?"


    "Finally can''t resist asking, huh?"


    "Not exactly, it''s just that I feel this silence, though not awkward, is somewhat a waste of time," Li Xiaoyu said frankly.


    "There''s not much to say about Baichuan City, even though you are now governing this city, its fate is not something you can change."


    "What do you mean?"


    "You, or should I say your man, is not the first person to come here."


    Bai Shuang didn''t treat Li Xiaoyu the same way as she did Tang Xian, even though this woman, who had lived for an unknown number of years, had enough wisdom to understand instantly what Li Xiaoyu''s visit meant, and who instigated it. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she didn''t care, she was willing to speak if she felt like it, and whether it fell into someone''s scheming or followed someone''s wishes, it had nothing to do with her.


    But Bai Shuang didn''t say much either.


    "This world has its own destiny, and my master is also waiting for someone who can put an end to these destinies, but you don''t need to know this, your man is not yet qualified to know."


    "Then what does he need to do to be qualified?"


    Li Xiaoyu wasn''t surprised that Bai Shuang could see through her as someone Tang Xian had sent to probe for information.


    Bai Shuang said:


    "I will tell you what I am willing to share, but don''t ask about what I am unwilling to discuss."


    "I understand."


    Li Xiaoyu did not seem the slightest bit resentful.


    Because now she was very sure of one thing, that is Bai Shuang was indeed on the side of humankind, with her own arrangements. If even knowing about it was inherently dangerous, then the smart thing to do was not to know.


    Li Xiaoyu''s ability to reasonably control her own curiosity was something that Bai Shuang still liked.


    However, she did not know that this was only the case for anyone other than Tang Xian. After all... the former Li Xiaoyu would have loved to control every move of Tang Xian every minute of every day.


    People will, after all, grow up.


    Li Xiaoyu thought that the topic was heading to an end and that it might be time to talk about everyday life, but Bai Shuang added another comment:


    "Your man is becoming increasingly powerful. But this power is not yet enough. It''s good for a child in the cradle to want to crawl out, but afterward, he must become even stronger."


    It wasn''t just Qing JiuYu, Tang Feiji, Akasi, and others who felt Tang Xian getting stronger, Bai Shuang did too.


    Every time Tang Xian appeared at the duck shed, Bai Shuang noticed that his strength had greatly increased month by month.


    In terms of combat ability, he would soon surpass several beast-class figures in Baichuan City.


    But still, it was not enough.


    There were too many creatures in the Myriad Beasts Realm. In the forbidden area of the holy mountain, no one knew what kind of strange beasts might be released.


    "The Eden bloodline might be the supreme lineage, but if it has been defeated before, it can be defeated again. He must possess something stronger than the Eden bloodline itself. When he finds those things, he will be qualified to know the secrets of this world."


    Li Xiaoyu couldn''t understand these abstruse words, but she understood one thing: in the mining area world, there were existences potent enough to pose a grave danger to Tang Xian.


    Bai Shuang was guarding the remains of an end-of-the-world level creature, perhaps also waiting for someone worthy to inherit something from her.


    After soaking in the hot spring for about thirty minutes, it was rare for Li Xiaoyu to cleanse this long, but in such an absolutely quiet place, next to Bai Shuang, there was a sense of warmth that had been missing for a long time.


    Bai Shuang actually liked this young girl quite a bit and thought about taking Li Xiaoyu to different places in this world in the years to come.


    The premise is, the young girl''s man can truly keep Baichuan City safe.

 Chapter 660 - 58: Gathering of All Beasts

    All things in Baichuan City were finally getting back on track, this human refuge slowly reverting to the bustling ¨¦lan of a thriving metropolis.


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t worry too much. She didn''t ask about the things Bai Shuang didn''t tell her. Knowing things that couldn''t be changed might render all actions futile and instead affect her own strategies.


    In the days that followed, Bai Shuang took Li Xiaoyu to many places. The two hours every evening spent with Li Xiaoyu took on a somewhat fantastical hue.


    The nineteen-year-old young girl and the at least several hundred years old older girl were increasingly finding favor in each other''s eyes.


    Once Bai Shuang was willing to talk, her guidance on Li Xiaoyu''s cooking became even more effortless, and Li Xiaoyu quickly improved her culinary skills, sometimes even producing tastes that satisfied Bai Shuang with a few signature dishes.


    Li Xiaoyu was overjoyed, eagerly anticipating Tang Xian''s next return.


    ...


    ...


    The mining district, Holy Mountain.


    The Endless Turtle''s mutterings about the Chaos having fled and the Qiongqi perished took about two weeks to be conveyed.


    The main reason for this was that after Qiongqi left the Holy Mountain, it vanished without a trace. It was only when the Xuan Bird came to inquire on the judge''s order that they learned of both Chaos and Qiongqi''s deaths.


    The strongest of the four fiendish beasts of the Wan Beast Court had already lost three.


    This matter caught the attention of the entire Wan Beast Court.


    Not only the group of monkeys from the Holy Mountain, but also the humans within the forbidden lands were concerned.


    In the grand hall of the forbidden lands on Holy Mountain, a roundtable meeting was held where several humans discussed matters with the judges from the Wan Beast Court.


    "Can''t the Endless Turtle shed any light on the enemy?"


    The people clad uniformly in grey robes were indistinguishable, and one could only tell them apart by their voices. The speaker was young, male, and had a magnetic voice that instinctively made one think of a meticulous member of the Analysis Faction.


    "Hmph, that old bastard is almost finished, we need to figure out how to create another," the middle-aged man''s voice was a bit more rugged.


    "Cough cough... These are divine beasts, not so easy to come by another. We must take good care of it, there''s only one turtle in the pond, and now it''s a bit senile. We can''t let it be stolen," the elder seemed to still have some sentiment for the old turtle.


    The judge said nothing, its massive form resembling a giant.


    Sitting beside it, also silent, one could tell from the delicate fingers that it was a woman.


    The woman''s fingers gently tapped on the table, listening to the unproductive conversation among the people, and then said:


    "If I''m not mistaken, it might be the same group that hunted the source of the plague and the Ash Dragon. According to the ancient primates who escaped from Nether Valley in the northwest, they saw humans near Nether Valley."


    As she saw the people around her quiet down and grow reflective, the woman continued:


    "Among the humans in the Pyramid, there are occasionally one or two mutants, but they definitely cannot match up against Orange-class creatures. Although this human didn''t ride a dragon, I still find it hard to believe there''s another one like him," she said.


    "So what''s your point?" asked the young man.


    "We''ve repeatedly sent formidable creatures to kill this human, each time stronger than the last. The Taotian is already the demon overlord of the Chaos Beast Realm, and the Qiongqi repeatedly broke through in the Wan Beast Prison, with its values surpassing Taotian; Chaos need not be elaborated on, as it could almost become any creature from the Wan Beast Realm given the specific time. Under such circumstances, yet they were dealt with one by one. This means we underestimated the enemy''s strength."


    "But according to feedback from some Wan Beasts in the Yuepela Plains, the dragon''s strength shouldn''t surpass that of Taotian," mentioned the young man.


    "I''ve already said, it''s not about the dragon. The focus is on the human," she reiterated.


    "Humans can''t compete against Orange-class creatures. That human must have a very special bloodline, and perhaps..."


    The woman paused slightly, then amended her statement:


    "In any case, he might have a horrifying growth potential like Taotian. Our strategy was flawed because we didn''t properly assess our opponent, leading to our unintentionally nurturing a powerful monster."


    "For hundreds of years, no creature has threatened the court, maybe that human is indeed powerful, but not to the extent you''re saying," the young man retorted.


    The woman didn''t respond, but the elder said:


    "Cough cough... those puppet-like creatures trapped in the Pyramid may eventually be devoured, but we cannot deny they have numerous genetic sequences. They may indeed create an ultimate weapon capable of rivaling the Wan Beasts."


    "Then let''s eliminate him," the rugged middle-aged man said.


    "But who to send this time? The Taowu isn''t as strong as the previous three. Could it be the Xuan Bird?" the young man questioned.


    The woman shook her head, saying:


    "If you still can''t properly assess the enemy and continue to send only a part of our forces, then what you''re doing is continuing to feed that monster. I repeat, the enemy has strong growth potential, which may far exceed our expectations, perhaps akin to the ones from hundreds of years ago..."


    [Stop!]


    The crowd suddenly fell silent because the judge, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.


    These humans seemed to understand the language of the Wan Beasts, just like Tang Xian.


    "What does the judge think?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 661 - 58: Gathering of All Beasts_2

    """


    ["Those who threaten the court are unforgivable. The adversary this time indeed possesses formidable strength; the positions of the Judgment Chiefs have still not been filled."]


    The judge''s statement was quite clear.


    The woman slightly raised her head, looking askance, and one could now see her rosy lips.


    "If we are to dispatch more forces, we must ensure success. As of now, the beast horde has been rather obedient. After the Yuepela Plains incident, humans have become very quiet¡ªthey must have recognized the disparity between us and them. So the only unpredictable factor that we currently have to deal with is this one."


    Seeing that no one else raised any objections, the woman continued:


    "In the name of the jury, I hope the honorable judge will dispatch Taowu, Gold-Breaking Beast, Sinbone Spider, Gorgon, Qing Jiuye, along with their respective beast hordes, commanded by the Mystical Bird and assisted by Shen Yin. We must surround and eliminate the enemy, to restore peace to the Myriad Beasts Realm."


    As soon as the woman finished speaking, the middle-aged man with the gruff voice and the old man both raised objections.


    "Such a grand display for just one human?"


    "You are initiating a war!"


    Even the young man slightly shook his head, feeling the woman was making a mountain out of a molehill. These beast leaders, commanding their hordes, were capable of flattening any land. This was starting to involve the reserves of the court.


    Even if humans were to unite again, there was no need to deploy such powerful forces.


    This was a setup that seemed appropriate only for hunting creatures above the orange tier.


    The woman ignored the others and looked at the judge. Everything would be decided by him. Before the judge made his ruling, she added:


    "We must assume that the opponent possesses tremendous potential for growth, perhaps even surpassing that of gluttonous monsters. Not long ago, we received news from the Senero Domain that the Lei Xiao Group has been annihilated, with only the Owl King managing to escape."


    "Lei Xiao are elusive creatures; it''s hard to imagine someone in this world capable of hunting a Lei Xiao, which means that this human must have at least some exceptional perceptive ability. We might even assume that his goal was to capture the Lei Xiao."


    No one disagreed; the woman''s hypothesis was sound and reasonable.


    "I think I need not elaborate further. The human subjects in the Pyramid, in terms of intellect, are certainly not comparable to those monkeys out there. If he can perceive, then he can plan and strategize. This is also the reason I am dispatching Shen Yin, since it is imperceptible."


    Gold-Breaking Beast, Sinbone Spider, Qing Jiuye, Taowu, Gorgon, Mystical Bird, Shen Yin.


    This was almost the entire reserve of the court''s leaders.


    Several people thought the judge would not agree, but after pondering for a while, the judge actually nodded.


    It was as if a deadly battle was waiting for him, and this feeling made the judge quite uneasy, so he agreed to the jury''s proposal. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After speaking for a few more moments, the judge then left.


    With the meeting concluded, the Sacred Mountain also witnessed a significant upheaval.


    Moored above the Red Lotus Hell, the Sacred Mountain, through the Mystical Bird and the Golden Fierce Bird flock, transmitted messages. Those Judgment Chiefs who were reinforcing the power of the Myriad Beasts'' court in various places were one by one summoned back.


    The Gorgon, a Medusa-like being with serpentine hair, is an orange-tier creature. Unlike the mythical Medusa, Gorgon''s true appearance is extremely ugly, and its frame is massive.


    Compared to these gigantic beings, Gold-Breaking Beast appeared quite small, just slightly larger than a human. One of its hands had four fingers, each tipped with sharp claws, while the other hand resembled a scythe. Like the Plague Source, Gold-Breaking Beast also wore a conical hat.


    From a distance, it looked like a solitary and noble swordsman.


    Qing Jiuye was the only one among these creatures who could transform into a human. For this reason, she had always been aloof, but she did not need to mingle. The disdain in the eyes of this new fox tribe queen seemed to indicate that it wasn''t the Myriad Beasts that isolated her, but rather she who had isolated the Myriad Beasts.


    The Sinbone Spider and its brood were the most horrifying beings, appearing like giant, fuzzy spiders that seemed as if they were undead, exuding a Netherworld presence with their bare white bones.


    The last to arrive was Taowu, the least fierce of the Four Perils. Taowu, who committed the least evil out of them, had strength far below the other cataclysmic creatures. Its inclusion among the Four Perils was due to its unique constitution¡ªit grew stronger with battle.


    In combat between top-tier beings, the conflict is usually one of attrition. As a general rule, heroes who do not bleed do not play, embodying a protagonist''s constitution.


    Taowu had such a constitution, growing exponentially more powerful the closer it came to death, potentially surpassing the other beasts.


    Shen Yin and the Mystical Bird were the earliest to arrive. The Mystical Bird needed no introduction¡ªchief of the Judgment Chiefs, bearer of an immortal body.


    Even if it might not surpass the destructive force of the monsters, in a fight to the death with the Mystical Bird, the victor could only be the Mystical Bird.


    Traditionally responsible for guarding the Sacred Mountain, this was just the second time the Mystical Bird was dispatched for combat.


    Shen Yin was unassuming, a massive chameleon. It had always been present when the court''s top forces rallied, but no one ever noticed it.


    Compared to the other Judgment Chiefs, Shen Yin was the most difficult to engage. Yet, it represented the most deeply hidden weapon of the Myriad Beasts'' court.


    With Shen Yin present, scent, temperature, sound, and vision would all disappear for a time, as if it... had never existed.


    The Endless Turtle watched from above the waterfall, gazing into the distance at the assembly of ferocious beasts on the Sacred Mountain, recalling that the last time there was an assembly of this scale was centuries ago.

 Chapter 662 - 58: Gathering of All Beasts_3

    Several hundred years ago, a battle ensued here within the Myriad Beasts Realm; any being with some strength took part in it. Yet, this event was not recorded in the laws of the Myriad Beasts.


    After that battle, many masters in the Myriad Beasts Court perished. The judges, consequently, sustained severe injuries, losing a certain ability completely, and have since been confined to the altar, recuperating from their wounds.


    Once again, the Myriad Beasts rallied, though it was nothing compared to the scale of the past, but it was assumed that the enemy no longer possessed that god-like being from hundreds of years ago.


    The Endless Turtle could hardly tell fortunes now; what it saw of the future was fragmented, and it was difficult to focus and see a specific segment as clearly as it could a century ago.


    Hence, it did not provide the outcome of this assembly''s expedition, whether it was auspicious or dire.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    In the West Border of the Sin Snatching Territory.


    After hunting Lei Xiao, Tang Xian, Bai Mansheng, and others did not delay and kept on traveling.


    ''To the west of the far west'' were the only clues to the ruin of Eden.


    Only after a full three days did they traverse the vast Sin Snatching Territory; what followed was a lengthy migration.


    In the maps of the Human World, this place was known as the Sin Snatching Domain, marked entirely in black.


    It was within this blackened territory that Tang Xian researched books, learning that the ruins of Eden were located somewhere within.


    But the territory was too vast.


    After stepping out of the Sin Snatching Territory, the number of beasts dwindled somewhat, and the creatures they encountered were not as formidable.


    It seemed as if the powerful beasts had claimed the resource-rich forests, driving out the weaker beings.


    The further they ventured into the Sin Snatching Domain, the more barren and desolate it became.


    Here, there was no snow; spring, summer, autumn, and winter seemed indistinguishable, for the whole place felt like a land of the dead, with trees and vegetation long perished.


    Stretching for what seemed like hundreds of miles, the scene remained uniformly desolate.


    Fortunately, Tang Xian and his companions were not worried about food supplies. In such a place, at most, the food might taste unpleasant, but as long as it could sate hunger, Bai Mansheng raised no objections.


    Even Tang Xiaojiu stayed silent. The little girl was sensible and knew that food was becoming scarcer. Occasionally, when a vulture flew across the sky, it would delight everyone to no end.


    The barren journey swiftly reached its nineteenth day. And as far as the eye could see, it appeared only more desolate and deathly quiet ahead.


    The food for Tang Xian and his companions was also becoming increasingly scarce.


    "If the world truly harbors the ruins of Eden, then its location in such a barren wasteland seems quite fitting," Tang Xian suddenly remarked, feeling the chill of the wilderness wind. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The ruins of Eden... you''ve mentioned that place many times," Bai Mansheng, the only one who could have a normal conversation with Tang Xian, stated.


    Bai Mansheng inquired,


    "Does that place hold some kind of secret?"


    "I don''t know. It''s uncertain with things from dreams."


    Indeed, Tang Xian did not know; he only dreamed of some chaotic scenes when he entered the eighth level of the Pyramid.


    "Speaking of which, why is this place so barren?" Tang Xian asked.


    "Not sure." Bai Mansheng was slightly surprised; Tang Xian sometimes acted more familiar with the mining area than she was and rarely asked her anything.


    "It feels as if it''s deliberately been made barren," Tang Xian remarked, looking around.


    Shortly after stepping out from the lush Sin Snatching Territory and entering the Sin Snatching Domain, the landscape turned to wasteland, which struck Tang Xian as strange.


    It was as if, within this vast barren land, there existed a monster that devoured life.


    "These past days, I''ve been sensing a kind of unease," said Bai Mansheng, not sure how to continue Tang Xian''s topic, so she shared her own feelings instead.


    "Let''s hear it."


    "The Myriad Beasts Court has once again fallen to your hand, but it''s been over half a month, and there seems to be no sign of them stirring."


    "I''ve been thinking about that too. It doesn''t fit the Myriad Beasts Court''s style. From their previous responses, they act decisively and wouldn''t usually remain silent for this long."


    "Aren''t you worried?"


    "With the experience we have, there''s nothing to worry about. I''m also waiting for them," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Despite his assurance, he felt some doubts internally. Although his sense of smell should have alerted him to danger, he still felt oppressed inside. Yet, he did not let this unfounded anxiety show on his face.


    Tang Xian''s words gave Bai Mansheng a sense of security, but the situation did not pass so simply. She remained vigilant as well.


    The feeling of crisis was not a characteristic of snakes; it was a woman''s intuition.


    She trusted her gut feeling.


    Traveling through the desolate Sin Snatching Domain was like being watched by a terrifying beast.


    Tang Xian also shared a similar sensation, but for him, it was a distinctly different feeling.


    Six doomsday-level creatures existed: one under the sea, one in the Human World.


    But where were the others?


    The land was too barren, barren to the point where it felt as if they had stepped into a realm of the undead, and so vast it must have taken what kind of entity to turn such a large area into a land of death?


    In this black region on the human map, could there lie the corpse of another doomsday-level creature?

 Chapter 663 - 59: The Whole World Rises Against Tang

    In the desolate Sin Snatching Territory, Tang Xian and his party were like a few travelers lost in the desert.


    Tang Xian roughly estimated that this barren land already approached one third of the area of the northern continent. Of course, whether it would grow larger was yet unknown.


    They walked for a very long time and still never seemed to reach the end. During that time, they eventually could no longer find food or water, so, out of necessity, Yuan Wu brought water and food from Baichuan City.


    Tang Xian didn''t like this, originally thinking that they could hunt enough game along the way. He hadn''t expected that such a desolate place could exist in the world.


    As they ventured deeper, he increasingly felt that something was off.


    During a certain part of their journey, Tang Xian felt the presence of a creature approaching, and he truly smelled its scent in the air.


    But quickly, the scent completely disappeared.


    Everything was like an illusion.


    By now, they had been traveling through the Sin Snatching Territory for twenty-six days, and Tang Xian, along with Bai Mansheng and others, sat by the campfire. They no longer traveled all night but instead slowly savored their food to replenish their strength. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This place is just like the Netherworld," Bai Mansheng said.


    "I accompanied you to the land of the dead, happy now? This can also be considered a brush with life and death," Tang Xian said with a smile.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t really understand Li Xiaoyu and Tang Xian.


    When it came to Tang Xian, she couldn''t quite grasp or see through what he was thinking.


    Sometimes Tang Xian could be quite rascally, and other times he was calm like a machine.


    "If I really had to go through life and death with a man, I would also hope that man is you."


    Suddenly, Bai Mansheng uttered a phrase that caught Tang Xian a bit off guard.


    Tang Xian reached out his hand and touched Bai Mansheng''s forehead, an action he would never have dared to do before. After all, in the past, a moment''s carelessness with Bai Mansheng or Qing JiuYu could have meant his death.


    "Feeling confused?"


    Bai Mansheng gently moved Tang Xian''s hand away and said,


    "We''ve known each other for a while now, Tang Xian. Xu Xian may be fake, but I''ve always been willing to believe that there''s such a persona inside you."


    Tang Xian''s mood abruptly soured.


    It was unrelated to the atmosphere; rather, according to Tang Xian''s intuition from many stories, women usually encounter bad things when they start talking about feelings.


    That''s why he seldom discussed these matters with Li Xiaoyu.


    "That was fake, just a way of speaking about intellect and emotions. Xu Xian doesn''t exist. I have always been Tang Xian. But indeed, I have gone through some things and changed."


    "If only I were truly human," Bai Mansheng suddenly said.


    "You''re acting really strange today."


    "Perhaps the long journey has tired me out," she said.


    Perhaps when one is in a desolate world, the sense of one''s own insignificance can evoke a feeling of loneliness. Thinking this, Tang Xian said,


    "You''ve always been human in my eyes."


    "But in your eyes, there will always be a difference between beasts and humans. How many beasts have you killed, and how many humans?"


    Tang Xian really couldn''t answer this question because the numbers were too high to count.


    Bai Mansheng''s tone wasn''t accusatory, just a bit helpless.


    "This world has existed for a long time; humans only stepped foot here a few hundred years ago. Sometimes I think that maybe long before you, there were humans who joined the company of beasts, became friends, and even attained high statuses."


    "That''s an interesting assertion," Tang Xian said, pausing for a moment.


    "Are you saying that it''s quite possible that somewhere in this world, there are still humans living? Maybe they even have some kind of decision-making power in this world?"


    "I¡­ I don''t know," Bai Mansheng replied.


    Bai Mansheng didn''t want to discuss this topic with Tang Xian.


    She had been away from her people for a long time and had been adrift in this barren land for over twenty days. Everyone has moments of loneliness, and if there''s someone reliable by their side, it''s particularly easy to develop a sense of dependency.


    But when Bai Mansheng pondered her relationship with Tang Xian, she found it somewhat unclear.


    "Tang Xian, if danger comes, I will protect you," she said.


    Tang Xian was somewhat unable to follow Bai Mansheng''s train of thought.


    On the desolate land, Tang Xiaojiu, Yuan Wu, and Tang were a small group. Bai Mansheng could only talk with Tang Xian.


    In a sense, this was also a kind of isolated pairing.


    Loneliness easily leads to melancholy, and once melancholic, many thoughts arise.


    For example, the long journey following Tang Xian across the sea to the south, then again a long way with Tang Xian to the north.


    Along the way, they had witnessed weddings among humans and experienced countless battles in the world of beasts.


    Deep down, Bai Mansheng believed in romance. She had followed this man for so long, which was strange when she thought about it. Whatever he asked her to do, she did.


    Even though each task seemed like an exchange of benefits, she could have refused them, in reality.


    So what did she really mean to Tang Xian, in his heart?


    Tang Xian noticed the changes in Bai Mansheng''s eyes, which carried a hint of self-pity and self-mockery, and he suddenly felt a bit panic-stricken.


    Thinking about Bai Mansheng''s words "I will protect you," made him even more anxious, but outwardly, Tang Xian remained as calm as ever.


    "If we do encounter trouble, I will protect you too," he said.


    "That would truly be sharing life and death together, which is good," Bai Mansheng said in a low voice.


    At that moment, in the bleak world, a light rain began to fall.


    The cold rain of winter came intermittently, chilling to the bone as it landed on the neck.


    Tang Xian then urged Tang Xiaojiu and the others to go inside the tent.


    The rustling sound of rain came through, dense and unrelenting.

 Chapter 664 - 59: The Whole World Rises Against Tang_2

    Tang Xian listened to the sound of the rain and felt something was amiss.


    Bai Mansheng seemed lost in thought, thinking about various things, and did not notice anything unusual.


    The rustling sounds became increasingly dense.


    At that moment, Bai Mansheng suddenly spoke up,


    "Tang Xian, I no longer wish to¡­ be a priestess for the Sea God Cult."


    "Hmm? Then have Jin Lu take over. With the basics already laid out, just say you''re going to the north to spread the faith. Those Beastmen are none the wiser anyway."


    "I don''t want to be responsible for the clan either. They have a decent standing on the island. I want to go to Baichuan City with you; I want¡­ to live like a human being."


    Tang Xian sighed inwardly.


    Being in this godforsaken place for too long indeed affects one''s mentality.


    "That would be good. Qing Jiuyu is in Baichuan City too. She will open a clothing store in the future, and you, in the future, can manage Baichuan City''s grand library." Tang Xian said with a smile, temporarily avoiding confronting Bai Mansheng''s deeper emotions.


    "That sounds quite interesting." Bai Mansheng was somewhat looking forward to it.


    The rustling sound came again; Bai Mansheng seemed to have more to say, but Tang Xian suddenly stood up.


    "We''ve got enemies."


    These words made Yuan Wu, who was instructing Tang Xiaojiu and Tang, as well as the two foodies being instructed, all stand up.


    Surprise filled Tang Xian''s eyes.


    The rustling sounds, which resembled the rainfall, were in fact more akin to the noise of a large group of crawling reptiles, except those creatures were very far away.


    Tang Xian could hardly imagine when exactly he had been surrounded.


    Despite being on the alert, he still hadn''t expected someone to bypass his sense of smell.


    He stepped outside the tent; although the rain continued to fall and no lifeforms were visible in the distance, he could not catch any scent despite the clearness of the sounds.


    Tang Xian looked up, staring intently at the sky.


    He thought he glimpsed a web.


    "Tang, protect Xiaojiu and Yuan Wu, Bai the little white snake, prepare for the enemy, we have been cut off."


    Tang Xian spoke sternly, and Bai Mansheng sensed the gravity of the situation.


    She walked out of the tent and stood shoulder to shoulder with Tang Xian.


    At that moment, the trajectory of the web in the sky became increasingly clear.


    It was a gigantic spider web that blotted out the sky and the sun.


    The source of the rustling noises was numerous tiny spiders slowly crawling across the net.


    The scene was extremely unsettling, as the spiders appeared to be without flesh and consisted only of skeletons. Together with the Sin Snatching Territory already resembling a land of death, the whole vista was like Asura Hell.


    "The spider demon and the white bone demon have merged."


    White Bone Spiders, an elite class of beings, possess extremely potent toxins, but I am now immune to all poisons.


    The real trouble, however, is the Sin Bone Spider. It''s a calamity-level boss creature.


    So the Sin Bone Spider''s web can isolate smells?


    No, when it entered the range of web-spinning, I should have smelled its scent first.


    Tang Xian frowned, and Bai Mansheng was as tense as if facing a formidable enemy.


    The pressure in the Soul Crystal grew heavier.


    The spiders crawled densely; someone with arachnophobia would surely vomit on the spot if they saw this.


    Tang Xian thought that as long as Bai Mansheng was there, ice walls would suffice to block the spiders, and he could face Sin Bone alone.


    But what happened next once again defied his expectations.


    Suddenly, a flame ripped a huge hole in the web.


    At that moment, Tang Xiaojiu suddenly turned his head and looked in a certain direction outside the tent.


    A fox''s howl came through, carrying a wicked undertone, as if mocking prey trapped in a cage.


    The arrival of the nine-tailed fox made Tang Xian''s heartbeat seem to skip a beat.


    To Tang Xian, Qing Jiuye looked somewhat similar to Qing Jiuyu, except Qing Jiuyu was the epitome of femininity, while Qing Jiuye had a touch more wildness about her, with a malicious grin that made her look like a female demon lord.


    "I seem to have sniffed the scent of a traitor," Qing Jiuye licked her lips.


    Tang Xian silently calculated the odds of winning with the addition of a nine-tailed fox, contemplating whether to create chaos with Bai Mansheng''s help and make a quick getaway.


    Until another voice interrupted Tang Xian''s train of thought.


    Suddenly, some stones fell from the sky.


    At a glance, Tang Xian saw that these stones had transformed from the White Bone Spiders.


    They had initially been aimlessly crawling, waiting for the command of the Sin Bones, but suddenly, they were petrified by someone.


    Bai Mansheng frowned with disgust.


    As a serpent, she had heard of the Gorgons, much like the Hydra, and they were considered heretics.


    They were born with an aura of malice.


    The enormous Gorgon slowly moved her body, entering through the opening broken by Qing Jiuye.


    Her eyes shimmered with a grey luster.


    At that moment, Tang Xian didn''t hesitate any longer.


    He gestured to Bai Mansheng with a light motion of his hand.


    Bai Mansheng immediately understood; this was the retreat signal that Tang Xian had devised long ago. It meant that Tang Xian thought they had little chance of winning this battle.


    A Gorgon, a nine-tailed fox, and Sin Bone spiders¡ªTang Xian had never imagined facing three calamity-level boss creatures all at once.


    But what he hadn''t anticipated was that this largest-scale "initiation ceremony" in centuries was far from over.


    A golden light flashed by, and hundreds of white bone spiders were sliced into countless tiny granules.


    The air was filled with a strong cutting intent, and the Gold-Breaking Beast, wearing a large straw hat, charged into the web like Lei Xiao incarnate.


    The Gold-Breaking Beast was like an unparalleled swordmaster.


    In human records, there was no mention of the Gold-Breaking Beast. For all humans who had seen it had died without exception.


    Information about the Gold-Breaking Beast came from the stele unearthed on the seventh layer.


    Tang Xian braced for a formidable adversary.


    The speed just displayed by the Gold-Breaking Beast was second only to Lei Xiao, but its will to cut was arguably on par with Qiongqi.


    When Taowu arrived, Tang Xian was not surprised.


    Three of the Four Perils had been sent already; how could Taowu be absent from this final encirclement?


    It was said that this creature would only grow fiercer in battle and never retreat. Tang Xian now lacked any desire for combat and was formulating methods of escape in his mind.


    Bai Mansheng erected an ice wall while she activated Sun Devourer. In the instant darkness descended, she immediately opened a transport rift and left.


    He didn''t want to engage in this fight at all.


    But he still didn''t leave. Tang Xian now was certain about one thing¡ªthe Beasts Court had mastered some ability that allowed them to bypass his sense of smell.


    He tried hard to sense it but couldn''t perceive anything.


    Until the Xuan Niao appeared, Tang Xian still hadn''t figured out how exactly the Beasts Court had evaded his olfactory perception.


    The Xuan Niao, which seemed to burn in a cold blue flame, hovered at a low altitude, arrogantly looking down at Tang Xian.


    [Human, do you know of your sin?]


    It seemed that the Xuan Niao was the leader.


    Tang Xian remembered the Long-Eared Ancient Ape mentioning that the Xuan Niao guarded the sacred mountain, which meant that, this time, the Beasts Court was probably going all out to annihilate him.


    Xuan Niao, Taowu, Sin Bones, Gorgon, nine-tailed fox, Gold-Breaking Beast¡ªeach of them was extremely difficult to deal with.


    In both numbers and strength, they overwhelmingly surpassed him; how was he to fight this battle?


    Yet after scanning the area, although he perceived nothing, Tang Xian was convinced that there must be another entity present.


    This might be the court''s secret weapon, a hidden being who could bypass his sense of smell. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian really wanted to find this concealed being because only by doing so could he avoid a situation like today''s in the future.


    He only wanted to be the Hunter, not the prey.


    Telekinesis activated.


    Tang Xian gently flicked away a drop of rainwater.


    This was a skill stolen from s-004, where anything projected could follow his will, reaching the position where he wanted it to go.


    This action was very subtle. With his sense of smell fully open, Tang Xian exerted great effort in controlling it, trying to find an invisible presence in this space.


    In the midst of this, Tang Xian began a dialogue with the Xuan Niao.


    "I''m wrong, I truly am. I should never have come to this place. If I hadn''t, that hellhound wouldn''t have died. If the hellhound hadn''t died, I wouldn''t have craved fox meat. If I hadn''t wanted to eat fox meat, I wouldn''t have met¡­"


    Tang Xian started to ramble nonsensically.


    But as soon as he spoke, it took the Xuan Niao and other beasts by surprise.


    Having stayed long on the sacred mountain, the Xuan Niao knew some secrets.


    That previous sentence, "do you know of your sin?" was merely a judgement ritual. According to reason... this human shouldn''t have understood it.


    And yet, the human''s speech should also have been incomprehensible to it.


    A hint of caution flashed in its eyes because the humans capable of communicating with beasts were only mentioned in the laws.

 Chapter 665 - 60: The Inescapable Battle

    Tang Xian was still arguing, but he had already made a decision in his heart. Within three minutes, if he couldn''t use that water droplet to find the location of some invisible entity, he would directly flee with Bai Mansheng and the others.


    The battle had come too suddenly.


    Thinking about some things Bai Mansheng had said today, Tang Xian sensed an ominous air.


    Superstitious beliefs are nonsense, but the similarities in history are striking, so he did not want his path to be overly dramatic. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Blackbird looked down at Tang Xian from low altitude and said:


    "Who exactly are you?"


    Centuries ago, others had entered the sacred mountain but had then disappeared. The Blackbird, having witnessed this scene, went to ask the Endless Turtle, but the Endless Turtle dared not predict, simply stating that those people could hear what it was saying.


    "You are indeed human, yet you can understand the language of our species. Who exactly are you?"


    A single human had killed Shiling, the Plague Source, the Ash Dragon, the Taotie, Qiongqi... The Blackbird also found it somewhat unbelievable.


    Tang Xian looked at the needs on these people''s panels, which were almost uniformly about slaughtering him.


    But the Blackbird was strange; it was the leader, and Tang Xian was certain of that. And this leader wanted to figure out the mystery within him.


    "The way to obtain a secret is to provide a secret of equal value."


    Just as Tang Xian was speaking, cries from a group of foxes came from outside the spiderweb, along with the Iron-Cutting Beast, the Golden Fierce Birds, and the Triple-Headed Snakes.


    The boundary of the spiderweb began to fade, as if the Sin-bone Spider was slowly dispersing its web.


    "I''m really popular, but Blackbird, are you sure this modest group of beasts can hunt me down?"


    Tang Xian''s tone was relaxed and casual, seemingly unconcerned.


    The Blackbird was perceptive, but it could not see through Tang Xian''s guise.


    A grand Empty Fort Strategy was what Tang Xian intended to play out before leaving, drawing out some words. To battle against seven calamity-level bosses along with their beast hordes?


    He''d probably need to summon the Sea God Cult for a chance at victory.


    "You''re bluffing," said the Gold-Breaking Beast.


    This creature, like a solitary swordsman, posed an even greater danger to Tang Xian than Qiongqi.


    Tang Xian ignored it and said:


    "Whether I''m bluffing or not, your leader knows. Blackbird, you''re not unfamiliar with an existence like me, are you?"


    The Blackbird''s expression changed, its eyes filled with even greater doubt.


    Tang Xian thought to himself, as expected.


    The Blackbird hadn''t rashly attacked despite the absolute disparity in combat power, instead opting to probe his identity.


    This suggests that Tang Xian had displayed something that made the Blackbird wary.


    The more dangerous the moment, the quicker Tang Xian''s mind worked. The Myriad Beasts Realm indeed didn''t reason with humans, but today Bai Mansheng mentioned a notion that greatly interested Tang Xian.


    Is it possible that centuries ago, humans entered this world and even gained a certain status in the Myriad Beasts Realm?


    The Blackbird''s reaction hinted that it indeed had seen something.


    But before the Blackbird could speak again, Medusa Gorgon launched an attack.


    A gray light shot from its eyes. Tang Xian thought, damn it, among this group of beasts, there was another waiting for an opportune moment like him.


    The gray light shot straight at Bai Mansheng.


    But Bai Mansheng had already stopped being sentimental and had been on alert for this deviant among snakes as Medusa approached the spiderweb.


    Just as Tang Feiji looked down on the Ash Dragon.


    Bai Snake also looked down on the Gorgon.


    They loathed each other, immediately deadly upon encounter.


    An ice wall rose sharply, cutting off the beam straight away.


    But in an instant, the ice wall turned into a stone wall, and Bai Mansheng instantly sensed that her control over the ice wall had vanished.


    The battle was also ignited at that moment.


    Although the Blackbird was puzzled, it was ultimately confident:


    "Kill all the other beasts without mercy. Only this human, I want alive."


    To capture him alive?


    Tang Xian immediately started calculating the pros and cons of this condition while not stopping his prior plan.


    "Get ready, Bai Mansheng! And Tang Xiaojiu''s Elemental Mist. Tang Fei, stay behind!"


    "Okay!"


    "Okay!"


    A long array of ice walls and a carpet of ice spikes formed, when the spiders were about to climb toward Tang Xian and the others, they were suddenly speared into disarray by the spikes.


    As the ice walls blocked several calamity-level creatures in an instant, Bai Mansheng, Elemental Mist, and Tang Xiaojiu did not hesitate to open the doors to the dimensional rift.


    They dared not delay, all aware of the disparity in combat power in this fight.


    But at that moment, the ice walls were instantly sliced open, and the Gold-Breaking Beast, like wrapped in lightning, cut a Z-shaped trajectory in the air.


    Its speed was extremely fast, and the blade was faster still!


    A fierce slash, cutting the ice wall in half at the waist, then spread toward the several children.


    Tang Xian briefly estimated the timing. There was enough time!


    Bai Mansheng and Tang Xiaojiu could still escape.


    The Gold-Breaking Beast knew its blade was fast, but the opponents had the advantage of the first move.


    But it didn''t care, seemingly certain that these few could not escape.


    It wildly swung its scythe-like arms, this overwhelming cutting force had yet to meet any creature that dared to resist.


    But the next second, Tang Fei let out a stifled grunt, blocking Gold-Breaking Beast''s path.


    A series of terrifying cuts landed on Tang Fei''s body, and while it appeared that this not-so-powerful purple-tier creature would be instantly destroyed, it suddenly recovered.


    Tang Xian wasn''t worried about Tang Fei, for this perverse being had shown apocalyptic levels of vitality.

 Chapter 666 - 60: The Inescapable Battle_2

    The Gold-Breaking Beast''s slicing attack was intercepted by Tang, but the event Tang Xian had been anticipating did not occur.


    Bai Mansheng and the others were supposed to flee through the spatial rift, but Tang Xian saw Bai Mansheng''s astonished expression instead.


    The spatial rift¡­ had closed.


    This was the first time Tang Xian encountered such a situation, his heart was filled with surprise, but he immediately forced himself to calm down and looked elsewhere.


    It was not until this moment that a giant chameleon revealed itself in the northwest corner of the spiderweb.


    Tang Xian was horrified inside, as the other party was actually within the spiderweb, yet he hadn''t sensed it.


    The chameleon''s mouth was wide open, and it seemed to be hiding something inside.


    The Xuan Bird said,


    "The judge had long known about your humans'' special spatial teleportation abilities, but in the end¡­ but ultimately, you rely on external objects. A gentleman should not place himself at the mercy of a tool, and tools will inevitably fail one day."


    The Xuan Bird''s words almost confirmed Tang Xian''s suspicions about the situation.


    Anti-spatial rift device.


    This concept was something Tang Xian had heard Yu Xiaozhe and Lin Sen mention before.


    "Have you ever found it strange that we can use the most cutting-edge spatial jump technology in the mining area where no technology works?" Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "Yes, or could it be that the mining area only nullifies certain technological principles, but some special technologies can still be used?" Tang Xian said.


    The reply came from Lin Sen:


    "If such technology exists, then it indicates that the technology to suppress it also exists."


    "But what can you do? Anti-spatial rift device? We can''t fully understand its principle now, and this technology itself is still provided by the Pyramid," Yu Xiaozhe said.


    "If such technology truly exists, then I''m afraid only the Order Preservers within the Pyramid could possess it."


    This conversation had taken place shortly after Tang Xian had found Baichuan City.


    Originally, he had thought such technology was impossible to exist, but now the Xuan Bird''s words had proven that the technology did indeed exist, and it was right there in the Myriad Beasts Realm.


    "It''s impossible for it to be the beasts. Even though the intelligence of the long-eared ancient apes surpasses that of average humans, they lack cultural accumulation. It''s evident from the experiments on Tang that the apes'' knowledge is still very closed off." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "So there really are humans¡­ living in the mining area?"


    Many thoughts flashed through Tang Xian''s mind at that moment.


    The situation had completely changed at this moment.


    The means of escape via the spatial rift had been exposed, and thus the most crucial element, "the unknown," crucial for successfully executing the Empty Fort Strategy, had been dispelled.


    The Xuan Bird said,


    "By the authority of the Myriad Beasts Tribunal, I declare judgement upon you."


    The cries of a phoenix echoed in the sky, as if blowing the horn for battle.


    Following this proclamation of judgement, the boundary of the spiderweb ruptured, creating several openings, and groups of six-tailed foxes, Iron-Cutting Beasts, and three-headed snakes charged up.


    "Tang, protect Xiaojiu and Yuanmist," Tang Xian instructed before signaling Bai Mansheng,


    At this moment, Bai Mansheng also revealed his true nature.


    When the majestic form of the Nuwa Imperial Snake appeared before the beasts, they all came to a halt.


    Surprise flashed in the Xuan Bird''s eyes - it was worldly and recognized this species mentioned in the Myriad Beasts Codex. During the battle where gods fell, sacred species like the Nuwa Emperor and Azure Dragon were active.


    But afterwards, Azure Dragons no longer appeared in the world, and following the death of the Nuwa Emperor, no White Phosphorus Serpent Demon reached that level again.


    Extreme frost covered the entire battlefield, blocking the beasts'' assault.


    But at the same time, countless foxfires were sprayed.


    They hit the ice wall, instantly melting it away.


    The Iron-Cutting Beasts were swift, following the debris of broken ice, they charged toward Tang Xian.


    Tang Xian had no room to retreat, not that he intended to.


    Behind him, although Yuanmist was overtaken by fear and trembling all over, he still forcibly exerted his telekinesis.


    His ability played a significant role in such a chaotic battle, all the skeletal spiders were blocked by his telekinesis, and the Iron-Cutting Beasts were also killed one after another by Yuanmist using telekinesis.


    While Yuanmist attacked, Tang Xiaojiu did not stop either.


    Since she was forced to leave from the eighth floor of Fortress Thirty-Nine, Tang Xiaojiu had secretly resolved to always protect her brother Tang Xian in the future.


    Her hair quickly turned crimson, and her tails emerged one after another, fox tails several times longer than her body swept softly through the air. At this moment, Tang Xiaojiu looked as though she had aged several years in an instant.


    The childishness on her face lessened, her small fangs became sharper, and although she still had a human form, her ears turned unusually sharp, and her fingers sprouted long nails.


    But that face was still the face of her human form, as if she had merely¡­ changed from a child to a young girl.


    Tang Xian didn''t witness this scene; he simply couldn''t afford to be distracted, otherwise, he would have been astonished to see Tang Xiaojiu''s beastly form... was not a pure fox, but a half-human, half-fox state.


    As the beasts attacked Tang Xiaojiu and the others, several leaders also attacked Tang Xian. This was his most dangerous battle in the mining area.


    He held nothing back.


    Swallow Sun was triggered, and instantaneously a black mist shrouded the Gorgon.


    Tang Xian was extremely wary of that strange petrifying gaze.


    At the same time, his figure continuously moved like a streak of light.


    So as to constantly dodge the fearful striking power of the Gold-Breaking Beast, Tang Xian was certain the beast had the ability to kill him instantly with its slicing attacks.

 Chapter 667 - 60: The Inescapable Battle_3

    However, in terms of speed, the Gold-Breaking Beast was only slightly faster than him. Relying on his calculations of the battlefield, Tang Xian was able to deftly avoid the Gold-Breaking Beast time after time.


    Yet each time, he appeared extremely disheveled, and his body was instantly covered with wounds, densely packed, presenting a harrowing sight.


    But those wounds healed quickly.


    Xuan Bird watched this scene with an ominous premonition. Naturally, the battle could not be lost, and the human''s attempt to engage in a war of attrition with the Gold-Breaking Beast seemed foolish.


    But for some reason, the various divine powers that Tang Xian displayed seemed familiar to it.


    Bai Mansheng was the most threatening, and Taowu quickly engaged in combat with Bai Mansheng.


    Although the Nuwa Emperor''s attributes were somewhat lower than those of Taowu, those cold frosts and holy lights also prevented Taowu from subduing Bai Mansheng for the time being.


    Even Bai Mansheng alone managed to hold back the hordes of beasts led by several fierce creatures.


    Xuan Bird watched this scene but still found it strange; it did not take action, as there was no need for its intervention in the battle just yet.


    It only thought that if humans and the Nuwa Emperor joined forces, they probably still would not be able to kill the likes of Gluttonous Terrors and Qiongqi.


    This meant that the opponents must have some sort of trump card.


    Tang Xian, on the other hand, did not know that Xuan Bird belonged to the Analysis Faction. But the opponent''s tactic of not launching an all-out attack at once was exactly what Tang Xian had hoped for.


    "Even so, my current chances of winning still do not exceed ten percent."


    The black fog couldn''t trap the Gorgon for too long, and Xuan Bird would make its move sooner or later, increasing the pressure on Bai Mansheng significantly.


    Tang Xiaojiu and the others were not to be relied upon for the moment, as even suppressing the swarms of beasts was proving somewhat overwhelming for them.


    Tang Xian''s thoughts were abruptly interrupted because, at that moment, a terrifying foxfire burst through the ice wall.


    Bai Mansheng wanted to stop it but was entangled by Taowu and couldn''t assist Tang Xian.


    He could only watch helplessly as the terrifying foxfire instantly engulfed Tang Xian.


    The foxfire of the nine-tailed fox, although not comparable to the dragon flames of Ash Dragon, was still potent enough to cause devastating damage to beings of the same level.


    This burst of foxfire was exceptionally fast, instantly evaporating the fine drizzle it passed through.


    But as the scorching flames gradually dissipated, Qing Jiuye, the Xuan Bird, and even the Gold-Breaking Beast all revealed expressions of shock.


    Under the effects of Streaming Light Refining Shadow, Tang Xian''s body did not have a single mark of being scorched; he moved through the flames like a bolt of lightning.


    [Fire element immunity?]


    The Xuan Bird''s first thought was this.


    Of course, Tang Xian wasn''t going to reveal his secrets. Qing JiuYu had been by his side for such a long time, and Tang Xiaojiu had always been carrying something with him.


    The so-called resistances had been maxed out without his awareness.


    The Xuan Bird still did not take action, but in its heart, it thought of a possibility.


    Simultaneously, the Gold-Breaking Beast increased its speed even more, launching hundreds of terrifying slashes in an instant.


    As Tang Xian hastily dodged, he carelessly stumbled into a spiderweb, and the malevolent laughter of the White Bone Spider echoed.


    Strangely enough, those spiderwebs, highly corrosive to flesh and blood, presented no obstacle to the White Bone Spider, yet when Tang Xian touched them, he was ensnared.


    Consequently, hundreds of slashes came at him in an instant.


    Tang Xian couldn''t avoid them and had to face them directly.


    Gritting his teeth, he had already accumulated a good deal of resistance in his previous struggle with the Gold-Breaking Beast. If he could withstand this round of attacks, the Gold-Breaking Beast would no longer be able to harm him.


    Countless sharp strikes hit Tang Xian. His body, which the foxfire couldn''t damage at all, became blurred with blood and flesh. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian felt his consciousness blur. Everything before his eyes turned fuzzy. The massive loss of blood nearly made him pass out.


    But during this time, his strong regenerative ability supported him and helped him regain consciousness.


    The Gold-Breaking Beast frowned because it felt Tang Xian''s vitality steadily recovering. It was puzzled as to why its own attacks, which had not weakened, seemed increasingly feeble against the opponent.


    It did not stop, though, and once again swung its scythe-like arms, not giving the prey any opportunity to survive.


    The ever-observant member of the Analysis Faction finally perceived the problem at this time.


    Xuan Bird suddenly let out a shrill cry. The crisp call of the phoenix caused the Gold-Breaking Beast to stagger, and it turned to look at Xuan Bird, puzzled.


    Xuan Bird''s eyes were filled with gravity; it had observed the confrontation between the Gold-Breaking Beast and Tang Xian. Initially, the Gold-Breaking Beast''s attacks should have been lethal, but now... Tang Xian was able to face the Gold-Breaking Beast''s assaults head-on.


    It looked at Tang Xian, who just then raised his head, revealing a sly smile. He thought to himself:


    "Now the likelihood of survival has increased to twenty percent."


    The battle was naturally not going to be easy, and Tang Xian knew that the Xuan Bird would surely change its tactics. But since there was no retreat, he could only fight on, head held high.


    "On the bright side, if I win this battle, the Court of Thousand Beasts will never be able to kill me again."

 Chapter 668 - 61: The Growth of Little 9

    Maintaining vigilance while optimistically facing challenges is an important quality in turning the tide in perilous battles.


    Tang Xian thought the battle had almost no chance of victory, but he didn''t give up either.


    The next thing to do was to act.


    "The Gold-Breaking Beast can no longer harm me." Tang Xian bowed his head, looking at his gradually healing wounds, even though they had not fully recovered


    Even though his resistance had not maxed out, it was getting increasingly difficult for the Gold-Breaking Beast to inflict fatal damage on him. It was just that the sensation of pain was still quite intense.


    What delighted Tang Xian most was that the Crime Bone Spider''s web had stuck to him, and yet it continued to provide him with resistance.


    "Jiuye Fox, Gold-Breaking Beast, Crime Bone Spider. None of them can threaten me for the moment, but now is not the time to reveal this prematurely"


    He slowly raised his head, his gaze swiftly scanning the entire battlefield.


    It was then that he saw Tang Xiaojiu''s fox woman form.


    For some reason, Tang Xian had the feeling as if his own daughter had grown up.


    The six-tailed foxes broke through the ice walls set up by Bai Mansheng with their foxfire. Among these foxes, some were not unfamiliar with Tang Xian.


    When they were under Qing JiuYu''s command, they had seen Tang Xian. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They had never imagined that this battle would be a hunt for this human who had once fought alongside their king.


    On the Tianque Plains, the fox clan still remembered Tang Xian''s figure. During the time in the forest sea, Tang Xian''s little wooden cabin had also been a unique landscape of the forest sea.


    But on the battlefield, there was no time for reminiscing. Amidst the fox howls, there were only the cold and cruel bugles of charge.


    They despised Tang Xiaojiu because she was a disgrace to the fox clan.


    Especially Tang Xiaojiu''s half-human, half-fox form made the fox pack feel an extraordinary shame.


    Yet even so, as more and more foxes rushed towards her, Tang Xiaojiu tried her best to avoid these kinsfolk.


    She spouted her foxfire at the Iron-Cutting Beasts and the Bone Spiders, at those slowly creeping three-headed snakes. Her foxfire burnt fiercely, dismantling the bodies of countless beasts.


    But only these foxes were spared from the blaze.


    When Bai Mansheng, locked in fierce battle with Taowu, caught a glimpse of this scene, he suddenly felt a bit sorry for Xiaojiu.


    This child had never been acknowledged by her clan since childhood, and now, fighting against her own kind on the battlefield, her heart must be suffering.


    Six-tailed foxes kept pouncing towards Tang Xiaojiu, some deflected by Yuan Mu''s telekinesis, others kicked away by Tang''s powerful foot.


    Even those two children could sense Tang Xiaojiu''s tolerance towards her clan members.


    "You... stop coming."


    Tang Xiaojiu''s voice carried a hint of sobbing. She had never complained about the affairs of her childhood, only hoping that one day when she grew up, grew tails, ears, and claws, they would accept her.


    Later... everything changed again, the appearance of Tang Xian made Tang Xiaojiu feel that if she could follow her brother for a lifetime, it was okay not to be acknowledged by others.


    Her voice was teary, but her expression was firm. There wasn''t a trace of weakness to be seen.


    Because this time she had to protect Tang Xian.


    Despite her long-standing desire for her clan''s approval, despite her wish to be their friend, if they were Tang Xian''s enemies, then from today onwards, they would also be her enemies!


    Beasts kept charging, yet Tang Xiaojiu''s foxfire formed a fiery blockade in front of Tang Xian.


    Her tails whipped up storms, tears fell on the battlefield of ice and fire, but her tactics became increasingly ruthless.


    Her nine tails swept repeatedly, instantly sending the six-tailed foxes that collided with Tang Xiaojiu flying.


    Tang Xiaojiu stood proudly in an open area, surrounded by no creature that could approach her.


    The Xuan Bird noticed this as well:


    "Why can this half-human, half-fox possess such great power?"


    In Xuan Bird''s understanding, taking human form should reduce strength to one-sixth of the original, yet for some reason, the little fox on the other end of the battlefield, despite not being fully transformed, was showing power almost like that of a full beast transformation.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a pitiable little girl."


    The fox pack gradually dispersed, making way for Qing Jiuye who approached leisurely.


    Step by step, Qing Jiuye walked towards Tang Xiaojiu, seeming to have no intention to attack.


    Tang and Yuan Mu tried to block him, but were thwarted by a single look from Qing Jiuye.


    "So young, yet you already have two flower guardians? Unbelievable, you''re as flirtatious as that wretch Qing JiuYu."


    Yuan Mu was shocked; his telekinesis upon Qing Jiuye felt like trying to shift a mountain.


    And Tang, charging at Qing Jiuye, was knocked down by a whip-like sleeve.


    Only when Qing Jiuye was about a zhang away from Tang Xiaojiu did he stop, standing face to face with her at close range.


    "Tsk, for you, Qing JiuYu even rejected the court''s invitation, but today you will die here. She will have nothing."


    Compared to Tang Xiaojiu, Qing Jiuye seemed to carry an air of bewitching charm.


    Like the monarchs of two clashing tribes finally meeting, the two stood off in some corner of the battlefield. Whether it was the Iron-Cutting Beast, the three-headed snakes, or the six-tailed foxes, these creatures seemed to sense an impending fateful duel and, by some tacit understanding, all avoided the two Jiuye Foxes.


    "It''s a pity Qing JiuYu isn''t here, killing you would''ve given her such a delightful expression. I, you see, find her particularly disgusting."

 Chapter 669 - 669: 61st Chapter: The Growth of Little Jiu_2

    "No... no, you can''t talk bad about Qing."


    Tang Xiaojiu was panicking, but she had no intention of retreating.


    Even when Yuan Wu and Tang intended to help in an instant, she declined them with her eyes.


    "The giant bird and the giant spider haven''t moved."


    "Tang Xian has pinned down the giant praying mantis and the giant snake."


    "Yuan Wu and Tang can hold back the swarm of beasts."


    "Bai and that ugly monster are at a stalemate; the situation is the best it can be, as long as I can hold her off!"


    If Tang Xian knew Tang Xiaojiu''s thoughts, he would feel immensely relieved. This silly girl, who only knew about eating, was showing uncommon wisdom in protecting him during a crisis. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Talking bad? I could''ve not said anything bad about her. That cheap woman, cavorting with humans, isn''t she just as lowly as your mother?"


    When she heard the words ''her mother,'' Tang Xiaojiu felt as if her heart had been carved by a knife.


    She showed her small fangs, her eyes misty yet filled with fighting spirit.


    "A being that is born a mistake yet dares to glare at me like that, I am the queen of the fox tribe. You truly are arrogant."


    Without a word, Tang Xiaojiu swung her fox tail irregularly and suddenly showed a smile.


    There was a time when she really wanted to fit in with this group.


    Because Qing loved her people, and she loved Qing, she also wanted the approval of her tribe members.


    But now, looking back, she had left the tribe for a long time, she had always behaved so well, but the expressions these foxes gave her... were still filled with disgust.


    Tang Xiaojiu smiled and shook her head, her misty eyes ultimately remained tearless.


    A being that is born a mistake?


    Not at all.


    "Tang Xian likes me, Qing likes me, I am not a mistaken existence!"


    Her childish voice let out a sharp shriek, and the terrifying foxfire burst out in an instant, surrounding Qing Jiuye and Tang Xiaojiu with fierce flames.


    Qing Jiuye naturally knew that a young nine-tailed fox demon was far weaker than an adult one, so she was somewhat surprised because Tang Xiaojiu''s strength seemed... not to be able to reach such a level.


    Although she despised this "mistake" tainted by human blood, she also slightly put away her teasing demeanor.


    "Let me make it clear; I don''t care whether you''re a child or not."


    The battle began.


    Two fox tribe monarchs commenced their duel amidst the great flames.


    Tang Xian, witnessing this scene, although concerned for Tang Xiaojiu, also knew that this was an opportunity to defeat them one by one. If Bai Mansheng and Tang Xiaojiu could each hold off a leader... their chances of winning could increase further.


    However, at this time, the Gold-Breaking Beast had not yet attacked.


    Tang Xian said:


    "What''s the matter, I''m trapped here and you can''t kill me? Are you that incompetent?"


    [Mocking me is meaningless.]


    After the cry of the Xuan Bird, the Gold-Breaking Beast began to calm down.


    Qiongqi, as powerful as itself in terms of destructive power, the young man''s displayed strength was not enough to cause any harm to it, and he could only run himself ragged, defending passively.


    How could such a person kill Qiongqi?


    The leaders of the Wan Beasts Tribunal were no trivial beings; they had survived countless deadly battles and had some keen sense of crisis.


    The Gold-Breaking Beast had realized that its attacks were increasingly unable to harm this man.


    Troublesome.


    Tang Xian had no idea the Gold-Breaking Beast could analyze the situation so calmly.


    Seeing the Gold-Breaking Beast and Xuan Bird''s analysis, Tang Xian was certain they had caught onto something.


    Usually, creatures would still stubbornly fight him head-on.


    But the Xuan Bird and Gold-Breaking Beast, though strong, were excessively cautious.


    [Gold-Breaking, go kill that white snake and help Taowu.]


    The discourse of the Xuan Bird, theoretically, could not be understood by the Gold-Breaking Beast.


    But following several cries of the phoenix, the Gold-Breaking Beast obediently retreated from Tang Xian.


    At the same time, the webs of the Bone Spider, which initially only clung to Tang Xian''s back, began to pierce through Tang Xian''s skin like parasites and gradually covered him completely.


    "Damn it!"


    Tang Xian''s heart chilled, as he had not expected the Blackbird to make such a decision.


    "The Gold-Breaking Beast''s slashing was supposed to cut you down easily, but its effect on you is getting weaker. On the brink of death, you now seem to have fully recovered. This shows, you are deliberately stalling; that is your ability."


    In its heart, the Blackbird also considered another possibility.


    But that clan should have been completely erased from this world centuries ago.


    The Blackbird''s experiences differed from those of the Sea Dragon.


    Having read the Beast Codex, the Blackbird knew a portion of history, and it had personally been through the Twilight of the Gods battle. But precisely because of this, it couldn''t shake off some entrenched ways of thinking.


    Tang Feiji, the Sea Dragon who guarded the depths of the sea, yearned to leave but was trapped by the Dragon Blood Blood Oath, waiting for the Sea God''s prophecy to come true.


    The former Sea God was, indeed, part of the Eden Tribe under the command of the Lord of Eden, which is why Tang Feiji could easily consider Tang Xian''s identity as part of the Eden Tribe.


    The Blackbird, however, did not think of this and dared not entertain the thought.


    Tang Xian shook his head and said:


    "You''ve seen through everything, playing tactics with such a filthy heart. Are you staying out of the fray up till now because you''re mediocre apart from being immortal?"


    The Blackbird did not care about this taunt. As a member of the Analysis Faction, it believed its approach to be the most reliable.


    Certainly, there are monsters in this world that are difficult to kill.


    Right here on the battlefield, there are two, not just the human in front of it, but also the experiment who once stayed on the Holy Mountain, the current Tang.


    For such beings, there is actually no need to kill them deliberately; trapping them would suffice.


    By this time, the web was slowly wrapping Tang Xian up completely, making him resemble an insect inside a cocoon.


    The web could isolate smells and sounds. As Tang Xian''s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were about to be sealed by the web, he also began to think rapidly about the current situation.


    "The Gorgon''s only ability is petrification, which is troublesome but perfectly countered by Eclipse."


    "The Blackbird must still think it controls the situation; that''s why it hasn''t personally dealt with me. Fortunately, it hasn''t targeted anyone else either."


    "I need a little more time to completely free myself from the web. Right now the one under the most pressure is Bai, with the Gold-Breaking Beast having an advantage over her."


    With such thoughts, Tang Xian quickly formulated a tactic. Before the web completely closed over him, Tang Xian shouted:


    "Tang! Protect Bai Mansheng!"


    This was the best strategy. Tang Xian was not at ease about the confrontation between Tang Xiaojiu and the nine-tailed fox, but somehow Xiaojiu''s half-human half-fox form seemed to represent a very peculiar possibility. Now all he could do was to trust in Xiaojiu, though in his heart, the day she would reclaim her throne as the queen of the fox clan was supposed to be much further in the future. Yet plans could not keep up with changes.


    What worried him the most was the Elemental Fog.


    With Tang''s help, Bai Mansheng would become an unstoppable Nuwa Emperor.


    But removing Tang from the battle would drastically increase the pressure on the Elemental Fog against the horde.


    Yet Tang Xian was betting on a possibility.


    "This is a deathtrap for me, as well. To break out of it, I cannot rely solely on myself. I have to put my trust in this child."


    Every well-planned, gradual arrangement was turned upside down by this sudden ambush.


    Those children who were protected had to grow as rapidly as possible in this fight or no one would survive.


    The forces of the six-tailed fox, the Steel-Slicing Beast, and the three-headed serpent were more than in the hundreds.


    They were like a terrifying tide of beasts, as if they could engulf the Elemental Fog in the next instant.


    Fear was written all over the Elemental Fog''s eyes. The fluctuations of telekinesis were also extremely unstable.


    Enemies surrounded him on all sides, and when he looked around, he realized there was no one to help him.


    Finally, a Steel-Slicing Beast broke through the telekinetic barrier and swiftly left a shocking gash on the Elemental Fog''s abdomen.


    "Remember quickly..."


    The Elemental Fog gasped heavily, his body trembling non-stop.


    He was supposed to feel angry and resist, but he couldn''t summon the anger. Only fear and sorrow remained...


    "Remember quickly..."


    Following that claw strike, the telekinetic barrier of the Elemental Fog also disintegrated, and more and more fierce beasts stretched out their claws and fangs, as if ready to tear him to shreds!


    He looked up helplessly, his eyes should have been filled with despair, but at this most critical moment, they shone with a strange and different light.


    "Remember quickly... the feeling of rage..."

 Chapter 670 - 62: Emotional Chains

    The feeling of anger.


    Yuanwu remembered having felt this way before. In the evolution zone, when those experiment subjects left one by one, he too once felt unwillingness and humiliation.


    He wanted to protect them but, in the end, he was powerless. He wanted to grasp something, yet nothing remained in his hands.


    In his memory, there seemed to be a very important person who had left him over and over again, but for some reason, there were so many farewells.


    "My name is Xi He, I am your master."


    "Do you like that girl? Do you want to protect her? Fine, I allow you to protect her, but just liking her is not enough. If she dies one day, whether it has anything to do with you, the responsibility will be yours. You must be prepared for this to truly protect someone. Can you do it?"


    Countless Iron-Cutting Beasts left deep claw marks on Yuanwu''s body.


    In utter helplessness, Yuanwu instinctively used telekinesis to manipulate everything he could, desperately dodging the attacks of the Iron-Cutting Beasts, as well as avoiding the black venom spit out by the three-headed serpent and the terrifying fox fire.


    During this process, he felt his life force steadily draining away. No matter what he did, he could not change the fact that he was slowly approaching death.


    He was gifted, able to see the terrifying values of these monsters. He knew that he was¡­ facing the weakest of these beast herds.


    It was also at this time that he suddenly remembered the voice of Xi He in his mind.


    That man who arrogantly claimed to be a god, who seemed to have known him a very long time ago.


    But without past memories, injected too many times with Anai, subjected to too many hypnosis sessions, Yuanwu could never arrange these fragmented memories in the correct order to piece them together, and most of the time, he couldn''t recall those fragments at all.


    The beast tide, like a storm symbolizing death, swept over Yuanwu in an instant.


    "On October fourth, after the incident with Kritos, we only captured one characteristic, despite the small number of subjects. Even with all my resources, I could only find two children like this. This made me wonder, why do the creators favor these mere mortals so?"


    "The key to unlocking the treasure seems to be an extreme emotion. Maybe it''s related to anger. But Kritos is a failure. He cannot be controlled. A disobedient dog must not stay. Perhaps I should focus on such an experiment, one designed to control human emotions."


    The voices in his mind were like whispers of a demon, but they didn''t evoke any real memories for Yuanwu.


    The fear of death continued to invade him.


    Yuanwu shouted helplessly, resisting with all his telekinetic power, but the Iron-Cutting Beasts were a breed with a very strong will to fight. Knowing that this human possessed a terrifying ability that could kill them instantly, they still charged fearlessly at Yuanwu.


    The wounds on Yuanwu''s body multiplied, and constant bleeding made his consciousness increasingly blurred, the fear in his heart like a beast about to break out of its cage.


    Occasionally, a glance to the nearby battlefields revealed that they were also in dire straits.


    Despite Tang''s protection, Bai Mansheng was tightly constrained by the Gold-Breaking Beast and Taowu, two great generals, unable to move an inch. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xiaojiu''s confrontation with Qing Jiuye was obscured by a sea of flames, with only the vague silhouettes of two bodies continuously changing positions...


    In the depths of his heart, Xiaojiu was just a cute kid, and facing a mature nine-tailed demon fox, his chances were likely grim...


    As for Lord Tang Xian, he was completely enveloped by a spider web, seemingly about to be devoured at any moment by the giant Sin-Bone Spider looming above him.


    No one could save him now...


    As Yuanwu thought this, he shed tears from fear.


    ...


    ...


    Six days ago. Baichuan City.


    The chaos was finally quelled, thanks to the cooperation between Song Li and others, the savvy of Li Xiaoyu, and the surveillance abilities of Ju Mang.


    It was because of this incident that Li Xiaoyu and Ju Mang''s relationship somewhat improved.


    Even though she knew Tang Xian was not the type to flirt around, bringing back a woman with exotic features and dark green hair still caused a twinge of dissatisfaction in her heart.


    It wasn''t until Ju Mang displayed a temperament similar to Zhong Xiuxiu''s that Li Xiaoyu started to see her as a good girl.


    Although deep down she was aware that Ju Mang was very dangerous, when Tang Xian left, he also implied that she should keep an eye on Ju Mang.


    Now, Li Xiaoyu was dressed rather lightly, yet she did not feel cold. She had returned to wearing a dark gothic dress.


    This was crafted by Bai Shuang using crystals; although not very thick, it was warm and comfortable.


    Having bathed in the hot springs together, Li Xiaoyu and Bai Shuang had become closer, sharing a relationship like that of both mentor and friend.


    However, Li Xiaoyu''s leisure time wasn''t always spent with Bai Shuang.


    In the "Fresh Feeling" cafe, she would also occasionally discuss matters related to Tang Xian with Ju Mang.


    Like on this day.


    Li Xiaoyu had set aside some matters to invite Ju Mang for a warm drink and a chat.


    Connections had to be nurtured, not just used when needed and then discarded. So after Ju Mang dealt with some ulterior motives in Baichuan City, Li Xiaoyu still spoke with her and even asked for her advice.


    Interestingly, Li Xiaoyu''s various needs could be directly discerned by Ju Mang.

 Chapter 671 - 62: Emotional Chains_2

    She kept it to herself, only feeling that Constantine''s woman was quite interesting.


    "Tell me about the others, will you? After all, they were all childhood associates of Tang Xian..."


    "Associates?"


    Li Xiaoyu hadn''t finished her sentence when Ju Mang interrupted her, her gaze meaningful as she looked at Li Xiaoyu.


    "If Tang... if Tang Xian heard that word, he probably wouldn''t like it much. We weren''t his associates, we were just the people who bullied him since we were kids."


    Ju Mang asked for a cigarette, her fingers slender, her dark green hair draped over her shoulders. As she smoked, there was a bewitching quality to her, as well as a sense of having a story to tell.


    "Li Xiaoyu, we just share a common stance, but throughout history, there have been many instances where differences in fundamental beliefs eventually led to differences in standpoints. I''m probably just on the passing line, which is why I was accepted by Tang Xian."


    "But the others were not the same. Including Prometheus, every single one of them had extremely vile behaviors. The one I know best is Xi He."


    Ju Mang exhaled smoke slowly and said:


    "Xi He was also the first to die among the seven of us, but his achievements were far from insignificant. In earlier years, because I had some accomplishments in brain surgery, Xi He once sought me out, wanting to collaborate with me on a project."


    "What project?" Li Xiaoyu became genuinely interested this time.


    She really wanted to know what these self-titled gods were up to inside Pyramid.


    Ju Mang did not mind and was quite open:


    "Controlling emotions. I remember there are a few of Xi He''s former subordinates here, what are their names? Akali? Oh¡­ Akasi. Number 19, and Zero. Even though I don''t pay much attention to the Evolution Zone, I''m familiar with them because Xi He''s plan was to control their emotions."


    Ju Mang smiled, thinking back to certain events. If they had actually done it, perhaps Xi He would not have died, and Tang Xian would not have met Akasi. A butterfly''s small flutter of wings, and everything in front of them could undergo a tremendous change.


    "I was interested in this project. Not long ago, I heard the owner of the smithery tell a story, saying that creators can control human emotions. This matter doesn''t need to be elevated to the level of a creator. If given a bit more time and materials, I could unravel these mysteries."


    By materials, she meant human brains. Li Xiaoyu''s expression remained unchanged as she continued to listen intently to Ju Mang''s words.


    "Xi He was an absolute opportunist, but he believed that the most worthwhile thing to exploit in this world was the human body itself. Even though the true god in the seat of the gods is a mechanical being."


    "I was interested in Xi He''s plan, so I agreed and let Xi He send over test subjects to start working on brain bridge surgery, attempting to remove some emotions. But the attempt failed."


    Li Xiaoyu shuddered. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Li Xiaoyu''s reaction, Ju Mang said with a laugh:


    "It seems you know whom I''m talking about."


    "Yuan¡­ Yuan Mist?"


    Regarding the people around Tang Xian, Li Xiaoyu might not be very close to some, but she definitely knew about them.


    "Yes, the one who seems timid and sad, the test subject codenamed Zero. I told Xi He that human emotions can''t be taken away, they can only be suppressed. But when one set of emotions is suppressed, for instance, anger is suppressed, then all responses relating to anger will be redirected toward other emotions. For Zero, it was redirected to fear."


    "Do you... have no guilt whatsoever?" Li Xiaoyu didn''t voice this question; it just crossed her mind.


    By the time the thought arose, she already had her answer.


    Ju Mang felt absolutely no remorse.


    "Yuan Mist''s joy and anger were suppressed. When he was supposed to feel joy, he would instead feel sadness, and when he was supposed to be angry, he would feel fear."


    Li Xiaoyu thought it over; Yuan Mist did indeed seem to be like this. Shy, often perplexed, not good at communicating with others. Although Lingyi was very enthusiastic toward Yuan Mist, Yuan Mist''s response was always a bit odd.


    "I thought the experiment was a failure. I should have suppressed fear, joy, and sadness, leaving all the emotions to anger. Because the ''tyrant'' that Xi He mentioned requires extreme anger to complete the transformation."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t know what to say, feeling somewhat sympathetic towards Yuan Mist. Fortunately, that child met Tang Xian; otherwise¡­ would he really have turned into a monster?


    "But Xi He was not disappointed because of this. A coward who only feels fear when he should be angry should not be of interest to him, yet Xi He thought my theory was wrong."


    With an elegant flick of her cigarette ash, Ju Mang''s eyes held a hint of confusion as she said:


    "Xi He said that anything suppressed for too long will eventually burst. Emotions are connected like a pipeline linking two containers¡ªgrief, joy, terror, bittersweet experiences¡­ these complex emotions are human intricacies, because emotions can be converted into each other. When one type is suppressed and eventually gets released one day... it is bound to be very interesting."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Let''s take a simple example. When you see Tang Xian, what''s your emotional reaction?"


    "Joy," Li Xiaoyu didn''t hesitate to respond.


    "And what if someone killed him right before your eyes?"


    Li Xiaoyu''s face instantly darkened.

 Chapter 672 - 62: Emotional Chains_3

    Ju Mang smiled and said, S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Look, that''s how it is. It''s just that this never actually happened, so your reaction is quite normal. Zero, on the other hand, wasn''t so lucky."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Xi He once wrote some diaries, detailing the things he did to Zero. Considering that I might need to help Zero suppress other emotions later on, the idea was to control the child''s emotions through surgery and, therefore, control him. That''s why I''ve read that diary too."


    "He, of all people, would write a diary?"


    "Yes, you''ve pinpointed the crux of the matter. That diary is actually a bell to awaken memories. To put it plainly, it''s the key to unlocking emotional suppression or rather, catalyzing Zero to recall his past. So, it was essentially written for Zero. Xi He did care deeply for Zero, seeing him as a child with even more potential than Akasi."


    "What''s written in the diary?"


    "A good girl like you wouldn''t want to know. As I said, Xi He and I, we are very cruel people."


    Li Xiaoyu didn''t ask any further.


    Ju Mang continued,


    "The love one person has for another is considered a manifestation of responsibility and humanity in your eyes, but to Xi He, it''s a weapon. Kritos has love for his family, and Akasi is fond of number nineteen."


    "And there is a corridor that connects love with despair. The distance between sweetness and pain is equally short."


    After finishing a cigarette, Ju Mang prepared to leave; Dong Ran at her side hadn''t heard the conversation between her and Li Xiaoyu.


    As he was about to come over to refill his cup, Ju Mang pinched Dong Ran''s cheek,


    "I hear you''re the dumbest one around here. Want me to help you smarten up a bit?"


    Dong Ran had never been teased by a woman before and didn''t know how to respond.


    Li Xiaoyu''s thoughts, however, still lingered on the previous topic.


    "Will Yuan Wu... get angry because of someone?"


    "That depends on his fate, but a person who has never been angry, once they do get angry, it is bound to be a wrath that reigns over the world. Alright, Madam of Baichuan City, it''s time for me to go. You have a heap of matters to attend to, don''t you?"


    ...


    ...


    In the mining area, the Sin Snatching Territory.


    The Xuanniao watched the battlefield coldly, not having intervened up to this point. To its surprise, Bai Mansheng, the leader of the Nvwa Snake, could withstand the attacks of the Gold-Breaking Beast and Taowu even after being covered by that purple-tier creature.


    But it was not in a rush.


    Because no matter what kind of armor, once petrified, it would no longer hold the capability to resist an orange-tier creature.


    All that was needed was to keep Bai Mansheng preoccupied, believing that after the human riddled with doubts was trapped by the web, the dark mist surrounding the Gorgon would soon disperse.


    On the other hand, it was the duel between the queens of the fox tribe that caught the Xuanniao''s attention. It couldn''t see clearly through the flames of the battle, but since Qing Jiuye''s strength was not lesser than Qing JiuYu''s, it was peculiar that the fight hadn''t ended yet.


    As for another part of the battlefield, the human boy had been completely overwhelmed by the horde of iron-cutting beasts and the fox tribe, his dismemberment was just a matter of time.


    However, the Xuanniao felt a vague unease, an indescribable, unsettling feeling. Its centuries of combat experience and sense of danger made it particularly concerned about this unease¡ª


    Coming from that human boy who should have been the weakest.


    The boy was already being crushed under the beasts, perhaps having his flesh gnawed at by the iron-cutting creatures; perhaps it was a mere brutal torment of prey, as a cat plays cruelly with a mouse before eating it.


    "The seventh experiment, everything is stable, his emotional fluctuations are all within our calculations¡ªsadness, fear, confusion. Perhaps due to the loss of memory, he can''t remember who the girl is. So this time, I''ve decided to let him remember everything, to show him the contents of the diary. He has already witnessed death six times."


    "The death of a most beloved person will lead to sorrow and anger; it is the simplest emotional ''chemical reaction'' formula. Then what about the same scene of anger experienced dozens of times in a row? Does this anger stack? What an interesting experiment, isn''t it?"


    Yuan Wu lay on the ground, the excessive use of telekinesis only hastening the disintegration of his consciousness.


    His sensitivity to pain was no longer sharp. He could feel the iron-cutting beasts tearing flesh from his arm, but he couldn''t feel the pain. Death was near, and what recurred in his mind was the content of a diary.


    As memories of his final moments slowly awakened, at the same time, it was as if something... something capable of destroying both heavens and earth as well as himself, was stealthily arriving.

 Chapter 673 - 63: Return of the Tyrant (Major chapter, can be slaughtered)

    ``` S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Drip... In the increasingly tranquil world, the sound of a water droplet suddenly emerged.


    Yuan Wu lifted his head, and when he opened his eyes, all the pain had already blurred, and everything in his line of sight had long since changed scenery. It was as if he had never experienced a life-or-death struggle.


    The tide of beasts had vanished, and so had the pain on his body.


    He roughly understood.


    He had heard from senior Akasi before that at the brink of death, one''s life would flash before their eyes like a spinning lantern.


    He would encounter the regrets in his heart, as well as the good and the painful memories.


    Yuan Wu felt at a loss, only sensing that time had stopped in this moment, and slowly materializing in his view was a strange face...


    "We''ll meet again tomorrow, won''t we?"


    "Um..."


    "My name is Mirror."


    "I... My name is Yuan Wu."


    "What a strange name."


    Mirror had treasure blue hair tied in a ponytail, unlike the other experimental subjects, she seemed lively and cute, not bearing that heavy air of gloom.


    Perhaps it was because she was as young as he was, but he seemed much more wooden in comparison.


    Yuan Wu didn''t understand why these memories came to mind; it was strange, as he didn''t feel any particular emotion upon meeting this girl...


    This third-person perspective memory was slowly transforming into a first-person perspective memory. He watched as the person identical to himself became gradually lost in thought.


    "But you saved me today, thank you... It''s actually my first time being rescued in this place, even though people in the same cabin hardly talk to each other."


    "Alright..."


    Yuan Wu had absolutely no idea how to converse, and he suddenly realized that all of this was just a memory, and he was about to die. He wanted to meet senior Akasi, to see Lord Tang Xian, and to see Xiao Jiu and Tang, who had become his friends these past days.


    But he just couldn''t walk out.


    It seemed as if this girl named Mirror still had something very important to say to him.


    "But I have to go back now... Yuan Wu, where do you live?"


    Without speaking, Yuan Wu just pointed to a certain place.


    "Ha! That place is full of weirdos... Ah, no, full of elites."


    Mirror''s eyes sparkled; she was always good at controlling her emotions. Seeing Yuan Wu wasn''t much of a talker, she wasn''t in a hurry and said:


    "Goodbye, Yuan Wu, thank you for protecting me."


    "Good... goodbye."


    Yuan Wu kept his head down all the while, only slowly lifting it to watch Mirror''s departing figure.


    Not until Mirror''s silhouette had disappeared did he remain standing there, for a long long time.


    "Do you like that girl? Want to protect her? Okay, I''ll allow you to protect her, but mere liking is not enough. If one day she dies, no matter if it''s related to you or not, the responsibility will be yours. You must be prepared for this to properly protect someone. Can you do it?"


    Xi He''s sudden appearance startled Yuan Wu.


    "You even gave her your name, it seems you really care about this girl."


    Yuan Wu was confused; he was still quite unfamiliar with Xi He. He had only seen Xi He once before, and it was Xi He who had sent him on this mission.


    "I can decide all of this, provided that you are willing to protect her with your entire world. From today onwards, she is your family," Xi He said with a casual tone that seemed to hold the power to decide the fate of the world.


    As if possessed, Yuan Wu nodded.


    Today was actually just a mission, and there was a deliberately crafted atmosphere to it, all for the purpose of making Yuan Wu meet Mirror.


    Similar things had happened before, like when Number Seven met Akasi, or when Kritos met his family.


    A young heart is always lonely. Xi looking at Yuan Wu''s expression said:


    "From today on, you are a family member to Mirror. You must protect her, she is your one and only, your everything. She is a mirror, and as you do for her, she will do the same for you."


    After leaving this message, Xi He departed.


    What Yuan Wu didn''t expect was that the next day, when he opened the cabin''s door, he really saw Mirror, clean and dressed, having washed off the bloodstains, quietly waiting for something.


    "Wow, we meet again... Wait, do you live here?" Mirror greeted him with her lively and bright personality.


    Yuan Wu nodded in bewilderment, unable to believe that everything was really as that person had said.


    "How come you''re... here?" Yuan Wu still asked in confusion.


    "It''s an organizational transfer. I thought I would have to fight several battles to be promoted to this unit, but strangely, after I went back yesterday, someone brought me here soon after."


    Mirror''s eyes widened as she suddenly thought of something.


    "You''re not some young master within the organization, are you?"


    "What?"


    "Is this your room?"


    "Yes."


    "But... this is also my room."


    Mirror said as she flipped her name badge to show Yuan Wu. Yuan Wu looked and saw it was indeed so.


    "Eh... Are we living together?" Mirror looked at Yuan Wu with disbelief.


    Yuan Wu''s face instantly turned red, even though he didn''t know what it meant.


    Although Mirror was outgoing, she was not naive and, looking at Yuan Wu''s expression, she vaguely guessed something.


    ```

 Chapter 674 - 63: The Tyrant Returns Again (Major Chapter, Ready to be Slaughtered)_2

    "You saved me yesterday; it''s only right that I should serve you from now on."


    In an environment as brutally merciless as a gladiatorial arena, although Mirror was optimistic and cheerful, she also understood the rules here.


    Yuan Wu hurriedly waved his hand to indicate that wasn''t his intention, and he didn''t know why it was happening either.


    This was his second meeting with Mirror. Fate could apparently be deliberately sculpted, but at that time, the naively foolish boy had not seen through it.


    And Mirror was very sensible too, not saying much more. She entered the house and began to clean it. Actually, Yuan Wu''s house was not dirty or messy, but it could be tidied up more cleanly.


    It seemed that Mirror also naturally took a liking to Yuan Wu.


    "Although I don''t know what''s going on, and it looks like you don''t either, this is still nice. This place is much bigger than where I lived before."


    Mirror cheerfully said to Yuan Wu, "Yuan Wu, please give me your guidance."


    From that day on, Mirror and Yuan Wu lived together.


    This memory should have been very beautiful.


    But for some reason, Yuan Wu, watching these memories, felt a faint sense of unease.


    In that moment, he seemed to see many scenes like this one.


    The girl said the same things and took similar actions, but each time there were subtle differences.


    "Yuan Wu, please give me your guidance."


    "Well, sharing a home with Yuan Wu isn''t too bad."


    "Then Yuan Wu¡­ let''s work hard together from now on, okay?"


    It was just a fragment, the same scene, the same person, like many versions of it.


    But this strange feeling quickly flickered away, and ultimately Yuan Wu did not notice anything bizarre.


    He just thought that his memory was probably confused due to having been injected with Anai too many times; maybe this part of his memory had an anomaly?


    The days that followed were simple and splendid.


    A boy and a girl lived together, one naively lively, the other shy and reticent, which was quite fun.


    Since Mirror had followed Yuan Wu, she hadn''t participated in the trials of the cage anymore, and Yuan Wu was special. He was like the most formidable among the monsters, most of the trials of the cage he didn''t need to join, as if he was a deliberately hidden weapon.


    His power grew very quickly too. Even when he was a young man, his control over telekinesis was the strongest among the subjects.


    Yet, most of Yuan Wu''s tasks were relatively simple, and what he looked forward to the most each day was returning to his own little abode.


    There was a cute little girl waiting for him.


    "Yuan Wu, today I talked with Dr. Qin. She told me that there are so many pretty clothes outside. She secretly showed me them."


    "Yuan Wu, do you think there will be a day when we can leave this place?"


    "We''ll go to the forest, the mining area, places with lots of little animals."


    "Keep me company and talk with me, okay?"


    "Welcome home."


    ...


    ...


    All of a sudden, his brain felt a sharp pain and countless memories, dense and numerous, flooded in, overwhelming like a delicate spider web.


    When Yuan Wu came to his senses, he realized his past... had always been closely linked with such a girl.


    In the lengthy memories that followed, it was all sweet moments with this girl.


    Even though he couldn''t remember, watching the memories unfold one by one, he still felt a twinge of heartache.


    These memories also had one characteristic in common¡ªthey seemed like the same scene, but there were many different versions of it.


    But no matter the differences, Mirror was always good to Yuan Wu, like she was the only person in this world who cared about him.


    In this prolonged life, only one day seemed strange. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That day, Yuan Wu went to carry out a very simple task, leaving for just a few hours, and returned completely unharmed.


    But when he came back to his abode, Mirror did not jump out to welcome him happily as usual, or gift Yuan Wu with a hug full of fragrance.


    She just crouched in a corner, looking exceptionally lonely.


    "Yuan Wu, let''s escape from this place, shall we?"


    "What''s wrong... has someone bullied you? Are you unhappy?"


    "It''s not that... I just don''t want to be here anymore, I want to see the world outside." As she spoke, Mirror''s eyes were misty, clutching her knees, looking exceptionally helpless.


    Seeing this side of Mirror for the first time, Yuan Wu panicked all of a sudden.


    Such a conversation also occurred between Akasi and Tang Suoye in the years to come. Later, Akasi took Tang Suoye and left.


    But life is so full of discrepancies; not every vulnerable person can wait for a hero with a mask and a kitchen knife in times of distress.


    Yuan Wu said:


    "Mirror... do you feel unhappy living with me?"


    "No, it''s not that, living with Yuan Wu is very happy. It''s just..."


    Mirror never finished her sentence, and Yuan Wu didn''t know what to say either.


    After a long silence, Mirror shook her head, bit her lip, and then showed a smile again, and said to Yuan Wu:


    "Yuan Wu, hug me, will you?"


    Gently embracing Mirror, Yuan Wu heard her say:


    "Do you know? I am like a mirror. When I reflect you, you become my everything."


    With her little head against Yuan Wu''s chest, Mirror whispered softly:

 Chapter 675 - 63: The Tyrant Returns Again (Major Chapter, Ready to be Slaughtered)_3

    "When you smile at the mirror, the mirror also smiles at you. So... I''m sorry, Yuan Wu, I was thinking too much just now. Actually, I''m very happy living here with Yuan Wu. If Yuan Wu is happy, then I''ll be very happy."


    "Even though you don''t smile, it''s okay, I can tell, Yuan Wu might not know what happiness feels like, but I can feel it, and the mirror doesn''t lie."


    Yuan Wu gazed at the mirror, for the first time, he truly longed to live with someone for a long time, because this person was his closest companion, and because this person understood his joy and sorrow.


    The most genuine joy and sorrow.


    Yuan Wu thought he must treat the mirror even better in the future.


    He also wanted to know what the outside world was like, to bring back beautiful clothes for the mirror.


    Doctor Qin occasionally brought some trinkets from the outside world. Most of the items were bought from daily goods stores within the Pyramid, located on the fourth level of Lincoln Fortress.


    Yuan Wu and the mirror, and that vibrant and bustling world, were actually only six hundred meters apart.


    He believed that one day, he would be able to leave with the mirror. But since then, the mirror never brought up leaving the evolution area again.


    She continued to be very happy, treating every day with Yuan Wu as if it were her last.


    "I really want to become Yuan Wu''s bride."


    "I want to marry Yuan Wu."


    "Yuan Wu, it''s so wonderful to be part of your family."


    "Hey, I really hope to leave a mark on your soul, so I can find you in the next life."


    It was the same as always, the same memories, with countless versions. Words said at a point in time also contained many similar elements.


    But in every version, the mirror was deeply expressing her affection. These words should''ve been said by a boy, but it seemed that the mirror felt she would lose something if she didn''t express her feelings sooner.


    As time ticked by, Yuan Wu thought he would forever live a tranquil life with the mirror, until enough benefits had been brought to the organization, and then he could leave with her.


    To that world only six hundred meters away, yet so unattainably far.


    But then, the mirror suddenly disappeared.


    That day, Yuan Wu returned home as usual, but he didn''t hear the mirror happily welcoming him back. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The house was empty, devoid of everything.


    The mirror''s clothes, luggage, and the decorative items around the house were all gone.


    It was as if she had never been there.


    Yuan Wu suddenly remembered that this morning when they parted, the mirror cried. It had been like this for days; she couldn''t stand to see Yuan Wu leave.


    As if she wouldn''t be able to wait for his return once he left.


    So every time Yuan Wu came back, she was exceptionally happy, as if she had snatched time from the grip of death itself.


    That morning, the mirror had seemed to sense something.


    She held Yuan Wu, her voice choked with tears, and whispered low:


    "I like Yuan Wu the most."


    Memories overlapped at that moment, still with many versions, but only with slight differences in action.


    And that one phrase was the same in every version¡ª


    I like Yuan Wu the most.


    After that sentence, the mirror vanished from Yuan Wu''s world.


    In a frenzy, Yuan Wu sought out the mirror, asking everyone who had ever seen him with the mirror.


    But strangely, everyone''s reaction was to ask, "What mirror? Who''s the mirror?"


    As if this person had never existed.


    It wasn''t until Doctor Qin told Yuan Wu that there was no such thing as the mirror, that Yuan Wu''s expression turned ashen.


    But he did not give up and continued to search for the mirror every day¡ªstubbornly.


    Yet, he knew in his heart that the mirror was probably¡­ gone.


    All of it gradually became a knot in Yuan Wu''s heart.


    He certainly didn''t believe what these people said; he was just sad to realize that all these people, including Doctor Qin who often brought gifts for him and the mirror, were fake.


    Only the mirror was real, and the fake ones remained in this world, while the real one had disappeared.


    On reflection, the mirror must''ve discovered something. From the day she suddenly wanted to leave this place, the life of the mirror and himself did not change, it even became sweeter, but there was always that feeling of being on the brink of departure.


    As if she were carefully guarding something that was doomed to be lost.


    Yuan Wu, who had never known anger or joy, felt, for the first time, overwhelmed by deep sadness and fear¡ªas if his emotional container were stuffed full, and those feelings that were no longer his began to surface.


    Anger started to show in his eyes.


    But at that moment, Yuan Wu''s memories disappeared.


    "I told you before, you should treat her as your everything, your entire world. You might have listened, but you didn''t do it, and now she''s lost. But it''s alright, I will give you another chance. This time, you better take good care of her."


    Just before forgetting something important, Yuan Wu saw Xi He again, a being akin to a deity for the entire evolution area, who seemed to take a special interest in him.


    As the Anai reagent was injected, Yuan Wu''s entire consciousness began to vibrate violently.


    The third-person perspective of Yuan Wu and the first-person perspective began to overlap at that moment.

 Chapter 676 - 63: The Tyrant Returns Again (Major Chapter, Ready to be Slaughtered)_4

    And finally, he saw a memory that he could recall.


    In the experiment, Dr. Qin held the file, observing Yu Wu''s performance. Yu Wu, whose memory had just been wiped, looked bewildered, staring at the girl tied up in front of the furnace.


    In reality, Yu Wu showed no expression, but in this recollection, Yu Wu''s face exhibited unprecedented panic.


    Mirror really wanted to laugh, because even though she was about to die, at least Yu Wu wouldn''t remember her.


    "Yu Wu, don''t cry."


    She left those words, then left this world forever.


    So that''s how it was.


    Yu Wu remembered it all now, so that''s how it was, the girl who called his name, telling him not to cry, was named Mirror.


    Now, Yu Wu was like a wandering soul in his memories.


    He couldn''t change the reality he had experienced.


    Mirror died in front of him, and he didn''t cry; he just remembered his name.


    Four days later.


    Yu Wu gradually recalled many instinctual things, his mind empty, as if he had forgotten someone crucial.


    Today he had to carry out a mission. Xi He appeared here again.


    "Feeling lonely? All alone in such a room."


    "Today you have a mission. People, after all, need companionship. There''s a little girl in the A-level experimental area, with hair the color of precious blue and twin ponytails. I want you to save her. After completing this mission, your life will become quite interesting."


    "Don''t go! Don''t go!"


    Yu Wu screamed frantically; he had a vague idea of what might happen.


    But he was merely a wandering soul, and in reality, Yu Wu, who had lost his memory, still chose to accept the mission. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And so, once again, he saved a girl named Mirror.


    What followed was like a replay of the previous events.


    Fear filled Yu Wu''s eyes.


    The memories that had been so sweet before were now causing him abnormal dread.


    Who was Mirror?


    Hadn''t she already died?


    Was she just an object used to test him?


    Or could it be that each Mirror... was actually real?


    The last thought made Yu Wu shudder, as if countless ants were crawling on his back. That terrifying sense of fear was about to plunge his entire being into collapse.


    The memories were almost exactly the same, with only minor differences.


    At that moment, Yu Wu realized that the many "versions" in his memory weren''t due to the confusion caused by the Anai injections, but were his actual experiences.


    A strong sense of despair came over him; Yu Wu''s hands trembled lightly.


    "I like Yu Wu the most."


    He heard that sentence again.


    And then, he went through the same events again; when a sense of anger was about to surge in his heart, Xi injected him with Anai.


    Once more, he stood before the judgment seat of fate, watching Mirror with regret and a smile, softly saying:


    "Yu Wu, don''t cry."


    It turns out that in so many experiences, only two sentences remained constant.


    I like Yu Wu the most.


    Yu Wu, don''t cry.


    Tears fell with a plop; Yu Wu had already forgotten Mirror''s admonition, but now, no matter what he did, he couldn''t reverse his past.


    He was just a void consciousness in his memories.


    All of this was like a cycle, each cycle... compressing the once full rage again.


    So many times, he had watched Mirror die.


    He recalled now, there were seven times in his memories, and in each one, it was Mirror telling him, Yu Wu, don''t cry in the end.


    Because he had forgotten all this, he acted like a person who had lost his memory in order to survive.


    He thought he was caught in a cycle, perhaps this was the world after death? In a place where redemption was unattainable, endlessly going in circles.


    But fate hadn''t been kind to him.


    The seventh time, Yu Wu saw a different memory.


    "The seventh experiment, everything is stable. His emotional fluctuations are within our calculations¡ªsadness, fear, confusion. Due to memory loss, he could never remember who the girl was. So this time, I decided to let him remember everything, to show him the content of the notes. He has already witnessed six deaths."


    The words of Xi He sounded like the murmur of a demon.


    In the experience of the seventh time, Yu Wu saw a different place.


    "I like Yu Wu the most."


    Before this sentence, everything was following the same trajectory, and after this sentence, when Yu Wu was going mad looking for Mirror, just when he was about to feel anger for the first time, Xi He appeared.


    "Did you lose your beloved girl?"


    "Give... Mirror back to me."


    "What do you think she is, a prop? Haven''t I told you? You should treat her as your whole world, but sadly you failed to do so. She, in fact, saw you as her everything."


    Yu Wu looked at Xi He, puzzled. In Xi He''s eyes, there was a beguiling implication:


    "Want to know the story about Mirror? Come with me. I''ll show you her inner world."


    Xi He did not take Yu Wu to a hidden room, just to a laboratory, and then played a surveillance video.


    In the video, Xi He said to Mirror:


    "You are just a mirror, just like your name. The reason you live is to reflect the pitiful soul of that child."

 Chapter 677 - 63: The Tyrant Returns Again (Major Chapter, Ready to be Slaughtered)_5

    "You can choose to leave, I''m serious. He won''t remember you afterward, he will watch you die with his eyes wide open. But I''ll give you a chance. You can choose to leave him now."


    "Six hundred meters beneath my feet is a different world, where people bustle about every day for a living. There, you can see all facets of life, and there''s so much more to feel than just love. Besides, Telekinesis is so boring, isn''t it?"


    "He won''t get angry, nor will he laugh. He only feels sadness and fear, just like a coward. Don''t you want to see your beloved smile sweetly at you?"


    "All you have to do is be willing to leave Telekinesis."


    Xi He''s words were essentially forcing Mirror to make a choice.


    Mirror asked cautiously,


    "And what about Telekinesis... Why won''t you let him come with me?"


    "Haven''t you figured out the situation yet? Telekinesis can''t leave, understand what I mean? Only one of you and Telekinesis can live. If you leave, Telekinesis will die. Don''t ask me why; for me, it''s just an interesting experiment. But rest assured, I keep my word. After you go to the human world, the organization will no longer trouble you."


    "I want to go with Telekinesis. Please, I beg of you, Your Excellency!"


    "That''s not possible, oh greedy one. There''s no good end for the greedy. Think about it, is Telekinesis really worth it? When you die, he''ll only watch you coldly."


    "I think..."


    Xi He furrowed her brows, and Mirror suddenly dared not speak anymore.


    "Think about it well. If you stay, Telekinesis can live, but you will die. If you leave, Telekinesis will also die."


    Xi He had thought it would take a long time to get an answer, but it only took a little over ten seconds for Mirror to make a decision:


    "Your Excellency, if it''s Telekinesis, he will have a more brilliant future than me, right?"


    "Yes, he''s actually not the same as you, but I can''t tell you how he''s different."


    "I choose to stay. Telekinesis must not die."


    "You''ve decided that quickly?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Although Telekinesis doesn''t laugh, he''s really very gentle. In that world six hundred meters below you spoke of, there will be many people who like him."


    The surveillance video ended there.


    Telekinesis remembered, that was the day Mirror''s mood was off. It was the day Mirror crouched in the corner, appearing exceptionally lonely, and then said to Telekinesis:


    "Telekinesis, let''s escape this place, okay?"


    So that was it.


    After learning the truth, Telekinesis stumbled and fell into a corner.


    Xi''s expression carried infinite regret:


    "Such a good child, not knowing the value of life. So easily, she gave her all to someone else."


    "Seven times, between you and herself, she chose you every single time."


    "She knew her fate well, but felt that only when she was with you was she complete."


    "Later, Mirror asked me what would happen to Telekinesis. I said Telekinesis would forget all this cleanly. Her expression was lonely, yet fulfilled. She probably thought that her life had been entirely devoted to Telekinesis, and that was enough. Telekinesis is different. He could forget himself and had an endless future waiting for him."


    Every word was like a knife stabbing into Telekinesis''s heart.


    All the emotions of sadness, fear, and suppression surged over him.


    "You, who never laugh or get angry, have become her entire world. She never gave up on you, not once. Yet every time, you just watched her die, cluelessly."


    It was as if countless mountains within him were collapsing, and Telekinesis''s face was filled with despair, coupled with a sense of shocking disbelief.


    He clenched his hand so tight, as if trying to hold onto something, yet he could never stop something from slipping away.


    The anger, which was extinguished the moment it flared up every time, was finally coming in a wildfire''s fury.


    But in the end, swept up by an unprecedented wrath, Yuan Wu fell into unconsciousness.


    Anai''s telekinesis injected into Yuan Wu''s neck.


    And so all of this... once again perished with the fading of his memory.


    But in a corner of his heart, there had forever been a place secretly harboring the rage that he was supposed to have vented over the years.


    "Yuan Wu, don''t cry."


    Yuan Wu did not cry. When the mirror died again, he just silently smiled.


    This young man, also about to be killed by the beast horde, finally remembered everything at this moment. He remembered the sensation of anger and the feeling of a smile.


    What a pity he had never smiled at the mirror, not even once.


    His stiff smile was accompanied by scalding hot tears.


    "In that world six hundred meters below, there must be many people who like Yuan Wu."


    "I am just a mirror... I am fake, Yuan Wu is the real one."


    "If it were Yuan Wu, he would have a future far more brilliant than mine, wouldn''t he?"


    Every sentence was like the coldest tide, washing over his battered body, bringing wave upon wave of soul-wrenching pain.


    ...


    ...


    Consciousness finally completely awakened at this moment.


    With an unprecedented fury and reluctance, or perhaps the dying wish of a certain young girl, Yuan Wu opened his eyes.


    A slash-iron beast was gnawing at his body.


    Prey on the brink of death might have a final, terrifying struggle. As experienced hunters, the slash-iron beasts quickly backed away.


    Their sensitivity to danger, however, did not spare them from their fate.


    Because they had no idea that they had shifted from being the hunters to the hunted.


    Yuan Wu''s eyes were filled with a blinding white light, as if extreme anger had erased everything else in his vision.


    His silver hair grew wildly.


    The broken flesh all over his body also started to heal rapidly.


    At the same time, within this cobweb-like vast battlefield, all the raindrops suddenly suspended in mid-air, and the tiny debris and stones on the ground were also frozen low in the sky.


    A terrifying telekinetic force swept through the entire space.


    Even the flames enveloping the two nine-tailed foxes in another battlefield were solidified by the telekinetic power.


    Yuan Wu slowly got up, hunching his body, standing alone.


    Like a lonely king after the world''s end, but when he lifted his head, he resembled a tyrant about to destroy everything.


    (Some readers asked me if this book is cruel. Speaking from the perspective of the big finale, the book is actually sweet, but some of the supporting characters, I admit, were conceived with a rather ruthless heart. To become stronger without the protection of the protagonist''s halo, the supporting characters have to pay a corresponding price. The story of the two tyrants was also determined very early on. The protagonist won''t suffer, and later, brother Yuan Wu will also be treated gently. Rest assured, and by the way, I''d appreciate a monthly ticket, as today, to avoid breaking the narrative, I wrote four chapters'' worth in one go.)

 Chapter 678 - 64: The Eye of the Mirror

    It was as if time had come to a halt, the world frozen in this very moment.


    It all began with tiny raindrops or perhaps debris and rubble; then, even the leaping flames became imprisoned.


    After that, countless creeping spiders came to a complete stop, and even the iron-cutting creatures found themselves unable to move.


    Like the coldest wind from the depths of the icy hell, it howled past, and everything was instantly frozen.


    The overwhelming telekinesis continued to spread, causing a brief pause throughout the entire battlefield beneath the spider web.


    For a moment, creatures like the Mystical Bird, Gorgon, Gold-Breaking Beast, Taowu, and other leaders all turned their gaze toward the source of this anomaly.


    Bai Mansheng looked on in disbelief at this scene.


    [Humans... can actually possess such power!]


    The voice of the Mystical Bird was filled with incredulity.


    On the other side, Tang Xian was already immune to human harm, so even though the telekinesis from the Element Mist could penetrate the spider web, he couldn''t feel it.


    But among the humans present, aside from himself, there was only the Element Mist. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Xian was still pretending to be useless, playing the role of prey trapped in the spider web, secretly building up resistance to the Sinew Spider.


    "It seems the Mystical Bird is muttering about Element Mist..."


    This was an unexpected surprise, for the battle came much earlier than Tang Xian had anticipated. He had expected that one day he would be besieged by the Court of All Beasts, but he never expected that day to come so suddenly and without his noticing.


    "The odds of victory have now reached forty percent."


    The tyrant-transformed Akasi had a speed even greater than that of Lei Xiao. Even his other combat stats had obviously been enhanced.


    However, the evolution of strength among tyrants was clearly not uniform, and while Akasi had indeed broken through to extreme speed, it came with significant drawbacks.


    What realm Element Mist''s tyrant had elevated his combat ability to was another unknown.


    The terrifying telekinesis, as if changing the coefficient of gravity, made every presence on the battlefield feel restricted with every step.


    But for calamity-level creatures, such telekinetic constraints ultimately only slowed them down a little.


    They were capable of battle, merely astonished that the seemingly weakest human youth possessed such strength.


    Throughout the process, Element Mist remained motionless, and when his blank eyes began to reflect a certain scene, that scene started to show absolute destruction.


    Like shards from a shattered mirror.


    In that moment, the horrific telekinesis converged within his gaze, tearing through the space where the iron-cutting creatures were, making the rifts visible to the naked eye.


    As this sense of fracture increased, the iron-cutting creatures in Element Mist''s view also fragmented along with the space itself.


    Their bodies, torn into pieces, appeared as if slashed by the sharpest intention of the Gold-Breaking Beast, ending in myriad ragged shards.


    A broken mirror can hardly be made whole, and even if pieced together, visible cracks remain.


    All was as Ju Mang said, human love is beautiful and redemptive, but in Xi He''s eyes, it was all a weapon.


    Having met Tang Xiaojiu, Bai Mansheng, Tang Xian, Suzu, and Element Mist, he began to find redemption in life, but the experiences in the Evolution Zone were like indelible cracks on the mirror of his heart.


    These cracks became his obsessions.


    His telekinesis was thereby amplified into a rule-based ability.


    Space rupture.


    Within the area of his gaze, everything, regardless of combat strength, along with that space, would become fragmented.


    No matter how fast the iron-cutting creatures are, can they outrun a glance?


    The three-headed serpent, the iron-cutting creatures, and the six-tailed fox all retreated, and the beasts realized the unimaginable transformation this human had undergone.


    This was the ultimate weapon crafted by Xi He, this rule-based power that gave even the strongest of beasts a dominant advantage.


    Element Mist stared blankly at the shattered world in his eyes, his anger mixed with profound loss.


    He had finally arrived in a world filled with human warmth.


    In this world, people sincerely welcomed and liked him; in Baichuan City, no one treated him as a monster.


    He had friends, with whom he could greet on sunny days, discussing pleasant and tranquil matters. When bored, he could go to the Fresh Sense Caf¨¦, order a coffee, and sit quietly, idling away the time.


    No one would make him fight to the death in a cage or command him to collect serum from a dangerous creature.


    There was still a long life ahead of him, the bloody past seemingly washed clean since meeting Tang Xian.


    But all this was forever missing one person.


    The fury of the tyrant was far from over.


    His lost and shattered gaze no longer looked toward the beasts; this powerful rule enforcement also meant that Element Mist''s transformation into a tyrant would be even more fleeting compared to Akasi.


    His regret and self-reproach for the broken mirror and his anger at Xi He did not drive Element Mist mad; instead, the moment he stepped into tyranny, he became clearer.


    The dead were gone, and the living were still waiting for his protection.


    No matter how angry he was, he was still the gentle Element Mist.


    Element Mist''s first gaze was towards Taowu.


    Its immense figure was not easy to dodge, but Taowu moved quickly, displaying agility that belied its size.


    The gaze only rested on Taowu for less than a second before Taowu hastily evaded it.

 Chapter 679 - 64: Eyes of the Mirror_2

    Even so, it was just the instant the Eye of the Mirror berated, that the horrific cutting left behind one of the arms of the Taowu, but after the arm was severed, the Taowu''s speed became even faster.


    Yuan Mist decided not to dwell on it any longer. The longer the Taowu fought, the faster it became. Time was not on his side, so he turned his gaze toward the mass of black fog. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the black fog hid the leader of the three-headed serpent swarm, the snake-haired female demon Gorgon.


    A shrill howl emanated from within the black fog, but even the sound itself was discontinuously severed.


    The Undying Xuan Bird watched this scene, feeling nothing short of horrified.


    It had no doubt that creatures like the Gold-Breaking Beast and the Gorgon, these terror beasts, could kill this human in an instant.


    But, likewise, in this human''s domain, all creatures were equal; whether they were of the orange tier or the purple tier, all would be cut into countless pieces along with the space.


    The black fog shattered, space rifted. Only after Yuan Mist''s gaze moved away did the space begin to slowly recover, but Gorgon suffered a horrific fate, its body already split into seven parts.


    Even the Soul Crystal, radiating an orange light, had cracked open.


    A creature that once posed the greatest threat to Tang Xian was thus resolved without any complications.


    This terrifying scene caused the Gold-Breaking Beast to immediately change its direction, abandoning the unbreakable Bai Mansheng and, without hesitation, darting toward Yuan Mist with the speed of lightning, following a zigzagging trajectory.


    Yuan Mist frowned slightly, his gaze tightly following the Gold-Breaking Beast, but he could never quite catch up to it.


    Just as the Gold-Breaking Beast thought it was about to succeed, just as its sickle-like arm was about to strike Yuan Mist, the surroundings began to change. Beneath Yuan Mist''s feet, the terrain and the frosty rain and snow seemed to converge onto one spot.


    As a result, Yuan Mist''s position shifted slightly.


    [The battle is not yet over!]


    This was Yuan Mist''s original ability, Telekinesis altering the environment, making everything around seem seamless.


    Though the Gold-Breaking Beast missed its strike, it did not give up. With a nimble turn, it lashed out with another slash.


    But during that brief pause, Yuan Mist''s gaze had already locked onto the Gold-Breaking Beast.


    The Gold-Breaking Beast felt only a terrifying, brutal force pulling at itself, and all its struggles were in vain.


    The next instant, the space around was fragmented, shattering in all directions, and the Gold-Breaking Beast couldn''t even feel its own body.


    But at that moment, a layer of deathly grey appeared on it.


    The only force that could contend with the power of spatial rules was another set of rules.


    Nether River Conveyance.


    At the moment a creature was about to die, the Undying Xuan Bird forcibly entered the state of Nether Walking, transferring the opponent''s life force to a safe location.


    Space fractured, and at the Gold-Breaking Beast''s arms and ears, there were neat cuts.


    Yet, it ultimately survived.


    It glared at Yuan Mist with rage but also a hint of wariness.


    [To be driven to such a state by a human! It is a disgrace I''ve never suffered before!]


    Bai Mansheng, witnessing this duel, was utterly astonished. Yuan Mist, the usually silent and reticent child, nearly killed two chieftains of a myriad of beasts in succession.


    But more intriguing was the Undying Xuan Bird.


    The Undying Xuan Bird, a mythical creature rumored to be able to enter the special dimension known as Spiritual Purgatory. What Bai Mansheng had not anticipated, though, was that the Xuan Bird could also forcibly bring other beings into that dimension.


    Yuan Mist''s breathing became slightly heavier, and his sight was ever so faintly blurred.


    Even the Eye of the Mirror, capable of cutting through space itself, was not without considerable cost to his physical stamina.


    [Gold-Breaking, do not act rashly. From now on, your task is to draw the human''s gaze, but remember not to attack recklessly. The number of times ordinary creatures can enter the Spiritual Purgatory is limited.]


    Tang Xian also heard this conversation.


    Tang Xian, ensnared in the spider''s web, roughly guessed the battle situation outside of the web. It seemed there had been a significant turn of events, and the Gold-Breaking Beast had nearly died.


    Feeling the web''s sticky grip on him weakening, Tang Xian began to devise his strategy for fighting once he broke free of the spider''s web.


    Meanwhile, Yuan Mist''s gaze shifted onto the Undying Xuan Bird.


    Feeling the pull and suction of the Eye of the Mirror akin to a black hole, the Xuan Bird was filled with immense dread. Humans, after all, were a prolific species, and over the past several hundred years, it had gradually come to realize that humans had firmly established themselves in this world.


    Although to most beasts, humans were always considered weak beings.


    But now, there had finally emerged among humans those capable of confronting the topmost terror beasts head-on.


    Such individuals must be few, yet this represented a symbol. Once given hope, humans could become extremely terrifying.


    [This human must die!]


    Wings that blazed like blue flames instantly turned to a desolate silver-grey.


    Just as the Xuan Bird was about to be torn asunder alongside space, it once again fled into Spiritual Purgatory.


    Spiritual Purgatory was much the same as the real world, only filled with the shells of roaming lost souls.


    Only once the spatial laceration had ended did the silver-grey layer on the Xuan Bird revert once again to its vibrant blue.


    Yuan Mist clenched his teeth, having concluded inwardly. The two spatial laws seemed not to conflict, and for now, he could do nothing about the Xuan Bird.


    Simultaneously, the Gold-Breaking Beast began to act. It was the quickest of these calamitous creatures, forcing Yuan Mist to remain wary.


    His tyrannous transformation had activated the Eye of the Mirror.


    But while the Eye of the Mirror was powerful, Yuan Mist himself was still unable to withstand the assault of calamity-level creatures.


    He was like a mage with high offense, low health, little mana, and thin armor.

 Chapter 680 - 64: Eyes of the Mirror_3

    "I probably can use it twice more¡­ I must hit all the targets."


    On guard against the Gold-Breaking Beast, Yuanwu began to focus his mind.


    Only Bai Mansheng noticed that the Xuan Bird seemed to be condensing something.


    Suddenly alert, just as the Gold-Breaking Beast circled to Yuanwu''s back and in the moment Yuanwu turned to defend, the Xuan Bird''s wings flapped and a grey beam shot towards Yuanwu.


    "Be careful!"


    Bai Mansheng, in a moment of urgency, shielded Yuanwu, while Taowu, which had been restraining Bai Mansheng, did not make a move at this time.


    Tang transformed into an armor capable of withstanding any damage. Both Taowu and the Gold-Breaking Beast felt this was exceptionally troublesome.


    No attack seemed to threaten Bai Mansheng, all thanks to Tang''s formidable resilience.


    However, at this moment, Bai Mansheng suddenly felt outmaneuvered.


    [Do you think I am dealing with that human? I am dealing with you, Nuwa Emperor!]


    The grey beam seemed to carry no lethality, but Bai Mansheng abruptly felt a wave of decaying and dead quiet spreading.


    Tang immediately peeled away from Bai Mansheng''s body.


    In an exceedingly short time, the irregularly shaped Tang gradually reverted to his original form.


    "Tang Mang!"


    Bai Mansheng exclaimed in shock.


    But he could not feel the slightest trace of Tang''s presence.


    [This way, the defense of the Nuwa Emperor has been dismantled.] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nether River''s ferrying pulled the opponent forcefully into the entrapment of the Spiritual Purgatory.


    When the Gold-Breaking Beast was nearly sliced by the Mirror''s Eye, the Xuan Bird had used this method to pull the beast into the Spiritual Purgatory.


    Tang was indeed overpowering; Taowu, as a ferocious beast, along with a magical creature like the Gold-Breaking Beast¡ªboth with strong offensive capabilities, able to inflict severe damage instantly¡ªyet they could never harm Bai Mansheng.


    The Xuan Bird had been waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    Within the Spiritual Purgatory, Tang realized that his life regeneration speed had drastically decreased. The mining area in winter was already cold, and although Northwest lands had no snow, the wind cut like knives against the bones.


    But inside the Spiritual Purgatory, it was even colder.


    Tang observed countless wandering spirits and fragmentary souls aimlessly walking around.


    Life and death are absolute opposites.


    This world might indeed have a Netherworld, but that is merely a space that fits human description, the dead cannot be revived from the Netherworld. Once dead, it is truly the end.


    And the Xuan Bird was not truly immortal, it was just that each time it was on the brink of death, it would slowly recover in this space.


    The Xuan Bird thought it had completely trapped Tang. In the Spiritual Purgatory, the life force of every creature would be slowly devoured. Except for itself¡ªit was the ruler of this space. Wandering spirits consumed the living, and it consumed the wandering spirits.


    These spirits seemed harmless, yet they could devour a person''s life force.


    The Xuan Bird thought, as long as it trapped this troublesome creature in the Spiritual Purgatory, it could gradually erode this monstrous youth using the unique characteristics of the Purgatory.


    Tang did indeed enter the Spiritual Purgatory and truly felt his life force rapidly draining away.


    But no matter how much it drained, it could not surpass the speed of life force recovery.


    Even the Netherworld could not contend with this monster inadvertently created by the Long-Eared Ancient Ape.


    And Tang, though he might seem blunt and slow-witted in speech on ordinary days, was actually not stupid at all.


    He silently observed the scenes within this space, vaguely feeling¡­ perhaps the Xuan Bird could be killed.

 Chapter 681 - 65: Does the Phoenix Die or Not?

    The situation on the battlefield changed with Tang''s departure.


    Seeing the troublesome Nuwa Emperor no longer shielded, Taowu was overjoyed and immediately launched an attack.


    Although the Mirror Eye had broken one of its arms, its unique physique significantly boosted its combat values in all aspects.


    But Bai Mansheng was not panicked; she easily gathered a massive glacier.


    Even if Taowu shattered those glaciers in the next second, it was always a beat slower than Bai Mansheng.


    Compared to the other beasts, Taowu had the ability to grow stronger with each injury and battle, but it lacked elemental control.


    Bai Mansheng knew she was no match for Taowu, but she did not need to defeat it; she was waiting for Tang Xian.


    Whether it was herself or the elemental fog, it might affect the odds, but the real decider of the victory would still be Tang Xian.


    She didn''t believe such a tough guy would get caught in a web!


    [This Taowu, truly foolish to the extreme.]


    The Mysterious Bird thought Taowu would quickly overpower the enemy, only to find that Bai Mansheng was stalling, using the ice as a barricade, constantly restraining Taowu.


    However, the Mysterious Bird wasn''t in a hurry either; it had noticed that Bai Mansheng was struggling against Taowu. Despite the human youth''s substantial slaying ability, even able to kill an orange-tier creature like Gorgon instantly, the Gold-Breaking Beast''s rapid movements were distracting the youth.


    Deep down, the Mysterious Bird saw humans as worthy of caution but looked down on them nonetheless. This wasn''t a contradiction. It concluded that this human was nearing his limit, battling against orange-tier creatures by himself, he would quickly deplete his stamina.


    Indeed, Elemental Fog was now feeling fatigue, his vision struggling to focus.


    The enormous consumption of Telekinesis made it difficult for him to concentrate. There were several times when he felt the dangerous presence of the Gold-Breaking Beast whistling past his neck.


    Must kill at least one more!


    Elemental Fog clenched his teeth with this thought, determined to kill one more before his energy was exhausted.


    "The Gold-Breaking Beast is too fast, my sight can''t keep up, and I can only barely defend. If I want to continue using the Mirror Eye, the manipulation of telekinesis has to be calculated even more accurately."


    This timid child, once he overcame his fear due to anger, displayed an exceptional combat talent.


    Of the entire battlefield, Elemental Fog was the clearest about the situation aside from Tang Xian.


    "Lord Tang Xian is still in the spider web. That hanging spider seems only to be a weaver of the battlefield. However, it can''t be ruled out that it has other offensive means. The priority of the target is very low, though."


    While dodging the Gold-Breaking Beast''s attacks, he was pondering the countermeasures. Gradually, Elemental Fog closed his left eye.


    He looked like he was about to collapse, but in reality, it was a strategy to minimize exhaustion.


    While someone was still trapped in a web like a wrapped zongzi, the other two active on the battlefield were thinking about the same thing¡ªwaiting for Tang Xian to break free. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Mysterious Bird was unaware of the opponents'' plans; it only knew that no more defenses stood before Bai Mansheng or the human youth.


    Another gray beam shot towards Elemental Fog.


    Suddenly, Elemental Fog opened his left eye, and the ruptured space unexpectedly sliced the black beam in half too. At the same moment, the Gold-Breaking Beast rapidly approached Elemental Fog.


    An ice wall rose behind Elemental Fog. Bai Mansheng, while also paying attention to the other battlefield, saw Elemental Fog in danger and immediately intervened to rescue him.


    This distraction left the direction from which Taowu was charging free of glacial obstruction.


    The Mysterious Bird''s beam, like pushing the first domino, triggered a series of attacks.


    The Mysterious Bird struck at Elemental Fog; Elemental Fog defended with the Mirror Eye; the Gold-Breaking Beast found an opening to attack Elemental Fog, and Bai Mansheng intervened to help. Still, eventually, it was three against two, and at that moment, Taowu also made a move on Bai Mansheng.


    Just when the Mysterious Bird thought it had the upper hand that round, something unexpected happened.


    The human youth, who, according to the Mysterious Bird''s observation, should have taken some time to rest after using his spatial slicing ability.


    The wear and tear from this move was substantial, and the Mysterious Bird believed that not just humans, but possibly all beasts would expend much strength using it.


    And inertial thinking led Taowu and the Gold-Breaking Beast to believe that the tens of seconds after Elemental Fog used the Mirror Eye were safe.


    Blood flowed from Elemental Fog''s eyes, a sight that must have been horrifying. His eyes, originally enshrouded in a hazy white light, were now red due to the dense blood vessels.


    But in that instant, the figure of Taowu charging at Bai Mansheng was suddenly cut off by an enormous force.


    It was as if being dragged down into the deep sea by a great octopus, struggling in vain, unable to alter its sinking fate.


    Next, Taowu''s strength began to terrifyingly increase. Even within the rifted space, the mighty aura emanating from Taowu could be felt.


    This immense pressure caused a brief stagnation in everyone; the last of the four fierce beasts, Taowu, was at its most terrifying when its life hung by a thread.


    But to the Mysterious Bird and the Gold-Breaking Beast''s dismay, Taowu''s vitality continued to plummet rapidly. Despite its growing strength, it never escaped the split space.


    Soon after the overwhelming aura hit, they saw Taowu torn to pieces.


    Only after Taowu''s body had disintegrated into countless fragments did Elemental Fog close his bleeding eyes.