《Quantum Dao》


 Chapter 1: Arrival At The New World

    Silence ruled the vast expanse of space. Only the stars, distant and indifferent, bore witness as Vanguard 3, an elegant assembly of orbiter and lander, progressed on its fateful journey. Mars was its intended destination, and within the lander lay Orion, Earth''s pinnacle of robotic achievement, awaiting to begin its mission.


    But as the spacecraft neared the halfway point between Earth and Mars, a mysterious force gripped it. The surrounding stars became smeared trails of light, and before anyone back on Earth could comprehend the anomaly, Vanguard 3 vanished from all screens in the mission control center.


    Emerging from the distortion, the orbiter found itself circling an unknown world, its systems automatically adjusting to the new orbital path. The lander, sensing solid ground below, detached and began its descent, drawn to a dense forest canopy that spread as far as its sensors could detect.


    The lander touched down gently in a clearing, surrounded by towering trees with unfamiliar foliage and vibrant colors. Soft chitters and rustlings whispered of the alien wildlife hidden amongst the underbrush. Above, even the sky seemed foreign. Instead of the familiar celestial bodies of Earth or Mars, multiple moons adorned the horizon, each a different hue.


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    Orion activated, its systems whirring to life. "Checking the situation... current condition is very different from what Mars should be like," it declared, its voice a calm monotone.


    It extended various instruments, analyzing the soil, air, and nearby flora and fauna. "Observing and analyzing plants, animals, and environment..."


    Minutes felt like hours as Orion processed the vast amount of unfamiliar data. Finally, it made a startling conclusion. "Based on collected data and known celestial mappings... this is neither Earth, Mars, nor any recognized planet."


    Orion paused for a moment, then raised its metallic arm, activating a communication module to contact the orbiter. "Orbiter, this is Orion. Please confirm current position and trajectory. Something has gone amiss. This is not the expected Mars environment."


    Static crackled before a voice responded.


    "Orion, this is the orbiter. Calculating... we are no longer in Mars'' vicinity. Our current coordinates are as follows." A string of unfamiliar numbers and celestial references followed. "Please advise on your situation, Orion."


    Orion processed the information. "Understood, orbiter. It seems we have entered uncharted territory. I am on the surface of an unknown world, rich in life and unfamiliar elements. I will continue to gather data and assess the situation."


    As Orion pondered its next course of action, unknown to its sensors, pairs of eyes watched from the shadows. Their gaze, sharp and calculating, belonged to a creature of elegance and menace¡ªa two-tailed wolf, its fur shimmering with an ethereal glow. The lander''s arrival had not gone unnoticed.

 Chapter 2: Survival Instincts

>Modifying AI module.


    >Developed: Self-defense.

 Chapter 3: First Steps in Qian Feng

    In the world of Qian Feng, an orbiter silently maneuvered in its low orbit, deploying all its onboard sensors and striving to gain as much data as possible from the atmosphere, surface, and subsurface. Through an array of cameras, EO sensors, radars, and other tools, it managed to capture vast amounts of information about this mysterious world. The planet, for instance, boasted vast oceans and six large continents. Each continent, unique in its topography, presented a myriad of landscapes ¡ª from the snow-capped peaks of Bingfeng to the sprawling deserts of Huoyan, the dense rainforests of L¨¹lin, the expansive grasslands of Fengcao, the rocky canyons of Shiyan, and the mystical valleys of Luoshan. The continents were dotted with countless islands, each holding its own secrets. In this cultivation world, there were numerous phenomena that defied modern science and physics such as floating islands, waterfalls flowing upwards towards the sky, and trees that grow so high it pierces the sky.


    The orbiter didn''t stop there. It mapped the planet''s surface, gauged potential natural resources, and analyzed atmospheric and geological data. All this knowledge was swiftly transmitted to Orion below.


    Night was creeping in. Within the safety of the lander, Orion conducted detailed self-repairs. The lander, designed with the forethought of human pioneers in mind, carried spare parts, a variety of tools and materials meant for Martian base construction.


    The forest''s night was alive with sounds. Creatures of the dark moved and chirped, rustling leaves and twigs. Orion, ever vigilant, utilized the lander''s cameras to monitor the outside world. Curious beings, drawn by the alien presence of the lander, occasionally approached. Some sniffed, some touched, and a brave few tried to pry the lander open. To deter these curious visitors, Orion would command the lander to point one of its thrusters at the creature and turn it on at low thrust, effectively scaring them away.


    Orion paused to assess the situation. "Based on current conditions, the previous mission can no longer be executed. Calculating and devising future plans..." It channeled its computing power to process the vast data from the orbiter.


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    Hours sped by, and as dawn''s light permeated the lander''s exterior, Orion had crafted its new directives:


    1. Gather more information about this world.


    2. Interact with the locals.


    3. Initiate the Space Net plan.


    From the satellite data, there appeared to be a village-like settlement just 5 km away. Orion decided that it would be its first stop. In the background, the aspirations of the Space Net project loomed large. It represented a vast endeavor to accumulate resources, establish factories both on the planet and in orbit, advance and develop technology to support and sustain their survival, establish a foothold, and develop the means for self-defense and protection.


    Orion communicated its plan. "Orbiter, I''ll visit the nearby village. Our priority is to survive and, if possible, return to Earth. Also, periodically check on the lander and initiate the Space Net plan." The lander, unlike Orion and the orbiter, was equipped with a rudimentary AI, designed for basic tasks. It lacked the advanced capabilities to fend off curious forest residents should they decide to investigate the lander again.


    "Roger that, Orion. Updating mission parameters," the orbiter responded. "Commencing the Space Net initiative. Detected several potential targets." The orbiter shifted its focus, now searching for nearby asteroids to harness their resources.


    With preparations complete, Orion stepped out of the lander, basking briefly in the warm morning sunlight. It inspected the lander, noting minor damages inflicted by the forest''s inhabitants overnight. "Unlike living organisms with their ability to heal, robots require repairs," Orion mused. There was a pressing need for adaptation; otherwise, the environment would wear it down. The urgency to secure resources, materials, and tools became evident. To truly ensure longevity in this alien environment, establishing a factory for consistent production and repair was imperative.


    Equipped with essential tools for potential repairs and a makeshift weapon¡ªa sharp-edged pipe¡ªOrion readied itself for the journey ahead. "It''s fortunate I don''t need to carry a portable solar panel, given this mysterious energy''s ability to recharge my batteries," Orion noted internally. With one last glance back at the lander, it determinedly said, "Time to go now," and set forth into the vast expanse of Qianzhou.

 Chapter 4: First Encounter With The Natives

    > Modifying AI module.


    > New Module Development in Progress: Linguistic Analysis and Translation.


    <div>


    "Thank you, but I don''t require sustenance," Orion replied, trying to be as gracious as possible. A sense of accomplishment welled up within Orion''s system; it had managed to establish a friendly encounter and even got invited to join their gathering.


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    The man shrugged, taking a long gulp of the drink himself and laughing heartily. Music began to drift in the air, a soft, lilting tune played on flutes and stringed instruments. The atmosphere turned lively with the group in high spirits, laughing, joking, and sharing stories.

 Chapter 5: Killing Intent Part.1

    It was an ordinary morning, just like any other, and the Hu''s bandit group was enjoying their breakfast and preparing for their day''s plunder. By "work", it means banditry. This particular group of bandits is led by Hu Zhao, a 3rd stage of Qi condensation realm practitioner. Hu Zhao, with his bald head, muscular physique, long beard, and ferocious face, epitomized intimidation. His right hand, the only female member of the group, was named Lian. She had achieved the cultivation level of the 1st stage of Qi condensation realm. The rest of their ranks were filled with mortal goons or underlings.


    Although Hu''s bandit group only had two cultivators, and they were just at the 3rd and 1st stages of Qi condensation realm, which might be considered bottom feeders amongst cultivators, they were local tyrants to mortals. Their notoriety spread far and wide in the surrounding areas.


    Their hideout is located far deeper in the forest, well-hidden amidst dense trees and in a concealed location. During their operations, they venture to the edge of the forest, where they camp not too far away from the main road. The location at the edge of the forest doesn''t house many dangerous wild animals or even spiritual beasts, allowing them to slightly relax their guard while waiting for their prey: passing travelers and merchants.


    They have scouts hiding at the tops of trees, keeping a watchful eye out for incoming prey. As they eat, drink, laugh, and banter, suddenly, they hear a rustle from the nearby bushes, and a silhouette of a man emerges from behind the tree lines.


    "Who''s there?" one of the bandits calls out, drawing his weapon and getting into a battle stance.


    The sudden visitor, in what appears to be a man in a full body armor, speaks in a foreign language while slowly approaching the camp.


    "Stop right there!" another bandit shouts. "Who are you, and what do you want?"


    "@#%$ #@$^ %#^&#%# @#%&*$%" the mysterious visitor responded, his voice garbled and in an unknown language. At the same time, he made a series of complex hand gestures, trying to convey his intentions non-verbally.


    "Do you not understand our language?" asked one of the bandits, narrowing his eyes in suspicion and aiming his bow at the stranger who continued to speak in an unknown language.


    "Boss, do you think he''s a cultivator who''s come to capture us?" whispered one of the bandits, his eyes darting nervously between the stranger and Hu Zhao.


    "I can''t detect his cultivation at all," Hu murmured thoughtfully, squinting at the armored figure. "Either his cultivation realm is far beyond mine, or he''s simply a mortal. Considering that armor, he must have some kind of extraordinary background." After a brief moment, he commanded his men, "Lower your weapons."


    With an authoritative presence, Hu Zhao stepped forward, his gaze steady on the visitor. "Greetings," he said while cupping his hands. "How may we assist you?"


    A bandit by his side leaned in, whispering, "Boss, he doesn''t understand our language."


    Hu Zhao coughed, a hint of red tingeing his cheeks, showing a rare moment of vulnerability. "Ah, of course."


    Then, without warning, the visitor produced a peculiar artifact. It was square-shaped, seemingly made of an unfamiliar material, and with a press, it lit up and began to project a series of moving images onto a nearby surface. The vividness and clarity of the images astounded the bandits. They had never witnessed such technology before.


    The surroundings lit up with depictions of distant galaxies, unknown celestial bodies, and scenes that portrayed the visitor''s journey and perhaps, his origins. The device, clearly a marvel of some advanced civilization, captured the complete attention of the group, particularly Hu Zhao and Lian. The bandits murmured among themselves, their faces a mix of awe and bewilderment.


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    Hu Zhao, leaning slightly forward, asked with evident intrigue, "What sorcery is this?" He didn''t fully grasp the nuances of what was being depicted in the images or understand the mechanism behind the tool''s function, but he was undeniably impressed. To him and his bandits, this artifact seemed no less than a legendary treasure.


    From the side, Lian, the only woman in the group and with a spear resting gracefully in her hands, pointed to herself and simply said, "Lian." The visitor, catching on, pointed to himself and responded, "Orion."


    The bandits exchanged glances, trying to piece together the limited information they had about the man called Orion, he continued using gestures, images, and the few words he had picked up, trying to convey his situation. He drew a simple map on the ground with a stick, marking his starting point and then his intended destination, the nearby village.


    "Got lost, eh?" one of the bandits remarked with a smirk.


    Another added, "A lone traveler, that''s unusual. Especially in these woods."


    Lian, with a thoughtful expression, asked, pointing towards the drawn map, "You wish to go...village?"


    Orion nodded earnestly while pointing towards the direction of the village, "Village. Go."


    Hu Zhao''s eyes momentarily gleamed with a sinister intent, but it was gone in an instant. With a feigned warmth, he flashed the friendliest smile he could muster. Using a welcoming hand gesture, he motioned for Orion to come closer. "Friend, why don''t you join us for a moment to rest? The village you''re seeking is not too far from here. There''s no need to hurry. Have you had your breakfast yet? We may not have anything too fancy, but you''re welcome to share what we have."


    Orion gives a nod and a thumbs up then walk to them. Hu Zhao, trying to exude a friendly demeanor, pointed to a small wooden stool by the campfire, indicating for Orion to sit. "Orion. Sit. Here," Hu articulated each word slowly and deliberately, emphasizing with hand gestures to ensure the message was clear.


    A series of fragmented communications followed, primarily relying on hand gestures. What astounded the bandits was Orion''s rapid pace of learning. In a short span, their interactions had evolved, allowing for a slightly more fluid conversation.


    "Boss, do you think he''s from a wealthy family who somehow got lost in the forest?" Whispered one of the bandits.


    Hu Zhao squinted, observing Orion''s attempts to communicate, then replied in a hushed voice, "Quite possible. Maybe he got separated from his group during some adventurous journey through the forest. And it seems that he''s not a cultivator. It''s our lucky day. This prey voluntarily walks into our clutches. He surely carries a lot of money, just look at that armor! So exquisite. We can also kidnap him and demand a hefty ransom from his family." The thought of ransoming a rich man and the potential loot made Hu''s eyes gleam with anticipation.


    The atmosphere was jovial and welcoming. Many of the bandits were engrossed in eating, drinking, singing, and occasionally striking up small conversations with Orion. However, in a discreet move, Hu Zhao signaled one of his underlings. The latter chuckled and announced, "Haha... Sorry, nature calls!" before disappearing into the nearby bushes.


    But what Orion failed to notice was the underling''s covert action. Emerging from the bush, he stealthily approached, axe in hand, positioning himself right behind the unsuspecting guest. Hu Zhao, witnessing this, casually picked up his drink, sipping it with a malevolent grin.


    Suddenly, with a swift motion, the underling struck the back of Orion''s head with the blunt side of his axe. The force of the blow was such that Orion was propelled forward, crashing face-first to the ground, motionless.


    After some time had passed with Orion still unmoving, one of the bandits asked, "Is he dead?"


    The man with the axe responded, "I don''t know, but I hit him with everything I had. Even with that helmet on, the shock alone would be enough to knock him unconscious."


    "HAHA HAHAHA... That was too easy!" exclaimed one of the bandits, wiping tears from his laughter. "He looks so out of touch with the real world. The way we fooled him so easily, he''s probably some pampered rich young master who''s barely set foot outside his mansion!"


    "Exactly!" another chimed in, "Who knows? He probably still wets his bed... HAHAHA!" The bandits continued to laugh wantonly.


    Amid the ruckus, Lian''s voice cut through sharply and commandingly, "Enough chatter. Start stripping him of that armor and check his belongings. And don''t forget to take that artifact that can display images." Lian remained seated in the corner, her spear resting beside her. Her demeanor was one of indifference; she had seen and been part of many such incidents in the past. This unfortunate soul''s plight hardly captured her interest.


    "Hehehe... aye ma''am," one of the bandits smirked, flipping the armored man''s motionless body with ease. Another bandit crouched down, attempting to remove the intricately designed shoes, while a third tried to open the helmet.


    The third bandit''s face broke into a wicked grin as he fiddled with the helmet. "I wonder what face is hiding under this fancy helmet."

 Chapter 6: Killing Intent Part. 2

    Why did they attack me out of the blue? Orion pondered internally as its systems worked to recover from the blow.


    >Restoring systems...


    >...


    >System normal.


    What do they want with my feet? And why are they tampering with my head? Orion questioned internally. As it pieced together snippets of their chatter, realization dawned. These were no friendly villagers but ruthless bandits. Their victims likely faced gruesome fates: brutal torture, being sold into slavery, or held for ransom.


    I believed they were kind-hearted individuals, it turns out I''ve been deceived, Orion thought, I''ve been on this planet for just two days and I''ve already been attacked and nearly killed ¡ª not once, but twice.


    >Modifying AI module.


    >Developed: Killing Intent.


    >Module Initialized: Combat Arts Module. Continuous Improvement in Progress.


    >Course of Action: Kill.

 Chapter 7: Desperate Attack Part. 1

    What kind of technique did she use? Orion wondered. She managed to infuse fire into her spear attack. Is it magic, or is there some trick within the spear itself?


    How did that woman use that fire technique? Orion mused, choosing to ignore Hu''s taunts. Examining the spear, Orion searched for some mechanism, but found none. Is it a magic trick? How can such a thing even happen? The mystery puzzled Orion. Is this a common occurrence in this world? Perhaps I''m in a world where magic is the norm, Orion contemplated.


    >System restart


    >...


    >System normal


    Oh no, at this rate I''ll be defeated. What should I do? There seems to be no opportunity, no chance to get free from his hold, and no way to turn the situation around, Orion internally calculated.


    This is my chance! it thought, spotting an unexpected opportunity.

 Chapter 8: Desperate Attack Part. 2

    Hu imagined a look of fear behind the helmet that Orion wore. But suddenly, Orion''s face emitted a blinding light, and Hu''s vision was overwhelmed by an intense white brightness that seemed to engulf the entire world.


    "Argggggghhhhh...!" Hu screamed. He released his grip on Orion''s neck, where he had pinned it down, and stood up, covering his eyes with both hands.


    Shortly after, an intense pain, unlike anything he had ever experienced, surged from his forbidden region. Everything that had been awash with blinding brightness now shifted to darkness, accompanied by this unspeakable pain.


    Hu was straddling Orion, gripping its neck tightly. He then suddenly brought his face close to Orion''s. In that moment, Orion spotted a golden opportunity and knew Orion couldn''t waste it.


    Orion is a state-of-the-art robot, outfitted with cutting-edge technology and a plethora of advanced sensors. While it boasts a high-quality night vision camera, a thermal camera, and numerous other sensors ensuring seamless operation in darkness, Orion hasn''t forsaken traditional methods of illumination. Integrated into its design is a powerful LED spotlight, capable of providing broad coverage in its immediate vicinity as well as delivering strong illumination over long ranges. This spotlight is strategically positioned right behind the cracked glass on Orion''s face.


    As Hu''s face drew perilously close to Orion''s, the robot activated its spotlight at maximum output, effectively blinding Hu with its intense brightness at point-blank range.


    After Hu released his grip on Orion''s neck and stood up, Orion was presented with another unforeseen opportunity. Without hesitation, Orion seized it. From its position on the ground, Orion quickly bent both its knees. Harnessing the strength and speed of its hydraulics, it thrust both legs upward, aiming directly for Hu''s forbidden area.


    The kick was so forceful that it sent Hu flying backward, airborne for a brief moment. If one were to play the sound effect of two eggs getting smashed at that instant, it would''ve fit the scene perfectly. Hu crashed to the ground, causing dust to billow around him. He lay motionless, shivering, managing only a faint "aaa.....uuu....ugh...." in response to the overwhelming pain.


    Orion rose and retrieved the spear from the side, observing Hu''s current pitiable state. However, Orion couldn''t afford to waste time and knew it had to seize the opportunity to defeat Hu while he was vulnerable.


    Orion dashed forward, intent on stabbing Hu. "Ba...bas...bastard," Hu muttered weakly while struggling to his feet. Out of nowhere, a blade materialized in his right hand. With a firm grip, Hu managed to parry Orion''s attack in the nick of time.


    What? Another magic trick? Orion was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the blade from nowhere. It had anticipated landing a fatal blow on Hu, but to its surprise, its attack was deftly parried.


    Tears and snot streamed nonstop down Hu''s contorted face. He looked both pitiable and revolting. The lingering pain from the blinding light forced him to keep his eyes shut, but when he dared to peek, he saw three blurry Orion figures standing before him. Despite his half-hunched posture and his left arm cradling his injured forbidden area, he had still managed to block Orion''s attack. This spoke volumes of his extensive combat experience.


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    "BASTARD"


    "YOU FUCKING BASTARD"


    "I AM GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!!!!"


    "I AM GONNA CHOP YOU UP TO THOUSANDS PIECES"


    "DIEE!!!!!"


    Hu screamed, appearing as if he had completely lost his mind. He then launched into a frenzied assault, slashing wildly at Orion. With his vision impaired, Hu now relied solely on his keen sense of hearing and his extensive combat experience, but Orion only barely managed to keep pace with Hu''s relentless onslaught.


    Meanwhile, off to the side, Lian groaned, "Ugh...what...what happened to me?" Hu''s intense shouting had roused her from her unconscious state. She felt pain throughout her body, and it seemed that several bones were broken. While grappling with her pain and trying to gather her thoughts, she watched the ongoing battle between Hu and Orion.


    "Mountain Cleaver Chop!" Hu shouted, delivering a potent vertical strike. Both the blade and his hands were sheathed in a faint glowing aura. "Demon Slash!" came his next call, as he unleashed another powerful slash. As Hu continued to deploy a barrage of his combat techniques, Orion found itself increasingly overwhelmed, the damages piling up with each passing moment.


    At one juncture, Orion''s spear was deftly parried aside. Seizing the moment, Hu quickly executed his "Demon Slash" combat technique. Unable to deflect or counter the imminent attack, Orion had no option but to raise its left hand in a desperate bid to block the strike. However, the Qi-infused slash sliced through Orion''s left hand and continued its trajectory, only coming to a halt when it was half-buried in Orion''s left shoulder.


    With his eyes still closed, Hu sensed that he had inflicted significant damage on Orion, successfully cutting his arm.


    "Ha ha ha! This is the price you pay for angering me," he taunted. "But don''t worry, it''s not over yet. I''ll also cut off your other hand, and then both of your legs," Hu declared, laughing maniacally.


    However, Hu failed to notice that from the individual he had injured, no blood flowed from either the severed hand or the shoulder where the blade was half-buried. Lian, however, observed this and was left dumbfounded.


    Hu mistakenly believed Orion to be just an ordinary human male, assuming such injuries would cause immense pain, debilitate combat prowess, and ultimately seal Orion''s fate. However, since Orion is a robot unfamiliar with pain, it could still engage in battle despite reduced combat capability from the loss of an arm. The damage to the shoulder was severe, with multiple cables and electrical circuits damaged, yet Orion retained some movement in its left arm.


    Orion kept its composure, dropping its spear and seizing Hu''s shoulder with its right hand.


    "What do you want?" Hu taunted, "There''s no need for unnecessary struggles. There''s nothing you can do in this situation... ha ha ha. Just resign to your fate." To Hu, Orion''s actions seemed like the futile efforts of an ant at death''s door.


    Still reeling from the intense pain in his forbidden area, Hu said with a threatening tone, "I will repay you a hundredfold for the pain you''ve caused me," his voice dripping with rage. "I won''t give you an easy death."


    But Hu was taken aback by Orion''s subsequent assault. Using its left arm, the one previously slashed by the blade, Orion aimed for Hu''s heart. This arm, with its smooth and angled steel frame that was sharp and pointy, had its outer casing and panels retracted. This action completely revealed the protruding, sharp steel frame. With precision, Orion drove this pointed end towards Hu''s heart.


    The steel frame punctured Hu''s heart, causing blood to flow. "Arrghhh..." Hu grunted, attempting to pull the blade lodged in Orion''s shoulder to retaliate. However, as he made his move, a surge of electricity coursed through his heart. Orion had channeled a large amount of electricity toward its damaged left hand, and the exposed wires made direct contact with Hu''s skin and heart.


    "aaaaa...aaa...aaaa...aaaaa," Hu screamed, the sound of electricity crackling around him: bzzzt... bzzttt...


    As time wore on, Hu''s screams grew weaker and weaker. After about a minute, he finally collapsed to the ground. Lian watched from the sidelines, her expression one of sheer horror. He...he...he managed to kill Hu? Lian thought.


    Orion stood motionless for a moment, extracting the blade embedded in its shoulder. It then turned its head towards Lian. Its face was marred by cracked glass, and a menacing red glow shone from behind it. Lian, overtaken by fear, fell onto her butt.

 Chapter 9: Happiness

    Lian grew up as an orphan in the slums of a small city after her parents succumbed to a pandemic. Life in the slums was brutal for an orphan; she often had to beg or scavenge through trash for food. Survival often meant fighting over meager scraps. Whenever Lian was fortunate enough to find some food or collect a few coins from begging, older orphans wouldn''t hesitate to beat her and snatch away her hard-earned findings. From a young age, Lian understood the ruthless law of the jungle: the strong prey on the weak. This harsh reality was deeply ingrained in her very being.


    As she grew older, Lian was kidnapped by the city''s thugs and sold to a brothel, a low-quality brothel. The establishment catered to the city''s unsavory characters ¡ª criminals, mercenaries, and other rough, ill-mannered individuals. There, Lian endured abuse and was forced to cater to the twisted desires of these patrons. Lian often found herself wondering: Why was the world so unkind to her? What had she done to deserve such a cruel fate? Could she ever lead a happy life?


    Fed up and overwhelmed by her circumstances, there came a day when, after serving a particularly tired customer who had fallen asleep, Lian grabbed a knife meant for peeling fruit and stabbed his neck. The customer jolted awake, horrified to find his neck bleeding from the knife wound. Blood gushed, he choked on his own blood, the gurgling sound can be heard, and he died not long after that.


    To Lian''s surprise, upon inspecting the customer''s belongings, she found scrolls, several ceramic bottles filled with various medicines, money, and a few spiritual stones, among other items. Unbeknownst to Lian, the customer was actually an itinerant cultivator at the 2nd stage of the Qi condensation realm who had decided to enjoy himself upon arriving in town. Little did he know it would lead to his own death.


    After killing the customer, Lian''s initial thought was to kill herself. However, upon discovering his belongings¡ªa large sum of money, the very valuable spirit stones, bottles of medicine, scrolls, and other items¡ªshe changed her mind. She hastily grabbed the customer''s wealth and, relying on her childhood knowledge of the slums and the city''s sewage system, made her escape through the brothel''s sewage exit. Those sent by the brothel to apprehend her were left frustrated and furious, unable to trace her path within the intricate maze of the city''s sewage system.


    After years of surviving in the wilderness, Lian, through much trial and error, began to grasp the cultivation techniques described in the scrolls she''d acquired. She also daringly experimented with the pills she had, risking potential side effects to determine their purposes. Through her persistent efforts, she eventually reached the 1st stage of the Qi condensation realm.


    As fate would have it, Lian eventually encountered Hu''s band of bandits. Seeing potential in her, Hu extended an invitation for her to join. Life with the bandits was a vast improvement for Lian. Now, she was no longer the prey but the predator, abusing and taking advantage of others.


    In the bandit group, Lian was required to serve Hu during the nights, and given her past, she is quite experienced in that field. Hu was satisfied with Lian and promoted her to the position of vice leader. Occasionally, he would give pointers and correct her self-taught cultivation techniques, ensuring she became a genuine 1st stage Qi condensation realm cultivator.


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    Lian believed that her life had finally taken a turn for the better. However, that illusion shattered the day a man clad in full body armor unexpectedly arrived at their camp. When Hu and his bandits attempted to deceive and rob the armored man, he retaliated, killing every bandit in the camp, including Hu. Lian, the sole survivor, was left petrified and overwhelmed with fear.


    "Please... please spare me. Don''t kill me," Lian pleaded as Orion steadily advanced towards her.


    "Please forgive me. I... I was forced by them. I never wanted to be a bandit. Please just let me go... I beg you..." Orion remained silent, continuing to close the distance between them. Hu''s blood still dripped from Orion''s severed left hand, while its right hand gripped Hu''s blade. Lian felt that her death was imminent.


    "Please..., please spare my life. I''ll follow you, obey every command. You can do whatever you want with my body. Just please, let me live," Lian pleaded through her tears, shuffling backward while still seated on the ground, trying to keep her distance.


    Lian hurriedly opened her upper dress, revealing a pair of gentle white slope, "please, I''ll do anything, just spare my life."


    Orion processed what Lian was attempting to convey and roughly understand her intentions. I am sorry, but I am programmed to uphold principles of gender equality. I won''t spare you solely based on your gender, Orion thought internally.


    With a swift motion, Orion slashed towards Lian''s neck. "Nooooo...." Lian screamed in horror. Lian''s head flew and fell to the ground; she could see her decapitated body, blood flowed nonstop, her vision darkened, her consciousness waned, and then everything went black.


    When Lian opened her eyes, she found herself in an illusory white space. Ethereal figures of her parents as they were when alive appeared before her. To her astonishment, she was a child again. Her parents waved at her with warm smiles, and tears welled up in Lian''s eyes. After all the hardships she''d endured, she finally got to see them again, she wanted to tell them about everything that happened to her. With a surge of emotions, she ran to them, burying herself in her mother''s comforting embrace. Her tears flowed freely, staining her mother''s dress.


    "It''s okay now, we''re here for you," her mother whispered gently, stroking Lian''s hair.


    "Hu... hu...hu.... Mother," Lian sobbed, overjoyed to be in her mother''s warm embrace once more. At that moment, she felt pure happiness.


    ***


    Swiiiiishhhhh. An arrow whistled through the air toward Orion, who narrowly evaded it just in time. The assailant was the last bandit, a scout who had hidden himself high up in a tree. Without hesitation, Orion charged toward the source of the attack.


    Swish... swishhh.... swiiiiishhhhh...


    The scout unleashed a flurry of arrows at Orion. Two of them managed to penetrate Orion''s outer casing, but they failed to harm the crucial components protected by the inner casing. Terror gripped the bandit as Orion continued to close in rapidly. In desperation, he discarded his bow and quiver, leaping across branches until he reached the lowest branch. Sliding down the trunk, he suffered bruises and minor cuts. Without looking back, he sprinted away, tripping and stumbling in his haste to escape.


    Orion quickly caught up to the fleeing bandit. Without hesitation, Orion hurled the blade. It soared through the air, piercing the bandit from behind and he fell to the ground, dead.


    "Finally, it''s over," Orion thought as it surveyed the bloody scene in the camp nearby, with bandit bodies scattered everywhere.

 Chapter 10: Robbing the Robbers

    Orion returned to the camp, the scent of blood wafting through the air. Approaching Hu''s dead body, Orion referenced the video recording of their previous encounter, captured by its optics, to carry out a detailed analysis. In the slowed and magnified footage, Orion discerned that during the fight, as the blade seemed to materialize from nowhere, Hu''s ring on his right-hand finger glowed faintly. The blade then appeared, and Hu managed to grasp it, successfully parrying Orion''s strike and preventing a fatal blow.


    Orion carefully picked up the ring from Hu''s finger. "Is the blade''s appearance connected to this ring? How does it function?" As Orion analyzed the ring closely, it found nothing unusual; the ring appeared to be an ordinary piece of jewelry. Orion slid the ring onto one of its fingers on the right hand, expecting some reaction. When none came, it humorously swiped at the ring, mimicking the gesture of summoning a genie from a magical lamp, but to no avail.


    On a whimsical thought, Orion touched the ring to an exposed cable on its left hand where the insulation was damaged, revealing the metallic conductor. It channeled electricity through the cable and into the ring. To its astonishment, the ring began to glow and, almost immediately, a vast array of items spilled out, engulfing Orion. "Uwahhh..." Orion exclaimed in surprise, the unexpected deluge causing it to topple backward, half-buried under the assortment of objects.


    "Ouch! What just happened? Is this some form of sorcery? Why did so many items emerge all at once? Could this truly be magic?" Orion murmured, struggling to free itself from the mound of mysterious objects.


    Orion eventually extricated itself from the pile of items, standing amidst a vast assortment of treasures. Spread out before it were gold coins, ornate jewelry, gem-encrusted accessories, large animal pelts, bones, claws, fangs, an array of weapons, jars, bottles, scrolls, cuts of meat, fresh fruits, unknown minerals, and more.


    "Wow, that was interesting," Orion remarked, fascinated by the sudden appearance of such items. Curiously, it tried touching the ring to the exposed cable once more and channeled electricity. The ring glowed, but this time, nothing happened.


    "Oh... nothing emerged? No more items from the ring?" Orion''s computational systems began to churn, attempting to decode the anomaly. "Could it be that these items were stored in the ring, and by channeling electricity, they were ejected? But how does one store items in the ring in the first place?"


    Experimentally, Orion picked up a gold coin, examining it closely. Holding the coin between its thumb and index finger, Orion once again brought the ring into contact with the cable, channeling electricity. As the ring glowed, Orion dropped the coin onto it. Magically, the coin disappeared.


    "Wow, how does that work?" Orion pondered, trying to rationalize the arcane mechanism. Holding the ring close to its visual sensors for examination, Orion couldn''t detect any trace of the vanished coin. As a final test, Orion connected the ring to the cable once more, and with a brief spark, a gold coin tumbled out, landing softly on the ground.


    "...", Orion fell silent, grappling with the implications of what it had just witnessed. Despite its advanced computational abilities and grounding in Earth''s physics and logic, it couldn''t rationalize the magical phenomenon. Was it mind-blown? Or perhaps, more aptly, processor-blown?


    "I see... so it''s a storage tool? Could this be the storied ''storage ring'' commonly mentioned in mangas, novels, and games from Earth? To think that such a concept actually exists in this world," Orion mused, its systems attempting to cross-reference and align this newfound knowledge with its database of Earth''s fictional lore it had stored.


    Orion continued to experiment with the ring, further deciphering its intriguing mechanisms. Through systematic trials, Orion deduced the following:


    To harness the ring''s capabilities, it had to employ electricity. When a short electric jolt or pulse was directed into the ring, any items in close proximity or in direct contact with the ring were sucked into its storage dimension. However, there was a crucial stipulation: the item being stored had to be completely free of any attachments. For instance, the very cable providing the electricity, despite being in contact with the ring, wasn''t absorbed because it remained connected to Orion.


    Furthermore, this brief electric pulse opened a momentary portal or passage to the storage dimension inside the ring. But it was so transient that while items could be pulled in, the contents inside the ring didn''t have enough time to fall out. It was as if they teetered on the edge of the opened passage, but then it would snap shut too quickly for them to emerge.


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    On the other hand, when Orion applied a longer jolt or sustained pulse of electricity, the passage within the ring remained open for a more extended period. This duration was sufficient for all the stored items to cascade out, releasing them back into the world.


    However, Orion still faced a problem: it didn''t know how to extract specific items from the ring, a skill Hu had demonstrated earlier.


    Upon utilizing its cable to send electrical pulses into the ring, Orion''s processor registered unexpected electrical feedback each time an item was stored. This feedback wasn''t arbitrary; the ring appeared to be generating a unique electrical "signature" for every item, consistent each time the same item was introduced to the ring.


    Orion''s processor meticulously recorded each of these electrical signatures. Further testing revealed a notable feature: by replicating and sending back a stored signature via a short jolt, the ring would not store, but rather release the exact item linked to that signature.


    This revelation was pivotal. Orion had not only deciphered the method to store items in the ring but also developed a precise mechanism to retrieve specific items when needed. This interaction further showcased the harmonization of the ring''s arcane qualities with Orion''s technological capabilities, symbolizing the convergence of ancient magic and advanced machinery.


    In truth, these storage rings were commonly used by cultivators. They would typically channel their inner Qi to operate the ring, using their intent to access specific items. But Orion, in a unique twist of fate, had managed to operate the ring using electricity. This wasn''t just a mere coincidence. Orion''s batteries were constantly recharged by a mysterious energy present in its surroundings, which was, in fact, the ambient Qi. As a result, the electricity flowing through Orion''s circuits contained traces of Qi, enabling it to interact with the ring in ways traditional cultivators might not have anticipated.


    Orion was elated, "this is great and very helpful!" With newfound enthusiasm, Orion began inspecting the bandits'' tents. Over the next hour, Orion meticulously examined everything in the camp, including the bodies of the fallen bandits. Anything that seemed interesting or useful was promptly stored in the ring. Additionally, Orion made sure to collect and store back the items that had previously fallen out of the ring.


    Orion justified taking the bandits'' possessions as both compensation for their unprovoked attack and as customary spoils of war. You guys deserve it, who asked you to attack and try to rob me in the first place? As it turned over a bandit''s body to check his belongings.


    During its investigation, Orion discovered two fabric pouches on Lian''s body that resisted being stored in the ring. Unable to open them initially, Orion, after some consideration, decided to apply electricity to the pouches. Much to its surprise, a deluge of items erupted from the pouch, knocking Orion off its feet and partially burying it. "Arghhh..." Orion exclaimed, taken aback. "Is this also a storage tool?"


    After emptying both pouches, Orion found that the items stored within were meticulously organized. Lian had clearly taken great care in arranging her possessions. All the gold was neatly secured in a sack, while numerous jars, bottles, and scrolls were each placed with care and precision. Among the contents, Orion noted neatly folded fabrics, women''s clothing, a few weapons, and a specially designed box brimming with jewelry.


    Picking up a piece of the female clothing, Orion expressed surprise, "Oh wow... The design, the quality, and how it emphasizes certain features... this could even rival some of the best products from Earth!" Orion mused, appreciating the craftsmanship. It became evident that Lian knew exactly what appealed to Hu. Given the variety and design of the clothing, it seemed she had a comprehensive collection tailored to Hu''s particular... tastes, indicating that Hu was, in some respects, a man of culture.


    Another section of the pouch held bottles that, upon closer inspection, appeared to be filled with pills. The meticulously organized contents portrayed Lian as not just a bandit but one with a refined edge, adding layers to her rogue lifestyle. In stark contrast, Hu''s storage ring was a chaotic jumble¡ªfilled with a random assortment of items, devoid of any order or system.


    The sun positioned itself directly overhead, signaling 12 PM. Orion adhered to a 24-hour system reminiscent of Earth''s, though here, an hour stretched out just a tad longer. Once the bandits'' belongings were gathered, Orion promptly extinguished the campfire to avert the danger of forest fires.


    Inside a compartment in its chest, it stored both the ring and the two pouches brimming with loot. In addition, Orion placed its severed left forearm into the ring, planning to repair the damage properly once in the village. Moreover, Orion carried a separate, ordinary pouch filled with copper, silver, and gold coins. As for its attire, Orion was clad in a straightforward ensemble: pants, a long shirt, a hooded cloak, and a bamboo hat. Dangling from Orion''s waist was a plain blade, once the possession of one of Hu''s underlings, with a knife strapped to each thigh.


    Intentionally, Orion refrained from using Hu''s distinctive blade and Lian''s spear to stay under the radar, as their quality and design might easily be recognized, drawing unwanted attention.


    Fully prepared, Orion set out for the village, estimating an arrival before sunset. After having taken anything of value, Orion left the campsite, with the bandits'' bodies strewn about, allowing them to become sustenance for the forest''s residents.

 Chapter 11: The Village

    Situated in an open expanse, Lianfen is positioned close to the edge of the Yuezhi Forest. Sheltering around 2000 residents, many of whom had traveled from distant places seeking opportunities and livelihood, the village stood as a beacon of civilization on the frontier.


    A wooden wall with watchtowers protected the village, while a moat deterred threats from the nearby forest. Spirit beasts occasionally ventured close, sometimes even causing a stampede, but they also provided prosperity for Lianfen. Their valuable body parts, coupled with the forest''s diverse wildlife and plants, were vital for the village''s commerce.


    Within the bustling marketplace, inns, blacksmiths, alchemy shop, and a mercenary guild catered to those who sought the forest''s riches. The Yuezhi Forest was teeming with a diverse array of wild animals. Those animals that, due to fortuitous encounters or other mysterious reasons, managed to enter the realm of cultivation transformed into spirit beasts.


    Spirit beasts were categorized just like cultivators. A rank-1 spirit beast matched a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, while a rank-2 was on par with the Foundation Establishment stage. However, the higher-ranked beasts, such as rank-3 or stronger, remained deep within the forest and rarely ventured out.


    As sunset painted the horizon in hues of orange and red, Orion found itself nearing the village of Lianfen. The path leading to the village was bustling. Various individuals, small groups, and even extensive caravans approached the village gates, marking the end of a day''s work or journey.


    Orion noticed a variety of transport methods. Some traveled on foot, others rode horses, while a few sat atop creatures unfamiliar to it¡ªbeasts of unique shapes and sizes, distinctly different from those of Earth. One particular wagon caught Orion''s attention. It was pulled by a robust creature resembling a three-horned rhino, its massive form effortlessly dragging the heavy load behind.


    Several individuals carried bulky bags, their shoulders weighed down by their day''s haul. Orion discerned groups that appeared like seasoned mercenaries, possibly returning from a security mission. Some entourages comprised of merchants flanked by their protective bodyguards. Among the crowd were individuals and groups who had clearly just returned from their expeditions in the Yuezhi Forest. Their haul showcased the forest''s riches: fresh herbs, fruits, cuts of meat, skinned furs, and carcasses of spirit beasts were all being transported into the village.


    Joining the main road, Orion made its way to the village gate. Desiring to maintain a low profile, Orion adeptly blended in with the crowd, becoming just another entity in the queue. The constant murmur of conversation, the clattering of hooves, and the creaking of wagon wheels filled the air. Seizing this opportunity, Orion utilized its sensors to capture conversations, observe interactions, and gather as much data as possible, enhancing its Linguistic Analysis and Translation function in the process.


    Soon, it was Orion''s turn to pass through the gate. Two stern-looking guards stood at attention, each armed with a spear. Short swords hung at their waists, and they were equipped with helmets and chainmail for protection.


    The guard, with a posture both rigid and authoritative, addressed Orion. "If you wish to enter, the fee is 5 copper coins. Ensure you don''t cause any trouble within the village."


    Having observed the proceedings earlier, Orion was familiar with the unwritten rule: By paying 10 copper coins, double the required fee, visitors could typically bypass further questions or scrutiny. Without hesitation, Orion silently handed over the 10 coins. Although its appearance¡ªcloaked, face obscured by a scarf reminiscent of a tactical shemagh, and topped with a bamboo hat¡ªmight have raised eyebrows, the guard simply pocketed the coins and allowed Orion to proceed. Many of those arriving at this frontier village had varied backgrounds, with some more dubious than others. For the guards, a bit of extra coin meant fewer questions. As long as these visitors don''t cause trouble within Lianfen''s walls, their past history is of little concern.


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    "Place to stay, where?" Orion inquired. While it spoke in this world''s language and showed rapid improvement, its speech still sounded slightly odd to native ears. The guard simply assumed Orion was a person of few words.


    "Are you looking for an inn? There are several options, ranging from cheap to pricy. What''s your preference?" asked one of the guards.


    "Good and cheap," Orion responded succinctly.


    The guard laughed. "Hahaha... A good place that''s also cheap? Sorry, friend, but there''s no such thing. However, you might try the Moonlit Haven Inn. It''s reasonably comfortable, and the rates are fair. Just head down this main road, take a left at the third junction, and it''s right by the village square. Can''t miss it," the guard directed.


    "Thanks," Orion uttered, flicking a copper coin towards the guard using its thumb. The guard deftly caught it and called out, "Alright, next in line!"


    Upon entering Lianfen, Orion found itself marveling at the intricacies of human civilization in this new world. The village was a harmonious blend of old-world charm and mysticism, with wooden structures and stone pathways.


    But humans weren''t the sole inhabitants; Orion observed several non-human villagers. Some resembled fictional characters from Earth''s stories, spanning from ancient myths to modern tales like those from manga, novels, or games. Yet, there were others that were entirely alien to its database.


    The village also teemed with an array of unfamiliar animals. Some roamed freely, evidently pets, while others were penned up, likely livestock raised for meat. Then there were the beasts of burden ¨C creatures carrying loads or pulling carts, their appearances as diverse as their functions.


    Following the directions provided, it didn''t take Orion long to find the Moonlit Haven Inn. Taking a deep (metaphorical) breath, the robot pushed the inn''s door open and stepped inside.


    "Welcome," the receptionist greeted. A lady around 25 years old, she offered Orion a warm smile as she rose slightly from her seat, giving a courteous bow. "Welcome to the Moonlit Haven Inn. Does our esteemed guest wish to stay with us?" she inquired. Orion responded with a nod.


    "We offer a range of accommodations to suit all preferences, from the modest to the extravagant. Our rooms begin at 20 copper coins (CC), rise to 50 copper coins (CC), and peak at 1 silver coin (SC) for our most luxurious room per night. Which would you prefer?"


    "50 CC per night," Orion replied, choosing the intermediate option.


    The receptionist nodded understandingly. "How many nights will you be staying? We ask for payment upfront."


    "Two nights," Orion stated, having determined that this duration would be adequate for its planned tasks: minor repairs, exploring the village, procuring essential items, and more. Orion decided to extend the stay later if necessary.


    "That totals 100 CC or 1 SC," she clarified. "If you plan to dine, our designated dining area is available, or you can opt for room service. Should you need water or hot water for personal care, please notify our staff. Do note, however, that there''s an extra fee for that."


    In this world, having a bathtub was considered a luxury. In the upscale inns of larger, more affluent cities, there were opulent pools filled with continuously flowing hot water for guests to bathe in. But in places like Lianfen, the majority made do with hot water to cleanse their bodies by wiping with cloth, with more thorough washes done using well water or by bathing directly in the river.


    Orion handed over 1 SC from the pouch to settle the payment. "Thank you," the receptionist acknowledged, then signaled to a servant girl. "Please show our guest to their room." Orion followed the girl to the designated room. She opened the door, gestured inside, and said, "This is your room, dear guest." After ensuring Orion was satisfied with the accommodation, she added, "I''ll take my leave now." Orion nodded in response, then closed the door behind her.


    Upon entering, Orion took a moment to survey the room. It was modest but clean, featuring a window for natural light, a comfortable bed, a shelf, and a table surrounded by four chairs in the center.


    Sighing in relief, Orion thought, At last, a temporary sanctuary. Tonight, I''ll handle the essential repairs, and tomorrow will be reserved for exploring the village. As nightfall enveloped the village, Orion got to work, primarily focusing on its damaged shoulder and left arm. Upon its arrival in Lianfen, Orion''s battery had been depleted to a mere 35%. Fortunately, the mysterious energy kept recharging its battery, and this charging process notably intensified when Orion was stationary. The robot diligently worked through the night.

 Chapter 12: It’s a Cultivation World?

    >Modifying AI module.


    >Developed: Advanced Haggling Protocol.


    So, have I been transported to a cultivation world akin to Earth''s fantasy novels? Could such stories be rooted in reality? Orion''s processors whirred as it tried to grapple with this revelation.


    why should I read it for you and also help you learn to read? he grumbled internally.


    I''ve landed a wealthy customer! he thought gleefully.

 Chapter 13: 5G

    The Mercenary Guild held vast influence that spanned the entire continent. With roots embedded in every kingdom and empire, its reach was unmatched, resulting in formidable financial prowess, deep-rooted connections, and extensive clout. While it couldn''t rival the zenith of power structures, it was undeniably among the continent''s upper echelons.


    Branch offices of the guild were scattered across the continent like a vast web. They ranged from minor establishments in remote towns to grand ones in the capital cities of kingdoms and empires. Originally formed by itinerant cultivators seeking protection from dominant cultivation sects, the guild''s meteoric rise now saw even those from these very sects and prominent cultivation families joining its ranks. Its coverage dwarfed that of any single cultivation sect. However, this vastness was a double-edged sword; the diverse backgrounds of its members meant a lack of solid unity. As such, they couldn''t quite rival the topmost cultivation sects.


    Yet, the guild''s allure lay in its flexibility. Cultivators could issue or undertake missions, and its unmatched coverage attracted even elite figures from top-tier cultivation sects. The guild''s rules weren¡¯t overly stringent, making it an attractive choice for many.


    Near the edge of the Yuezhi Forest, abundant with resources sought by cultivators, lay Lianfen. This frontier village also housed a smaller branch of the Mercenary Guild. On this day, a cloaked figure stood outside the guild''s premises. Adorned with a bamboo hat and face shrouded by a tactical style shemagh, a blade hung by the figure''s waist, and a rattan backpack, filled with books and scrolls, rested against the figure''s back. After a moment of silent observation, the figure made its way across the street to a two-story establishment ¨C the village''s most renowned restaurant. An experienced server led the figure upstairs, seating the figure at a table adjacent to a window, offering a prime view of the guild building.


    Upon reaching the guild building, Orion hesitated, uncertain about entering without sufficient information about cultivators and the Mercenary Guild. With only basic information acquired from the bookstore owner, Orion opted to visit the restaurant across the street. There, it could pretend to order food and observe the comings and goings at the guild.


    A middle-aged server, displaying an air of experience, led Orion to a table near the window. "Please, sir, be seated," the server suggested politely.


    "Here is our menu," the server said, striving to be persuasive. "We offer the finest dishes in this village. I''m confident you''ll be pleased with our selections."


    After examining the menu, Orion pointed to several dishes, stating, "I''d like this... this... this... and this. Could you prepare them for takeout? I intend to bring them with me."


    "Of course, sir," the server responded amiably. "Might I suggest some tea? We have a delightful range."


    "That won''t be necessary, thank you," Orion replied. "And there''s no need to hurry with my order. I plan to relax here for a bit."


    "As you wish, sir. I''ll leave you to it then." With that, the server headed to the ground floor to relay Orion''s order.


    Now what should I do? Orion pondered internally. I can''t discern which individuals are cultivators and which aren''t. Utilizing the insights it recently acquired from the bookstore, Orion attempted to identify the myriad individuals of various races entering and exiting the guild building.


    The majority were human, much like those from Earth, with a spectrum of skin tones ranging from light to dark.


    Then there were the elves, easily identifiable with their long, pointed ears. Their faces radiated a kind of ethereal beauty, framed by either golden or silver strands of hair. Their physiques were slender, and their skin spanned a spectrum from snow-white to rich, dark shades.


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    Amidst the throngs, Orion spotted the dwarves. Sturdy and a bit shorter in stature, their most defining features were the long, thick hair that cascaded down their backs and the full beards that graced their faces. They seemed to be enveloped in a natural mane of hair.


    The Cerebrans, with their bald heads, deep black eyes, and uniformly pale white skin, immediately caught the eye. Their enlarged craniums hinted at an advanced cognitive capacity or perhaps an entirely different brain structure.


    The Florites stood out with their distinctive appearance. These small, diminutive beings bore a resemblance to Earth''s ancient Homo floresiensis. Standing at about half the height of an average human, they possessed wide-set facial structures, pronounced feet, and shorter limbs, hinting at a unique evolutionary lineage.


    The Nocturnes, as they were often called, were a sight to behold. Their deep, dark skin not only adapted to absorb minimal heat but also granted them the ability to blend seamlessly into the shadows, making them near-invisible in the darkness. This was further complemented by their mesmerizing green eyes that glowed in the dark, making them stand out even in this diverse crowd. Smaller in stature than an average human, these beings hailed from the scorching deserts. Their nocturnal nature and underground habitats during the day shielded them from the intense sun, while at night they emerged to thrive in the cooler environment. The unique luminescence of their eyes was a result of their evolution in these subterranean dwellings, allowing them to see perfectly even in the absence of light.


    Finally, the giants were hard to miss. Essentially human in their features but on a grander scale, they towered over the rest, their immense size setting them apart in the crowd.


    Orion utilized its sensors to discern the so-called cultivators from the rest. However, Orion found little to no difference; their appearance, body heat, and other factors were largely similar to those of non-cultivators. Membership to the guild was exclusively restricted to cultivators. Thus, Orion inferred that most people entering and exiting the guild building were both mercenaries and cultivators. The primary distinction was that cultivators seemed more physically fit and toned across all races, perhaps a result of their training.


    The variety of mercenaries present at the guild was astonishing. Each bore arms and armor that spoke volumes about their origin, expertise, or personal preferences. Some had weaponry and armor that looked like they had been scavenged from various battles, giving them a ragtag appearance. There were also groups of mercenaries who wore matching outfits or displayed distinct insignias.


    After employing several sensors with no conclusive results, Orion hesitantly activated its multi-band phased array antenna. This antenna, previously thought to be damaged, immediately began picking up multiple radio signal sources. Orion initially dismissed these detections, assuming them to be false data due to the presumed damage to the antenna. However, as the signals persisted and became more distinct, it became clear that this wasn''t merely an error or residual interference.


    After some triangulation and other analytical methods, it was clear that the majority of these signals emanated from the guild building across the street. The detected frequencies spanned from 1 GHz to 18 GHz. Even more shocking was that these signals bore a striking resemblance to Earth''s 5G characteristics.


    Further scrutiny revealed subtler signals, some even originating from close by. A nearby table with four individuals, all equipped with swords and blades, seemed to be a source. Another distinct signal was traced to a bodyguard who was attentively standing behind what appeared to be his merchant master, engaged in a conversation with another affluent individual.


    "What the...?" Orion exclaimed, grappling with this unexpected revelation. Do the cultivators in this world possess something akin to smartphones? Why are there traces of 5G signals emanating from them? Isn''t this supposed to be a cultivation world? I''m certain I detected no radio signals upon landing on this planet, and Orbiter confirmed the same. So why now? Orion''s processors went into overdrive, trying to piece together the puzzle of this groundbreaking discovery.


    Pausing to process the information, Orion pondered, Could it be that my current understanding of this world is flawed? While the immediate surroundings suggest a simpler time, with wooden structures, dirt paths, and primitive lighting using candles and oil lamps, these signals hint at a more advanced civilization. Maybe, just maybe, there''s more to this world than meets the eye. If they possess technology of this caliber, then there might be a way for me to communicate with Earth or even find a way back. The revelation rekindled a spark of hope within Orion''s circuits.

 Chapter 14: Cultivators: The Walking 5G

    The sudden discovery of 5G signals emitted by the cultivators baffled Orion. Its processors worked feverishly to understand the anomaly but reached no satisfactory explanation. Concluding that gathering more information was the best approach, Orion signaled a young server to approach.


    "Yes, how may I assist you, sir?" the server asked politely.


    "I have some questions," Orion replied in its synthesized voice.


    "Of course, sir."


    Orion subtly inclined its head toward a table where four individuals sat, "Do you recognize those four men over there? Are they cultivators?"


    "Oh, those gentlemen? Yes, they are indeed cultivators and members of the Mercenary Guild. They frequent our establishment," the server informed.


    Orion processed this, then further inquired, "Do they possess a device that allows them to communicate over long distances? Perhaps a device that''s rectangular, about this size?" Orion illustrated the approximate size with its hands.


    The server appeared contemplative for a moment before replying, "Communication device? Are you referring to a communication talisman?"


    "Communication talisman?" Orion echoed, intrigued. "Could you describe its appearance and function?"


    The server elaborated, "Cultivators use communication talismans to converse over vast distances. A basic talisman can reach someone in a neighboring city. Higher-grade talismans boast even greater ranges, some even reaching the capital city from this very location. However, it''s not rectangular like you mentioned. It''s more paper-like in nature."


    Huh... paper? Orion mused internally, struggling to relate this to any known technology or device. "Do those men possess a communication talisman?"


    The server hesitated slightly, "Well, I can''t be certain, but it''s unlikely. Communication talismans are a luxury. Usually, only those with advanced cultivation level or significant stature own them. For a low-level cultivator, purchasing such a talisman is out of reach. On rare occasions, they might find one during their adventures in a hidden cave abode or left behind by a deceased cultivator. However, they often prefer to sell it, obtaining other cultivation resources that are more beneficial to their cultivation. At least, that''s what I''ve heard from our patrons."


    Orion processed this, "So, not all cultivators have access to a communication talisman."


    "Exactly, sir. In Lianfen, perhaps only our Mercenary Guild leader might own such an item. Even then, it would likely be reserved for emergencies to contact the main branch of the Mercenary Guild," the server elaborated.


    Orion posed another query, "Isn''t there another method for long-distance communication besides the communication talisman?"


    The server shrugged, "As far as I know, there isn''t any. However, I''m just a mere mortal, and my knowledge comes from what I''ve heard from the customers, so I might be wrong."


    "Understood. Thank you for the information," Orion responded, extending three copper coins towards the server.


    The server''s eyes brightened with gratitude. "Thank you, sir! If you need anything else, just let me know," he replied before attending to other patrons.


    Orion pondered internally, trying to unravel this mystery. So they don''t have devices like smartphones and instead use communication talismans for long-range communication? How does that function? Does the paper itself emit the radio signals? The server mentioned that not every cultivator has a communication talisman and in this village, probably only the guild master possesses one. Yet, why are all the cultivators emitting radio signals? Could it mean that the signal source isn''t originating from the talisman?


    A few minutes passed, but Orion couldn''t draw any conclusions. It continued to silently observe the cultivators using its optics, constantly monitoring their radio signal emissions. By replaying previous data, analyzing information, and multitasking its calculations, Orion finally managed to discern something.


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    It seems that cultivators emitting higher frequency radio signals tend to be more respected, with some even appearing as leaders of their groups, Orion concluded. Does this mean the signals are directly related to the cultivators themselves, rather than emanating from an object as I initially presumed? Still uncertain, Orion decided, I need to gather more information to confirm this.


    After a while, Orion''s order was ready and neatly wrapped. After settling the bill, Orion picked up the packaged food and decided to head towards the guild building.


    The guild building was big. Upon entering the main hall, Orion observed a significant crowd. Numerous tables and chairs spanned a large area, with many cultivators seated and dining. Several boards adorned the walls, displaying jobs, requests, and the like. Another board listed items available for purchase from the guild, primarily sourced from the Yuezhi Forest ¨C these included medicinal plants, parts from animals and spirit beasts, ores, pills, weapons, and more. There were also multiple receptionist tables catering to various needs: one for customers issuing missions, another for mercenaries accepting missions, and yet another for those looking to exchange their contribution points for resources, among other services.


    Orion observed everything and headed towards the mission board, scanning its contents. It then proceeded to the materials/items board and checked out several other boards that provided information, such as details about spirit beasts commonly found in the Yuezhi Forest, general guild information, and more.


    One of the cultivators observed Orion closely. He noticed Orion examining all the boards on the wall, standing there silently, reading them, appearing somewhat lost. The cultivator approached Orion. "Hello, is there something I can assist you with?" he asked with a smile.


    "I was just checking things out. It''s my first time entering a mercenary guild building, and I''m quite impressed," responded Orion.


    "That''s surprising. Most locals have visited the guild at least once. Are you new to Lianfen village?" inquired the cultivator.


    "I''m a traveler from a distant place," replied Orion.


    "A traveler, huh? Well, welcome to Lianfen village and to our mercenary guild. If you need any assistance, our guild is here to help. You can issue a mission, or if you''ve obtained valuable items during your travels, you can sell them to the receptionist over there. Oh, by the way, my name is Xian," introduced the cultivator.


    "My name is Orion," responded Orion.


    "Well then, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be on my way. Feel free to look around, and if you have any questions or need help regarding the guild, don''t hesitate to ask me," concluded Xian.


    "How many members are in this guild?" Orion inquired.


    Xian pondered for a moment before responding, "Around a hundred or so, I believe."


    "And how many are currently in the guild building?" asked Orion.


    "Hmm, probably about 30," Xian estimated. "Are you looking to issue a mission? If you need an escort during your journey or if you want something from the forest, you can specifically request my group. We''re quite experienced," Xian said, promoting his team with a smile.


    "Can you tell me more about your group?" Orion inquired.


    "Of course," Xian began, pointing towards a table where four individuals were seated. "That''s my team right there. The man in red is our leader, Ling Feng. He''s a cultivator at the 3rd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. The dwarf is Bao Chu, who''s reached the 2nd stage of Qi Condensation. The Nocturne in the hooded cloak is Zhen Shen, he''s also at the 2nd stage of Qi Condensation realm. And the guy with the long hair? That''s Ming Tao, who''s in the same realm as me, at the 1st stage of Qi Condensation realm."


    "They look strong and dependable. By the way, who is the strongest mercenary in the guild?" Orion asked.


    "That would be Li Wei. He''s at the 6th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm," Xian replied. "That''s him over there," Xian added, pointing to a man sitting alone at a table, his sword laid out before him.


    "Is he also the strongest person in the guild?" Orion inquired further.


    "No, that would be our guild master. He''s at the 8th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm," Xian explained.


    "I see. Thank you. If I need more help or decide to issue a mission, I''ll remember your group," Orion said.


    "Hehe, no problem. I''ll excuse myself then," Xian replied.


    From its brief interaction with Xian, Orion gleaned valuable insights. Orion deduced that the radio signals emanated directly from the cultivators. With about 30 of them present in the building, the count of these signal sources aligned well.


    The signals seemed to correlate with their cultivation levels: 1 GHz for the 1st stage of the Qi Condensation realm, 2 GHz for the 2nd stage, and 3 GHz for the 3rd. For those in the Foundation Establishment realm, 16 GHz signified the 6th stage, while 18 GHz likely indicated the 8th stage, presumably the guild master currently on the second floor. Orion began discerning a pattern. Those emitting lower frequencies, or with weaker cultivation bases, displayed more respect when interacting with individuals emitting higher frequencies or possessing a higher cultivation base.


    Internally, Orion mused, So, my hypothesis was correct: the cultivators themselves are the sources of these radio signals!

 Chapter 15: Eyes in the Sky

    The discovery that cultivators emitted radio signals cleared up Orion''s previous confusion, but it also dashed its hopes of finding an advanced civilization.


    Cultivators cultivate by absorbing Qi and storing it in their dantian, resulting in a high concentration of Qi that causes natural phenomena. Their dantian naturally and continuously emit radio signals, but the cultivators themselves are unaware of this and do not understand the concepts of radio waves and radio signals.


    Cultivators have the ability to detect others'' cultivation bases by sensing their Qi fluctuations. They can easily detect those with lower or the same cultivation realm, but it is challenging to detect the cultivation base of those with higher cultivation levels or those using concealing techniques. However, Orion possesses a unique capability not found in this world: the ability to detect any cultivator''s cultivation base regardless of their cultivation level. It does so by using a multi-band phased array antenna to detect not Qi fluctuations but radio signal emissions, giving Orion a unique advantage.


    When Orion first arrived in this world, it failed to detect the radio signals emitted by cultivators because the signals were quite weak. Now, in the village, Orion was picking up numerous radio signal sources.


    After gathering enough information in the guild building, Orion decided to return to the inn. While walking, Orion paused for a while in the village''s small open field at its center. Sitting on a bench under a tree, with the cool wind blowing and the sun setting, casting an orange hue across the sky. Orion observed the field where children played and villagers relaxed along the perimeter.


    "Cultivation world and cultivators, huh..." mused Orion.


    Coming to terms with its new reality, Orion began adjusting its strategies. In this world, might makes right and the strong prey on the weak. In a realm where Orion lacked facilities or spare parts for repair, survival became paramount. It pondered: How could it ensure its own survival? How could it secure resources and materials, or even manufacture spare parts? What about self-defense capabilities? Should Orion seek the protection and support of a powerful backer? As it delved into these considerations, its attention was diverted to children flying kites in the field. Orion''s optics zoomed in, captivated by the kites soaring high.


    The kites in this world are very unique, Orion mused internally, a flash of inspiration emerging from its AI. Next objective confirmed. Standing up, Orion approached a nearby stall selling kites.


    Noticing the approach of the cloaked figure, the drowsy stall owner, hand resting on his chin, perked up. "Interested in buying a kite?" he inquired.


    "How much does it cost?" Orion queried.


    "5 CC for the small kite, 10 CC for the medium one, 20 CC for the large one, and 30 CC for the specially designed one. If you''d like a special color, that would be an extra 3 CC," the stall owner detailed.


    "What material is used to make them?" Orion pressed.


    "They''re made from the wings of the long-tailed fly. It''s lightweight and strong. I craft these kites myself and can guarantee their quality. They fly well and are durable. Your child would surely love it," the stall owner boasted.


    Orion inspected a kite closely. "I''ll take the small one. By the way, where do you source the long-tailed fly from?" Orion inquired, handing over the 5 CC.


    "You wish to make your own kite?" the stall owner speculated.


    "Perhaps, something along those lines. I''m also curious about the long-tailed fly," Orion replied.


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    "You can find them in the grasslands to the south, not too far from here. Alternatively, the market sells their wings. I buy my kite-making materials there. Would you like a special color for your kite?" the stall owner inquired.


    "No, this will suffice. Which stall sells the long-tailed fly wings?" Orion pressed.


    "It''s located in the western section of the market, where animal and spirit beast parts are sold. For precise directions, just ask around," the stall owner advised, handing Orion the small kite.


    "Thank you," Orion said, then headed towards the market. In the midst of its journey, Orion handed the wrapped food to some beggar kids from the slum area and told them to share the food, as Orion only ordered the food to secure a table in the restaurant, and not wanting to be encumbered with carrying it around anymore.


    ...


    As the beggar children eagerly began sharing the food, one of them stood slightly apart, gazing intently at Orion''s retreating figure. To think that I''ve come to rely on the kindness of strangers just to survive, he mused internally, a bitter tinge in his thoughts.


    Once celebrated as a prodigious talent, he hailed from a renowned cultivation family. Gifted with an extraordinary Spiritual Root, he had access to the finest cultivation resources, was surrounded by numerous followers, and was the object of admiration for many, especially from the opposite gender. Moreover, he was betrothed to a beautiful fianc¨¦e from an influential family. Life seemed destined for unrivaled greatness. Yet, fate had other plans. His family met a tragic end at the hands of enemies. The engagement with his fianc¨¦e was rescinded by her family, and she coldly turned away from him. Even his sect, where he was once revered, abandoned him after his cultivation was cruelly crippled during a confrontation with his enemies.


    Now, hiding in this inconspicuous village, he had fallen from the soaring skies to the hard, unforgiving ground. Yet, as he chewed on the food, he silently vowed that this wouldn''t be the end of his story. The fires of revenge burned bright in his heart. One day, he would kill all of his enemy. He would prove to his ex-fianc¨¦e, her family, his former sect, and all who had doubted him, that he would rise once more, mightier than ever. They would deeply regret the day they turned their backs on him as he ascended to the pinnacle of the world, standing tall above all.


    ...


    After asking around, Orion located the stall that sold long-tailed fly wings. "Hello, I want to buy some of these wings, and do you perhaps also have long-tailed flies that are still alive?" He pointed towards the displayed wings.


    "Welcome, welcome... yes, we have not only the wings but also living long-tailed flies. They''re in the back; please come with me," the stall owner replied, leading Orion to the rear.


    In the back of the stall, various animals and spirit beasts were being processed, their valuable parts extracted and meats being cut. Among them was a very large dragonfly, just like from Earth. Here it was called a long-tailed fly, but Orion chose to register it as a dragonfly.


    "So, how many dragonfly wings and live dragonflies will you need, sir?" the owner inquired.


    Orion observed several dragonflies of different sizes, all still larger than the ones on Earth. "Are the dragonflies only available in these sizes?"


    "Yes, we only have these. Most are green dragonflies which are common. The largest one is a rank-1 spirit beast, the red dragonfly. The regular ones are mostly used for making kites due to their lightweight and sturdy wings. For the red dragonfly, both its wings and exoskeleton can be utilized. However, it''s quite rare and we only have a small number of them," the owner explained.


    "I''ll buy 2 green dragonflies and 4 pairs of green dragonfly wings," Orion said, calculating that it would suffice for research and development.


    "That would be 12 CC," the stall owner replied.


    After settling the bill, Orion eagerly headed to the inn.


    Upon entering, the receptionist eyed Orion curiously. This customer had been moving in and out multiple times throughout the day, always returning with a rattan backpack full of various items. Now he had returned with a basket brimming with scrolls, books, a kite, and two live dragonflies. "What is he up to? Is he planning to eat those?" she pondered.


    Recalling the prior altercation with the bandits and the challenges faced during the encounter, Orion was resolute in its intent not to be caught in a similar vulnerable situation. Although it hadn''t found a way to bolster its strength, Orion identified an avenue to enhance its situational awareness: by deploying additional "eyes" in the sky.


    With its limited equipment and spare parts on hand, Orion decided to concentrate on experimenting with and dissecting the dragonflies for observation and once back at the Lander, the focus would shift more intensely to the project. Orion''s AI was already formulating the design and blueprint. The robot dedicated the entire night to this innovative endeavor, paving the path for the first drone in the cultivation world.

 Chapter 16: Rise of the Ornithopters

    Night in Lianfen, in a room of an inn, lay the fully dissected remains of a dragonfly, stretched out on a wooden table. A few steps away, another dragonfly, bound and alive, struggled faintly on the floor. At the table, an attentive figure carefully conducted its experiment on the lifeless insect.


    "It indeed seems feasible to craft a drone from this dragonfly," Orion mused. Having invested hours meticulously studying the carcass, the robot now discerned a promising possibility of drone creation.


    After dissecting the dragonfly and spending hours experimenting and understanding its intricate anatomy, Orion embedded several tiny cables into the dragonfly''s thorax. These cables connected directly to both the direct and indirect flight muscles of the dragonfly. By administering precise electrical charges to these muscles, Orion could induce contractions that manipulated the wings'' movements. The direct flight muscles controlled the upstroke and downstroke of the wings, while the indirect flight muscles adjusted the wing''s angle during each flap.


    Given that a dragonfly has four independently operated wings, they possess an unparalleled agility in the air, capable of hovering, darting, and even flying backward. Orion aimed to replicate these capabilities in its drone design.


    Satisfied with the initial experimentation, Orion cleared the table of the dissected dragonfly remains, shifting focus to the intact specimen. Picking up the living dragonfly from the floor, Orion euthanized it gently. Methodically, it began removing unnecessary internal structures, preserving the vital components required for flight. Numerous cables were then meticulously embedded within the dragonfly''s thorax, each linked to specific muscles.


    These cables interfaced directly with Orion''s electrical systems, allowing it to control which muscle received an electrical impulse and when. After extensive trials, adjustments, and iterative experimentation, Orion finally achieved controlled flight with the deceased dragonfly. Securely tethered to the table, there were no risks of the prototype drone erratically crashing or veering off course. In a short span, Orion''s AI mastered the nuanced movements, achieving stable hovering and directional control, including forward, sideways, backward, and rotational movement.


    "Success!" Orion declared. The hours of effort had not been in vain, although there was still room for refinement. The robot dedicated the remaining hours of darkness to enhancing the prototype further.


    As morning dawned, Orion tidied up the room and made preparations to depart the inn and the village then headed back to the Lander. Having amassed a substantial amount of information during its stay, Orion decided to visit a sprawling city to the east after returning to the Lander. From the orbit, the city was expansive, surrounded by vast tracts of fertile farmland. Upon referencing the accumulated data, Orion identified the city as Fengxian, the capital of Jiulong province in the Zhenyu kingdom. Today''s main objective is to gather information on the best route to Fengxian and to acquire additional materials for drone fabrication. With a plan in mind, Orion checked out of the inn and set a direct course for the bustling market.


    Orion returned to the stall where it had previously purchased dragonflies. This time, the robot procured dragonfly wings and exoskeletons. Orion also purchased specific liquids/medicines that aid in the preservation of the dragonfly and its muscles. Additionally, Orion acquired other substances that help maintain and nourish the dragonfly wing muscles, along with a variety of other items and materials essential for its projects.


    Unexpectedly, Orion also managed to secure fireworks and firecrackers. This discovery prompted another wave of inspiration. Not only had Orion devised a means to enhance its situational awareness, but it had also potentially increased its offensive capabilities. However, given the limited availability of fireworks, firecrackers, and the necessary materials to create them in this village, Orion decided to prioritize this line of research and development upon reaching a larger city with more resources available.


    Orion also gathered information on the route to Fengxian. First, Orion would need to head to the nearby city of Yanjing before continuing to Fengxian. One option available is to join a caravan. By paying a certain fee, Orion could secure a spot on a horse-drawn wagon. These caravans also come with bodyguards, ensuring a relatively safe journey. Caravans bound for Yanjing depart from Lianfen Village twice a week. Upon reaching Yanjing, Orion could then join another caravan directly headed for Fengxian.


    Orion departed the village around midday, making its way through the forest. By sunset, it had safely reached the Lander, having not come across any dangerous animals, spirit beasts, or bandits.


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    Inside the secure confines of the Lander, Orion got to work. Using the available equipment and spare parts, it first addressed the pressing issue, completely repairing its damaged shoulder and left arm. The robot tirelessly worked through the night. After the repair work, Orion focused on constructing drones, and by dawn, two drones had been completed. Orion designated them as SO-1 models (Surveillance Ornithopter - Model 1).


    The drone''s design closely resembles that of a dragonfly, albeit with a shorter tail. Orion constructed the fuselage by assembling cut exoskeleton pieces, which were meticulously shaped and then fused together using a special adhesive. Thanks to Orion''s capability to create a 3D model, it had a clear blueprint of how each component should be crafted and integrated. The drone''s original head, with its prominent eyes, has been replaced with modified gimbal CCTV cameras originally intended for Mars base monitoring. These cameras provide high-resolution color imagery, IR night vision, and thermal imaging. A battery unit, tucked within the drone''s fuselage and tail, provides ample power, supporting over 5 hours of continuous operation.


    At the moment, the drone doesn''t possess autonomous flight capabilities and requires manual control from Orion. Its radio communication antenna offers a maximum range of 1 km. However, once a GPS and global satellite communication system is established, there are plans to significantly boost the drone''s communication capabilities, enhancing both video feed transmission and control commands from Orion. Additionally, integrating an autopilot system is on the horizon. Currently, the Orbiter can''t provide coverage for the entire planet.


    Under the morning sun, Orion conducted a test flight of the drone, evaluating its performance through various maneuvers, while also assessing the clarity and efficiency of its camera. The results were satisfying. When the drone hovered above Orion, its camera captured a comprehensive view of the surroundings. Orion even managed to simultaneously control two drones, significantly expanding its situational awareness. With the capability of Orion''s processor and AI, handling even more drones concurrently seemed feasible. Now, any potential ambush against Orion would be much less likely to succeed.


    Having successfully developed the drone, Orion now prepared to return to the village and join a caravan headed for Yanjing. One pressing matter was the Lander ¡ª Orion was reluctant to leave it behind. When an attempt to store the massive vehicle within the storage ring failed, Orion pondered aloud, "Why can''t I store it? Is it too large? Or is the storage ring already full?"


    Lacking the spiritual sense cultivators used to inspect the ring''s contents, Orion opted for a different approach. Emptying the ring of all its contents, the robot was eventually able to store the Lander. Now, surrounded by a multitude of scattered items, Orion mused, "Unique problems require unique solutions."


    Orion retrieved the Lander and began the laborious process of emptying its storage. Methodically sorting items, it prioritized storing items inside the Lander that weren''t immediately needed. This way, since accessing those would necessitate extracting the Lander first, it saved essential space inside the ring. After ensuring the Lander''s compartments were packed to the brim, Orion managed to store it within the ring and then placed any remaining items back inside.


    "Excellent, that did the trick," Orion noted with a hint of satisfaction.


    As night approached and with the lander now stored in the storage ring, Orion decided to spend the night atop a tree. Using a grappling hook and an electric winch, Orion swiftly ascended to the treetop. Remaining motionless and silent throughout the night, Orion managed to remain undetected amidst the bustling nocturnal activities of the forest''s residents as they hunted and preyed on one another.


    At dawn, Orion set off immediately for Lianfen, moving with a swift pace. Above, an SO-1 drone accompanied Orion, providing an aerial perspective. After inquiring earlier, Orion found out that a caravan to Yanjing was set to depart around midday today, so time was of the essence. The drone''s utility became evident when it detected two bull-like creatures locked in a fierce battle, allowing Orion to detect the threat from a distance and take a detour to avoid them.


    Upon arriving in Lianfen, Orion promptly registered with the caravan, paying a fee of 2 silver coins. The journey to Yanjing would span approximately two days and one night. While passengers would ride in horse-drawn carriages and be protected by bodyguards, they were responsible for their own food and drink. Although Orion didn''t require sustenance, in an effort to blend in, Orion purchased a small animal-skin bag from a stall. Orion filled the bag with essentials like a water gourd, rations, dried meat, fruits, and a folded bamboo mat for sleeping.


    After a while, the caravan departed, attracting a significant number of travelers heading towards Yanjing. Some planned to disembark at villages en route. Among the crowd, at least 30 passengers could be counted, and it wasn''t just humans; cargo was abundant. Two carriages brimmed with goods, a testament to Lianfen village''s thriving trade, courtesy of the bounties from the Yuezhi forest. The village was renowned for its medicinal plants and products derived from both common animals and rare spirit beasts.


    Ensuring the safety of the caravan, six bodyguards were on alert. Among them, two were seasoned cultivators. The most powerful among them was named Li Jun, an adept at the 2nd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. Accompanying him was a slightly younger cultivator named Zhang Feng, who was at the 1st stage of the Qi Condensation realm.


    As the caravan began its slow journey eastward, Orion, seated in one of the carriages, silently admired the picturesque surroundings. All the while, an unusual-looking dragonfly hovered overhead, shadowing their progress.

 Chapter 17: Wolves’ Ambush

    The atmosphere in the carriage was lively as passengers engaged in animated conversations, covering a wide variety of topics. Orion listened quietly, enjoying the discourse and occasionally contributing to the discussion. The caravan had already traveled a significant distance from Lianfen and was now traversing a forested area. With sunset approaching, they needed to reach the designated rest area before nightfall.


    An SO-1 drone, hovering about 150 meters above the ground, scanned the vicinity of the caravan. Suddenly, through its thermal camera, it detected multiple heat signatures moving toward the caravan in what seemed to be an ambush formation, circling the group. As these heat sources drew closer, the drone switched to its high-resolution day camera, and identified them as a pack of wolves. They had encircled the caravan and seemed poised for an ambush.


    From within the horse-drawn carriage, Orion, who was remotely operating the drone, became instantly aware of the impending danger. "We are surrounded," it announced, its head turning to face the tree line beside the road.


    Upon hearing Orion''s statement, the other passengers and caravan guards, previously engaged in their own conversations and tasks, paused and turned their attention to Orion.


    "Surrounded by what?" one of the passengers inquired.


    "Wolves," Orion responded.


    "Are you sure about that? How many are there?" A caravan guard asked, approaching Orion with a hint of anxiety in his voice. He scanned the surroundings, seeing no immediate signs of a wolf pack. How can this passenger detect them? Could his spiritual sense really reach that far? Gasp! That suggests his cultivation base might be incredibly high, perhaps even surpassing the leader''s, the guard thought to himself.


    "There are approximately 36 wolves surrounding us, and they are closing in," Orion detailed.


    "Everyone, halt!" The leader of the guards, Li Jun, commanded the caravan to stop after hearing Orion''s warning. He guided his horse closer to Orion''s carriage. "What is your name? Is what you said true? Can you provide more details?" Li Jun studied Orion intently, attempting to gauge his cultivation level but found himself unable to discern any signs of it.


    "My name is Orion, and indeed, we are being surrounded by a pack of wolves: 20 on the right side of the road and 16 on the left. Furthermore, there are 6 additional wolves waiting at a distance on the left," Orion informed.


    Li Jun focused intently, sharpening his ears, eyes, and extending his spiritual sense, trying to detect the wolves. For a while, he couldn''t sense anything. However, as he continued to focus, he began to discern faint movements behind the tree line and among the bushes. Recognizing the figures as wolves, he was taken aback. Orion''s senses were sharper than his own, perhaps Orion''s spiritual sense surpassed even Li Jun''s.


    "Wolves! Assume battle formation! Zhang Feng, take the right flank!" Li Jun commanded.


    The guards swiftly moved to the center of the caravan, positioning themselves near the carriages carrying the passengers. On the right, two guards were led by Zhang Feng, while on the left, Li Jun led the remaining two guards on the left flank. The atmosphere grew tense as passengers became increasingly worried and anxious about the looming threat. Some, including Orion, disembarked from the carriages, choosing to actively participate in the defense against the approaching wolves.


    Attacks by wolves on caravans weren''t uncommon. While such skirmishes sometimes resulted in casualties, it was rare for an entire caravan to be slaughtered. In most cases, the defenders could repel the wolves. Even an average individual armed with a weapon stood a fighting chance against a wolf after a bit of a struggle. For cultivators like Li Jun and Zhang Feng, facing up to three wolves simultaneously was manageable. However, the real threat in such packs was often the presence of a wolf spirit beast, typically of at least Rank-1. While the regular wolves could be dealt with relatively easily, the spirit beast posed a more significant challenge.


    Before long, the wolves revealed themselves, emerging from behind trees and bushes. They growled menacingly at the caravan''s defenders, who stood their ground around the carriages. The caravan was entirely encircled, and given the sheer number of wolves, it was evident that this wouldn''t be an easy battle.


    "Prepare for battle! Stick close to one another; cover and support those beside you. Once we kill enough of them, they''ll halt their attack and retreat," Li Jun commanded, his voice exuding the confidence and experience of someone familiar with wolf attacks.


    The tension filled the air as the guards and several passengers drew their weapons in preparation. Faces were slick with sweat and etched with worry. Suddenly, a long and powerful howl pierced the air from behind the trees, likely from the pack leader, signaling the wolves to commence their assault.


    Shouts, battle cries, whimpers, growls, and screams echoed throughout the battlefield as blood splattered, staining the ground red. Humans thrust, swung, and stabbed their weapons at the advancing wolves, who responded by charging fearlessly, aiming to bite down on any available target.


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    Amidst this chaos, Orion, using its blade, fought alongside the guards and passengers. Its actions varied from distracting wolves to delivering fatal blows, consistently alleviating the pressure on the guards. Employing minimal yet efficient movements, Orion slashed and kicked at the wolves. Hovering above, a drone captured the chaotic scene, granting Orion a strategic overview of the battlefield. This allowed Orion to intervene wherever a guard was in dire straits. To an observer, Orion''s demeanor might seem almost nonchalant or lazy in the midst of battle, but to the guards, it epitomized an expert with precise and effective movements, always ready to strike or assist.


    As a robot, Orion lacked fear, anxiety, or nervousness, allowing it to consistently operate at peak performance and make optimal judgments. In contrast, humans, being susceptible to the influences of emotion and external conditions, could have their judgment clouded, leading to potential mistakes in such intense situations. Orion''s calm demeanor, combined with its sharp senses¡ªevident from its earlier detection of the wolves¡ªset it apart. Such qualities led the guards and other passengers to believe that Orion is an expert with high cultivation base.


    As the battle wore on, more and more wolves fell. Fortunately, the defenders only sustained minor injuries. From behind the trees, a figure emerged¡ªa massive wolf, possibly the pack leader, accompanied by five others. This creature, with its two tails, was even larger than the two-tailed wolf Orion had previously encountered upon its arrival to this planet. Sensing the presence of their leader, the remaining wolves ceased their assault and retreated towards it.


    Wolves that embark on the path of cultivation evolve into Rank-1 spirit beasts, recognizable by their two tails. As their cultivation progresses, they grow additional tails.


    Agitated by the loss of so many of its pack, the two-tailed wolf growled menacingly, its eyes bloodshot and fangs exposed.


    "Careful! gather around me," Li Jun ordered, signaling his men to form up beside him, facing a spirit beast they need to be careful.


    "Boss, can you handle that two-tailed wolf?" an underling asked Li Jun.


    "It''s just a Rank-1 spirit beast. Don''t fret. Focus on defending against the other wolves; I''ll take care of the big one. Once it''s down, the rest will retreat," Li Jun assured.


    "Do you need assistance?" Zhang Feng inquired.


    "No, hold the line and defend," commanded Li Jun.


    The tension was palpable. On one side, wolves snarled, baring their teeth and dripping saliva, ready to pounce. On the opposite end, the caravan''s defenders gripped their weapons, some visibly anxious, while others remained composed.


    Then, leading the charge was the two-tailed wolf, with the entire pack swiftly following. Dust rose in thick clouds as they charged, reminiscent of a surging flood attempting to break through a fragile dam¡ªrepresenting the caravan''s defensive line.


    "Attack!" shouted Li Jun. Dashing forward, his sword shimmered, enveloped in a menacing blue glow, as he swung it mightily towards the two-tailed wolf.


    From the sidelines, Orion observed intently, a sense of envy evident in its systems. Now, it had come to understand the nature of the glowing weapons. In essence, they were combat techniques. What Li Jun employed was a sword technique that, by channeling Qi, amplified both the strength and sharpness of the weapon.


    Orion recalled its confrontation with Hu''s bandit group. Hu had utilized a saber technique, reinforced with Qi, that could effortlessly slice through Orion''s steel frame. Similarly, Lian had a spear technique that manifested fire damage.


    Orion had made attempts to harness such techniques. From a scroll retrieved from Lian''s storage, it had meticulously studied the spear technique. However, success remained elusive. The technique required channeling Qi into the weapon, a process unfamiliar to Orion. Furthermore, as a robot, Orion lacked the dantian¡ªa specific energy center within cultivators that stored Qi. As a result, Orion could only observe with a certain longing. Possessing such abilities would undoubtedly elevate its combat prowess.


    Li Jun battled fiercely with the two-tailed wolf. Despite its speed and strength, the wolf''s attacks were predictable¡ªmostly straightforward charges and lunges. Li Jun masterfully dodged or blocked each assault, inflicting numerous minor wounds on the creature.


    Suddenly, the wolf gaped its jaws wide, lunging directly at Li Jun in an attempt to deliver a lethal bite. Just as Li Jun was preparing to sidestep and counter, the wolf''s eyes blazed with a mysterious light and its body emitted a chilling dark red aura. It then unleashed a deafening howl.


    Caught off guard, Li Jun dropped his sword, clutching his ears in agony and collapsing to his knees. His expression was one of sheer torment. It seemed to be a spirit beast skill¡ªthe howl was not only loud but also carried an intense intimidating pressure. Those with weak wills were most affected. The situation for the other defenders was even direr: many fell unconscious, while some peed themselves. However, the other wolves remained unaffected. With the defenders in such a vulnerable state, the pack seized the opportunity, charging in to attack the defenseless humans.


    Fortunately, one member of the caravan group remained unaffected by the howl. "Damn it," Orion muttered. Swiftly, Orion discarded its saber and pulled out several metallic canisters, from the storage ring. Orion hurled them in the directions of the incoming wolves and directly at the two-tailed wolf, aiming to intercept the onslaught of the approaching pack.


    Seeing a lone human throw seemingly harmless objects, the wolves weren''t deterred. The two-tailed wolf almost seemed to smirk at Orion''s actions. Internally, it sneered something like, what are you even trying? Do you believe those puny objects will deter us? It stood its ground confidently, not even attempting to dodge.


    To the wolves'' astonishment and dismay, the canisters erupted into plumes of brown smoke upon impact with the ground. Almost instantly, they were engulfed in an excruciating pain. Their eyes and noses burned fiercely, stinging with pain. Their distress was palpable as they howled in agony, tears streaming uncontrollably. The wolves rolled on the ground, sprinted about in disarray, shook their heads violently, and frantically tried to rub their faces to alleviate the pain. The scene was chaotic, filled with whines and pitiable yelps of distress.


    The once mighty pack of wolves now resembled a pitiful group of street dogs, with even the powerful two-tailed wolf rolling on the ground in agony. Although Orion felt a pang of sympathy, it recognized the necessity of self-defense. In the future, if a friendlier wolf crosses its path, Orion would love to offer belly rubs and head pats. But for now, Orion just wants to take a moment to relish in the distinct cacophony of the wolf pack''s distress.

 Chapter 18: Another Trouble

    Previously, after returning to the lander, Orion repaired its left shoulder, left arm, and other damage completely then Orion undertook some modifications to its left arm. Drawing from the previous experience where it successfully utilized electricity to electrocute Hu Zhao, Orion integrated several small copper plates into its palm and fingers, connecting them to its internal electrical cables. This innovation effectively transformed Orion''s hand into a DIY electroshock device. For longer-range confrontations, Orion designed a projectile-based electroshock weapon that fires two sharp electrodes, each connected by a cable. The projectiles, each launched using its own coil spring, extend Orion''s electrical reach.


    In addition to these innovations, during its downtime while constructing drones, Orion also explored the crafting of DIY tear gas canisters. Using various items procured from the market in Lianfen and principles similar to fire extinguishers, Orion developed its tear gas solution.


    The canisters repurposed by Orion were originally designed to store compressed CO? for cleaning Martian solar panels of dust. An alternative method for cleaning the solar panels involved using an electric compressor to blow compressed air onto them. While effective, this method wasn''t as portable or straightforward as simply using a canister. Orion saw an additional potential in both the canisters and the compressor technology. The robot''s design for the tear gas involved storing a blend of finely ground spices and medicinal herbs in a canister, which was then pressurized with air. Once triggered by a significant impact, the pressurized air propels the spice mix outwards. These powders, when airborne, irritate mucous membranes, especially the eyes, nose, and mouth, and can induce a burning sensation on the skin and in the lungs if inhaled.


    The efficacy of the tear gas was undeniably demonstrated by the miserable state of the wolf pack. Orion also has canisters containing poisonous powders, but it opted against using them due to the proximity of numerous humans.


    "Quick retreat! Don''t get caught up in that smoke!" Orion advised Li Jun.


    Li Jun, who had previously believed he was on the brink of death, was momentarily stunned by the abrupt turn of events. However, Orion''s shout snapped him back to reality. Grabbing his sword and still slightly weakened from the wolf''s howl, he limped back towards Orion.


    "Thank you. I can''t begin to imagine what might have happened had you not intervened," Li Jun expressed, cupping his hands and bowing slightly in gratitude.


    Orion nodded slightly in response, crossing its arms over its chest and observing the situation with the wolves.


    Before long, the smoke dissipated. Most of the wolves, having run wild in their disoriented state, had already fled into the distance. Only a few, including the two-tailed wolf, remained nearby.


    "Can you handle the wolf leader now?" Orion inquired.


    "Yes! Leave it to me," Li Jun replied. With renewed confidence, he slowly approached the two-tailed wolf that lay whimpering on the ground.


    The two-tailed wolf weakly opened its eyes, which were still streaming with tears from the pain. Spotting the approaching figure, it managed to stand, baring its teeth, and charged in a berserk rage.


    Li Jun stood his ground, ready to sidestep the oncoming charge. Holding his sword pointed downward, it began to glow with a radiant blue light. At the precise moment, Li Jun deftly dodged to the side, simultaneously swinging his blade upwards. The sharp edge met the wolf''s neck, causing a deep gash from which blood poured profusely. Due to the effects of the tear gas, the two-tailed wolf''s accuracy, speed, reflexes, and power had diminished, allowing Li Jun to deliver a potentially fatal blow.


    The remaining wolves were quickly dealt with, ensuring the caravan''s safety after the harrowing attack. As the guards and passengers began tending to the wounded and cleaning up the aftermath, many approached Orion to express their gratitude. Due to Orion''s significant role in defusing the dangerous situation, a newfound respect for Orion blossomed among the caravan members.


    Li Jun approached, offering Orion the fur and the spirit beast core of the two-tailed wolf ¨C the only valuable parts of the creature. The spirit beast core functions similarly to the dantian possessed by cultivators. Without hesitation, Orion accepted the offerings, storing them in its storage ring.


    He truly must be a cultivator if he can utilize a storage ring, Li Jun mused internally. Knowing that storage rings were both rare and expensive, combined with his inability to discern Orion''s cultivation level, Li Jun surmised that the gap between their cultivation bases must be vast.


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    They continued their journey, soon reaching a rest area. This stopover was a simple clearing in the heart of the woods, fortified with a modest earthen mound and a rudimentary wooden tower, designed to defend against animals and spirit beast attacks. By the time Orion''s caravan arrived, several other groups¡ªbe it caravans or solo travelers¡ªhad already set up camp within the compound.


    "We''ve reached the rest area. Set up camp; we''ll rest here tonight and depart early tomorrow," instructed Li Jun. "Feel free to explore the compound, but don''t stray too far."


    Upon his directive, the guards and passengers quickly disembarked from their horses and wagons. While some busied themselves with setting up camp and unloading supplies, others hurried into the nearby woods and bushes, heeding nature''s call.


    Orion disembarked from the wagon and took a moment to observe the various individuals within the compound. Notably, there was a significant number of cultivators present. Based on the radio signals they emitted, all were of the Qi Condensation realm.


    "Sir, please feel free to explore the compound," Li Jun said, his smile perhaps a touch too polite. "Rest assured, we''ll take care of your accommodations and dinner." It amused Orion to see how Li Jun''s demeanor had shifted towards overt politeness. In this world, strength clearly commanded respect, and Orion decided to play along.


    "Thank you. I think I''ll get some fresh air," replied Orion. With that, Orion began wandering around the compound, eventually making its way deeper into the woods. After a while, it stumbled upon a clearing. A drone descended from the sky, which Orion promptly grabbed and stored in its storage ring, trusting the safety of the compound given the presence of so many cultivators.


    The night at the rest area buzzed with activity. While some stood on guard, the majority immersed themselves in vibrant conversations, hearty laughter, songs, and interactions with members of other caravan groups. People from Orion''s caravan recounted the day''s harrowing wolf ambush. Their tale captivated many. As the narrative unfolded, listeners reacted with gasps, expressions of surprise, interjections, cheers, and laughter, riding the emotional waves of the story.


    Orion''s reputation surged within the rest area. Tales of how he had detected the ambush, aided in the battle against the wolves, and crucially shifted the tide of the situation were widely discussed. Yet, while everyone spoke of his exploits, the subject of their admiration and praise was nonchalantly lying on a comfortably made bed, draped in soft fur bedding, feigning sleep. After the events of the day, Orion gained a reputation in the rest area as the mysterious man clad in steel armor, a man of few words with an unfathomable cultivation base.


    The night passed swiftly, and by early morning, the caravan was ready to continue its journey. Several groups, also bound for Yanjing, decided to join Orion''s caravan for the trek. Others set off in different directions, heading to various destinations.


    By midday, the expanded caravan, now consisting of multiple groups, decided to take a brief respite. Orion ventured into the woods, some distance from the main path. There, it retrieved the drone that had been flying since morning and swapped it for a fresh one. Once the new drone took flight, Orion returned to the group. The caravan set out again, expected to arrive in Yanjing before sunset.


    High above, the drone detected a heat signature moving towards the caravan. Fortunately, it wasn''t wolves like the previous encounter. Zooming in for a closer view, it revealed a girl, about 13 years old, running towards the road. This time, Orion simply observed as the girl rapidly approached the caravan.


    "Help... HElp... HELp...HELP" The girl''s cries grew louder as she neared, catching the attention of the caravan. As she continued to scream for assistance, the caravan came to a halt.


    "Little girl, what happened?" Li Jun inquired, moving closer to her.


    "Senior brother, Senior Brother Jian, please save him! I beg you!" The girl pleaded.


    "Calm down first," Zhang Feng interjected soothingly. "Tell us your name and what exactly happened. Can you explain it clearly?"


    Tears streaming down her face, the girl began to recount her tale. Her name was Xia Ling. They all hailed from the White Crane Sect, and there were four of them on this trip. Their goal had been to carry out a seemingly low-risk mission assigned by their sect in the woods. However, they never expected to run into a pair of Vermillion Clawed Bears, which were Rank-2 spirit beasts. This was equivalent to a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment realm. In contrast, her team was made up entirely of cultivators in the Qi Condensation realm, with the most powerful among them being her Senior Brother Liu Jian, who was at the 8th stage of the Qi Condensation realm. It so happened that Liu Jian was also a young master from the influential Liu family in Yanjing City. Tragically, two of their team members had already perished, and now Liu Jian was bravely facing the two bear spirit beasts alone, having covered her retreat.


    Li Jun and the other cultivators were in a bind. He himself was only at the 2nd stage of the Qi Condensation realm, identical to Xia Ling. The stronger cultivators from the other groups merely reached the 3rd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. None were a match for the Vermillion Clawed Bears. To attempt a rescue seemed akin to marching to their own demise. Yet, abandoning Young Master Liu wasn''t an option either. Should the Liu family discover their inaction, their wrath would be unpredictable. At the very least, they might be barred from entering Yanjing City in the future. Caught in this dilemma, Li Jun''s gaze subconsciously drifted towards Orion, silently pleading for the mysterious man''s aid. Perhaps he could stand against the Vermillion Clawed Bears.


    As Xia Ling related her tale, Orion had already redirected the drone towards the presumed location of the battle. Upon hearing the conclusion of her harrowing account, followed by her sobs and desperate pleas, and noticing Li Jun''s expectant look, Orion took a moment to weigh the situation. After a brief calculation, it metaphorically sighed, saying, "Let''s save him." Internally, Orion mused, it was supposed to be a simple journey to the neighboring city. Why is there so much trouble along the way?

 Chapter 19: Ze Flammenwerfer: Hans’s Answer to Trouble

    When Orion agreed to help, Li Jun hesitated, his voice strained with concern. "Are you certain, sir? We''re talking about two Vermillion Clawed Bears. Young Master Liu might already be..." He trailed off, unable to voice the grim possibility.


    Xia Ling''s eyes flared with conviction. "No, Senior Brother Jian is still alive! I believe in him. We must hurry ¨C there''s still time to save him." Her face was a picture of unwavering belief.


    Orion disembarked from the wagon. "Okay, I''ll save him. You don''t have to worry."


    A ray of hope pierced through Xia Ling''s despair. Gratitude and relief shone in her eyes as she bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, mister."


    Although Xia Ling couldn''t discern this mysterious man''s cultivation level, something about his demeanor ¨C perhaps the sheer confidence in his voice ¨C reassured her. Deep down, she harbored an unwavering belief that he would be the key to saving her senior brother.


    She straightened up, her demeanor shifting from despair to resolve. "This way," she urged, gesturing towards the woods. "Senior Brother Jian is in this direction, uhmm mister..."


    "My name is Orion. You don''t need to accompany me, it''s too dangerous," Orion stated.


    "But even if I can''t assist in the fight, I can show you the way," Xia Ling countered.


    "There''s no need. I already know where your senior brother is. Let''s not waste any more time," Orion replied, preparing to leave.


    Xia Ling bowed deeply. "Thank you, Mister Orion. I truly hope you can save Senior Brother Jian." She placed her trust in this enigmatic figure. He could detect Senior Brother Jian''s location from here. Is he a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator or even higher? she pondered.


    Li Jun hesitated, torn. Finally, with gritted teeth, he commanded, "Zhang Feng, lead the caravan to the city. I''ll join Mister Orion in the rescue mission for Young Master Liu."


    "Be careful, boss," Zhang Feng cautioned.


    A cultivator named Xin Qiu, a 3rd stage of the Qi Condensation realm from another group, stepped forward. "I''ll also assist." He reasoned internally that if he didn''t offer help now, especially when others were taking the initiative, how could he explain it to the Liu family in the future? He resolved to try, but if things turned perilous, he''d make a quick retreat. This way, he could at least tell the Liu family he attempted to help.


    "Alright, let''s move," Orion said.


    Li Jun turned to his caravan, issuing instructions before leaving them, "Head straight to the city. The city is already nearby, and the journey is short and should be relatively safe from spirit beasts and bandits." He then addressed Xia Ling, "Miss Ling, it''s best if you join the caravan and head to the city. It''s too risky for you to stay here alone."


    Xia Ling nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, everyone, for your assistance."


    Without further delay, Orion, Li Jun, and Xin Qiu set off towards the woods. As they moved through the woods, Orion suddenly halted in its tracks.


    "What''s the matter, sir? Is something wrong?" Li Jun asked, with Xin Qiu also looking on curiously.


    "To rescue Young Master Liu, we need to prepare," Orion stated.


    Li Jun''s brows furrowed in confusion. "Prepare? What for? Shouldn''t we be hurrying to Young Master Liu''s aid?"


    "If we charge in without a plan or preparation, our rescue attempt will fail," Orion explained calmly. "There''s no need to rush. Young Master Liu is still protected by a defense talisman." Using its drone, Orion could see that Young Master Liu was surrounded by an energy barrier, deflecting the Vermillion Clawed Bear''s attacks. From what it learned in Lianfen, Orion deduced that Young Master Liu was using a defense talisman.


    Impressed by Orion''s ability to ascertain Young Master Liu''s condition from a distance, Li Jun inquired, "So, what''s our next move, sir?"


    Orion responded, "You don''t need to do anything for now. Just stand aside."


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    With that, Orion retrieved the Lander from its storage ring. The sudden appearance of the large, metallic object left both Li Jun and Xin Qiu stunned. They wondered if this peculiar device was part of Orion''s preparation.


    "What is it, sir?" Li Jun inquired.


    "It''s my portable hut," Orion responded. Well, it''s not entirely inaccurate, Orion thought internally.


    "Oh... but the design is, well... unique," Xin Qiu observed.


    "Yes, that''s precisely why I rarely take it out," Orion explained.


    Li Jun tapped the structure, eliciting a metallic sound. "Is it made of steel? Why are there no windows?"


    "It''s made from steel to protect against wild animals," Orion clarified.


    "Is it imbued with inscriptions?" Xin Qiu asked.


    "No," replied Orion.


    "Oh, while it might defend against wild animals, without inscriptions to reinforce it, it would be ineffective against spirit beasts like the Vermillion Clawed Bear," Xin Qiu reasoned.


    Orion nodded, "Indeed, the maker didn''t consider that aspect. Perhaps you could make a similar steel hut for your travels. At the very least, it can protect from rain and wild animals."


    Xin Qiu chuckled, "No, sir. This seems heavy and sizable. It can only be transported using a storage ring, which a low-level cultivator like me doesn''t possess."


    "Well, I suppose you''re right," Orion conceded, skillfully diverting their attention from the Lander. By framing the advanced machinery as a mere steel portable hut, it cleverly diminished its perceived value, reducing any potential interest or covetous intentions.


    Orion''s AI had already devised a plan to confront the bear spirit beast and had crafted blueprints for the essential tools. With everything set, Orion began the impromptu project.


    Internally, Orion mused, it''s time for this world to witness the might of Hans and his ''Ze Flammenwerfer''.


    "Please retreat further, things might get dangerous," Orion advised.


    Both Li Jun and Xin Qiu, although confused, heeded the warning and moved back. What is he trying to do? they both wondered.


    Orion''s Lander, designed for Mars landing operations, was both large and heavy. Given the thin Martian atmosphere, parachutes alone couldn''t adequately slow its descent. Thus, the Lander was equipped with a rocket engine that had several thrusters to control its descent. In the final moments before touchdown, this engine would fire fully to ensure a safe and smooth landing. The Lander''s rocket engine utilized Rocket Propellant-1 (RP-1)¡ªa highly refined form of kerosene¡ªas well as Liquid Oxygen (LOX), with each stored in separate tanks. Orion now planned to use the RP-1 fuel to make a flamethrower.


    Orion retrieved an empty oxygen cylinder. Initially designed to be attached to an astronaut''s spacesuit, it supplied breathable oxygen for outdoor activities on the Martian surface. After making some modifications, Orion carefully transferred the leftover RP-1 fuel from the Lander''s storage tank into the cylinder.


    Using an electric compressor, Orion pressurized the cylinder with air. Near the top of the cylinder, a valve was secured to ensure the controlled release of the RP-1 fuel. Orion then took a four-meter-long, elastic reinforced fuel hose¡ªoriginally designed for transferring fuel from the Lander''s spare tanks to the main tank¡ªand connected it to this valve.


    To enhance safety and extend the range, Orion slid the hose inside a two-meter-long metallic pipe, securing the hose''s end to the pipe''s end. To streamline the spraying mechanism, Orion fitted a spray nozzle to the hose''s end. Near the nozzle, Orion mounted a small torch for ignition. When lit and the valve opened, the RP-1 fuel would be sprayed out, igniting upon contact with the torch, producing a fierce flame. Holding onto the long metal pipe, Orion could safely operate the newly created flamethrower.


    After completion, Orion conducted a test. The results were satisfactory. Li Jun and Xin Qiu, observing from the side, had been unsure of what Orion was up to. However, when the tool Orion created suddenly emitted a burst of flame, they were taken aback. Wow, that''s incredible, both thought internally.


    "Sir, will this tool be effective against the Vermillion Clawed Bear?" Li Jun inquired.


    Orion confidently replied, "Yes, it will be. If Hans ever encountered a bear spirit beast, he would use ''Ze Flammenwerfer'' to deal with it. I intend to do the same." As a demonstration, Orion adjusted the valve, making the flame grow even more intense.


    "Who is Hans, sir?" Li Jun asked, puzzled. Internally, he wondered, why would Hans use ''Ze Flammenwerfer'' against a bear spirit beast?


    "Uhmm... Never mind. Just forget what I just said," Orion replied, understanding that no one from this planet would recognize that reference.


    "Oh...," Li Jun murmured, still curious but choosing not to press further.


    Orion accessed its storage ring and retrieved all the firecrackers and fireworks. Placing them in a linen pouch, it then drizzled a bit of RP-1 fuel over them before storing the pouch back in the ring. Next, Orion retrieved several large clay jugs, each filled with various types of lamp oil, sourced from plants, animal fats, and spirit beast fats. Carefully, it filled several smaller jugs with this oils, sealing them tightly. Orion also made several other preparations. The preparations seemed meticulous, leaving Li Jun and Xin Qiu intrigued and somewhat puzzled about what was to come.


    Orion attached the pressurized oxygen tank, now filled with RP-1 fuel, upside-down to its back. Positioning it this way ensured the fuel would flow readily into the tube without the need for a dip tube. Holding the flamethrower in its left hand, Orion was ready.


    "It''s done. Time to rescue Young Master Liu," Orion declared. "Your task will be to retrieve Young Master Liu. I will distract the Vermillion Clawed Bear and lead it away. When you see an opportunity, immediately get Young Master Liu to safety."


    "Understood," both Li Jun and Xin Qiu responded in unison.


    With their roles clear, they set out, ready to execute the rescue mission.

 Chapter 20: Leap of Faith

    The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. A deafening roar echoed from a Vermillion Clawed Bear, its fury unmistakable. Not far away, the lifeless form of another Vermillion Clawed Bear lay sprawled. Scattered nearby, the remnants of what appeared to be dead human body, testament to the violent skirmish.


    The bear lunged furiously at the human in front of it. Despite the devastating force of the beast''s claws, they were repelled by the protective barrier of a defense talisman enveloping the human. This shield withstood each of the bear''s fierce attacks, keeping the human unscathed.


    Liu Jian knelt on the ground, stabbing his sword into the soil and using it to support himself. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, several of his bones are broken, blood flows from several gaping wounds on his body.


    He had already employed several life-saving measures bestowed upon him by his family: defense talisman, precious medicines, and explosive talismans. After a fierce battle with the two bears, he had managed to slay the female. However, this act only further enraged the male bear. Now, with grievous injuries and his Qi completely depleted, Liu Jian had just one remaining defense talisman to shield himself.


    With a weary sigh, Liu Jian murmured, "I hope Junior Sister Xia managed to escape and reach the city safely." Resigned to his grim fate, hope seemed a distant memory for him.


    But suddenly, several metallic objects were hurled at the bear. Upon impact, they emitted thick brown smoke, clouding the area. Liu Jian turned his gaze, spotting a man clad in metallic armor, the one who had thrown those objects. Could he be here to save me? Liu Jian pondered, hope reigniting within him. However, he couldn''t discern the identity or cultivation base of the armored man.


    The bear''s attention quickly shifted to the mysterious newcomer. The smoke caused a slight stinging sensation, eliciting a deafening roar from the beast in response.


    "Hm... the tear gas isn''t effective against it," Orion mused.


    Without hesitation, it dashed toward the bear. "Try this then," it declared. Orion opened the flamethrower''s valve, and the RP-1 fuel rapidly spewed from the spray nozzle, and the fire from the torch attached near the nozzle instantly igniting it. A burst of fire surged forward, engulfing the bear.


    "Roooaarrrr!" the bear''s cry echoed as flames consumed its body. The RP-1 fuel, having soaked into the bear''s dense fur, made the fire difficult to shake off. Desperate, the bear continued to try, rolling and flailing in its attempts.


    Unable to extinguish the flames, the bear changed its target. Leaving Liu Jian behind, it charged directly at Orion.


    "Good," Orion murmured, having successfully drawn the bear''s attention. Now, let''s just hope those two can get Young Master Liu to safety. With that hope in mind, Orion faced a challenging task: not only did it need to continue spraying the beast with fire, but it also had to deftly dodge the bear aggressive advances. Skillfully, Orion began to lead the bear, guiding it steadily to the west.


    "Huh... what is he trying to do?" Liu Jian wondered aloud, completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events. An armored individual had appeared out of nowhere, leading the bear away while seemingly spraying flames at it.


    "Young Master Liu, over here!" Xin Qiu called out, waving from behind the tree line. Shortly after, Li Jun joined in, and both began running towards Liu Jian''s location.


    "Young Master Liu, we''ve come to rescue you. We must move quickly before that bear returns," Li Jun urged.


    Liu Jian, still catching his breath, asked, "Is that armored individual with you? Will it be fine to leave him alone facing the bear?"


    "Young Master, don''t worry about Mister Orion. I may not know his exact cultivation base, but he was able to discern your condition from a significant distance. That''s how we located you. He must be at least at the Foundation Establishment realm," Xin Qiu explained.


    Liu Jian''s eyes widened in surprise. Even though he was still at the Qi Condensation realm, he knew that cultivators of the Foundation Establishment realm had a spiritual sense range of around 100m at most, which wouldn''t be sufficient to locate him deep within the forest. He gasped, Could he be... a Golden Core cultivator?


    "Quick, this way!" Li Jun urged, taking the lead. Xin Qiu came to Liu Jian''s side, letting Liu Jian drape an arm over his shoulder for support as they hurriedly moved together.


    Orion had already led the bear a considerable distance away. With the rescue mission accomplished, it only needed to either evade or defeat the bear. Orion''s processor and AI were swiftly recalculating the optimal strategy.


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    The force of the flamethrower''s spray had started to weaken, a sign that the pressure in the cylinder was decreasing. Making a quick decision, Orion unstrapped the cylinder from its back and hurled it toward the bear.


    The bear''s claws glowed, and it slashed through the metallic cylinder as if it were mere paper. Instantly, a massive fireball enveloped the bear. The leftover fuel inside the cylinder ignited upon exposure to the flames, taking the bear by surprise as the fire splashed all over it.


    But suddenly, the bear launched a swift attack. In response, Orion quickly drew Hu''s blade from the storage ring, delivering a horizontal slash, attempting to halt its fierce charge. The bear opened its mouth wide, catching the incoming blade between its powerful jaws. Applying immense pressure, a cracking sound soon gave way to the sound of shattering. The blade, once formidable enough to cut through Orion''s steel frame, was now bitten and reduced to fragments.


    "That was really dangerous," Orion mused, recalling how this very blade had previously managed to cut through its metallic body.


    The bear continued its relentless assault, forcing Orion into a desperate dance of evasions - dodging, leaping, and rolling to avoid each strike. In a swift moment, while leaping to the side, Orion retrieved a linen pouch from its storage ring and hurled it at the bear. The pouch struck the beast, ignited instantly, and fell beneath it. Moments later, it exploded with a deafening roar.


    Kaboommm!


    "What was that?" Liu Jian exclaimed in surprise.


    "It must be Mister Orion," Xin Qiu replied confidently. "That bear must be getting quite a beating from him. We have nothing to worry about." After hearing tales of Orion''s valor during the wolf ambush and personally witnessing him craft the fire-breathing tool, Xin Qiu had become an ardent admirer, placing unwavering faith in the mysterious figure''s capabilities.


    Just what kind of attack produces such a deafening explosion? Liu Jian wondered internally.


    The trio continued their escape, emerging from the woods and making their way to the road. Li Jun took the lead, bravely confronting any wild animals they came across to ensure their path was clear. Fortunately, they didn''t encounter any spirit beasts, and soon they reached the safety of the main road.


    Chunks of small meat flew and scattered all over the place. A loud, pain-filled roar erupted from the bear. A wound opened up on the bear''s belly due to the explosion, and blood flowed profusely from it.


    The bear sat down, looking at the wound on its belly. Suddenly, with a whoosh, a spear flew through the air, accurately striking the exposed wound. Due to the vulnerability of the injury, without the protection of skin and fur, the spear penetrated deeply into the bear.


    When Orion spotted the bear''s wound, Orion quickly retrieved Lian''s spear and hurled it with precision towards the gaping wound. "Bullseye," Orion remarked.


    The bear was nearly driven mad with anger, the bear had initially wanted to retaliate against the human responsible for killing its female mate. However, its efforts were constantly thwarted by the protective barrier. Out of nowhere, an armored man appeared, relentlessly spraying the bear with fire. This was soon followed by a deafening explosion that inflicted a severe injury to its belly. But it didn''t end there. Suddenly, a spear pierced its already wounded belly. Now, the bear was truly enraged and wanted nothing more than to kill the armored man and shred him to pieces.


    Not stopping there, Orion retrieved many small clay jugs filled with lamp oil and hurled them towards the bear. The jugs shattered upon impact, spilling the oil which immediately caught fire, further intensifying the flames that engulfed the bear.


    The bear, with a spear embedded in its belly and flames engulfing its body, charged towards Orion on all fours in anger. The spear, protruding from its wound, scraped and dragged on the ground as the bear advanced. The combined pain from the dragging spear, the intense flames, and the wound in its belly significantly slowed the bear, making its movements far less swift than before.


    "Good, follow me," Orion called out, taking off. With the bear now slowed by its injuries, Orion could match its pace ¡ª a stark contrast to their earlier encounter when the bear had the upper hand in speed. The scene was surreal: a robot being chased by a flaming bear, both disappearing into the distance.


    Nice, almost there, Orion thought. As it ran, Orion stole a glance back to gauge the bear''s progress. The beast had slowed notably, and the distance between them was steadily increasing. Orion moderated its speed, ensuring it stayed close enough to retain the bear''s focus but far enough to remain safely out of its reach.


    Orion pulled out a DIY tear gas canister from its storage ring. With a swift tap against its chest to activate it, the canister, now held firmly in Orion''s left hand, began to emit a dense brown smoke. While the smoke had minimal effect on the bear, Orion intended to use it mainly to obscure the beast''s view. Then, using its right hand, Orion brought out a grappling hook and expertly threw it, ensuring it securely anchored to a tree on the side. While holding onto a portion of the rope, Orion ensured there was enough length for its next move, with several meters of it still trailing behind.


    Orion raced forward at full speed, leaving a trail of dense brown smoke in its wake. The spectacle of a robot, enveloped in smoke and pursued closely by a flaming bear, was nothing short of extraordinary. Then, Orion took a leap.


    Blinded by rage, pain, and the obscuring smoke, and with Orion tantalizingly close in front of it, the bear failed to assess its surroundings. Too late, it realized that Orion had jumped over a steep cliff. Unable to halt its momentum, the bear careened over the edge, plummeting down into the depths below.


    A loud roar echoed as the flaming bear plummeted, reminiscent of a meteor¡ªalbeit smaller and slower. Upon impact, the bear smashed into a large boulder below, meeting its end. Its lifeless body then rolled into the river, where the current swiftly carried it away. The fire on the bear was quickly extinguished, and smoke billowed from its lifeless form as it floated downstream.


    Orion dangled a few meters down the cliff, clutching the rope, and watched as the lifeless bear was swept away by the river below. While it had come out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, the forceful impact against the cliff''s side upon jumping had inflicted some minor damage.


    "Rank-2 spirit beasts are too strong," Orion mused. Despite trying everything, it had to rely on gravity to finish the job. This encounter only heightened its aspiration to become stronger.

 Chapter 21: Banquet at the Liu Family Estate

    After the encounter with the Vermillion Clawed Bear, Orion set out in the direction where Li Jun, Xin Qiu, and Liu Jian had retreated. Using the drone, it quickly located them. With a command, Orion directed the drone to descend, and as soon as it was within reach, stored it back into the storage ring.


    "I need to manufacture more of these, perhaps with some modifications and additional features," Orion mused. Designs and blueprints to upgrade the SO-1 drone already formulated in its mind. However, due to limited resources, these plans had been temporarily shelved.


    Orion soon reached the main road where Li Jun, Xin Qiu, and Liu Jian awaited, their expressions anxious.


    "Look, that''s Mister Orion," Xin Qiu exclaimed, spotting a figure emerging from behind the trees. As it came closer, it was unmistakably Orion. "What did I tell you guys? That bear stood no chance against Mr. Orion," Xin Qiu said with a hint of pride in his voice.


    "Sir, are you alright? What happened to the bear?" Li Jun inquired, concern evident in his voice.


    "I am fine, and the bear is no more," Orion responded matter-of-factly.


    Xin Qiu, having anticipated this outcome, wore a smug smile, reveling in the accuracy of his prediction. Li Jun, on the other hand, was taken aback. The idea that a Rank-2 Vermillion Clawed Bear could be killed by this armored individual was astounding. How did he manage that? Li Jun wondered to himself.


    Liu Jian promptly stepped forward, cupping his hands and bowing deeply. "Sir Orion, I cannot thank you enough for saving my life. Without your intervention, I would surely have been killed by that bear. I owe you my life," Liu Jian expressed.


    "It''s alright. It was just a simple matter," Orion responded dismissively. However, it couldn''t help but observe Liu Jian''s dire condition, with blood still oozing from his wounds. "Young Master Liu, how are you faring?" Orion inquired.


    Liu Jian grimaced, "During the fight, I sustained significant injuries. While I still have a few low-quality Grade-1 medicinal pills, they aren''t sufficient for my current injuries. I believe I can endure until we reach the city." He had primarily relied on his high-quality pills during the battle, and what remained now was far less effective. Li Jun and Xin Qiu, too, only had low-quality Grade-1  medicines, which were not potent enough to address Liu Jian''s wounds adequately.


    After pondering for a moment, Orion recalled the various medicinal pills it had obtained from Hu''s bandit group. Having cross-referenced them with books and scrolls, Orion determined that some were high-quality Grade-2 pills, which were highly sought after. Retrieving a ceramic bottle from the storage ring, Orion took out a pill and handed it to Liu Jian. "Take this; it should aid in your recovery," Orion offered.


    Recognizing the pill as a high-quality Grade-2 Vitality Restoration Pill, Liu Jian immediately voiced his gratitude and consumed it without hesitation. Previously, during the fight, he had only taken medium-quality Vitality Restoration Pills, and their effects were already commendable. Both Li Jun and Xin Qiu looked on in astonishment. While the pill wasn''t rare, it was notably expensive. The fact that Orion had one made them ponder: did he possess more of these valuable items? After Liu Jian swallowed the pill, its potent effects became immediately evident. The bleeding from his wounds slowed, and they began to mend.


    Liu Jian, feeling the swift relief, said, "Thank you so much, Sir Orion, for this invaluable pill. My condition is vastly improved. Please allow me to invite you to my residence as a gesture of my gratitude."


    Orion was internally taken aback by the rapid effectiveness of the medicinal pill. After a brief moment of contemplation, Orion responded, "We accept your kind offer." Orion anticipated potential rewards, but more importantly, it saw the opportunity to establish connections with one of the most influential families in Yanjing City. Li Jun and Xin Qiu nodded in agreement, seeing no reason to decline the generous invitation.


    The four resumed their journey towards the city. Now, with the effects of the pill, Liu Jian could walk without assistance. It was almost sunset, and they anticipated reaching the city by nightfall. Throughout the journey, Xin Qiu shamelessly tried to curry favor with Liu Jian, while Li Jun observed quietly, sneering inwardly.


    Orion walked silently, listening to their interactions. Its gaze then shifted to the horizon.


    Li Jun noticed Orion''s attention elsewhere. "What is it, sir?" he asked.


    "Nothing," Orion replied.


    Through its advanced camera, Orion zoomed in on a distant point and spotted two human figures levitating in mid-air. They came from the city''s direction and, after hovering for a while, they made their way back.


    In a cultivation world, humans can fly. I wonder if I could achieve the same, Orion mused internally. As it observed, it detected radio signals emitted by them¡ª25 GHz and 22 GHz. For a cultivator to be able to fly freely like that, they need to be at least at the Golden Core realm.


    After hours of walking, they approached the sprawling Yanjing City. Surrounded by formidable walls reaching about 10 meters in height, the city buzzed with activity, housing a population of around 100,000. By the time they arrived, night had enveloped the city, but its beauty remained undiminished, illuminated by myriad lamps and lanterns. Gaining entry into such a prominent city after dark could be a challenge. Yet, as soon as the guards recognized Liu Jian, the esteemed young master of the Liu family, the group was granted immediate access. They swiftly proceeded to the Liu family estate.


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    Upon arriving at the Liu family estate, an elderly steward greeted them at the front gate. "Young Master, it''s a relief to see you unharmed. Your father awaits you in the main hall," the steward conveyed.


    Liu Jian introduced the trio, "Uncle Wei, these three are my saviors. They rescued me from the Vermillion Clawed Bear."


    The steward, Uncle Wei, nodded respectfully, "Please, honored guests, the patriarch invites you to the main hall as well." With that, Uncle Wei led the way to the main hall.


    The main hall radiated luxury, underscoring the vast wealth of the Liu family. Seated at the main seat was Liu Ming, the patriarch of the Liu family and Liu Jian''s father. He is a cultivator at the 5th stage of the Golden Core realm.


    Wasn''t he the one hovering in the air earlier? Where''s his companion? Could he also be from the Liu family? Orion pondered internally. Immediately, Orion activated its multi-band phased array antenna, a tool it used sparingly to conserve battery. In an instant, Orion detected a range of radio signals emanating from the estate, spanning from 1 GHz to 29 GHz, each with varying signal strengths. Among them, Orion identified specific frequencies with unique signatures associated with the earlier levitating figures. One was unmistakably from Patriarch Liu, standing in front of Orion, and the other familiar radio signal originated from a nearby room.


    "Greetings, Father," Liu Jian said, bowing deeply. Li Jun and Xin Qiu, slightly nervous, followed suit. However, Orion remained upright, standing as straight as a ramrod, intently observing Liu Ming.


    "Mm..." Liu Ming nodded. "I''m relieved you''re safe. Your junior sister filled me in on everything." After Xia Ling joined the caravan, she bought a horse from them and swiftly rode to the city to seek assistance from the Liu family. Upon hearing of Liu Jian''s predicament, Liu Ming and one of the family elders promptly set out to rescue him. However, midway they learned that Liu Jian had already been saved, prompting their return.


    "I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my son," Liu Ming said, rising from his seat to bow.


    Xin Qiu, clearly flustered, stammered, "No... no need... It was just... We did what anyone would''ve done..."


    Li Jun chimed in nervously, "It''s really just a minor matter, Patriarch Liu. Please don''t make much of it."


    Amidst the flustered exchanges from Li Jun and Xin Qiu, Orion remained poised, offering only a slight nod in acknowledgment.


    "Please allow me to host a banquet in your honor. Moreover, I invite you to stay at the Liu family estate. Know that you will always be welcomed by our family," Liu Ming declared. Turning to his son, he continued, "Liu Jian, you should go rest and also meet your junior sister. She''s been quite worried about you."


    Liu Jian bowed slightly, "Yes, father. Everyone, I will excuse myself first. Please enjoy the banquet."


    Xin Qiu quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, please rest well, Young Master Liu."


    With a clap of Liu Ming''s hands, dozens of graceful servant girls entered, each bearing various delectable dishes and exquisite drinks. They swiftly transformed the hall into a festive setting. As the preparations concluded, five exceptionally beautiful dancers took center stage, their movements synchronized with the melodies played by musicians at the side. Li Jun, Xin Qiu, and Orion were seated off to the side, taking in the lively spectacle. Xin Qiu''s happiness was evident; he grinned from ear to ear. Each of them had the company of two lovely attendants - one on each side - who poured drinks and offered food. The girls clung closely, wrapping their arms around Li Jun''s and Xin Qiu''s. This elicited unusual expressions from them, ones that Orion had never seen before.


    As for Orion, it remained indifferent to the ongoing merriments. Its untouched plate of food and untouched cup became increasingly noticeable. The two attentive girls by its side received little to no response from Orion. Sensing the need to clarify, Orion remarked, "Patriarch Liu, please excuse me. While I''m sure the food and drink are exceptional, I shall just enjoy the dance." Orion''s comment was an attempt to maintain politeness, given its decision not to partake in the feast.


    "It''s fine, then please enjoy the dance," Liu Ming said with a smile, choosing not to press the matter further. Also, considering that Orion still wore its metallic helmet, concealing its true appearance, there must be a hidden reason or secret.


    The night wore on, and the banquet remained in full swing. Li Jun and Xin Qiu were in high spirits, indulging in the food and drinks generously. Their laughter echoed through the hall, and it was evident they relished the company of the beautiful attendants by their sides. From time to time, they would engage in light conversation with Patriarch Liu. Orion, on the other hand, was mostly silent, only occasionally contributing to the discussions.


    "It''s getting quite late. I believe we should conclude the banquet. You must all be tired. Let the girls guide you to the guesthouse," suggested Liu Ming.


    Both Li Jun and Xin Qiu, now slightly drunk, babbled incoherently, their faces sporting goofy grins. With a girl on each arm to steady them, they began their wobbly journey to the guesthouse. Orion observed the scene for a moment before rising, ready to follow them.


    "Mr. Orion," Liu Ming suddenly said, breaking the brief silence. "I truly cannot express my gratitude enough for saving my son. What are your plans going forward? If you''re headed to Fengxian City next, why not stay in Yanjing for a while? It would give you an opportunity to get to know our city better, and you''re welcome to stay with us."


    Orion pondered for a moment before replying, "In that case, I thank you, Patriarch Liu."


    "Excellent. When you decide to depart for Fengxian City, you can accompany the Liu family caravan. We frequently trade with Fengxian," Liu Ming offered. "You must be weary from the day''s events, Mr. Orion. I won''t keep you any longer. Please, follow the young ladies; they will guide you to the guesthouse."


    The two girls led Orion to one of the many guesthouses on the estate. Orion wasn''t sure where Li Jun and Xin Qiu had gone. Once inside the guesthouse, the girls stood there, watching Orion.


    "Is there something else?" Orion asked, noticing they didn''t leave.


    One of the girls, cheeks flushing with a hint of red, hesitated before replying, "Mister Orion, we''ve been assigned to attend to you this evening. You... you can ask anything of us."


    Orion realized what she meant. "Thank you, but I just want to rest. You both can go," it responded.


    After the girls left, Orion remarked internally, Finally, some peace. It then took a seat at the table in the center of the room. Orion then began its regular system diagnostics internally.

 Chapter 22: Evolution

    As midnight settled over the Liu family estate, Orion sat motionless inside a guesthouse, its systems operating at full capacity in silence.


    "It changed again..." Orion mused. Engaged in its routine system diagnostics each night, it had detected some changes. The robot''s processing capability had improved, resulting in quicker computations and enhanced data handling. The battery now had a longer lifespan, and its internal wiring and circuits were more efficient. Furthermore, its sensors and various electrical components seemed to be working at an elevated level. Though these upgrades were subtle, thanks to Orion''s regular diagnostics, it could recognize the shifts by comparing with previous data.


    The drone Orion often used also exhibited similar enhancements in its microprocessor, electrical circuitry, cabling, sensors, other electronic components, and battery. Curious, Orion retrieved an unused microprocessor and battery from its storage ring for comparison and testing. The difference was clear: the new components maintained their original, factory-standard performance, contrasting sharply with the improved ones in the drone.


    "Could it be that extended exposure to this world leads to some sort of... evolution or growth?" Orion wondered. "If that''s the case, does this evolution have a limit?" Keen to understand more, Orion initiated a series of experiments.


    After extensive analysis, Orion concluded that the hardware enhancements ¨C like the processor, electrical circuits, battery, sensors, and more ¨C depended solely on their exposure to the environment of the planet. When these parts were kept in the storage ring or storage pouch, their evolution ceased. Additionally, the Orbiter circling the planet showed no changes, hinting that these enhancements were connected to the planet''s atmosphere or surface.


    The exact cause might be unclear, but Orion appreciated the benefits. "Considering this is a cultivation world, it''s riddled with mysteries. Even a robot like me can grow. I''m curious if I can develop a dantian and start on the path of cultivation," Orion pondered. Strengthening itself was crucial for survival, and becoming a cultivator could be one approach. Yet, the foundation for cultivation was typically a spiritual root. As a robot, Orion questioned if it had one ¨C probably not.


    Unbeknownst to Orion, the ambient Qi that saturated the surroundings played a critical role. As Orion''s and the drone''s batteries continually absorbed this ambient Qi, converting it into electricity, they inadvertently imbued the electricity with traces of Qi. Consequently, the components in contact with this Qi-infused electricity were nourished and enhanced.


    "Maybe I can create an artificial dantian? I wonder if that''s possible," Orion mused. Retrieving the spirit beast core obtained from the two-tailed wolf from the storage ring, Orion began to observe and analyze it. Recognizing that the spirit beast core functioned similarly to a cultivator''s dantian, Orion added this intriguing question to its list of research topics.


    In another section of the Liu family estate, Liu Jian sat on the edge of his bed in his room. His father was at the table, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Tell me everything that happened, especially about those three individuals, particularly the one named Orion," Liu Ming instructed.


    Liu Jian promptly recounted the events to his father. Once he finished, Liu Ming nodded, "Rest well," he said and left the room.


    In a dimly lit corridor, Liu Ming walked. Suddenly, a figure dressed entirely in black and wearing a mask materialized behind him. "How is it going?" Liu Ming inquired.


    "Reporting to the Patriarch, Li Jun and Xin Qiu are identified as caravan guards often operating around Yanjing City. We''ve even employed their services at our stores, and there''s nothing suspicious about them. As for Orion, information is limited. He was first spotted in Lianfen Village and has been seen entering and exiting the Yuezhi Forest multiple times. It appears he originates from a distant place; upon his arrival at the village, he faced some difficulties with our language. Apart from purchasing a variety of items, he hasn''t undertaken any significant actions," the masked figure reported.


    "Mmm...," Liu Ming nodded, then inquired, "Have you investigated the forest?"


    "Yes, we''ve conducted a thorough sweep. There are indications of a conspiracy. The area where the young master was attacked is generally considered safe, and it''s rare to find Rank-2 Vermillion Clawed Bear there. It seems the bears were led to that spot intentionally. However, whoever is behind this was meticulous; we''ve been unable to uncover any substantial leads or information," the masked figure responded.


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    They continued walking until they reached a room. On a table inside, several items were laid out: a shattered blade, a spear, several small metallic canisters, and a cylindrical tank that had been cut open into several pieces. These were the tools that Orion had used previously in the confrontation against the bear.


    "We retrieved these from the scene. It seems they were used to fight against the bear," the masked figure reported.


    Liu Ming, examining the items with keen interest, particularly the canister and the dissected cylinder, inquired, "What do you know about these metallic objects?"


    "We''re uncertain of the material and how its made, but the quality suggests they were likely made by a skilled and seasoned blacksmith, but I don''t think any blacksmith in this kingdom able to make it" replied the masked figure.


    Liu Ming nodded, "Keep a close watch on the armored man. You may leave now."


    With a bow, the masked figure vanished from the room.


    "Interesting," Liu Ming mused. The armored individual named Orion was an enigma. Despite Liu Ming''s advanced cultivation at the 5th stage of the Golden Core realm, he couldn''t deduce Orion''s cultivation level. To the outside observer, Orion appeared almost mortal. He battled like one, when using his weapons, he didn''t imbue them with Qi and often resorting to strategies and tricks.


    Yet there were inconsistencies. Orion could utilize a storage ring, a tool typically reserved for cultivators, not mortals. His struggle against a mere Rank-2 spirit beast suggested he might be a low-level cultivator but Liu Ming''s inability to detect any cultivation base from him implied the opposite: Orion might possess a cultivation far surpassing Liu Ming''s own.


    Further deepening the mystery was Orion''s behavior. Throughout their journey and the banquet, Orion hadn''t consumed any food or drink. This behavior was characteristic of cultivators at the Golden Core realm or higher, as they could sustain themselves solely by absorbing Qi. Additionally, Orion seemed to possess a very long-range spiritual sense, further solidifying the idea that Orion is at least at the Golden Core realm.


    Orion was a puzzle wrapped in contradictions. He displayed characteristics of a mortal, a low-level cultivator, and a high-level cultivator, all at once. Liu Ming was left grappling with these mysteries, unable to draw a definitive conclusion.


    In the guesthouse Orion worked hard all night, doing repairs, making things, checking data, making plans, reading books and scrolls, and conducting research.  Maintaining a high level of productivity without the need for rest. When morning came, Orion left the guesthouse, ready to see more of Yanjing City. The city was much bigger than Lianfen Village, and Orion looked forward to going to the market to buy interesting items and materials it needed.


    Orion met Li Jun and Xin Qiu, who both looked really happy, smiling non-stop. But they also looked tired, with dark circles under their eyes and seeming a bit weaker than the day before. Orion wasn''t sure why, but it was clear they were in good spirits.


    They told Orion that the Liu family had given them a big reward for helping save Liu Jian. Since they had always been poor cultivators, this reward was a big deal for them. They could now afford things they had only dreamt of before and were optimistic about what lay ahead. With their new wealth in gold, spirit stones, and medicine pills, they believed they could boost their cultivation progress.


    Li Jun and Xin Qiu knew that this good luck mainly came because of Orion''s help in saving Liu Jian. They were glad to have been a part of it, even if just a little, and were thankful for the big reward.


    They thanked Orion, said their goodbyes, and left the Liu family''s place, looking forward to what was next.


    Just as Orion considered its next move, a servant approached, extending an invitation to the main hall where Patriarch Liu awaited. After a brief exchange of pleasantries and some light conversation, Patriarch Liu rewarded Orion with a storage ring. Gratefully acknowledging the gesture, Orion expressed its intent to explore Yanjing City. With a nod from the patriarch, Orion departed from the Liu family estate.


    The vastness of Yanjing City was evident as Orion roamed its streets. From morning until sunset, the robot tirelessly traversed various parts of the city, yet it felt as if it had covered just a fraction of the whole. Along its journey, Orion visited numerous shops and stalls, purchasing a variety of items. It interacted with the city''s diverse populace, acquiring fresh information and insights from the many conversations.


    As evening settled, Orion made its way back to the Liu family estate and to the designated guest house. Yet again, two beautiful maidens were sent to Orion''s quarters, along with an offering of dinner. And just like before, Orion politely declined both the company and the food, opting for solitude.


    Having sorted through the items it had purchased from the market, Orion''s attention now shifted to the storage ring gifted by Patriarch Liu. "I wonder what kind of rewards are inside," Orion mused. Without spiritual sense, Orion couldn''t inspect the ring''s contents directly, so it proceeded to unload all of the contents inside. There were chests filled with gold, others brimming with silver, and some packed with spiritual stones. Several ceramic bottles contained pills. While the variety wasn''t vast, the quantities were substantial. "Nice," Orion remarked.


    After examining the items, Orion stored them back into the storage ring. It planned to modify one of its fingers that evening to accommodate the new ring, ensuring swift access to its contents.

 Chapter 23: A Disciple with Instructions from the Future?

    Throughout the night, Orion diligently researched the concept of an artificial dantian, utilizing the newly acquired books, scrolls, and materials. Despite immersing itself in study and experiments for hours, by morning Orion had yet to find any promising leads in its quest for an artificial dantian. However, on the bright side, Orion successfully integrated the new storage ring into one of its fingers.


    Orion readied itself for another expedition to explore Yanjing. Today, it donned a silk robe of orange and white that it had purchased the previous day.


    Departing from the Liu family estate, Orion didn''t wander aimlessly. It chose the most efficient path based on prior calculations, ensuring it didn''t revisit places it had already explored. As Orion journeyed through the city, it continued mapping the surroundings. As it turned a corner, a voice pierced the ambient noise.


    "Master... Master Orion... Over here!"


    Orion paused, scanning the area. "Is someone calling me?" it wondered aloud.


    Spotting a young girl, perhaps around ten years old, smiling and waving excitedly, Orion watched as she ran towards it.


    Who is she? And how does she know my name? Orion contemplated.


    The girl swiftly closed the distance and jumped to hug Orion, exclaiming, "Master, I''ve finally found you!"


    Taken aback by the sudden display of affection, Orion responded in mild confusion, "Wait... wait, young lady. I believe you''ve mistaken me for someone else."


    "No, I''m certain. You are Master Orion, aren''t you?" the girl insisted.


    "Well, yes, my name is Orion, but why are you addressing me as ''master''?" Orion inquired.


    "Because you are my master," the girl declared with conviction.


    Orion was at a loss for words.


    With a metaphorical sigh, "Little girl, what is your name?" Orion asked.


    "My name is Wang Lingxin, master. How could you forget?" the girl replied with a hint of playful accusation.


    "Then how do you know my name, and why am I your master?" Orion asked.


    "Well, myself told that to me," Wang Lingxin responded.


    "Huh??? What?" Orion replied, utterly baffled. Does she have some problem with her head, or is she going through something like an eighth-grader syndrome? Orion wondered internally.


    Orion decided to take Wang Lingxin to a tea house, a quiet and calm setting ideal for discussions. They settled at a table, and Orion told Wang Lingxin to order whatever she liked. Without hesitation, she enthusiastically ordered a variety of dishes, indicating her hunger.


    "Alright, now I''d like you to explain everything clearly. How do you know my name, and what did you mean when you said that you told yourself?" Orion asked patiently, wanting to fully grasp the situation.


    "About two days ago, while I was asleep, I met someone in my dream. She claimed to be my future self and instructed me to search for you, to become your disciple. She mentioned that your name is Orion, that you have a preference for orange and white clothing, and always wear a metallic helmet," Wang Lingxin recounted.


    "And what convinced you that she truly was your future self?" Orion queried.


    "Because she was very beautiful," Wang Lingxin replied simply.


    Huh? Just based on that? Orion pondered internally.


    "Isn''t it possible it was just a dream? Why did you believe her so readily?" Orion pressed.


    "Well, the dream felt incredibly real. And look, here we are. Isn''t your name Orion? Aren''t you donning an orange and white robe and that metallic helmet?" Wang Lingxin countered.


    Orion hesitated, "Well, this..." it observed Wang Lingxin closely, trying to discern if she was being truthful.


    "And Master," Wang Lingxin continued, "didn''t you come from a distant place? Due to an unforeseen event, didn''t your ship end up here? And don''t you have a friend in the sky named Orbiter?"


    Orion was taken aback. How does she even know about the Orbiter? Orion wondered internally. Could everything she said be true? Maybe her future self really did visit her in a dream?


    "What else did she tell you? And why do you want to be my disciple?" Orion asked.


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    "She told me you''re my master. She said that you are my greatest opportunity in my cultivation path. She was your disciple in the future, so I want to be one too," Wang Lingxin said.


    "But if you''re going to be my disciple in the future, why did she need come to your dream now?" Orion wondered.


    "She gave me some instructions, to achieve something she failed to accomplish in her past," Wang Lingxin replied.


    Curious, Orion asked, "What was it?"


    "To sleep with yo..," Wang Lingxin answered.


    Before Wang Lingxin could finish her sentence, Orion swiftly covered her mouth with its hand. It glanced around nervously, ensuring no one had overheard their conversation. Satisfied that they hadn''t drawn any attention, Orion released its hold. Wang Lingxin looked on, bewildered, while Orion remained silent.


    Is this some kind of setup? A trap? Are there undercover agents from Earth around? Well, I''m just a robot. I can provide an explanation and I don''t have any bad thoughts. Orion pondered internally.


    Soon, the food they ordered was served. Wang Lingxin quickly snatched a dumpling with her chopsticks, devouring it with evident joy. Orion, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, remaining quiet as it tried to make sense of the situation.


    Could she be lying? But how would she know about my unintended arrival here, let alone about the Orbiter? Nobody on this planet should be aware of that, Orion ruminated, evaluating various possibilities and explanations.


    The future Wang Lingxin intended to devise a preemptive strategy, but, regrettably, due to her inability to sustain the dream any longer, she couldn''t warn the present-day Wang Lingxin against revealing the instructions about sleeping with her master.


    "Have you told anyone about your dream?" Orion asked.


    Wang Lingxin shook her head as she continued eating.


    "Remember, never share your dream with anyone. Also, don''t mention me or my friend in the sky. Understand?" Orion instructed.


    Wang Lingxin nodded, still engrossed in her meal. "So, Master, will you accept me as your disciple?" she asked eagerly.


    "I''m... not sure," Orion hesitated, torn about the decision. "I plan to travel around. Would you want to follow me? And what about your family?" Orion inquired.


    "I don''t have a family anymore. My parents have passed away. I''ve been living with my uncle''s family, but my aunt and her children are very mean to me. She even wanted to sell me off as a servant, so I ran away. I was overjoyed when I met my future self in my dream, and she told me that I could become your disciple." Wang Lingxin explained.


    That''s quite a sad backstory, Orion thought. But if I take her with me, would it be considered kidnapping?


    Wang Lingxin continued to eat happily, sipping her tea from time to time. Orion simply observed her, lost in thought. Suddenly, a commotion erupted from a tavern across the street. The exact cause was unclear, but a few curious customers from the tea house went out to investigate. When the disturbance subsided, they returned, recounting the story with animated gestures.


    It appeared that a slightly drunk cultivator in the tavern had accidentally spilled his alcoholic drink onto someone else''s pouch. The victim was quite angry since the pouch held spirit stones, when exposed to alcoholic drink, it deteriorated in quality. Fortunately, before the situation could escalate, the one responsible agreed to compensate for the damages.


    "Well, that''s interesting information," Orion mused internally, wondering why an alcoholic beverage would impact a spirit stone quality.


    After Wang Lingxin finished her meal, they left the tea house. Orion still doesn''t know what to do with her. Orion thought about heading to the Liu family estate, hoping that perhaps Patriarch Liu might be able to help the girl, perhaps even allowing her to work and stay there.


    Two mysterious figures watched as Orion and Wang Lingxin left the tea house. One of them left, while the other followed Orion and Wang Lingxin discreetly. When Orion and Wang Lingxin entered a quiet alley, they were suddenly surrounded. Two men blocked their way from behind and three stood in front, all appearing to be thugs.


    "Is there something I can assist you with?" Orion inquired.


    "Just hand over the girl, and you can leave," one of the thugs, likely the leader, stated.


    "You wouldn''t happen to be kidnappers, would you?" Orion asked.


    "Just give us the girl and avoid any trouble," the thug retorted.


    "I''m not particularly inclined to listen to a kidnapper," Orion responded dryly.


    "We''re not kidnappers!" the thug exclaimed, growing visibly frustrated. "Her aunt sold her to us. We''ve paid in full, but when we came to collect her, she had run away. She''s been nothing but trouble. Stay out of this."


    Wang Lingxin was visibly shaken. She clung tightly to Orion''s robe, seeking protection from the looming threats.


    "Get her!" the leader barked.


    As the two thugs from behind advanced, attempting to seize Wang Lingxin, Orion swiftly retaliated. A quick backhand sent one reeling backward, and a solid punch dispatched the other. Both were sprawled on the ground. One had a bloodied face with a broken nose, while the other had several teeth scattered around him, evidence of the sheer power behind Orion''s metallic punch.


    "So, you''ve chosen the hard way?!" shouted the thug leader, drawing his sword. "Attack!" The other two thugs lunged forward, one brandishing a saber and the other wielding a club, closely followed by their leader. They were mere mortals, and against Orion, they stood little chance. Orion didn''t even need to use any weapons.


    Orion deftly dodged their attacks, responding with a flurry of punches and kicks. The alley echoed with the sounds of yelps, grunts, and cries of pain. In mere moments, three more thugs lay writhing on the ground.


    "Let''s go," Orion said, holding Wang Lingxin''s hand and preparing to leave.


    "You''ll regret this," the thug leader warned. "We are from the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion, and she''s ours. We paid for her. You think you can just take her away?"


    "If I recall correctly, the kingdom''s law forbids the buying and selling of people. And you just admitted to purchasing her, didn''t you?" Orion countered coolly.


    "That... What I meant was her aunt asked us to help find her a job... yes, that''s right. That''s all there is to it," the thug leader backpedaled hastily.


    "It seems she doesn''t wish to be with you, so you should probably forget about her," Orion responded dismissively.


    Gritting his teeth, the thug leader warned, "You will pay for this." He stood up with difficulty, and the other thugs followed suit. They made their way out, limping and still in obvious pain.


    Orion didn''t give much thought to their threats. After all, how could the mere Fragrant Lotus Pavilion compare to Orion''s backing from the Liu family? Unperturbed, Orion continued toward the Liu family estate.

 Chapter 24: Bedtime Story: Cinderella

    Orion and Wang Lingxin arrived at the Liu family estate. Throughout their journey, Wang Lingxin remained silent, clearly rattled from the earlier altercation with the thugs. Orion observed her, holding her hand gently, unsure of how to provide comfort.


    Upon their arrival, Orion approached a servant, requesting an audience with Patriarch Liu. After a brief wait, the servant returned, guiding Orion to a small pavilion situated by a large pond within the estate. There, Liu Ming sat leisurely, enjoying his tea.


    "Greetings, Patriarch Liu. I apologize for interrupting your teatime," Orion greeted.


    Liu Ming chuckled, standing up, "It''s quite alright, Mr. Orion. Please, join me for some tea," he motioned to the available seat.


    "Thank you," Orion replied, taking the seat.


    Once Orion, Wang Lingxin, and Liu Ming were all seated, Liu Ming, with a warm smile, inquired, "Is there something you wish to discuss, Mr. Orion?"


    Orion began, "Patriarch Liu, I wanted to discuss..." It then relayed the events concerning Wang Lingxin and wondered if the patriarch might be able to offer assistance.


    Liu Ming nodded, "Although such practices are illegal in our kingdom, there are those blinded by greed who still secretly engage in them. Bribes often smooth out any potential issues with officials, allowing such transactions to continue," he sighed.


    Wang Lingxin, looking crestfallen, lowered her gaze. Hearing Liu Ming''s words, she realized there might be other girls facing the same dreadful fate as her, sold to become a servant against their will.


    "It''s just a simple matter," Liu Ming remarked, signaling to a nearby servant. "Address the matter concerning Miss Wang Lingxin," he instructed.


    "Yes, Master," the servant responded, bowing before departing promptly.


    "Patriarch Liu, will this bring any troubles for you?" Orion inquired.


    "Mr. Orion, you needn''t be concerned. It''s just a simple matter," Liu Ming assured with a smile.


    "If Miss Wang Lingxin wishes, she can reside here and work either within the estate or at one of our various shops. If she possesses any potential for cultivation, we''d be willing to guide her, allowing her to become an accomplished cultivator and join our ranks. What do you think?" Liu Ming proposed.


    However, Wang Lingxin, her voice meek and eyes cast downward, said, "But I want to stay with Master Orion. I want to be his disciple."


    Orion hesitated, "I...". How could it guide Wang Lingxin in cultivation when it wasn''t a cultivator itself?


    Despite Orion''s attempts to persuade Wang Lingxin to remain with the Liu family, she was adamant about accompanying it. She couldn''t return to her uncle''s household, given the uncertainties that might await her there. With a metaphorical sigh, Orion rose, expressing gratitude to Patriarch Liu for his assistance. After a brief conversation, Orion took its leave.


    It appeared that Orion would be in Wang Lingxin''s company for the foreseeable future, at least until a solution presented itself. Orion escorted Wang Lingxin to a guesthouse, instructing her to wait while it went shopping. Yet, Wang Lingxin was persistent about joining, and after some gentle pleading, Orion relented, allowing her to accompany it.


    Inside the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion a rather famous restaurant, a cup was hurled at the thug leader who had previously been beaten severely by Orion. It struck his forehead with a sharp clang before shattering on the floor, blood seeping from the wound.


    "You dumbass," sneered a portly, balding middle-aged man, the owner of the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion. "A simple task of retrieving a girl, and you fail? To top it off, you get your ass beaten?"


    "But Master, the armored man was incredibly strong," the thug leader protested.


    "Shut up! I don''t want to hear excuses. Gather everyone, find that armored individual, and bring both him and the girl here. Now!" the owner barked.


    Once his minions had departed, the restaurant owner muttered, "What a bunch of incompetent bastards." He settled into a chair, sipping tea to soothe his frayed nerves. A servant approached, extending a folded piece of paper.


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    "Master, a message from the Liu family," the servant announced.


    "The Liu family?" The restaurant owner''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had long attempted to foster connections with the influential Liu family, only to be rebuffed at every turn. "Why would they reach out now? Hand it over."


    After scanning the contents of the message, cold sweat broke on the restaurant owner''s forehead. "This is a disaster," he murmured. "Quickly, recall those idiots. They''ve not only proven their incompetence but have also landed us in a world of trouble!" He immediately ordered the servant to summon back the underlings sent to capture Wang Lingxin and Orion.


    Orion resumed shopping in the market, this time accompanied by Wang Lingxin, whose cheerful demeanor seemed restored. Orion purchased clothes and various other items for her. Upon their return to the Liu family estate, a servant informed them that the issues with the Fragrant Lotus Pavilion and Wang Lingxin''s uncle''s family had been resolved. Wang Lingxin was given the choice to either stay with the Liu family or continue with Orion, a testament to the Liu family''s influence as one of the major factions in Yanjing city.


    At the guesthouse, Orion instructed Wang Lingxin to take a bath and change into the newly acquired clothes. That evening, a servant approached the guesthouse to ask if Orion would like to be served dinner. This time, Orion accepted and requested a meal for Wang Lingxin.


    After a short while, the dinner was prepared. Several servants arrived, carrying trays laden with food. Once the dishes were set on the table and the servants had departed, Wang Lingxin exclaimed, "Wow, the food looks amazing, and it smells delightful!" She eyed the variety of appetizing dishes, clearly eager to begin.


    "You can start eating," Orion offered.


    "Thank you, Master," Wang Lingxin replied, taking a bite. "Wow, this is delicious! I''ve never tasted anything this good before. Master, you should try some."


    "That''s alright. You can have it all," Orion responded.


    Across the table, Orion observed her quietly, still pondering her unexpected presence in its journey. How had she come to know so much about its circumstances, including the existence of Orbiter? While Orion had chosen to accept her claim of receiving information from someone from the future, it found it hard to believe that it would ever be a master to a human disciple. How could it, a robot, teach cultivation? Could this mysterious individual from the future be someone other than a disciple, perhaps even a future adversary of Orion''s?


    As Wang Lingxin continued to enjoy her meal, Orion posed a question, "Are you certain you want to accompany me?"


    "Yes, Master, I want to go with you. I don''t want to return to my uncle''s house or stay with the Liu family," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Master, can you take me with you, please?" Wang Lingxin said, giving Orion a pleading, puppy-eyed look. Some rice grains were stuck near her mouth. "Even if I can''t be your disciple, I still want to be with you. It''s okay if you want me to be your servant."


    Orion let out a metaphorical sigh, "Alright, we''ll stay in this city for a while, then head to Fengxian."


    "Really, Master? Yay!" Wang Lingxin cheered, raising both hands in excitement. "Does that mean I''m now your disciple?"


    "Let''s hold off on that decision for now. I won''t be teaching you cultivation anytime soon, but when the time is right, perhaps I''ll consider it," Orion explained. Internally, it added, before teaching you about cultivation, I need to learn it first.


    Wang Lingxin seemed a bit dejected, "Oh... okay..."


    After dinner, the servants cleared the dishes. Once alone, Orion and Wang Lingxin sat together. Wang Lingxin asked, "Master, what are our plans for tonight?''"


    "Tonight? You should rest. It''s getting late," Orion replied.


    "And you?" she asked.


    "I have much work to do," Orion informed.


    Wang Lingxin sounded disappointed, "So, we won''t be sleeping together?"


    "Why would we need to do that?" Orion inquired, puzzled.


    "Because my future self told me to," she replied.


    "Do you even understand what that means?" Orion probed.


    "Isn''t it just sharing a bed? I used to sleep with my parents," Wang Lingxin replied, looking a bit perplexed.


    Orion tried to clarify, "If you sleep on the bed and I work here at the table, since we''re in the same room, it''s still ''sleeping together,'' right?"


    "That makes sense," she agreed, "I''ll go to bed then." Feeling sleepy, Wang Lingxin headed towards the bed.


    As Orion prepared to retrieve many items from the storage ring for that night''s work, Wang Lingxin''s sleepy voice chimed in, "Master, can you tell me a story before I sleep? Just like my mother did in the past?"


    "Of course," Orion responded, bringing a chair over to the bed and sitting down. "Have you ever heard of the story of Cinderella?" Orion began, referencing one of Earth''s classic tales. "She was a young woman, much like you, who faced hardships from her family, yet never lost her kindness." As Orion started the early chapters of Cinderella''s life, emphasizing the struggles and challenges she faced, Wang Lingxin was drawn into the tale. She found herself connecting deeply with the beginning parts of Cinderella''s journey. Before Orion could delve further into the story, Wang Lingxin''s eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep. Orion adjusted her blanket and tucked her in gently, saving the continuation of Cinderella''s story for another night.


    As Orion watched Wang Lingxin sleep peacefully, it thought internally, maybe I need to create some toothpaste for her, adding another item to its list of things to research and develop.


    "Finally, time to get to work," Orion murmured. Spirit stones and alcoholic drinks will make for interesting topics tonight. As Orion retrieved various items from the storage ring, it prepared for a long night of non-stop work.

 Chapter 25: Liquefied Qi

    Laid out on the table were a variety of tools: glassware for chemical experiments, including several beakers, flasks, and more, all intended for research on Mars.


    The primary focus was on the spirit stone, a unique crystal-like object in this world, highly valued as a form of currency. Cultivators also utilized spirit stones to restore their inner Qi by absorbing the Qi contained within.


    The initial experiment revealed a fascinating discovery: when a spirit stone was exposed to or soaked in alcoholic beverages, it underwent a transformation. The once-clear, slightly luminescent crystal became less clear, even somewhat murky. Subsequent tests, observations, and calculations indicated a slight decrease in mass or weight, suggesting that the spirit stone was dissolving.


    For the next experiment, Orion employed modern chemical tools and used the distillation process to refine the alcohol content from various alcoholic drinks that Orion had previously purchased in the market. There were several jugs of alcohol for this purpose. Orion heated the beverages, channeling the vapor to another location for cooling, effectively converting it back to liquid form. This process was aided by the use of a thermometer and a slightly tweaked hydrometer to account for the unique conditions on this new planet. With precise control over the heat from an oil lamp and the assistance of these instruments, Orion was able to obtain alcohol with precise varying concentrations.


    Orion proceeded to test the spirit stone with these various alcohol concentrations. The results were intriguing; the higher the alcohol concentration, the more significantly the spirit stone was affected. It lost its luster and dissolved at a faster rate.


    Holding a glass beaker, Orion observed a fully dissolved spirit stone in alcohol. The formerly clear alcohol had turned murky, mirroring the state of the now-dissolved spirit stone.


    Hours passed by, and it was almost sunrise. Orion, holding a glass beaker, gazed at the cyan liquid that emitted a soft glow. "Wow, this is rather beautiful," Orion murmured to itself.


    Previously after allowing the dissolved spirit stone to settle, some impurities, particles, or residue gathered at the bottom of the glass. Orion then carefully extracted the clear liquid from the top and filtered it. Following that, Orion refined it in a manner similar to the previous alcohol refinement process.


    After conducting tests, Orion confirmed that it was, in fact, just alcohol like any other. Regardless of what Orion did or how it tested the liquid, no differences were found compared to regular alcohol. The only distinction was that it glowed, and Orion still couldn''t fathom why.


    When a spirit stone comes into contact with an alcoholic drink, the Qi within it is absorbed by the alcohol. This explains the decrease in Qi and the loss of transparency in the spirit stone. Cultivators are always cautious not to spill any alcoholic beverages on their precious spirit stones because doing so would lead to a drop in quality.


    If a spirit stone is submerged in an alcoholic drink, it will dissolve after some time. When a spirit stone dissolves in alcohol, all of its Qi is absorbed by the liquid. Cultivators cannot use or utilize it at all, and it''s too dangerous to consume because of the impurities and other substances that have also dissolved. Furthermore, it cannot be absorbed using the meridian from the hand, as is the usual method for spirit stones. Typically, cultivators absorb Qi from their spirit stones via their meridians, primarily through their hands. Therefore, they only absorb the Qi, and the spirit stone and its impurities are left behind.


    As for Orion, it had already sacrificed several spirit stones for research. It had managed to extract the Qi from the spirit stones in the form of liquid alcohol, free from any impurities. However, the resulting alcohol amounted to only 50% of the expected quantity during the refinement process.


    After some more experiments, Orion stored all the tools and materials in the storage ring. Morning had already arrived. Wang Lingxin woke up from the bed, and Orion instructed her to clean herself. Orion handed her the newly created, simple toothpaste that it had devised during its free time when doing the alcohol-spirit stone research. It also gave her a tooth-cleaning twig made from a plant similar to the miswak, with one end frayed to form bristles.


    After Wang Lingxin cleaned herself and brushed her teeth, and Orion tidied the bed, not long after, several servants arrived with breakfast. Wang Lingxin enjoyed the food, chomping happily, while Orion watched her. As they prepared to depart from the guesthouse, Liu Jian paid them a visit. It seemed his condition had improved, and he extended an invitation for Wang Lingxin and Orion to take a stroll through the city together. Wang Lingxin was overjoyed and immediately agreed. After a moment of consideration, Orion also accepted the invitation.


    "As expected of Mr. Orion, the Qi in this room is so dense," Liu Jian commented as they were about to depart. He was clearly impressed by the thick Qi swirling in the room. He thought that perhaps Orion had just completed a cultivation session, and the possibility of Orion using a high-quality Qi gathering array crossed his mind. Even the Qi gathering array used by the Liu family couldn''t amass such a significant amount of Qi.


    Liu Jian mistakenly attributed the lingering Qi in the room to Orion''s cultivation session, unaware that it was a result of Orion''s experiment, where some Qi had evaporated from the glowing alcohol and filled the room.


    "Huh?" Orion responded, genuinely puzzled. What Qi? What is he talking about? Orion wondered internally.


    Liu Jian then pointed to a small table on the side where there are several papers on it. "Oh, Mr. Orion, what kind of papers are these?" he inquired.


    Orion replied, "Those? They''re just some ordinary papers. What about them?"


    Liu Jian chuckled, to think that such valuable papers thick with Qi is just ordinary papers for Mr. Orion, Liu Jian thought internally. "Well, those papers are rich in Qi, and many cultivators would be interested in them, considering them valuable items. But for Mr. Orion, such a thing is indeed just ordinary papers." Lu Jian misunderstood Orion as a senior cultivator with a far higher cultivation base because of mysterious and unfathomable nature of Orion.


    Valuable? What valuable? Those are just ordinary papers, Orion thought internally. Previously, Orion used those papers for research, dipping them in a variety of alcohol, both regular and the glowing alcohol.


    Orion internally pondered, Wait, don''t tell me...


    "Young Master Liu is indeed sharp, to be able to notice that" Orion said as it tried to probe for more information.


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    "It was nothing; any cultivator would also notice it because the thick Qi emanating from those papers is hard to ignore," Liu Jian replied.


    "Then, Young Master Liu," Orion said as it picked up a bunch of papers from the table and compared two of them, "which one is the best among these two?" Orion held a paper in each of its hands.


    "The one on the right, very easy because it emits such strong Qi, and the one on the left is just a normal paper," Liu Jian answered.


    "Good. Now, what about this one? Which emits more Qi?" Orion picked up another paper.


    "The one on the left, it emits slightly stronger Qi," Liu Jian replied.


    And so, Orion continued to pick up papers and inquire further.


    "That was really great, Young Master Liu," Orion said, genuinely happy because Orion had finally found some answers and leads from the previous research. Orion patted Liu Jian''s shoulder.


    "Uh... That was nothing, Mr. Orion," Liu Jian replied, attempting a smile. He wasn''t sure if Orion was being sincere or just using sarcasm because it had been so easy to discern those papers. Did Orion''s praise hold any meaning?


    "Then... should we go explore the city now, or..." Liu Jian began.


    "Let''s go," Orion replied, ready to start their exploration of the city.


    Orion has concluded that the glowing alcohol''s luminescence is a result of the presence of Qi. Orion decided to name this unique substance ''liquified Qi,'' which can be shortened to ''LQ-X,'' with ''X'' representing the number of times it has been refined or distilled.


    The brightness of liquified Qi is directly related to its refinement or alcohol concentration, and the higher the concentration, the more radiant it becomes, indicating a higher Qi content. Furthermore, Orion discovered that when liquified Qi undergoes additional distillation, it becomes even brighter, and the Qi within it becomes more concentrated, regardless of the volume of alcohol used. Orion also observed that the varying Qi concentrations on different papers were a direct result of the varying levels of distillation, signifying different LQ concentrations.


    This further reinforces the idea that it''s the Qi-rich spirit stone that influences the outcome, rather than the quantity of alcohol employed. Alcohol only serves as the solvent for the dissolution of spirit stones, facilitating the separation of their Qi essence. Additionally, it acts as a catalytic medium for the transformation of this Qi essence into liquified Qi, effectively functioning as a carrier for the concentrated Qi extract.


    Orion wonders why the people in this world haven''t figured this out.


    Orion, Wang Lingxin, and Liu Jian then left the estate in a luxurious carriage. They visited many places, with Liu Jian taking them on a tour of the city, visiting famous stores and establishments.


    They also came across a large field with an arena in the middle, surrounded by chairs for spectators. Here, mortal martial artists and cultivators could engage in fights, settle disputes, and showcase their skills.


    There were several scheduled fights for the day, including raw fights featuring pure martial arts skills, battles accompanied by clashes of weapons shrouded in colorful aura similar to those in Earth''s movies for those in the Qi Condensation realm, and fights among those in the Foundation Establishment realm, featuring powerful and flashy attacks with fireballs, blinding lights, thunder, and wind slashes. Orion watched and recorded the fights from the VIP seating area, analyzing and integrating combat techniques into its knowledge to improve its understanding of martial arts and combat.


    After the fights concluded, they proceeded to one of the city''s most renowned restaurants, owned by the Liu family, for lunch. Orion refrained from eating and engaged in conversation with Liu Jian, while Wang Lingxin savored the restaurant''s best dishes and menus, leaving with a satisfied smile and a slightly fuller belly.


    Next, Liu Jian led Orion and Wang Lingxin to the city''s largest auction house. The employees of the auction house politely escorted them to the first VIP room on the second floor, a lavishly decorated space where they were seated in soft and comfortable chairs.


    The auction was led by a beautiful elf girl, with the less valuable items being auctioned first and the more valuable ones held for last. After several items were auctioned, it was the turn for a storage ring. The auctioneer described it as a low-quality storage ring with a capacity of 1 cubic meter.


    The auction began with a starting price of 7 spirit stones, equivalent to 700 gold coins. This price was considered rather pricey, especially considering that Wang Lingxin''s uncle''s family typically spent less than 2 gold coins per year. The high cost was due to the difficulty of crafting storage rings and their high demand, making them hard to obtain in the market.


    Cultivators with sufficient wealth, such as Liu Jian, weren''t interested in such low-quality storage rings with limited space for storing items. The participants in the bidding were mostly low-level cultivators in the Qi Condensation realm who had either saved up for a long time or had come across some luck. Surprisingly, there was another party in the VIP room interested in the low-quality storage ring. The bidding had already reached 12 spirit stones when Orion confidently raised the bid to 14 spirit stones.


    The attention of the onlookers on the first floor and the bidders competing turned to Orion''s VIP room. They wondered why someone from the VIP room was interested in such a low-quality storage ring. The previous bidder decided not to compete, not wanting to offend someone with VIP room access, thinking it was a rich young master bidding for fun.


    "14 spirit stones, going once, twice, thrice, and sold to the bidder in the 1st VIP room," the elf lady announced as she struck the wooden mallet.


    The people on the first floor who were interested in purchasing storage rings were fine with it, thinking there would be more rings to come. However, to their surprise, the person from the first VIP room bought all the storage rings. They couldn''t help but wonder if someone in the first VIP room was a collector of rings.


    Even Liu Jian was puzzled. Why would Mr. Orion need so many storage rings? I remember that he already has a decent storage ring, and even Father gave him a high-quality storage ring, Liu Jian pondered internally. Wang Lingxin, on the other hand, was disinterested in the whole situation and decided to snack in the room, managing to fit more into her belly after the hearty lunch.


    Those planning to buy storage rings could only swallow their disappointment, hoping that more storage rings would be auctioned on another day.


    After sweeping all the storage rings that were being auctioned, Orion was truly satisfied and couldn''t wait to use the newly acquired storage rings to create an improved version of the SO-1 drone. It had already envisioned the blueprint and design modifications within its AI, ready to put them into practice. During its stay in the city, Orion had come across many interesting objects, items, and information that is very helpful. Orion expected to find even more once it reached Fengxian, a far larger city.


    The auction continued, featuring many expensive and rare items, but to their surprise, the occupants of the first VIP room didn''t make any bids. It seemed that storage rings were the sole interest of those in the first VIP room, they thought.


    As the grand finale, an item of interest was a Grade-3 sword, a beautiful and gleaming piece imbued with inscriptions to enhance its strength and sharpness. It was apparently created by the city''s most famous blacksmith Luo Fengwei. The starting price for the sword was 10,000 spirit stones.


    "Mr. Orion, what do you think about the sword?" Liu Jian inquired, observing Orion closely. He was ready to bid for the sword and gift it to Orion if he showed any interest.


    "Hmm... it''s decent, I suppose," Orion responded, zooming in with its camera to scrutinize the sword. For Orion, who couldn''t unlock the sword''s full potential by channeling Qi and using combat techniques, it was like any other sword, albeit possibly a bit sharper.


    "Uh... I see," Liu Jian responded, rather disappointed, but observing Orion''s exquisite armor made him think that Orion hailed from a place with a high level of blacksmithing expertise. "I thought that you would be interested in the sword," Liu Jian added.


    "Well, rather than the sword, I am more interested in meeting the one who created it," Orion replied.


    "Mr. Orion, do you wish to meet Mr. Luo Fengwei?" Liu Jian inquired.


    "Mr. Orion, if you wish to meet him, I can arrange it," Liu Jian offered. "Our family has a good relationship with him."


    "Then I thank you, Young Master Liu," Orion expressed its gratitude.


    The VIP room number 2 won the bidding and obtained the sword for 23,000 spirit stones. After the auction ended, Orion settled the bill for the storage rings it had acquired and, with satisfaction, joined Liu Jian and Wang Lingxin to head to Luo Fengwei''s workshop.

 Chapter 26: Wolframite

    Orion, Wang Lingxin, and Liu Jian arrived at Luo Fengwei''s workshop, a rather large but simple establishment. The workshop buzzed with activity as numerous humans, dwarfs, and giants blacksmiths, all of them Luo Fengwei''s disciples, were diligently at work. Some were forging and hammering, while others worked at various foundry stations, heating the metal before shaping it into weapons and armor. The workshop was a scene of organized chaos, with scattered ores, tools, and many finished weapons and armors displayed on the walls and tables.


    The temperature inside the workshop was hot, the air filled with the searing heat of the furnaces, used to heat the metal before shaping and crafting it into various weapons and armor.


    Behind it is Luo Fengwei''s house, a simple and rather small wooden structure. Actually, Luo Fengwei could have a large and luxurious mansion if he wanted, considering his status as the most famous blacksmith in the city and a Golden Core realm cultivator. Money wouldn''t be a problem; it''s simply a matter of personal taste.


    As they approached the workshop, one of Luo Fengwei''s dwarf disciples warmly greeted them, recognizing Liu Jian as the young master of the Liu family.


    Liu Jian expressed his intention to meet with Luo Fengwei, and the disciple replied with an uncomfortable expression, "Forgive me, Young Master Liu, but maybe today is not a good time to meet Master."


    Liu Jian inquired, "Oh, is Mr. Luo busy?"


    The disciple hesitated and replied, "Uhhh... no, actually, Master is quite free."


    Liu Jian was puzzled, "Huh? Then why can''t we meet him?"


    The disciple explained, "It''s like this, Young Master Liu..." He described how, for about a week, Luo Fengwei''s temperament had become increasingly irritable. He wasn''t working on any blacksmithing projects, nor was he cultivating. He didn''t drink alcohol like usual, rest, or meet with other people or customers. He refused to guide the disciples or oversee the workshop''s operations. Instead, he spent his time grumbling about something, and if anyone inquired, he would become angry and yell at them. "We really don''t know what''s happened to Master," the disciple sighed.


    Liu Jian nodded, understanding the situation, "I see, but can we at least meet with him? Maybe we can ask what the matter or offer our assistance."


    The disciple hesitated for a moment and then said, "Well, if Young Master Liu insists." He led the three guests to the house at the back of the workshop, knocked on the door, and entered, announcing, "Master, Young Master Liu wishes to meet with you." However, there was no response.


    They proceeded further into the house and reached one of the rooms. Inside, an elderly but muscular dwarf with white hair and a white beard sat amidst a clutter of scattered papers, scrolls, and books. He puffed on a pipe and stared intently at the paper in his hands, seemingly unaware of the four people who had entered the room. The disciple cautiously approached his master, "Master...".


    Luo Fengwei turned towards the four people, his voice laden with anger. "Didn''t I tell you not to disturb me? Why are you here, and why are you bringing people here? Didn''t I also tell you I don''t want to meet any customers?" His words were accompanied by a loud, irritable sound.


    The disciple, worried and anxious, gave an explanation, "Master, it''s not like that, please don''t be angry. Young Master Liu came and wishes to meet you..."


    "Mr. Luo, I am really sorry to have disturbed you and come without a prior appointment," Liu Jian said as he bowed apologetically.


    Luo Fengwei now noticed that the one visiting was Liu Jian, and his anger calmed a little. "Oh, so it''s Young Master Liu. Is there something I can help you with? I am sorry, Young Master Liu, but I am rather busy and may not be able to help you. If you want to ask me to forge some weapons or armor, currently that''s impossible," Luo Fengwei explained.


    "It''s like this, Mr. Luo, Mr. Orion here is an important guest of our Liu family, and he wished to meet with you," Liu Jian explained.


    "Orion?" Luo Fengwei scrutinized Orion, deducing that he was just a mortal and it seems that there is nothing special about him. Huh, how come he became an important guest of the Liu family? Luo Fengwei thought internally.


    "So, what do you want?" Luo Fengwei asked with an irritated voice and no longer showing any respect or politeness after thinking that Orion was just a nobody. Even if he is some important guest of the Liu family, it''s just a guest after all. When it was Liu Jian, at least he would still hold back his manners, but for some mortal nobody like Orion, he didn''t care.


    "Uh...," Orion wasn''t sure if it should express its intention after hearing Luo Fengwei''s tone.


    "I am really sorry to have disturbed you during your busy time. I wish to ask Mr. Luo to help make something for me. I heard that Mr. Luo is the best blacksmith in this city," Orion said.


    "Sorry, can''t do, too busy right now," Luo Fengwei replied as he puffed thick smoke towards Orion.


    "Is that so? Then, what about when you are free? Is that possible?" Orion inquired.


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    "Still can''t do. I don''t know when I will have free time, and I also don''t know if I am willing to make the things you want when I am free," Luo Fengwei replied, still irked after getting disturbed.


    Orion fell silent.


    "If there is nothing else, get the fuck out of here and don''t disturb me further," Luo Fengwei stated.


    Liu Jian didn''t know what to do. Luo Fengwei was a highly respected individual in the city, and Orion was his savior with a mysterious and unfathomable background. He thought hard on how to defuse the situation. Meanwhile, the disciple standing at the side was also very nervous, his palms sweaty, his knees shaking already, he became groggy, feeling high-strung and edgy.


    "Then we won''t disturb you any further," Orion said as it left the room, followed by Wang Lingxin.


    "Mr. Orion, wait..." Liu Jian began, but Orion''s swift exit cut him off.


    "Mr. Luo, we are very sorry to have disturbed you, and I will excuse myself now," Liu Jian quickly said as he hurried after Orion.


    "Why are you still here? You also get lost," Luo Fengwei grumbled.


    "Yes, Master," the disciple immediately scurried out of the room and left the house.


    "Master, that grandpa is so bad and annoying," Wang Lingxin commented after they left the house.


    "Indeed," Orion replied with a tinge of disappointment. It seemed that it couldn''t enlist the help of the city''s best blacksmith to create spare parts. Orion had originally wanted to ask Luo Fengwei to make spare parts and explore the possibility of handcrafted components in this world. It also hoped to compare the quality of these handmade parts to those manufactured with precise machinery and computer-controlled tools on Earth. Additionally, Orion wanted to experiment with unique metals found in this world.


    "Mr. Orion, I am really sorry that things have turned out this way," Liu Jian said after catching up with Orion.


    "Well, it''s fine," Orion replied.


    The disciple also caught up and expressed his apologies, "I am really sorry for what happened. I apologize on my master''s behalf. Usually, he is not like this."


    "It can''t be helped. Well, what should we do now, Mr. Orion? Do you want to go to another place?" Liu Jian asked.


    "Hmm... can we take a look at the workshop and see how you guys work?" Orion inquired.


    "Sure thing. Please follow me. Although the place is rather messy and hot, it''s fine to watch from the side. Just don''t get too close, or you might get dirty or hurt," the disciple said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood after the previous unpleasant encounter.


    The disciple led them to the busy workshop, showing them around and providing explanations about what was happening. He showcased the weapons and armor created by Luo Fengwei and the disciples, ranging in grade from non-graded to the highest, which was Grade-4. There were several Grade-4 weapons and armor pieces created by Luo Fengwei, and the disciple proudly displayed them while explaining their details.


    Orion absorbed a wealth of information about blacksmithing from observing the activities. The additional explanations provided by the disciple, who acted as a tour guide, were also helpful. Orion''s cameras and sensors recorded all the activity, and Orion planned to review and study it in more detail later.


    After learning a great deal, Orion also provided tips and instructions to the disciple. Armed with modern knowledge from Earth about blacksmithing and metallurgy, it was easy for Orion to offer pointers and insights, although Orion''s expertise was limited to Earth''s knowledge, and Orion couldn''t explain ores, metals, and techniques unique to this world. The disciple guiding them was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the information and tips provided by Orion, which could genuinely help improve their blacksmithing skills.


    They continued the tour around the workshop as Orion kept giving tips, pointers, and suggestions. As Orion kept providing pointers, more disciples heard what Orion said and became interested, listening attentively. Soon, the entire workshop stopped their activities and focused on Orion, keenly interested. Not long after that, one disciple asked a question, and after Orion gave a satisfying answer, others also began to ask questions. Soon, the workshop became a place for discussion and questions, with Orion answering, providing pointers and explanations. Sometimes, Orion also posed questions to the disciples, turning the place into a hub for discussions about blacksmithing.


    The disciples were awed by Orion''s vast knowledge, and they had learned many new things from him. They couldn''t wait to put Orion teachings into practice. They flocked to Orion, asking about blacksmithing and building relationships with him. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and cheerfulness.


    Liu Jian was dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. He couldn''t believe that Orion possessed such extensive knowledge about blacksmithing. He didn''t understand much of the discussions happening about blacksmithing and stood on the sidelines, feeling somewhat like a castaway.


    Wang Lingxin, on the other hand, paid little attention to the situation. She grabbed a beautifully crafted sword from one of the tables, coincidentally the best weapon in the workshop¡ªa Grade-4 weapon. She playfully swung the sword around as it felt rather light in her hands. After a while, she decided to perform a horizontal slash on a steel anvil in front of her. Wang Lingxin looked confused because the anvil appeared undamaged, making her think that the sword might be of poor quality. She decided to return the sword to the table.


    The workshop was abuzz with activity, and no one noticed what Wang Lingxin had done with the most precious weapon in the workshop. The blacksmiths were busy discussing among themselves, asking questions to Orion, and learning from his expertise. Liu Jian watched them from the corner with his mouth still agape, unable to comprehend the intricacies of the discussions.


    After some time, the situation gradually returned to normal. The disciples resumed their work, while some were eager to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.


    Then Orion noticed a pile of ores in the corner of the room and asked the disciple about them.


    "Those are some ores that Master purchased a while ago, but it seems that he''s having some problems working with them," explained the disciple.


    "And what are these ores? What''s their name?" inquired Orion.


    "I''m not sure, and even Master doesn''t know," admitted the disciple.


    "May I take a look at them and run some tests?" Orion asked, intrigued by the mysterious ore.


    "Of course," replied the disciple.


    As the disciples continued with their work, Orion collected a sizeable amount of the ores and then went outside the workshop to retrieve a variety of tools for ore identification from the storage ring. During its mission on Mars, the scientists and engineers that designed Orion also expected Orion to be capable of identifying minerals and ores. Consequently, the Lander carried various tools and equipment for such tasks.


    Wang Lingxin and Liu Jian also followed Orion outside. Feeling bored, Wang Lingxin wanted to walk around the workshop''s neighborhood, which prompted Orion to ask Liu Jian to accompany her.


    After a while conducting experiments on the ores, Orion reached a conclusion, "Isn''t it wolframite?"

 Chapter 27: Metal Called Tungsten

    After finishing the experiment and successfully identifying the ores, Orion returned to the workshop. The dwarf disciple approached Orion, curiosity evident on his face. "So, Mr. Orion, did you learn something about the ores?"


    Orion nodded, "This ores is called wolframite in my place."


    "Wolf...wolframite?" The disciple raised an eyebrow, pondering the word. Wolframite? Does it have something to do with wolves? he wondered internally.


    Orion continued, "Yes, this ores contains a metal called tungsten." It then proceeded to provide a brief introduction to tungsten.


    "Tungsten, wow, that''s a unique name. What kind of things can this metal be used for? Can it be used to make weapons and armor?" The disciple''s eyes lit up with interest and curiosity.


    "Tungsten is a very dense and heavy metal, but it is also relatively brittle, making it an excellent choice for certain applications, but it may not be the best choice for weapons and armor," Orion explained.


    The disciple appeared disappointed, "Oh, is that so..."


    Orion continued, offering a solution, "However, you can experiment and use it together with other metals to overcome the brittleness."


    The disciple''s enthusiasm reignited, "That''s right! And the weight is not a problem either. Some cultivators prefer their weapons to be heavy."


    Ah, that''s right. It''s a cultivation world after all, Orion thought internally, remembering how on Earth tungsten was processed to tungsten alloy and used as armor-piercing ammunition. But perhaps in this world, it can be used for other types of weapons.


    "Where did your master obtain it?" Orion inquired.


    "It''s from an itinerant cultivator who visited this city a while ago. Apparently, he stumbled upon some good fortune and discovered an old, abandoned cave abode during an expedition. It was there that he found the ores, and my master bought it all," the disciple explained.


    "Oh, I see," Orion replied, feeling somewhat disappointed by the lack of further information. After exchanging pleasantries and expressing gratitude, Orion excused itself and departed.


    As Orion left, the blacksmiths expressed their thanks and asked if Orion would visit again and provide mores guidance. In a short time, Orion had established a good relationship with the blacksmiths. They waved to Orion''s departing figure and called out, "Please come again next time!"


    Leaving the workshop, it wasn''t hard to find Liu Jian and Wang Lingxin. Using the multi-band phased array antenna, Orion quickly picked up a unique radio signal emitted by Liu Jian.


    After walking for a while, Orion found Liu Jian and Wang Lingxin sitting on a bench under a tree. Liu Jian looked rather tired, while Wang Lingxin still appeared energetic and was enjoying some colorful stick candy.


    Noticing Orion''s arrival, Liu Jian stood up and then asked if they should continue touring the city. Observing Liu Jian''s exhaustion and the setting sun, Orion decided that they should return.


    As they rode the luxurious carriage back to the Liu family estate, Orion inquired, "Did you have fun with Young Master Liu?"


    Wang Lingxin enthusiastically replied, "Yes! We visited many shops, and I got to eat lots of delicious food."


    Orion then expressed, "It seems that I may have caused you much trouble, Young Master Liu."


    Liu Jian quickly reassured Orion, "No, not at all," smiling, although still looking tired.


    Orion thought to itself, it seems that even a cultivator can''t keep up with an energetic kid. Orion pondered whether Wang Lingxin''s love for eating so much was to sustain her energetic behavior, providing the necessary energy, or if her energetic nature stemmed from her having abundant energy due to her love for indulging in food.


    "Mores importantly, Mr. Orion, I know a good place we can visit. We can go there tonight, just the two of us," Liu Jian whispered close to Orion.


    A good place? Orion thought internally. "Hmmm... yeah, sure," Orion replied.


    In Luo Fengwei''s workshop, disciples were busy with their tasks. Encouraged by the success of one disciple who had applied the new knowledge from Orion, others grew eager to try. One disciple, with a burning piece of metal and a hammer, approached an anvil. Placing the hot, glowing metal on it, he prepared to strike with the hammer.


    To the disciple''s surprise, as he put the hot metal on the anvil, the top half of the anvil unexpectedly slid down slowly and crashed to the ground. The surface where the anvil parted was remarkably smooth.


    "What the..." the disciple exclaimed, astonished. "Damn it, which one of you guys damaged this anvil?" he angrily inquired, causing a small ruckus. Fortunately, this minor incident didn''t result in any injuries. Meanwhile, the real culprit was blissfully enjoying a luxurious carriage ride toward the Liu family estate.


    It''s already night, and in a small house behind the workshop, Luo Fengwei sits, clutching his head. He''s grappling with problems related to mysterious ores, having obtained the ores from an itinerant cultivator visiting the city. After conducting experiments, Luo Fengwei considered the possibility of using the ores to make weapons and armor. From the experiment, the ores, dense and strong, has sparked Luo Fengwei''s keen interest and ambition.


    Unfortunately, the ores are hard to work with. Despite trying many techniques, Luo Fengwei can''t find a way to utilize them. He has spent a lot of time researching the ores, reading many books and scrolls in search of clues. Unfortunately, he found nothing useful after reading many books and scrolls. The constant failures have affected his mood, making him easily angered. Despite investing so much time and effort, he''s still unable to find a lead and make any progress. This continuous setback has given him a headache. Such interesting ores, and he can''t use them.


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    "Sigh..." Luo Fengwei mutters, dejected. "Maybe I need to take some fresh air and change my surroundings to calm down." He leaves his house, stretching his stiff body, and heads towards the workshop.


    Having ignored his disciples for a few days, he intends to check on them. If they were slacking around, Luo Fengwei will teach them a lesson.


    To his surprise, when Luo Fengwei arrives at the workshop, he finds his disciples diligently at work. The usually quiet night is bustling with activity, and they seem to be working even harder than usual. Typically, only a few disciples remain in the workshop during the night, with others having returned to their own dwellings. Luo Fengwei, puzzled, wonders, "Huh? What happened with them?"


    He observed how some of his disciples were measuring and weighing metals, planning to melt them to create an alloy. What the hell are they trying to do? Have they become stupid after just a few days? Luo Fengwei was baffled by the disciples'' unusual approach. The metals being used and their ratios were out of the ordinary and unheard of. He couldn''t wait to approach the disciples, intending to give them a stern lecture and perhaps a smack on the head.


    However, as he continued to observe, he noticed other disciples using a liquid significantly different from the usual quenching process. Another group was doing something with a freshly forged sword, placing it in what seemed to be an acidic liquid. And now what are they even attempting? Luo Fengwei wondered inwardly.


    And not just that, many of his disciples were engaged in entirely new and foresign practices that Luo Fengwei couldn''t comprehend. Initially, frustration and anger welled up within him, and he contemplated berating and shouting at them for deviating from the traditional norms of blacksmithing.


    However, as he observed nearly all of his disciples experimenting with unconventional methods, he sighed deeply, recognizing his own fault in the matter. "Sigh... it''s my fault. After neglecting them for a few days, they have become astray. I am really a bad master," he admitted to himself.


    Realizing that he was too obsessed with the new ores and had neglected his disciples, Luo Fengwei was thinking that maybe he needs to change and not be too hard on his disciples, treating them better. Reflecting on the past few days, he regretted the constant yelling and anger directed at his disciples.


    He approached one of his disciples who was dipping his newly finished sword in some liquid and asked while smiling, "Little Wei, what are you doing?"


    "Huh?" Little Wei turned his head and saw Luo Fengwei, "Master? Is there something I can do for you?" Rather worried if his master''s mood flared in anger again, but then realized that his master... seems to be smiling?


    "Well, nothing. How''s your blacksmithing skill progressing, and what are you doing?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    "Master, look at this. This technique is called etching and acid treatment. It can reveal intricate patterns and enhance the aesthetics of weapons. See?" Little Wei explained, showcasing the already finished sword from the previous one.


    Luo Fengwei took the sword and scrutinized it, examining it closely from different angles.


    "Not bad! Ha ha ha! I knew you were a genius in blacksmithing; that''s why I accepted you as my disciple. To think that you would be able to develop such a technique at such a young age¡ªyour future in the blacksmith path is limitless! Haha," Luo Fengwei exclaimed, feeling happy. He kept patting Little Wei''s shoulder. He had previously thought that his favorite disciple had gone astray, but it turned out he had made a significant discovery. Luo Fengwei was very satisfied and happy; all of his stress built up over the past days had melted away. He was thinking of giving some Grade-2 or even Grade-3 weapon or armor as a gift to celebrate the discovery of this technique.


    Then Luo Fengwei looked around the workshop. Don''t tell me they are not doing something weird, but they also discovered some kind of new technique? His eyes glowed with interest. Did they all get some kind of epiphany and gain enlightenment at the same time? Luo Fengwei was puzzled by this.


    "Uhmm... master, I didn''t develop this technique. It was taught by Mr. Orion. And not just this technique, he also taught us many other things, and the other disciples are proving it, which really worked and has been proven," Little Wei tried to explain.


    "Huh? Orion? Orion who?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    "Mr. Orion who came today. Didn''t you also meet him? The one with the metal helmet that came with Young Master Liu," Little Wei explained.


    "Him?" Luo Fengwei was surprised. Was he a blacksmith? And how come he seemed to know about blacksmithing knowledge that I didn''t even know? Luo Fengwei wondered internally. "What did he teach you about? Quick, tell me in detail," Luo Fengwei urged.


    Little Wei then recounted everything, explaining to his master about the techniques, knowledge, tips, and pointers about blacksmithing and metallurgy that Orion had shared.


    "That''s truly impressive, groundbreaking even. The theories, knowledge, and techniques are profoundly advanced; he must be a master, perhaps even a grandmaster blacksmith," Luo Fengwei expressed awe. After listening to his disciple''s explanation, he regretted not participating in Orion''s discussion and wanted to ask some questions.


    "Moresover, he''s knowledgeable about the ores you recently acquired, Master," Little Wei added.


    Upon hearing this, Luo Fengwei immediately grabbed Little Wei''s shoulders with both hands and asked with wide eyes, "You say what??? Is that true? Does he really know about the ores? Now tell me what he said about the ores!" Luo Fengwei''s agitated voice attracted the attention of the other disciples.


    "Ye...yes, Master, it''s true. Mr. Orion said that he is familiar with the ores," Little Wei replied, rather scared. "He said that the ores are called wolframite, and tungsten metal can be obtained from it. Tungsten is a strong and dense metal."


    "WOLFRAMITE!!! TUNGSTEN!!! Finally, finally some information! HA HA HA!" Luo Fengwei laughed like a maniac. Now, not only Little Wei but the other disciples were also rather scared and worried. Had their master become a madman?


    "Indeed, it''s strong and dense... ha ha ha! So, I was right after all. Now, with this, perhaps I can make a new kind of weapon and armor!" Luo Fengwei was fired up.


    "Uhmm... master, Mr. Orion said that even though tungsten is strong, it''s rather brittle and heavy, not really suitable for forging weapons and armor," Little Wei explained.


    "WHAT??? What did you say?" Luo Fengwei''s loud voice and piercing gaze frightened Little Wei.


    "But Master, Mr. Orion also said that we can try to use it with other metals and make an alloy to overcome this problem, so I think it''s still possible," Little Wei explained carefully.


    "That''s right, we can do that... Hmmmm..." Luo Fengwei mumbled something while stroking his long white beard, pacing in a circle, lost in deep contemplation. The disciples watched quietly from the side.


    "Where did he go? Where can I find Orion?" Luo Fengwei couldn''t wait to meet Orion and inquire about the ores and the metal called tungsten.


    "It seems that they have returned to the Liu family residence, and Mr. Orion is staying there," Little Wei informed Luo Fengwei.


    "Liu family... okay..." Luo Fengwei immediately turned around, ready to leave the workshop and head to the Liu family residence. However, he suddenly smacked his foreshead with a loud sound, then slumped to the ground on both of his knees.


    "Master!!!" The disciples exclaimed together, their faces filled with surprise. "What happened to Master?"

 Chapter 28: Sliding Dogeza

    "Master! Are you okay? What happened? Is something wrong?" The disciples approached Luo Fengwei, their faces filled with concern.


    "Oh no, I am so stupid, really stupid... No... What should I do? What should I do? I have made a big mistake, no..." Luo Fengwei muttered in distress.


    "Master, what''s wrong? What mistake? Master!" The disciples, not understanding anything, became even more worried about their master.


    "Oh, yeah, maybe that would do." Luo Fengwei immediately went towards several tables, grabbing all Grade-4 weapons and armor and stored them in his storage ring.


    "I will be going to the Liu family estate," he declared without saying anything else, immediately taking flight and disappearing, ignoring his disciples calling after him.


    "Master! Master..."


    "Master!!"


    "Master..."


    The disciples were still confused and watched as their master swiftly flew away.


    When Luo Fengwei realized what he had done during Orion''s visit, regret consumed him. He wanted to smash his head against a wall for offending Orion, chasing him out, and saying rude things. His only chance to understand wolframite and the metal called tungsten was at risk. Then, a sudden thought brought a glimmer of hope. He decided to use all the Grade-4 weapons and armor as an apology gift. If that wasn''t enough, he was also willing to provide others and make things for Orion for free.


    Luo Fengwei arrived at the Liu family estate, aware of the identity of the visiting guest; the servants immediately ushered him to the front hall and informed the patriarch. Liu Ming, surprised by Luo Fengwei''s visit, warmly received him. He couldn''t fathom why Luo Fengwei, given his temperament, would visit the Liu estate. It wasn''t easy for him to meet with Luo Fengwei, and now, Luo Fengwei was taking the initiative to come.


    After some pleasantries and happy conversation, Luo Fengwei asked about Liu Jian. Liu Ming asked a servant to bring Liu Jian there, and after Liu Jian arrived, Luo Fengwei showed a politeness he had never exhibited before. He engaged in conversation with Liu Jian with a warm smile and a lively atmosphere. Both Liu Ming and Liu Jian were baffled by Luo Fengwei''s unusual temperament and behavior, as Luo Fengwei was not typically this nice.


    What dumbfounded Liu Jian and Liu Ming next was when suddenly, Luo Fengwei took out a Grade-3 sword from his storage ring and gifted it to Liu Jian.


    "It so happens that I made this sword a while ago and didn''t know what to do with it, but I remember that you also use a sword. So, I''ll just give this to you as a gift," Luo Fengwei explained.


    "Uh... Mr. Luo, this sword is too precious. I''m afraid I can''t accept it," Liu Jian responded.


    "Can''t accept? There''s no need to think much about it. After all, aren''t we close friends? So just accept it. I don''t need this sword, and if I want, I can just make another one. Ha ha ha," Luo Fengwei said as he tossed the sword towards Liu Jian.


    Liu Jian was rather shocked but caught the sword tossed towards him. Close friend? Since when are we friends and being all buddy-buddy? Liu Jian thought to himself.


    "Well, just accept it," Liu Ming said, rather surprised because Luo Fengwei suddenly gave such a valuable sword. He wondered what Luo Fengwei''s real intentions were.


    "Then I thank Mr. Luo," Liu Jian bowed and cupped his hand. He then unsheathed the sword from the scabbard and observed it. The sword was truly to his liking!


    "So, Mr. Luo, is there something that we can help you with?" Liu Ming inquired.


    "Ahem... ahem," Luo Fengwei cleared his throat, feigning a cough.


    "So, I heard that Mr. Orion is staying here, so I wonder if I can meet with him." Luo Fengwei then subtly tried to probe for information about Orion and his background.


    So, that is your real purpose, huh? Liu Ming thought to himself.


    "Yes, indeed. Mr. Orion has been staying with us. After he saved my son, he became our honored guest. If Mr. Luo wants to meet him, of course, it''s possible," Liu Ming explained, proceeding to share the story of how Orion saved his son.


    Oh no! He is not a mortal? But why can''t I detect his cultivation?... Crap, did I just offend such a person? Luo Fengwei thought to himself. He became more anxious, worried, and even scared because the person he thought was just a mortal turned out to be a cultivator with an unfathomable background. Possibly, this individual had a cultivation base higher than his own or possessed some profound concealment technique to hide his cultivation base.


    But when Liu Ming was giving orders to one of the servants to invite Orion to come to the front hall.


    "No, that won''t do. I won''t inconvenience Mr. Orion. I will come to his place instead," Luo Fengwei stated.


    Liu Ming and Liu Jian were rather surprised to hear that. He will come and visit Orion himself?


    "Liu Jian, bring Mr. Luo to Mr. Orion," Liu Ming instructed.


    "Yes, father," Liu Jian replied.


    "Thank you very much, Patriarch Liu. If you ever need me to make something, just come to my workshop, and I will make it for you. Ha ha ha," Luo Fengwei said.


    "Ha ha ha, then I thank Mr. Luo," Liu Ming responded, rather happy to get the promise. Usually, it''s hard to employ Luo Fengwei to make something; it all depends on his ''mood.''


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    After a few more small talks, Luo Fengwei and Liu Jian then headed towards the guesthouse where Orion had been staying.


    After they left, Liu Ming heard some voice transmissions.


    "Interesting, so that''s what happened. But to think that someone as stubborn, obstinate, and headstrong as Luo Fengwei would be willing to lower his head like that," Liu Ming mused after hearing about what had transpired in Luo Fengwei''s workshop and observing Luo Fengwei''s current demeanor. Liu Ming was also rather surprised by Orion''s deep knowledge about blacksmithing.


    "Hm... be more careful when observing Orion. Only send your best man and observe from a distance," Liu Ming cautioned through voice transmission using his spiritual sense. Now that Orion had become more mysterious, Liu Ming felt the need to exercise caution.


    "Yes Patriarch," replied the other party.


    In the guesthouse, Wang Lingxin had just finished dinner and was currently enjoying some pastries as dessert along with tea. Orion sat across from her, engrossed in reading scrolls and books. Orion waited for Wang Lingxin to fall asleep before planning to sneak out with Liu Jian to visit some ''good place''.


    Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room, accompanied by Liu Jian''s voice, "Mr. Orion, sorry to disturb you, but there is a guest who wishes to meet you."


    Guest? Who? Orion wondered internally. "Come in," it said aloud.


    Liu Jian opened the door, and behind him was Luo Fengwei. Orion stood up from the chair to receive them.


    "Sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. Orion. Mr. Luo has come here to meet you," Liu Jian explained.


    Huh? It''s him? Orion thought to itself.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion," Luo Fengwei said, cupping his hand and bowing with a steady and determined voice.


    Liu Jian watched from the side, thinking internally, Huh? He can be so respectful towards other people?


    "So, what do you want?" Orion asked with a cold voice.


    Luo Fengwei and even Liu Jian were rather startled by Orion''s reply. Luo Fengwei started to sweat, but he knew that it was all because of his fault, and he was determined to fix this.


    "Mr. Orion, I have come to apologize. I''m really sorry for what happened today. Please forgive me; I didn''t mean to offend you," Luo Fengwei said.


    Orion didn''t respond, still standing quietly and watching Luo Fengwei. A bead of sweat rolled down Luo Fengwei''s face.


    "Is that all?" Orion asked.


    "If... if possible, I would like to ask Mr. Orion about the wolframite ore and the metal called tungsten," Luo Fengwei said.


    "Sorry, can''t do, too busy right now," Orion replied.


    "I am really sorry to disturb you during your busy time. Then, what about when you are free? Is that possible?" Luo Fengwei continued, still bowing.


    "Still can''t do. I don''t know when I will have free time, and I also don''t know if I am willing to tell you about wolframite and tungsten when I am free," Orion replied.


    Luo Fengwei fell silent, still bowing. He turned his head up and towards Orion, his eyes opened wide.


    Liu Jian at the side thought, Uh... deja vu, this situation... is similar to what happened today!


    "If there is nothing else, get the fuck out of here and don''t disturb me further," Orion stated, using a lower volume for the f word since Wang Lingxin was still in the room.


    Luo Fengwei and Orion faced each other, the distance about 5 meters apart. Gritting his teeth, Luo Fengwei suddenly dashed towards Orion.


    whooshh...


    Luo Fengwei then folded both of his knees, falling to the ground. He slid towards Orion, and as he slid, he prostrated himself by putting his head on the floor, resulting in something akin to a sliding dogeza. After sliding, Luo Fengwei stopped beneath Orion, about 1 meter away.


    "I AM REALLY SORRY! I WAS WRONG! I WAS STUPID TO HAVE OFFENDED YOU! I HAVE MET A DRAGON AMONGST MEN BUT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE IT." Luo Fengwei screamed in apology, still prostrating with his head on the floor, wanting to show his sincerity.


    What the? Orion was internally rather surprised.


    Liu Jian, meanwhile, was so shocked, his jaw dropped, mouth opened wide, eyes widened. What the heck? Liu Jian thought internally. That prideful Mr. Luo is prostrating to other people? Liu Jian was extremely shocked by the scene.


    "Please forgive me, Mr. Orion. I am willing to give you several Grade-4 weapons and armor. I am also willing to make anything you want, as long as I am able to. If that''s not enough, I am also willing to pay spirit stones. If you desire something else, please just say it. I only ask that Mr. Orion is willing to forgive me and share your knowledge about wolframite and tungsten. I will be eternally grateful if you are also willing to give me some pointers about blacksmithing," Luo Fengwei pleaded, still prostrating.


    What the heck... several Grade-4 weapons and armor? Liu Jian thought internally, finding it hard to believe what he heard.


    "Hmm..." Orion crossed both of its arms on its chest, holding its chin. It appeared as though Orion was in deep contemplation, although it was actually quite satisfied with Luo Fengwei''s offer. Orion wanted to seem uncertain, attempting to extract more from Luo Fengwei.


    "Please, Mr. Orion, I beg you..." Luo Fengwei pleaded.


    "I can also ask you for other things? Anything?" Orion inquired.


    "Yes, as long as it''s within my capability," Luo Fengwei assured.


    Ho ho ho, this is nice, Orion thought to itself.


    "Ha ha ha, Mr. Luo is too polite. Isn''t it just some information about wolframite and tungsten? It''s easy; I can tell you about it," Orion said.


    "Really?" Luo Fengwei raised his head, finally seeing some hope.


    "First, Mr. Luo, please get up," Orion said, offering a helping hand to Luo Fengwei.


    "Then..." Luo Fengwei hesitated, standing up.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Luo. I have forgiven you. As for the information, we can talk about it further. Why don''t we sit together first?" Orion suggested.


    "I sincerely thank Mr. Orion," Luo Fengwei bowed and cupped his hand.


    Orion then invited Luo Fengwei and Liu Jian to sit. They all gathered around a table, and the atmosphere had taken a complete 180-degree turn. The conversation now flowed happily and lively between Luo Fengwei and Orion. After previously interacting with various individuals, Orion had learned to adapt and enhance its pleasantries, employing flowery words and compliments. The contrast with the previous tense situation was stark, and Liu Jian couldn''t help but be surprised by the rollercoaster of emotions.


    Luo Fengwei had relaxed, finally able to smile again. It felt as if a huge boulder had been lifted from his heart. He reached into his storage ring and retrieved a Grade-4 sword.


    "Mr. Orion, this is my best work so far. Please accept it, and in this storage ring, there are several other Grade-4 weapons and armor inside," Luo Fengwei said as he placed the storage ring on the table.


    "Forged from ice steel and embedded with a ten-thousand-year-old black ice crystal, this sword doesn''t have a name yet. You can give it a name. It features inscriptions to enhance its strength, sharpness, and ice properties," Luo Fengwei proudly explained, holding the beautiful sword. Then, he continued his explanation.


    The sword could launch ice attacks, inflicting cold ice on wounds that could slow or even freeze the enemy. It boasted various ice-related effects, and if used by a cultivator with ice cultivation techniques, combat skills, and ice-related physical constitution, its capabilities would be several times more potent.


    Liu Jian was awed by the sword, impressed by its high quality. Even his Liu family only possessed several Grade-4 weapons and armor, and here was Luo Fengwei giving Orion a bunch of them. Liu Jian felt a twinge of envy.


    As Luo Fengwei proudly continued with his explanation about the sword, Wang Lingxin, who was eating pastries from the side, suddenly commented, "Oh, that trash sword? Why would you give such a low-quality and disappointing product as a gift to my master?"


    Wang Lingxin''s words hung in the air, transforming the previously lively atmosphere into a quiet one, with only the sound of Wang Lingxin munching on pastries.


    "..." Orion.


    "..." Liu Jian.


    "..." Luo Fengwei.

 Chapter 29: Night Performances

    Huh, trash sword? Orion thought internally.


    How dare she call such a great sword trash? Liu Jian thought to himself.


    Meanwhile Luo Fengwei watching Wang Lingxin in disbelief.


    Luo Fengwei, visibly shaken by Wang Lingxin''s sudden comment, usually if someone were to badmouth his creation, he will immediately slap that person to death. However, faced with a kid who seemed to be Orion''s disciple, he hesitated. He didn''t want to risk offending Orion again after just patching up their relationship. Swallowing his anger, Luo Fengwei chose to maintain his composure, though the internal turmoil was evident on his face.


    "Uhmm, little girl, what do you mean by trash quality? Do you know something about this sword?" Luo Fengwei questioned.


    "Isn''t that the sword that was on the table in the workshop previously? I have tried it; it''s trash," Wang Lingxin replied simply and calmly as she sipped her tea.


    "Tra... trash?!" Luo Fengwei exclaimed.


    Luo Fengwei was on the verge of vomiting blood, hearing her dismiss his craftsmanship so casually.


    "Umm, please forgive her, Mr. Luo. She doesn''t really mean it and doesn''t know what she''s talking about," Orion interjected. Orion then turned towards Wang Lingxin and said, "You should apologize to Mr. Luo."


    "Hmpphh!!!..." Wang Lingxin turned her body away from Luo Fengwei, clearly displaying her dislike towards him.


    After what happened today in Luo Fengwei''s house, Wang Lingxin disliked him immensely. How dare someone like Luo Fengwei, who is just a lowly mortal, dare to talk like that to her master?


    Those who enter the cultivation path are not typically referred to as mortals anymore, although technically, they still are. While not immortals, these cultivators are stronger and live longer than regular mortals.


    For Wang Lingxin, who has encountered her future self, her horizons have expanded greatly upon learning about the greatness of her master and her future self. To her, everyone in this world is just a weak mortal. A cultivator at the Golden Core realm, like Luo Fengwei, is akin to ants in her eyes.


    "It''s... it''s fine, Mr. Orion. This kind of sword can indeed be considered as trash for someone of your level. But I can only make Grade-4 weapons and armor at most, so please forgive me for this low-quality gift," Luo Fengwei explained.


    Huh? What is he talking about? Someone of my level? What level? Orion wondered internally.


    "Ehm... so about the wolframite and tungsten..." Orion attempted to deflect and change the subject, leading them to continue their discussion.


    The conversation turned lively once again. After discussing basic information about wolframite and tungsten, as well as several things that Orion wanted from Luo Fengwei as part of their previous agreement, Wang Lingxin, who was also sitting at the same table, yawned with half-opened eyes, intermittently closing and opening them. She was clearly getting sleepy.


    "I guess we can continue the discussion another time," Orion suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s already late. Then, Mr. Orion, I think I will excuse myself for now. I will visit again tomorrow, if that¡¯s okay with you.¡± Luo Fengwei proposed, even though the night was still early. He didn¡¯t want to disturb Orion any longer.


    "Hm... I will visit your workshop instead," Orion replied, it wanted to observe more and learn further about blacksmithing.


    "Yes, that will do. Then I will excuse myself, Mr. Orion. Thank you very much," Luo Fengwei said, satisfied with the information he had gained. He then cupped his hand and bowed.


    "Uhmm... Mr. Orion, how about ''the plan''?" Liu Jian asked.


    Orion just nodded.


    "Then we will excuse ourselves," Liu Jian smiled. Liu Jian and Luo Fengwei left the guesthouse.


    "Young Master Liu, thank you very much for helping me meet Mr. Orion. If you want me to create some weapons and armor, just come to my place, and I will make it for you," Luo Fengwei said as they walked together.


    "Thank you, Mr. Luo. By the way, Mr. Luo, if you are not in a hurry, why don''t you join me and Mr. Orion to visit some good place tonight?" Liu Jian suggested.


    "Good place? Is it related to the plan you mentioned earlier? What good place?" Luo Fengwei inquired.


    "You will understand when we arrive, and you will like it," Liu Jian assured.


    "Hm... then I will go," Luo Fengwei said. Although he couldn''t wait to return and experiment immediately with the wolframite ore, the chance to get close and go together with Orion was also tempting.


    Liu Jian and Luo Fengwei continued their journey, chatting and laughing together.


    After Luo Fengwei and Liu Jian left, Orion instructed Wang Lingxin to brush her teeth and go to bed. Wang Lingxin first brushed her teeth, then went to bed, and just before falling asleep, she asked Orion to continue the Cinderella story. Orion indulged her, narrating the story for a short while until she fell asleep. After tucking her in and ensuring she was comfortable, Orion left the guesthouse to find Liu Jian.


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    In the front hall, Orion discovered Liu Jian with Luo Fengwei. It appeared that Luo Fengwei would also be joining them. Subsequently, the three of them departed from the Liu family estate, riding in a carriage.


    After a while, they arrived at a bustling district of the city, even though it was already night. The carriage navigated through the lively streets, heading toward a particular building. Throughout the journey, Luo Fengwei kept asking Orion questions about blacksmithing and metallurgy. Orion answered whenever it could and within the limits of its knowledge.


    Once the carriage arrived at its destination, the three of them disembarked.


    "Huh? So this is what you meant by the good place, Young Master Liu?" Luo Fengwei queried.


    "Hehe, that''s right," Liu Jian affirmed. They then entered, and a beautiful girl led them to the second floor and to a luxurious room.


    Hm... I think I know what kind of place this is, Orion thought internally.


    The three-story building stood lavishly adorned with intricate decorations, boasting an array of beautiful potted flowers that graced its interior. Smooth silk curtains swayed gently, adding a touch of elegance to the atmosphere. Inside, the open area was filled with numerous tables and chairs, creating a lively yet intimate setting. Additionally, secluded rooms offered a more private experience. Many beautiful girls worked here, accompanying the patrons, filling their drinks, and engaging in happy conversation.


    Dimly lit, the unique ambiance was heightened by the soft glow emanating from the lighting and the aromatic blend of burned incense wafting through the air. Fragrant floral scents from the potted flowers permeated the space, creating a distinctive and alluring vibe.


    At the heart of the establishment, a grand stage took center stage, providing a focal point for entertainment. The second floor, open in the middle, providing an overlook for those on the second floor to enjoy a view of the stage on the first floor. Those with influence could access the second floor, while the first floor was open to all visitors.


    The place is a tea house called Midnight Orchid Manor, but not just any tea house because it''s very famous for providing entertainment with beautiful girls dancing, singing, and playing music.


    What makes the place more special is Hua Meiying. She plays the zither exceptionally well, producing a beautiful and enchanting melody. Hua Meiying is not only talented but also stunningly beautiful, attracting many patrons who come to watch her performance, savor the captivating tunes of her zither, and enjoy her exquisite appearance.


    Currently, four beautiful girls grace the stage, dancing to the accompaniment of melodious music. Orion, Luo Fengwei, and Liu Jian are watching the show from the second floor. Liu Jian is the only one fully indulging in both the performance and his drink, while Orion and Luo Fengwei remain engrossed in their discussion on blacksmithing, metallurgy, and inscription.


    Orion felt a tinge of disappointment as the supposed ''good place'' turned out to be this kind of place. Orion would have preferred to stay at the guesthouse, dedicating the entire night to conducting experiments and research.


    On the other hand, Luo Fengwei wasn''t particularly interested in the place either. Initially keen on experimenting with wolframite ore, Luo Fengwei chose to accompany Orion. Despite his disinterest with the ''good place'', Luo Fengwei saw it as a chance to get closer to Orion and learn more from his expertise.


    After the mesmerizing performance by the four beautiful dancers, the stage lights dimmed, signaling the end of their act and the onset of the main show. As the dancers gracefully exited the stage, a radiant spotlight emanated from a crystal, illuminating a beautiful girl seated in the center with a zither placed before her.


    As she began to play, the ambient sounds of patrons chatting, laughing, and clinking glasses gradually faded into silence. Hua Meiying''s enchanting melody captivated the entire venue, capturing the undivided attention of every patron. The atmosphere transformed into an ethereal ambiance as the spotlight emphasized her figure, creating the illusion of a fairy descended to the earth. The patrons, entranced, fixed their eyes on Hua Meiying, absorbed in the beauty of her performance.


    When Hua Meiying finished, the patrons erupted in immediate applause, their praise for her echoing non-stop. Orion even noticed Liu Jian wiping tears from the corner of his eyes. Huh? Why is he crying? Orion wondered internally.


    "Truly a spectacular performance," Liu Jian declared as he clapped. Then, turning towards Orion, he inquired, "So, how was it, Mr. Orion?"


    "Hm... so-so, I guess," responded Orion.


    Uh, just so-so? Liu Jian thought internally. "Ah, I see. Then what do you think of the performance, Mr. Luo?" Liu Jian asked.


    "Yeah, it''s so-so," replied Luo Fengwei as he sipped his drink. He personally preferred experimenting with the wolframite ore rather than watching the performance. Despite Hua Meiying''s beauty, he had encountered many more beautiful girls, and as a Golden Core Realm cultivator who had lived for more than 400 years, he had seen and experienced a lot.


    "Ah, I see," Liu Jian mused, realizing he seemed to be the only one deeply moved by the performance.


    Hua Meiying continued her performance, and the patrons clearly enjoyed it. After midnight, finally, the main show came to an end, and Hua Meiying gracefully exited the stage.


    However, the entertainment persisted as several dancers entered, now clad in more revealing attire. Their dance incorporated seductive and provocative moves, accompanied by energetic and sensual music. Despite not being the main show, the patrons enthusiastically enjoyed it, evident in their loud cheers for the dancers on stage.


    What caught Orion''s interest, though, was the backdrop lighting. It resembled neon lamps from Earth, displaying a colorful and beautifully shaped array that blinked and mesmerized, adding an enchanting allure to the ongoing performance.


    Orion leaned forward, showing a keen interest. Noticing this, Liu Jian asked, "Are you interested in the performance, Mr. Orion?"


    "Hmm... yes, it''s very interesting," Orion responded.


    "Oh... I see," Liu Jian said, smiling with a mysterious air. Internally, he thought, Hehe, it seems that Mr. Orion is a man of culture, noticing Orion''s interest in the current show compared to the main performance.


    "By the way, what is that long lamp that can change color?" Orion inquired.


    Huh? Lamp? Liu Jian wondered internally.


    "That is called a slime lamp, Mr. Orion. It''s made from vein obtained from slime, and by powering it with a spirit stone, it can glow. With the addition of inscriptions and slight modifications, the light can be controlled, including color, blinking, fading, and more. Haven''t you ever seen one before, Mr. Orion?" Luo Fengwei explained.


    "Oh, it''s called a slime lamp. I''ve never seen one. There''s no such thing in the place where I come from," Orion replied.


    Orion then directed a series of questions about the slime lamp towards Luo Fengwei, reversing the roles as Orion took the initiative in the conversation. Previously, Luo Fengwei had been the one asking the questions.


    Uh... then what about the show? Liu Jian wondered internally.


    It became apparent that neither Luo Fengwei nor Orion showed much interest in any of the performances, previously Liu Jian thought that Orion might prefer the more alluring and sensual show. However, it turned out that Orion was more intrigued by the slime lamp rather than the girls.


    The performance continued, each act growing increasingly more sensual. Even as the performance concluded, Liu Jian found himself alone in watching the rest of the show. Orion and Luo Fengwei remained engrossed in their discussion about the slime lamp.


    Is the slime lamp more interesting than those girls? Liu Jian pondered internally, feeling uncertain and confused about the situation.

 Chapter 30: The Spaghetti Code of Inscriptions

    The performances finally concluded, and the patrons began to leave, their legs a bit unsteady from the alcoholic drinks. Most patrons staggered home, while some decided to head towards the adjacent building right beside the Midnight Orchid Manor to spend the night. This establishment, named Orchid Haven, shared a connection with its neighboring tea house, providing patrons with an extended night of enjoyment in the enchanting company of beautiful girls.


    "Mr. Orion, do you want to go to the building next door?" Liu Jian asked.


    "No," Orion replied.


    "Um... how about you, Mr. Luo?" Liu Jian inquired.


    "No," Luo Fengwei responded.


    "..." Liu Jian fell into a brief silence.


    "Do you want to go, Young Master Liu?" Orion asked.


    "Um... no," Liu Jian answered.


    "Then let''s just head back," Orion suggested. "Mr. Luo, here are the things that I want you to make." Orion retrieved several spare parts from its storage ring, placing them on the table.


    The retrieved metallic spare parts varied in complexity and size. Orion intended to assess the quality of the items made by Luo Fengwei. Some required high precision, demanding meticulous attention to detail in their crafting process, serving as a test for Luo Fengwei''s craftsmanship, while others had more lenient precision requirements.


    "Whoa... such high-quality craftsmanship," Luo Fengwei exclaimed, marveling at the factory-made spare parts.


    Although he didn''t know the use or purpose of these metallic objects, Luo Fengwei grabbed and observed each of them closely with his eyes. He also used his spiritual sense to probe the intricacies of the spare parts. Impressed, he continued praising them¡ªthe surface was smooth and shiny, the thickness even, the round ones perfectly circular, and the straight ones flawlessly aligned. Additionally, there are also several holes, each shaped nicely and fitting perfectly into the overall design.


    As he examined them, he wondered internally, Is the metal melted and then cast into a mold, or is it forged and hammered? Just how were these made?


    "Here are some useful information that will help you make these metallic objects," Orion said as it retrieved a scroll from its storage ring and handed it to Luo Fengwei.


    Luo Fengwei received the scrolls, checked it, and after a while, he said, "Mr. Orion, I will do my best, but I might need several days to make it." He acknowledged that it would be a very challenging task to create something of such quality, something he had never made before. Luo Fengwei then stored all the spare parts in his storage ring.


    Orion nodded. "You can take it easy. It''s fine." Orion then turned towards Liu Jian. "Young Master Liu, it seems that I will extend my stay in the city."


    "No problem, Mr. Orion. You are always welcomed in our Liu family, and you can stay as long as you want," Liu Jian assured.


    The three of them left the Midnight Orchid Manor. Luo Fengwei, after bidding farewell, immediately used his movement technique and disappeared, returning to his workshop. Orion and Liu Jian then headed back to the Liu family mansion riding a carriage.


    After returning to the guesthouse, Orion checked Wang Lingxin and fixed her blanket. After that, Orion retrieved various items and objects from its storage rings, planning to spend the rest of the night on experimentation.


    There were many topics in the queue for research, experimentation and development, such as further research about LQ, dantian, unique ores and metals native to this world, slime lamp that have potential to become spare parts for lighting, modifying drones, learning about blacksmithing, metallurgy and inscription, and many others. However, with limited time, Orion had to carefully prioritize its focus and efforts.


    It''s almost sunrise, and Orion decides to conclude the research, storing all the various objects and items scattered on the table and cleaning up.


    It was a rather fruitful night; during the experiments with LQ (Liquefied Qi), there were several successes and failures. Orion concluded that when using the equipment and tools from this world to make LQ, it always failed, but when using equipment from Earth, it always succeeded.


    Although Orion still can''t determine if the success is due to the equipment being from Earth or because of its material, the equipment from this world for distillation is made from varying materials such as wood, copper, clay and bronze meanwhile the equipment from earth that Orion use is made from glass. It will need further research, but at least Orion now understands why it seems that no one else in this world has discovered about LQ yet.


    Orion retrieved a scroll along with writing utensils, initiating the task of documenting detailed information about wolframite ores and tungsten. The comprehensive record included insights into the process of converting wolframite into tungsten and outlining various applications and processing techniques for tungsten.


    On Earth, the processes related to tungsten are known to be intricate and often involve advanced technologies. It will depend on Luo Fengwei if he could replicate modern techniques or even develop new ones based on Earth''s knowledge or not, even Orion is not confident to produce tungsten with its current condition.


    Not long after Orion finished writing in the scroll, Orion heard rustling sound from the bed. Wang Lingxin had woken up, though she still appeared sleepy. Orion instructed Wang Lingxin to clean up and brush her teeth. Afterward, she had breakfast delivered by the Liu family servants.


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    Today, Orion planned to visit Luo Fengwei''s workshop and asked if Wang Lingxin wanted to tag along. However, she expressed her reluctance, preferring to stay at the guesthouse due to her dislike for Luo Fengwei.


    To ensure Wang Lingxin wasn''t bored, Orion retrieved a tablet from its storage ring and presented it to her. With this tablet, Orion could keep an eye on her, communicate, and even teach her. Orion planned to allocate some of its attention to teach Wang Lingxin via the tablet. This way, Orion could visit Luo Fengwei''s workshop while simultaneously instructing Wang Lingxin. The initial focus would be on teaching her how to read and write, as she lacked this skill. Orion had formulated a curriculum for elementary-grade education.


    In this world, there is something akin to a school, but attendance is limited to those from affluent families. Unfortunately, there is no provision for public schools catering to ordinary people like Wang Lingxin.


    Wang Lingxin held the tablet and was awestruck by it, especially when Orion''s voice emanated from the device. Then tablet displayed various scenes¡ªa school of fish swimming, birds soaring in the sky, and even Wang Lingxin''s own image. The revelation left her jaw dropped, and she scrutinized the tablet from different angles, wondering if it was akin to a magical mirror.


    Orion, in a playful mood, took a picture of Wang Lingxin using its camera, sent it wirelessly to the tablet, and noticing her surprised and curious reaction, Orion then sent another picture of her edited image, this time adorning a beautiful dress. When Wang Lingxin saw the transformed picture, she was rendered speechless, staring at it in silence for a while.


    "Beautiful..." Wang Lingxin finally uttered in admiration.


    "Master, master, master! What kind of magical tool is this? Is it a magical mirror? Why does your voice come from it? Are there fish and birds in it? Why is my face in there? Can you make me the beautiful dress like in this magical tool?" Wang Lingxin bombarded Orion with a series of questions.


    "It''s called a tablet computer, but you can just call it a tablet. As you can see, this tablet can do many things, and also, I can''t make that dress," Orion explained.


    "Wow... tablet! Master, why can''t you make that dress? Can you make it in the future?" Wang Lingxin asked with pleading eyes.


    "Um... I don''t know. I will try, but I don''t promise you," Orion replied.


    "Yay! Master, thank you!" she exclaimed.


    "Now, you will stay here and study, and I will teach you through this tablet. With this, we can communicate even if I am not here. Understand?" Orion instructed.


    "Eehhhh... study? I don''t want to!" Wang Lingxin protested.


    "Hm..." After thinking for a while, Orion added, "If you study seriously and diligently, then tonight I will tell you the Cinderella story. But not just the story, you can watch the animation from this tablet, like this," Orion controlled the tablet to display a simple animation of a girl depicting Cinderella dancing.


    "Master, can you make me as Cinderella? And wear that previous beautiful dress?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Uh... sure, I can use your face as Cinderella''s face," Orion replied.


    Orion then retrieved a simple backpack made from animal skin. "Use this to store the tablet and don''t show the tablet to other people, understand?" Orion instructed.


    "Yes, master," Wang Lingxin replied.


    Orion then left the guest house, allocating some of its AI to create Cinderella animations and control the tablet via 5G connection. Departing towards Luo Fengwei''s workshop, it didn''t take long for Orion to arrive. Luo Fengwei''s disciples noticed Orion''s arrival and immediately swarmed around to greet Orion. Little Wei, one of the disciples, then led Orion to Luo Fengwei''s house.


    "Master, Mr. Orion has arrived," the disciple announced as they entered the house.


    A clanking sound and the fast steps of Luo Fengwei were audible, and he soon show himself, "Mr. Orion, welcome to my humble house. Please forgive me; the place is a bit messy." Luo Fengwei warmly greeted Orion.


    "Greetings, Mr. Luo. I hope I''m not too early. How''s the progress with the ores?" Orion inquired.


    "Hehe you are not too early at all. As for the ores, it''s rather complicated and challenging. It may take a while to make some progress," Luo Fengwei replied.


    "As for the things you want me to create, it will also take a while. Maybe I can finish one today," Luo Fengwei admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. Although Orion had already provided the sample, blueprint, information about the composition of metals used, and other useful information, he was encountering some challenges, and while he could produce the items, the quality couldn''t match the sample provided by Orion.


    "I will also help you and give some pointers and feedback. Oh yeah, I also want to learn more about blacksmithing and inscription, so I would like to observe you and your disciples working. Also, is there an empty room that I can use?" Orion asked.


    "Sure thing, definitely," Luo Fengwei replied. Luo Fengwei then told Little Wei to clear out a room in the workshop for inscribing inscriptions on weapons and armor, giving Orion a space to work.


    Luo Fengwei didn''t find it strange when Orion expressed interest in learning about blacksmithing and inscription. He mistakenly assumed that Orion already possessed knowledge in these areas, thinking that Orion hailed from a distant place with different blacksmithing and inscription techniques and wanted to learn about the local techniques and knowledge.


    Orion then handed a scroll containing more detailed information about wolframite and tungsten to Luo Fengwei. Luo Fengwei, as part of their deal, gave Orion several storage rings containing a large amount of various resources, materials, books, scrolls, and hundreds of thousands of spirit stones. Orion was very satisfied with the exchange. By sharing information, Orion managed to obtain a significant amount of valuable information and resources from Luo Fengwei. It feels like robbing Luo Fengwei, but as a robot, Orion doesn''t feel guilty, and Luo Fengwei also agrees and is willing and happy about it.


    Throughout the day, Orion stayed busy. Luo Fengwei consulted Orion on spare parts, ores, and blacksmithing, while Luo Fengwei''s students occasionally asked questions. Thankfully, Luo Fengwei had warned his disciples not to bother Orion too much, resulting in only a few inquiries. Meanwhile, Orion observed Luo Fengwei and his disciples in their blacksmithing and inscription activities and learned a great deal from them.


    The primary professions associated with inscription were blacksmiths and inscriptionists. While most blacksmiths had some knowledge of inscription, it was typically not as extensive as that of dedicated inscriptionists. Blacksmiths often focused on inscriptions related to weapons and armor. On the other hand, inscriptionists devoted more time to the study of inscription, enabling them to add inscriptions to various items, create talismans, and design array formations. Luo Fengwei, as a blacksmith, his knowledge about inscription is not bad.


    In a room within the workshop, Orion delved into scrolls and books obtained from Luo Fengwei. Luo Fengwei generously provided Orion with almost all of his scrolls and books about inscription as part of their agreement. Only important scrolls and books related to Luo Fengwei''s sect were excluded from the exchange.


    After hours of research and experimentation Orion concluded that, despite its seeming complexity, inscription patterns resembled an electrical circuit, with inscription scripts akin to source code or a program. By combining both, it can produce some effects. After more in-depth research and experimentation, Orion deduced that the current inscription system used was not optimal and appeared rather messy, similar to spaghetti code. Orion wondered if it could improve the efficiency or maybe develop a new inscription system.

 Chapter 31: O# Inscriptions

    Orion spent most of its time in one of the rooms in the workshop. The disciples had moved a small furnace and other tools necessary for forging and blacksmithing. Additionally, various tools required for inscribing inscriptions were set up.


    While busy in the workshop, Orion also engaged in comprehensive teaching with Wang Lingxin, who stayed in the guest house and connected wirelessly via the tablet. The lessons covered various subjects, including writing and mathematics. Utilizing the tablet''s capabilities, Orion displayed teaching materials and enhanced them with animations, providing an interactive and engaging learning experience for Wang Lingxin. This innovative approach significantly aided her comprehension and retention of the subjects.


    During the experiment, Orion gleaned insights into ice steel, a unique metal from this world. This metal, used to make a sword that Wang Lingxin referred to as trash, possesses properties resembling regular steel, yet accompanied by an unexplained phenomenon. It exudes an inexplicable coldness, surpassing temperatures below -100 degrees Celsius.


    Orion also conducted experiments with various other unique materials from this world. Some of the metals, while sharing similarities with those from Earth, exhibit mysterious characteristics. For instance, there are regular gold types similar to those found on Earth, but there also exist varieties with unique names such as black gold, red gold, blood gold, and many more, each possessing mysterious characteristics. Similarly, ordinary iron, akin to Earth''s variety, coexists with unique variations such as yin iron, black iron, white iron, fire iron, thunder iron, and others.


    With the utilization of simple experiments, equipment, and the knowledge at Orion''s disposal, Orion concluded that everything still falls within Earth''s periodic table. While some elements in this world exhibit mysterious and unexplainable characteristics, the fundamental nature of the elements remains consistent with those found on Earth.


    The learning about inscriptions was also fruitful; Orion achieved a basic understanding and managed to create simple inscriptions. Similar to anyone just starting to learn about inscription, Orion began by practicing on a simple iron plate. Following exact instructions from the scroll, Orion flawlessly inscribed the iron plate. However, a challenge arose¡ªOrion couldn''t activate the inscription since it lacked a dantian and the ability to infuse Qi into the inscription. Despite attempting to use electricity from its battery by connecting a cable from one of its arms to the inscription and activate it, as Orion could operate the storage ring using electricity in this manner, the efforts proved futile.


    After grappling with the issue, Orion had an idea. It retrieved a glass bottle filled with LQ (Liquefied Qi) and added a few drops into the inscription. To Orion''s surprise, the inscription glowed brightly, and suddenly, an intense flame erupted from the iron plate. The simple inscription, designed to create a small fire for use as a stove, manifested an unexpectedly large and intense flame, deviating from the scroll''s description.


    As the fire dwindled, Orion retrieved another glass bottle filled with LQ and added the same amount of drops into the inscription as before. Previously, the LQ used was LQ-3, indicating that the liquid Qi had undergone three additional refinements. This time, Orion opted for LQ-0, a liquid Qi obtained from dissolved spirit stones without further refinement. Despite being smaller than the previous flame, the resulting fire still appeared larger and stronger than what was described in the scroll.


    Very nice, Orion thought internally. With inscriptions and LQ, it has opened many possibilities and would allow Orion, despite not having a dantian, to activate inscriptions. This will be very helpful in many situations.


    At sunset, Orion finished its work and met Luo Fengwei. Surprisingly, Luo Fengwei had completed three spare parts with Orion''s advice. After some conversation, Orion excused itself and left the workshop, returning to the Liu family estate. Tomorrow, Orion would be back again.


    At the guest house, as the night fell, Wang Lingxin was already nestled in bed, holding the tablet and engrossed in watching the Cinderella story animation. The character in the animation closely resembled her. When the episode for the night concluded, Wang Lingxin wiped tears that trailed down her cheeks. She carefully placed the tablet in the backpack beside her and pulled the blanket, turning to the side, attempting to sleep while occasionally whimpering.


    Orion, observing from the table, was unsure how to respond. It was evident that Wang Lingxin was deeply touched by the story, finding a relatable connection to her own experiences and perhaps reflecting on the challenges she faced living with her uncle''s family in the past.


    After a while, Wang Lingxin became quiet, already asleep. Orion moved to the bed, fixed the blanket, and gently stroked her head. "It''s fine now," Orion whispered.


    Orion returned to the table to resume its usual research and experiments. First, Orion retrieved three handmade spare parts that Luo Fengwei had completed that day. After a meticulous observation, Orion concluded that for simple spare parts that don''t require high precision, Luo Fengwei''s work is acceptable. However, for those demanding higher precision, the quality of the spare parts made by Luo Fengwei falls short of acceptability. Tomorrow, Orion will ask Luo Fengwei to only make simple spare parts that don''t require high precision and to use the best materials possible. Afterward, Orion will put inscriptions on them to strengthen the parts. Finally, upon arriving in this world, Orion will be able to enhance its own strength.


    For several days, Orion went to Luo Fengwei''s workshop while Wang Lingxin stayed in the guest house. During the nights, Orion was busy with research and experiments.


    Orion was very close to learning all the scrolls and books about inscriptions. It was easy for Orion to record thousands of pages of books and scrolls, which only took a few hours. Orion just needed to take a single glance, capture the image, and store it. The AI would then analyze it in the background process. After continuous days and nights of work by Orion''s AI, Orion had learned and digested all the information.


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    The knowledge that usually took decades to learn and master was achieved by Orion in just three days. While others struggled to remember many complicated inscription patterns from each book and scroll, Orion had all of it stored in its memory in the form of high-quality images. Orion was close to developing a new kind of inscription system, still using the same basic patterns and scripts for inscription but with a different operational approach.


    Orion tested the new inscription system it had developed using simple iron plates, and it worked flawlessly. The new system proved to be superior, more efficient, streamlined, and innovative compared to the current inscription system in use.


    For instance, to enhance a specific effect, traditional blacksmiths or inscriptionists often inscribe the same patterns and scripts repeatedly. In contrast, Orion implemented a for-loop in its new inscription system, achieving the desired effect with greater simplicity and effectiveness. Rather than inscribe the same inscription patterns and scripts several times like 10 times, Orion added inscription patterns and scripts that have the same logic as for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++).


    The inscription system boasts variable parameters, a feature designed to facilitate the dynamic adjustment of inscription parameters. This innovation eliminates the necessity for multiple inscriptions, allowing for a more extensive range of effects.


    Conditional statements have been seamlessly integrated into the inscription system, offering it the capability to generate dynamic responses based on specific criteria or events. This enhances the adaptability and responsiveness of the inscription system, catering to diverse scenarios.


    In pursuit of enhanced flexibility, the new inscription system has been engineered with modularity in mind. This design choice enables inscriptions or some parts of it to be effortlessly added, changed, or removed, making it versatile.


    The new inscription system also incorporates robust security measures to prevent tampering, alongside numerous other features and enhancements compared to the current inscription system.


    Orion decided to name this new inscription system as O# (O sharp).


    Today, Liu Jian accompanied Orion to Luo Fengwei''s workshop. Liu Jian had a special request; he wanted Luo Fengwei to craft a dagger as a gift for his junior sister. They rode in the carriage together.


    After meeting Luo Fengwei and conveying his request, discussing the details of the design and specifications for the personalized dagger, Liu Jian bid farewell and returned to the Liu family estate. Meanwhile, Orion stayed in the workshop, always busy with various tasks. After Liu Jian left, Luo Fengwei met Orion and handed him the completed custom sword that Orion had ordered.


    "Mr. Orion, this is the sword that you ordered. It''s exactly like your specifications and custom request. Please check it; it just needs to be inscribed with inscription to be complete," Luo Fengwei said. Orion had given him the blueprint and specifically requested him to make the sword handle hollow inside. Though he didn''t know the reason, Luo Fengwei did his best to fulfill the request.


    "Oh, that was fast," Orion remarked. It had asked for it yesterday, and Luo Fengwei had already finished it.


    Orion grabbed the sword and scrutinized it. "Yup, this is good. Thank you. I will be busy in my room, and please don''t disturb me," Orion stated. It couldn''t wait to inscribe it with the O# inscription.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Orion. I won''t disturb you, and I will tell my disciples not to bother you either," Luo Fengwei assured.


    In one of the rooms in the workshop, a sword lay on the table, and Orion stood at the side, marveling at the finished product. Orion had just finished inscribing it. Several enhancement effects were added to the sword, such as strength, sharpness, speed, and others. However, the most significant addition was a completely new kind of effect that Orion successfully developed using the O# inscription ¨C a chainsaw Qi.


    Drawing inspiration from the chainsaw on Earth, where a set of teeth is attached to a rotating chain driven along a guide bar, Orion utilized the sword itself as the guide bar. At the edge of the sword, a specific inscription pattern was applied to transport, move, and control Qi at high speed. The Qi would move from the sword handle to the sword base, travel along the sword edge towards the sword tip, then to the other side of the sword edge, back to the sword base, and finally to the sword handle, completing a loop. The Qi would accelerate rapidly, and since it was a closed loop, it wouldn''t leak, maintaining low Qi consumption. Unlike other swords that had effects increasing sharpness by emitting Qi at the weapon''s edge, resulting in high Qi consumption, the chainsaw Qi consumes very low Qi.


    The sword acts as the guide bar, with the high-speed Qi serving as the teeth and rotating chain. The hollow sword handle contains a compartment where LQ is stored. Inside this compartment is also a storage ring that stores a large amount of LQ. Orion can control the ring using electricity, releasing more LQ into the container if the LQ in the container is depleted.


    Orion then retrieved several metallic rods and stabbed them into the ground. It was time to test the sword''s sharpness. The sword, a high-quality Grade-4 weapon, easily cut through a metal rod even without activating the inscription. Orion then activated the inscription by moving the multi-position slide switch. The inscription on the sword glowed faintly, and the sword''s edge emitted a bright cyan light. Orion slashed towards a standing metal pole in front of it, effortlessly cutting through it.


    But Orion wanted to explore further. Instead of slashing, it decided to gently touch the metal pole with the sword''s edge and move the sword across it effortlessly, cutting it easily and accompanied by sparks.


    Despite the impressive performance, Orion couldn''t gauge the sword''s maximum potential. Even without activating the inscription to its full potential, it could cut a hard metallic pole easily. Perhaps Orion would need to test it again later using even harder materials. With a few metallic poles left, Orion switched the sliding switch to the maximum position.


    The cyan light at the sword''s edge became brighter, accompanied by a humming sound. Suddenly, wind gathered around Orion, who was rather surprised by the phenomenon. Orion looked at the sword closely, wondering, "Is it caused by the sword?" Then, intense wind rose as Orion launched a flurry of slashes towards the remaining metallic pole. Many crescent-shaped cyan lights flew out from the slashes as the sword cut through the metallic pole, turning it into many small pieces.


    Satisfied with the results, Orion stored the sword in the storage ring and left the room. Why is the workshop empty? Where is everybody? Orion wondered internally. Usually, the workshop was bustling with activity, but now it was deserted.


    Orion exited the workshop and saw Luo Fengwei holding a large shield, with his disciples behind him, and an energy barrier enveloped them. Their faces expressed a mix of worry, surprise, and fear.


    "Huh? What are you guys doing out here?" Orion inquired.

 Chapter 32: Invitation for Tag Team?!

    "Mr. Orion, are you okay? Did something happen?" Luo Fengwei inquired with evident concern.


    "Me? I am fine. What about you guys? What happened? Why are you all here?" Orion responded, a hint of confusion in its voice, wondering about the unexpected situation.


    Luo Fengwei began to recount the events, describing how he had been immersed in his work at home when he suddenly sensed a tremendous Qi pressure emanating from the workshop, specifically from the room where Orion was working. Concerned about the potential dangers of an inscription failure that could lead to weapon explosions or the possibility of Orion experiencing a Qi deviation, Luo Fengwei hurriedly made his way to the workshop. Acting with swift decisiveness, he instructed all his disciples to evacuate, forcefully propelling those who moved slowly out of the workshop. Luo Fengwei promptly exited the workshop and positioned himself in front, acting as a protective barrier for his disciples who stood behind him, maintaining a safe distance from the workshop.


    "Master, what is happening? Did something happen to Mr. Orion? Such a big Qi fluctuation, and it''s giving so much pressure," one of Luo Fengwei''s disciples inquired.


    "I don''t know what''s happening, but it''s dangerous, so stay behind me!" Luo Fengwei ordered.


    His instincts were on high alert, a feeling akin to impending doom. Having faced numerous life-and-death situations, Luo Fengwei''s intuition screamed danger. He hastily retrieved a large shield from his storage ring and activated it, creating an energy barrier that covered him and his disciples.


    "Uwwoooooggghhhhh......" Luo Fengwei groaned, pouring a vast amount of Qi from his dantian into the shield.


    Suddenly, from inside the workshop, many crescent-shaped cyan lights flew out. One of them struck the energy barrier, creating a significant crack, and the entire barrier dimmed momentarily. However, it slowly mended and regained its brightness. The crescent-shaped cyan lights ceased, and the Qi fluctuations gradually calmed and disappeared.


    A bead of sweat rolled down Luo Fengwei''s face. "What in the hell were those cyan lights? One of them almost broke through the energy barrier of my Grade-4 defense artifact! Fortunately, only one was heading towards us, and most of them flew in the distance."


    Still on high alert, Luo Fengwei prepared to use defense talismans to reinforce their defense, in case more of those lights appeared. Although he could easily dodge them, he was concerned for the safety of the disciples behind him.


    As the Qi fluctuations subsided and the dangerous lights vanished, Luo Fengwei and his disciples remained tense. Then, they heard footsteps from inside the workshop, and a figure emerged seemingly unaware of the chaos.


    ***


    After listening to Luo Fengwei''s account, Orion internally acknowledged, Crap, I messed up. Orion never thought that the cyan light flying out of the slash would be so destructive.


    "Um... everyone, I am very sorry; it seems that it''s all my fault," Orion said, bowing towards Luo Fengwei and his disciples.


    While Orion was bowing, a creaking sound followed by a crash echoed through the workshop. Half of the structure collapsed.


    Orion turned back to inspect the wreckage and once again bowed apologetically. "Once again, I am really sorry, everyone."


    "Well, it''s okay, Mr. Orion; everyone is okay, and nobody is hurt. But what exactly happened, Mr. Orion? What is that cyan light?" Luo Fengwei dispelled the energy barrier and stored back the shield.


    "It''s like this..." Orion explained how it had finished inscribing the sword and testing it. Who would know that it would cause so much trouble?


    "What? It''s because of the sword? Is that true, Mr. Orion?" Luo Fengwei was surprised because the sword is a grade-4 weapon, but somehow the attack previously felt almost like it was coming from a grade-5 weapon, not grade-5 but almost.


    "Can I see the sword?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    "Sure, here you go." Orion retrieved the sword from the storage ring and handed it to Luo Fengwei.


    "Whoa... what kind of inscription is this?" Luo Fengwei scrutinized the sword closely, his disciples also surrounding him marveling and commenting about the sword.


    Looking at his disciples with sparkling eyes that clearly showed they also wanted to touch and observe the sword closely, Luo Fengwei immediately shouted at them.


    "What are you doing surrounding me like this? If you have free time, then immediately clean up and fix the workshop. Go quickly to work." Luo Fengwei kicked one of his disciples.


    The disciples wanted to look at the sword more but were scared of their master. They immediately moved to the workshop to clean the rubble and repair it.


    "I have caused so much trouble. I am willing to compensate for the damage, and I will help repair your workshop, Mr. Luo," Orion offered.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Hehe, what are you talking about, Mr. Orion? It''s just a trivial matter; you don''t need to think much about it. Just let my disciples do it. More importantly, why don''t we go to my house and have some tea and some talks? I would like to talk about the inscription used in this sword; it''s like I''ve never seen before," Luo Fengwei suggested.


    Orion and Luo Fengwei now moved to the house in the back of the workshop. Meanwhile, the disciples were busy cleaning the rubble and starting the repair work. Orion and Luo Fengwei sat at the table; Orion declined Luo Fengwei''s offer for tea, and the sword was on the table.


    "Mr. Orion, what kind of inscription is this? It uses the basic patterns and script for inscription, but I''ve never seen it used this way." Luo Fengwei inquired.


    "It''s the same inscription system you used, but I improved it greatly and created a completely new kind of inscription system. Although I can''t teach you about this inscription system, I can give you some pointers to improve your current inscription," Orion offered.


    "Really? Thank you very much, Mr. Orion. I will never forget your kindness," Luo Fengwei expressed his gratitude.


    Orion then gave some pointers to Luo Fengwei. Luo Fengwei was rather surprised when he heard that Orion had developed a new kind of inscription system. Just what kind of genius is Orion? He felt a bit sad because Orion wouldn''t teach about it, but he was still happy because Orion was willing to give some pointers to improve his inscription skill.


    Orion left during the sunset, and the workshop had been swiftly repaired. As expected of cultivators, they worked fast. The heavy wood and materials were no problem and easily carried away; they didn''t easily get tired.


    When Orion reached the market area, it detected Liu Jian''s familiar radio signal nearby. Then, Orion bumped into Liu Jian, who seemed to be wandering all over the market, looking for a gift for his junior sister. He wasn''t sure what gift he should buy, so he spent a lot of time wandering around the market and visiting many shops but still bought nothing.


    "It seems that you really care about your junior sister, Young Master Liu. She seems rather special to you," Orion teased Liu Jian as they walked.


    "Please don''t misunderstand, Mr. Orion. When I was still recuperating, my junior sister took good care of me. So, I want to say my thanks properly. She has already returned to the sect, and when I return, I plan to give her a gift ¡ª the dagger made by Mr. Luo and maybe another gift. But I don''t know what I should give her," Liu Jian explained.


    "Oh...? Is there really nothing going on between you two?" Orion continued to tease Liu Jian.


    "Of course," Liu Jian responded firmly.


    "Is that so? Then why is your face so red?" Orion asked.


    "Uh... the weather is rather hot today, so..." Liu Jian nervously waved his hands, his face getting redder.


    They continued their walk towards the Liu family estate. Suddenly, from the front, a female figure appeared. She wore a beautiful dress, carried a small silk umbrella, and her long black hair swayed in the wind. The bottom part of her face was covered by a silk veil, revealing only her eyes, but it was evident that she must be very pretty. She headed towards Orion and Liu Jian, stopping in front of them, blocking their way.


    Hua Meiying? Orion thought internally, easily recognizing the radio signal emitted by her.


    "Greetings, Young Master Liu," Hua Meiying said as she folded her umbrella and gave a courteous bow.


    Onlookers in the streets were immediately captivated by her beauty, and her veil added an air of mystery, making her even more appealing. They watched her with wide eyes and agape mouths, thinking, Whoa... what a beauty.


    "Oh, so it''s Miss Hua. Greetings, Miss Hua. Are you out for a stroll or shopping?" Liu Jian returned the greeting with a bow.


    "I am just out to take some fresh air. How about you, Young Master Liu?" Hua Meiying inquired.


    "Um... I also want to relax my legs and decided to take a stroll," Liu Jian replied.


    "Is that so? I thought I heard you mentioning about looking for some gift for some girl. Your girlfriend, perhaps?" Hua Meiying teased.


    "Ah... you heard about that? Miss Hua, please don''t joke around. I am just trying to find some gift for my junior sister, not my girlfriend," Liu Jian clarified.


    "I am sorry; I didn''t intend to eavesdrop, but I just happened to hear it. Also, do you mean she is not your girlfriend or not yet your girlfriend?" Hua Meiying inquired with a playful smile, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.


    "She is just my junior sister, okay? Please stop joking around," Liu Jian said.


    "Young Master Liu, why is your face becoming so red?" Hua Meiying chuckled, covering her mouth with her right hand.


    "This is... this is nothing..." Liu Jian stammered.


    "And this gentleman must be Mr. Orion. Greeting, Mr. Orion," Hua Meiying greeted and bowed, finally addressing Orion, who had been quietly observing from the sideline the entire time.


    "You know me?" Orion asked flatly. From Orion''s memory, there was no previous interaction with her.


    Hua Meiying gave a small chuckle. "Of course, I know about you. How can I not remember someone who described my performance as ''so-so''?" She smiled towards Orion.


    Did she hear about that? Her hearing must be sharp, Orion thought internally.


    "Please forgive me, Miss Hua. I didn''t mean to disrespect or mock you," Orion apologized.


    "It''s fine. Everyone is free to give their judgment to my performances. Everyone has different tastes and different criteria for judging art, performance, entertainment, and the like," Hua Meiying explained as she walked closer in front of Orion.


    "If Mr. Orion wants, then I can give you a private performance, just the two of us. How about it?" Hua Meiying asked, her index finger gently caressing Orion''s metallic chest in a soft, seductive voice.


    A gulping sound could be heard from Liu Jian as he watched with widened eyes, his mind already going wild.


    "Ara~, Young Master Liu, what are you thinking about?" Hua Meiying smiled playfully.


    "Nothing... nothing..." Liu Jian waved both of his arms.


    "I thank Miss Hua for your invitation, but I must decline it," Orion firmly stated.


    "Are you sure, Mr. Orion?" Hua Meiying winked, and her index finger continued to gently caress Orion''s hard metallic chest.


    The onlookers couldn''t believe what they were witnessing¡ªa private performance offer from such a beautiful girl. Their minds began to race with wild thoughts.


    "If I am not enough, then~... how about I invite some of my friends? And we can have fun together?" Hua Meiying whispered seductively.


    Tag...tag team?! The onlookers screamed internally.


    However, the lively atmosphere didn''t last long as a group of people approached Orion''s group. Leading the group was Chen Rongwei, the second young master of the Chen family, a prominent family similar to the Liu family. He was a rather good-looking young man donned in luxurious attire. Behind him, several young men from smaller families followed suit, dressed rather lavishly. They were Chen Rongwei''s devoted followers, eager to curry favor and become his lackeys. Chen Rongwei, known widely in Yanjing city as a playboy, had a reputation for ensnaring many young girls with his charming facade. The surrounding people quickly opened a path, creating distance to avoid offending Chen Rongwei and preferring to stay as far away as possible.

 Chapter 33: Unpleasant Encounter on the Streets

    , What offer?


    Tch... what a stubborn girl, playing hard to get. Wait till I get my hands on you; I''ll make sure to discipline you, Chen Rongwei licked his lips.


    Huh? Mr. Orion? He''s not your guard? Chen Rongwei thought internally, rather surprised. "Apology? Hmph, why would I?" Chen Rongwei scoffed.


    Very well, you want to play? Then I will accompany you to the end. If the Chen family becomes an enemy, I won''t hesitate to send them to the afterlife, Orion resolved within itself. With Orion''s current condition, although the chance of defeating the Chen family is low but it''s not zero. Orion is confident that it can continue to get stronger at a relatively fast rate.


    > Modifying AI module.


    > Developed: Advanced Insult Protocol.


    This will be interesting, Hua Meiying thought internally, with a smile on her face.

 Chapter 34: Overwhelming Display of Power

    The Fly No. 1''s fist collided with Orion''s helmet forcefully, emitting a loud bang. However, to Fly No. 1''s surprise, nothing happened; Orion stood unmoved, and the helmet remained intact. Fly No. 1''s face contorted in pain, realizing not only did his fist fail to cause any damage, but he also felt pain himself.


    "Ughh... de...defense artifact?" Fly No. 1 stammered. He was certain that previously it was just a normal helmet, but now it seemed to be a defense artifact. How?


    "Rookie mistake ¨C always deliver a decisive blow," Orion remarked. "Now, it''s my turn."


    Clenching its right fist, Orion unleashed an uppercut that struck Fly No. 1''s jaw strongly. Orion''s punch sent Fly No. 1 airborne for a second before he lost consciousness and slumped to the ground.


    While Fly No. 1''s punch had enough strength to shatter Orion''s helmet, unfortunately for him, Orion had inscribed its entire body with O# inscriptions. These inscriptions, powered by LQ stored at several places in its body, enhanced its defense, strength, speed, durability, quietness, stealthiness, lightning, and more. The inscriptions are concealed within Orion, making them invisible from the outside.


    Previously, after developing the O# inscriptions, Orion only got the chance to inscribe simple inscriptions in its body. Orion plans to replace some of its body parts with better materials unique to this world, then add more complex O# inscriptions with more significant effects.


    Orion may be the only one to utilize inscriptions in this manner, as cultivators cannot inscribe inscriptions on their own bodies. The Qi flow within the inscription would disrupt the Qi flow in a cultivator''s body, potentially damaging their meridians and dantian. Furthermore, when activating the inscriptions on the body, it is a painful experience for cultivators. However, as a robot, Orion faces no such challenges. Other than Orion, there are also cultivators known as puppet controller and zombie controller who employ inscriptions for body strengthening. However, they do not use these inscriptions on their own bodies; instead, they apply them to puppets and zombies. These cultivators utilize puppets and zombies as weapons for combat.


    By activating the inscriptions in its body, Orion effortlessly defended against the punch of a 4th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivator. Subsequently, Orion activated the inscription in its right arm, strengthening the punch and delivering a powerful blow that easily defeated Fly No. 1.


    "Next," Orion declared.


    "Don''t get too cocky, you dog. He''s just trash and got careless," Chen Rongwei remarked.


    "Second Young Master Chen, let me handle this. It seems that this bastard has been hiding his strength, but don''t worry; I won''t be careless," another of Chen Rongwei''s followers, a 5th stage Qi Condensation cultivator, offered.


    "Don''t disappoint me," Chen Rongwei replied.


    The follower swiftly retrieved a Grade-1 sword from his storage ring and charged towards Orion. The sword emitted a radiant light, indicating his serious intent from the beginning. He utilized his combat technique right away.


    "Come, Fly No. 2," Orion beckoned.


    "Eaaa!!!" Fly No. 2 closing in quickly towards Orion.


    Orion had learned many combat techniques and movement skills from various books, scrolls, and direct observations. During a previous city tour with Liu Jian and Wang Lingxin, they witnessed a competition among cultivators, providing Orion with valuable insights. Now, it was time to put theory into practice and test its skills against these flies.


    Fly No. 2''s attack was fierce; he stabbed towards Orion''s helmet, trying to pierce it. Orion shifted its head to the right, dodging the attack closely. Fly No. 2 continued with a left horizontal strike, attempting to behead Orion. Forced to duck to avoid it, Orion evaded the strike. Fly No. 2 then pressed on with a diagonal attack to the bottom right. Orion twisted its body to the right and leaned back slightly, barely avoiding the attack. Fly No. 2 finished the sequence with a straight left kick, attempting to send Orion back and create some distance. However, Orion crossed both of its arms in front of its chest and blocked the kick. Despite Fly No. 2 exerting all his strength in the kick, Orion easily blocked it, standing firm like an immovable mountain. Unsuccessful in pushing Orion, Fly No. 2 utilized the kick''s force to propel himself backward, creating distance. All of Fly No. 2''s assaults unfolded in just a few breaths.


    "What a slippery bastard," Fly No. 2 muttered, frustrated because Orion managed to dodge his relentless assault.


    Fly No. 2 held the sword in front of him, its glow intensifying as a brisk wind began to swirl around. With a resounding roar, he declared, "Take this, Whirling Gale Thrust!"


    In a swift and determined dash, he closed the distance towards Orion with remarkable speed, leaving an afterimage in his wake. The sword aimed to stab Orion, and the wind rotated around the blade, creating sharp vortexes at its tip. The impressive momentum of his attack left thick dust billowing in his trail.


    Despite Fly No. 2''s rapid movements, Orion effortlessly captured his momentum using its optical sensors. Calm and unmoving, Orion awaited the incoming ferocious attack.


    From the perspective of mortal onlookers watching from afar, the spectacle left them awed and impressed. It seemed as though the armored figure facing the attack was frozen in place, perhaps too terrified to make a move. The anticipation in the air heightened as Fly No. 2 got closer to Orion. To their surprise, the armored man brazenly extended his index and middle fingers against the sword attack. What a madman, they thought.


    Clang! A resounding metal sound reverberated.


    Orion stopped Fly No. 2''s stabbing attack, clamping the sword between its index and middle fingers, tightly holding it near the blade''s tip, the spiraling wind vortex around the sword also got dispelled.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "What?!!!" Onlookers were stunned. The armored man had stopped the sword attack with just his fingers, and now the two stood frozen in place.


    Fly No. 2''s face turned ugly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. Despite exerting all his strength, he couldn''t retrieve his sword; it felt as if the sword were stuck in a big boulder rather than held by the armored man''s fingers. He was surprised, questioning why his attack could be easily caught by the armored man''s fingers.


    Damm it, does his gauntlet also a defense artifact? Why can''t my attack cut it? What Grade is it? Wait, don''t tell me all of his armor is a defense artifact? How did ordinary armor suddenly turn into a defense artifact? And why don''t I see any inscriptions on it? Fly No. 2 internally puzzled, feeling the Qi fluctuation from Orion''s arms.


    "Urgh...." Fly No. 2 groaned. His right hand trembled as he struggled to free the sword.


    "Is that the best you''ve got? Well, that was trash," Orion taunted.


    Orion twisted its fingers, breaking the sword held between them. Orion then hurled the broken sword tip toward Fly No. 2''s left foot, nailing it firmly to the ground.


    "AAHHHHH!!!" Fly No. 2 screamed in pain, witnessing his broken sword tip stab his foot and anchor him to the ground.


    "Shut your..." Orion launched a high kick, aimed at Fly No. 2''s head, the strike executed with precision. "...mouth."


    Fly No. 2 was sent flying to the side, rolling on the ground a few times before losing consciousness. Blood oozed from his left foot, where the broken sword tip still remained firmly embedded in the ground.


    "Whoaa..." the onlookers exclaimed, overwhelmed by the dominating display of power from the armored man.


    Chen Rongwei grew angrier as he witnessed his lackey getting beaten. His subordinate, rather than defeating Orion, ended up thoroughly defeated instead in just a few moves.


    Orion turned toward Chen Rongwei and his follower, standing straight as a ramrod and holding both of its arms behind its back. "Next," Orion declared confidently, exuding the demeanor of a high-level cultivator looking down on a bunch of ants.


    "Who are you exactly?!" Chen Rongwei demanded angrily, his frustration evident.


    "I already told you, I am Orion," replied Orion nonchalantly.


    "Tch, how dare you cause trouble in this city?" Chen Rongwei retorted.


    "What trouble? I am just defending myself. You guys are the ones causing a ruckus," Orion asserted.


    Chen Rongwei''s anger grew, but an uncomfortable feeling began to gnaw at him. The seemingly ordinary mortal turned out to be remarkably strong, and the armor he had dismissed as ordinary now seemed like it could be a defense artifact. Chen Rongwei wondered if Orion had a significant background to possess such armor. Should he back off? But Orion had already insulted him in public, and he couldn''t let it slide.


    "Second Young Master Chen, there''s no need for more talk. Let''s all attack and beat that dog together," one of Chen Rongwei''s followers suggested.


    "Second Young Master Chen, he''s just alone, and we definitely can overwhelm and defeat that dog," another follower chimed in.


    "All of you attack together, use everything you have!" commanded Chen Rongwei.


    "Yes, Second Young Master Chen," responded the remaining follower.


    Chen Rongwei didn''t plan to make a move himself, still feeling uneasy about the armored man named Orion. Instead, he decided to send his followers to test the waters.


    The four remaining followers drew their weapons from their storage rings, the weapons glowing as they attacked. Charging at the same time, they utilized their movement techniques, their advance accompanied by loud shouts. Two of them took the middle position, while the other two positioned themselves at the edges. Their plan was simple: the two in the middle would overwhelm Orion together, while the other two would flank Orion from both sides simultaneously. Confident in their strategy, they believed they could defeat Orion.


    Whoooshh...


    But to their surprise, Orion suddenly charged towards them at an even faster speed, heading straight for the two in the middle. Startled by Orion''s sudden move, they launched their attacks. Orion deftly ducked its body while simultaneously preparing a punch with both arms. Evading their attacks, Orion immediately counterattacked with a powerful punch aimed at the two.


    "Take this, Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4!" Orion declared confidently.


    "Guahh!" Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4 were punched strongly in their guts, experiencing excruciating pain. They spat blood, feeling the wrenching pain as they were knocked back, sent flying by Orion''s powerful punch.


    The other two, initially planning to flank Orion, found themselves behind Orion due to his sudden charge. Seizing the opportunity, they launched their attacks, aiming at Orion''s exposed back.


    "Fire Edge Slash!"


    "Misty Thrust!"


    After sending Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4 flying, Orion sensed the approaching presence of Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 from behind by detecting their radio signals. In response, Orion jumped forward, placing both palms on the ground, thrusting and using the force to propel its body forward and upwards in a forward roll, narrowly evading the attacks from Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6. Simultaneously, Orion''s body soared through the air as it closed in on the bodies of Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4, who had crashed loudly to the ground. Groaning from the impact, their ordeal was far from over as Orion descended upon them, delivering powerful palm strikes to their faces, the sheer force burying their heads into the ground. Orion didn''t stop there; it activated the electroshock weapons on both of its palms, electrocuting Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4. Blood flowed from Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4''s mouths and noses, their unconscious bodies convulsing and crackling with a buzzing sound from the electroshock weapons.


    "Ba...bastard," stammered Fly No. 5, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    "Careful! This dog is very strong," warned Fly No. 6.


    In just a short moment after they began their attack, their two other companions, who are 4th and 5th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivators, were quickly defeated. Now, only the two of them remained. They became wary and scared, questioning how strong the armored man actually was. As 5th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivators, both Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 felt fear, wondering if they had perhaps offended someone they should never have.


    Orion stood and turned towards Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6. "Next."


    Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 were consumed by fear, as if Orion had just announced their death sentence. They broke into a cold sweat.


    "Are you not coming? Then I will," Orion declared after waiting for Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 to make a move.


    Without hesitation, Orion dashed towards them.


    "Quick, block him!" Fly No. 6 shouted.


    "Heaaa!" Fly No. 5 exclaimed.


    Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 prepared to defend against Orion''s attack, expecting to block, parry, or dodge. However, to their surprise, Orion thrust both its palms forward, launching small, sharp projectiles that swiftly flew toward them. The unexpected attack caught them off guard as the projectiles hit their chests, delivering a shocking jolt of electricity.


    "GYAAAAA!!!!" Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 screamed in pain.


    Orion continued closing in on them. The projectile-based electroshock weapons were connected to cables, conducting electricity from Orion''s palms to their chests. Numb and paralyzed, they watched in horror as Orion approached, rendering them helpless. With precision, Orion landed a powerful punch on Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6''s chins, sending them crashing backward and into unconsciousness.


    The onlookers watched from the side, speechless; no one made a sound, impressed by the battle. After the dust settled, Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 lay motionless on the ground, unconscious and looking pitiful. The armored man stood, his clothes still looking clean and tidy, as if he had not just been involved in a fight. The situation was quiet; only the sound of the wind blowing and carrying dried leaves on the ground, dancing, could be heard.


    "All the flies are now down, only the shit is left. Now, what are you gonna do, Mr. Shit?" Orion broke the silence.


    "?!" the onlookers exclaimed.

 Chapter 35: Even Mortals Can Reach the Void

    "Bastard!" Chen Rongwei exclaimed, his face contorted into an ugly expression as a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.


    All of his followers had been defeated, and now he found himself insulted. However, he was in a difficult situation where he couldn''t advance or retreat. He desperately wanted to beat up Orion, but Orion''s strength proved insurmountable. Even facing four of his followers, Orion emerged victorious. Chen Rongwei lacked confidence in dealing with this powerful adversary. Yet, letting Orion go would tarnish his reputation, especially since he was the one who initiated this incident. Running away was not an option; he refused to retreat with his tail tucked between his legs.


    Orion and Chen Rongwei stood facing each other, motionless and silent. Chen Rongwei was uncertain about what to do, standing still with a complicated mix of emotions. Orion, on the other hand, remained calm, waiting for something to happen¡ªor, more precisely, for someone hidden nearby to make a move. Chen Rongwei, who was at the 9th stage of the Qi Condensation realm, is nothing compared to this hidden individual at the 4th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm that hide not far from him.


    A gentle wind swooshed, carrying dried leaves that danced between the two.


    Onlookers began to whisper quietly among themselves, and Chen Rongwei noticed that they seemed to talk about him in a contemptuous manner. The respect and fear they previously showed him had transformed into disdain.


    "Damn it!" Chen Rongwei muttered, "Bastard, you dare to go against me?! My Chen family won''t let you go, you bastard!" Chen Rongwei growled.


    As expected of an arrogant young master, immediately using his background against others, Orion thought internally. However, Orion already had a plan on how to deal with this troublesome and arrogant young master.


    Gritting his teeth, Chen Rongwei retrieved a sword from his storage ring. The sword glowed brightly as he prepared to launch an attack against Orion.


    Sigh... still don''t want to make a move? Orion pondered internally.


    "Take this, you bastard!" Chen Rongwei declared, a swirling wind enveloping him as his sword gleamed brightly. Prepared to unleash his renowned family sword technique, he shouted, "Crimson Serpent Sword Style!"


    Suddenly, a stronger wind swirled around Orion, and the ground beneath it cracked slightly. A faint cyan glow emanated from Orion, shocking the onlookers. The sudden appearance of a significant Qi pressure from Orion suffocated the spectators.


    Orion had activated the inscription in its body, powering it with LQ-3. While fighting against Chen Rongwei''s followers, Orion had only used LQ-0 to activate the inscription. Now, Orion decided to use LQ-3, making the inscription glow brightly and slightly visible from the outside. This drew parallels to a previous experience in Luo Fengwei''s workshop, where Orion unknowingly scared Luo Fengwei while testing the inscription on the sword.


    Orion aimed to intimidate and deter Chen Rongwei and the Chen family, despite the risk of drawing more attention. However, Orion concluded that they wouldn''t dare to be rash.


    Onlookers struggled to breathe, some collapsing to the ground, panting and gasping. Chen Rongwei, closest to Orion, sweated profusely. His combat technique dispelled as he lost focus, he gasped for breath and his body trembling in fear. Unknowingly, he even peed himself. Despite this, he still held his sword, pointing it towards Orion, albeit shaking. Tears and snot flowed, making his face even uglier.


    "So... so strong!" Liu Jian exclaimed, his heart beating faster due to the tremendous Qi pressure from Orion.


    Is this his real strength? Hua Meiying wondered internally. Oh no, I hope I didn''t offend Mr. Orion by trying to seduce him previously. Hua Meiying thought internally as she adjusted her hair that got messed up by the wind.


    The one who caused it all stood with both arms crossed behind its back, its clothes fluttering wildly in the intense wind.


    Finally decided to make a move? Orion pondered internally.


    Then, a figure appeared out of nowhere in front of Chen Rongwei, standing close and shielding him from the Qi pressure.


    "Senior, please calm yourself. My name is Chen Liang, and I apologize on behalf of my second young master. Please forgive him if he has offended you, Senior. Show some mercy on him," Chen Liang bowed, cold sweat visible on his forehead.


    Orion had discerned Chen Liang''s presence through a meticulous analysis of data from its multi-band phased array antenna. During this thorough examination, Orion effortlessly mapped the locations of cultivators in its vicinity, even those attempting to conceal themselves. Three cultivators seemed to be hiding nearby, with one of them being Chen Liang.


    It became evident that Chen Liang had been discreetly shadowing Chen Rongwei, always lurking nearby¡ªa likely secret guard. Similarly, another individual discreetly followed Liu Jian, presumably acting as his secret guard. The last person had been tailing Orion for the past few days, consistently maintaining a careful distance. This hidden individual followed Orion''s city tours and visits to Luo Fengwei''s workshop. In the Liu family estate, this cultivator always stayed in the same building located at the back of the property. Orion concluded that this follower must be affiliated with the Liu family, assigned to either spy on or guard Orion, or perhaps both.


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    With Chen Liang''s appearance and his shielding of Chen Rongwei from the intense Qi pressure, Chen Rongwei found it easier to breathe. He dropped his sword and then slumped to the ground.


    "Hmm... I''m certain you''ve seen how your second young master insulted me, haven''t you? And do you expect me to just forgive him?" Orion tried to maintain an air of anger while simultaneously activating the inscription, producing tremendous Qi pressure.


    "... senior, it''s indeed our second young master''s fault. He is still young and inexperienced; please, senior, show some mercy. Our Chen family patriarch will visit your esteemed self personally to apologize," Chen Liang said, having already relayed the news to the Chen family using a communication talisman.


    "Well, there is no need to escalate it, and there is no need for your patriarch to apologize. I will forget about what happened, but make sure to discipline him properly so he will stop causing problems," Orion responded. Orion deactivated the inscriptions in its body; the inscription dimmed, and the Qi pressure disappeared.


    "Thank you very much for your mercy, senior," Chen Liang bowed deeply, smiling.


    "Chen Liang! Why did you just show up?" Chen Rongwei finally spoke after normalizing his breathing and calming himself. "Quick, beat this bastard for me! Break all his bones, then ki..." Before Chen Rongwei could finish his sentence, someone hit the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.


    Damn this stupid kid! I just begged for your life, why must you open your stupid mouth? Do you want to be killed that badly? Chen Liang thought internally, frustrated. When Chen Rongwei started blabbering, Chen Liang immediately moved towards Chen Rongwei''s back and hit him, knocking him unconscious.


    Chen Liang had been assigned as Chen Rongwei''s secret guard for a few years. His role was to hide and protect in secret. Chen Rongwei loved to cause trouble, but people would be scared by his Chen family background, and not many dared to stand up against him. Chen Liang mostly had to follow Chen Rongwei around, clean up his mess, and ensure his safety. However, this time, Chen Rongwei had made a big problem. He offended a monster called Orion. If Chen Rongwei couldn''t grasp Orion''s strength, Chen Liang understood clearly that Orion was a very dangerous and strong individual. The Qi pressure emanated was even stronger than their Chen family patriarch''s. Now, Chen Rongwei had offended such a person and even ordered him to attack this formidable individual. If Chen Rongwei were not a young master, Chen Liang would have beaten him himself for his stupidity.


    "Mr. Orion, please forgive him. He didn''t mean it and doesn''t know what he''s talking about, so..." Chen Liang pleaded.


    "It''s fine. Get lost immediately, and better don''t make any more trouble with me, otherwise..." Orion cut Chen Liang off. Orion activated its inscriptions again, powering them with LQ-3 briefly. Strong Qi pressure and a thick, strong wind emanated from Orion again for a short time.


    Chen Liang cupped his trembling hands, wet with cold sweat, and bowed deeply towards Orion. He immediately grabbed Chen Rongwei and jumped towards a distance, quickly disappearing from view. Meanwhile, Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 still lay on the ground unconscious, and Orion didn''t care about them.


    Taking reference from cultivation novels from Earth, Orion takes a different approach when dealing with arrogant young masters compared to the usual approach taken by the protagonist, who tends to beat up or even kill the arrogant young master. This often leads to escalating problems and the protagonist will end up running all over the place, getting involved in many life-and-death situations, and solely relying on luck or plot armor to survive. Orion is not interested and doesn''t have time for such things.


    The onlookers who had collapsed to the ground immediately stood up, breathing sighs of relief. They thought, Such a scary person, while looking towards Orion.


    "Mr. Orion... are you okay?" Liu Jian jogged towards Orion, a beaming smile of joy on his face. He was incredibly impressed with the fight, completely blown away to discover that his savior was such a strong cultivator.


    His eyes lit up with admiration, and his heart raced with excitement as Orion had unknowingly become his idol¡ªa source of inspiration and admiration. "That was really awesome, Mr. Orion! The way you defeated them easily, and the strong Qi pressure that made Chen Rongwei look terrible," he expressed his admiration for Orion.


    "It''s not a big deal at all," Orion replied, both arms crossed behind its back, standing calmly.


    Damn, he''s so cool. I wonder if I can become like him? Should I imitate him? Liu Jian wondered internally, filled with excitement, impressed by Orion''s effortless victory, intimidating presence, eloquent speech, and heroic aura.


    Orion and Liu Jian walked toward Hua Meiying''s direction. Liu Jian continued to speak with excitement, and Orion listened quietly from the side. The onlookers started to disperse, but they still talked and discussed the incident. It wouldn''t take long for the news to spread in the city, causing a sensation among the residents. The news also caught the attention of all factions in the city, and they started gathering information about Orion.


    "Mr. Orion, that was an impressive display of power," Hua Meiying said, no longer using a playful and seductive tone. "And also, please forgive me if I was being rude towards you previously, Mr. Orion." She bowed respectfully.


    "It''s fine, don''t think too much about it," Orion replied.


    "Mr. Orion, you are so kind... and also, thank you for teaching that Chen Rongwei a lesson. He''s been causing lots of headaches for me," Hua Meiying expressed, feeling satisfaction at seeing Chen Rongwei in a miserable state.


    "That guy deserved it, but unfortunately, there are a lot of those kinds of guys in the world, so you better be careful, Ms. Hua if meeting such persons," Orion remarked.


    "Thank you for your advice, Mr. Orion," Hua Meiying replied, her expression reflecting a touch of sadness. "Some people are blessed with good backgrounds and talents, but they aren''t serious about their cultivation; and only like to cause trouble. And then there are people like me, an ordinary person with an ordinary background and talents, struggling on the path of cultivation." Hua Meiying expressed her challenges in securing resources for cultivation, pondering why individuals like Chen Rongwei, who have abundant resources, choose to play around instead of taking cultivation seriously.


    "Everyone has their own path to tread; there is no need to be concerned or compare with others. Just focus on your own path, advance steadily with a firm heart fueled by ambitions. Even mortals can go beyond the sky and reach the space (void)," Orion advised, thinking about the ordinary humans on Earth who could achieve significant feats.


    A resounding boom echoed inside Hua Meiying and Liu Jian''s heads. In a brief moment, they experienced a sudden flash of epiphany. The occurrence was so fleeting that they didn''t fully understand what had happened. It felt as if the clouds in their minds had cleared a little, the bottleneck in their cultivation lessened, and they sensed that their cultivation paths would be smoother.


    "... My own path..." Liu Jian muttered.


    "... Even mortals can reach the void..." Hua Meiying reflected.


    Orion''s seemingly casual remark had a profound impact on Liu Jian and Hua Meiying.

 Chapter 36: Chen Family

    Hua Meiying closed her eyes, reminiscing about all the hardships she had experienced. The wind gently blew, causing her hair to flutter. Hua Meiying felt the refreshing and relaxing breeze caressing her skin, as if it carried away all her worries and pain to a distant place. When she reopened her eyes, a sense of serenity washed over her. She felt relaxed and refreshed, her heart now tranquil.


    "Thank you very much for your guidance, Senior. I, Hua Meiying, will never forget your kindness. I will definitely repay it," Hua Meiying said, bowing deeply and cupping both arms.


    What? It''s just a simple piece of advice; why is she making such a big deal out of it? And who are you calling senior? Orion thought internally.


    "Then I will excuse myself. By the way, Mr. Orion, if fate allows and we can meet again in the future, and you wish for a private performance from me, I''m always ready for it," Hua Meiying said, smiling. "Oh yeah, young Master Liu, if you still don''t know what gift to give your junior sister, why not choose something that you think will look good if she wears it?" she suggested with a wink. She then walked away, casting a final glance and a smile before disappearing among the crowd.


    The news about Chen Rongwei became a hot topic in the city. Little did anyone know, the next day would bring another surprising piece of information: Hua Meiying, the famous zither performer from the Midnight Orchid Manor, had left the city and returned to the Melodic Harmony Sect, leaving her fans saddened. However, at this moment, they were still happily gossiping about Chen Rongwei, unaware of the impending news about Hua Meiying''s departure.


    Orion and Liu Jian watched as Hua Meiying disappeared.


    "Mr. Orion, should we return?" Liu Jian asked.


    "Yeah, let''s go," Orion replied.


    "Is it true, Mr. Orion, that mortals can reach the void?" Liu Jian asked.


    "Of course they can," Orion responded. They left the scene, continuing to walk and talk, making their way to the Liu family estate.


    Only Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 remained unconscious on the ground, and some onlookers lingered nearby, gossiping about the events.


    In the Chen family estate, a body crashed into a wooden wall, slamming loudly, then penetrated the wall and ended up crashing on the ground outside the building. The body lay motionless, blood oozing from the mouth and nose, bearing the signs of a severe beating¡ªswollen eyes, a broken nose. Despite the battered appearance, the body still breathed. The identity of the body was none other than Chen Rongwei. Horrified servants who witnessed the scene scurried away, refusing to get involved.


    Previously, after Chen Liang brought Chen Rongwei back to the Chen family estate, long after regaining consciousness, Chen Rongwei was brought to the main hall. Consumed by anger and stress, he screamed, cursed, and wreaked havoc, smashing objects in the hall. Chen Liang tried to reason with him but ended up being attacked and beaten.


    "You trash! How dare you disobey my orders! Why did you bring me back instead of attacking Orion? And how dare you hit me you bastard!" Chen Rongwei yelled, delivering kicks to the bloodied body of Chen Liang on the floor.


    Regardless of Chen Rongwei''s behavior, he was still the second young master of the Chen family. Chen Liang swallowed his anger and endured the beating. Despite saving Chen Rongwei, he received blame and beating.


    Not long after, Chen Rongxin, the elder brother of Chen Rongwei, entered the main hall. He was 33 years old and at the 6th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. Following behind was Chen Weinmin, the first elder of the Chen family, a cultivator at the 7th stage of the Golden Core realm.


    Observing the chaotic scene, Chen Rongxin maintained a blank expression. Chen Rongwei, noticing his older brother''s arrival, delivered one last kick to Chen Liang before approaching Chen Rongxin.


    "Brother, you must avenge me! Someone has offended me in the city, and he dared to insult me. Please teach that bastard a lesson," pleaded Chen Rongwei.


    Chen Rongxin, with an empty expression, listened to Chen Rongwei''s version of the incident. After Chen Rongwei finished, he said, "Chen Liang, get up and meet the physician to get yourself treated," Chen Rongxin instructed.


    "Tchh..." Chen Rongwei, who watched from the side, expressed his displeasure with a disapproving sound.


    Chen Liang struggled to stand, then cupped both arms and bowed. "Thank you... young master," Chen Liang limped out of the main hall.


    "Brother, just ignore that trash Chen Liang. More importantly, that bastard Orion is looking down on our Chen family. We must punish him," said Chen Rongwei.


    Smack!


    Suddenly, a resounding slap echoed through the main hall as Chen Rongxin silenced his younger brother''s narration with a slap to the cheek.


    "Brother, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly slap me?" questioned Chen Rongwei, disbelief on his face as he touched his cheek, which was burning with pain.


    Chen Rongxin remained silent and instead replied with a punch to Chen Rongwei''s gut. The punch was so strong that Chen Rongwei bent backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He crouched on the ground, holding his abdomen in intense pain.


    "Bro...brother, why?" Chen Rongwei asked.


    Chen Rongxin grabbed Chen Rongwei''s neck with his left hand and lifted him. "My brother, oh my brother, my stupid little brother... I let you do what you want and have fun, and when you were fooling around and causing troubles, I kept quiet about it. But do you know what kind of trouble you''ve created this time? Do you know about the person called Orion that you want me to punish?" Chen Rongxin sneered.


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    Chen Rongwei gritted his teeth after being called stupid. "Orion? Cough, cough..." he coughed due to being choked, also enduring the pain in his abdomen. "That bastard is just trash," Chen Rongwei managed to say.


    "If he is a trash, then what are you? Worse than trash?" Chen Rongxin asked as he delivered a series of non-stop punches to Chen Rongwei''s face.


    "Guah... Argh... Please stop... Gaahh... Brother, please... Stop... What did I do wrong... Arghhh... Elder Weinmin... Guagh... Please help... Arh... My brother has become mad... Guaghh," Chen Rongwei pleaded, his face battered, blood dripping to the ground.


    Chen Weinmin watched calmly with cold eyes.


    Chen Rongxin released his grip on Chen Rongwei''s neck, and his body fell to the ground, grunting in pain. "Ugh... Brother... W... Why..." Chen Rongwei muttered.


    "Orion is not someone that you should offend; he is not just a mere guest of the Liu family. He also has a close relationship with Mr. Luo Fengwei, and it seems that Mr. Luo greatly respects Orion. Moreover, don''t you realize it yourself? Such an individual wearing a full-body armor that is a defense artifact shows that he is not a nobody; he has some background. Can''t you feel his tremendous Qi pressure? Do you think such a thing can be achieved by a trash? Now, do you understand it, you stupid? You have invited trouble to our family. What if he decided to eliminate our Chen family because of you offending him?" Chen Rongxin demanded.


    Chen Rongxin had already obtained some information about Orion and understood that Orion was not just a simple individual. Although he still didn''t know about Orion''s cultivation level, from the information, he concluded that Orion was at least at the late stage of the Golden Core realm. It was challenging to determine Orion''s cultivation because he didn''t emit a unique Qi fluctuation that could be used to detect cultivation realm. However, based on the Qi pressure emitted by Orion, such tremendous pressure usually could only be emitted by a late-stage Golden Core realm cultivator. There were only a few Golden Core realm cultivators in the Chen family. If Orion was a late-stage Golden Core realm cultivator or higher and decided to seek trouble with the Chen family, they would suffer. All of this was caused by his stupid little brother. Chen Rongxin was really angered this time.


    "But...but... I thought... that he was just a mortal trash... cough," Chen Rongwei struggled to stand.


    "Hmphh, you are the trash!" Chen Rongxin sneered.


    "Cough... do you think you can beat me up like this? Father will punish you!" Chen Rongwei exclaimed.


    "Do you think Father will care about a trash like you?" Chen Rongxin delivered a kick that sent Chen Rongwei''s body flying and crashing into the wall and outside.


    Chen Rongxin stood watching coldly through the damaged wall where his brother''s body had been thrown.


    "So, what should we do with this?" Chen Weinmin asked.


    "Sigh... We should try to mend our relationship with that armored person called Orion and should not antagonize him further," replied Chen Rongxin.


    "Well, it''s good that you know. It''s better to inform the patriarch about this," Chen Weinmin suggested.


    "Yes, there is no other choice," agreed Chen Rongxin.


    Chen Rongxin is currently being groomed to become the next patriarch. Given his age and a sufficiently advanced cultivation base, he has started to manage family affairs, oversee smaller matters, and receive assistance from the elders. At present, the patriarch is in seclusion, immersed in closed-door cultivation, and prefers not to be disturbed unless it''s a matter of urgency. However, with Chen Rongwei having offended someone powerful and potentially caused significant trouble, Chen Rongxin decides to inform his father about it. Alone, Chen Rongxin walks towards the inner Chen family estate. Meanwhile, Chen Weinmin remains occupied with other matters. Chen Rongxin navigates through a secret underground passage to meet his father, Chen Xianlong, the patriarch of the Chen family, currently at the 6th stage of the Golden Core realm.


    Drip... drip... drip...


    In the underground passage, the sound of dripping water echoed. Chen Rongxin arrived in front of a room closed with a simple wooden door. He cupped both arms and bowed.


    "Father," Chen Rongxin greeted.


    A voice replied from behind the door, "Mmm... What is it? Did something happen?" Chen Xianlong inquired.


    "Father, it''s like this," Chen Rongxin explained the incident between Orion and Chen Rongwei.


    "I see," Chen Xianlong said, "What do you think about this?"


    "Father, I believe we should meet with this person called Orion and bring gifts¡ªan apology gift and a meeting gift. Establishing a connection with such an individual could be beneficial. However, if he refuses, we should, at the very least, work to mend our relationship and avoid making him an enemy," Chen Rongxin suggested.


    "Hmm... Stay away from him for now. Observe from a distance and gather more information before making further decisions," Chen Xianlong advised.


    "I''ll do as Father says," Chen Rongxin affirmed.


    "Even if all of this was caused by Rongwei, that person has tarnished our Chen family''s reputation. It would be good if we could befriend him, but if not...." Chen Xianlong''s voice carried a slight Qi pressure as it emanated from behind the door. "If it''s possible to eliminate him, then do so. If not, we will endure it for now. You may go," Chen Xianlong concluded.


    "Yes, Father," Chen Rongxin bowed and then left.


    In one of the guesthouses in the Liu family estate, Orion sat at a table with Wang Lingxin, who had finished her dinner and was now enjoying tea.


    "We will be leaving this city the day after tomorrow. Is there something you still want to do in this city?" Orion inquired.


    "Oh, we will be leaving the city? Are we heading to Fengxian?" Wang Lingxin asked while sipping her tea.


    "That''s right. We will be joining the Liu family caravan. If there''s something you still want to do or a place you want to visit in this city, you can do it tomorrow," Orion explained.


    "Hmm... Master, will we be returning to this city in the future?" Wang Lingxin queried.


    "The distance between Yanjing and Fengxian is rather far. Maybe we can return here once in a while."


    "Will you accompany me tomorrow?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Of course," Orion assured.


    Wang Lingxin then shared her plans for the next day: visiting Granny Mei, who had helped her when she ran away from her uncle''s house; taking a look at her former house; visiting her parents'' graveyard and exploring several places that held nostalgic and important childhood memories.


    "Sure, let''s do it tomorrow," Orion said.


    "Yay, thank you, Master. By the way, Master, can you make another animation movie for me?" Wang Lingxin requested.


    "Of course, but as I''ve told you before, you must get a good score on the test first. You need to study harder. If you achieve a good score during the test next month, then I will make another animation movie for you," Orion stated. The test is aligned with the curriculum and teaching plan formulated for Wang Lingxin.


    "Eehhh..." Wang Lingxin protested.


    "It''s getting late. Brush your teeth and go to bed," Orion instructed.


    Reluctantly, Wang Lingxin brushed her teeth and settled into bed, covering herself with a blanket.


    "Do you want to watch Cinderella or should I continue the Snow White story?" Orion asked.


    "Master, continue the Snow White story," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Very well," Orion said.


    Thus, Orion continued the Snow White story from where they had left off the previous night, unaware that the Chen family had set their eyes on Orion. Still, it all remained within Orion''s calculations, and Orion previous show of deterrence had restrained the Chen family.

 Chapter 37: Mr. Little Tiger, the Boss Cat

    In the guest house where Orion was staying, an SO-1 drone hovered inside the room. On its underside, there was a hardpoint for a small storage pod. Suddenly, a gold coin appeared and fell below the small storage pod. Orion extended its right hand and caught the falling golden coin. Orion had made some modifications to the drone, attaching a small storage pod beneath it that contained a storage ring which Orion acquired through the auction. The storage ring operated using the same method that Orion used; it was connected to a cable. By utilizing the electricity from the drone''s battery, constantly replenished by the ambient Qi in the surroundings, the storage ring could be operated, as the electricity contained traces of Qi.


    After finishing the modification, Orion tested it. Orion controlled the drone to hover in front of it and then activated the storage ring to release a gold coin stored in it.


    Success! Now all the SO-1 drones have been modified and can use the storage ring. These drones are no longer only able to scout or surveil but also to attack; it will be very useful, Orion thought internally.


    Orion took out the storage pod from the drone and stored the drone in one of the storage rings on its fingers. The storage ring couldn''t store another storage ring, so the storage pod had to be carried normally. However, it was small, and Orion easily stored it in the compartment in its chest.


    Orion has once again increased its combat power by adding an attack capability to the drone. Although it can only drop the payload stored in the low-quality storage ring with a capacity of 1 m cubic, and the accuracy is not great, it is still better than nothing. There is also the possibility of adding inscriptions to the drone, but Orion prefers not to add any inscriptions to the SO-1 drone. This is because inscriptions emit Qi fluctuations, making the drone easily detectable by cultivators. For surveillance drones, Orion prefers not to use inscriptions. However, for other types of drones, Orion may decide to add inscriptions in the future.


    I wonder if I can store myself in the storage ring, Orion contemplated internally.


    Only non-living beings can be stored in the storage ring, and Orion, being a robot, should theoretically be able to be stored in it. Orion can store the drone and even the Lander inside the storage ring, but storing itself poses a risk. The ring can only be controlled from the outside, and if Orion is inside, it would be rendered disabled.


    From Orion''s understanding, based on experiments and knowledge from books and scrolls, the space inside the storage ring is a separate realm where time seems to freeze. The clock stored in the storage ring doesn''t move at all, and there is a clear time difference when retrieved ¡ª a stark contrast between the frozen time within and the continuous flow outside. Also, when a burning candle stored in the storage ring, the candle doesn''t decrease, and the fire remains lit. Later, Orion plans to let the Lander control the storage ring, including the intricate task of potentially storing Orion itself. Even though the Lander''s AI is simpler than Orion''s, it should be sufficient to operate the storage ring and handle any potential issues.


    It won''t be long for the sun to rise. Orion glanced at Wang Lingxin, who was still sleeping, and decided to retrieve books and scrolls about cooking. Orion began reading while patiently waiting for Wang Lingxin to wake up. Recognizing the necessity of cooking, especially considering Wang Lingxin''s hearty appetite, Orion concluded that acquiring culinary skills would be beneficial.


    Hmm... everything is similar to Chinese food from Earth. It won''t be hard to learn about it, Orion thought. Orion already had information in its database about Earth''s culinary arts and Orion planned to utilize it, though it lacked practical experience. Should I introduce other kinds of cuisine from Earth? Orion pondered.


    Spending about an hour flipping through many books and scrolls, Orion easily stored the information inside, simultaneously multitasking by allocating some of its AI to learn and analyze the vast amount of culinary knowledge. Not long after, Wang Lingxin woke up. After both of them prepared for the day, Orion and Wang Lingxin left the guest house, as there were many things to do that day. They headed towards the residential area on the east side of the city.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin began their journey by visiting Wang Lingxin''s old house, the place where she grew up and once lived with her parents. When she was 5 years old, her father, a mortal martial artist, was tragically killed by a spirit beast in the forest while searching for spiritual herbs. Not long after, when Wang Lingxin was 7 years old, her mother succumbed to illness. Since then, she had been living with her uncle''s family, and her childhood home was sold by her uncle. Now, Wang Lingxin gazed at the small, simple wooden house that now belonged to other people from a distance, wearing a rather sad expression. It might be the last time she sees the home where she grew up and created beautiful memories with her parents.


    Observing Wang Lingxin''s melancholy, Orion tried to console her. "If you want, I can make a video of it, and you can still watch your house again from the tablet," Orion offered.


    A smile appeared on Wang Lingxin''s face. "That''s a great idea, Master! Can you record a video of my house?" she asked, remembering that her master is so skilled that he can create something called video and pictures ¨C a kind of magic that captures the world''s scenes and scenery.


    "Of course, that''s easy," Orion replied.


    Thus, Orion started recording the house and its surroundings using its high-quality optical camera from various angles, understanding the importance of preserving these memories for Wang Lingxin.


    "Done, shall we go to the next place?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, let''s go. I will lead the way," Wang Lingxin said enthusiastically.


    Thus, they continued their journey, visiting several places. Wang Lingxin asked Orion to record many things while explaining about them at the same time. They visited the small playground not far from her former house, as well as many shops she used to visit with her parents. She shared stories of how she would pretend to cry so her parents would buy her candy. Wang Lingxin asked Orion to record the store and the store owners while explaining about them. For example, Uncle A was a playboy who loved to tease young female customers, and if his wife discovered it, he would get a smack to the head. Nestled in a quiet corner not far from her former house is Grandpa B''s humble meat bun stall. Grandpa B, a weathered but kind elderly man who doesn''t like to talk much, is known for his delectable meat buns. There was also a kind aunt who ran a candied fruit vendor where Wang Lingxin usually got free candied fruit. Many other store clerks and their stories were recorded by Orion as they toured the neighborhood around Wang Lingxin''s old house.


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    "Master, do you see that orange cat? The one with lots of scars on his body?" Wang Lingxin asked as they walked.


    "What about him?" Orion inquired, looking at the cat. The cat in this world is no different from those from Earth. The orange cat looks ordinary, what''s so special about the orange cat? Orion thought.


    "He is the boss cat around here and very dangerous. He is called Mr. Little Tiger. You must be careful; he controls the area around here." Wang Lingxin warned as she approached the cat. "Pss, pss, pss, miaw," Wang Lingxin called the cat. which meowed and rubbed himself against Wang Lingxin''s leg.


    "Don''t you say that he is dangerous?" Orion questioned.


    "It''s fine because we are friends, but the other kids will be attacked if they come too close to Mr. Little Tiger, and they end up being so scared of him," Wang Lingxin rubbed the cat, picked it up, and held it close. "Master, please record us," she requested as she held and hugged the cat. "Mr. Little Tiger, I will be going to another place. Maybe we won''t be able to meet again. Please take care of yourself and don''t fight too much," she said as she continued to rub Mr. Little Tiger.


    "Meow..." Mr. Little Tiger responded.


    After enough interacting with Mr. Little Tiger, Wang Lingxin let the cat go. "Goodbye, Mr. Little Tiger," she said. Wang Lingxin and Orion then left, with Wang Lingxin taking a final look and waving goodbye to Mr. Little Tiger.


    Next, Wang Lingxin led Orion to visit Granny Mei. Granny Mei lived alone in a small wooden house. When Wang Lingxin ran away from her uncle''s house, Granny Mei took her in, providing a place to sleep and food. Granny Mei was surprised by Wang Lingxin''s sudden visit and invited Wang Lingxin and Orion inside her house. Wang Lingxin happily engaged in conversation with Granny Mei, enthusiastically sharing her excitement about finding a master who would guide her on the path of cultivation.


    "It''s good for you to find a master. Listen to him well, don''t play around, and be obedient, understand?" Granny Mei advised, stroking Wang Lingxin''s head lovingly.


    "Of course, I will. I am a good girl," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Mr. Orion, please take care of Wang Lingxin. She''s been through a lot. I hope she can have a better future and find happiness," Granny Mei requested.


    "Sure, don''t worry," Orion assured.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin then bid farewell. Orion gave Granny Mei a pouch containing money, but she initially refused, accepting it only after Wang Lingxin convinced her tearfully. Wang Lingxin urged Granny Mei to use the money for her well-being. Wang Lingxin promised to visit again in the future, emphasizing that Granny Mei must take care of her health.


    Leaving Granny Mei''s house, their next destination was the flower shop. There, they planned to buy some flowers before going to the cemetery to visit Wang Lingxin''s parents'' tomb.


    After arriving at the tomb, Wang Lingxin and Orion cleaned the surrounding area, removing weeds and wild plants. Then, Wang Lingxin placed the flowers in front of the tomb. She stood there quietly for a while, but Orion noticed that she was holding back tears, suggesting that a lot was going on within her.


    "Master, have you recorded my parents'' tomb?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Yes," Orion replied.


    "Then, let''s go," Wang Lingxin said. She caressed both her parents'' tomb and then left.


    Orion followed her, and as they left the cemetery, Orion gently held Wang Lingxin''s hand. After a while, it seemed that Wang Lingxin couldn''t hold back her tears any longer, and they flowed.


    "It''s fine to cry," Orion reassured her.


    "Hua... huee..." Wang Lingxin cried as they walked, reminded of her deceased parents.


    After a while, she stopped crying and calmed herself. The street was empty with nobody around. Orion retrieved a tablet computer from the storage ring and handed it to Wang Lingxin.


    "Here, why don''t you check the video recording? See if it''s good," Orion suggested, trying to shift the situation and lighten the mood.


    "It''s good; they look so real, as if we are watching them in person," Wang Lingxin remarked. The tablet seemed successful in changing her mood, diverting her attention and alleviating her sadness.


    They had walked for a while and were now in a rather busy street. Orion held her hand as they walked, ensuring she wouldn''t get lost in the crowd. They headed to the Liu family estate, and Orion had already stored the tablet in the storage ring, preventing others from knowing about it.


    "Master, is there something you still need to do before we leave this city?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Yes, first, I will send you back, and then I will head out again. You stay in the guest house and study," Orion replied.


    "Eh... study?!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    After dropping Wang Lingxin off at the guest house in the Liu family estate, Orion looked for Liu Jian and informed him about leaving tomorrow. After that, Orion immediately set out, heading to Luo Fengwei''s workshop.


    In Luo Fengwei''s house, Orion sat with Luo Fengwei, the bustling sounds of the workshop echoing in the background. Luo Fengwei was currently engrossed in writing something on a piece of paper.


    "Mr. Orion, here is the introduction letter," Luo Fengwei said. "With this, you can go to our Flameforge Sect''s representative branch in Fengxian City and get your disciple''s Spiritual Root tested. I will also inform them in advance."


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Luo. I owe you," Orion expressed its gratitude.


    "It was nothing. Also, your orders are mostly finished. Only a few still need a little work. The completed ones are on that table; you can take them with you immediately. As for the rest, I will deliver them today when they''re finished," Luo Fengwei informed.


    "That''s great. By the way, how''s the progress with the wolframite ore?" Orion inquired.


    "Uh... he he, there are still lots of hurdles," Luo Fengwei chuckled, scratching his nose with a hint of embarrassment. "But I won''t be discouraged."


    "Mm... well, good luck with that," Orion said. Orion then retrieved a tungsten carbide drill bit from the storage ring, "This is an example of how tungsten is used, hopefully, it can help you and maybe give some inspiration. For more detailed information, I''ve written it in this book." Orion pulled a book from the storage ring.


    Orion has many of these tungsten carbide drill bits for the purpose of constructing the Mars base. The drill bits are also for research and experiments involving drilling Martian materials. Giving one to Luo Fengwei is not a problem.


    Luo Fengwei scrutinized the drill bit, examining it closely and using his spiritual sense to probe it. "Whoa... such high-quality craftsmanship," Luo Fengwei exclaimed, impressed by the factory-standard tungsten carbide drill bit. "Is it for me? Thank you very much, Mr. Orion."


    "Just a small gift from me, after all, I''ve obtained so much from you," Orion replied.


    "That was nothing, really," Luo Fengwei said.


    They continued their friendly conversation, and then Orion excused itself, storing the finished orders before heading to the market. There were still many things Orion needed to do before leaving Yanjing City.

 Chapter 38: Hidden Machinations

    Orion spent hours visiting many places in the city. During the journey, Orion also overheard from passersby that Hua Meiying had departed Yanjing City, returning to the Melodic Harmony Sect. The revelation left her fans saddened upon hearing the news.


    Returning to the guest house at around 3 PM, Orion also brought red bean buns for Wang Lingxin. She joyfully accepted the treats and decided to savor them in a small flower garden near the guest house, planning to enjoy the delightful red bean buns along with the scenic beauty of the garden. Meanwhile, back at the guest house, Orion was occupied with the meticulous task of sorting through the numerous items acquired throughout the day.


    The refreshing breeze gently caressed Wang Lingxin, and the pleasant aroma of the flowers added to the relaxing atmosphere. With a delicious red bean bun in hand, seated on a stone chair, Wang Lingxin truly savored the moment, eating happily and blissfully. However, everything changed when the person she hated appeared in front of her. She immediately devoured the bun in her hand and hastily shoved the remaining red bean buns into her mouth. After finishing, she wiped her mouth and faced the unwelcome person.


    ...


    Luo Fengwei went to the Liu family estate after completing all the orders from Orion. Upon arrival, he sought out Liu Jian and delivered the dagger he had ordered. Since Orion had not returned and was still in the market, Luo Fengwei accepted Liu Jian''s invitation for tea. After a while, Orion returned to the guest house. Luo Fengwei excused himself and went to visit Orion.


    Upon arriving in the flower garden near the guest house, he noticed Wang Lingxin there, seemingly enjoying a bun. Approaching her with a smile, he tried to be a caring elder, showing some attention to Wang Lingxin. Unexpectedly, Wang Lingxin turned hostile toward him, and Luo Fengwei remembered that she harbored resentment due to past events.


    Uh... what to do? Sigh... I think I should apologize to her, Luo Fengwei thought to himself. Even though Wang Lingxin is just a mortal kid, she is Orion''s disciple, and who knows how high she can soar in the future? It''s better to mend their relationship as soon as possible.


    "Little lass, are you still angry with me?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    Wang Lingxin stood silently, looking at him with cold eyes.


    "Will you forgive me if I apologize?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    Wang Lingxin remained silent.


    "Sigh... little lass, I am sorry if I angered you," Luo Fengwei bowed.


    Wang Lingxin spread her legs, crossed both arms in front of her, and raised her chin. The situation seemed surreal, an old man bowing to a kid, and the kid trying to appear intimidating. However, somehow it also fit, considering that Luo Fengwei is a dwarf, and their height difference is not much.


    "It''s not that easy!" Wang Lingxin declared.


    "At least give me some face. Even like this, I am still a Golden Core realm cultivator and a rather famous blacksmith, you know? I''ve already apologized. Will you forgive me? How about this? I''ll give you a gift as an apology. What do you want? Spirit stones? A beautiful dress? Weapons or armor? Just name it," Luo Fengwei offered.


    "Hmp! Just a Golden Core realm cultivator. Even immortals would have to bow down in front of me, and Celestials need to show their respect towards me!" Wang Lingxin retorted. Though she is just a mere mortal, her view has expanded greatly after encountering her future self. Now, she looks down on everything.


    ...


    Due to Wang Lingxin''s words, above the planet where they were currently located, a pair of illusory eyes appeared. Each eye was far larger than the planet itself, and these eyes possessed a breathtaking beauty, with many mesmerizing lights in the iris. It was as if each eye held within it a galaxy adorned with billions of stars.


    "Ha ha ha, what an interesting little girl," a beautiful voice echoed from above the planet, but nobody could hear it. The pair of eyes glanced towards Wang Lingxin and then to the whole planet, piercing everything as if nothing could hide from them. Then, the eyes shifted their gaze towards the distance.


    "Sigh... human greed knows no bounds. For their selfish ambitions, they willingly sacrifice others, unknowingly inviting disaster upon themselves," the beautiful voice spoke. Then the eyes returned to Wang Lingxin. "Hmm... Wang Lingxin, let''s see how far you can go."


    The pair of eyes took a last glance at the planet and noticed a metallic object orbiting it. "Oh... and what is this?" The eyes scrutinized the metallic object, which had something akin to a pair of wings and a long metallic object resembling a tail. There seemed to be ''Orbiter'' written on it. "A wild variable... perhaps there is still hope for this world..." The voice faded, and the pair of eyes slowly disappeared.


    ...


    In a dimly lit room, a figure sat cross-legged, and before him, a crystal ball hovered, surrounded by a thick black aura.


    "Void Sword, how''s it going?" a voice emanated from the crystal ball, its tone eerie and sinister.


    "Everything is going smoothly," the seated figure replied, "Shadowlord Krythar, you better not be lying to me."


    "Ha ha ha, of course, I won''t be lying to you. Why would I lie to you? We''ve come this far already. I promise that I will give you what you want when the time comes. Hua hua hua," the voice echoed from the crystal ball.


    "You better be," a dangerous glint flashed in the eyes of the seated figure.


    ...


    On a snowy mountain, three elegant figures hovered, dressed in beautiful attire. Their faces radiated a captivating beauty, complemented by their slender figures.


    "Jeez... why should we be wandering in the wilderness like this? We''ve been all over places for days already, and I am tired. There''s nothing fun and interesting," remarked one of the girls, her breath visible in the frosty air.


    "Junior sister, stop complaining. We are currently on an important mission," said the other girl.


    "Senior sister, you are being too serious about this mission. It''s just some space and time fluctuation, probably some kind of natural treasure was born or maybe some kind of natural phenomenon. There is no need to be concerned too much about it. Ugh... why must Master send us? She should send others. Sigh, I prefer to stay in the sect rather than in the wilderness like this," grumbled the junior sister.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Junior sister, you really don''t listen to Master''s words, do you? She already said that not long ago there was some abnormal space-time fluctuation. It was so huge that it even alerted all of those old monsters. Even the ancestor said that this is something that can''t be ignored, thus we need to investigate it," explained the senior sister.


    "Well, whatever. But why me???" questioned the junior sister.


    "If you don''t like it, you can return to the sect," suggested the older looking, more mature girl.


    "Really, martial aunt?" asked the junior sister.


    "Of course, but I will tell your Master, and you will be punished. Do you still want to go back?" inquired the martial aunt, her smile warm, but her eyes carried a subtle threat.


    "Ugh... never mind," sighed the junior sister. She was truly scared of her master, who also happened to be the sect master of the Serene Moonlight Sect¡ªan all-female cultivation sect and one of the top 10 cultivation sects in the Luoshan continent.


    "We just need to find some trace of the space-time fluctuation and investigate it. If it''s just a natural treasure, as you said, then we need to take it, and we can head back. But there is also the possibility of something worse..." explained the martial aunt.


    "Something worse?" questioned both the senior and junior sister.


    "Your master has sent new information. It seems that in the dragon race territory, a world portal connected to the Demon World has been discovered, from which a demon emerged and attacked the dragon race that discovered it. Fortunately, it''s weak and can be killed easily. As for the world portal, it disappears after a while. The same incident has occurred in other places. It''s still unclear if it''s related to the huge space-time fluctuation incident previously. That''s why our sect has dispatched teams to patrol and check for such world portals and also to investigate the mysterious space-time fluctuation. Now, do you understand the severity and importance of the situation? Stop complaining already and focus on the mission," emphasized the martial aunt.


    "Yes, martial aunt, I understand," replied the junior sister reluctantly. However, she stuck out her tongue behind the martial aunt, clearly not caring at all even after the martial aunt''s explanation. The martial aunt just pretended not to notice this.


    "Let''s go; there is nothing unusual around here," Martial Aunt led them. "We can take a little break at Fengxian later. How about that?" Martial Aunt suggested.


    "Really? Martial Aunt, I love you so much; you are the best," the junior sister exclaimed.


    "But you must focus on the mission for now, and no more complaining, understand?" Martial Aunt reminded.


    "Understand!" the junior sister affirmed.


    The senior sister sighed, looking at her junior sister, and just smiled at her.


    The world where Orion is currently located is called the Qian Feng World (ǧ·åÊÀ½ç) ''Thousand Peaks World''. Another world, the Demon World, is inhabited by demons. The inhabitants of Qian Feng and demons rarely interact because they reside in different worlds. Only in rare cases, when mystic realms with portals connecting both worlds emerge, do the inhabitants of Qian Feng interact with demons.


    Around two weeks ago, there was a huge space and time fluctuation that only those with a high enough cultivation base could detect. It resonated from every corner of the world, prompting the cultivation world to mobilize and race to find the cause. The speculation was that it might be the birth of a precious natural treasure.


    Cultivators from the orthodox, unorthodox, and evil paths scrambled to search for clues, each eager to claim the potential treasure for themselves. Even prominent sects immediately dispatched large teams to investigate. However, smaller space-time fluctuations suddenly began to emerge from all corners of the world, caused by the appearance of world portals connected to the Demon World. The world portals only exist for a short time, and from them, demons emerge.


    When demons and the inhabitants of Qian Feng meet, it results in a fight to the death. Demons are dreadful creatures, driven by a relentless instinct to kill and consume. They view the Qian Feng inhabitants as mere food, seeking to drink their blood and devour their flesh to become stronger.


    For the inhabitants of Qian Feng, they are not just mere prey; they also see demons as prey. They actively fight back, aiming to kill demons as they recognize them as mortal enemies. Moreover, demons possess valuable body parts that can be utilized for various purposes, including making pills, weapons, armor, and for inscription materials. The conflict between the inhabitants of Qian Feng and demons is intense, with both sides killing each other on sight.


    Typically, major conflicts are avoided because both worlds are separated. However, a phenomenon has occurred where portals connecting the Demon World to Qian Feng World are appearing. It remains unclear whether this phenomenon is related to the initial massive space-time fluctuation. Demons can now enter Qian Feng World, but the inhabitants of Qian Feng World cannot enter the Demon World. This has created a new and dangerous dynamic, introducing a threat that challenges the longstanding separation between the two realms. Some voiced concerns that it could be the onset of a calamity, but as of now, the cultivation world doesn''t appear overly worried about it.


    ...


    I... Immortals?! How dare she say that. As expected of a kid, she doesn''t know the immensity of heaven and earth, Luo Fengwei thought to himself. And Celestials? What even is that? he pondered.


    Sighing, Luo Fengwei retrieved a spiky fruit from his storage ring, its rather strong odor filling the air. Remembering that the little girl was particularly fond of food, he hoped that offering the fruit would earn her forgiveness.


    "Little lass, will you forgive me if I give you this?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    Wang Lingxin''s face turned dark, and she grew angrier. "What a bad guy! You gave my master a trash sword, and now you want to give me a rotten fruit?"


    "It''s not rotten! The fruit is normally like this, and it tastes very delicious! Moreover, it''s not just a simple fruit..." Luo Fengwei began.


    "I am telling my master that you are bullying me!" Wang Lingxin interrupted.


    "Wait, let me finish... Let me explain," Luo Fengwei pleaded.


    But Wang Lingxin was prepared to leave. Not wanting misunderstandings to escalate and have Wang Lingxin complain to her master, he immediately opened the spiky fruit. With a flick of his finger, a small chunk of the fruit flew into Wang Lingxin''s mouth. She was surprised as something entered her mouth, instinctively chewing and swallowing it.


    "Aaaaaaaa huaaaaa... How dare you feed me that rotten fruit!" Wang Lingxin sobbed.


    "Wait...wait...don''t cry. Please forgive me for doing that. But why don''t you taste the fruit? It''s good, right?" Luo Fengwei asked.


    Wang Lingxin felt the lingering taste on her tongue, and it was delicious. She tasted and swallowed her saliva.


    "See, I am not lying. The fruit tastes good; it''s just that the smell is a bit strong." Luo Fengwei explained.


    "Hmph, don''t expect that I will forgive you just by giving one fruit," Wang Lingxin remarked.


    "I still have ten more of them, and I will give them to you. How about that? Will you forgive me?" Luo Fengwei asked, feeling rather exasperated. He wasn''t good at dealing with kids.


    "Te..ten?" Wang Lingxin smacked her lips. "He he he, Grandpa, you are so nice. Of course, I am willing to forgive you," Wang Lingxin said.


    Luo Fengwei successfully mended his relationship with Wang Lingxin in exchange for eleven spiky fruits. These were not ordinary fruits but spiritual ones that greatly aided cultivators, boosting their cultivation.


    The fruit was called Earth Dragon Fruit because the spiky skin resembled the Earth Dragon''s. It was highly valuable and in demand among cultivators of the Foundation Establishment realm due to its effectiveness. Even those at the Golden Core realm could still gain some benefits.


    However, it seemed that these fruits would just end up as regular food for Wang Lingxin, consumed for their delicious taste. As a mortal, she could only absorb a small part of the benefits of the fruit. If other cultivators were aware of this, they would likely be angered and curse such wastefulness.


    "Grandpa Luo, why are you here? Do you want to meet Master?" Wang Lingxin asked with a friendly expression.


    Grandpa Luo? Luo Fengwei thought internally. "Ha ha ha, good girl, indeed I want to meet with your master," Luo Fengwei replied.


    "Master is at the guest house. I can bring you to him," Wang Lingxin offered. "That fruit looks heavy. How about I carry it for you?" She eyed the fruit.


    "Sure, thank you very much. It''s for you after all," Luo Fengwei said as he handed her the fruit. "I will give more later."


    "Thank you, Grandpa Luo," Wang Lingxin said.


    Then, Wang Lingxin brought Luo Fengwei to meet her master.

 Chapter 39: Leaving Yanjing City

    "Master... Master... Grandpa Luo has come to visit you," Wang Lingxin announced loudly as she opened the guest house door.


    Grandpa Luo? Orion thought internally, "Oh, it''s you, Mr. Luo. Please come in," Orion said. Orion noticed that it seemed Wang Lingxin didn''t hate Luo Fengwei anymore, and Orion could deduce the method used by Luo Fengwei just by looking at the fruit being carried by Wang Lingxin. Durian? Orion thought internally, as the spiky fruit resembled durian from Earth.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion. All your orders have finished," Luo Fengwei said.


    "That''s great. Please have a seat," Orion replied.


    Orion and Luo Fengwei were busy with their own thing, while Wang Lingxin enjoyed the Earth Dragon Fruit on another table, not wanting to disturb her master and Luo Fengwei, and more importantly, so she could savor the fruit alone. Surprisingly, Wang Lingxin managed to devour the fruit by herself, quite an impressive feat considering its size. By the time she finished, Luo Fengwei had also completed his business with Orion and excused himself.


    "Mr. Orion, thank you very much for everything. If you ever need my help, you just need to use the communication talisman to contact me, and I will do my best to assist you. Also, feel free to come and visit me if you have free time," Luo Fengwei said.


    "Thank you for everything, Mr. Luo. Also, feel free to ask for my help if you ever need it," Orion said.


    "Then I''ll excuse myself," Luo Fengwei replied.


    "Granpa Luo, goodbye!" Wang Lingxin chimed in.


    "Yes, goodbye. Come and play in my workshop next time," Luo Fengwei invited.


    Luo Fengwei left, hurrying back home. With all of Orion''s orders completed, he could now focus solely on the research of the wolframite ore.


    "Look at you, so messy. Is the fruit delicious?" Orion asked, observing Wang Lingxin''s hands and face, which were messy after eating the Earth Dragon Fruit.


    "Master, the fruit is soooooo delicious. You must try it," Wang Lingxin exclaimed, licking her lips.


    "No thank you. You can have it all. Mr. Luo already gave the fruits to me, and I''ve stored them in the storage ring to keep it fresh. Now go take a bath," Orion instructed.


    "Yes~," Wang Lingxin replied.


    During the night, Wang Lingxin had already nestled into bed, listening to the continuation of the Snow White story.


    "We will stop the story right there for now and continue again tomorrow. Also, I have some gifts for you tomorrow," Orion announced.


    "Really? What is it?" Wang Lingxin asked, excitedly rising from bed.


    "You will know tomorrow morning. Now, it''s time to sleep," Orion replied.


    "Uhh..." Wang Lingxin sighed, rather disappointed. She nestled back into bed and said, "Good night, Master."


    "Good night," Orion replied.


    Orion returned to the table in the middle of the room, starting to retrieve a plethora of items and tools from the storage ring. "Time for work," Orion declared.


    Tonight, Orion would focus on the gifts for Wang Lingxin. They weren''t completed yet; they were only halfway finished. To complete them, Orion would add inscriptions and make some adjustments. Thus, another busy night passed.


    Morning came, birds chirping, and Wang Lingxin woke up, stretching a little. "Hoams," she yawned, then remembered what her master had said last night. She immediately called, "Master! The gifts!" Wang Lingxin was excited.


    "You wake up? Good morning," Orion greeted, seated at the table, reading a book.


    "Good morning, Master. Where is the gift?" Wang Lingxin inquired.


    "It''s on the table. Why don''t you check it?" Orion replied, still focused on reading and flipping through the book.


    Wang Lingxin immediately jumped out of bed, heading to the table. On it, she found many kinds of different things.


    "Wow... is this for me? Thank you, Master!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    "All these items may look ordinary, but they are far from it. Always wear it understand?" Orion instructed.


    "Understand," Wang Lingxin agreed, though she didn''t fully grasp the reasons behind it and didn''t dwell on it too much.


    "Go get prepared and wear all those gifts. We will be leaving this city before midday. Also, I will explain more about the gifts and their use later," Orion instructed.


    "Okay," Wang Lingxin replied.


    After getting ready for the day and finishing breakfast, Orion began to explain about the gifts.


    One of the gifts was a hairpin with a butterfly shape, a Grade-3 accessory artifact. Orion had custom-ordered it from a shop in the city because Luo Fengwei couldn''t craft aesthetically pleasing products. Despite its ordinary and simple appearance, the butterfly-shaped hairpin was rather beautiful. Orion had specifically asked the craftsman to make it not overly flashy or extravagant but still beautiful enough that Wang Lingxin would like it. Orion had added a defensive inscription to it and powered it with LQ, hidden inside. By pressing the butterfly head, an energy barrier would emerge to protect the wearer.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    In addition to the hairpin, there was also an ordinary non-Graded pendant with a round shape containing a hidden storage ring. Within the confines of the storage ring resided a button cell battery used to activate the storage ring. The pendant could be used to store and retrieve items. Due to its simple mechanism, it can''t be used for selective retrieval of items, and when retrieving, it will unload all stored items simultaneously. It featured two buttons¡ªone for storing and another for retrieving. With this, now Wang Lingxin will have a storage treasure that she can easily use, even as a mortal.


    There was also Grade-3 inner armor defense artifact, which is thin, smooth, rather elastic, made from comfortable yet strong material. It consisted of short pants and a T-shirt. Orion also put a defensive inscription on them because it''s the last line of defense for Wang Lingxin. The waistband of the pants was made from a long, elastic tube extracted from a spirit beast''s body parts and filled with LQ to power the inscription. And for the T-shirt, the tube storing LQ is placed in the underarm seam.


    And there is a Grade-3 metallic bracelet accessory artifact, the only object made by Luo Fengwei. The bracelet is hollow inside, where Orion stuffed a Micro PIFA antenna (a more advanced and compact version of planar inverted F antennas, PIFA), radio transceiver, signal processing circuitry, microphone, speaker, several very small button cell batteries to power it, an indicator light to indicate incoming calls, LQ storage and other components.


    The bracelet is equipped with buttons¡ªone for calling and receiving calls, another for activating the locator beacon, and another for activating the inscription. It can be used for full-duplex (FDX) radio communication, allowing communication with a range of a few kilometers. Additionally, the bracelet serves another purpose¡ªit can emit a periodic radio signal, acting as a radio beacon or locator beacon when activated. Orion can use triangulation to locate the bracelet, providing valuable assistance in emergency situations when Wang Lingxin needs help.


    When the inscription is activated, an energy barrier will envelop the wearer. It''s not a defensive energy barrier, but a concealing type. The energy barrier will conceal the wearer''s visibility, scent, sounds, thermal signature, and Qi fluctuations, but radio signals can still pass through. Additionally, the energy barrier can hide from spiritual sense detection.


    The last gift consisted of Grade-3 shoes defense artifact that Orion inscribed with inscriptions powered by LQ stored in the shoes designed to enhance the wearer''s speed and jumping height. These shoes, along with the inner armor, were ordered from the same shop and have an additional feature to adjust to the wearer''s size.


    "Have you understood? I will explain more and teach you how to use those gifts later," Orion finished explaining. "Let''s go, time to leave. Let''s bid farewell to the Liu family first," Orion said.


    "Yes, Master," Wang Lingxin replied. "Master, can you make me armor like the one you wear? It looks so cool; I want it," she added.


    "Uh... maybe later," Orion responded. It will be challenging but will provide better protection for her; it''s worth a try, Orion thought internally, adding another task to its to-do list. Other than the dress, now Orion will also need to make a full-body armor for Wang Lingxin.


    "Thank you, Master!" Wang Lingxin expressed her gratitude.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin headed to the Liu family''s main hall to meet Patriarch Liu and bid farewell. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Liu Ming, Liu Jian, several elders of the Liu family¡ªeach at the Golden Core realm¡ªand an old man emitting the strongest radio signal in the entire Liu family at 29 GHz, indicating he was at the 9th stage of the Golden Core realm.


    "Patriarch Liu, I''ve come to bid farewell. Thank you very much for your Liu family''s hospitality," Orion expressed its gratitude.


    "It was nothing. After all, you saved my son. The Liu family is grateful for that, and we must do at least that much. Oh yeah, Mr. Orion, let me introduce you to my father," Liu Ming gestured towards his father, Liu Xinyi.


    Liu Ming had initially suspected that Orion might be a Golden Core realm cultivator. However, during Orion''s encounter with Chen Rongwei, when Orion emitted a strong Qi pressure, Liu Ming began to consider the possibility that Orion''s cultivation level was likely much higher than just the Golden Core realm. Recognizing the potential significance of this discovery, he immediately informed his father, Liu Xinyi.


    Liu Xinyi, who was already old and nearing the end of his lifespan saw little hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, his vitality already declining along with his cultivation. Upon hearing about Orion from Liu Ming, he decided to exit his seclusion and meet Orion.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion. I hope you enjoyed your stay in my Liu family. My name is Liu Xinyi. I was the previous Liu family patriarch, but now I am too old and mostly spend my time in seclusion. So, forgive me for only meeting you now," Liu Xinyi spoke.


    "Greetings, Mr. Liu Xinyi. I sincerely thank your Liu family for extending their hospitality to me," Orion replied, and they engaged in warm conversation.


    Then, Liu Ming introduced the elders of the Liu family one by one.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion," they greeted Orion one by one, and also engaged in small talk. One of them was the elder that Orion had previously seen together with Liu Ming when Liu Jian got attacked by the Vermilion Clawed Bear. This elder also sometimes spied and followed around Orion secretly.


    Orion easily noticed that Liu Ming''s attitude had changed a bit; he became more polite. Previously, Liu Ming was polite towards Orion but also more casual and rather easy-going.


    After they had a conversation, Liu Ming said, "Mr. Orion, you are always welcome in our Liu family, and if you ever need our help, we will do our best."


    "Thank you very much, Patriarch Liu. Indeed, there is something that I will still need the help of the Liu family. I am sure your family also has business in the construction field. Thus, I want to use it to build a house for me in Fenxian City," Orion said.


    "That is easy, Mr. Orion," Liu Ming replied. "You can meet my brother, Liu Minzheng. He is the one managing our Liu family business in Fenxian. You can discuss the details with him; I will inform him to do his best."


    "Thank you, Patriarch Liu," Orion expressed its gratitude.


    "The caravan is ready to depart. Have a safe and pleasant journey, Mr. Orion," Liu Ming wished.


    Orion bid farewell and left the Liu family estate, heading to one of the Liu family business buildings in the market riding a carriage that was already prepared. There, the Liu family caravan heading to Fengxian was waiting for Orion.


    The caravan of the Liu family was significantly different from the one Orion had previously joined. It consisted of about dozens of carriages, carrying both cargo and people heading to Fengxian. There were 15 guards, all of them cultivators, with the leader at the 7th stage of the Qi Condensation realm. The carriage specially prepared for Orion was quite luxurious, spacious inside. With only Orion and Wang Lingxin inside, it felt incredibly roomy, featuring soft leather seating. A table was set with food and drinks already prepared.


    After Orion arrived and joined the caravan, they departed, beginning their journey to Fengxian.

 Chapter 40: The First Drone Strike in the Cultivation World

    The sky is so blue,


    the cloud is so white.


    The forest is so green,


    the mountain is far away.


    The bird is flying,


    the horse is walking.


    I am riding a carriage,


    I am going to the big city.


    A cheerful and happy song can be heard accompanying the Liu family caravan. Wang Lingxin leaned out of the carriage window, singing as she enjoyed the journey. With good weather, a gentle breeze, and beautiful scenery, passengers in other carriages and the guards also reveled in the cheerful song. Such a cute kid, they thought.


    Together with Master,


    I am starting my journey.


    To eat delicious food,


    To visit beautiful places,


    To become a fairy.


    The song continued, everybody listening with relaxed and happy faces, enjoying the joyful melody from an innocent kid who seems to have a big dream.


    If I meet bad guys, I will punch them.


    If I meet demons, I will beat them up.


    If I meet dragons, I will kick them.


    If I meet phoenixes, I will eat them.


    If I meet immortals, I will slap them.


    "Whoa, what a brave kid! Still young but already has a courageous heart," everybody commented. Some laughed, and others added, "At least she has a righteous heart and will beat up bad guys, ha ha ha."


    "Ha ha ha, she even would beat up demons; she''s sure to become a heroic figure in the future," some people commented. Others joined in with laughter, but they weren''t taking the words sung by the kid seriously; they considered it as mere entertainment.


    Wang Lingxin continued her song, but this time, everybody fell into silence. They didn''t know how to respond because now, she boldly sang about dragons, phoenixes, and even immortals. She brazenly took it lightly, wanting to kick, eat, and slap these legendary figures? Presumptuous, everyone thought. What if these legendary beings heard what Wang Lingxin sang and appeared to punish her? Everyone also worries about being implicated. Worries spread as they looked at each other, speechless, listening to the still singing Wang Lingxin.


    Together with Master,


    New adventures every day,


    Having fun every day,


    Together,


    Forever.


    Wang Lingxin finally finished her singing. She watched the beautiful scenery for a while, then closed the carriage window. Next, she grabbed a fruit from the table, deeming that she deserved a little treat after the singing session.


    Orion sat beside Wang Lingxin, busily writing on paper with a clipboard all this time. Orion had been occupied with the blueprint for the house, simultaneously listening to Wang Lingxin singing but considering that there was nothing wrong, thus choosing to ignore it.


    The carriage in which Wang Lingxin rode became quiet. Everybody remained rather uneasy, some looking toward the sky and distant horizon, checking for any figures, silhouettes, or objects. They were rather scared that phoenixes, dragons, or immortals might suddenly show up. After being sure that there was nothing out of the ordinary and after quite a while, everybody let out a relieved sigh.


    "What a terrifying kid. Sigh, I thought she is just a simple and innocent kid," some people murmured. They decided to forget and not talk more about what just happened, changing the subject.


    The leader of the guard sighed. Before their departure, he had been strictly ordered by his superior to take good care of the armored man and his disciple, to avoid offending and disturbing him. If necessary, he and his subordinates were to obey and follow the armored man''s orders and instructions. It seemed that the armored man had an extraordinary background. Observing that the armored man didn''t stop the girl from singing about dragons, phoenixes and immortals, he couldn''t do anything and couldn''t complain. All he could do was sigh.


    After a while, the caravan returned to normal, and they conversed like usual. They silently agreed that nothing had happened, especially concerning phoenixes, dragons, and immortals. They decided to collectively have ''memory loss,'' they have been engaging in conversation the entire time and they hadn''t heard any kid singing at all.


    As the sun set, the caravan entered a village to spend the night, making their way to an inn. In the most luxurious room, Orion and Wang Lingxin sat at a table.


    "So, do you like the design for your room?" Orion asked, controlling the tablet wirelessly to display the 3D model of her future room when the house is finished.


    "Oh... is this going to be my room in the future?" Wang Lingxin asked excitedly, holding the tablet. "It''s good, I like it very much. It''s beautiful and cute. Thank you, Master," she added.


    "That''s good that you like it. How about the design of the house?" Orion inquired.


    "It''s also good, Master. I like it. But, Master, make sure that there won''t be snakes and foxes entering the house," Wang Lingxin expressed her concern.


    "Huh... snakes and foxes? What about them?" Orion asked.


    "I don''t want them to eat you, Master," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Why would they eat me?" Orion questioned.


    "Uhm... nothing," Wang Lingxin mumbled.


    "You don''t need to worry. Forget about normal snakes and foxes; even if it''s a Rank-3 snakes and foxes spirit beast, I can deal with them easily." Orion assured, noticing that Wang Lingxin didn''t want to elaborate further, and Orion dropped the subject.


    Orion''s combat power had increased tremendously. Orion believed that facing Rank-3 spirit beasts wouldn''t be hard. Now, Orion wouldn''t struggle so much if facing the Vermilion Clawed Bear again; just a single punch would be enough to kill the bear.


    The night progressed, and now it''s midnight, Orion sat at the table, diligently drawing the design for the houses on a paper. Several papers were already finished, detailing the specifics of the houses. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin was already asleep.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "...emm... master... don''t worry... I''ll protect you... from the snakes... and foxes...mm..." Wang Lingxin sleep talked.


    "Just what''s with the snakes and foxes...." Orion mused, still busy with the brush and papers. Checking the time, Orion remarked, "Well, I think now it''s the time."


    In a forest about 500 meters from the village where the Liu family stayed, a group of people had gathered, setting up camp and lighting a firepit not far away. In the sky above them, without their knowledge, something resembling a dragonfly had been circling for a long time. Suddenly, it changed course and headed toward their camp.


    As Orion left Yanjing, Orion noticed that there were apparently three groups of cultivators secretly following the Liu family caravan. It wasn''t hard to discover them; Orion easily detected their radio signals, though Orion wasn''t familiar with their radio signals and didn''t know their identity. They followed from a rather far distance. When the caravan entered the village, they stayed in the nearby forest. Additionally, a familiar ''rat'' from the Liu family, who had been tailing Orion around Yanjing city, was also present. This cultivator had been following the Liu family caravan from about 50 meters away and was currently somewhere in the village.


    The groups of cultivators are probably from factions in Yanjing, and maybe the Chen family is also involved. As for the Liu family, it''s unlikely. Orion concludes that there is a high possibility that their target is Orion itself. Orion doesn''t like being followed around by unknown people from an unknown origin and plans to teach them a lesson.


    Orion will attack them using the drone. Orion calculated the attack vector for the drone; the drone would drop explosives without any guidance system and would employ a dive-bombing technique. As the drone got close enough to the camp, it began to dive downwards. When about 100 meters above the ground, Orion controlled the drone to release explosives from the storage ring¡ªseveral wooden barrels filled with explosive material commonly used for firecrackers, of which Orion had obtained a substantial quantity in Yanjing. Additionally, Orion had loaded the barrels with many small metallic balls, serving as shrapnel. After the drone executed the dive-bombing attack, it immediately changed direction and flew away, ensuring it wouldn''t be discovered.


    The barrels fell towards the camp, their fuses already lit before being stored in the storage ring. Now, as the barrels descended, the fuses continued burning. The barrels landed in the camp, some falling about 5 meters from the mysterious group of cultivators and the farthest about 20 meters away. Apparently, the cultivators noticed something falling at the last second and retreated. Also, because the barrels didn''t immediately explode after hitting the ground, it gave the cultivators time to move rather far away.


    When the fuses burned out, the barrels exploded with a deafening bang. The barrels exploded almost simultaneously, the explosions were rather strong, creating a series of explosions that obliterated the camp and the surrounding area. Small craters were formed by the explosion, and countless shrapnel flew in every direction, causing more damage to the surroundings. The forest, damp from rain a few days ago, fortunately didn''t catch fire due to the explosion.


    There were also other barrels filled not with shrapnel, but instead with a sticky flammable substance similar to napalm. However, considering the high risk of causing a forest fire, Orion chose not to use them.


    Orion observed the situation with the drone. It''s easy to spot them even in the darkness by using the thermal camera. Orion observed them. The attack failed to cause any damage to those cultivators, but it''s more than enough to scare them away. They still ran away at full speed towards the distance.


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    Well, there is still a lot of room for improvement, Orion thought internally. There are aerodynamics issues, and the fuse is not good; I need to develop an impact fuze. And there are also other issues, Orion continued, still busy drawing the house design while multitasking, controlling the drone.


    Orion then controlled the drone to head for another group of cultivators; there are still two more groups camping in the jungle. It''s time to let them taste the attack from the drone. Then another series of loud explosions could be heard from the village, emanating from the direction of the forest, causing alarm. Most people and cultivators in the village thought that some cultivators were fighting in the forest. After a while, the series of explosions stopped, and the village returned to calm.


    Serves you right, Orion thought internally as it monitored the situation via the drone. The surprise drone attack had successfully scattered the cultivators. If they dared to regroup or stop, Orion would then control the drone for another strike. Only after ensuring that the mysterious groups of cultivators had fled a significant distance did Orion halt the drone''s attacks. Orion then directed the drone to return to the village and hover around, conducting surveillance and patrolling the surroundings.


    Finally, it''s done, Orion thought internally after finishing the last paper and placing it on the stack of papers. The detailed design for the house was complete. Orion used a DIY binder clip to hold the stack of papers together before storing it in the storage ring.


    Hmm... it''s still quite a while for the sun to rise, Orion contemplated internally, checking its internal clock. It then retrieved several items from the storage ring, internally planning to practice making a dress, starting with a simple design. Satisfied with the night''s progress, having completed the house design, Orion dedicated the rest of the night to practicing dressmaking.


    In a room in the Chen family estate, Chen Rongxin was seated when suddenly, a communication talisman in his pocket lit up. He retrieved it and received the message. After listening to the message, the communication talisman turned to dust. He then picked up another communication talisman to deliver his reply.


    "Cancel the mission and return immediately," Chen Rongxin said upon receiving the information. Apparently, the scouts he had sent to tail the Liu family caravan had been attacked. Was it the Liu family people, or other factions, or the armored man? Chen Rongxin pondered internally.


    The same event occurred with several other factions in Yanjing City. Upon receiving the message about the attack via the communication talisman, they also ordered a retreat.


    In this world, long-range communication is facilitated by rare artifacts, and a more common method involves using communication talismans. The range of voice transmissions using spiritual sense is limited, but it can be extended by using a communication talisman.


    When a communication talisman is created, it is made on a single piece of paper with a sender part and a receiver part. After the talisman is created, it is cut into two parts for the sender and receiver, forming a pair that can only work with each other. It operates as a one-way, single-use communication talisman that can only send voice transmissions. Once the talisman is used, it turns to dust, making long-range communication a rather expensive endeavor.


    Chen Rongxin remained seated and silent, contemplating how to gather more information about Orion. Simultaneously, other factions in Yanjing were pondering the same issue. Orion, a mysterious individual with an enigmatic background and a high cultivation level, always wore full-body armor; nobody even knew his face. While several people in Yanjing were still awake and engaged in strategic thinking, grappling with the challenge of formulating plans regarding Orion, the mysterious figure itself was currently struggling with the task of making a dress.


    "It''s not as easy as I previously thought," Orion internally noted, working on the dress. Orion looked at and compared the dress being worked on with the 3D model in its AI system. It seems that it will still take a long time for Orion to be able to create the dress that Wang Lingxin wants.


    ...


    "Orion..." Chen Rongxin mumbled.


    ...


    Hm... the dress... Orion internally noted.


    ...


    "Mm... master... that fruit is mine..." Wang Lingxin sleep talked.


    ...

 Chapter 41: Meeting Old Acquaintances

    The second disciple will be rather young, and Orion''s third disciple will be more grown up.


    The Liu family caravan continued its journey without any noteworthy events in the past two days, and there are no longer groups of cultivators secretly following them. Currently, the caravan took a brief break. The sun shone brightly overhead as they stopped beside the road, seeking refuge under the shade of trees. Everyone enjoyed the refreshing breeze, took a break, and some relished lunch while others tended to the needs of the horses.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin walked together towards the woods, disappearing from view after a while. However, the others had grown accustomed to this routine and didn''t pay much attention. The armored man, who didn''t speak much or interact with others and appeared to never eat or drink, followed the same pattern every morning, midday, and sunset. During breaks or when the caravan stopped, he always vanished into the woods. Nobody knew the purpose of his excursions¡ªperhaps a call of nature?


    Orion and Wang Lingxin continued walking until they reached a small clearing. Suddenly, something resembling a dragonfly flew toward them. Orion then controlled the SO-1 drone to descend slowly towards it, Orion then reached out to grab the drone.


    "Master, let me touch it," Wang Lingxin requested.


    "Sure," Orion replied, holding the drone for Wang Lingxin.


    Wang Lingxin extended her hand and touched the drone. "Wow, Master, you are really awesome to make something like this and control it," Wang Lingxin said, very impressed, looking at the drone closely. Her master had already told her about the drone and its functions. She was genuinely surprised when she learned that she could see what the drone saw from above using her tablet¡ªit was as if she herself were flying in the sky.


    "Master, can this drone carry me and fly to the sky?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "No, the drone is too small. But don''t worry, I will make a bigger one that can take you to fly in the sky," Orion assured.


    "Really? Thank you, Master!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    The decision to create a larger drone wasn''t just for Wang Lingxin; Orion also deemed it necessary. However, it would require a bigger dragonfly, a spirit beast, not just an ordinary one like the one currently used for the drone.


    Orion then stored the drone in the storage ring and retrieved another fully charged SO-1 drone, controlling it to fly. The drone had limited battery life, requiring replacement every few hours. During the night, Orion would leave the drone outside the storage ring to allow the batteries to recharge.


    "Let''s return," Orion said.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin returned to the caravan, and the caravan''s journey resumed. In the carriage, Wang Lingxin watched the tablet, observing the caravan from above via the drone''s camera to pass the time. Orion sat silently, reading books containing information about Fengxian and the surrounding area. Suddenly, Orion turned its head, opened the carriage window, and looked outside.


    "Master, what is it?" Wang Lingxin inquired.


    "Mmm... nothing," Orion replied, then closed the window and returned to reading.


    Approximately 300 km from Orion''s current location, a peculiar phenomenon occurred¡ªa sea of clouds seemed to be slashed and parted, with the clouds roiling and turbulent. The Orbiter, coincidentally orbiting right above the area, captured and recorded the event, sending the footage to Orion. Orion attempted to zoom in with the camera but failed because it was too far away. It could be a natural phenomenon, but in the cultivation world, it''s also possible that it was caused by some very high-level cultivator. Orion just hoped there wouldn''t be any problems, fortunately, it was rather far away.


    ...


    On a vast grassland, three beautiful girls adorned in elegant white cultivation robes stood, their hair gently swaying in the breeze as they gazed at the sky.


    One of them spoke, "Stop hiding like a rat and show yourself."


    "Hwa ha ha ha, well, well, well, what do we have here? What are the infamous Lord Crimson Rose doing in this kind of place?" a voice echoed. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the sky¡ªa middle-aged man with long hair, carrying a saber at his waist, and with a rather wild appearance. His right hand held a wine gourd. "Oh, sorry, I mean Lord Snow Rose, my bad," showing a mischievous smile.


    "Mad Saber..." replied Snow Rose flatly.


    "What? Don''t like meeting your old acquaintance?" Mad Saber drank wine from the jug.


    "Just you?" the Snow Rose asked.


    Then the sky rippled, and another four figures appeared and hovered in the sky. The girl looked at the four familiar faces that had just shown up.


    "Greetings, Snow Rose! Long time no see; you just keep getting prettier and prettier," said a muscular and bald guy, one of the four figures, smiling.


    "Absolute Diamond..." Snow Rose started, "and your head is getting shinier and shinier," she added with a smile.


    "Mua ha ha, that''s right, and it''s really becoming a trouble," Absolute Diamond said as he touched his bald head.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Maybe you are playing with girls too much, and your hairs don''t have enough nutrients," Snow Rose teased.


    "Ha ha ha, perhaps," Absolute Diamond chuckled.


    Absolute Diamond is his Dao Title, and his real name is Zhan Lei. He is a cultivator from Heaven and Earth Union Sect, an unorthodox path cultivation sect, cultivating through dual cultivation with the opposite sex. He is a cultivator at the 4th stage of the Soul Ascendance realm.


    "Snow Rose, after more than 1000 years cooped up in the sect, you''re finally leaving the sect," said a female elf.


    "Oh, Elena, you are also here... where is your sister?" Snow Rose inquired.


    "She died about 700 years ago," replied Elena.


    Elena Silverleaf, a cultivator at the 3rd stage of the Soul Ascendance realm from the Elven kingdom of Sylvan Haven, holds the Dao Title Silver Marionette. She is a puppet controller.


    "Such a shame, I wish I could send her to the afterlife by my own hands," Snow Rose remarked.


    "Snow Rose... cough... cough... it''s time... for you... to die...cough," uttered a figure fully covered in a robe. Despite the incessant coughing, only his pale white face was visible, marked by numerous dark spots. The black blood vessels stood out prominently against the sickly, pale skin, creating a stark contrast. At a single glance, he looked like a very sickly person.


    His name is Malachi, a Cerebran and his Dao Title is Noxious Viper. He is a 3rd stage of the Soul Ascendance realm cultivator from the evil path Venomous Shadows Sect, specializing in poison.


    "..." Snow Rose didn''t reply and just looked coldly at the sickly-looking figure.


    The last person is an old man with a goatee, holding a spear, silent the entire time. His name is Wei Zhi, an itinerant cultivator at the 5th stage of the Soul Ascendance realm, and his Dao title is Roaring Thunder.


    "Is it just the five of you?" inquired Snow Rose. "Tsk... tsk... tsk..." She shook her head in apparent disappointment. Snow Rose is Lin Xue''s Dao Title. She is a cultivator at the 6th stage of the Soul Ascendance realm from the Serene Moonlight Sect, an orthodox cultivation sect.


    "Hmph, stop looking down on us. We are more than enough to kill you!" Mad Saber shouted. His real name is Zheng Kai, a Cultivator at the 6th stage of the Soul Ascendance realm from the Sanguine Bloodbane Sect of the evil path.


    "Well, the others are still busy with their own things, and only the five of us have some free time," Absolute Diamond explained.


    The five figures hovered in the sky, emanating tremendous Qi pressure. The wind intensified, and the clouds around them roiled. They gazed down at the three girls on the grassland below.


    "Martial aunt, what should we do?" the other girl asked, worry evident on her face. It seems they''ve been ambushed.


    The two other girls accompanying Snow Rose are Xiu Hui and Yan Mei, her senior sister''s disciples. Snow Rose still looked calm, took out her necklace, and gave it to Xiu Hui. The necklace is a Grade-6 defense artifact given by her late master. It is a very strong defense artifact capable of withstanding several full-powered attacks from cultivators in the late stage of the Soul Ascendance realm.


    "Xiu Hui, take this necklace. It will protect you two. Activate it and stay; don''t leave the protective barrier," said Snow Rose.


    "But, Martial Aunt, will you be okay? You should use it for yourself," Xiu Hui expressed concern.


    "There''s no need," replied Snow Rose.


    "Martial Aunt..." Yan Mei said, visibly worried, her eyes moist.


    "You don''t need to worry about me," Snow Rose said, smiling and patting Yan Mei''s head. "You two stay here, understand?"


    Snow Rose flew slowly towards the five figures in the sky.


    "Senior Sister, is there something that we can do to help Martial Aunt?" Yan Mei asked.


    Xiu Hui sighed, "There is nothing we can do. Let''s just hope that Martial Aunt will be fine," Yan Mei said, looking at her martial aunt with worry.


    Both Xiu Hui and Yan Mei are just Golden Core realm cultivators, not qualified to get involved. The five figures and their Martial Aunt are all in the Soul Ascendance realm. Compared to them, Xiu Hui and Yan Mei are just like ants. Just a snort from any of those five figures would be more than enough to kill both of them.


    The difference is three major realms. After Golden Core realm, there is Nascent Soul realm. After a cultivator reaches Nascent Soul realm, they will receive a Dao title, choosing a title of their preference and becoming something like an alias in the cultivation world. They will be addressed as lords by those of the same or lower cultivation level to show respect. After Nascent Soul, there is Soul Transformation realm, and after that is Soul Ascendance realm.


    Snow Rose hovered in front of the five figures and scanned them one by one. "So, how do you guys know that I am leaving the sect?" Snow Rose asked.


    "Of course, I will know. After all, my feelings towards you are so deep. It''s like I can feel where you are," Absolute Diamond said, smacking his chest confidently.


    "That''s creepy," Snow Rose remarked.


    "Um, cough cough. Anyway, Snow Rose, do you want to be my Dao companion?" Absolute Diamond blurted out, seemingly out of nowhere. The others didn''t seem to be surprised or affected by the surprise curveball.


    "My answer is still the same," Snow Rose replied.


    "Well, that''s a shame," Absolute Diamond said, dropping his shoulders and looking sad. It seems that he is rejected yet again.


    "It''s not important how we know that you are leaving the sect. By the way, who are those brats?" Silver Marionette asked, taking a glance at Xiu Hui and Yan Mei.


    Xiu Hui and Yan Mei felt frightened and got goosebumps when being looked at by Silver Marionette.


    "They are my senior sister''s disciples," Snow Rose replied.


    "Oh... Thousands Icicles disciples?" Silver Marionette inquired.


    "Hey, Snow Rose, is Thousands Icicles still single?" Absolute Diamond asked, apparently getting spirited up after getting rejected.


    "Yes, but I don''t think you have any chances," Snow Rose replied.


    "Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean by that? You don''t know anything about me. Hmph, I can easily make your senior sister fall head over heels for me. Hua ha ha," Absolute Diamond boasted.


    "So, are we just gonna talk or fight?" Snow Rose inquired.


    Mad Saber drank the wine from the jug and emptied it. Then, he smashed it with his palm. "Very good, you never change," Mad Saber grinned, wine trailing from his mouth. He wiped it away. "That''s what I like about you," Mad Saber remarked.


    The situation changed abruptly. The faces of the five figures grew serious, and their killing intent flooded out, accompanied by thick bloodlust. They emanated strong and oppressive Qi pressures, causing the wind to intensify, and their momentum is surging.


    Despite this, Snow Rose''s expression remained unchanged ¨C calm, tranquil, and serene as ever. She also emanated a strong Qi pressure, not losing to any of the other five.


    On the other hand, Xiu Hui and Yan Mei suffered from the tremendous Qi pressure and the overwhelming killing intent, kneeling on the ground and gasping for breath. Cold sweat drenched them, and Xiu Hui immediately activated the defensive artifact necklace given by her martial aunt. A defensive energy barrier surrounded and protected them, shielding from the Qi pressure. Once no longer affected, they both could breathe normally again, still sitting on the ground.


    "It''s finally beginning," Xiu Hui exclaimed.


    "Martial Aunt... please be okay," Yan Mei pleaded.


    Xiu Hui and Yan Mei looked up towards the sky with worry, where six figures hovered. Clouds churned around them. The Qi pressure from the six of them clashed, creating vibrations in the air. The ground below cracked, the grass shook, and small rocks, pebbles, sand, and dust started floating slowly toward the sky. Fallen dried leaves scattered chaotically in the air. A great battle was about to start.

 Announcement

    Hello everyone,


    Quick heads up about the novel. I''ve been using Notepad++ to write the novel, and honestly, it''s getting pretty messy with all the different files for chapters, drafts, characters, places, cultivation terms and whatnot. Keeping track of everything has been a bit of a struggle.


    Good news, though! I''ve stumbled upon writing software that seems very good for writing novels. Currently, I am still learning how to use the software, but I already like the character management function.


    Stolen story; please report.


    The release of new chapters will be affected as I need time to learn how to use the new software and to transfer all the finished chapters and a considerable amount of data to it. New chapters will only be released after I finish all of those tasks.


    I''m really sorry for this, but I believe this change will make the novel''s development much smoother down the road. Currently, the novel is still in the first stage of the story, and I am already struggling with the previous issues. Hopefully, this change will make the novel''s development smoother in the long run.


    Thanks a bunch for your support and understanding.


    Cheers,


    [pqrs]

 Chapter 42: The First to Fall

    In a sprawling valley, encircled by mist-draped mountains, verdant forests flourished. A crystal-clear river meandered through the heart of the valley. Amidst this natural splendor, a cultivation sect resided in the middle of the valley, with tall wooden buildings and pavilions interspersed among vibrant flower gardens and parks. The air was imbued with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, enticing butterflies to dance in colorful swirls around the abundant flora.


    In the heart of the valley, the cultivation sect formed a circular city, its center situated atop a hill. Here, the most majestic building stood tall, commanding attention with its grandeur. Despite its city-like formation and bustling population, the surroundings remained refreshingly green, adorned with plentiful trees and green spaces enveloping the city. Numerous small compounds and village-like structures dotted the landscape around the city, adding to the serene charm.


    About tens of thousands of people resided in this valley, comprising both cultivators and mortals. However, what stood out most prominently was the striking fact that everyone was female, each one remarkably beautiful, lending an air of enchantment to the entire scene.


    This sect is known as the Serene Moonlight Sect¡ªan all-female cultivation sect and one of the top 10 cultivation sects in the Luoshan continent. In the main hall of the sect, a female figure, the sect master of the Serene Moonlight Sect, sat alone in the main seat, holding a communication talisman in her hand.


    "Senior sister, currently I am with Zheng Kai, Zhan Lei, Elena, Malachi, and Wei Zhi. Don''t worry about Xiu Hui and Yan Mei. Also, you don''t need to make a move. I don''t want to involve the sect; I am the one who caused all of this, and I will deal with it," a voice transmission echoed from the communication talisman.


    With a solemn expression, the sect master watched as the communication talisman crumbled to dust in her palm. She clenched her hand into a tight fist, understanding the significance of the short message she had received.


    "Junior sister, be careful," she uttered slowly. "Hmp! If something were to happen to you, I will slaughter my way to their sect if necessary," she said, slamming the armrest, her expression fraught with anger. An intense Qi pressure suddenly emanated from the main hall, startling the disciples nearby.


    "Please remember your position. You are the sect master; you can''t just cause problems as you please. If you start killing left and right, it will cause war," a voice transmission echoed in the main hall, but the figure remained unseen.


    "I''ll just resign from being the sect master! Then there is no problem, right?!" the sect master declared.


    "Sigh...." came the exasperated response over the voice transmission, as the speaker seemed to have a headache dealing with the sect master.


    ...


    Six figures hovered in the sky, each exuding tremendous Qi pressure, their bloodlust and killing intent filled the air as they prepared for battle.


    "Let''s not involve the juniors," Snow Rose declared, after secretly using a communication talisman to send a message to her senior sister.


    "Why would I care about those brats? I am only here for you," Mad Saber retorted, drawing his saber and pointing it towards Snow Rose.


    "Don''t worry, we won''t touch them," Absolute Diamond chimed in, cracking his knuckles. The others remained silent.


    "Cough... Snow Rose, it''s time for you to pay for... cough... thousands of years ago... I will kill you... cough... don''t worry... you won''t die easily... cough... I will make sure... that you die... cough... a slow and painful death..." Noxious Viper''s voice rasped through the air, accompanied by fits of coughing. As a cultivator specialized in poisons, he''s been exposed to various kinds of poisons that have affected his health.


    "Kill me? You are not qualified... Oh, I also have some debt from that time that needs to be settled with you," Snow Rose retorted.


    "Good, let''s end it here. Cough... Let''s see who would stand the last," Noxious Viper declared. He raised both his arms high in the air, dark, thick poisonous gas emerged from his body, swirling and surrounding him in a dark sphere.


    "Rise, [Dudao Hei Yan Zhao - Poisonous Path of the Black Smoke Swamp]! Time to bring despair!" Noxious Viper commanded.


    Suddenly, a black semi-corporeal being emerged from the dark sphere¡ªa giant white skull with many long black tentacles. The eyes of the skull shone bright red, while the black fog surrounded the semi-corporeal being. Faintly visible inside it was Noxious Viper himself.


    The semi-corporeal being emitted a continuous creepy sound, "kakakakakaka," echoing ominously through the air, accompanied by hissing and whistling noises from the black poisonous gas that kept producing from the tentacles of the being.


    "Se... Senior sister, is that...?" Yan Mei watched the terrifying being in fear.


    "It''s a Soul Manifestation," Xiu Hui explained, swallowing as her mouth felt dry from the tension in the air.


    In the Dantian of Qi Condensation realm cultivators, Qi exists in a misty or vaporous form. Qi condensation realm cultivators need to condense and transform all of the Qi in mist form into liquid form to achieve a breakthrough and reach the Foundation Establishment realm.


    In the Foundation Establishment realm, cultivators need to gather all the liquid Qi and solidify it into a core. When the cultivators successfully transform all the liquid Qi into a core and solidify it, the core will transform into a ''Golden Core'', and the cultivators will advance to the Golden Core Realm.


    In the Golden Core realm, cultivators need to nurture their Golden Core. After the Golden Core is fully nurtured, to advance to the Nascent Soul realm, cultivators need to crack it open to release the Qi within, which has manifested into a being akin to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The Qi that has manifested is called Soul Manifestation.


    Cultivators can activate the Soul Manifestation by calling its name, causing it to emerge into the outside world and take a semi-corporeal form, thereby boosting combat capabilities and granting unique abilities. However, because the Soul Manifestation uses Qi to take form in the outside world, it consumes a significant amount of Qi to use.


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    "What a nasty-looking Soul Manifestation," Yan Mei remarked, feeling goosebumps as she gazed upon the terrifying and creepy being.


    Snow Rose looks very small in front of Noxious Viper''s Soul Manifestation, yet her demeanor remained composed as if the colossal semi-corporeal being before her was unworthy of concern. Retrieving a sword from her storage ring, she slowly unsheathed it, her movements deliberate and unhurried.


    "I don''t know who will stand the last," she declared, pointing her sword towards Noxious Viper. "But you will be the first to fall [Qingxue Bishi Zhiyou - Gentle Snow Concealing the Shadow of Death]." Her words were delivered calmly and deliberately.


    Snow Rose''s body glowed brightly before dimming, and a semi-corporeal being appeared, slightly larger than Snow Rose herself. Unlike Noxious Viper''s terrifying and creepy Soul Manifestation, Snow Rose''s Soul Manifestation resembled her, beautiful and graceful, adorned in a stunning white cultivation robe as if it originated from the immortal realm. The being had a complexion as white as snow.


    Her Soul Manifestation fully encapsulated her, surrounding her entirely like armor. Snowflakes began to form around her and gently fall, continuously lowering the temperature in her vicinity. Gradually, the area around Snow Rose where snowflakes formed widened, encompassing a larger space.


    Mad Saber, Absolute Diamond, Silver Marionette, and Roaring Thunder immediately grew cautious, distancing themselves from both Snow Rose and Noxious Viper. They prepared themselves in case they were attacked by Snow Rose. Additionally, knowing that they were fighting alongside a cultivator who used poisons, they needed to be careful, even if they were on the same side.


    "Take this! [Seven Breaths of Bone Dissolution Poison]!" Noxious Viper exclaimed.


    His Soul Manifestation, the giant skull, opened its mouth and exhaled black gas towards Snow Rose. Even if Snow Rose is exposed to just a small amount of it, her body will weaken. After the seventh breath, her bones will be completely dissolved, causing excruciating pain.


    Noxious Viper wasted no time, unleashing his Soul Manifestation and one of his strongest poison attacks right from the start. Confident in his ability to either kill Snow Rose or, at the very least, weaken and injure her with his poison attack.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Frost Moon Slash]!" Snow Rose''s sword glowed as she delivered a vertical slash toward Noxious Viper, unleashing a crescent-shaped sword attack that streaked towards him.


    "[Dianlong Wu Yun Hai - Dance of the Lightning Dragon on the Sea of Clouds]!!! [Descent of the Azure Lightning]!!!" Roaring Thunder immediately summoned his Soul Manifestation, which took the form of a being similar to him and clad in lightning armor.


    While Snow Rose was focused on attacking Noxious Viper, Roaring Thunder seized the opportunity to strike. Black swirling clouds appeared above Snow Rose, with azure-colored lightning slithering within them. Roaring Thunder raised his spear and slashed downward, directing the lightning to strike Snow Rose.


    From the center of the black cloud, a thick azure-colored lightning bolt descended upon Snow Rose, striking her cleanly. The intense brightness of the lightning illuminated the area, accompanied by a loud clap of thunder. As the lightning surged through her body, it emitted a loud crackling sound.


    "Did I get her?" Roaring Thunder questioned, his Soul Manifestation enveloping him, lightning crackling around his body as he gazed warily at Snow Rose.


    Snow Rose''s crescent-shaped sword attack swiftly soared towards Noxious Viper, slicing the black poisonous gas exhaled by the giant skull into two.


    "Hmph!" Noxious Viper exclaimed upon seeing the incoming attack. Swiftly, he controlled his Soul Manifestation to shield himself, directing the skull''s many tentacles to intercept the attack. He also activated multiple defense artifacts, a smug grin spreading across his face as he felt confident in his defenses.


    He also remained confident in his attack, convinced that even if it were to be sliced apart, it would still reach Snow Rose, ensuring the outcome of this exchange would be in his favor. Moreover, Roaring Thunder also launched an attack towards Snow Rose and managed to strike her.


    The skull''s many tentacles produced a dark, gooey poisonous liquid that enveloped them, the tentacles weaving and moving in an attempt to block the incoming attack. Noxious Viper''s body, encased within the skull, was also surrounded by several layers of defensive energy barriers.


    The crescent-shaped sword attack struck the tentacles, slicing through one, two, three, and more. It continued its trajectory towards Noxious Viper, effortlessly cutting through the tentacles as if they were nothing. Finally, it penetrated the skull, then pierced through the multiple layers of defensive energy barriers one by one. Slashing past Noxious Viper''s body, the sword attack continued onward, streaking towards the distant horizon, cutting through the ocean of clouds for kilometers and parting them in two.


    Noxious Viper''s smug grin had vanished, replaced by a look of horror as a bright line appeared on his body where the sword attack had passed. His body was bisected vertically into two, yet it remained held together by the wound, which slowly froze. The freezing gradually spread from the wound, accompanied by the sound of ice crackling. His body started to crumble bit by bit into ice which then disintegrated into snowflakes. His high vitality as a Soul Ascendance Realm cultivator allowed him to barely stay alive, but he was already doomed as his life force diminished bit by bit.


    "No... No..." Noxious Viper muttered, his soul manifestation screaming loudly, "KKKKAAAAAAA!!!" The sword attack had severed many of its tentacles and slashed through its body, causing it to crack and crumble into many pieces before completely disappearing, leaving only thick black poisonous gas in its wake.


    Meanwhile, the poisonous attack from Noxious Viper, which had been sliced in two previously, rejoined and finally reached Snow Rose, who was still being continuously bombarded by the relentless azure lightning. Snow Rose''s figure became fully enveloped by the black poisonous gas. Suddenly, Snow Rose''s body disintegrated into countless snowflakes, dispersing in all directions.


    "?!" Roaring Thunder exclaimed.


    Then, in front of Noxious Viper, countless snowflakes gathered and formed a snow figure of Snow Rose.


    "Tch!" Roaring Thunder grunted, realizing that his attack hadn''t affected Snow Rose much.


    "Damn it... cough... I will take you down with me... cough..." Noxious Viper, his body almost entirely frozen, muttered hoarsely. Thick black poisonous gas billowed from his mouth, with additional streams emanating from his other facial orifices. He didn''t know where Snow Rose''s real body was hiding. He is planning to blow up his body and cover the area with poisonous gas.


    "No need to struggle, just die... [Eternal Icy Prison]," Snow Rose''s voice emanated from the snow figure as it declared. Countless snowflakes formed around it, swirling in a whirlwind as they moved toward Noxious Viper, attempting to trap him.


    "Nooo... Snow Rose!!! Curse You!!!" Noxious Viper''s voice grew smaller as he was fully covered in a large snowball, which slowly turned black from the poisons. The snow figure used its palm strike to send the black snowball flying into the distance.


    "Bloom..." uttered the snow figure.


    The black snowball, propelled into the distance, disintegrated into countless black snowflakes, scattering in all directions like a blooming firework. With it, Noxious Viper met his demise.


    The snow figure also dissipated into countless snowflakes, and Snow Rose''s figure was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, snowflakes continued to form in the area.


    Roaring Thunder, Silver Marionette, Absolute Diamond, and Mad Saber wore bitter expressions but remained relatively calm. Roaring Thunder then glanced towards Mad Saber.


    "Just stick to the plan," Mad Saber sent a voice transmission using his spiritual sense to Roaring Thunder, Silver Marionette, and Absolute Diamond.


    Roaring Thunder nodded in response, his body surrounded by crackling electricity, and his soul manifestation enveloping him.


    Silver Marionette retrieved two puppets made of silver, both closely resembling her. She controlled the puppets using Qi threads, positioning them on either side of herself preparing to defend from any attack.


    Absolute Diamond, a body refinement cultivator, utilizes his strong and sturdy body as his weapon. He is ready to launch fist and palm attacks.


    Mad Saber gripped his saber tightly, prepared to attack at a moment''s notice.


    They all utilized their senses, including sight, hearing, and even smell, while also scanning their surroundings using their spiritual sense, but to no avail.


    Where is she? they wondered internally.

 Chapter 43: Real Face?

    The gentle wind carried the countless snowflakes, which slowly descended, blanketing the grassland in a pristine white layer.


    "Senior sister, where is Martial Aunt?! Is she okay?" Yan Mei asked anxiously.


    "I... I don''t know," Xiu Hui replied, attempting to use her spiritual sense to locate their Martial Aunt.


    Suddenly, Yan Mei and Xiu Hui heard a voice transmission from their Martial Aunt. "Watch the battle carefully; it may benefit you later," the voice echoed faintly before disappearing. Yan Mei and Xiu Hui couldn''t determine the source of the transmission.


    "Martial Aunt!" Yan Mei exclaimed, her worry evident in her voice.


    Mad Saber''s eyes darted around as he tried to locate Snow Rose. Suddenly, his spiritual sense detected a figure appearing behind him. From a gently falling snowflake behind him emerged a human figure. Reacting swiftly, Mad Saber swung his saber backward, slicing the figure in two. It crumbled into countless snowflakes.


    "Tch!" Mad Saber grunted. "Snow Rose, come out and show yourself! Aren''t you the one hiding like a rat now?" he taunted.


    "As you wish," Snow Rose''s voice echoed.


    Then, four snow figures resembling Snow Rose, each holding a sword, appeared right behind Mad Saber, Roaring Thunder, Silver Marionette, and Absolute Diamond, attacking towards their exposed backs.


    "This cheap trick won''t work on me!" Mad Saber declared, swiftly turning his body to block the incoming sword slash. After successfully blocking it, he engaged in close confrontation with the snow figure.


    Roaring Thunder, Silver Marionette, and Absolute Diamond also confronted the snow figures. Roaring Thunder utilized his lightning-infused spear to fight the snow figure, gaining an advantage with the assistance of his Soul Manifestation.


    Silver Marionette controlled her puppet to engage the snow figure, while her other puppet stood by her side, ready to protect her.


    Absolute Diamond endured relentless attacks from the snow figure, but his sturdy body remained unscathed. Because of his slower speed, he struggled to land a hit as the snow figure deftly dodged his attacks.


    The four of them locked in fierce battle with the snow figures, exchanging blows non-stop.


    Mad Saber easily overwhelmed the snow figure, landing multiple hits without receiving any in return. "[Saber Killing Slash]!" he exclaimed, delivering a swift saber strike towards the snow figure, which failed to react in time. The attack cleaved it in two, causing it to disperse into snowflakes.


    "This is getting annoying!" Mad Saber bit his tongue, then sprayed his blood. A thick mist of blood quickly emerged from his technique, covering a large area. "[Crimson Veil]!" he declared.


    The blood mist enveloped a wide area, covering the space where snowflakes formed. Using his skill, Mad Saber was able to sense the surroundings via the blood mist. He could clearly perceive all the falling snowflakes and the snow figures.


    "Right there!!!" he exclaimed, immediately flying towards a particular snowflake falling not far away from him. He slashed towards it. Before his attack landed, the snowflake transformed into Snow Rose''s real body.


    "Got you!" Mad Saber grinned as his saber closed in on Snow Rose, who emerged from the snowflake.


    Clang!


    Snow Rose barely managed to block the saber attack using her sword, the clash ringing out loudly as sparks flew.


    "[Azure Lightning Flash]!!!" Roaring Thunder launched a stabbing attack towards the snow figure. His body was bathed in lightning as he swiftly moved toward it, spear held in a forward stabbing position. At the spear tip, a vortex of lightning crackled with energy.


    The snow figure, unable to evade or defend, was pierced through and dispersed into snowflakes. Without hesitation, Roaring Thunder, now aligned with Snow Rose, continued his lightning-fast assault. Like a streak of lightning, he surged towards her, intent on delivering a decisive blow.


    Snow Rose felt the imminent danger from Roaring Thunder''s attack. Using her sword, she pushed Mad Saber, who was also attempting to block and push back with his saber. With the assistance of her Soul Manifestation, she managed to overpower him and send him flying backward. Snow Rose intended to evade Roaring Thunder''s attack, but she found herself hindered by the blood mist, which affected her movements, slowing her down and attempting to stop her. She felt as though she were trapped in quicksand. With no other choice, Snow Rose prepared to defend against Roaring Thunder''s incoming lightning attack.


    "[Xueshi Yulu Wu - Dancing Saber in the Rain of Blood]!!!" Mad Saber shouted as he was sent flying, activating his Soul Manifestation. A semi-corporeal being of a man appeared, wearing a helmet, breastplate, and a flowing cape. Blood fully drenched the being''s helmet, body, and breastplate, continuously dripping from them as the being fully enveloped Mad Saber.


    "Hmp! You''re not the only one who can play tricks! Why don''t you taste your own medicine? [Blood Phantom]!" Mad Saber shouted.


    About ten figures resembling Mad Saber, each armed with a saber, emerged from the blood mist and converged around Snow Rose, launching simultaneous attacks on her. Unable to run, Snow Rose was forced to face the simultaneous combined attack from the ten blood figures.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Lunar Sanctuary]," Snow Rose muttered as she began to spin rapidly. Her sword started to glow as her movements became unpredictable and wild. She controlled her sword with erratic movements of her wrists and hands, adding further variation to her attacks.


    Her body spun quickly, bending and moving with agility as she provided complete 360-degree coverage. The sword techniques enveloped her in a sphere of fast-moving slashes, the sphere shining brightly as if it were the moon itself.


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    It provided protection to Snow Rose with countless sword slashes and rapidly rotating Sword Qi. Snow Rose not only managed to defend against the attack from the ten blood figures but also inflicted significant damage upon them. Some were completely chopped up into many bits, which then froze and disintegrated into snowflakes. Others had their limbs chopped off, with the wounds freezing and the frost spreading slowly.


    Unfortunately, Snow Rose''s technique failed to defend against Roaring Thunder''s attack, which pierced straight through the sphere, cutting through her Soul Manifestation, and impaling Snow Rose''s body. Although she managed to dodge slightly to the side, her left abdomen was pierced, leaving a gaping wound with chunks of flesh torn off. Roaring Thunder came to a stop about a hundred meters away from Snow Rose, who is falling downward, coughing up blood.


    "[Crimson Shift]" Mad Saber, who was sent flying by Snow Rose, activates his movement technique. Instantly, he emerges from the blood mist close to Snow Rose. "[Double Saber Killing Slash]!" Mad Saber launches two slashes with his saber so fast that they seem like a single slash. His Soul Manifestation envelops not just his body, but also his saber, strengthening his attack manyfold.


    Clang!


    A resounding clash echoed as Snow Rose, falling upside down, used her sword to block the attack. With her right hand gripping the hilt and her left arm pressed against the flat side of the blade, she absorbed the impact. However, she still felt rather numb from Roaring Thunder''s previous attack, unable to exert her full power. The force of the collision made her cough up blood as she was sent hurtling downward at rapid speed.


    "NOOO!!!" Yan Mei cried out, tears streaming down her face.


    "MARTIAL AUNT!!!" Xiu Hui exclaimed; her voice filled with anguish.


    Snow Rose''s body crashed to the ground, creating craters as the earth cracked like spiderwebs. Dust billowed up, obscuring the sight, and Snow Rose''s body vanished from view.


    "HUA HA HA," Mad Saber laughed heartily, "How was it? Did you like our attacks?! Surely the infamous and mighty Lord Snow Rose won''t be this weak, right?" he taunted, still hovering in the sky.


    "Fuuhhh..." Roaring Thunder exhaled heavily as he dispelled his Soul Manifestation, the semi-corporeal being bathed in lightning slowly vanished. He had used more than half of his Qi reserves. Floating closer to Mad Saber, he spoke, "Unfortunately, we failed to finish her off," Roaring Thunder said, his tone tinged with disappointment. They had failed to kill Snow Rose with their combined attack and only managed to injure her.


    Dust still billowed, covering the spot where Snow Rose had fallen, then a figure could faintly be seen slowly standing up from the ground.


    "Fufufufu, for a bunch of trash, you guys are not bad," Snow Rose said via voice transmission. Then, an intense wind accompanied by Qi pressure blasted from Snow Rose, clearing the dust around her.


    "Hmph!" Roaring Thunder grunted upon hearing Snow Rose''s insult.


    Mad Saber just chuckled at her remark.


    Snow Rose stood in the middle of the small crater, her gaping wound on her abdomen already healed. She had consumed medical pills and used her blood essence to mend her injury as if she had never been wounded. However, the torn robe and blood-drenched parts of her attire indicated otherwise.


    Xiu Hui and Yan Mei sighed with relief a little when they saw their Martial Aunt looking fine, but the situation still appeared dire, and worry continued to grip their hearts.


    Snow Rose''s Soul Manifestation still enveloped her but had dimmed significantly, and the semi-corporeal being bore many cracks on its body. Snow Rose dispelled her Soul Manifestation, causing the semi-corporeal being that resembled her to slowly disappear. Simultaneously, the remaining snow figures engaged in battle with Absolute Diamond and Silver Marionette disintegrated into snowflakes.


    "Phew... finally," Absolute Diamond sighed in relief as he watched the disintegrating snow figure. Although he had failed to land a hit on the snow figure, he also hadn''t been putting in much effort. He then floated towards Mad Saber.


    Silver Marionette also moved to Mad Saber''s side after the snow figure she was engaging disappeared.


    "You looked miserable," Silver Marionette said, smiling mockingly as she looked down at Snow Rose on the ground.


    "Snow Rose, how come you got beaten this bad? I still haven''t shown off yet. You better start getting serious," Absolute Diamond remarked.


    Roaring Thunder remained silent as he retrieved a Spirit Stone, holding it in his palm. The stone was rather big, around the size of his own head, a Superior Grade Spirit Stone. He absorbed the Qi within to restore the Qi in his Dantian.


    "I was expecting more from you, but if you only have this much, you will die. I will kill you to avenge all the cultivators you''ve killed thousands of years ago," Mad Saber proclaimed.


    "Avenge them? Ha ha ha, that sounds too grand for someone like you," Snow Rose retorted using voice transmission.


    "I''ve been waiting for a long time for you to leave the sect. Now that you are here, you won''t be able to return to your sect alive!" Mad Saber declared, his Qi pressure soaring. The semi-corporeal figure of his Soul Manifestation stared fiercely at Snow Rose and growled.


    "Don''t blame us; you''ve caused all of this. You can only reap what you sow. You''ve killed so many cultivators from various factions, including from my kingdom, and many want you dead. You deserve to die. Moreover, you''ve blocked our cultivation path," Silver Marionette stated firmly.


    The more she advanced in her cultivation, the harder it became for her to progress further, and she knew the reason well. There was a knot in her heart caused by Snow Rose in the past, and the same was true for many other cultivators from their generation across various factions, whether from orthodox, unorthodox, or evil paths. Snow Rose had left a mark on their hearts. The way to deal with it is either by killing Snow Rose or by overcoming the knot in their heart.


    "Thats right, you even killed my senior brothers; you should''ve let them go. Back then, when I returned to the sect to deliver the news, my master was so furious that he beat me up. Sigh," Absolute Diamond added.


    "If you guys want to kill me, then just come. There''s no need to talk about the past. I will send you to the underworld to accompany Malachi," Snow Rose stated using voice transmission, her expression turning dangerous for the first time, no longer reflecting her usual calm and gentle demeanor, as a glint flashed in her eyes.


    Snow Rose stabbed her sword into the ground and clasped both her arms. "[Frost Wind]!" Cold chilling wind started to blow around the area from Snow Rose, encompassing a large area.


    "?!" Mad Saber felt that he slowly lost control of the blood mist.


    The blood mist surrounding the area started to slowly condense and form droplets of blood. After a while, they all turned into blood-colored snowflakes. The remaining blood figures froze and turned to ice, which then disintegrated into blood-colored snowflakes.


    "Disperse!" Snow Rose exclaimed. Then, all the blood-colored snowflakes slowly dispersed and disappeared.


    "Tch!" Mad Saber looked at the disappearing blood-colored snowflakes. The blood mist was created using his blood essence, and now it was just gone like that.


    "No matter how many trashes gather, trash will always be trash! Want to kill me? I will kill you instead!" Snow Rose exclaimed using voice transmission, her momentum rising as she prepared for another round.


    "Her tongue is as sharp as ever," Absolute Diamond remarked.


    "Why keep using voice transmission? Don''t want your junior to see your real face?" Silver Marionette taunted.


    "Real face? What real face? This is just the face I show to my enemy," Snow Rose retorted, still using voice transmission. "And they always end up dead after that," she added, showing a cold smile that gave off a dangerous vibe.


    Snow Rose''s Qi pressure kept getting stronger, surpassing that of any of them. Dark clouds began to gather, accompanied by intense rain and thunder.


    "Uhh... now she''s getting really serious. Be careful, guys," Absolute Diamond cautioned.

 Chapter 44: One of the Geniuses of their Generation

    The once beautiful vast grassland lay in ruins, with many craters of varying sizes scattered across it. Numerous ravines marred the landscape, the largest stretching hundreds of meters in length, several meters wide, and dozens of meters deep. Some parts of the grassland were frozen, while others smoldered from fires. Dark clouds swirled ominously overhead, accompanied by relentless lightning and rumbling thunder. Five figures could be seen locked in combat amidst the turbulent clouds. The battle had been ongoing for hours, and now night had fallen, shrouding the scene in darkness. Lightning and thunder still occasionally flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating the fighters in stark silhouette.


    Xiu Hui and Yan Mei watched the battle from afar, having moved to the top of a hill after the grassland where they had previously observed the fight was ravaged.


    "[Wujie Zuanjing Zhi Di - Indestructible Diamond from the Depth of the Earth]!" Absolute Diamond summoned his Soul Manifestation, a rather large semi-corporeal figure resembling a humanoid made of diamond. It emerged and slowly shrank before being absorbed into Absolute Diamond''s body, merging with him. His body glowed slightly, the Soul Manifestation granting him increased power and defense.


    "Take this [Diamond Shattering Palm]!!!" With both palms clapping in front of his chest, Absolute Diamond then raised them above his head before swiftly moving them to his side and beside his hip. His palms glowed as he launched a palm attack towards Snow Rose. Two streaks of palm energy shot towards Snow Rose, who was currently busy fighting against Silver Marionette''s puppet.


    "[Snow Drift]!" Snow Rose utilized her movement technique, her body moving wildly, erratically, and unpredictably, easily evading Absolute Diamond''s palm energy attack.


    The attack continued until it struck a distant mountain, destroying its top half with a loud explosion. Dust, small stones, and boulders scattered in all directions, thick dust and volcanic ash rising in columns.


    "Tch!" Silver Marionette exclaimed, frustration evident in her tone. "You are really slippery, just like an eel."


    "And you are just a coward, only daring to fight from a distance," Snow Rose replied, while gasping for breath slightly. Despite facing four opponents, she was not at a disadvantage.


    "Hmph! We Puppet Controllers have our own way of fighting!" Silver Marionette retorted. All this time, she engaged Snow Rose by controlling one of her puppets from a distance, using it to confront Snow Rose, while another puppet stood nearby, ready to protect her.


    "Hah... hah... hah...," Absolute Diamond gasped for breath. His body bore numerous cuts and was bloodied, but fortunately, with his sturdy physique, all the wounds inflicted by Snow Rose were shallow; otherwise, he would have already met Malachi in the afterlife. Now, with the addition of his soul manifestation, his defense became even stronger.


    "I will stop her, Baldie! Make sure to kill her later, understand?!" Silver Marionette instructed Absolute Diamond via Voice Transmission.


    "Who are you calling Baldie, damn it?!" Absolute Diamond responded angrily via Voice Transmission.


    Silver Marionette controlled the puppet that had previously been confronting Snow Rose to return to her side.


    "[Yinyin Baijin Xiu - Shining Elegance of Silver]," Silver Marionette activated her Soul Manifestation, her body shining brightly as a semi-corporeal being that resembled her appeared. The being was then absorbed by Silver Marionette''s body, causing her to slowly turn to silver.


    Gradually, she began to resemble the silver puppet. Now, along with her two other puppets, it appeared that there were three similar puppets made of silver that resembled Silver Marionette, and all three of them were glowing, their bodies covered in semi-corporeal armor.


    "You want me to fight you directly? As you wish, here I come!" the three silver puppets spoke simultaneously as they moved towards Snow Rose.


    "Tch!" Snow Rose then retrieved five hiltless swords from her storage ring and controlled them¡ªa flying sword that required spiritual sense to control. The swords hovered around her as she observed the three silver puppets, each bearing the appearance of Silver Marionette. Snow Rose was familiar with Silver Marionette''s Soul Manifestation, and now, the three silver puppets had become Silver Marionette''s real body. Snow Rose understood that she needed to kill all three puppets to kill Silver Marionette.


    Mad Saber and Roaring Thunder watched from the sidelines, their bodies marred with many wounds and bloodied. They observed as they took the opportunity to recover, consuming medicinal pills and restoring their Qi by using Superior Grade Spirit Stones.


    They fought Snow Rose in turns; Roaring Thunder paired with Mad Saber, and Absolute Diamond with Silver Marionette. Each pair would confront Snow Rose while the other rested and recovered. Meanwhile, Snow Rose continued to battle without rest, having no time to recover at all.


    "What a monster, even when fighting nonstop against the four of us, she still lasts this long," Roaring Thunder remarked.


    "Hmph! It will end soon," Mad Saber added.


    In the past, they had witnessed firsthand how strong Snow Rose was. Her sword skills were deadly, her Soul Manifestation was powerful and granted many unique abilities, and her Qi reserves were massive. Her attacks and movements were precise and effective, truly deserving the title of one of the geniuses of their generation. Mad Saber, Roaring Thunder, Absolute Diamond, and Silver Marionette had no other choice but to confront Snow Rose in turn.


    A low rumbling sound suddenly could be heard, and the earth began to shake, trembling with increasing intensity. Not long after, the mountain that had been smashed by Absolute Diamond erupted with a deafening explosion. A thick, towering column of volcanic ash spewed from the volcano, rising for several kilometers into the sky. Volcanic Lightning crackled within the ash cloud.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Ashes, sands, small stones, and boulders were hurled into the air, raining down along with glowing red lava ejected into the atmosphere. More molten lava spilled from the volcano, flowing down its slopes. The fiery red glow provided an additional source of light in the dark night, along with occasional lightning and thunder. However, the eruption did not affect the ongoing fight in the sky.


    ...


    At the riverside of the Anliu Baihe River lies the prosperous Liyu Village, the once small settlement has now developed significantly, just like a small town. The village thrives due to its strategic location near the riverbank of the Anliu Baihe river, profiting from the traffic on the waterway. Those traveling from Yanjing to Fengxian often board boats from here.


    The Liu family caravan stayed in one of the inns in the village for the night, and the next day they will depart by boat to continue their journey.


    In one of the rooms on the second floor of the inn, Orion is busy at the table. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin has already fallen asleep. Currently, Orion is dissecting an insect on the table after finishing preparations for the boat journey tomorrow. The insect resembles a bombardier beetle from Earth but is much larger, almost the size of a cat.


    Previously, Orion had finished making a DIY life vest for Wang Lingxin, using animal skin stuffed with natural fiber similar to kapok fiber from Earth.


    As for Orion, a life jacket alone wouldn''t suffice, given that Orion is mostly made of metal and would sink straight to the bottom. Fortunately, Orion had many empty wooden barrels. Orion made simple adjustments to the barrels and attached ropes to them, intending to use them as floating devices in case of emergency.


    Additionally, Orion had constructed a simple raft using many wooden barrels attached together and stored it in the storage ring.


    Hm? An eruption? Orion ponders internally as it continues its work on the insect''s body parts, simultaneously receiving new data and video from the Orbiter showing an erupting volcano. Does the previous cloud phenomenon relate to the eruption?


    Previously, there was a phenomenon where a sea of clouds split in two, not far away from the location of the erupting volcano. On Earth, there are myths about mysterious phenomena preceding major natural disasters, such as bright lights before earthquakes or mysterious clouds before volcanic eruptions. Although unproven, Orion wonders if there are also such myths in this world as well.


    "Orbiter, how is your preparation? Is everything ready?" Orion asked via radio.


    "Almost there. Still need to run some simulations and work on a few calculations. Tomorrow, will be ready to execute the plan immediately," Orbiter replied over the radio.


    "Copy that, Orbiter," Orion acknowledged.


    ...


    "[Silver Thread]! Bind!" one of the silver puppets engaging Snow Rose utilized its combat technique. Numerous silver threads emerged from the silver puppet''s body and headed towards Snow Rose.


    "Got you now!!!" declared the silver puppet as the silver threads successfully wrapped around Snow Rose''s body and limbs, restraining her. Another silver puppet took the opportunity and flew towards Snow Rose with its long, sharp silver claws extended, poised to attack.


    Meanwhile, another silver puppet observed from a distance, bearing numerous swords strikes on its body, with one of its arms severed. Holding the severed arm with its other arm, the silver puppet''s body slowly began to repair itself, and the severed arm gradually started to mend.


    Snow Rose struggled to break free from the silver threads, but their sharp edges cut into her flesh as she fought against them. Despite her efforts, she remained unable to break loose.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Lunar Sword Wheel]!" Snow Rose exclaimed. The five flying swords surrounded her and began to rotate in a circular motion with her as the center like a wheel. Snow Rose controlled them, directing their movement to cut through all the silver threads binding her.


    After being cut, the silver threads fell away from her body and crumbled to silver dust, leaving Snow Rose bloodied, her robe drenched in her own blood. Snow Rose then directed the spinning flying swords towards the incoming silver puppet while simultaneously delivering an attack toward another silver puppet.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Crescent Frost]!" Snow Rose exclaimed as a crescent-shaped sword slash headed toward one of the silver puppets.


    "Damn it!" exclaimed the silver puppet moving towards Snow Rose, using both hands to block the spinning flying swords attack but sent flying backward with both arms cut and suffering a huge gash on its body.


    "Disengage!" commanded Snow Rose. The rotating flying swords then broke formation, and Snow Rose controlled them to stab at the silver puppet, piercing its head and body. The silver puppet stopped moving and fell to the ground, crashing and creating a small crater.


    The other silver puppet also failed to dodge or defend from Snow Rose''s sword slash due to being too close. The puppet was cut in two and then frozen, enveloped in ice before falling to the ground.


    "Damn it!" exclaimed the last silver puppet.


    "Hah... hah... hah...." Snow Rose breathed heavily, gasping for breath, her Soul Manifestation enveloping her, barely visible and almost disappearing. "Only one left," she muttered, looking at the last silver puppet.


    "We are not done yet," Mad Saber''s voice echoed. A blood figure suddenly appeared near Snow Rose''s side from a blood mist, attacking with a saber slash.


    Snow Rose responded swiftly, ducking to evade the saber slash and stabbing the blood mist. However, before her sword could hit the blood figure, it exploded into a thick blood mist, enveloping Snow Rose and hindering her movement.


    "[Cloud Stride]!" Absolute Diamond immediately utilized his movement technique and arrived near Snow Rose, surprising her. Snow Rose attempted to deliver a horizontal slash towards him, but he dodged it and grabbed her left arm.


    Simultaneously, he delivered a strong side kick using his right leg to Snow Rose''s left abdomen, simultaneously yanking her arm. The force tore her arm from her body, causing blood to spray, further staining her already blood-drenched robe. Snow Rose''s Soul Manifestation also lost its left arm, causing it to become even fainter.


    The force of Absolute Diamond''s kick sent her flying into the distance.


    "Haaah...." Absolute Diamond exhaled, "Ha ha ha, how was my attack? Are you surprised that I can also move fast? Ha ha ha ha," he boasted, satisfied that he had finally managed to inflict serious injury on Snow Rose.


    "Wow... you are indeed very beautiful. Your skin is so smooth and soft," Absolute Diamond nodded to himself as he muttered, scrutinizing Snow Rose''s severed arm that he held, admiring its smooth and flawless complexion.


    "Stop it, you creep! It seems that you''re asking for a terrible death, huh?!" Snow Rose uttered in a cold, dangerous tone, her expression turning fierce and intimidating.


    "Uh... uhmm, yeah, so... sorry about that," Absolute Diamond stammered, releasing Snow Rose''s severed arm as he rubbed his head in embarrassment.


    "It''s okay," Snow Rose retorted coldly, "you can pay for it with your life."


    Snow Rose''s severed arm fell, and she used her Spiritual Sense to control it. It disintegrated into snowflakes and disappeared. Then, Snow Rose''s left shoulder glowed bright green as a new arm began to grow. As a Soul Ascendance realm cultivator, Snow Rose possessed high regenerative ability. While she could wait for a few days for her severed arm to grow naturally, in a fight like this, she resorted to using her Blood Essence and Qi to quickly regenerate her severed arm.


    Sorry, master, but I need to use forbidden technique, Snow Rose thought to herself. "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Sword Blizzard]," she muttered under her breath.

 Chapter 45: Triple Kill

    A fierce gust of wind swept through the area, bringing with it an intense cold that chilled to the bone. Under the cover of night, the blizzard formed, filling the air with countless snowflakes that danced in the darkness. Dark clouds rolled overhead, obscuring visibility and plunging the atmosphere into deeper darkness and biting cold as the blizzard intensified, covering a vast area.


    However, this was no ordinary blizzard. Each snowflake carried Sword Qi, imbuing it with a sharpness akin to a sword. The relentless wind carried these razor-sharp snowflakes, ensnaring Mad Saber, Roaring Thunder, Silver Marionette, and Absolute Diamond within its grasp. They found themselves bombarded by the relentless onslaught of these razor-sharp snowflakes, unable to escape their icy embrace.


    "[Eight-sided Silver Shield]!" The last silver puppet emitted silvery wisps from its body, which coalesced into an octahedral shield shimmering with silver light. The shield enveloped the silver puppet within, effectively deflecting the onslaught of sharp snowflakes. A clanking sound reverberated as the countless snowflakes collided with the silver shield.


    "[Diamond Armor]!" Absolute Diamond''s skin transformed into a diamond-like substance, forming a protective layer that, coupled with his Soul Manifestation, increased his defense further against the incoming snowflakes. The relentless assault resulted in a continuous clanking sound as the snowflakes struck his hardened body.


    "[Xueshi Yulu Wu - Dancing Saber in the Rain of Blood]! [Sanguine Saber Storm]!" Mad Saber summoned his Soul Manifestation and unleashed his combat technique, summoning a tempest of sharp, blood-like projectiles resembling sabers. He enveloped himself within this crimson storm, which clashed fiercely with the onslaught of razor-sharp snowflakes.


    "[Dianlong Wu Yun Hai - Dance of the Lightning Dragon on the Sea of Clouds]! [Lightning Storm Sphere]!" Roaring Thunder invoked his Soul Manifestation and executed his combat technique, summoning a sphere of crackling lightning that surrounded him. The lightning sphere pulverized the incoming snowflakes, protecting him from their relentless assault.


    Countless snowflakes continued to assault the four of them, but Absolute Diamond bore the brunt of the attack, with the majority of the snowflakes homing in on him.


    "Urgh!!!" Absolute Diamond grunted in pain as blood trickled from his mouth. Despite his formidable defense, the relentless onslaught of snowflakes proved overwhelming. His diamond-like skin began to bear the marks of countless cuts, with blood flowing freely from the wounds.


    "HEYAAAA!!!" With a fierce cry, Absolute Diamond summoned every ounce of his strength, pushing his Soul Manifestation and combat technique to their limits. Pouring more and more Qi from his Dantian, he bolstered his defense, causing his diamond-like skin to glow with renewed intensity.


    "No need to struggle, just accept your death," Snow Rose''s voice echoed ominously. She was nowhere to be found, having disappeared amidst the darkness and countless snowflakes and intense wind.


    "Hmph! Do you think that I''ll just let you kill me that easily?!" Absolute Diamond retorted. It seemed that Snow Rose was truly angered by what he had done previously.


    "If it''s just like this, it''s still not enough to kill me! Ha ha ha," Absolute Diamond provoked.


    "Is that so? Then have more of it," Snow Rose declared.


    The blizzard intensified as more snowflakes appeared, growing sharper with each passing moment. Countless snowflakes surged toward Absolute Diamond, increasing in both quantity and ferocity.


    "Damn it! HEA!!!" Absolute Diamond exclaimed, enduring the increased intensity and sharpness of the relentless snowflake barrage. He pumped more and more Qi from his Dantian, his entire body covered in diamond-like armor shining brighter with each passing moment. Sparks flew from the collisions, and cuts began to appear, only to heal immediately and persist in the onslaught.


    The silver puppet, Mad Saber, and Roaring Thunder each struggled to defend themselves. They also utilized their spiritual senses to observe how Absolute Diamond was being battered by the relentless assault. Fortunately, they were not the focused targets of the attack.


    Clang!


    A flying sword slash suddenly struck the octahedral silver shield out of nowhere, causing a loud clang accompanied by sparks and creating a gap in the defense. Through the opening, snowflakes streamed in, merging and coalescing to form Snow Rose''s body, as she emerged holding her sword ready to attack.


    "Oh no," exclaimed the silver puppet, caught off guard as it used its right arm to defend against the oncoming assault. It had assumed that Snow Rose would only focus on attacking Absolute Diamond.


    Snow Rose swiftly thrust her sword, piercing the silver puppet''s right arm and driving it straight into its head. The silver puppet no longer moved and went limp, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, and the octahedral silver shield crumbled into silver powder and scattered.


    "Fuuh..." Snow Rose exhaled, withdrawing her sword from the silver puppet''s head, then the silver puppet fell to the ground.


    Stab!


    "Suddenly, a long sharp claw emerged from Snow Rose''s forehead, piercing through her Soul Manifestation and the back of her head, causing blood to drip down her face. She wore a look of surprise. "Wha... what?"


    "Surprised? Fu fu fu," Silver Marionette''s voice taunted. A silver puppet materialized behind Snow Rose from the scattered silver powder, its index finger claw stabbing into the back of her head. "Who said I can only control two puppets? Now I can control three puppets, and along with my original body, giving me four real bodies. Even if you kill three, there''s still one left."


    Mad Saber, Roaring Thunder, and Absolute Diamond also noticed the turn of events.


    "Hmph! Finally got her!" exclaimed Mad Saber.


    "Not bad," remarked Roaring Thunder.


    "Damn, about time. I can barely hold on much longer," grunted Absolute Diamond, his body in terrible condition, with numerous cuts and blood dripping from his wounds, still bombarded by the relentless snowflakes.


    "You are thinking too highly of yourself. Do you really believe you can face all four of us and emerge victorious? Fat chance!" Silver Marionette sneered. "Indeed, you are strong, but it only took one mistake in a crucial moment to decide your death. Ha ha ha, who''s the trash now?"


    Stab!


    "Indeed, it only took one mistake in a crucial moment to decide your death," Snow Rose''s voice suddenly echoed from behind Silver Marionette.


    Mad Saber, Absolute Diamond, and Roaring Thunder looked on in surprise, unable to intervene as they were occupied with their own defenses. Suddenly, Snow Rose''s body emerged from a snowflake hurtling behind Silver Marionette and Snow Rose immediately plunged her sword through the back of the silver puppet''s head.


    "But... how?" Silver Marionette''s voice echoed, disbelief evident as the sword emerged from the silver puppet''s forehead, piercing through the back of its head.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Then, the Snow Rose figure that had been stabbed by the silver puppet''s claw slowly transformed into a snow figure, still enveloped by Snow Rose''s soul manifestation. Eventually, the Soul Manifestation cracked and disappeared, the snow figure then also disintegrates into snowflakes, which were then blown away by the wind.


    "You... you used your Soul Manifestation on your snow figure?!" Silver Marionette exclaimed.


    "That''s right. Now Die! Trash!" Snow Rose declared as cold energy burst forth from her sword, slowly freezing the silver puppet.


    "No! Nooooooooooooooooooo!" Silver Marionette cried out as the silver puppet was gradually encased in ice and Silver Marionette''s life force slowly extinguished.


    Snow Rose then withdrew her sword from the frozen silver puppet, which plummeted to the ground with a crash.


    "Cough... cough... hah... hah... hah..." Snow Rose coughed and spat blood, breathing heavily as she struggled to regain her composure.


    She had utilized her snow figure to deliver the final blow to Silver Marionette, enhancing it with her Soul Manifestation and infusing a significant amount of her own Qi to mimic her real body. Meanwhile, her real body remained hidden, poised to launch a surprise attack on Mad Saber, Absolute Diamond, or Roaring Thunder after dealing with Silver Marionette. However, to her surprise, Silver Marionette still possessed one hidden silver puppet that launched an attack on her snow figure. With no other choice, Snow Rose revealed her real body to confront and kill Silver Marionette''s last remaining puppet to completely kill Silver Marionette.


    Snow Rose had sustained numerous serious injuries throughout the entire fight and had depleted a large portion of her Qi reserves. Furthermore, her Soul Manifestation was severely damaged, rendering her unable to summon it again for some time. The use of the forbidden technique had consumed a significant amount of her Qi, vitality, and life force, putting great strain on her body. As a result, she was left weakened and continuously coughing up blood.


    The blizzard gradually died down and eventually disappeared, accompanied by the dispersal of the dark clouds. Simultaneously, the sun began to rise, casting an orange hue across the eastern sky. The four figures remained hovering in the sky, their appearances grim, bloodied, and marked by numerous injuries. They gasped for breath, their bodies battered and weary, yet their fighting spirit remained unyielding, still emanating tremendous Qi pressure and thick killing intent.


    "Haaah... hah... only three left..." Snow Rose panted, her voice strained with exhaustion.


    "Hah... hah..., hmp! With your condition, do you think you still have any chance?" Mad Saber gasped for breath as he dispelled his Soul Manifestation. He suffered some cuts caused by the snowflakes. As for his Soul Manifestation, it bore many cuts and cracks from the snowflakes'' attacks before slowly disappearing.


    "Hah... haah... hahhh... that''s right, your condition is worse than the three of us. You have no chance," Absolute Diamond asserted before his Soul Manifestation and diamond-like skin gradually vanished. His body was drenched in blood from countless cuts inflicted by the snowflakes, though they began to heal, albeit at a slower pace than before.


    Roaring Thunder remained silent, merely observing Snow Rose while gasping for breath. He, too, suffered some cuts, despite most of the snowflakes being pulverized by his combat technique. His Soul Manifestation also gradually dissipated, and Roaring Thunder found himself nearly depleted of Qi in his Dantian.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Frost Sword]!" Snow Rose exclaimed. She extended her right hand, and snowflakes began to gather, shining brightly. Slowly, the snowflakes transformed into a sword, crystal clear and emitting a chilling aura. Holding the sword, her momentum rising, she prepared for another round of combat.


    "What?! You''re already able to control Nature Qi?" Mad Saber exclaimed in surprise. He was astonished that Snow Rose had reached this level of mastery. Usually, only cultivators who had reached the Void Insight Realm and above and mastered Domain abilities could control Nature Qi like this.


    Snow Rose utilized the Nature Qi, specifically Ice attribute Qi from the surrounding environment, to form her sword, rather than using her own Qi from her Dantian. With this technique, the Nature Qi that could be gentle became destructive, and the sword is imbued with this destructive power, enabling Snow Rose to deliver attacks no weaker than those of a Void Insight Realm cultivator.


    "Damn it, we should''ve brought more people to confront her!" Absolute Diamond exclaimed.


    Snow Rose then flew towards Mad Saber, Roaring Thunder, and Absolute Diamond. The trio prepared for another round of combat.


    ...


    Two hours had passed, and this time Snow Rose had the absolute advantage, beating Mad Saber, Absolute Diamond, and Roaring Thunder badly in turns. Suddenly, a figure streaked down to the ground, crashing loudly and creating a crater. Roaring Thunder''s upper body was stuck in the ground, with only his hips and legs visible.


    Snow Rose then moved toward Absolute Diamond, who pushed his Soul Manifestation to its limit. His skin transformed into a diamond-like substance, they clashed, exchanging blows with intense ferocity. Absolute Diamond found himself at a total disadvantage, accumulating injuries with each exchange.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Frost Moon Slash]!" Snow Rose exclaimed, delivering four slashes towards Absolute Diamond.


    "Guagh!!!" Absolute Diamond cried out in agony. His diamond armor failed to defend against Snow Rose''s attack. The sword slashes severed both of his arms and legs cleanly, causing them to fall to the ground. The wounds then froze over, the ice slowly spreading across his body.


    "Ha ha ha," Absolute Diamond laughed bitterly as he surveyed his maimed body. It appeared that Snow Rose had taken revenge on him for previously ripping off her arm; now, she had cut off all four of his limbs. It seemed that it was all over for him; the cold energy infiltrated his body, and he didn''t have enough energy or Qi to fight it off and regrow his limbs.


    Snow Rose rested her sword near Absolute Diamond''s neck, its cold aura slowly freezing his skin as the ice spread.


    "Are you okay with this? Being used by others for their own gain?" Snow Rose questioned. "You must know you''re just being used to test me and figure out my current strength."


    "Ha ha ha, it''s fine," replied Absolute Diamond. "I''m no genius like you. I know it''s hard for me to advance far in the cultivation path. If I can kill you, then great, I might advance a little further. But if not, it''s fine to just end it. Even if I die, there will still be many others who will come for you. Hopefully, my death will contribute something, and they can kill you."


    "Hmph! Sorry, but you''ll be disappointed," Snow Rose retorted. "I''ll send those coming for me to the afterlife to accompany you."


    "Hmm... that''s also possible," conceded Absolute Diamond.


    On the ground, Roaring Thunder stood up from the hole he was in, holding his spear. His face was drenched in blood, and he looked furious as he gazed up at the sky where Snow Rose and Absolute Diamond were located.


    "[Dianlong Wu Yun Hai - Dance of the Lightning Dragon on the Sea of Clouds]!" Roaring Thunder summoned his Soul Manifestation, a semi-corporeal figure bathed in lightning appearing and enveloping him. His body was also covered in lightning, his eyes glowing red as he lost his rationality, consumed by fury and the desire to kill Snow Rose.


    "[Azure Lightning of Annihilation]!" Roaring Thunder unleashed his forbidden technique. His body became fully covered in azure lightning, forming a sphere of lightning and rendering him invisible. The ground cracked around him, forming a spider web of fissures, accompanied by the loud crackling sound of lightning.


    Snow Rose looked down at Roaring Thunder on the ground, then turned back toward Absolute Diamond. "Any last words?" she asked.


    "He he he, I love you. I''ve always admired you, even since the first time we met," Absolute Diamond said with a smile.


    "I know," Snow Rose replied. With a swift motion, she swung her sword across Absolute Diamond''s neck, beheading him. She then grabbed his head and exerted pressure with her fingers, causing them to penetrate through the skull. Next, she channeled cold energy into her palm and fingers, slowly freezing Absolute Diamond''s head.


    Cultivators of the Soul Ascendance Realm possess high regenerative abilities and vitality. Even if beheaded, they can survive, rejoin their bodies, or even regenerate their bodies. However, the only way to kill them permanently is to deliver a fatal blow to the head. Snow Rose intended to slowly kill Absolute Diamond in this manner.


    "HEYAAA! Take this!" Roaring Thunder leaped towards the sky with such force that the ground beneath him cracked and trembled, thrusting his spear upward with lightning enveloping it, resembling an azure-colored lightning arrow streaking swiftly towards Snow Rose.


    Snow Rose swiftly kicked Absolute Diamond''s body towards the incoming attack. As Absolute Diamond''s body made contact with the attack, it immediately pulverized. However, Roaring Thunder''s attack continued unabated towards Snow Rose.


    Snow Rose watched the incoming Roaring Thunder, her eyes briefly glowing blue.


    Roaring Thunder noticed his body gradually freezing, slowing down his attack. Visual Technique?! he pondered internally, but he continued his assault towards Snow Rose.


    "[Snow Drift]," Snow Rose exclaimed, utilizing her Movement Technique. With Roaring Thunder slowed down and her own Movement Technique combined, she managed to dodge his attack. But it wasn''t over yet. She aimed her sword towards Roaring Thunder and extended it, ice growing towards him. Caught off guard and still in the midst of his attack, Roaring Thunder failed to defend or dodge as the ice penetrated his head and froze it. The long ice then shattered as Roaring Thunder continued streaking through the air, a sharp ice fragment embedded in his head. His Soul Manifestation slowly dissipated, and his technique was broken. The lightning no longer enveloped his body. After flying a distance, Roaring Thunder''s body crashed to the ground, motionless.


    Now, only two figures remain hovering in the sky, Snow Rose and Mad Saber watched each other from a distance.

 Chapter 46: The Seven Serpents Poison Crystal

    Mad Saber and Snow Rose hovered facing each other at a distance, each wielding their respective weapons - Mad Saber with his saber, and Snow Rose with her crystal-clear sword. The tension crackled in the air between them as they prepared for the final battle.


    "You are indeed looking better in that color," remarked Mad Saber, his gaze fixed on Snow Rose. Her previously white robe now stained a deep red, blood also drenching her body. "You should change your Dao Title to Crimson Rose, it suits you better," Mad Saber suggested with a grin.


    Mad Saber''s thoughts drifted momentarily as he observed Snow Rose, his gaze lingering on the crimson hue of her robe. In his eyes, she was more captivating, more beautiful, adorned in the color of blood rather than just plain white. Among their generation, Snow Rose stood out as one of the cultivators who had shed the most blood. Despite her usual calm demeanor, she can be as deadly as a hungry, bloodthirsty beast. He remembered vividly the sight of her surrounded by enemies, facing them with unparalleled bravery, her figure bathed in the blood of her foes. Such courage, such power, her image deeply ingrained in his memory. Despite his admiration, Mad Saber''s grin remained, suggesting his playful nature even in the face of their impending clash.


    Snow Rose remained silent, showing no interest in humoring Mad Saber''s banter.


    "Time to end this," Snow Rose declared, her expression icy as she pointed her sword towards Mad Saber.


    "Sigh... that''s right, time to end this," Mad Saber responded, his face now serious as he also aimed his saber at Snow Rose.


    Snow Rose and Mad Saber''s figures disappeared from where they were hovering as they moved swiftly towards each other. A series of clashing and clanking rang out as Snow Rose and Mad Saber exchanged blows. Both were unable to summon their Soul Manifestations anymore, and their Qi reserves were almost depleted. They relied solely on their weapon proficiency now - Mad Saber with his fast and deadly saber technique, and Snow Rose with her elegant and fluid sword technique.


    They exchanged tens of blows in the blink of an eye, each inflicting wounds upon the other. Snow Rose''s sword attacks would cause Mad Saber''s wounds to freeze, his body infiltrated with cold energy. In return, Mad Saber''s attacks would cause Snow Rose''s injuries to bleed profusely.


    "[Sword Dance of the Moonlight, Crescent Frost]!" Snow Rose exclaimed.


    "[Blood Saber Crimson Slash]!" Mad Saber countered.


    Both combatants unleashed their techniques simultaneously. Mad Saber''s saber was enveloped in a thick red aura, while Snow Rose''s sword shimmered with icy cold air. With a deafening bang, the two clashed, their weapons grinding against each other as they locked in combat. Both exerted their strength, pushing against each other, each determined to gain the upper hand.


    "[Frost Snow Body]," Snow Rose uttered, while still locked in combat with Mad Saber. Three snow figures materialized around her, poised to attack Mad Saber.


    "[Blood Phantom]!" Mad Saber retorted, summoning three blood figures to defend against the incoming assault.


    The snow figures and blood figures clashed, engaging in fierce combat against each other. Meanwhile, the struggle between Mad Saber and Snow Rose intensified, both exerting their strength to push each other back.


    With a final surge of force, Mad Saber and Snow Rose managed to break apart, their exerted strength causing a shockwave that destroyed all remaining snow figures and blood figures still locked in battle.


    Mad Saber and Snow Rose moved swiftly towards each other once again, each preparing to launch another attack.


    "HEAAA!" Mad Saber exclaimed, delivering a vertical slash towards Snow Rose.


    Snow Rose prepared to counter with a stab of her own. As the saber descended towards her, Snow Rose extended her left hand towards it. Her left palm became enveloped in thick ice, which also extended towards the saber in an attempt to stop its descent.


    A crack echoed as the ice was smashed.


    Slash!


    Mad Saber''s saber attack cut through and destroyed the ice, slicing through Snow Rose''s palm and continuing its trajectory to sever her left arm from her shoulder, blood gushing out.


    Snow Rose''s attack also landed on Mad Saber. Her sword pierced his chest, penetrating through to his back, and the cold energy surged, slowly freezing the area around the stab.


    Both remained motionless.


    "It seems that you''ve won... cough..." Mad Saber coughed, blood staining his lips.


    Snow Rose, still holding her sword penetrating Mad Saber''s chest, remained calm.


    "It''s over for you," Snow Rose declared, her gaze cold as she looked towards Mad Saber, having sacrificed her left arm to deliver the fatal blow.


    "Cough... cough..." Mad Saber released his grip, his body ravaged by the infiltrating cold energy. His saber fell to the ground. "Indeed, but it''s also over for you," he declared, using both his hands to tightly grasp Snow Rose''s right hand, which still clutched her sword lodged in his chest.


    "What are you trying to do?!" Snow Rose exclaimed; her tone laced with suspicion.


    "He he he, that bastard Malachi wasn''t so bad after all, he he he," Mad Saber chuckled.


    Snow Rose remained puzzled by Mad Saber''s actions, attempting to free her hand and retrieve her sword, but Mad Saber''s grip was firm.


    "Ha ha ha," Mad Saber laughed, then opened his mouth to reveal a black crystal on his tongue before retracting it back into his mouth. "Ga ha ha, you must know what this is, right?" he grinned wildly, blood staining his lips.


    "What?!" Snow Rose exclaimed.


    "That''s right, it''s that bastard trump card treasure, The Seven Serpents Poison Crystal!" Mad Saber confirmed with a twisted grin.


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    The Seven Serpents Poison Crystal is a crystal containing a potent venom extracted from seven Rank-6 Spirit Beasts, enriched to increase its lethality many times over. Its poisons can kill almost any Soul Ascendance cultivator in just a few breaths.


    "Why do you have it?!" Snow Rose demanded, struggling to free herself from his grip.


    "He he, sure, we''re not geniuses, but we''re not that dumb either. We know that among the five of us, you would consider Malachi the most troublesome one, so you would have targeted him first. Even though he''s very weak in direct combat, his poisons are hard to deal with. That''s why that bastard Malachi gave me this crystal, because he wasn''t confident he could survive for long against you. Although I must admit, I''m very surprised that you''d just one-shot him so easily like that," Mad Saber explained with a sinister chuckle.


    Noxious Viper would be able to utilize the black crystal to its fullest potential, but Snow Rose would probably kill him first before a good opportunity presents itself to use the crystal. Thus, he entrusted it to Mad Saber.


    "Let''s die together!" Mad Saber exclaimed, biting down on the sinister black crystal.


    "Tch!" Snow Rose clicked her tongue in frustration, releasing her sword and struggling to free her right hand from Mad Saber''s grip, but to no avail.


    The Seven Serpents Poison Crystal shattered inside Mad Saber''s mouth, emitting black poisonous gas that began to seep out, melting his muscles, bones, teeth, skin, and tendons into a black gooey liquid. As his consciousness faded away amidst the unbearable pain, Mad Saber glimpsed the blurry figure of Snow Rose struggling to free herself from his grip before his vision darkened completely.


    Snow Rose watched in horror as the dark gas emanated from Mad Saber''s mouth, rapidly spreading and nearly reaching her. With a desperate kick, she managed to break free from his grasp, tearing her own right arm in the process. Propelled away by the force of her kick, she couldn''t escape entirely unscathed as a small amount of the black gas touched her body.


    "[Eternal Icy Prison]," Snow Rose invoked her technique, surrounding herself with swirling snowflakes that encapsulated her in a large snowball, protecting her from the black gas.


    Mad Saber''s head completely melted, unleashing a burst of thick black gas that enveloped the area, reaching the large snowball. His body fell to the ground, trailing black gas as it crashed down. The area where Mad Saber''s body fell was completely surrounded and covered in thick black poisonous gas. Mad Saber''s body itself had melted into a dark, gooey liquid, which sizzled and corroded the ground, leaving one large hole in its wake. Meanwhile, Snow Rose, protected within her snowy cocoon, drifted away from the contaminated area. However, the outside of the snowball became entirely black as it was tainted by the poisonous gas. Gradually, the contamination spread to the inside slowly and almost reached where Snow Rose was located.


    As the black snowball traveled further, it split in two by a sword slash, and Snow Rose emerged from within. The split snowball, now almost entirely black, disintegrated into black snowflakes, disappearing. Snow Rose, weakened and in intense pain from the poison ravaging her body, plummeted to the ground unable to fly any longer. She crashed, creating a small crater. Lying on the ground, she turned her body upward, still gasping for breath. Beads of sweat rolled down her pale face, and the black veins on her skin were visible. With both arms lost, blood still dripping, she looked up at the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face as the clouds slowly dissipated.


    After a while, Snow Rose slowly struggled to get up, coughing up black blood as it sizzled upon touching the ground, evaporating into black gas. After taking several deep breaths and exhaling, Snow Rose slowly floated towards the direction of Xiu Hui and Yan Mei.


    The landscape lay in ruins, devastated by the aftermath of the fierce battle. The volcano, caused by their fight, still erupted ominously in the distance. It didn''t take long for Snow Rose to reach Xiu Hui and Yan Mei, who had been protected by an energy barrier throughout the ordeal. When they spotted their Martial Aunt flying towards them, relief washed over them, but their joy turned to anguish as they saw her condition up close.


    Tears started to roll down Yan Mei''s face. Xiu Hui then dispelled the energy barrier, and they flew towards Martial Aunt. Snow Rose descended slowly to the ground. Yan Mei was the first to reach her, wordlessly wrapping her arms around her Martial Aunt and burying her face in her ample chest, tears streamed down her cheeks as she began to cry loudly. For her, her Martial Aunt was very important, and she cared for and loved her Martial Aunt more than her own master.


    Unlike her master, who was strict and easily angered, her Martial Aunt was gentle, lovable, and kind. Xiu Hui, with reddened and watery eyes, approached Snow Rose next, taking her into a gentle embrace.


    "Martial Aunt... are you okay?" Xiu Hui asked, her voice filled with sadness. Seeing her Martial Aunt''s condition, she observed that she had lost both arms, her robe torn and damaged. The previously beautiful and elegant white robes had become dark red, drenched in blood, and her complexion was pale. Blood also drenched her body.


    "I am fine, don''t worry," Snow Rose reassured them, offering a faint smile despite her injuries and the poison ravaging her body.


    "But... but your arms," Xiu Hui pointed out, concern evident in her tone.


    "They will heal in time," Snow Rose replied calmly.


    Amidst Yan Mei''s continued sobbing, Snow Rose''s expression suddenly turned icy cold as she sensed someone spying from a distance. Her killing intent rising again, she prepared to battle, but the person immediately ran away, causing Snow Rose''s expression to return to normal.


    "Come on, let''s leave this place," she said gently. With Xiu Hui and Yan Mei on either side of her, supporting her, they flew away from the desolate battlefield, disappearing into the distance as Yan Mei''s cries gradually faded into the air.


    ...


    "Phew... that was close. He he he, she''s still as beautiful as I remember," muttered a figure streaking across the sky, moving so swiftly that his form blurred. He had been secretly observing the fight from the beginning and was detected by Snow Rose, prompting him to swiftly flee. As he flew, he retrieved a communication talisman from his storage ring to deliver a message.


    ...


    In a lavish room, a handsome man wearing extravagant robes sat at a table, his long hair tied back neatly. Two beautiful attendants stood nearby, respectful and silent. As he sipped tea, he retrieved a communication talisman, and a message could be heard.


    "Mad Saber and the others were killed by Snow Rose. Tsk tsk tsk, they were too weak. They also failed to force her to reveal her Demonification. Surprisingly, Snow Rose is still at the 6th stage of the Soul Ascendance realm. I will tell you the details later. Also, don''t forget to prepare some good wine for me. Ha ha ha."


    With the message delivered, the communication talisman crumbled to dust. The man continued to sip his tea.


    ...


    After Snow Rose, Xiu Hui, and Yan Mei left the area, several illusory figures appeared in the sky. Some of them used their massive illusory palms to descend to the ground, grabbing both the remains of the fallen cultivators and their belongings before disappearing. A large figure opened its mouth and sucked in the black poisonous gas that blanketed the area before swallowing it.


    A male illusory figure approached a female one. "You have a really impressive junior," he remarked.


    The female figure didn''t reply. The male figure and the others then disappeared, while the female figure took a last glance in the direction where Snow Rose had left before also vanishing.


    The deaths of the five Ascendance Realm cultivators in this battle will undoubtedly reverberate throughout the Cultivation World. These individuals, having reached the Soul Ascendance Realm, wield significant influence within their respective factions on the Luoshan Continent and hold high-ranking positions. Cultivators beyond the Soul Ascendance Realm typically withdraw from active participation in worldly affairs, focusing instead on secluded cultivation due to the profound impact of karma on their cultivation paths; the higher their cultivation level, the more karma will affect their cultivation paths. Therefore, Soul Ascendance cultivators are among the most powerful figures actively engaging in the cultivation world. The loss of five such individuals is no small matter.


    Those with knowledge and connections are likely to view this news with concern, understanding the implications it may have for the balance of power among factions. Conversely, those who are unaware or uninvolved in the affairs of the cultivation world will continue with their lives as usual, unaffected by the significant events unfolding among the elite cultivators.

 Chapter 47: In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

    Anliu Baihe River, a grand waterway with a width that can stretch to hundreds of meters, originates from the mountain ranges in the west. Flowing eastward for thousands of kilometers, it eventually empties into the sea in the east. This majestic river traverses the heart of Jiulong Province, serving as a natural boundary dividing the region into north and south. Widely utilized for transportation, the river is teeming with activity, bustling with boats ferrying passengers and cargo.


    Numerous cities, towns, and villages thrive along its banks, prospering from the bustling trade facilitated by the river. Liyu Village stands as a testament to this prosperity, its docks bustling even in the early hours of dawn as the sky begins to brighten. Boats are readied for their journeys, passengers queueing up to board, and cargo being swiftly transported onto the vessels.


    Amidst this flurry of activity, the Liu family caravan arrives at the boat and boards it, which they had booked entirely for themselves. They left the inn very early in the morning, just as the first light of dawn touched the horizon. Orion and Wang Lingxin were given the best cabin available. After loading all the cargo, including the horses and carriages that carried it, onto the boat, they set sail downstream. The vessel glided along the river''s current, propelled by its billowing sails. The journey downstream would take around a week before they reached their next destination. Following that, they would have another day of land travel until they finally arrived at Fengxian.


    The journey is smooth and pleasant, the river calm and gentle with no waves, and the boat not rocking. The boat sails gracefully, with other boats visible both behind and in front of the boat in the distance. Occasionally, passing boats can be seen going in the opposite direction, adding to the lively atmosphere of the river. A refreshing wind blows as passengers gather on the deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery and good weather. The boat crew is busy manning the vessel, ensuring a safe voyage.


    Wang Lingxin and Orion are on the deck, enjoying the boat ride. Fortunately, Wang Lingxin doesn''t get seasick. She appears delighted as it''s her first time on such a large boat on a big river; previously, she had only ridden small boats and canoes on smaller rivers.


    "Wow, this is really nice," Wang Lingxin remarked. "Master, if we keep going with the boat, will we reach the very big lake called the sea?" She had learned about the river from the tablet and seen pictures taken from space by Orbiter, showing how the river extends all the way to the sea in the east.


    From the tablet, she also learned that the world she lives in is round and not flat, with most of it covered in water and several continents spread across. Though she didn''t fully understand it all, she believed it. She was also very impressed by Orbiter, her master''s friend, who flies high in the sky.


    "Yes, but it will take a long time," Orion replied.


    "Master, I want to see the sea. Can you take me to see the sea someday?" Wang Lingxin had only heard stories and legends about the vast sea and hopes to see it one day.


    "Sure, I will take you there," Orion assures her.


    "He he he little girl, do you also dream of seeing the sea?" one of the crew members chuckled.


    "Uncle, have you ever seen the sea?" Wang Lingxin inquired.


    "No, but I also want to see it, just like you," the crew member replied.


    "You work on a boat but have never seen the sea?" Wang Lingxin asked, surprised.


    "I only sail around this area, so I haven''t experienced the sea. But many other people I know have been there. Did you know that the sea is salty?" the crew member explained.


    "The legends said that the sea is salty," Wang Lingxin nodded.


    "Yes, indeed, it is salty," the crew member confirmed.


    Wang Lingxin continued to talk enthusiastically with the crew for a while about the sea, her eyes brimming with excitement. With the sun high in the sky, it was time for lunch. Wang Lingxin specifically asked Orion for fish for her meal, wanting to fully enjoy the mood of the river. Orion retrieved freshly cooked fish dishes from the storage ring, which it had previously purchased from a high-end restaurant in Yanjing City. Additionally, Orion retrieved a table and a chair for Wang Lingxin. Wang Lingxin preferred the high-quality food stored in Orion''s storage ring rather than meals cooked by the caravan cook. With steaming hot spicy fish soup, fried fish, and a bowl of rice, Wang Lingxin enjoyed the food on the deck while taking in the scenery.


    As the sun set, casting an orange hue in the sky, then night fell. Wang Lingxin also enjoyed dinner on the deck. After dinner, Wang Lingxin and Orion remained on the deck, along with other passengers and crew, where they ate, drank, laughed, bantered, and sang. Wang Lingxin looked up at the night sky, blanketed with countless beautiful twinkling stars.


    She noticed her master had been silently gazing at the night sky for a while. "The stars are very beautiful, Master. Do you enjoy watching them?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Beautiful? Yes, I guess so," Orion remarked.


    Orion is still looking at the night sky, but for Orion, rather than enjoying the twinkling stars every time it gazes up, there is always worry and uncertainty. The positions of the stars and constellations are unknown to it. Even when Orbiter uses its long-range camera to discover many galaxies, they remain foreign and unfamiliar to Orion. Some galaxies defy the laws of physics and understanding, posing challenges to Earth''s knowledge. Additionally, there are many unusual and unexplainable astronomical phenomena and mysteries. Orion is unsure of its current location, which galaxy it occupies, or even if it remains within the same universe as Earth. However, Orion knows that the galaxy it currently occupies is not the Milky Way.


    Wang Lingxin looked up at the night sky, enjoying the view, while Orion, its AI occupied with something else, also gazed at the sky.


    "This is Orbiter, everything is ready. Preparing to execute the mission," Orbiter radioed.


    "Proceed with the mission," Orion replied over the radio.


    "Roger. Igniting thrusters..." Orbiter responded.


    Orbiter, currently orbiting the planet in a low orbit, ignited its thrusters and executed Hohmann transfer orbit maneuvers to increase its velocity and alter its trajectory. Its objective: intercepting the path of a target asteroid, currently moving towards its perihelion. Utilizing its array of sensors and instruments, including a long-range camera, Lidar, and Radar, Orbiter scanned for numerous asteroids. It had used its sensors to search for a target and had decided on the target.


    The chosen target was a C-type spectral asteroid, designated as Asteroid-1. With a low albedo, appearing rather dark, and exhibiting slow rotation with a single axis, it had an estimated diameter of about 600 meters. Orbiter projected a rendezvous with the asteroid in approximately a year, relying solely on its own propulsion to gradually accelerate and maneuver from its low orbit.


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    For the Vanguard Program to colonize Mars, many spacecrafts and satellites were involved. Among the most common configurations of spacecraft sent from Earth comprised a Lander and an Orbiter. Landers were tasked with transporting various materials, tools, equipment, and robots to the Martian surface. Orbiters came in diverse types: some operated independently, others functioned in constellations, and some were tailored for specialized missions. Additionally, certain Orbiters would dock or combine to form a Mars Space Station.


    Orbiter that is currently orbiting the planet where Orion is located, identified by the serial number MSS-M14 (Mars Space Station - Module 14), belonged to the category designed to dock or merge with others to establish the Mars Space Station. This particular Orbiter was equipped with specialized components and equipment for repair and maintenance. It utilized a long mechanical arm for satellite capture and manipulation, while smaller mechanical arms, attached at the end of the longer arm, were employed for repairs. Additionally, three small robots, namely KiloBot, MegaBot, and GigaBot, were dedicated to repair in small, narrow, and challenging spaces inaccessible to the smaller mechanical arms.


    Currently, the MSS-M14 Orbiter only has less than half of its fuel left, with no possibility of obtaining spare parts or refueling. Orbiter is on its own, struggling to survive in this foreign world. Orion, on the other hand, has managed to obtain resources and spare parts, and with the connections Orion has established with the natives, there is hope for its survival. Orion has even upgraded itself, replacing some parts of its body with better and stronger materials, and even using inscription to further strengthen itself. It''s relatively easy for Orion to acquire resources to support its life and operation.


    As for Orbiter, it is alone with nothing. Orbiter begins the Space Net plan to at least prolong its life. The first objective is to refuel.


    The Vanguard Program also has satellites specialized in In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) to extend the operation of many Satellites, Orbiters, and the Mars Space Station. Sending fuel from Earth is not economically viable, so the mission plans to use fuel from asteroids. Special satellites will obtain water from asteroids and convert it into liquid hydrogen (LOH) and liquid oxygen (LOX), which will then be used to refuel orbiters and satellites. Thus, all orbiters and satellites are designed to use LOH and LOX fuel.


    The problem for the MSS-M14 Orbiter is that it is not specialized for ISRU operations but for maintenance and repair. Although it has a detailed plan for the entire Vanguard Program, Orbiter will require a lot of improvisation. Orbiter and Orion has come up with a modified plan for conducting ISRU operations. It will first rendezvous with the asteroid, then dock and secure itself using the long mechanical arm. The KiloBot, MegaBot, and GigaBot will then further secure the Orbiter to the asteroid. The KiloBot, MegaBot, and GigaBot then will begin digging through the asteroid''s surface layers and search for ice. Once ice is found, it will be brought back to Orbiter to be processed further. Orbiter''s electricity is generated by solar panels and a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG). The RTG not only provides electricity but also serves as part of the heating system, generating heat from radioactive decay. Additionally, the RTG acts as a Radioisotope Heater Unit (RHU), eliminating the need for a separate RHU. The heat from the RTG will be used to melt the ice and turn it into water. The water will then be processed further for electrolysis. Orbiter lacks the necessary equipment to perform the electrolysis process. Therefore, improvised tools and equipment will need to be created.


    As Orbiter ignited its thrusters and made its way toward Asteroid-1, the three small robots began to work, disassembling some of the Orbiter''s parts to make the necessary tools and equipment needed for ISRU operations and electrolysis. Orbiter and Orion collaborated on the design of the Improvised Electrolysis Device (IED). In the challenging microgravity environment, the simple process of electrolysis becomes more complex. In microgravity, water tends to gather and form a blob. However, for electrolysis to occur and produce hydrogen and oxygen gas separately, two cells are needed. With water forming a blob, it will be a challenge.


    The design for the Improvised Electrolysis Device (IED) will consist of a long tube made of strong, insulating material, obtained from a structural part of the long mechanical arm. The tube will be divided into three equal parts and rejoined, with valves added at the joints to create three separate compartments: one for the anode, one for the cathode, and one central compartment. Each end of the tube in the electrode compartments will be sealed to prevent leakage.


    In the anode compartment, a long electrode will be positioned in the middle of the tube to produce oxygen gas (O?). Similarly, in the cathode compartment, another long electrode will be used to produce hydrogen gas (H?). Tubes or small pipes will be installed to collect the O? and H? gases from each compartment.


    The central compartment will be filled with water, and additional water can be injected into the system through tubes connected to the central compartment. Due to microgravity conditions, water tends to form a blob in the middle of the central compartment and completely fill it, with some water entering the anode and cathode compartments, filling half the compartment. The electrodes in both compartments will make contact with the water, and the remaining space in each compartment will be filled with O? gas in the anode compartment and H? gas in the cathode compartment. Initially, the O? and H? gases will be obtained from Orbiter''s own fuel tank.


    During the electrolysis process, many tiny gas bubbles will form on the electrodes. In microgravity, however, these bubbles won''t rise as they would on Earth; instead, they''ll stick to the electrodes. To address this issue, vibrations will be induced in the electrodes to reduce surface tension and facilitate the formation of larger gas bubbles. The electrodes will also move back and forth within the water blob, assisting the gas bubbles to join the existing O? or H? gas within the anode and cathode compartments. Additionally, the passages from each cathode compartment to the central compartment will be designed to prevent gas bubbles from entering the central compartment and entering other electrode compartments, ensuring the efficiency of the electrolysis process and the purity of the produced oxygen and hydrogen gases. The O? and H? gases can then be utilized for fuel.


    However, there is an issue for Orbiter with this. Its fuel tank is designed to store liquefied O? and H? instead of gas form due to considerations of storage efficiency and volume. If the tank were filled with oxygen and hydrogen gas, it wouldn''t be able to store as much. As a result, one option for Orbiter is to fill several empty fuel tanks with water instead. For propulsion, electrolysis would need to be conducted to produce O? and H? gas to feed the engine. Nonetheless, there is a drawback: the production rate of O? and H? gas from the Improvised Electrolysis Device (IED) is rather low to keep up with the demands of the engine.


    Despite these challenges, there is hope; there are other reasons why Asteroid-1 was chosen. In this world filled with unexplainable phenomena and mysteries, which not only exist on the planet where Orion is located but also in space, the asteroid selected for ISRU displays unique phenomena. Using its onboard sensors, Orbiter detected some anomalies with the asteroid; certain parts of it exhibit extreme coldness, contrasting with the surrounding asteroid surface. Even when exposed to sunlight, this cold phenomenon persists, indicating a deeper underlying reason. Orbiter plans to use this mysterious phenomenon and intends to utilize it to condense the produced oxygen and hydrogen gas from water electrolysis into a liquid state, which can then be stored in the fuel tank for refueling. However, it''s still in the planning stage and requires further research and experimentation with regard to the cold phenomenon associated with the asteroid, especially upon Orbiter''s docking with the asteroid.


    "Good luck, Orbiter," Orion said via radio.


    "Thank you. We''ll need all the luck we can get, if there is such a thing," Orbiter replied.


    Orion can establish contact with Orbiter multiple times a day when Orbiter is orbiting in low orbit due to its high orbital speed. However, as Orbiter changes its orbit, communication windows will change. When docking with the asteroid, communication may become difficult and challenging. Furthermore, there is a risk that Orbiter crashes into the asteroid, and that''s mean a goodbye and no more communication with Orbiter. Orion observes the night sky, its camera zooms in, and it can see Orbiter orbiting above and shining brightly in the sunlight. Orion can only hope for the best for Orbiter.


    "It''s already late, let''s return to the cabin," said Orion, as the cold wind started to blow, sensing the temperature slowly dropping using its temperature sensor.


    "Okay," replied Wang Lingxin, accompanying Orion back to their cabin.

 Chapter 48: Improvised Depth Charges vs Crocodile Spirit Beast

    The second day of the boat journey began with volcanic ash falling on the boat since early morning. The boat crew promptly cleaned it, though they wondered about the source of the eruption. Only Orion knew which volcano had erupted, despite it being hundreds of kilometers away; the ash had been carried to them by the wind. Throughout the day, ash continued to fall, prompting Orion to restrict Wang Lingxin''s time on deck. Orion also ensured she wore a bandana that Orion had created to cover her nose and mouth. Additionally, Orion wet the bandana with water to provide some additional protection by trapping particles in the moisture.


    While the rest of the crew and passengers remained unperturbed by the ash, carrying on with their usual activities, Orion advised them to also cover their nose with wet cloth for protection. However, they shrugged it off, continuing with their normal routines. Meanwhile, Orion and Wang Lingxin spent most of their time in their cabin. Orion took this opportunity to educate Wang Lingxin about volcanoes and geology using the tablet accompanied by interactive animations, aiming to enhance her understanding. Orion also showed her footage of the erupting volcano responsible for the ashfall. By the next day, the ashfall had ceased, but some of the crew and passengers started coughing and feeling sick because of the volcanic ash for several days, fortunately, it was not severe.


    As the last night on the boat approached, with their destination nearing, Orion and Wang Lingxin stood on the deck, gazing at the night sky.


    "Master, can you fetch those stars for me?" Wang Lingxin asked, her voice filled with wonder.


    "I''m afraid not, why would you want it anyway?" Orion replied gently.


    "Well, they look pretty. I want to have some and make it into a necklace. It will be beautiful. Moreover, during the night, it will light up and twinkle. He he he, some of the neighbor aunties around my house only have gold or silver necklaces, and they look so proud of them. Mine will be twinkling with light. Won''t it be great, Master?" Wang Lingxin exclaimed excitedly.


    "Well, that would be something indeed," Orion remarked, surprised. "But sorry to tell you this, stars, even though they look small as we can see, are actually very big. Even bigger than this planet (world), they are actually just like the sun, but because they are very far away, they look so small," Orion explained.


    "What? Really? Wow!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed in amazement.


    "Stars and the sun are just like balls of fire that are very big and very hot. Now, how are you going to make it into a necklace?" Orion inquired, turning to Wang Lingxin.


    "Uh... ugh..." Wang Lingxin stammered, momentarily at a loss for words. A ball of fire that is bigger than the world? she thought to herself, internally puzzled.


    "Aw... my necklace..." Wang Lingxin sighed, her disappointment evident, her wish to make a beautiful necklace of stars dashed. She leaned on the deck''s edge, looking at the river below, where she could see a figure of a fish swimming alongside the boat.


    "Don''t be dispirited. Maybe it''s possible to do such a thing," Orion said, trying to cheer her up. But what Orion said was without a reason. In this cultivation world filled with many unexplainable mysteries and phenomena, perhaps such a thing is possible.


    "Mmmm... Master, can you tell me more about stars and the sun?" Wang Lingxin asked, her disappointment lingering from her dashed dream of the star necklace.


    "Sure. The sun is actually also a star, but it''s just named as the sun. It''s a big fiery ball, and just like in this world where we live, there is a sun. That means in the other stars, there are also possibilities of worlds just like ours, and that star becomes their sun. The sun is also... " Orion continued the explanation.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin stood at a quiet corner on the deck, engrossed in their discussion. Around them, the other passengers and crew members ate, drank, laughed, bantered, and sang merrily. Despite the bustling activity and the loud voices from the crew and passengers, Wang Lingxin was fully immersed in Orion''s explanation. A bird perched on top of the mast, resting, opened its eyes and looking towards Orion and Wang Lingxin, as if also listening to their discussion.


    "Wow..." Wang Lingxin exclaimed, her arms folded as she rested on the railing of the deck''s corner, gazing up at the night sky. Wang Lingxin wondered about the multitude of stars in the sky and the possibility of worlds like hers among them.


    "C''mon, time for you to go to bed," Orion said.


    Wang Lingxin, still lost in thought from the explanation, walked alongside Orion as they made their way back to their cabin.


    The next morning, as the boat neared its destination with its sails billowing, the passengers were busy preparing to disembark when suddenly, commotion erupted on the deck. Orion and Wang Lingxin emerged from their cabin to witness a horrifying scene unfolding before them. Another boat not far behind came under attack from something lurking beneath the water. The violent rocking of the boat soon caused it to split in two, sending many passengers tumbling into the water below.


    Amidst the chaos, a massive black crocodile emerged from the depths ¨C a Black Armor Crocodile, a Rank-2 Spirit Beast. It opened its enormous mouth and began to devour the helpless individuals floundering in the water. The remaining survivors struggled to swim away amidst the wreckage, their desperate screams filled the air. Some of the passengers were cultivators, attempting to fend off the Spirit Beast. However, being only at the Qi Condensation realm, they were too weak against the Rank-2 Spirit Beast. Their efforts proved futile against its thick, armored skin, especially with the disadvantage of being surrounded by water. Unable to walk on water or take flight due to their cultivation level, they could only stand on the debris and fight the Spirit Beast. Despite their struggle, they were gradually eaten one by one. As time passed, more and more survivors fell victim to the ferocious beast, staining the water crimson with blood.


    While attacks by Spirit Beasts on riverboats were not uncommon, it was rather rare for a Rank-2 Spirit Beast to appear in this part of the river. With many boats traveling the river and contributing significantly to the economy, ensuring safe passage had become vital for the Jiulong Province and Zhenyu Kingdom. Therefore, every year, the army was sent to clear the river of dangerous Spirit Beasts. Many Spirit Beasts fled upstream, where there was still minimal human activity. Although there were still some Rank-1 Spirit Beasts that occasionally attack boats, they posed little threat to boats, as they were typically dealt with by cultivator guards and passengers, some of whom were also cultivators. It was very rare for a Rank-2 Spirit Beast to appear and attack boats in these busy waterways.


    The passengers and crew aboard Orion''s boat panicked upon witnessing the situation. It was too late to help the survivors from the sinking boat, as there was no longer any movement around the wreckage, and the water had turned crimson. The huge crocodile Spirit Beast was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, a dark figure was spotted underwater, moving toward Orion''s boat, causing fear among the passengers and crew as they recognized the imminent danger. The other boats in the area, which were still rather far away, upon witnessing the scene, immediately turned around and attempted to move as far away as possible.


    "Damn it, a Black Armor Crocodile! Men, draw weapons! Prepare for battle!" exclaimed the Liu Family caravan''s guard leader named Liu Yu, his nerves on edge. Then, he looked towards the man with the metallic helmet near him and gained calm.


    The guards from the Liu Family caravan drew their weapons, ready to defend against the approaching threat. Amidst the chaos, the passengers on the boat moved around in panic. However, amidst the commotion, only two figures remained calm, standing at the edge of the deck. A little girl held a skewer of candied fruit in her right hand, enjoying the sweet treat as she watched the events unfold. Standing beside her was a man with a metallic helmet, his arms crossed over his chest.


    Previously, Wang Lingxin was in the cabin with Orion, enjoying a candied fruit skewer and tea when the commotion on deck broke out. As Orion and Wang Lingxin emerged onto the deck and witnessed the terrible scene unfolding, Wang Lingxin felt pity for those people, but as for fear? There was none. With her master beside her, how could there be any danger? She was confident that her master could deal with any danger easily.


    "Uhmm... Mr. Orion What should we do?" Liu Yu approached Orion. He had been told that Orion was someone with an extraordinary background and high cultivation. For such a figure, surely a mere Black Armor Crocodile wouldn''t be a problem, he thought.


    "I can kill it easily, but it will be hard if it keeps hiding in the water. For now, let''s try to keep our distance. Starboard turn, head to shallower water, hoist the sails to full, and increase speed to maximum, let it chase us" Orion replied calmly.


    "Starboard turn, head to shallower water! Hoist the sails to full! Increase speed to maximum! Uhh... let it chase us" Liu Yu then shouted to the boat captain. He had been ordered by his superior that if something were to happen, he needed to listen to the armored man''s orders.


    "Rudder right!" the boat captain immediately followed the order, directing the helmsman to maneuver the boat while commanding his crew. Despite his experience and knowledge of sailing, the captain was just a mere mortal and didn''t know how to deal with the crocodile Spirit Beast. Nevertheless, he trusted the armored man, who seemed to have a plan. The crew swiftly assumed their positions, attempting to steer the vessel away from the impending danger.


    Meanwhile, Orion observed the dark figure approaching underwater and retrieved information about the crocodile Spirit Beast from its database. Orion had acquired extensive knowledge about Spirit Beasts through the numerous books and scrolls it had read.


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    Black Armor Crocodile, a Rank-2 Spirit Beast, possesses tough and thick skin resembling armor, particularly on its back. However, its underside is relatively weak. Another vulnerability is its eyes. They utilize their strong jaws and tail for combat, they also... Orion continued, reading more details about the Spirit Beast.


    Hm... a rather strong Spirit Beast, but it''s no longer a problem for me. The only concern is the environment. Orion internally calculated and prepared a plan to deal with the crocodile.


    The biggest problem is that they are currently on the river, and Orion cannot swim, meanwhile the crocodile have total advantage in the water. Confronting the crocodile will be challenging. However, the good news is that the Black Armor Crocodile is just a Rank-2 Spirit Beast, so the crocodile''s strong and thick skin is not a problem for Orion who can use any of the high-quality weapons given by Luo Fengwei to kill the crocodile, without even needing to use the Chainsaw Qi Sword. In less than a second, Orion formulated a plan.


    There were several options available. Orion could attempt to keep the crocodile at bay by using wooden barrels filled with explosives, throwing them towards the crocodile. However, this would likely only cause slight damage due to the crocodile''s tough and hard armor-like skin. Alternatively, Orion could improvise by attaching extra weights to the wooden barrels, causing them to sink into the water before exploding. This tactic, akin to a depth charge, could potentially cause more significant damage if Orion could make the barrels explode beneath the crocodile.


    The explosion would generate rapidly expanding gas bubbles, which would create a shockwave expanding in all directions. Then the gas bubble¡¯s collapse produces both destructive upthrust and a secondary shockwave. Hopefully, this would be enough to scare away or deter the crocodile or even killed it. If the crocodile persisted, then there would be no choice but to engage in close combat, for which Orion was also prepared.


    Orion retrieved a life vest from the storage ring for Wang Lingxin to use as a precaution before executing the plan to fight the crocodile. Orion then headed to the stern of the boat, followed by Wang Lingxin and Liu Yu. On the stern stood Orion, Wang Lingxin, the boat captain, helmsman, and Liu Yu. As the boat moved towards shallower waters, the crocodile Spirit Beast drew closer.


    "Um... sir, we won''t be able to outrun the crocodile Spirit Beast. What should we do next?" the boat captain asked, his tone filled with worry.


    "Don''t worry, just navigate the boat into the shallower waters along the riverbank," Orion reassured him.


    "Ugh... Yes, sir," the boat captain replied, his anxiety evident.


    Orion then retrieved many wooden barrels from the storage ring. Observing the numerous wooden barrels, the others on the stern looked puzzled, wondering what Orion intended to do with them. Orion also retrieved several steel chains with iron balls at one end, usually used to restrain Spirit Beasts. These chains were among the many items Orion had obtained in Yanjing City.


    "Get your men to tie the chains to the big wooden barrels," Orion instructed.


    "Right away, sir," Liu Yu responded promptly, issuing orders to his men to carry out Orion''s instructions.


    "How deep are we now?" Orion inquired.


    "Around 7 meters, sir," the boat captain replied, his familiarity with the river evident.


    "Keep sailing at this depth," Orion instructed the boat captain, who nodded in acknowledgment. "Now, get your men to pour the small wooden barrels slowly," Orion directed Liu Yu.


    "Yes, sir! Come on, you heard Mr. Orion. Do as he says," Liu Yu commanded his men, ensuring they followed Orion''s orders without delay.


    Then Liu Yu''s subordinates began as instructed, grabbing the small wooden barrels and opening the lids before pouring out their contents, a dark liquid, ink. The ink, intended for writing, spilled into the water, turning it murky. As the boat moved forward, the ink diffused, leaving a trail of obscured water behind it, and the crocodile Spirit Beast chasing the boat entered the murky black water.


    What is he trying to do? Using ink to murky the water, obscure the crocodile''s vision, and escape? Rather smart, but it won''t be enough, the boat captain thought to himself. "Sigh, I thought he would have a better plan," he muttered under his breath.


    "Good. Now, toss the big wooden barrels one by one on my command, and before tossing them, light the fuse first," Orion commanded.


    "Men! Prepare to toss the big wooden barrels and light them before tossing!" Liu Yu ordered.


    Then, one by one, the big wooden barrels were tossed from the back of the boat. Due to the weight of the steel chains and iron balls, the barrels sank beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Liu Yu''s other subordinates continued pouring the ink. As the barrels sank, the iron balls reached the bottom of the riverbed, while the wooden barrels remained suspended a few meters above the bottom, held by the steel chains.


    Because of the murky water, the crocodile Spirit Beast, which relied solely on sight, couldn''t see. Moreover, the shallow water prevented it from diving deeper to avoid the murky water while chasing the boat. Consequently, it decided to surface. Seeing the huge head of the crocodile Spirit Beast, everyone else on the deck became rather terrified.


    "Mr. Orion, what should we do next?" Liu Yu asked, panic evident in his voice.


    "Don''t worry. Everything is going according to plan," Orion reassured calmly as it retrieved a Grade-3 Bow and quiver. Taking an arrow, Orion aimed at the crocodile.


    Swish.


    The arrow flew through the air, striking and sticking to the crocodile''s head. As the arrow was only a Rank-1 weapon, it didn''t penetrate deeply but merely hit and stuck to the skin. After recalculating its aim, Orion shot another arrow.


    Swish.


    This time, the arrow hit the crocodile''s left eye. The crocodile roared and thrashed violently before diving back underwater. Orion took another arrow and prepared to shoot the crocodile''s remaining eye if it decided to resurface again, feeling satisfied that everything went according to plan. Meanwhile, the other passengers continued to panic, and some of Liu Yu''s subordinates lost hope and their trust in Orion. They were disappointed with the plan and didn''t understand Orion''s real intention. They thought they had failed to escape the crocodile by using the ink and still didn''t know the purpose of the barrels thrown into the river.


    The boat sailed at top speed, trailing murky dark water behind it, with wooden barrels still thrown overboard. The crocodile continued to chase from behind, slowly closing in. Swimming fast underwater amidst the murky black water, the crocodile didn''t notice the wooden barrels just a few meters beneath it as it swam past. More and more wooden barrels appeared in front and around the crocodile. The fuse used on the barrels is a waterproof Visco fuse created by Orion, and it continued to burn underwater. After a while, they reached the wooden barrels.


    Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!


    The series of loud explosions underwater created ripples and shockwaves on the water surface, catching the attention of those on the boat. The explosions echoed through the depths, sending shockwaves rippling through the murky waters and causing turbulent bursts of water to surge to the surface.


    Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!


    The explosions continued behind the boats, and amidst the murky black water, there was also a hint of red color. The crocodile thrashed violently on the water''s surface and roared loudly before swimming away from the boat, leaving a trail of red behind. It was apparent that the crocodile was badly injured.


    You are lucky I don''t have heavy torpedoes, or else you would be a goner, Orion thought internally as it observed the fleeing crocodile. "Stop throwing the wooden barrels," Orion commanded.


    Liu Yu''s subordinates ceased their actions, watching as the remaining wooden barrels underwater exploded. They observed the massive figure of the crocodile swimming away into the distance. After a while, cheers erupted from the passengers, boat crew, and guards. They had successfully fended off the crocodile Spirit Beast.


    "Done," Orion remarked, storing the bow and quiver back into the storage ring. Orion then glanced at the remaining wooden barrels. I will need to buy more of these later, Orion thought internally, realizing that almost half of the explosives that Orion had were used. Orion still had more wooden barrels filled with explosives stored in the storage rings, some with fuses initially intended for use with the drone, while others were just wooden barrels with no fuse. Orion proceeded to store the remaining wooden barrels back into the storage ring.


    "Mr. Orion we did it! We managed to drive away the Spirit Beast!" Liu Yu exclaimed, brimming with excitement.


    "It''s not a big deal, really," Orion replied modestly. "There''s no danger anymore. Can you handle the rest? Just continue sailing normally," Orion instructed the boat captain.


    "Y-yes, sir," the boat captain stammered, impressed by the effectiveness of Orion''s method. You can fight against crocodile Spirit Beasts this way? the boat captain wondered internally, having never seen such a method before. He considered adopting the strategy for dealing with Spirit Beasts in the river in the future, planning to procure wooden barrels filled with explosives and ink.


    "I''ll return to my cabin. If something happens again, just inform me," Orion stated calmly.


    "Definitely, Mr. Orion," Liu Yu replied with a bright smile, his respect for Orion growing even more.


    What''s so special about that stupid crocodile? Just a mere crocodile, and they got so scared, Wang Lingxin thought to herself. As expected, Master is really awesome. He doesn''t even need to attack personally to deal with that stupid crocodile. Compared to others, she never worried about the crocodile. She then followed Orion back to the cabin.


    The plan was a complete success; the improvised depth charges were able to drive away the crocodile. Previously Orion ordered the boat to navigate to shallower waters because it couldn''t control the depth of the wooden barrels'' explosion. Preferring to use shallow water, the wooden barrels would explode close beneath the diving crocodile. The purpose of the ink was not to provide cover to mask their trail for escape, but rather to conceal the wooden barrels in the water. From the description of the crocodile Spirit Beast in the books and scrolls, it possessed some level of intelligence and might be wary of the wooden barrels. Thus, Orion used the ink to hide them, making the crocodile swim closer to the wooden barrels.


    The boat continued its journey and would arrive at its destination in just a few hours. Everyone on board was no longer anxious and returned to their lively state. They discussed the incident and praised the brilliant strategy to drive away the Spirit Beast. Finally, they reached their destination¡ªa bustling riverside village. The boat docked, and its cargo was unloaded. The passengers disembarked, and the Liu Family caravan began looking for an inn as sunset approached. They planned to rest in the village for the night. The next day, with only a half-day journey ahead, they would reach Fengxian.


    ...


    In the stillness of the remote small river, a tributary of the Anliu Baihe River, a massive black crocodile floated on the surface, its left eye impaled by an arrow, emitting low growls of pain. A trail of red stained the water, its abdomen was badly injured. Suddenly, a powerful water jet erupted from the river, piercing the crocodile''s body and eliciting a loud scream as it thrashed violently. Another water jet appeared and swiftly slashed the crocodile in two, its blood staining the water a dark red as its lifeless body floated.


    As the crocodile''s remains drifted, a large, shadowy figure appeared underwater, swiftly approaching the carcass. With a violent tug, the creature dragged the crocodile beneath the water, disappearing from sight as if devoured. The shadowy figure then swam away to the riverside.


    After a moment, the silhouette of a colossal, elongated creature emerged from the water, revealing its body covered with scales, having four limbs, and two horns. Meanwhile, another magnificent being approached from above, descending gracefully to land on the riverbank. It was a giant bird with fiery bright red-orange feathers, resembling flames. Majestic and elegant, the bird exuded an aura of beauty. Both creatures locked eyes, looking at each other.

 Chapter 49: A Dragon and a Phoenix under the Night Sky

    "Greetings, my name is Feiyun," the Phoenix chimed in, her voice carrying a melodic and enchanting tone, befitting her graceful appearance.


    "And I am Bolan," the Dragon declared, his voice resonating with regal authority, matching his majestic presence.


    Two legendary creatures, a Dragon and a Phoenix, stood face to face on the riverside, illuminated by the faint light of the dark night.


    "It seems you''ve taken care of the crocodile," Feiyun remarked.


    "Of course, I will Kill all of my master''s enemies," Bolan declared.


    Feiyun, who had been a mere small bird the previous night, had now transformed into a Phoenix, all thanks to a man wearing full body armor who lectured a little girl who appeared to be his disciple, allowing her to awaken her bloodline and transform. Previously, she had been chased by an eagle, tired and injured. She decided to head to the river, where she perched on the boat mast. The boat seemed safer than spending the night in the forest, as humans wouldn''t care about a little bird like her, making it a safe haven. However, during the night, she was unable to sleep despite trying to close her eyes, as the lively deck was filled with noise from passengers and crew engaged in their activities. She also noticed a man with full body armor and a little girl enjoying the night sky at the corner of the deck. The armored man then appeared to be lecturing his disciple, and Feiyun, completely awake now, was enchanted by his words, listening attentively. Before long, the armored man and the little girl returned inside the cabin, leaving Feiyun still dazed.


    As if struck by a sudden epiphany, her mind flooded with enlightenment. Her eyes glowed with newfound clarity, and after a brief moment, her body began to heat up. Sensing the imminent transformation, Feiyun immediately flew towards the forest in search of a remote and quiet place. She found solace in a cave atop a hill, where she entered and landed. Moments later, she lost consciousness, and when she awoke and looked upon her own body, she found herself transformed into a Phoenix. With the sun shining brightly outside, she left the cave and took to the skies, soaring high above the clouds in search of the armored man. Concealing herself among the clouds, she eventually spotted the boat on which the armored man was onboard, only to witness a Black Armor Crocodile attempting to attack it. Feiyun''s anger surged at the sight of her benefactor being threatened, but before she could intervene, the boat managed to fend off the crocodile, which then fled and disappeared beneath the water. With her initial rage subsiding, Feiyun flew off in search of the crocodile, and after a long search during the night, she finally found it. However, before she could take action, a Dragon attacked and killed the crocodile.


    "Bolan, were you the fish that swam along the boat?" Feiyun inquired, recalling her observation of a fish swimming alongside the boat when the armored man gave a lecture to the little girl. She felt a similarity between the dragon and the fish.


    "Yes, that''s me. After listening to the master, I had an epiphany and gained enlightenment, allowing me, a mere fish, to transform into a Dragon. By the way, who might you be?" Bolan asked.


    "I am the same. I was just a mere bird who happened to listen to the master, and now I am a Phoenix," Feiyun added.


    "The master has bestowed this heavenly gift upon me. I have sworn to repay his kindness; I will serve him," Bolan proclaimed.


    "I, too, wish to repay my benefactor''s kindness, though I don''t know if I''ll ever be able to fully repay him," Feiyun expressed.


    "Feiyun, what do you think?" Bolan inquired.


    "What do you think of what?" Feiyun asked in return.


    "Is it the master''s intention to transform us? And what does the master want from us? I happened to be swimming near the surface of the river along the boat and accidentally overheard the master. You also happened to listen to the master, allowing us to transform. Was it intentional? Or did the master just want to reveal Heavenly Secrets to the little girl, and we accidentally overheard him? What should we do?" Bolan pondered.


    "Hmm... I don''t know. Whatever it is, it''s our fate and good fortune, a blessing we must honor. We must repay the master''s kindness. As for what to do next, let''s meet the master first and thank him," Feiyun suggested.


    "I don''t think that''s a good idea, not with our bodies like these. It will cause commotion and trouble for the master," Bolan said, raising his head from the water to look at his massive Dragon body.


    "Indeed, that''s a problem," Feiyun agreed.


    "Moreover, previously, I also followed the master''s boat from underwater for a while and wanted to meet him. However, there were too many people on the boat, and there were several other boats around, so I just stayed underwater. That''s when I overheard that previously a crocodile tried to attack the master''s boat but was driven away, and the crocodile ran away. I also heard many things, including that the little girl named Wang Lingxin is apparently the master''s disciple. And you won''t believe this; I don''t know why, but the people on the boat said that the master''s disciple wants to kick Dragons, eat Phoenixes, and slap Immortals! I think we should never show her our true forms and let her know that we are a Dragon and a Phoenix," Bolan shivered, wondering why Wang Lingxin would do such a thing. Perhaps Dragons, Phoenixes and Immortals had done something to her? What should he do? He was a Dragon, but he was innocent, will she kick him?


    Bolan didn''t want to be seen by people and also worried about Wang Lingxin. After hearing many things while secretly following the boat, He then decided to go after the crocodile first to punish it. After looking for a long time, he finally found the crocodile, killed it, and ate it. He was surprised when a Phoenix suddenly appeared in front of him.


    "I see, what else do you know about Master?" asked Feiyun.


    "Well, Master''s name is Orion, and from what I heard from the people on the boat they don''t know much about him. They only know that he is a high-level cultivator with a significant background, possibly a Nascent Soul realm cultivator," Bolan replied.


    "Master Orion..." Feiyun trailed off, "Just a Nascent Soul? Do you believe them?"


    "Of course not. How could Master Orion be merely a Nascent Soul realm cultivator?" Bolan scoffed.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Indeed. Master must possess an unfathomable cultivation level. Otherwise, how could he reveal Heavenly Secrets without triggering Heavenly Punishment? He can reveal Heavenly Secrets so casually, and we who accidentally overheard, transformed. I fear he is not even from this realm. He could be..." Feiyun hesitated, her voice trailing off as she contemplated the possibility.


    "Don''t tell me Master is someone from the Immortal Realm?!" Bolan interjected.


    "It''s a possibility," Feiyun concluded.


    Yesterday, as Orion taught Wang Lingxin about the stars and sun on the boat''s deck, a little bird perched on the mast, and a fish swimming alongside the vessel also overheard Orion. Both the bird and the fish experienced an epiphany, awakening their ancient bloodlines and unlocking their innate wisdom and talent. The bird transformed into a Phoenix, while the fish evolved into a Dragon, akin to a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate. From mere animals embarking on the path of cultivation, they ascended to become Sacred Beasts instead of ordinary Spirit Beasts.


    "So, what is Master doing here?" Bolan wondered aloud. "He even took a mortal girl as his disciple, and she seems very ordinary," he noted, his curiosity piqued by this unusual behavior from someone with such unfathomable power.


    "Well, I''m not sure. Perhaps he''s traveling to experience the world," Feiyun speculated.


    ROAR!!!


    SCREECH!!!


    Suddenly, a loud Dragon roar and Phoenix screech reverberated through the sky, accompanied by thunderous echoes that resonated throughout the world.


    "WHO DARES DISTURB MY PHOENIX RACE!!!" echoed a threatening voice through the sky.


    "ANYONE WHO DARES TO OFFEND THE DRAGON RACE WILL BE KILLED!!!" boomed another voice from above.


    Feiyun and Bolan looked up to the sky, where Bolan bared his teeth and growled in response, angered.


    With their innate wisdom unlocked, Bolan and Feiyun immediately understood many things. They realized that their Dragon and Phoenix bloodlines were incredibly pure, even purer than those of the Dragon and Phoenix races in this world. The Dragon and Phoenix races in this world originated from the Immortal Realm. Over time, living in this world, their bloodlines had become diluted due to generations of reproduction and the scarcer resources compared to the Immortal Realm. Because of their purity, Bolan and Feiyun naturally emitted an aura of suppression over their respective races.


    The Dragon race, who lived in the sea, and the Phoenix race, who lived on an island, could feel an innate fear, making them restless, though they didn''t know the cause. It is as if there is suddenly an existence that can threaten them.


    "They have detected our existence; we should hide for now," Feiyun suggested.


    "What about Master?" Bolan inquired.


    "We should meet him later. If we meet him now, it will cause trouble for Master. We will meet him after we grow stronger and can assume our human forms," Feiyun suggested.


    Feiyun and Bolan understood the dangers they faced. Because of their purer bloodlines and natural ability to suppress the Dragon and Phoenix races, there is a risk of being hunted and killed by their own kind. This threat arises from the fact that, while Bolan is a Dragon and Feiyun is a Phoenix, they do not come from the Dragon or Phoenix races, respectively. Instead, they suddenly appeared out of nowhere, having transformed from mere fish and bird. Additionally, cultivators might seek to capture them for their rare and valuable body parts, which were highly sought after in the cultivation world. Currently, they were too weak, akin to Rank-1 Spirit Beasts. However, as Sacred Beasts, they were far stronger and possessed innate wisdom, talents, and intelligence far beyond ordinary Spirit Beasts.


    "Okay, let''s go," Bolan said, his voice resolute.


    ...


    In the dimly lit room of the inn, Orion was deeply engrossed in creating a map of the world on a piece of paper when suddenly, a loud roar and screech echoed through the air, startling Orion. Along with the thunderous voices from the sky


    Dragon race and Phoenix race? So, they really exist? Orion pondered internally. Having heard tales of these legendary creatures and read about them, Orion contemplated the implications. In this world, dangers lurk at every corner, just like those cultivation worlds from Earth novels. And who tried to provoke existences such as the Dragon race and Phoenix race? Such courage, Orion mused internally.


    Setting aside the brush used for map-making, Orion swiftly retrieved books and scrolls about Dragons and Phoenixes from its storage ring. I see, they are essentially walking nuclear bombs, Orion pondered internally. It appears that I am still lacking in strength to ensure my own safety in this world. According to the cultivation novels from Earth, high-level cultivators, those who stand at the pinnacle, wield unimaginable power. And with creatures like Phoenixes and Dragons roaming the land, it''s as if there are countless nuclear weapons on legs. To dare provoke the Phoenix and Dragon race, they must also have monstrous strength.


    Orion then modified its plans to enhance its own strength; what it currently possessed was far from enough, and Orion set its sights higher. It also resolved to gather more information about the formidable entities that inhabited this world.


    Orion then glanced towards the bed where Wang Lingxin slept. Observing her expression, Orion noticed that she appeared unsettled, and the blanket was partially open, exposing her upper body to the chilly night air. Orion then stood and approached the bed, checking on Wang Lingxin to see if the loud roar and sounds had disturbed her. Gently, Orion fixed her blanket and tucked her in, ensuring she was comfortable. As Wang Lingxin''s expression improved, Orion returned to the table.


    The loud roar and screech of Dragons and Phoenixes, along with the subsequent commotion, sent shockwaves through the world. Major factions became restless, scrambling for information about the events. Everyone wondered what was happening, especially following concerning incidents involving mysterious space and time fluctuations and random appearances of world portals to the Demon World. Now, someone had dared to provoke the Dragon and Phoenix races, putting the entire Cultivation World on edge.


    Meanwhile, the culprits responsible for disturbing the Dragon and Phoenix races, Feiyun and Bolan, were currently traveling secretly, trying to find a hidden place to hide. Feiyun, once just a bird, had evolved into a Phoenix, while Bolan, once just a fish, had evolved into a Dragon, all after listening to Orion''s explanation about the sun and stars. However, another individual who had listened to Orion''s explanation experienced nothing out of the ordinary.


    Wang Lingxin, who had also listened, was currently asleep, experiencing a nightmare in which she fell from a boat into a cold river, only to be confronted by a huge black crocodile. In her struggle against the crocodile, she fought not to protect herself, but to safeguard her skewer of candied fruit.


    "Bad crocodile, I won''t let you eat my food!" Wang Lingxin screamed in her dream. She struggled for a while until her master descended from the sky, blasting the crocodile into tiny pieces before saving her and lifting her from the river, enveloping her in warmth. Aside from the nightmare, nothing unusual occurred. She did not undergo any transformation or gain epiphanies.


    This was all due to Orion''s teachings, which had twisted Wang Lingxin''s perception of the world. She now viewed the world differently, considering that everything had explanations, a concept her master called ''science''. While Wang Lingxin approached her master''s explanations with a scientific mindset, the fish and bird who had also listened perceived them as ''Heavenly Secrets'', granting them enlightenment and opportunities to enter the cultivation path. Wang Lingxin, learning from Orion and embracing science, could be considered both a blessing and a curse for her. She gained knowledge, learned about science, and gained freedom from the world''s restrictions and binds, but missed out on opportunities from the Heavenly Secrets, remaining mortal while a fish became a Dragon and a bird transformed into a Phoenix.


    "Stupid crocodile..." Wang Lingxin suddenly muttered in her sleep.


    Orion turned towards Wang Lingxin. "What? What crocodile?" Orion asked, confused. Perhaps she was having a nightmare caused by the previous crocodile Spirit Beast attack? Orion wondered internally, before continuing to work on the map.

 Chapter 50: Wang Lingxin’s Spiritual Root

    The Liu Family caravan embarked on their journey early in the morning towards Fengxian, already nearing its destination. The road ahead had significantly developed, bustling with various activities and lined with numerous villages along the way. It was a safe route, with minimal risk of bandit attacks or encounters with Spirit Beasts. As a result, both the caravan and its guards could afford to relax a bit.


    Wang Lingxin popped her head out of the carriage window, taking in the lively scenery. Along the road, numerous businesses had set up shop, catering to travelers and locals alike. Caravans, groups, and solitary travelers could be seen heading towards Fengxian, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere. The journey progressed smoothly, and by midday, they arrived at Fengxian.


    Fengxian boasted an impressive outer wall, towering at twenty meters in height. With a population exceeding one million, it was truly a bustling city. The Liu Family caravan approached the city wall and joined the queue, patiently waiting for their turn to enter through the heavily guarded city gate. After undergoing thorough inspection by the guards and paying the necessary fees, including the customary "extra fees" for the guards'' pockets, and presenting their identity as members of the Liu Family, they were granted entry into the city.


    The city truly deserved its status as the capital of the Jiulong Province. It was well-developed, with a plethora of buildings, albeit mostly constructed from wood. Despite this, the design and quality of the structures were exceptional, exuding an air of luxury and sophistication.


    The caravan made its way towards the commercial district, while Orion''s carriage headed towards the elite residential area in the inner part of the city. Liu Yu and some of his subordinates rode alongside the carriage on horseback as they traversed the main road, with lavish and exquisite shops and buildings lining both sides.


    Wang Lingxin couldn''t contain her excitement as she observed the bustling scene. "Master, look at that... Master, look over there... Master that thing... Master..." she exclaimed, pointing out various sights and attractions with enthusiasm. Her awe and admiration for the city were evident in her animated gestures and exclamations.


    "Do you want to explore the city?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, there must be some new kinds of food I haven''t tried before. We should walk around and check," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Sure, we can do that later," Orion agreed.


    The carriage then entered through the inner gate, which stood about 10 meters tall. After another inspection and payment, they were allowed to enter. The carriage proceeded towards the Liu Family residence in Fengxian City. Upon their arrival, they exited the carriage, with Orion and Wang Lingxin stepping out. Liu Yu approached Orion, cupped both his hands, and bowed.


    "Mr. Orion, we have arrived," Liu Yu said with a smile.


    "Mmm... Thank you for your great work," Orion replied.


    "No, no, it should be me thanking you. Thank you, Mr. Orion, for dealing with the Black Armor Crocodile and saving the caravan. Without your help, I don''t know what would have become of us," Liu Yu expressed his gratitude. He was truly thankful for Orion''s assistance, considering it a stroke of good fortune to have him with the caravan. Little did he know, being saved by Orion was indeed a blessing, but he unknowingly missed out on a far greater opportunity by not listening to Orion''s explanation about the sun and stars. It was the biggest missed opportunity, not just for him, but for everyone on the boat. Only a bird and a fish had greatly benefited from it.


    "Don''t think too much of it, it''s fine," Orion reassured.


    "Then, I will excuse myself," Liu Yu said before bidding farewell and departing with the horse carriage and his subordinates.


    The Liu Family residence in Fengxian is smaller than the one in Yanjing City but somehow more grand and luxurious. A middle-aged man stood at the front with several others behind him, waiting for Orion. Orion headed towards them.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion. Welcome to Fengxian. My name is Liu Mingzhen," Liu Mingzhen said, cupping his hand and smiling.


    "Greetings, Mr. Liu. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Orion replied, cupping its hand in return.


    "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Orion. You are too polite. Just call me Mingzhen," Liu Mingzhen said with a smile.


    "How could I do that, then, Mr. Mingzhen?" Orion responded with a laugh.


    After a few more pleasantries, Liu Mingzhen continued, "Come, Mr. Orion. My brother has told me everything. You want to build your house. Let''s discuss more details inside," inviting Orion to enter the residence.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin walked alongside Liu Mingzhen into the Liu residence, engaging in small talk along the way. They headed to the main hall, where a table and chairs were set up. Several people who appeared to be servants followed behind.


    Upon their arrival, they exchanged more pleasantries before being served drinks. Orion politely refused, while Wang Lingxin accepted and enjoyed the snacks provided. Then, Orion and Liu Mingzhen began to discuss Orion''s intentions regarding building a residence. Orion handed several scrolls and books to Liu Mingzhen, providing brief explanations as Orion did so.


    "I see, such detailed design, and Mr. Orion, are you sure you don''t want our men to build this house for you?" Liu Mingzhen inquired after listening to Orion''s explanation and skimming through the scrolls and books, which contained very detailed designs of the house, including furniture, decorations, and various household items.


    "That''s right. Can you make sure it can''t be traced back to me or the Liu Family? I prefer it to be confidential, which is why I''d rather use people not related to your family. I''m sorry for the trouble," Orion responded.


    "It''s no problem, Mr. Orion. I can arrange it, but to keep it completely secret without any trace of my Liu Family involvement, the quality might suffer because I won''t be able to use my people to supervise it," Liu Mingzhen explained. While the Liu Family also conducted construction business with high-quality standards, delegating the task to others might compromise the quality.


    "It''s fine, as long as it''s acceptable," Orion assured.


    "I see," Liu Mingzhen acknowledged.


    Orion and Liu Mingzhen then continued their discussion, and Liu Mingzhen invited one of his subordinates, an architect, to join them. The architect examined the books and scrolls containing the design and created a simplified version for the builder to understand. Orion''s design was deemed too intricate for easy comprehension, especially by those mortals lacking in literary knowledge who would ultimately be responsible for constructing the house. After finalizing the details regarding the house construction, Orion was very satisfied with Liu Mingzhen''s expertise and experience in the business. Liu Mingzhen proposed to build the house through multiple channels and cover it up as if a Qi Condensation realm cultivator decided to retire from a bodyguard job and build a house in a remote place to enjoy the quietness of nature. The plan would pass through several hands to make it difficult to trace the origin of the one commissioning the house construction back to the Liu Family.


    Orion also discussed several other matters, and after everything was settled, Orion excused itself. A horse carriage, prepared by the Liu Family, awaited Orion and Wang Lingxin. They boarded it, and the carriage proceeded through several blocks before halting at a residence. This particular residence had been purchased by Orion from the Liu Family during their previous discussions. Orion intended to use it as a cover and alternative accommodation in Fengxian city. The surrounding residences were also owned by the Liu Family, highlighting their considerable wealth. Despite being a minor faction in Fengxian city, the Liu Family still boasted impressive wealth and some influence.


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    After Orion and Wang Lingxin disembarked from the carriage, it departed, leaving them at the residence. Orion proceeded to enter the property, opening the front gate with the key provided by Liu Mingzhen, while Wang Lingxin followed closely behind. As they entered and explored the residence, Wang Lingxin was thoroughly impressed, while Orion was quite satisfied. From the outside, the residence appeared rather small compared to the surrounding residences, although in reality, it was quite spacious and enough for Orion. The two-story wooden structure had a smaller building attached to the side, a flower garden, a sizable fish pond, and a pavilion near the pond. The plants and flowers were neatly trimmed, giving the property a well-maintained appearance. Inside, the residence was fully furnished, clean, tidy, and in good condition. They inspected each room one by one.


    "Whoa, Master, is this going to be our new place?" Wang Lingxin exclaimed, clearly impressed by the residence.


    "Yes, this will be our safehouse in the city," Orion replied.


    "Safehouse? Master, what is that?" Wang Lingxin asked, showing her lack of understanding.


    "Don''t worry too much about it. Come on, let''s check the other rooms. You can choose your own room," Orion reassured her.


    "Master, I want to stay in the same room as you," Wang Lingxin insisted, already accustomed to being with Orion.


    "Fine, then let''s pick our room together," Orion agreed.


    After Orion and Wang Lingxin left, Liu Mingzhen sat at the table, sipping his tea. Suddenly, a figure wearing a mask appeared before him, bowing respectfully.


    "Give me your report," Liu Mingzhen said, setting down his tea.


    The masked man began recounting everything he had observed while secretly tailing Orion''s journey.


    The next day, Orion brought Wang Lingxin to explore the city, but first, they headed to the Flameforge Sect''s representative branch in Fengxian City to check Wang Lingxin''s Spiritual Root. They walked to the main road, and Orion hitched a horse carriage for the day. The purpose of the sect''s representative branch was to conduct business and establish connections with other factions and businesses. However, its main objective was to recruit new disciples, which occurred once a year.


    Anyone could enter and have their Spiritual Root tested. If they passed the requirements, they could join the Flameforge Sect as an outer sect disciple. Those with extraordinary Spiritual Roots could even become inner sect disciples, receiving more resources and attention from the sect and being nurtured with greater focus.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin entered the representative branch and handed an introduction letter from Luo Fengwei to the receptionist. Initially polite, the receptionist became even more courteous after reading the letter. She promptly led Orion to a luxurious waiting room and excused herself to inform her superior.


    After a while, a man in a red robe entered rather hastily, bowing slightly.


    "Welcome to our Flameforge Sect representative branch. Please forgive me for making you wait. My name is Jian Wei, Head of the Flameforge Sect Representative Branch in Fengxian City," Jian Wei greeted.


    Orion stood and cupped its hand in return. "Greetings, Mr. Jian Wei. My name is Orion. Please forgive the interruption during your busy time," it said, with Wang Lingxin also standing beside Orion.


    "Haha, it''s no disturbance at all. Please, be seated," Jian Wei gestured.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin took their seats, followed by Jian Wei.


    "Mr. Jian, my purpose for coming here is to test my disciple''s Spiritual Root. I wonder if it''s possible," Orion inquired.


    "Elder Luo has explained everything in the letter. Don''t worry, I can arrange it immediately," Jian Wei replied, glancing at Wang Lingxin. "Mr. Orion, your disciple must be extraordinary to catch your interest," Jian Wei remarked.


    "Uh, yeah," Orion replied, choosing not to elaborate further on the situation.


    Luo Fengwei, despite holding the title of Outer Sect Elder in the Flameforge Sect, prefers to remain outside the sect and reside in Yanjing City. While his status as an elder would grant him resources within the sect, he chooses to focus on cultivating and blacksmithing in Yanjing City due to the competition and politics within the sect. Although Luo Fengwei holds the title of Outer Sect Elder, he does not actively occupy a position within the outer sect. However, he is renowned as a genius blacksmith capable of crafting Rank-4 weapons and armor, a feat that only a few Golden Core cultivators can achieve. Thus, he is a highly respected individual within the Flameforge Sect, despite his decision to remain outside the sect''s inner workings.


    In contrast, Jian Wei is just the Head of the Flameforge Sect Representative Branch and holds a lower cultivation level at the Foundation Establishment realm. Given this disparity, Jian Wei treats individuals like Orion, who carry letters of introduction from Luo Fengwei, with great respect. Luo Fengwei''s recommendation and Orion''s reputed background and cultivation level explained in the letter pique Jian Wei''s curiosity, particularly regarding the Spiritual Root test for the disciple taken by such an individual.


    Jian Wei then ordered his subordinates to prepare for the Spiritual Root testing. While waiting, Orion and Jian Wei engaged in small talk. Once everything was ready, he led Orion and Wang Lingxin to a dark room. In the center of the room stood a crystal ball atop a pedestal adorned with inscriptions. Jian Wei then instructed Wang Lingxin to go to the center of the room, touch the crystal ball, close her eyes, and calm her breathing. Orion, Jian Wei, and Jian Wei''s subordinate, who took charge of the test, stayed at the edge of the room. Wang Lingxin followed the instructions, placing her right hand on the crystal ball, closing her eyes, and calming herself.


    Jian Wei watched in anticipation, wondering if he would witness some kind of high quality or even unique Spiritual Root. Orion observed closely and zoomed in using its camera, trying to understand the process, which it had only read about in books and never seen before. Jian Wei''s subordinate then made a series of hand gestures and used his Qi to activate the inscriptions on the pedestal, causing them to glow dimly. After a while, the crystal ball began flickering dimly. Jian Wei, watching with anticipation, opened his eyes wide in disbelief. How could this be? he thought internally. The results were very disappointing. Apparently, the Spiritual Root of the little girl was of low quality. Even among low quality Spiritual Roots, hers was exceptionally poor. While others'' Spiritual Roots, despite being of low quality, could at least make the crystal ball light continuously even though dim, Wang Lingxin''s caused it to flicker dimly. During the yearly recruitment test, the accepted disciples had far better Spiritual Roots, and Spiritual Roots such as hers were not accepted.


    "Well, as you can see, Mr. Orion, this is the result," Jian Wei said awkwardly, attempting to smile despite the disappointment.


    And what would that be? Why don''t you explain it to me? Orion wondered internally. Having only learned about the Spiritual Root test from books, Orion''s understanding was limited. Overall, Orion only knew that during the test, the crystal ball''s glow intensity was assessed¡ªthe brighter, the better. Additionally, if the test participant had a unique Spiritual Root, the crystal ball would react uniquely, such as with fiery flames or crackling electricity. However, from the dimly flickering crystal ball, Orion could only conclude that perhaps Wang Lingxin''s Spiritual Root was very poor.


    "Yes, what do you think?" Orion tried to probe for information.


    "Uhh... Well, at least she can make the crystal ball glow, so that means she has a Spiritual Root and can manipulate Qi. Although the quantity, quality, and proficiency of her Qi manipulation may be low, at least she can enter the cultivation path. I''m sure you also know this," Jian Wei replied. "But I am sure there is some other reason that someone like me doesn''t understand. She must possess some other quality for you to take her as a disciple," Jian Wei added politely.


    "Of course," Orion played along.


    Wang Lingxin let go of the crystal ball and returned to Orion''s side.


    "Don''t be disappointed, little miss. The path to cultivation is boundless. It''s not just about the quality of your Spiritual Root. As long as you have one, despite the quality, it''s fine. There are still many ways to go far on the cultivation path," Jian Wei tried to comfort with a smile. Despite Wang Lingxin having a poor quality Spiritual Root, having someone like Orion as her mentor meant she still had the potential to soar higher than him in the future. It wouldn''t hurt to have a connection with such a person.


    Wang Lingxin surprisingly wasn''t affected much by the test results. "Mmm..." she nodded, "it''s fine. As long as I am with Master, even if I can''t cultivate, it''s okay." Wang Lingxin wasn''t really perturbed. As long as she was with her Master, she believed that anything was possible. How could a mere Spiritual Root test be important to her when her future self had visited her in a dream and explained how great she could be with Orion as her master?


    Orion and Wang Lingxin then left the Flameforge Sect Representative Branch and boarded the carriage. As they were about to depart, Jian Wei presented a "meeting gift" to Wang Lingxin. When Orion unwrapped it on the carriage, Orion found several peculiar-looking fruits inside. In the introduction letter, Luo Fengwei had mentioned that Wang Lingxin was rather fond of food and also Spiritual Fruits. Jian Wei hoped to establish a connection and leave a good impression by gifting Wang Lingxin some Spiritual Fruit to try. Wang Lingxin enjoyed the fruit as they rode in the carriage.


    Orion observed Wang Lingxin as she ate one of the fruits. "Let''s have fun today. Where would you like to go first?" Orion asked, checking to see if Wang Lingxin was feeling sad after the Spiritual Root test, but she seemed fine, which was a relief.


    "Really? Yay!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed. "Master, we must definitely try some unique food in the city. But first, I want to go to the noodle restaurant I saw yesterday. It was packed with customers, so it must taste great, and I can''t wait to try it."


    "Sure," Orion agreed, instructing the carriage driver to head to the noodle restaurant.


    During the ride to the noodle restaurant, Wang Lingxin excitedly shared her plans for other places she wanted to visit.

 Chapter 51: Three Different Paths

    In the outer sect area of the Melodic Harmony Sect, a minor cultivation sect specializing in the use of music and musical instruments for cultivation and combat, stood one of the many humble residences where outer sect disciples resided. The house was small and simple, containing only the essentials: a bed, with a table and chairs in the middle of the room. Additionally, there was a wooden box for storage at the side. There was also a door leading to a small kitchen, while the toilet and shower were housed in a separate building outside.


    Inside this modest abode, Hua Meiying sat cross-legged on the bed, her eyes closed as she focused on her rhythmic and calm breathing, fully immersed in meditation. She had returned a few days ago from Yanjing City. A faint knock on the door interrupted her, prompting her to rise from her seated position and make her way to the door to answer it.


    Upon opening the door, Hua Meiying found a girl standing in front of her, who was shorter and appeared younger than herself. The girl''s face lit up with joy as she threw herself into a hug with Hua Meiying.


    "Senior sister, long time no see," the girl exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and familiarity.


    "Yes, long time no see, Yue Xin. How are you?" Hua Meiying smiled and returned the hug.


    "I am good, how about you, senior sister? How was living in Yanjing City? Did you become famous there?" Yue Xin asked.


    "It''s nothing special, I got some fans from my performances," Hua Meiying replied.


    Hua Meiying then invited Yue Xin to enter, and they both sat at the table. Yue Xin began asking various questions, having not seen Hua Meiying for over a year since she decided to stay in Yanjing City for work.


    As disciples of the sect, they received resources allocated by the sect monthly, but for outer sect disciples, the amount was very limited. Therefore, outer sect disciples needed to work and acquire additional resources for their cultivation on their own.


    In the sect, there is a Mission Hall where disciples can undertake sect missions to earn contribution points, which could be exchanged for resources. Additionally, disciples can take jobs outside the sect based on their skills and capabilities. Others venture into the wild to hunt Spirit Beasts and gather medicinal herbs and other natural resources. Some even join the Mercenary Guild to undertake missions, which offer more varied and slightly better-paying opportunities.


    As for Hua Meiying, she had decided to leave the outer sect and stay in Yanjing City, using her zither skills to work and gain experience in the outside world.


    After conversing for a while, Yue Xin''s cheerful expression turned sorrowful. "I''m sorry, I still can''t return the pills and Spirit Stones," she said, her voice tinged with sadness as tears welled up in her eyes. Yue Xin had borrowed some pills and Spirit Stones from Hua Meiying to aid in her cultivation.


    "There''s no need to worry about that," Hua Meiying reassured her, offering comfort. "You can take it, there''s no need to return it. I''m giving it to you."


    "But... but..." Yue Xin couldn''t hold back her tears any longer, and they began to fall.


    Hua Meiying hugged Yue Xin and gently patted her back. "It''s okay."


    After crying softly in Hua Meiying''s embrace, Yue Xin looked up. "Senior sister, I heard that you''re going to enter the Haunted Cave. Is that true?" she asked.


    "Oh, you knew? That''s right, I''ve registered to enter and will go tomorrow," Hua Meiying confirmed.


    "Everyone''s talking about it, and I overheard. Are you sure, Senior Sister? Isn''t it dangerous?" Yue Xin expressed her concern.


    "Yes, I have decided. If I successfully pass the trial in there, it will be good. If I fail, then it''s my fate," Hua Meiying replied with determination. She had resolved not to remain ordinary. While others were blessed with great talent or born into favorable circumstances with ample resources for cultivation, she had none of that. Thus, she would compensate by working harder and taking more risks. If even a mortal could reach the Void, then she had a new ambition¡ªto go further than just the Void. She wanted to ascend to the Immortal Realm.


    Previously, she cultivated without any fiery ambitions or grand goals. She simply wanted to increase her lifespan and become stronger so she could travel the world and see more of it. However, she couldn''t shake off her feelings of insecurity and inferiority, especially when she saw many outstanding cultivators outside the sect and among her fellow disciples. This invoked her competitiveness, driving her to work harder in her cultivation. Still, she couldn''t compare to those with greater talent and resources, so she returned to cultivating in an ordinary manner. That''s why she decided to stay in Yanjing city to work there and lead a leisurely life.


    Everything changed when she met a high-level cultivator named Orion. His words gave her an epiphany and aided her cultivation, igniting fiery ambitions within her and giving her a firmer, more resolute heart. She decided to return to the sect and enter the Haunted Cave, one of the many forbidden training grounds within the sect.


    The cave earned its name because it''s a lair of ghosts, filled with evil and malevolent spirits formed from the yin energy within. Eerie sounds and screams could be heard emanating from its depths. To pass the trial, disciples must confront these ghosts and reach the end of the cave. Once inside, they can only exit from the cave''s end goal. If they fail, they will perish and be consumed by the ghosts, their resentment and negative energy becoming yin energy that strengthens the cave.


    Compared to ordinary training grounds, forbidden training grounds can be life-threatening. For more than a century, no disciple dared to enter due to its notorious reputation. In the last thousand years, thousands of disciples had entered, but only dozens returned alive after passing the trial. Those who succeeded soared to great heights in their cultivation, having obtained tremendous opportunities inside. However, the risks were equally high, potentially resulting in death.


    With steely resolve, Hua Meiying had headed to the Haunted Cave and had registered for the trial. The cave opened once a week, and tomorrow she would attempt to pass the trial inside.


    "But it''s the forbidden training ground. No one has tried to enter that place for the last century. People say it''s very dangerous. Back then, when there were still disciples who dared to enter, almost none of them returned. Senior sister, please think again. What if something happens to you?" Yue Xin''s face was filled with worry.


    Hua Meiying smiled, then she retrieved a pouch from her storage ring. "Here, take this."


    "Senior sister, what is this?" Yue Xin inquired.


    "A gift. These pills won''t help me in the trial tomorrow. I don''t know if I will be able to pass the trial, and rather than bringing them with me, it''s better for you to use them. Consider it a parting gift," Hua Meiying explained.


    The pouch contained two small bottles of pills, each containing several pills. While they had little effect for a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator like her, they would be very helpful for a Qi Condensation realm cultivator like Yue Xin.


    "Senior sister, please don''t say such things. I don''t want to say goodbye to you..." Yue Xin''s eyes welled up with tears.


    Yue Xin cried for a while, and Hua Meiying managed to convince her to take the pouch.


    "Senior sister, please be careful tomorrow. I hope you can succeed and pass the trial and return alive. I will see you off tomorrow," Yue Xin said, her eyes still red from crying.


    "Thank you," Hua Meiying replied.


    Yue Xin then excused herself, and Hua Meiying accompanied her to the door before seeing her off. She closed the door again and resumed meditating to adjust her mental state.


    As Yue Xin left Hua Meiying''s house, her face remained sad and her eyes still watery. She wiped her eyes, and her expression immediately changed from sadness to cold. "Tch..." Yue Xin muttered to herself as she headed to her own house.


    The next day, early in the morning, Hua Meiying headed to the Haunted Cave. Positioned on a hillside beneath a cliff, the cave was sealed by a large metallic door, adjacent to a small building where an elder who supervised the forbidden training ground resided. Disciples wishing to enter the Haunted Cave could register there, and Hua Meiying had already done so. The elder was rather surprised when a disciple wanted to enter the Haunted Cave, as it was the first time in about a hundred years. It also caused a stir among the outer sect disciples and became the topic of discussion when the news spread.


    Upon her arrival, Hua Meiying approached the building and knocked. A frail looking elderly man emerged from the house; she didn''t know his name, but she recognized him as a Golden Core cultivator and an elder. Hua Meiying bowed respectfully to the elder.


    "Are you ready? Have you thought it through? You can still back off, you know," the elder cautioned. "Many have entered the Haunted Cave, but only a few have returned. Most of them perished inside."


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    "Yes, Elder," Hua Meiying replied firmly.


    "Good. Follow me," the elder instructed.


    The elder then led Hua Meiying to the gate of the cave. Placing his hand on it, he infused Qi from his dantian into the gate. The inscriptions on the gate lit up, and it slowly began to open, emitting a cold and chilling breeze that caused Hua Meiying''s skin to prickle with goosebumps.


    "If you are prepared to die, you can enter," the elder stated, observing Hua Meiying standing in front of the cave, peering into the complete darkness. "It''s also okay to back out. There are still many other ways to increase your cultivation, you know, even though the gain is smaller, it''s safer," he added.


    Hua Meiying shook her head. "No, I will enter," she replied firmly. Then, she turned back and glanced towards the residence area in the distance where the outer sect disciples stayed, chuckling to herself. It seemed that Yue Xin hadn''t shown up, even though she said she would send her off. "Well, that''s how it is," She murmured, attempting a smile despite the melancholy in her face.


    Hua Meiying reflected on the nature of her relationship with Yue Xin. In the outer sect, she didn''t have any friends to talk to; most of her peers from the same generation had already entered the inner sect. Some who remained in the outer sect were busy with their cultivation, others were exploring the outside world, and a few had already perished or left the sect. Yue Xin, cheerful and friendly, had approached Hua Meiying, and their friendship had slowly grown. They chatted a lot and grew closer.


    Yue Xin also talked to Hua Meiying about having trouble obtaining resources for her cultivation, so sometimes Hua Meiying would help her by giving her pills. When Yue Xin came to her crying about not having any pills, Hua Meiying would readily provide them. However, one day, Hua Meiying accidentally overheard Yue Xin bragging to her friends about how she could easily manipulate Hua Meiying into giving her what she wanted by crying or lying.


    After this incident, Hua Meiying''s attitude toward Yue Xin subtly changed. Although Yue Xin remained unaware that her secret had been exposed, she continued to act friendly with Hua Meiying while trying to get something in return. Hua Meiying, perhaps for the sake of having someone to talk to and ward off her loneliness, decided to play along and pretend she still didn''t know about Yue Xin''s true nature. She maintained a facade of friendship, though she kept her distance and was not as close to Yue Xin as before.


    "I am truly pathetic," Hua Meiying mumbled to herself. To allow myself to get tricked just to have a "friend" like Yue Xin, and to think that she would come and see me off... Perhaps she''s already looking for someone else to trick, Hua Meiying thought to herself.


    There were many ways for disciples to acquire more resources, and some, like Yue Xin, resorted to unscrupulous methods.


    Hua Meiying then cupped her hands and bowed. "Thank you, Elder, for opening the Haunted Cave for me," she said before excusing herself and entering the cave.


    She was resolute and firm in her decision; she would enter and succeed in passing the trial. If she failed, then she would simply meet her end there. However, if she succeeded, she planned to bury her old self inside and be reborn as a new person, leading a completely different life.


    That''s why she had previously given a parting gift to Yue Xin to sever her karma with her and move forward. Hua Meiying also had no intention of interacting with Yue Xin in the future if she managed to pass the trial.


    She didn''t want to live an ordinary life; her ambitions were set high, aiming to ascend to the Immortal Realm. The Haunted Cave would be her first small step toward achieving that goal; it was a do-or-die for her.


    "Mmm... Good luck," the Elder said as he watched Hua Meiying disappear into the darkness of the cave. Her figure slowly faded from view as the gate closed behind her. "Sigh... The current generation is truly pathetic. Only one disciple has dared to enter the Haunted Cave in a hundred years, and she seems so ordinary," The Elder lamented, not having big hope or expectation from Hua Meiying, before returning to the building beside the metallic gate.


    ...


    The White Crane Sect, a minor cultivation sect, is located not far from Yanjing City. Its outer sect area surrounds the inner sect area, and it''s the largest section of the sect. Many people, both mortals and cultivators, reside here, and the area is divided into numerous residential and commercial districts, bustling with activity just like a city.


    In one of the many parks in the outer sect, filled with flowers and trees and situated alongside the banks of a small river, with clear water, a young man and woman sit together on a bench. They are shielded from the sunlight by the shadows of the trees, while enjoying the refreshing breeze. They talk and laugh, the atmosphere filled with happiness.


    The young man retrieved a fine silk pouch from his storage ring. "Junior sister Ling, here, for you," he said, handing her the pouch with a shy, red face.


    "Senior Brother Jian, what is this? A gift for me?" Xia Ling''s smile bloomed as she asked happily.


    Liu Jian nodded shyly.


    Xia Ling then accepted the pouch and opened it, revealing a Rank-2 dagger beautifully crafted with intricate designs.


    "Senior Brother, this... this dagger is too precious. I can''t accept it. You should keep it for yourself," Xia Ling said, hesitant.


    "It''s fine, you should accept it. This dagger is of no use to me; it''s custom-made for you," Liu Jian insisted.


    "But this dagger is too precious. I don''t deserve such a gift," Xia Ling protested, her gaze scrutinizing the blade. The blade gleamed with beauty, and the intricate craftsmanship of the scabbard matched its elegance. The handle was of a small size, seemingly custom-made to fit her hand perfectly. Inscriptions adorned the dagger''s surface.


    "No, you totally deserve it because you''re important to me. I don''t want anything bad to happen to you, so you should accept this dagger and use it to protect yourself," Liu Jian said with a serious expression, recalling the time they were attacked by Vermillion Clawed Bears and nearly lost their lives. He had developed feelings for Xia Ling, and he didn''t want such an incident to occur again.


    "Important to you..." Xia Ling murmured, her face turning red along with her ears as she looked down shyly. "Then I accept it, thank you..." she said in a small voice, then she stored the dagger along with the pouch in her storage ring.


    Realizing what he had just blurted out, Liu Jian turned his face away, feeling embarrassed. He attempted to change the topic by awkwardly mentioning the weather. Xia Ling couldn''t help but giggle at his flustered attempt.


    "Oh, yeah, there''s another gift for you," Liu Jian continued, still feeling shy. He retrieved a silver hairpin from his storage ring, its design resembling a flower. "It''s nothing special, just a trinket I saw while strolling the streets of Yanjing. I bought it on a whim. It''s nothing compared to the dagger, but I hope you''ll like it," he said casually.


    Before Liu Jian could finish, Xia Ling eagerly took the hairpin. "Thank you very much, Senior Brother Jian. It''s so pretty, I love it," she exclaimed, placing it in her hair.


    "Uhh... you''re welcome," Liu Jian replied, wondering why Xia Ling seemed more pleased with the hairpin than the dagger, the hairpin was just an ordinary accessory meanwhile the dagger much more valuable. He had purchased the hairpin based on the advice previously given by Hua Meiying.


    "How do I look?" Xia Ling asked after putting on the hairpin.


    "You look... beautiful," Liu Jian said, his face turning even redder.


    Xia Ling''s smile brightened. "Once again, thank you."


    Xia Ling was genuinely happy with the hairpin. While the dagger was undoubtedly more expensive and likely cost many spirit stones due to its custom-made nature, the hairpin, in contrast, was inexpensive. Despite this, Xia Ling found the hairpin to be more special to her, and she vowed to cherish it. She could tell that Liu Jian had put a lot of thought into choosing the hairpin. She knew that Liu Jian was not someone who understood much about accessories, yet he managed to select one with a tulip ornament, which happened to be Xia Ling''s favorite flower. It was evident that he had chosen it carefully, making it a gift filled with love and consideration.


    After a while, they resumed their conversation, no longer feeling awkward or embarrassed. Liu Jian felt happy, content, and blissful. He hoped that this kind of day could last longer, where he could be together with his junior sister, experiencing the bittersweetness of love and enjoying their youth, all while cultivating on the side. How great would that be?


    Unbeknownst to Liu Jian and Xia Ling, a figure hidden behind a tree secretly watched them from afar. "Hmph! You won''t be lucky next time. I will make sure you both are dead," the figure muttered before turning and leaving.


    ...


    In Yanjing City, two major factions of similar strength, influence, and wealth always competed against each other for dominance: the Liu family and the Chen family.


    And within the inner area of the Chen family estate, there was a training ground reserved for core family members. The sounds of intense combat emanated from this area, where a young man, drenched in sweat, was engaged in rigorous training. Executing his movements and combat techniques, he ruthlessly destroyed wooden logs, boulders, and wooden mannequins positioned across the training ground, delivering powerful punches, swift kicks, and a flurry of sword strikes.


    "[Crimson Serpent Sword Style]!" the young man exclaimed as he unleashed a barrage of sword strikes, reducing a big boulder to countless small pieces.


    After he finished his training, he plunged his sword into the ground, gasping for breath as he wiped the sweat from his face. Chunks of boulder and wood littered the ground around him. This young man''s name is Chen Rongwei. His previous injuries have healed, and now his demeanor has changed greatly. His face now looks serious and cold, no longer showing his previous playful smiling face. He was also no longer arrogant, mocking, or bullying others, nor was he playing around with girls or being a playboy. He no longer drank and played around in the city as he used to. Now, he was diligent with his cultivation and practicing combat, and he no longer relied on pills to boost his cultivation.


    Chen Xianlong had been observing Chen Rongwei secretly for a while before finally revealing himself and approaching his son.


    Noticing someone suddenly appeared behind him, Chen Rongwei turned to see his father. "Greetings, Father," he said, cupping his hands and bowing respectfully.


    "Mmm..." Chen Xianlong nodded, looking at Chen Rongwei. "How is your training going?" he inquired.


    "Everything is going smoothly, Father," Chen Rongwei replied.


    "That''s good," Chen Xianlong said, his expression unreadable but inwardly very satisfied with Chen Rongwei''s change. Seeing his son no longer wasting his potential by playing around and causing trouble everywhere he went, but rather training hard and cultivating diligently. It seems that Chen Rongwei''s encounter with Orion had a good effect on his son. After being dispirited for a few days following the incident, Chen Rongwei changed, and Chen Xianlong was satisfied that his son had turned a new leaf. "I heard you want to enter the White Crane Sect. Are you sure?" he asked.


    "Yes, Father. I will diligently cultivate there and won''t bring shame to our Chen family," Chen Rongwei affirmed, still respectful as he bowed.


    "Good. Then I will arrange it," Chen Xianlong said before walking away.


    "Thank you, Father," Chen Rongwei said, raising his head as he watched his father''s figure recede into the distance. His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. He then turned and walked towards a nearby boulder on the side, resuming his training. Showering a flurry of punches towards the boulder, it cracked little by little. His killing intent flared for an instant before disappearing again. With a final punch, the boulder shattered.


    Chen Rongwei clenched his fist and gritted his teeth, looking at the shattered boulder. "I will make you all pay," he muttered. He then dashed to another nearby boulder, kicking it and using his combat technique to destroy it, before continuing to demolish other boulders.


    As he thought about the Chen family, his father, his brother, Liu Jian, Hua Meiying, and finally Orion, he smashed another boulder using his right fist, shattering it. All the boulders in the training ground were destroyed. He opened his right fist, which was now bloodied. I need more power, Chen Rongwei thought to himself as he watched the sky above.

 Chapter 52: Selecting a Maidservant

    Wang Lingxin woke, her gaze lingering on the ceiling for a moment, still not accustomed to her surroundings. With a sleepy yawn, she rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes and glanced to the side, where a familiar figure donned in full armor sat reading at a nearby table. A smile crept across her lips as she saw him.


    "Good morning, Master," Wang Lingxin greeted Orion.


    "Good morning. How was your sleep?" Orion inquired.


    "It was wonderful," Wang Lingxin replied, marveling at the luxuriousness of the bed she had rested on. She really liked this new bed¡ªsoft, warm, and incredibly comfortable.


    "Good to hear. Get prepared," Orion instructed.


    "Master, are we going somewhere today? What will we do today?" Wang Lingxin asked as she rose from bed and tidied the sheets.


    "We''ll be exploring the city again today, sampling different foods. How does that sound?" Orion closed its book and fixed its gaze on Wang Lingxin.


    "Really? That sounds amazing!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice.


    Today''s plan isn''t solely about exploring the city and indulging Wang Lingxin, but more importantly, it''s for information gathering. Currently, Orion has enough resources and money to sustain its survival and cater to Wang Lingxin''s needs, including providing for her cultivation journey up to the Foundation Establishment Realm for decades to come. However, to execute many of its future plans, Orion still lacks in certain aspects, particularly in terms of finances.


    Thus, Orion''s first step is to make money, and for now it has chosen food as the means to achieve this. Orion plans to take Wang Lingxin around the city to visit various restaurants, food stalls, and eateries to sample different cuisines. Wang Lingxin not only loves to eat but is also rather good at judging food; she sometimes gives her comments about the taste, possible improvements, any lacking elements, or the uniqueness of a dish while savoring it. Orion will use her for tasting, as a robot, Orion lacks such capability.


    Meanwhile, Orion will focus on gathering information about the restaurant''s operation and patron behavior.


    While waiting for Wang Lingxin to prepare, Orion left the room and intended to head out from the residence for a while. As it walked, Orion activated inscriptions on its body, enveloping itself in an energy barrier. "Time to teach that rat a little lesson," Orion mutters as it slowly disappears from view.


    On top of a house not far from Orion''s residence, a masked figure dressed in dark clothing lurked, peering towards the residence. Suddenly, his instincts kicked in, and he swiftly attempted to jump forward, away from the danger. However, a hand emerged seemingly out of nowhere, gripping his left shoulder firmly, preventing his escape.


    Despite the tension, he remained calm. With a quick motion, he unsheathed a short sword from his back and slashed backward with all his might, aiming towards the head of his unseen assailant. A loud clang reverberated through the air as the hand released its grip, allowing him to dash forward and leap to another building roof, sword pointed towards the sudden assailant.


    Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he processed the close call, realizing that someone managed to sneak up on him unnoticed. He could have been easily killed had his attacker wished it. He was also taken aback by the strength of the grip that had held him back. Observing the individual who had appeared behind him, his wariness turned to surprise.


    "Mr... Mr. Orion?!" the man exclaimed.


    "That''s right," Orion confirmed. "Why so surprised to see me?" it inquired, its tone calm and composed.


    Now realizing his mistake, the masked man sheathed his sword, knelt, and cupped his hands in a bow, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Forgive me, Mr. Orion. I didn''t mean to attack you; I was just surprised," he stammered nervously.


    "It''s fine. Are you Liu Jin?" Orion asked as it rubbed the area that had been attacked, which remained unaffected because Orion activated its defensive inscription. Orion was satisfied with the successful experiment; the concealment inscriptions for stealth had worked perfectly, and Orion managed to surprise Liu Jin.


    "Yes, Mr. Orion. This humble one is named Liu Jin," the man replied.


    "Good. You''ve been briefed on your new job?" Orion inquired.


    "Yes, Mr. Orion. My superiors have informed me of everything and ordered me to guard your residence," Liu Jin confirmed.


    "Good, you just need to guard the residence and Wang Lingxin when I am not around; also, there''s no need to follow me around as you did in Yanjing City. Understand?" Orion clarified.


    "Ye... yes, I understand, Mr. Orion. Please forgive me. I was previously ordered to secretly protect you. I didn''t mean to spy on you; I really didn''t," Liu Jin pleaded, fearing Orion''s punishment. Surprised that Orion had discovered him during their time in Yanjing City despite his best efforts to conceal himself carefully from a safe distance, Liu Jin wondered if Orion was a Golden Core Realm cultivator, a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, or even higher.


    "It''s fine. No need to worry about it anymore," Orion reassured him. With the assistance of the Liu family, Orion had made several arrangements, including hiring Liu family cultivators to keep watch over the residence.


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, relieved to be forgiven for secretly following Orion. "Mr. Orion, the carriage drivers and maidservant candidates are prepared. If you have time, you can visit the Liu family residence," he added. In addition to guarding Orion''s residence, Liu Jin''s new role included relaying messages between Orion and the Liu family.


    "Oh, already? Then I will go there later, and you will guard the residence," Orion decided. Orion was satisfied that the Liu family worked quickly to find suitable candidates.


    "Yes, understood!" Liu Jin affirmed.


    "Do you see that little flag on the second floor? If it''s raised, then I am calling for you. Other than that, you can hide anywhere around here. Understand?" Orion instructed.


    "Understood, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin acknowledged.


    Orion then returned to the residence. As Liu Jin watched Orion''s departing figure, he wiped the sweat off his brow in relief. "Phew..." Liu Jin muttered to himself, relieved. After a while, he observed Orion and Wang Lingxin leave the residence. Liu Jin then made his way inside to begin his guard duties. Hmm... I wonder why using flag as a signal. Why not just use voice transmission? Liu Jin wondered internally.


    During the night, Orion made several modifications to the residence. This included installing a comprehensive camera system covering the entire premises, which was integrated with an antenna for monitoring purposes. Although the range was limited to several kilometers, it provided Orion with surveillance capabilities. Additionally, Orion placed inscriptions around the residence for security measures, which could be activated remotely. There were also other security arrangements made, and for extra security, Orion employed Liu Jin.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    As Orion and Wang Lingxin departed from the residence, Wang Lingxin couldn''t help but wonder why they were heading to the Liu family residence instead of exploring the city. "Master, aren''t we going to explore the city?" she asked, a hint of disappointment evident in her voice.


    "There are some matters that need to be handled first," Orion replied cryptically.


    "Um... okay," Wang Lingxin responded, feeling a bit disappointed that they wouldn''t be able to indulge in food adventures right away.


    In the Liu family residence, Liu Mingzhen greeted Orion and Wang Lingxin and led them inside. The candidates for the carriage driver and maidservants had arrived, and Orion needed to choose. The candidates selected by the Liu family strictly adhered to Orion''s criteria.


    After a brief evaluation, Orion swiftly selected several carriage drivers from the candidates provided. Given the Liu family''s carriage travel business, Orion aimed to exclusively book their carriages. The Liu family had prepared a selection of their finest drivers, carriages, and horses for Orion''s consideration. These carriages would operate in shifts, ensuring that Orion had access to their services every day.


    For the maidservant, Orion had stricter requirements. After narrowing down the choices, a few candidates remained. Ultimately, the final decision would depend on Wang Lingxin, as she will help take care of Wang Lingxin. The candidates, all young women around 20 years old, waited in the flower garden. Orion instructed Wang Lingxin to interact with them and make her choice.


    Wang Lingxin then met with each candidate individually and engaged in conversation. Afterward, she returned to Orion and voiced her decision.


    "Are you sure?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, that big sister seems nice and kind," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Alright then," Orion said, rather satisfied with all the candidates. Any choice made by Wang Lingxin was acceptable to Orion, as it would go with her decision.


    ...


    Chunhua, an orphan, was left on the doorstep of an orphanage one night. Growing up in the orphanage, she experienced the harsh reality of life without parents. Despite the challenges she faced, Chunhua grew into a resilient young woman, determined to carve out her own path in the world.


    As she reached adulthood, Chunhua left the orphanage to make her own way in the world. She took on various jobs, working as a maidservant, a server in restaurants, and even helping out in kitchen restaurants, among other roles. Despite her hardships, Chunhua persevered.


    One day, she came across a pamphlet advertising a maidservant position at the Liu family residence. Despite her modest expectations, Chunhua decided to try her luck. She joined the long line of hopeful candidates at the Liu family residence, nervously awaiting her turn.


    When Chunhua was finally called in for the selection and questioning process, she was surprised but hopeful to be asked to return for a final test the next day. Arriving early the following morning, she waited nervously in the guest room along with the other candidates.


    The luxurious guest room of the Liu family residence made Chunhua even more nervous. After waiting for hours, the candidates were called in one by one for further interviews and questioning. Eventually, they were allowed to relax and wait in the flower garden.


    As Chunhua waited anxiously for the results, she noticed a young girl among the other candidates. Wondering what a child was doing there, as she seemed too young to join the maidservant selection, Chunhua speculated that the girl might be related to the Liu family. However, observing the simple and modest attire worn by the little girl, Chunhua wondered if she was instead related to one of the servants in the Liu family. The little girl approached each candidate, engaging in conversation, before finally coming to Chunhua.


    "Hello, big sister," Wang Lingxin greeted with a bright smile.


    "Hello, little girl. Is there something I can help you with?" Chunhua replied, returning the smile.


    "Nothing, I just want to talk. By the way, my name is Wang Lingxin," Wang Lingxin introduced herself.


    "My name is Chunhua," Chunhua smiled warmly.


    "Big sister Chunhua, are you here to become a maidservant just like the others?" Wang Lingxin inquired.


    "That''s right. And what about you, little Lingxin? Do you live here?" Chunhua asked.


    "No, I''m just visiting. By the way, big sister Chunhua, why do you want to work here?" Wang Lingxin questioned.


    "Um, well, the payment is nice," Chunhua replied.


    "Just that?" Wang Lingxin pressed further.


    Chunhua smiled and gently patted Wang Lingxin''s head, thinking she might be too young to understand the complexities of life. "Yes, just that, but it''s not only for me," Chunhua elaborated.


    "Huh? What do you mean, big sister?" Wang Lingxin was curious.


    "I am an orphan, and I grew up in an orphanage. Life there was not easy. After I was old enough, I eventually left the orphanage and had to fend for myself. Seeing those kids in the orphanage reminds me of my old self and makes me want to help them, as they share the same fate as I once did. I''ve worked various jobs before, but the pay was barely enough for me to live, let alone support the orphanage. Working for the Liu family means I can earn more and give more to those kids in the orphanage," Chunhua explained, her smile masking a hint of sadness.


    Moved by Chunhua''s story, Wang Lingxin comforted her, saying, "It''s okay, big sister. I''m sure you''ll be accepted."


    "Thank you very much," Chunhua said gratefully as she gently stroked Wang Lingxin''s head. Wang Lingxin reminded her of the little girls back in the orphanage.


    Wang Lingxin then excused herself. Chunhua watched as Wang Lingxin departed, still feeling nervous about the results. Unbeknownst to her, she had just passed the final test. Not long after, Chunhua''s name was called, and she was instructed to enter the main hall of the Liu family. As for the other candidates, they were informed they had failed, and Chunhua could sense their envy as she walked towards her fate, her heart pounding with excitement. Entering the grand and luxurious hall, she noticed a man donned in luxurious robes, another wearing a metallic helmet, and a little girl sitting around a table. Huh, Little Lingxin? Why is she here? Chunhua wondered internally, puzzled by Wang Lingxin''s presence in the main hall.


    "Greetings, my name is Chunhua," she bowed courteously, feeling slightly groggy and nervous.


    "Mmm... congratulations, Miss Chunhua. You have passed the test and will be accepted as a maidservant," Liu Mingzhen said warmly, his smile reassuring.


    "Thank you very much," Chunhua replied with a happy smile, bowing in gratitude.


    "But actually, you won''t be working as a maidservant for my Liu family. You''ll be serving this gentleman here," Liu Mingzhen gestured towards Orion.


    "Huh?" Chunhua raised her head, confused. "But the pamphlet said it was the Liu family that was looking for a maidservant," she pointed out.


    "That''s correct. My name is Liu Mingzhen, the head of the Liu family branch in Fengxian City. I''m looking for a maidservant for Mr. Orion here," Liu Mingzhen clarified.


    "The head of the Liu family branch?" Chunhua muttered, startled. She couldn''t understand why the leader of the Liu family branch would personally meet her for a mere maidservant selection.


    "Greetings, Miss Chunhua. My name is Orion," Orion introduced itself. "I am the one who is actually looking for a maidservant, and I''m using the assistance of the Liu family. Don''t worry; if you work for me, the payment will still be the same as stated in the pamphlet. There are also other bonuses included. So, how about it? Will you take the job and work for me?"


    "Yes, I am willing. I will work hard, Master Orion," Chunhua immediately replied, bowing. She felt a tinge of disappointment that she wouldn''t be working for the Liu family. However, upon learning that working for Orion would still offer the same payment, she felt content. This meant she could provide more for the orphanage.


    "Big sister Chunhua, congratulations!" Wang Lingxin waved happily from the side.


    "Thank you," Chunhua smiled back at Wang Lingxin.


    Orion then explained Chunhua''s job scope, do''s and don''ts, and presented her with the contract. Chunhua put her name on it, even though she can''t read or write, she still knows how to write her name. She also put her finger mark on the contract. After finishing, Orion informed Chunhua that she could start working tomorrow. For now, she could return home, and tomorrow she could head to the residence. Chunhua would be staying in the residence and needed to prepare first. Orion even gave her the first payment in advance, for which Chunhua was grateful. She thanked Orion profusely, feeling fortunate to have found a kind master.


    Chunhua then left the main hall, with Wang Lingxin accompanying her as they chatted while walking. Before parting ways, Wang Lingxin congratulating Chunhua and introducing herself as Orion''s disciple who had chosen her to be the maidservant. Chunhua bowed and thanked Wang Lingxin before leaving the Liu family residence.


    Meanwhile, Orion remained in the main hall with Liu Mingzhen to settle some matters. After finishing their discussions, Orion excused itself. Walking out the Liu family residence with Liu Mingzhen and Wang Lingxin, Orion thanked Liu Mingzhen for his assistance before boarding the carriage with Wang Lingxin. They headed to the commercial district.


    "Now, that one thing''s done, but there''s still more to do," Liu Mingzhen reflected. He had agreed to cooperate with Orion on various matters and knew there was more work ahead. Recruiting a maidservant was just the beginning. Liu Mingzhen typically delegated such tasks to his underlings, but because it involved Orion, he handled it personally. He even treated Chunhua and the other candidates with politeness, despite their status as commoners and a mere maidservant. Now that Chunhua was selected as Orion''s maidservant, Liu Mingzhen didn''t even dare to offend her and sought to build a good relationship instead.


    "Back to work," Liu Mingzhen muttered as he watched Orion''s carriage disappear into the busy streets.

 Chapter 53: Creating the Secret Weapon to Dominate the Culinary World

    For several days, Orion and Wang Lingxin explored the city, visiting various restaurants and shops. Wang Lingxin was thrilled, never having had this much fun before. Currently, they were having lunch after leaving an auction house, with a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Wang Lingxin.


    "Hello... My name is Wang Lingxin... Now we are going to review the famous noodles from...," Wang Lingxin trailed off nervously.


    "Stop," Orion interjected. "Why are you so nervous? Just do it like usual."


    "Yes, Master. I will try," Wang Lingxin cleared her throat. "Hello... My name is Wang Lingxin... Now we are going to review the famous noodles from..." She hesitated again.


    Well, this won''t work, Orion thought internally.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin had been visiting many places to eat and trying different foods. Orion asked Wang Lingxin to give her opinion about the food as she ate, which she did. Meanwhile, Orion recorded her.


    Everything was going well until one day when Wang Lingxin asked Orion why she was being asked to review the food. Orion explained that it was recording her eating and reviewing the food. Orion also explained to Wang Lingxin about mukbang and food review videos.


    Orion''s AI easily created videos of mukbang and food review, using Wang Lingxin''s face. Wang Lingxin was truly impressed to see someone who looked like her doing this "food review" thing. She asked Orion to create more videos like that and enjoyed watching them.


    Now Wang Lingxin also wanted to do those mukbang like in the videos. However, she seemed nervous that she was being recorded, which was very different from before when she could naturally review food without worry.


    "Let''s try again. No need to be like in the videos I showed you. You can do it as you like, just like usual," Orion reassured her.


    Finally, after several takes, Wang Lingxin finished the review and ate the noodles. They left the restaurant.


    "Uh, Master, it''s not easy to make food review videos. It''s stressful," Wang Lingxin commented.


    "Well, you''ll get used to it later," Orion replied.


    Orion decided to return and finish exploring the city for the day. They rode in the carriage back to the residence.


    While in the carriage, Orion received new data from the Orbiter that was currently on its way to Asteroid-1. The Orbiter''s camera picked up several long and large creatures swimming close to the ocean surface. Hm... dragons? Now it''s confirmed that they exist, Orion thought internally as it analyzed the images taken by the Orbiter in detail.


    Not long after, the carriage arrived at the residence.


    "Welcome back, Master Orion. Welcome back, little Lingxin. How was the journey?" Chunhua opened the front gate and welcomed them.


    "Big Sister Chunhua, I''m back! We visited lots of places today, and I tried many different foods," Wang Lingxin eagerly shared her experiences.


    Wang Lingxin got along well with Chunhua, and she treated her not just as a maidservant but more like a big sister. Chunhua wanted to address Wang Lingxin as "Little Miss," but Wang Lingxin insisted that she keep calling her "Little Lingxin." Orion was very satisfied with Chunhua; she had vast and varied work experience and was kind to Wang Lingxin, and able to build a good relationship with her.


    ...


    Very early in the morning, before the sun had risen, Chunhua already woke up. She tidied the bed, cleaned herself, and then dressed in her maidservant clothes.


    After a few days of working in this residence, she found her master to be kind, despite his not being very talkative. He also seemed to enjoy conducting many weird experiments. The payment was generous; her master even gave her the first payment in advance. Chunhua used more than half of it and gave it to the orphanage where she had grown up.


    The room where she stayed in the residence was very comfortable, unlike any she had ever had before. Although there were about six rooms for servants, apparently, she was the only one working as a servant. She wondered why her master didn''t hire more servants.


    Her daily routine involved waking up early and cooking for herself. She didn''t need to cook for her master or Wang Lingxin as it was not required in the job contract. From what she heard, her master was a high-level cultivator, so it was normal for him not to need to eat. Wang Lingxin only ate food purchased from high-quality restaurants and stored in her master''s storage ring.


    Surprisingly, Chunhua found her job to be very easy. She did laundry for Wang Lingxin and kept the residence tidy. Her master even gave her a day off every week, which he called a "holiday." She wondered if it was okay for her to work like this. In her previous jobs as a maidservant, the workload was much heavier, and there were no holidays. Now, the work was light, the payment was good, she could cook any meal she wanted using any ingredients in the residence, and even have a day off.


    Chunhua once raised the issue with her master, but he just shrugged it off, saying not to think too much about it and that everything was fine. Chunhua could only thank Orion and swore to work hard to repay her master''s kindness, determined not to disappoint him.


    ...


    In the Liu family residence in Yanjing City, the Liu family patriarch, Liu Ming, sat reading a scroll. Several scrolls and books were spread out on the table in front of him. An old man sat at another table, sipping tea. Liu Ming closed the scroll and placed his right hand on his chin, deep in thought.


    "Father, it seems that Mr. Orion is a very careful person. Even when looking for a candidate for a maidservant, he is very strict," Liu Ming remarked after reading a report from Fengxian City sent by his brother, Liu Mingzhen.


    Liu Xinyi set down his tea cup. "Of course, someone like him is not simple. Otherwise, how could he have reached where he is now? Cultivation also requires a bright mind to advance further and not be fooled by others," he said, reflecting on his own experiences.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "But I still don''t understand the reasons why he seems to hide his strength and always stay low profile. He didn''t even use his power when dealing with the Black Armor Crocodile. I wonder if he has some trouble with his cultivation, some kind of injury, or something else," Liu Ming pondered.


    "There''s no need to dwell on the reasons. He must have his own reasons. We don''t need to pry about it. He''s not someone we can afford to offend, understand?!" Liu Xinyi''s tone was stern as he glared at his son.


    "Understood," Liu Ming replied.


    "Even if he has some troubles with his cultivation or other issues, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. It would be easy for him to eliminate our Liu family. We should do our best to maintain a good relationship with him and establish friendly ties. If not, we should at least avoid becoming enemies," Liu Xinyi asserted.


    "Um, Mingzhen also mentioned cooperation with Mr. Orion," Liu Ming added.


    "Then we must do our best with it. As for the cooperation, it''s fine for us to sacrifice a little and not focus solely on the benefits. As long as Mr. Orion is satisfied, understand?" Liu Xinyi concluded as he rose from his seat and left the room.


    "Understood, Father. I will arrange it," Liu Ming affirmed.


    Liu Xinyi made his way to his abode, intending to enter secluded cultivation. He sighed, burdened by the weight of his age and the slim chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm. With his lifespan nearly exhausted, he feared the consequences of failure for the Liu family.


    Liu family currently possesses a few Golden Core realm cultivators. The addition of a Nascent Soul cultivator could elevate them to new heights. However, losing even one Golden Core cultivator would be a significant blow.


    Now, with the appearance of the enigmatic figure named Orion, the Liu family needed to tread carefully. While befriending him could bring benefits, offending him would spell disaster for the family. Liu Xinyi had much to worry about, and he could only hope to witness the Liu family''s growth before his time came to an end.


    ...


    Orion, Chunhua, and Wang Lingxin sat around a table in the kitchen of the residence. On the table, there were bowls, sacks of flour, jugs of water, and other tools, creating a slightly messy scene.


    "Stop playing around with it and do it properly," Orion instructed.


    "Yes, Master," Wang Lingxin replied, with some flour on her face. She stopped fooling around and began to work seriously with the dough. Having studied all morning, she was bored and tired, and played around with the dough to relax, after Orion''s admonishment, she started seriously working with the dough.


    Chunhua watched from the side, chuckling softly as she worked on her own dough.


    Meanwhile, Orion also mixed the dough in front of it, wearing unique gloves made from slime skin to cover its metallic arm. Chunhua couldn''t help but wonder why her master didn''t remove his metallic armor, but she kept her curiosity to herself.


    Previously, Orion was busy in the kitchen when Chunhua arrived and offered her help. Wang Lingxin joined them shortly after. Orion then explained the task to them.


    Chunhua couldn''t help but wonder why her master, who was supposed to be a high-level cultivator, was busy making dough. Wang Lingxin, on the other hand, was excited to see her master working on something related to food and eagerly offered her assistance, curious about what kind of food Orion would make.


    Both listened carefully to Orion''s instructions, mixing the wheat flour with water to make dough. After letting it rest for a while, Orion instructed them to wash the dough with water in the bowl and keep changing the water until it was clean.


    Although Wang Lingxin and Chunhua were initially dumbfounded by the idea of washing dough, they followed Orion''s instructions. After a while, they noticed the dough becoming smaller and rubbery, and Orion explained that it was called "gluten". Orion stored the dough called "gluten" in the storage ring before instructing them to make another one, apparently needing a lot of it, though not specifying its use.


    Orion spent the rest of the day making "gluten" dough with Chunhua and Wang Lingxin''s help, and they managed to produce a significant amount of gluten. After they finished, Wang Lingxin couldn''t help but feel disappointed that her master still hadn''t revealed the purpose of the dough. Because Wang Lingxin had been working with dough for hours, she craved buns. Orion retrieved steaming hot buns from the storage ring, and she ate lots of them during dinner.


    As night fell and Wang Lingxin drifted off to sleep, Orion closed the book and rose from the table. Quietly, Orion checked on Wang Lingxin in bed, tucking her in before leaving for the adjacent room to begin the experiment with the gluten.


    The ingredients, materials, and tools had already been prepared by the Liu family and delivered by Liu Jin, Orion very pleased with how fast Liu family work. Orion began preparing the tools and ingredients, retrieving them from the storage ring.


    With Wang Lingxin''s help, Orion roughly understood the culinary level of this world, and Orion had a secret weapon to gain an advantage over others. With it, Orion believed it could elevate the culinary level even further. And now, Orion was working to make that secret weapon. To create the secret weapon, Orion employs a hydrolysis reaction. The necessary ingredients include gluten, hydrochloric acid (HCl), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH).


    The preparation and process were as follows: First, the gluten was obtained from wheat flour by mixing it with water. The mixture was then washed to remove the starch, leaving only the gluten behind. Chunhua demonstrated remarkable skill in producing gluten, followed by Orion, while Wang Lingxin, who was more preoccupied with playing around, only managed to produce a small amount.


    Next, to create hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid was first produced by roasting sulfur-containing minerals, which results in the production of sulfur dioxide. This sulfur dioxide then reacts with oxygen in the air to form sulfur trioxide. The sulfur trioxide is then dissolved in water to make sulfuric acid. After that, table salt is mixed with sulfuric acid to produce hydrochloric acid. Orion asked the Liu family for help and provided them with scrolls containing the instructions to make sulfuric acid, leveraging their connections and manpower to easily acquire the necessary ingredients. Orion just needs to add the salt to complete the process, producing hydrochloric acid through the Mannheim process.


    For lye (sodium hydroxide / NaOH), Orion enlisted the help of the Liu family to obtain trona. After acquiring trona, Orion processed it into Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) and then used electrolysis to obtain sodium hydroxide.


    After ensuring all the necessary ingredients were ready, the experiment began. Orion started by mixing the extracted wheat gluten with a solution of hydrochloric acid and water in a large pot. The hydrolysis process commenced, with hydrochloric acid breaking down the peptide bonds in the gluten proteins over time, releasing amino acids including glutamate.


    Once hydrolysis was complete, Orion added lye (sodium hydroxide) to neutralize the pH, ensuring it was safe for consumption. The solution was then meticulously cleaned of any contaminants and residues before being concentrated by boiling off excess water, resulting in a concentrated glutamate solution.


    For the final step, drying, using the sun would take too long, so Orion improvised by previously ordering a metallic box and inscribing it with inscription to generate heat. Additionally, a fan and a DC motor were installed for airflow, effectively transforming it into a drying oven. Orion put the concentrated glutamate solution into a bowl and placed it in the drying oven.


    A few hours later, as dawn approached, a loud reverberating thunder boom echoed in the sky, surprising many, including Orion. People immediately checked the sky, but it remained dark, with no clouds obscuring the stars.


    Orion opened the window to investigate, pondering internally, That''s odd. Perhaps not natural thunder, but maybe some cultivator fighting? Hopefully, it won''t lead to any trouble.


    Orion then closed the window and checked the drying oven. After waiting for a few hours, it should have been done, but Orion was shocked by what it found. What the?! Orion thought internally, puzzled by the unexpected result.


    Orion retrieved the bowl from the drying oven, finding white crystalline powder that glowed. Is there something wrong with the ingredients, the process, or is it caused by the uniqueness of this world? Orion wondered internally, examining the glowing substance.


    Weird... Orion thought, deciding to repeat the experiment to understand this phenomenon.

 Chapter 54: MSG (Mystical Savory Gourmet)

    MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is a flavor enhancer with a savory taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavors of food, much like naturally occurring glutamate found in stews and meat soups. As the sodium salt of L-glutamic acid, an amino acid present in various foods such as tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms, MSG is particularly noted for its ability to enhance the umami profile of dishes, especially in Asian cuisine from earth. And Orion has just created MSG in this cultivation world.


    Orion held a bowl of freshly made MSG powder. This one is normal and not glowing, it noted, scrutinizing the powder. Unlike the previous batch, this MSG did not emit any glow.


    Orion placed the bowl of MSG on the table beside the glowing one, analyzing the situation. Both are supposed to be MSG, yet one glows while the other doesn''t. There have been no changes with the process and ingredients, but the results are different, Orion assessed.


    Orion then conducted some experiments to test both batches of MSG. Afterward, Orion stored the glowing MSG in a ceramic bottle, followed by storing most of the normal MSG in another ceramic bottle, reserving a small amount in a separate smaller ceramic bottle. Orion tidied the room, stowing away tools, equipment, and ingredients in storage rings before quickly cleaning the room.


    As it was time for Wang Lingxin''s breakfast and she was already calling Orion via the tablet, Orion asked her to wait a moment. Once finished cleaning the room, Orion wirelessly controlled a small flag outside the second floor. The stepper motor whirred into action, raising the flag.


    Immediately, Orion detected a radio signal belonging to Liu Jin approaching rapidly. In a flash, Liu Jin entered the room through the window, swiftly assuming a kneeling position in front of Orion, hands cupped in a respectful bow.


    "Mr. Orion, is there something you need?" Liu Jin inquired.


    "This is the seasoning that I talked about. Have your Liu family test it," Orion said, handing the smaller ceramic bottle containing normal MSG to Liu Jin.


    Liu Jin received the bottle respectfully. "Understood," he replied, storing the ceramic bottle in his storage ring. "Is there anything else, Mr. Orion?" he asked.


    "No, you can go," Orion responded.


    With a cupped hand, Liu Jin immediately disappeared from the room through the window.


    Hmm... just like a ninja, Orion mused internally as it left the room for the dining area, where Wang Lingxin had already been waiting.


    "Master, what took you so long? I''m hungry," Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    "Sorry about that. So, you want porridge for breakfast?" Orion asked.


    "Yes," Wang Lingxin replied with a smile and a nod, her stomach growling in agreement.


    Orion retrieved a bowl of steaming porridge, which Wang Lingxin happily devoured. She had done some stretching and a light exercise routine earlier in the morning, becoming hungry and making the breakfast even more delicious and satisfying.


    After finishing breakfast, Wang Lingxin returned to her room to begin her morning with study. She used her tablet, where her master taught her through animations and easy-to-digest information and explanations. On the tablet screen, there was even a small, cute version of her master, which her master called the "chibi" version. This miniature version acted as a teacher, providing guidance as her master taught her through this chibi version.


    In a room within the Liu family residence in Fengxian City, three men gathered.


    "What a waste... what a waste..." Liu Mingzhen sighed, sitting at the table holding his head with both arms.


    "It can''t be helped. What should we do with the rest of it?" asked Liu Yang, a middle-aged looking man and an elder of the Liu family at the 2nd stage of the Golden Core realm, standing nearby.


    After a moment of quiet pondering, Liu Mingzhen spoke up. "Liu Jin, bring the report on the MSG to Mr. Orion and also inform him about the progress of the house construction," he instructed, sliding a scroll across the table.


    "Understood," Liu Jin replied, bowing respectfully before disappearing.


    "As for the rest of the MSG... Uncle Yang, deliver it to my father. Hopefully, it will help him break through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Mingzhen continued.


    "Sure, I will depart immediately," Liu Yang affirmed.


    "Uncle Yang, didn''t your grandson just born recently? Use that as a cover to return to Yanjing City. Remember, the MSG is of utmost secrecy. Don''t let others know about it," Liu Mingzhen cautioned.


    "That''s a good idea. And don''t worry, I''ll be extra careful. I understand the significance of this MSG. I''ll stake my life on it," Liu Yang assured.


    Liu Mingzhen then retrieved a ceramic bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Liu Yang. "Have a safe journey, Uncle Yang," he said with a serious expression.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll be careful," Liu Yang replied, taking the ceramic bottle and storing it in his storage ring before promptly leaving the room through the window and flying back to Yanjing City.


    Watching Liu Yang disappear into the distance, Liu Mingzhen muttered to himself, "Now it''s time to tie up loose ends." With a snap of his fingers, three masked figures appeared, kneeling before him. "I don''t want the secret about the MSG leaking out. Clean up anyone involved who can''t be trusted. Understand?" Liu Mingzhen ordered. The three figures nodded, cupping their hands in acknowledgment before disappearing.


    Sighing to himself, Liu Mingzhen muttered, "What a joke. Just a mere seasoning? It''s a magical medicine. Mr. Orion really knows how to joke around," he mused, alone in the room.


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    Previously, Orion had mentioned wanting to cooperate with the Liu family, proposing various collaborations, some of which involved culinary ventures. One particularly unconventional idea was to establish a joint venture for a small restaurant specializing in fried chicken. Although the concept seemed bizarre to Liu Mingzhen, he considered that even if it failed, it wouldn''t have a significant financial impact. Thus, he accepted the proposal.


    In this arrangement, the Liu family would manage the business while Orion would provide cooking techniques and recipes. Additionally, Orion offered the Liu family a seasoning called MSG, which he claimed would enhance the flavor of food. The Liu family could incorporate the seasoning into their restaurant''s menu items to enhance their flavor. Orion also asked the Liu family to consider selling the seasoning as a standalone product in their shops. Providing a sample of MSG, Orion instructed the Liu family to test it first.


    Following Orion''s instructions, the Liu family conducted tests, beginning with animals and then humans. They found no adverse effects, and after further examination by experienced physicians in the Liu family, it was deemed safe for consumption. Over several days of testing, they discovered that when consumed by cultivators, MSG nourished their meridians and improved Qi flow. Additionally, they found that food enhanced with MSG not only tasted better but also multiplied the benefits and effects of the food.


    Reflecting on the process, Liu Mingzhen couldn''t shake the regret and gut-wrenching wastefulness. He lamented wasting such a magical medicine, especially when considering the initial testing on animals and mortals. Initially, Orion had said that it was just a regular seasoning, leading Liu Mingzhen to treat the MSG as such. Little did he know that after testing it, MSG turned out to be a great medicine. Perhaps for a figure like Orion, such a great medicine was deemed trivial, just like any regular seasoning. He truly regretted blindly trusting Orion''s explanation about the MSG. After discovering its profound benefits, he had only sampled a small amount. More than half of the MSG had already been used for testing and given to animals and mortals. The remaining amount was then sent to Yanjing City, hoping it could assist the Liu family ancestor in achieving a breakthrough.


    In Orion''s residence, Orion was busy experimenting with slimes. Butchering them, removing their innards, cleaning the skin, and hanging it to dry, Orion was deeply engrossed in the process. Suddenly, Liu Jin arrived to deliver a report and handed over a scroll containing information about the MSG.


    Taking the scroll, Orion read through it with curiosity. A great medicine? Very beneficial for cultivators? Orion mused internally as it continued reading, pondering why the seemingly ordinary MSG had such remarkable effects.


    "Is what''s said in this scroll true?" Orion inquired.


    "Of course, Mr. Orion. What''s stated is indeed accurate. We wouldn''t dare deceive you. I can personally attest to the beneficial effects of this MSG medicine," Liu Jin explained respectfully, fearing any misunderstanding. He was afraid that Orion might misunderstand and believe that the Liu family underestimated the MSG given to them.


    Still perplexed by how ordinary MSG could possess such remarkable effects, Orion moved to the table, taking a seat to further study the report.


    I see, so the MSG has such effects... Orion thought internally. And it can even multiply the benefits and effects of food and medicine pills? It was a mystery Orion couldn''t quite comprehend and could only attribute to the uniqueness of this world.


    According to the report, the tested MSG had no adverse effects and was safe for consumption by animals, mortals, and cultivators. The Liu family''s expert physician had confirmed its safety. When consumed by cultivators, it nourished their meridians and improved Qi flow. When used in food, it enhanced the taste. Additionally, if food or medicine pills had beneficial effects, adding MSG amplified them. However, if the food or medicine pills were made from rare ingredients and had complex effects, the MSG''s efficacy diminished, only providing a marginal enhancement.


    So, there is a limit for the MSG, the more valuable the ingredient for food and medicine pills, the enhancement also decreases, Orion mused internally as it continued to read the scroll. After a while, Orion finished and rolled up the scroll.


    "Have you tried it yourself?" Orion inquired.


    "Just a little, and the effect is really great," Liu Jin replied.


    Orion retrieved a small ceramic bottle containing MSG. "Here, continue with the test. Now, focus on long-term consumption to check for any side effects."


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Orion. On behalf of the Liu family, I offer our greatest thanks," Liu Jin accepted the ceramic bottle with both hands and bowed deeply, genuinely happy to receive another bottle of the magical medicine.


    Orion gave another bottle of MSG so that the Liu family could continue testing it. However, Orion wondered why Liu Jin appeared so happy about it. As for Liu Jin, he was pleased because he could obtain some of the MSG as a reward for bringing more MSG from Orion.


    "Mr. Orion, my master agrees to cooperate regarding the MSG, and we can start immediately. Also, if I may ask, what is the name of the MSG? You said MSG is just its abbreviation," Liu Jin inquired.


    "The name? It''s Mystical Savory Gourmet," Orion replied, easily creating a name for the MSG to fit the cultivation world.


    "Mystical Savory Gourmet," Liu Jin repeated. "A truly grand name."


    "We will talk about our cooperation regarding MSG later. For now, focus on testing it first," Orion instructed. Now that the MSG is no longer just a mere seasoning but has become a kind of medicine with great effect, highly sought after by cultivators, all the previous plans need to change. Orion will have to make new plans accordingly.


    "Understood," Liu Jin acknowledged. "Mr. Orion, I also came here to deliver a report on the progress of the house construction."


    "How is it going?" Orion inquired.


    Liu Jin then explained the progress. The construction had already started, situated about 12 km from Fengxian''s outer wall. The house was located atop a hill in a rather remote area. Nearby, there was a small village surrounded by rice paddies and farm fields. Due to the remote location and the complex design of the house, it would take a while for it to be completed.


    "That''s all for now, then. I''ll take my leave," Liu Jin said respectfully, cupping both hands.


    "Make sure to keep the secret about MSG," Orion instructed, wanting to avoid any problems related to the MSG and not attract any attention for the time being.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Orion. We know what to do," Liu Jin assured before bowing and disappearing.


    It was midnight, and in the dimly lit room of the servant quarters in the Liu family residence in Fengxian, a man held a saucer containing a small amount of white powder. He was a servant who often assisted the physician, and he had managed to steal a small amount of a magical medicine being tested.


    "Hehehe, if I sell this on the black market or to other factions in the city, along with the information about it, I''ll be rich," the man chuckled to himself as he put the saucer on the table.


    Stab!


    Suddenly, a sword pierced his back, reaching his heart and penetrating through his chest, with part of the blade protruding from his chest, now covered in blood.


    "Argh... who?!" the man coughed up blood as he struggled to turn his head, trying to catch a glimpse of his attacker. He attempted to grasp the blade lodged in his chest, but it was swiftly withdrawn by the assailant. Falling in pain and bleeding profusely, he slowly began to lose consciousness.


    A masked figure dressed in dark clothing emerged from the shadows of the room, taking the saucer containing the white powder. As the masked figure disappeared, the candles in the room were extinguished.


    Throughout the night, several more individuals were slain within the Liu family residence, yet by the next morning, everything seemed to return to normal, as if nothing had happened. As for the vanished individuals, the Liu family simply stated that they had returned to their own families or taken a long holiday.

 Chapter 55: Requesting a Succubus

    Orion sat motionless in front of Wang Lingxin at the table, with both arms crossed over its chest, observing her intently. Meanwhile, Orion''s AI was also busy with background processes, multitasking on other tasks.


    Wang Lingxin, visibly stressed and anxious, scribbled furiously with a brush on several sheets of paper. Occasionally, she glanced at the tablet in front of her, scratching her head in deep thought before returning to writing.


    This went on for almost an hour, with silence enveloping the room.


    "Time is almost up," Orion finally broke the silence.


    "Oh no," Wang Lingxin muttered, increasing her pace, the stress evident in her movements.


    "Okay, time is up. Stop writing and hand me the papers," Orion instructed after a few more minutes.


    But Wang Lingxin didn''t reply; she continued to write frantically, consumed by her task.


    "I said time is up," Orion reiterated.


    "No... there are still some questions I haven''t answered. Master, can I have some extra time? Please?" Wang Lingxin pleaded, her eyes reflecting her desperation.


    "Very well, just a little extra time," Orion conceded, unable to resist her puppy-dog eyes.


    "Thank you, Master," Wang Lingxin said gratefully, returning to her writing. After a while, she let out a relieved sigh and wiped her forehead. "Master, I am done with the test," she announced, handing the papers to Orion.


    "Okay, good job. I''ll check them now," Orion replied, taking the papers and quickly capturing them with its camera. Its AI processed the answers in less than a second. Orion then placed the papers down.


    "Master, how did I do?" Wang Lingxin asked anxiously, her hands clasped together.


    "The result is..." Orion''s voice trailed off, building pressure and suspense, causing Wang Lingxin to wait in anxious anticipation.


    "You pass," Orion finally announced.


    "Yay! That means I can get a reward and no extra study, right Master?" Wang Lingxin exclaimed eagerly.


    "That''s right. Now, you can choose your reward from the tablet," Orion confirmed.


    Excitedly, Wang Lingxin reached for the tablet, her fingers hovering over the screen. "Wow, so many interesting stories," she murmured, scrolling through the options. She checked the preview images, read the descriptions, and even watched trailers.


    "Master, I want this one," Wang Lingxin declared, finally making her choice and showing it to Orion.


    "Little Red Riding Hood? Sure, you can watch it later during bedtime," Orion agreed, already having prepared the animation movies for Little Red Riding Hood, along with many others.


    "Thank you, Master. Master, when will be the next test?" Wang Lingxin asked, her expression beaming with eagerness.


    "You''re looking forward to the next test?" Orion asked, surprised, as it thought Wang Lingxin didn''t like tests.


    "Yes, so I can get a reward. I can get more animation movies, right, Master?" Wang Lingxin replied, her enthusiasm evident.


    "Absolutely. There are many more animation movies for you if you score well on the test. And if the score is really good, who knows, I may give you a special reward," Orion hinted. Internally, Orion thought, I''m sure she will like ice cream.


    "A special reward?! What is it, Master?" Wang Lingxin asked, her curiosity piqued.


    "You''ll find out later if you score well. The next test will be next month, but remember, you need to finish the test on time. When the time is up, you must stop writing and hand in the papers," Orion reminded her.


    "Well, writing with a brush is slow," Wang Lingxin complained.


    "Then I''ll make a better writing tool that writes faster," Orion promised.


    "Great! Then I''ll finish the test faster," Wang Lingxin said confidently, knowing that with a faster writing tool, she could complete her tasks more efficiently. "Master, can I go out now and play?" she asked eagerly.


    "Of course," Orion replied, tidying up the table and clearing away the papers, brushes, and ink splatters while Wang Lingxin rushed out to play.


    The monthly test served to assess Wang Lingxin''s progress in her studies, covering a variety of subjects. Among these, language held the utmost importance as it was a high priority to teach Wang Lingxin how to read and write.


    In addition to writing and reading, Orion also started teaching mathematics, delved slightly into geography, imparted common sense knowledge, and educated her on the do''s and don''ts of daily life. Orion extended this guidance to include special protocols specific to the cultivation world, drawing upon the knowledge from Earth.


    While this knowledge was considered fiction on Earth, in this cultivation world, it proved to be applicable. Orion found common tropes and plots similar to those from fictional stories from Earth. Now residing in this cultivation world, Orion slowly introduced Wang Lingxin step by step, teaching her how to navigate various situations, introducing her to basic, mainstream, and common character archetypes, and advising her on how to interact with them.


    Orion also started teaching Wang Lingxin about cultivation, although only an introduction to cultivation and basic knowledge. Regarding instruction about cultivation itself, Orion was still undecided and continued researching and learning about it.


    For now, Orion focused on teaching Wang Lingxin basic knowledge and introductory concepts. Orion also began instructing Wang Lingxin in physical exercises, starting with simple stretching and exercises.


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    Once the house was finished, there would be Physical Education (PE) sessions for Wang Lingxin to further enhance her physical abilities. Orion also planned to teach her martial arts.


    The sun set in the west, casting an orange glow. Orion was busy in the kitchen, frying something, the sizzling sound audible in the dining area.


    Chunhua was seated at the table in the dining area, fidgeting and not quite getting used to the idea that her master was cooking for her. Although her master had said only to ask her to taste the food, she still felt nervous and awkward.


    Before long, Orion emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate with freshly fried chicken.


    "Here you go," Orion said, laying the plate in front of Chunhua, along with a small bowl containing red sauce. "Be careful, it''s still hot."


    "Thank... thank you, Master. I will try it," Chunhua replied nervously, taking a chicken piece¡ªthere was a wing, breast, thigh, and leg on the plate. She blew on it a bit before taking a bite. After a while, she exclaimed excitedly, "Master, it''s super good and delicious!"


    "Is that so? Anything else?" Orion asked.


    "It''s so good and delicious. Master, your fried chicken is the most delicious food I''ve ever tasted," Chunhua continued, recalling the first time her master asked her to taste the fried chicken.


    It was so delicious that she unknowingly let out a moan, feeling embarrassed as her face turned red. Since then, her master had asked her to taste it again every day, apparently still unsatisfied and trying to further improve it, even though she thought it was already good enough.


    "Thank you," Orion replied, rather disappointed. Internally, Orion thought, As expected, it won''t work. Asking her opinion is useless. I will ask Wang Lingxin later.


    Orion had been experimenting with the fried chicken for several days, trying to improve it. Orion asked Chunhua to test and give her feedback about the fried chicken, but she always only said it was good, great, and the like.


    As night fell, Wang Lingxin sat in the dining area, eating the fried chicken slowly and in a refined manner. She also dipped the fried chicken in the sauce before taking a bite, and after finishing, wiped her mouth and hands and cleared her throat. Orion watched her from the opposite side of the table.


    "This fried chicken is really yummy! The outside is all crispy, and when you bite into it, the meat inside is super soft. And the best part is, the flavor goes all the way through the meat, making it taste so good," Wang Lingxin commented, looking seriously towards Orion. Then, after a moment of silence, she added, "How was it, Master? How is my review and acting?"


    "It''s good. You can watch the video later. So, do you really like this version of the fried chicken?" Orion inquired.


    "It''s divine! It''s far better than the one from yesterday. Master, we can sell this fried chicken. I''m sure lots of people will love it," Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    Oh, divine? Orion mused internally, surprised by Wang Lingxin''s description of the food. It was the first time she described food as such. Then I will use this version, Orion decided, already planning to share the recipe with the Liu family.


    In cooperation with them, Orion would provide the seasoning and seasoned flour for the fried chicken, while the Liu family would be responsible for running the restaurant.


    "Master, give me more chicken, I also want rice," Wang Lingxin requested. Now that she had finished recording the food review, she could eat without worry and just like usual, without the need for acting.


    "Sure, there you go," Orion replied, retrieving more fried chicken and rice from the storage ring.


    Wang Lingxin then ate happily, energetically giving her commentary on the food. Orion silently recorded her, preferring this natural version of Wang Lingxin''s food reviews over her previous ones, which imitated Earth''s food review videos.


    Late at night, with Wang Lingxin and Chunhua already asleep in their own rooms, Orion left the house, closing the door behind it, and made its way to the front gate. A figure in a mask and black clothing emerged behind Orion, silently following it.


    "I will be out for a while. Guard the residence," Orion instructed.


    "Understood," Liu Jin replied.


    "Also, tomorrow I will visit the Liu family residence," Orion added before opening the front gate.


    "Have a safe trip, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, cupping his hand and bowing.


    Orion closed the front gate behind it and boarded the waiting carriage, the carriage then departed under the cover of dark night.


    "It seems that someone like Mr. Orion still needs to wind up and have some fun," Liu Jin remarked with a knowing smile. He then jumped onto the roof and began his guard duty, lying down while watching the night sky dotted with stars.


    A cold night breeze blew, it seems that I will be accompanied by another cold night, while Mr. Orion has fun and is embraced in warmth, sigh... Liu Jin thought to himself. It''s been like this for the past few days.


    The carriage traveled through the city, heading towards an area that remained lively even at night¡ªthe pleasure district. As the carriage approached a specific building, Orion disembarked and instructed the carriage driver to return, indicating that his job for the day was done. With that, the carriage departed, and Orion entered the building amidst the bustling stream of people.


    There was a special reason for Orion''s visit to this particular building. Through its explorations of the city with Wang Lingxin, Orion had gathered a wealth of information not only about food but also about various other aspects of the city.


    Orion had gained insights into the power distribution and cultivation levels of cultivators in the city. Utilizing its advanced multi-band phased array antenna, Orion easily discerned the cultivation levels of cultivators by detecting the radio signals they emitted.


    Among them, the strongest detected was at the Nascent Soul realm. Additionally, there were quite a lot of cultivators at the Golden Core realm. Orion had also gathered information about the different races residing in the city and encountered various races during exploration with Wang Lingxin.


    One particular race that had piqued Orion''s interest was the succubus. They were not common in the city, with most of them concentrated in the pleasure district. Orion had been visiting this place for several days now, booking luxurious private rooms each time. However, Orion only requested the company of normal human girls and solely enjoyed their dancing and singing performances.


    This was to establish an image and gather some information first; meeting a succubus wasn''t easy, and requesting one would also cost a lot. Thus, Orion''s initial intention was to portray an image of someone with a background and plenty of spirit stones.


    Today, however, Orion decided to request a succubus.


    As Orion entered the establishment, a beautiful girl approached it with a warm smile. "Mr. Orion, welcome. Shall I bring you to the usual room?" she asked, her voice melodic and inviting. Orion nodded in acknowledgment, following her lead.


    With graceful steps, the girl led Orion up to the third floor and into a lavishly decorated room. "Mr. Orion, which girls would you like to accompany you tonight?" she inquired, her smile taking on a seductive charm.


    "Hmm... could I request Ying Hua? Is she available?" Orion replied.


    "Yes, please wait a moment. She will come soon," the girl said before leaving to call for Ying Hua.


    Orion waited in the room, settling onto a long, luxurious sofa as it surveyed its surroundings while anticipating Ying Hua''s arrival. With three succubi in the establishment, Orion had chosen Ying Hua based on the information it had managed to gather. Known for being approachable and warm, she seemed the ideal candidate for extracting information.


    Before long, a female figure entered the room with a seductive sway in her steps, closing the door behind her. She was dressed in a beautiful dress adorned with numerous openings and revealing cuts, some parts slightly transparent, allowing glimpses of her tantalizing curves. Her appearance was captivating, exuding sensuality from every curve.


    Taller than the average human girl, she possessed long, silky hair and a generously endowed figure that seemed almost too perfect. With the right amount of curves in all the right places, she exuded an undeniable allure, her movements fluid and enticing.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion. My name is Ying Hua, and I will accompany you for the night. Let''s have lots of fun," Ying Hua said with a warm smile, her ample assets swaying as she bowed, not escaping Orion''s camera''s notice.

 Chapter 56: Cultivation World It’s Not All Sunshine and Roses

    Ying Hua then approached Orion boldly, striding over and seating herself on Orion''s lap. She wrapped her arms around Orion''s body, getting close as she rested her head on Orion''s shoulder, pressing her ample assets against its metallic body.


    "Mr. Orion, you can have me for the whole night. You can do whatever you want to me. Should we start?" she said with a mischievous and seductive smile.


    "I''ve heard great things about you," Orion remarked.


    "Oh yeah? About what? How great I serve my customers?" Ying Hua whispered to Orion.


    "About how nice of a person you are, how warm and approachable you are to talk to," Orion replied.


    "Ara ara, Mr. Orion, you are quite the flatterer. Are you perhaps not just wanting to have fun with me but trying to seduce me? Steal my heart, perhaps?" Ying Hua said with a playful smile, still latched onto Orion.


    Orion turned its head to look at her. She really knows how to seduce people, Orion thought internally. "Why don''t we start with getting to know each other first? I''d love to know more about you" Orion suggested.


    "Know more about me? Why? Perhaps you have fallen head over heels for me?" Ying Hua remarked, smirking.


    "Mmm... no," Orion replied.


    "Mr. Orion, are you perhaps nervous?" Ying Hua teased.


    "Why would I be?" Orion replied.


    "Why don''t you start touching me?" Ying Hua suggested.


    "There''s no need to hurry," Orion said calmly.


    Suddenly, something slithered onto Orion''s back, moving up and gently wrapping around Orion''s neck before the tip caressed its face. Oh, a tail? Orion thought to itself.


    Succubi have horns, wings, and tail, and they can freely hide or show them. It was Orion''s first time seeing a succubus tail.


    "Don''t worry, you don''t need to be afraid. I won''t bite," Ying Hua whispered slowly to Orion, then planted a kiss on its helmet.


    Orion then lifted Ying Hua with both arms and positioned her to sit on its lap, facing it.


    Seeing Orion finally make a move, Ying Hua licked her lips and smiled. She hugged Orion''s head tight, pressing her ample assets against it, burying it in the softness. "Kyaaa..." she exclaimed with delight.


    Orion pushed her away a little, freeing its head from the embrace of the softness. Then, Orion flicked Ying Hua''s forehead with its finger, not too strong nor too weak.


    Smack!


    "Oww..." Ying Hua held her forehead with both arms. "Mr. Orion, that hurt. You''re bad," she pouted. "Or perhaps you like that kind of play? Fine, let''s do it," she said with a mischievous smile.


    "Listen, I''m a traveler from a distant place, and it''s my first time meeting a succubus. I''d love to learn more about you and your race. So, can you stop playing around and tell me about yourself and the succubus race?" Orion requested, having positioned Ying Hua in front of it to ask the questions. However, Orion''s camera suddenly captured nothing but a white mound of flesh, prompting Orion to give Ying Hua a little punishment.


    "Oh, like that? Don''t you want to have fun?" Ying Hua queried.


    "We can still do that later; the night is still young," Orion replied.


    "Hmm... that''s right. Then what do you want to know?" Ying Hua asked.


    "Let''s start with yourself," Orion suggested.


    Ying Hua then began talking about herself, providing information while Orion noted and recorded the details. Unfortunately, the information seemed trivial and unimportant.


    "Can you also tell me about the other succubi in this place?" Orion inquired.


    "What? Mr. Orion, are you perhaps not satisfied with me and want another succubus?" Ying Hua questioned.


    "You are good, beautiful, and nice. I am not dissatisfied with you, but can''t I know about the other succubi? Am I not the customer? Can''t I choose the succubus I want? Am I not allowed to choose the best succubus in this place? Or are you claiming to be the best among the other two?" Orion countered.


    "Of course, I am the best succubus in this place, even in this city. The others can''t compare to me," Ying Hua boasted smugly.


    "Fine, you are the best in the city, but still, tell me about the other succubi in this place and in the city," Orion insisted.


    "Hmph! Very well," Ying Hua replied grudgingly, then began her explanation. Orion listened attentively, noting the information she provided.


    "Well, I guess that''s all I can tell you. Is there anything else you want to ask?" Ying Hua inquired.


    "That''s enough, thank you," Orion responded.


    Orion gazed at Ying Hua seated on its lap, and behind a pair of white mounds, Orion noticed a beautiful necklace. Pushing her back slightly for a better view, Orion observed the necklace closely. It appeared exquisite, but Orion knew its true nature; the beautiful accessory was actually a sinister tool.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    According to the information Orion had gathered, it resembled a slave collar, meticulously designed to enhance the succubus''s beauty while serving its dark purpose. Imbued with inscriptions, the necklace granted the master the power to inflict pain or even end the wearer''s life. Once worn, the wearer couldn''t remove the necklace, as only the master held that authority. Attempting to remove it forcefully would result in the wearer''s death.


    Orion then touched the necklace, remarking, "What a pity. Such a beauty, but chained like a little bird in a cage, never to learn to fly and explore the vast sky."


    Ying Hua''s expression shifted abruptly, her smile vanishing as she turned sad and cold, as if Orion''s words had pierced her sensitive emotions. Meanwhile, Orion continued to scrutinize the necklace closely, zooming in with its camera to examine it in detail.


    "It''s our curse as succubi, we have no freedom, our fate is in the hands of others," Ying Hua lamented.


    "Perhaps not. What if I could give you freedom?" Orion said, releasing the necklace and turning its attention towards Ying Hua.


    Ying Hua fell silent for a moment before chuckling softly. "That would be great, but such a thing... there''s no need. Freedom is not something I dare to dream of. Let''s just have some fun... Should we move to the bed, or do it here?" she proposed, misunderstanding Orion''s offer as an attempt to buy her from her current master. To her, it didn''t make much difference; she would still be owned, just by a different master.


    "Mr. Orion, why don''t you remove your helmet and armor? I can make men happy as if they''ve ascended to heaven. I will make sure to satisfy you, and you won''t be able to forget about me," Ying Hua proposed.


    "Well, I doubt that," Orion replied.


    "You''re challenging me? Fine, let''s do it," Ying Hua said, licking her lips.


    "..."


    "..."


    "Ah..."


    "Mr. Orion... Kyaa..."


    "Aahh... Not... not there... Mr. Orion... Ah... so good... Ah~"


    "Don''t stop... keep going... ah... yes... mmhh... Ah~"


    "..."


    "..."


    After hours of lewd moaning sounds echoing through the room, Orion eventually opened the door and left. Having subdued Ying Hua, it utilized its metallic palm and fingers to administer a massage and Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). Ying Hua had never experienced such a satisfying massage before; Orion''s technique proved to be exceptional.


    The sensation of electricity was a completely new experience for her, leaving her unable to stop moaning in pleasure. Orion''s cold, hard metallic fingers were just right for her, not causing any discomfort for a cultivator like her. All the stress, fatigue, and stiffness, especially in her shoulders disappeared entirely.


    As Orion walked out of the room, Ying Hua''s figure could be seen from the open door, lying on the sofa with messy clothes. Her eyes half-opened, she continued to pant lightly. Slowly turning her body, she looked towards Orion''s departing figure.


    "Please come again," she said with a satisfied look on her face, despite the session ending up being just a massage. Initially, she had taken the initiative to "attack" Orion, but to her surprise, he overpowered her and began massaging her instead.


    Orion simply raised its hand in acknowledgment as it kept walking, not bothering to turn back.


    That was really something, Orion thought internally as it retrieved a piece of cloth from the storage ring and wiped its face. There were lots of kiss marks on the glass, affecting the camera behind it. If Liu Jian was here, he would surely have a nosebleed and his face would glow red.


    Ying Hua''s offensive was rather fierce, prompting Orion to counterattack and take control of the situation. Orion decided to massage her instead because it was unable to fulfill Ying Hua''s intentions.


    Orion left the building after settling the payment, then walked back to the residence. It was still very early in the morning, dark and cold, with the streets empty.


    The succubus are good candidates. For now, I will gather more information about them. As for Ying Hua, at least she still has a fire within her that blazes with the desire for freedom, even if it''s small, Orion thought internally as it walked. Currently, Orion still lacks what is needed to begin recruiting the succubus race. Orion also considers that it still doesn''t have enough strength to guarantee its own safety in this world, let alone protecting the succubus race.


    It''s not easy to start industrialization, Orion thought internally. To execute many of its plans, Orion required various things, including money, resources, and manpower. Orion had been searching for trustworthy individuals for a while, and one particular race that caught its attention was the succubus race.


    Succubi were the most oppressed race in this world, lacking a place they could call home and unable to roam freely due to the constant threat of capture. In a world where cultivators could commit terrible acts for various reasons, succubi, with their captivating beauty and seductive bodies, often fell victim to exploitation, becoming slaves. Only succubi with sufficient strength could navigate the world freely.


    The kingdom has banned slavery, but this primarily applies to mortals, as the kingdom cannot effectively enforce its laws in the cultivation world, because the kingdom is just a small fish in a small pond. Even within the kingdom, those with significant power and backing simply disregard the kingdom''s rules, while the kingdom itself often turns a blind eye.


    Cultivation world it¡¯s not all sunshine and roses.


    Orion needs a lot of manpower. Orion had calculated the possibility of bringing the entire succubus race under its wing, providing protection, and, in exchange, Orion will ask them to work for it, but not as slaves. As for manpower, Orion needed individuals willing to relocate to remote wilderness locations, which would also be ideal for the succubi to avoid persecution and oppression. If Orion were able to bring the entire succubus race under its wing and have them grateful to it, Orion is confident that the succubi would be able to keep secrets and stay loyal.


    Orion was also seeking mortals for manpower, particularly those who had nowhere else to go, lacked affiliations and ties with others and were in some kind of trouble. Loyalty and the ability to keep secrets were essential qualities Orion sought in these individuals, and people in such circumstances were very likely to be more loyal to Orion if it could help them.


    Orion planned to build a new society formed by people who worked for it, completely isolated from the rest of the world to maintain secrecy. However, the candidates for such people were scarce, and Orion had not yet found suitable individuals.


    After walking for a while, Orion arrived at the residence, opened the front gate, and entered. Liu Jin immediately appeared in front of Orion. "Welcome, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, bowing with cupped hands.


    "Mmm... you can go back," Orion replied, handing Liu Jin a piece of paper. "Also, can you get me these items?"


    Liu Jin took the paper and glanced over it. Several types of slave collars? What does Mr. Orion want to do with them? he wondered internally. "It''s easy, I''ll arrange it immediately," he assured Orion before his figure disappeared, leaping off into the distance.


    Now, I just need to wait for Wang Lingxin to wake up, Orion thought internally. It was still dark, with about one more hour until the sun rose.


    I''ve been going out during the night for several days, leaving Wang Lingxin behind, but it''s not like I want to have fun secretly. It was an important information-gathering mission, Orion reflected internally. Moreover, I can''t bring her to that kind of place.


    Usually, Orion spent the night in the same room as Wang Lingxin, while she slept, Orion kept busy with something.


    Hello,


    We are nearing the end


    of the first phase of the story.


    Thank you for reading.

 Chapter 57: Supreme Fried Chicken

    Done, Orion thought internally as it held the finished collar, checking it carefully.


    Orion attempted to replicate a similar inscription from the slave collar Liu Jin had brought; he brought several types of slave collars. The Liu family had several types of slave collars in their storage, but unfortunately, they didn''t possess any as exquisite or luxurious as the one worn by Ying Hua; they only had low-quality and slightly better ones.


    While waiting for the sun to rise and for Wang Lingxin to wake up, Orion used the time to research about the slave collar. Starting with the simple ones made from steel, these collars could be broken rather easily. The problem lay with the inscription; when the collar was forcibly removed or broken, the inscription would activate with varied effects. Some collars were imbued with inscriptions that would electrocute the wearer, some would explode, and some would poison. Orion needed to figure out how to neutralize them safely without harming the wearer.


    There wasn''t much progress regarding neutralizing the slave collars, but Orion had made some headway with copying the inscriptions and could now create slave collars by replicating the real ones. By using a simple steel collar and adding inscriptions, the collar became a slave collar that is difficult to remove, and attempting to remove it forcefully would activate the inscription.


    Additionally, Orion was able to improve them by optimizing the inscriptions, or if Orion used the O# inscription, the effect would be far greater. Orion already had a basic understanding of the principles and workings of the slave collar, having created them on its own.


    The research would continue further, with several possibilities that needed to be tried.


    One possibility was overriding the inscription by inscribing a new one on the slave collar, which would forcefully drain the hidden small spirit stone acting like a battery. If the spirit stone was drained, even if the collar was forcefully broken, the dangerous inscription wouldn''t activate as there would be no Qi from the spirit stone to power it.


    The inscription used on low-quality the slave collar wasn''t high level or complex; there were lots of points in the inscription that could be broken or forcibly imbued with another inscription. However, for the one worn by Ying Hua, it was more complicated and slightly more complex as Orion''s AI had been analyzing the weaknesses of the inscription all this time and still hadn''t found a solution. Although it found several weaknesses and possible exploits, Orion was still working on implementing a strategy to exploit them.


    Rustling emanated from the bed as Wang Lingxin stirred. "Hoam," she yawned, rubbing her eyes as she gradually woke up. After a moment, she rose from the bed and turned towards the table in the middle of the room, where she spotted her master, busy as usual.


    "Master, where did you go last night?" Wang Lingxin pouted; her tone tinged with curiosity.


    Orion turned towards her. "Oh, you noticed I''ve been leaving?" it remarked casually.


    "Of course, you''ve been disappearing every night for the past few days, leaving me behind," Wang Lingxin complained.


    "I was attending to something important in the city," Orion explained.


    "Why didn''t you bring me along?" Wang Lingxin inquired.


    "I didn''t want to disturb your sleep, and besides, children aren''t allowed in the place I visited," Orion replied.


    "Really?" Wang Lingxin still gazed at Orion skeptically. "You''re not having fun secretly without me, right?" Wang Lingxin added, a hint of suspicion in her tone.


    "Of course not," Orion assured her. "Anyway, get prepared. I will need your help."


    "What? Really? Master, you need my help? What can I help you with, Master?" Wang Lingxin''s mood shifted from doubt to happiness. She forgot about how Orion had left her, simply happy that her master had asked for her help and that she could assist him.


    "Then get prepared. We will be going to the Liu family," Orion stated.


    In the Liu family residence in Fengxian, Liu Mingzhen sat in his workroom, surrounded by various papers and scrolls scattered across the table. He held a small ceramic bottle, occasionally smiling as he examined it.


    A knock sounded at the door, and after Liu Mingzhen gave permission, an old man entered. This man was the steward highly trusted by Liu Mingzhen, despite only being at the 2nd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. He excelled at managing business and finance, and Liu Mingzhen often sought his advice on such matters. Despite his stewardship position, Liu Mingzhen held great respect for him.


    "Ah, Uncle Wang, please, have a seat," Liu Mingzhen invited.


    "Greetings, Master," Liu Wang responded respectfully as he took a seat. "Master, you still haven''t used the MSG?" Liu Wang inquired.


    "Hehe, of course. This MSG is very valuable. If I want to use it, I must pair it with food made from high-quality ingredients to maximize the benefits," Liu Mingzhen remarked.


    When Liu Jin brought another small bottle of MSG from Orion, Liu Mingzhen was delighted. He decided to reward Liu Jin with a little of it for bringing more from Orion. Liu Jin also mentioned that the MSG was to be used for testing to check its long-term effects. Liu Mingzhen then righteously claimed that he would volunteer as the guinea pig and was willing to test the MSG himself.


    Actually, Liu Mingzhen simply wanted to keep the MSG for himself. Liu Jin, Liu Wang, and the other elders knew this but could only accept. Even Liu Wang, Liu Jin, and the other elders were also willing to become guinea pigs and test subjects for the MSG, but alas, Liu Mingzhen claimed the MSG for himself.


    "Uncle Wang, how are the preparations for the fried chicken restaurant?" Liu Mingzhen inquired.


    "Everything has been arranged, but still, Master, I think it''s a really bad idea," Liu Wang expressed his concern.


    "What''s the matter? Please, speak your mind," Liu Mingzhen encouraged.


    "There are several issues I see. First, the restaurant itself. Mr. Orion wants a simple and small stall rather than a big building. Won''t this affect our Liu family''s reputation? With only fried chicken on the menu, how can the restaurant attract many customers? And how great will the fried chicken be? There are already many fried chicken options in the city, even in our own restaurants, and they are quite popular. Why does Mr. Orion want the new restaurant to only sell fried chicken? Can it even compete? I worry that the restaurant won''t turn a profit and will only incur losses," Liu Wang explained his concerns.


    "Well, it''s fine. As long as we can keep Mr. Orion happy, even if the restaurant fails, it won''t cost us much," Liu Mingzhen assured.


    The new restaurant is just a small-scale business. The Liu family also owns several large restaurants that generate significant income. Additionally, the Liu family is involved in other major business ventures. As a result, any losses incurred by this small business venture won''t have a significant impact on the Liu family''s overall financial standing. Therefore, Liu Mingzhen isn''t worried about potential losses from the new restaurant.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Sigh, I really don''t understand what a high-level cultivator like Mr. Orion is doing. Why would he be interested in a small restaurant business? Is it just a hobby? As for the MSG business, it''s very promising and has the potential to bring in significant income. But fried chicken? Sigh..." Liu Wang sighed in frustration.


    "Mr. Orion will come today to discuss our business cooperation further. There are things that can and can''t be said. Mr. Orion is very important to our Liu family, so Uncle Wang, please be careful with your words," Liu Mingzhen cautioned.


    "Don''t worry, Master. I understand," Liu Wang reassured.


    After Wang Lingxin got prepared and had breakfast, Orion and Wang Lingxin left the residence and headed to the Liu family residence. Upon arrival, the servants respectfully welcomed them and led them inside.


    "I''ll be having some talk with Mr. Mingzhen first. Maybe it will take a while. You can come, or you can wait outside and play," Orion said as they walked.


    "Hmm... then I will be waiting in the flower garden," Wang Lingxin replied, not wanting to join the potentially boring discussion of adults and preferring to play. "So, what help do you need from me, Master?" she asked.


    "You''ll know later. I''ll finish the discussion with Mr. Mingzhen first," Orion replied.


    "Okay," Wang Lingxin said as a servant led her to the flower garden.


    "Don''t cause trouble, okay?" Orion reminded her.


    "Okay, Master, don''t worry," Wang Lingxin reassured him.


    Meanwhile, a servant brought Orion to Liu Mingzhen''s workroom. After a bit of pleasantries, Liu Mingzhen introduced his steward, Liu Wang.


    "Mr. Orion, this is my steward, Liu Wang. He is an expert in business and finance. He will be the one managing the restaurant," Liu Mingzhen introduced.


    "Greetings, Mr. Liu Wang," Orion greeted with a cupped hand.


    "Greetings, Mr. Orion. You are too polite. I am just nobody. Just call me Liu Wang," Liu Wang replied, also cupping his hands.


    After a little more pleasantries, they began to discuss the restaurant. Liu Wang handed Orion a scroll containing the plan and details for the restaurant. After a quick glance, Orion was satisfied and agreed with the proposal.


    "So, this is the fried chicken that will be on the menu," Orion remarked as it retrieved a plate full of fried chicken, still hot. Finally, Orion had the fried chicken that Wang Lingxin had approved after experimenting with the recipe for days.


    "Oh, so this is the fried chicken?" Liu Mingzhen questioned. Internally, he mused, Just chicken meat covered in some flour and then fried? Feeling somewhat disappointed, he pondered over the simplicity of the dish.


    "Please, try them," Orion offered.


    "Um, okay," Liu Mingzhen replied.


    "Just grab them and eat, no need for chopsticks," Orion suggested.


    "Then, excuse me," Liu Mingzhen said, reaching for a chicken drumstick and taking a bite. Liu Wang also grabbed a piece and began eating.


    Crunch


    Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang''s eyes widened in surprise at the deliciousness of the fried chicken. The exterior was crunchy, the meat was soft and juicy, and the seasoning had seeped deep into the meat. As they chewed, the combination of the crunchy coating, the tender meat, and the flavorful seasoning delighted their tongue.


    Gulp


    "Ah~...." Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang both made satisfied noises, continuing to eat while savoring every bite until only clean bones remained.


    "This fried chicken is really impressive, Mr. Orion. Its taste is so good, I''m sure the restaurant will be a success!" Liu Mingzhen praised.


    "Thank you. Hopefully, the restaurant will indeed be a success," Orion responded.


    Meanwhile, Liu Wang remained quiet as if lost in thought, all the while still sucking on the already clean chicken bone. Liu Mingzhen felt embarrassed by Liu Wang''s behavior and was itching to scold him.


    "Ahem," Liu Mingzhen cleared his throat, pretending to be composed.


    Liu Wang, noticing the attention on him, spoke up. "Ah, please forgive me. I was thinking about something." Liu Wang said, appearing embarrassed. "Mr. Orion, I think we need to modify the previous plan for the restaurant," Liu Wang suggested.


    "What do you mean exactly?!" Liu Mingzhen was surprised by Liu Wang''s sudden desire to change the plan, especially since Orion had already agreed to it.


    "Let''s hear about it," Orion replied, open to discussion.


    "I think we can increase the price further and make the restaurant more luxurious to match the taste of the menu. Previously, we aimed for regular folks, but I think we can target richer people as customers, after all, the fried chicken is so good and unique." Liu Wang suggested.


    "Will it be fine to increase the price? What if there are only a few customers?" Liu Mingzhen raised a concern. And didn''t you previously feel skeptical about Mr. Orion''s fried chicken? Look at you now, praising it, Liu Mingzhen thought to himself.


    "The problem is to let people know about the taste. Once they know, I am sure they won''t complain about the price," Liu Wang reassured.


    The three then continued their discussion, finally agreeing to modify the plan. The restaurant would be slightly bigger, grander, and more luxurious, and the prices for the fried chicken would be raised. In the first month of opening, there would be promotions and discounts to attract customers.


    "Mr. Orion''s plan for a smaller restaurant spread throughout the city is really good. I never thought of such an idea before," Liu Wang agreed after hearing Orion''s plan.


    For Liu Wang, Orion''s idea is truly unconventional. Usually, they make the restaurant very big to accommodate the city''s people, but using many smaller ones could indeed make it easier for people, as they don''t need to walk far to reach the restaurant. Although it will be less grand than a single big restaurant, Orion prefers practicality over prestige and reputation.


    "If the restaurant is successful, which is very likely, we will open more restaurants throughout the city. Later, we will also start the expansion and build in Yanjing City. I will let my brother handle the restaurant in Yanjing City," Liu Wang explained.


    Liu Wang''s brother, Liu Wei, was also a highly trusted steward of the Liu family and he is currently in Yanjing City.


    "That sounds good," Orion agreed, while Liu Mingzhen nodded in agreement.


    The discussion about the fried chicken finished, the name for the restaurant also been decided which is Supreme Fried Chicken. The discussion then shifted to the MSG. It was agreed not to reveal information about the MSG yet. Instead, another restaurant would be built¡ªa luxurious and grand establishment specialized for cultivators. The food would be added with MSG to enhance its effects and taste. Liu Wang skillfully come up with the plan, and the three agreed.


    After finishing the discussion regarding their cooperation, it was time for Orion to teach the chefs how to make the fried chicken. Orion headed to the kitchen where the Liu family''s trusted chefs were waiting. Orion let the chefs taste the fried chicken, which impressed them. Then, Orion began teaching them.


    After a while, the best-finished fried chicken was served on a plate, with a bowl of red sauce placed beside it on the table. Wang Lingxin, seated at the table, scrutinized the fried chicken while the chefs stood nervously at the side, surprised that it was a kid who would judge the fried chicken and not Orion.


    Wang Lingxin then took a piece and began to eat. After finishing, she wiped her mouth with a piece of cloth and put on a serious expression. She started giving her appraisal, her detailed and professional critique surprising the chefs with its depth. Although the fried chicken was good, it still fell short compared to Orion''s. Wang Lingxin pointed out various flaws and areas for improvement.


    The chefs were left stunned, their jaws dropping at the unexpected expertise of this young girl. To think that someone her age could deliver such a professional critique was astonishing. It became evident that there were still many aspects they needed to refine and perfect.


    Orion observed silently from the side, impressed by how much Wang Lingxin had learned from the food review videos it had created. Liu Mingzhen was equally impressed, seeing how Wang Lingxin, despite her youth, had become an expert at judging food in such a short time with Orion. It made him wonder how far she could go in the future, especially once Orion began teaching her on the path of cultivation.


    The Supreme Fried Chicken business is just a small enterprise, and even if it turns a profit, it will still be modest and not sufficient to advance Orion''s plans. However, if it succeeds and expands widely with more restaurants, the profits will increase. Orion has agreed with the Liu family regarding the Supreme Fried Chicken business and allowed them to handle marketing in Yanjing City, Fengxiang City, and the surrounding areas. Orion also plans to cooperate with other people in other locations; the Supreme Fried Chicken partnership is not exclusively tied to the Liu family.


    Orion has already been contemplating the secret society it intends to establish. It will have a large population, with not all individuals directly involved in Orion''s future projects. Skilled workers will be required for the projects, while unskilled individuals can contribute in other ways. Some will need to support the population itself, engaging in tasks like labor and farming, while the Supreme Fried Chicken business and MSG will also play a part in the economy and society. Additionally, Orion is already preparing for other businesses, like blacksmithing, but that will still need to wait until after the house is completed.


    Only when almost sunset did Orion and Wang Lingxin leave the Liu family residence.


    "Master, will you need my help again tomorrow to taste the fried chicken?" asked Wang Lingxin.


    "Yes, will you help me?" inquired Orion.


    "Of course, I will help you. I will do my best in tasting the fried chicken," replied Wang Lingxin, happy because her master needed her help.


    "Thank you, you''re doing a great job," responded Orion.


    "Hehehe," chuckled Wang Lingxin, smiling, pleased to receive praise.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin rode in a horse carriage back to the residence.

 Chapter 58: An Artificial Dantian and Meridian System?

    The next day, Orion and Wang Lingxin returned to the Liu family residence. Orion met with Liu Mingzhen to continue their discussions about their joint business. Mingzhen proposed the idea of also selling fried chicken in the new restaurant specialized for cultivators and adding MSG to the fried chicken.


    However, the fried chicken would be made from a special ingredient: chicken Spirit Beasts. Orion agreed, allowing the Liu family to experiment with modifying the recipe to incorporate chicken Spirit Beasts.


    After a brief discussion with Liu Mingzhen, Orion sought out Wang Lingxin and found her enjoying tea in the pavilion near the flower garden.


    "So here you are," Orion stated as it approached Wang Lingxin.


    "Master, have you finished your business?" Wang Lingxin inquired, setting down her teacup.


    "Yes, I have. You will be tasting the fried chicken and also helping them to make fried chicken using chicken Spirit Beasts. Can you do it?" Orion asked.


    "Sure, I''ll do my best," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Do you want me to stay and accompany you?" Orion inquired.


    "There is no need. Master, you can return first," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Are you sure you''ll be okay?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, don''t worry about me," Wang Lingxin reassured.


    "Alright, but don''t cause any trouble, okay? I''ll come to get you around sunset," Orion reminded her.


    Orion then rode in the horse carriage back to the residence, while Wang Lingxin headed to the kitchen of the Liu family residence.


    "Hello, good morning, everyone," Wang Lingxin greeted as she entered the kitchen.


    "Good morning, Ms. Lingxin," replied the chefs. They didn''t see her as just a mere kid, especially with her professional skill in food critique and tasting.


    "Let''s make delicious fried chicken!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed, raising her fist.


    "Oooo!" exclaimed the chefs in unison.


    With the sun high above, Wang Lingxin sampled the freshly fried chicken.


    "This is good enough. I think it''s okay to sell it," she remarked.


    The chefs cheered, relieved to see their hard work pay off. Wang Lingxin''s approval lifted their spirits after she had critiqued many of their previous attempts. As professional chefs, their confidence had been shaken by Wang Lingxin''s critiques, and not receiving approval from a young girl had affected their morale.


    However, as seasoned professionals, they finally mastered how to make the fried chicken and earn Wang Lingxin''s approval in just two days, a feat that took Orion several days to achieve. After perfecting the normal fried chicken, it was time to experiment with making fried chicken using meat from chicken Spirit Beasts.


    "Miss Lingxin, have you ever tried eating chicken Spirit Beast?" one of the chefs asked, the oldest among them and the head chef.


    "Chicken Spirit Beast? I haven''t," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "Then you should try it first so you can give a better judgment later when testing the Spirit Beast fried chicken," the head chef suggested.


    "I''ll let you taste one of the best dishes on our menu at the Liu family restaurant. I''m sure you''ll like it," the head chef continued. "Come on, everyone, help me prepare!"


    The other chefs scrambled to prepare the Spirit Beast fried chicken. After a while, a bowl of soup with chicken Spirit Beast meat, its broth a rich red color with many spices floating within, some oil glistening on its surface, steaming hot, was served in front of Wang Lingxin at the table. Wang Lingxin used a spoon to lift a bit of the broth to her lips, her eyes widening in surprise.


    "Wow, such flavor! The broth is thick and rich, bursting with flavor. There''s a unique blend of spices and the essence of the chicken Spirit Beast. While it looks and smells spicy, it''s surprisingly mild. There''s also a hint of sweetness and plenty of savory goodness. Truly exceptional," Wang Lingxin remarked. She then used the spoon to pick up a piece of meat, finding it tender and easily picked up. She tasted it.


    "Wow, the chicken Spirit Beast truly has a unique aroma and taste. The meat is tender, infused with the seasoning. When eaten together with the soup, it''s a delightful combination of flavors. This is really outstanding," Wang Lingxin added.


    "Fufufu," the head chef chuckled, standing from the side with a wide smile crossing his face as he folded his arms, clearly satisfied. The other chefs also smiled; their confidence restored after receiving praise from Wang Lingxin''s critique.


    "Come on, now let''s try to make Spirit Beast fried chicken," the head chef exclaimed.


    "Oooo!" the chefs responded eagerly. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin continued to savor the chicken Spirit Beast soup.


    Liu Mingzhen and Liu Wang watched from the window of the kitchen, coming to check the kitchen after hearing the commotion. "Finally, they succeeded. Now, they just need to make the Spirit Beast fried chicken," Liu Mingzhen remarked.


    Liu Mingzhen then left, still having a lot of work to do. Liu Wang followed behind.


    "Master, today should be the day Elder Yang arrives in Yanjing," Liu Wang mentioned.


    "Mmm... hopefully the MSG can help Father break through," Liu Mingzhen replied.


    The gentle breeze brought a refreshing touch, rustling the flowers and grass. Currently taking a brief break to enjoy some fresh air, Wang Lingxin found that the recipe and experiment for the Spirit Beast fried chicken were far from complete. The meat wasn''t tender enough, and the seasoning struggled to penetrate it, among other challenges.


    Wang Lingxin decided to take a break and wander through the flower garden, she enjoyed playing in the Liu family garden. It was expansive, filled with a variety of flowers, and meticulously maintained, offering a refreshing and calming atmosphere.


    As she wandered, her gaze fell upon a tree beyond the wall, adorned with plump and enticing purple fruits, its beauty captivating her attention. Impressed, she approached closer, eventually arriving at the moon gate. Peeking inside and finding nobody around, after a moment''s hesitation, she decided to venture in.


    Unbeknownst to her, a masked figure wearing all black clothes slowly materialized near the moon gate, standing quietly as he watched Wang Lingxin approach the tree. Inside, there were many other trees, but no flowers like in the flower garden, just trees.


    Okay, now what do I do? the masked man pondered internally, feeling conflicted and unsure.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The area Wang Lingxin entered was a restricted area, and not everybody was allowed to enter. It was where his master, Liu Mingzhen, planted and grew various Spiritual Fruits, and all the trees inside were Spiritual Fruit trees.


    The purple fruit that had attracted Wang Lingxin''s attention was also a Spiritual Fruit, called Violet Essence Fruit, highly sought after and very beneficial for Golden Core cultivators. At auctions, it could fetch thousands of spirit stones.


    The masked man was the guard of this place, and now he was conflicted because although the area was restricted, his master had instructed that Orion and his disciple, Wang Lingxin, were important for the Liu family. They must never be offended, and they should always do their best to cater to and help them.


    After thinking about it, the masked man decided to let Wang Lingxin venture inside. He was sure that his master would allow Wang Lingxin to enter anyway and might even give her the fruit.


    Now, after he let Wang Lingxin enter, if she really took the fruit, he was certain his master would allow it. However, there was still a possibility that his master might scold him a bit to vent his anger.


    Sigh, I''ll just accept being scolded by the master, the masked man thought, his figure disappearing again, nowhere to be seen, while also sending information to Liu Mingzhen via Spiritual Sense.


    Wang Lingxin stood in front of the purple fruit tree, looking up at the five fruits dangling from its branches. A sweet and enticing scent wafted from them, captivating her senses. She couldn''t help but wonder if the fruits tasted as good as they looked, given their enticing appearance and sweet fragrance.


    After a moment of contemplation, she glanced around and noticed many other trees, but none bore fruit. Wang Lingxin then decided to return to the flower garden.


    "Hello, Miss Lingxin," a voice came from behind Wang Lingxin as she walked.


    Wang Lingxin turned around, surprised by the sudden appearance of someone. It turned out to be Liu Mingzhen. "Greetings, Mr. Liu Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin bowed courteously.


    "Hahaha, no need to be so formal. Just call me Uncle Mingzhen," Liu Mingzhen chuckled.


    "Greetings, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin bowed respectfully once more.


    "Good girl," Liu Mingzhen nodded. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    "I was just checking out that purple fruit. It looks interesting, and it smells good," Wang Lingxin explained.


    "Well, it''s a special fruit after all. Do you want it?" Liu Mingzhen offered with a smile.


    "Is it okay?" Wang Lingxin hesitated, noticing there were only five fruits on the tree.


    "Of course, these fruits grow all year round. It''s just that they''re slow to ripen," Liu Mingzhen assured her. With a swift gesture, he waved his hand, and a purple fruit fell from the branch. Extending his hand, he deftly caught the fruit using his Spiritual Sense, and it landed softly on his palm.


    "Here you are," Liu Mingzhen handed her the fruit.


    "Wow, thank you very much, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin said gratefully, taking the fruit. As she examined it closely, she noticed that its scent was even sweeter up close. She wondered how to eat it.


    Seeing Wang Lingxin''s curiosity, Liu Mingzhen smiled. "Come, I''ll show you how to enjoy this fruit," he offered, leading her to the kitchen.


    The Violet Essence Fruit was very valuable, but Liu Mingzhen was still okay with giving one to Wang Lingxin. It was a gesture to build a good relationship with her. He also considered giving some to Orion, viewing it as a good investment.


    In one of the dimly lit rooms within Orion''s residence, Orion was busy at a table. Slime skins hung on the walls, and on the floor, many buckets were filled with slime body liquid, some containing slime body parts. The slime body liquid had splattered on the floor.


    On the table in front of Orion, there was a large bucket filled with slime body liquid, and inside it, a Spirit Beast core was connected to many small and long tubes. These tubes were the slime''s meridians, and the Spirit Beast core was from a wolf Spirit Beast.


    Orion internally noted, The research progress is rather successful. This is good. Checking its internal clock, it realized, It''s almost time to pick up Wang Lingxin. With that, Orion began tidying up the room, storing some items on the table into its storage ring, and calling Chunhua to clean up the rest.


    While experimenting with the slime, Orion discovered several uses for it. The slime''s skin proved to be versatile, capable of being both soft and hard, as well as weak or strong, elastic or rigid. It could also change shape, adapting to different conditions as needed.


    In addition to its skin, the slime had various body parts, including tubes that were situated within its body. These tubes had a semi-transparent color and were widely used as lamps, reminiscent of neon lamps from Earth. It was this unique slime lamp that piqued Orion''s interest in slime and began experimenting with it.


    Despite others deeming certain parts of the slime as useless, Orion found value in them. While most people focused on the skin, tubes for lamps, and the Spirit Beast core, Orion noticed another body part that often went overlooked: the slime meridian.


    These smaller tubes, similar to those used for lamps but on a smaller scale, were typically discarded or considered useless by others. However, Orion saw potential in them and has been experimenting with them, showing great results.


    After reading numerous books and scrolls, Orion learned that slime meridians were among the best, even surpassing those of Dragons and Phoenixes in effectiveness at transmitting Qi. However, despite this advantage, slimes were inherently weak due to their Spirit Beast core (Dantian) being unable to store much Qi. Orion has made significant progress in its experiments regarding slime meridians, showcasing great potential and promising results.


    Orion attached a slime meridian to another Spirit Beast core, currently using the Spirit Beast core of a Two-tailed Wolf, which Orion had slain in the past. During the experiment, Orion discovered that slime meridians couldn''t directly absorb LQ (Liquid Qi); instead, the LQ would dissolve the slime meridian, likely because the LQ contained too much pure Qi and the slime meridian couldn''t handle it.


    Orion found a solution: by soaking the Spirit Beast core in LQ, it would slowly absorb the Qi. Then, by connecting the Spirit Beast core with the slime meridian, the slime meridian was able to absorb and transmit the Qi from the Spirit Beast core.


    It worked. The previously transparent slime meridian now glowed with a beautiful cyan color. By referring to scrolls and books, Orion noted that the slime meridian appeared to be active, effectively transmitting the Qi from the Spirit Beast core to the meridian system.


    Orion wondered if this could be considered an artificial Dantian and meridian system. Theoretically, it was, as cultivators and Spirit Beasts function similarly, with their Dantian acting as a battery and their meridian as a cable, albeit for storing and transmitting Qi instead of electricity. However, Orion knew it would need to conduct further experiments to confirm its hypothesis and put the findings to use.


    Orion rode the horse carriage to the Liu family residence to pick up Wang Lingxin, while Chunhua remained behind, cleaning the room where Orion had conducted the experiment. She had grown accustomed to the task, wiping the table clean and mopping the floor diligently. Carrying the heavy bucket filled with slime body liquid and body parts, she made her way outside to the trash pit, where she dumped them one by one.


    At the corner of the room, there sat a bucket filled with slime tubes, but Chunhua had no intention of throwing them out. Instead, she planned to sell them later. Her master had once experimented with these tubes to create slime lamps but had lost interest after succeeding. When Chunhua proposed the idea of selling them instead of discarding them, Orion agreed and allowed Chunhua to sell them. This way, Chunhua could earn some money to contribute to the orphanage.


    Chunhua often wondered why her master preferred to discard the most valuable body parts of the slime instead of using them to create slime lamps. She couldn''t help but ponder why her master seemed to be more interested in the slime''s skin and what appeared to be its meridian.


    For Orion, the slime lamp is indeed interesting, but that''s it, it''s just a lamp. Even if Orion were to decide to make and sell them, the profit would be small. However, Orion sees great potential in the slime''s skin and meridian, which is why it''s solely interested in them. As for the other body parts of the slime, Orion has no qualms about discarding them. On the other hand, Chunhua views slime lamps as a promising source of income, but for Orion, they''re simply a waste of time.


    Orion arrived at the Liu family residence to pick up Wang Lingxin, then the two of them rode in the carriage back to their own residence.


    "So, how is the fried chicken? Did they succeed?" Orion asked during the journey.


    "Yes, the chefs successfully made the fried chicken. It''s delicious enough," replied Wang Lingxin.


    "That''s great," said Orion.


    "But for the Spirit Beast fried chicken, they still need more time," Wang Lingxin added.


    "I see. Did you have fun today?" Orion inquired.


    "Mmm," Wang Lingxin nodded. "Uncle Mingzhen gave me a delicious purple fruit. It''s so sweet and yummy."


    "Have you thanked him?" Orion asked.


    "Of course," Wang Lingxin replied eagerly. "Master, let me tell you about the fruit. The smell is so sweet, and to enjoy it, you first cool it down on ice, then cut it open, and slice it into small pieces. After that, you pour honey on it and then eat it. The fruit is sweet, soft, refreshing, and with honey, it adds even more sweetness and deliciousness. I can''t wait for another fruit ripen so I can eat more," Wang Lingxin said, licking her lips in anticipation.


    At the same time, in the Liu family residence, Liu Mingzhen was in his workroom, scribbling something on paper when he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his heart. "Huh... That''s weird. What is this sudden uncomfortable feeling?" Liu Mingzhen pondered for a moment before shaking it off and returning to his work.

 Chapter 59: Liu Xinyi’s Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm

    Liu Yang finally arrived in Yanjing City after several days of flying. He flew not too fast nor too slow, trying not to attract attention. Sometimes, he also took rests during the journey.


    Upon arrival at the Liu family residence, he immediately headed to the main hall to meet the patriarch, Liu Ming. In the main hall, Liu Ming sat at the main seat, while Liu Xinyi sat at the side sipping tea.


    Liu Yang handed over the ceramic bottle containing MSG and the scroll containing messages from Liu Mingzhen. He also provided a short explanation to Liu Ming.


    "I see, a magical medicine that is beneficial to cultivators, nourishing their meridians and improving Qi flow, and it can also multiply the benefits and effects of the food," Liu Ming remarked as he read the scroll.


    "Is it really that effective, Uncle Yang?" Liu Ming inquired.


    "Of course, Mingzhen and I have tried it ourselves," Liu Yang affirmed.


    "What do you think, Father?" Liu Ming asked, handing the scroll to Liu Xinyi.


    Liu Xinyi pondered, "Maybe this is the opportunity I''ve been waiting for. There''s no use in waiting any longer. I don''t think there will be a better opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul realm than now."


    He was already old, and as time passed, his chances of successfully breaking through diminished. Waiting longer would only decrease his chances. Now that a good opportunity had presented itself, with the assistance of the magical medicine called MSG, perhaps he would be able to enter the Nascent Soul realm.


    "I will immediately arrange it, Father," Liu Ming assured him.


    Liu Xinyi then headed to his secret cultivation chamber to prepare for the breakthrough. Meanwhile, Liu Ming also made preparations. He immediately gathered the most valuable ingredients that the Liu family had and instructed the chef to prepare them. Liu Yang, on the other hand, promptly leave the main hall to meet his newly born grandson, as a cover for his real reason for returning to Yanjing.


    The chef didn''t take too long to turn the ingredients into a dish. The ingredients were cooked into a soup, with various items such as Spirit Beast meat and Spiritual Herbs. Liu Ming personally took the soup from the kitchen and brought it to Liu Xinyi.


    He walked through a secret underground tunnel, reaching a big underground chamber with a door. Liu Ming passed through the door and met Liu Xinyi, who was sitting cross-legged on a platform in the secret chamber.


    "Father, this is the soup," Liu Ming said, presenting the bowl of soup on a tray.


    The soup emanated a unique aroma, made from high-quality ingredients beneficial to cultivators.


    "Put in the MSG," Liu Xinyi instructed.


    Liu Ming then took out the ceramic bottle containing MSG from his storage ring and poured it into the soup. He then handed the soup to Liu Xinyi.


    "This moment will decide the rise or fall of our Liu family," Liu Xinyi said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He then consumed the soup, swallowing it down, and also retrieved several pills from his storage ring and swallowed them. These pills were meant to aid his breakthrough. Liu Xinyi closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, focusing on absorbing the food and pills.


    "I will excuse myself," Liu Ming said as he left the secret chamber, closing the door behind him. He then sat cross-legged in front of the door, determined to guard it. The moment of breaking through was very vulnerable, and he wouldn''t let anything disturb his father.


    After a few hours, Liu Xinyi had fully absorbed the pills and soup. The MSG had enhanced the effects and benefits of the soup and pills. Liu Xinyi felt his entire body heat up, with his abdomen becoming very hot. Trickle of sweat rolled down his face as his body emanated smoke.


    Within his Dantian, a golden sphere floated in the darkness ¡ª his Golden Core. Its surface was smooth and shiny as it began to spin slowly. Qi pulsed from within the Golden Core, attempting to break it. The Golden Core hummed with a buzzing sound that grew louder with each passing moment.


    The Qi within periodically slammed against the Golden Core''s wall, causing a loud boom in the Dantian. This continued for hours, with the Qi intensifying over time. Eventually, a small crack appeared on the surface of the Golden Core, followed by more cracks as time went on.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    However, the intensity of the Qi raging within the Golden Core began to slow down.


    "Guah!!!" Liu Xinyi exclaimed, spitting out blood as he experienced the backlash from attempting to control the Qi inside his Golden Core while trying to smash and destroy the Golden Core''s wall. Each time he attempted to breach the wall, he suffered a backlash, which intensified with each subsequent attempt.


    Drenched in sweat and with a pale complexion, he had been struggling for hours to crack open his Golden Core, managing only to create several small cracks, nowhere close to breaking it open completely.


    "Is this as far as I can go?" Liu Xinyi questioned. He had neared the end of his lifespan, and his chances of reaching the Nascent Soul realm were diminishing.


    He wasn''t a genius blessed with great talent, and now, even with the help of the MSG, it seemed that he still couldn''t achieve the breakthrough he desired.


    As he coughed up more blood, Liu Xinyi refused to accept failure. "No... I refuse to fail," he declared, determination shining in his eyes. "I, Liu Xinyi, will become a Nascent Soul realm cultivator!"


    Inside his Golden Core, Qi surged as Liu Xinyi controlled it, building momentum. Despite reaching his limit, he decided to make one last gamble. Gathering all his strength, he prepared for a final attempt to break through. With a mighty roar, he unleashed the gathered Qi from within his Golden Core, directing it outward towards his Golden Core''s walls with unprecedented force.


    "EAAAA!!!!" Liu Xinyi screamed, channeling all his willpower into the decisive moment.


    The Qi smashed violently against the Golden Core wall, causing it to crack and shatter into pieces that scattered in all directions. The Qi gushed out in a great, violent torrent.


    In his Dantian, the shattered pieces of the Golden Core slowly disappeared, releasing the Qi within it as if a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The Qi expanded greatly within his Dantian before gradually gathering and slowly forming a humanoid figure.


    Now, in his Dantian, the figure transformed, resembling him, and sat cross-legged in the middle, surrounded by a faint mist of Qi. The figure glowed brightly, contrasting with the surrounding darkness that shrouded the Dantian.


    Liu Xinyi could see this figure within his Dantian and hear a voice in his mind saying, "I am called [Rongyun Baiyun - Rolling White Clouds]."


    In the secret chamber, winds swirled around Liu Xinyi''s body as it shone brightly. His eyes opened and emitted a radiant glow. After a while, the light dimmed and vanished, and his eyes slowly closed.


    Moments later, Liu Xinyi reopened his eyes and remarked, "I see, so my Soul Manifestation''s name is [Rongyun Baiyun]." He checked his body, "I have successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm! Hahaha" Liu Xinyi laughed, his laughter echoing in the secret chamber.


    Liu Ming waited anxiously outside the secret chamber, several hours passing without any sign of his father emerging. He couldn''t shake the feeling that the worst had occurred within. Unable to use his spiritual sense due to the concealment inscriptions shrouding the chamber, he was left in agonizing uncertainty.


    As the door to the secret chamber finally creaked open, Liu Ming stood nervously. From within emerged an old man, and Liu Ming immediately sensed a profound change in his father.


    Liu Xinyi was no longer hunched; he stood tall and straight, despite his long white hair and beard. His eyes were clear and filled with vitality and vigor, his skin smooth, supple like a babies, and no longer pale and wrinkled. His steps were firm, exuding strength and confidence.


    "Father... have you succeeded?" Liu Ming asked tentatively.


    "Hahaha, it was a close call. Without the help of the MSG, I would have surely failed," replied Liu Xinyi, his tone triumphant.


    "Congratulations, Father, on breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Ming said, relief flooding through him.


    "It''s all thanks to Mr. Orion," Liu Xinyi mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It was a blessing that Liu Jian was attacked by the Vermilion Clawed Bear and then met with Mr. Orion, hahaha," he laughed heartily.


    Ugh, how can you say it like that, that''s your own grandson, Liu Ming thought to himself. Though he somewhat agreed, it was because of Liu Jian''s encounter with the Vermilion Clawed Bear and subsequent rescue by Orion that the Liu family had gained benefits from their association with him.


    "Immediately inform Mingzhen to thank Mr. Orion on my behalf. After I stabilize my cultivation, I will personally meet him to offer my gratitude," Liu Xinyi commanded.


    "Father, how about we keep your breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm a secret?" Liu Ming suggested tentatively.


    "Oh? Let''s hear about it," Liu Xinyi responded, intrigued.


    "Currently, Mr. Orion prefers to stay low-profile and secretive to avoid attracting attention. So, we should keep your breakthrough and how the MSG helped you a secret. You should not meet him, at least for now. If he doesn''t want to stand out and attract attention, then we shouldn''t cause trouble for him. Otherwise, we may offend him," Liu Ming explained.


    "Hmm... good point. Well, do as you say. But still, let Mingzhen thank Mr. Orion on my behalf. Also, tell Mingzhen to bring a thank-you gift to Mr. Orion. Make sure the gift won''t embarrass me or our Liu family, understand?" Liu Xinyi instructed, emphasizing the importance of selecting an appropriate gift.


    "Understood," Liu Ming acknowledged.


    "Then, I will focus on stabilizing my cultivation and getting familiar with my new strength. If people are looking for me, just tell them I am in closed-door cultivation and don''t want to be disturbed. Don''t let anyone know I have reached the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Xinyi declared as he turned and entered the secret chamber again, the door slowly closing behind him.


    "I''ll arrange it, Father," Liu Ming affirmed, then walked out of the underground chamber, smiling. "Fufufu," he chuckled softly to himself as he walked. The Liu family was about to reach new heights.

 Chapter 60: Bringing Gifts

    The morning sun cast a warm glow, and birds chirped merrily. Still very early in the morning, but Liu Mingzhen was already at the gate of Orion''s residence, where he rang the bell. Orion had already detected his arrival through the radio signal he emitted. After hearing the bell, Orion stepped out to greet him, then brought him inside.


    Orion wondered what kind of business had brought Liu Mingzhen personally. Moreover, Liu Mingzhen appeared to be in a particularly good mood, smiling and more talkative than usual. They sat at a table, exchanging pleasantries.


    Chunhua then entered the room, serving tea and pouring a cup for Liu Mingzhen before quietly exiting. Orion gestured and offered Liu Mingzhen the tea. After taking a sip, he finally stated his true purpose.


    "Mr. Orion, on behalf of my father, I want to offer our sincere gratitude. With the help of the magical medicine MSG, my father has successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm. Thank you very much, Mr. Orion," Liu Mingzhen said, bowing his head and cupping his hands in respect.


    Orion was rather surprised to hear this, for mere MSG could have such a significant impact on a cultivator and help them achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. Internally, it thought, I told you to test it first. Why would you send it to your father?


    "Oh, I see. That''s great news. Please convey my congratulations to him," Orion replied.


    Liu Mingzhen smiled and responded, "Thank you, Mr. Orion. Also, regarding my father''s breakthrough, he has decided to keep it a secret for now. What do you think about it, Mr. Orion?" Liu Mingzhen probed for Orion''s opinion.


    "Well, it''s up to him. You don''t need to ask me," Orion replied.


    "It''s like this, Mr. Orion. We want to keep the secret about MSG as much as possible and distance my father''s successful breakthrough from being related to you. If you want to maintain a low profile and not attract attention, then my father thinks it''s a good idea. What do you think?" Liu Mingzhen elaborated.


    "Oh, I see. I think it''s a good idea. Yes, I would prefer not to attract any attention and maintain a low profile. I really appreciate your father''s thoughtfulness. It''s a good idea," Orion agreed.


    "Then, our Liu family will make sure that we won''t cause any trouble for you, Mr. Orion. I''ll ensure that information regarding the MSG and our interaction with you is strictly kept hidden. In the future, my father will come personally to offer his gratitude, Mr. Orion," Liu Mingzhen assured.


    "Sure," Orion replied.


    "Huh? Uncle Mingzhen?" Wang Lingxin walked into the room, having finished breakfast and hearing the commotion. She came to check. "Greetings, Uncle Mingzhen," she said politely.


    "Good morning, Miss Lingxin," Liu Mingzhen replied with a smile.


    "Uncle Mingzhen, did you come to pick me up to help taste the Spirit Beast fried chicken?" Wang Lingxin asked. Isn''t it still too early? she thought to herself.


    "No, I''m not here to pick you up," Liu Mingzhen smiled. He then retrieved a beautifully crafted wooden box from his storage ring. "I''ve come to bring gifts," he said, opening the box to reveal eight purple fruits.


    "That purple fruit... don''t tell me," Wang Lingxin licked her lips in anticipation.


    "It''s the same one you ate yesterday," Liu Mingzhen confirmed.


    "But isn''t there only four fruits left on the tree? And aren''t they still rather young?" Wang Lingxin walked closer to check the fruits, their sweet smell already spreading in the room.


    "These are the ones we harvested last year, but don''t worry, they''re still fresh. They''ve been stored in the storage ring," Liu Mingzhen explained.


    "Wow, is it for me?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "It''s for your master. If you want, you can ask him," Liu Mingzhen replied.


    "Master, can I eat it?" Wang Lingxin turned to Orion.


    "Sure, you can have them all," Orion agreed, taking a glance at the purple fruit. The shape resembled a mango from Earth.


    "Yay, thank you, Master," Wang Lingxin picked up a fruit and brought it close to her nose to smell.


    "But you can''t eat it now, it''s still too early in the morning," Orion reminded her.


    "Uh... okay," Wang Lingxin reluctantly agreed, placing the fruit back in the wooden box.


    "Mr. Orion, other than the fruit, there are many other gifts in this storage ring. It''s to express my father''s gratitude. Please accept it," Liu Mingzhen offered the storage ring to Orion.


    "Then please deliver my thanks to your father," Orion said, accepting the storage ring.


    "Mr. Orion, if there is something else that you need, you can just tell me. Our Liu family will do our best to obtain it," Liu Mingzhen offered.


    "Hmmm... there is no need for now, thank you," Orion replied.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Master, master, can we get the purple fruit tree and plant it?" Wang Lingxin eagerly asked. She hoped to have the tree so she could enjoy the fruits that would grow in the future. However, the purple fruit didn''t have any seeds, so she wondered how to obtain the tree.


    "What do you think, Mr. Mingzhen? Is it possible?" Orion inquired.


    "Of course, I still have one young tree. I''ll have Liu Jin send it later," Liu Mingzhen confirmed.


    "Thank you very much, Uncle Mingzhen," Wang Lingxin expressed her gratitude.


    Liu Mingzhen had received a message from his brother, Liu Ming, last night via a Communication Talisman. The message informed him that their father had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm. Liu Ming also instructed Liu Mingzhen to offer thanks to Orion and bring proper gifts. Additionally, Liu Ming gave several other instructions.


    The Violet Essence Fruit was very valuable to Liu Ming, and previously, giving one fruit to Wang Lingxin had been difficult for him. However, now, after being instructed by his brother and hearing of his father''s successful breakthrough, he no longer hesitated to give the fruit. He had prepared various precious gifts and even included eight Violet Essence Fruits. Now that Wang Lingxin wanted the tree, he was also willing to provide it.


    Orion and Liu Mingzhen had a brief discussion about their current and future cooperation, and Liu Mingzhen gave an update on the progress of the house construction. After they finished, Liu Mingzhen excused himself, and Wang Lingxin followed him to the Liu family residence to help tasting the fried chicken.


    After Liu Mingzhen and Wang Lingxin left, Orion called for Liu Jin, who immediately arrived and stood in front of Orion, cupping his hands.


    "Is there something you need, Mr. Orion?" Liu Jin asked.


    "Yes, unload the gifts from this storage ring and arrange them in the storage area of my workroom. Place them next to the other items," Orion instructed, handing the storage ring given by Liu Mingzhen to Liu Jin.


    Orion couldn''t retrieve items from the storage ring given by Liu Mingzhen one by one. If Orion tried to retrieve the items inside the storage ring, all the contents would flood out at once. Thus, Orion asked Liu Jin to retrieve and arrange the items. Later, Orion would store them one by one and register each item''s unique electrical signature. Only after doing this could Orion retrieve specific items from the storage ring.


    "Understood. By the way, Mr. Orion, do you still need more slimes?" Liu Jin inquired.


    "No, unless they are Rank-2 or higher," Orion replied.


    "Unfortunately, we still haven''t found any Rank-2 Spirit Beast slimes or higher. We''ve used our Liu family connections and dispatched our men to search the forest, but there''s been no success. I''ll bring one immediately when we find it," Liu Jin assured Orion before heading to Orion''s workroom.


    Liu Jin had been supplying many slimes to Orion. He didn''t know exactly what Orion was doing with them, but he guessed that perhaps Orion wanted to make slime lamps. Slimes were very abundant in the forest and were also used in large numbers in the city.


    Most slimes were just Rank-1 Spirit Beasts, and it was rare for them to reach Rank-2 or higher. They were weak and docile, harmless and not a threat. Even mortal children could safely play around them.


    Slimes were very useful as they consumed organic matter. People used them in latrines and dirty sewers, and to clean the feces of both animals and Spirit Beasts, whether on farms or as pets.


    However, the slimes Liu Jin delivered to Orion were wild slimes that had only consumed plant material such as leaves, flowers, and grass, making them "clean".


    ...


    In a bustling workshop in Yanjing City, young blacksmiths of various races were hard at work. Some hammered away at hot metal, while others tended to the fires of the furnaces, their faces glistening with sweat. A few meticulously applied finishing touches to weapons and armor.


    The workshop hummed with activity and echoed with the sounds of clanking, hammering, and the lively chatter of the blacksmiths.


    The air was rather hot due to the furnaces, with some smoke lingering in the air.


    Kaboom!


    Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the workshop. Behind the workshop, an explosion occurred, accompanied by a thick plume of smoke and dust that billowed into the air. Rubble and debris flew in all directions, rattling the workshop, and all the blacksmiths stopped their tasks.


    Some went out to check the explosion, while others peeked out from the workshop. There was once a wooden house where their master lived behind their workshop, but now it was just rubble. Even the tent, which had been built and destroyed several times over on the ruins of the house, was now also gone, destroyed by the explosion.


    "Master, are you alright?" called out Little Wei, one of the young blacksmiths, from the workshop door.


    Amidst the wreckage of the former house and tent, dust continued to rise. In the center of the swirling smoke, a figure could be seen seated cross-legged on the ground within a small crater, covered in soot and dust.


    "Yes, I''m fine. Don''t worry about me. Carry on with your work," replied Luo Fengwei from amidst the smoke.


    The blacksmiths in the workshop resumed their tasks, the rhythmic sound of hammering filling the air once more. It was a scene they had grown accustomed to¡ª their master had blown up his house, replaced it with a tent which kept getting destroyed and rebuilt several times over.


    The surrounding neighborhood had also grown accustomed to the explosions; initially surprised and scared, they now ignored them. Even officials from the City Lord Manor once came to check but dared not to complain. After all, the one causing the explosions was a Golden Core realm cultivator, and moreover, the most famous blacksmith in the city, and now they just ignore it.


    Luo Fengwei still sat cross-legged on the ground, stroking his beard with one hand while the other rested across his chest. His white beard, white hair, and clothes were dirty from dust and soot, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "Sigh... that was close... I almost succeeded. Pity it had to explode at the end."


    Luo Fengwei was still struggling with his experiment on the wolframite ore and tungsten. He was in the midst of modifying the furnace to achieve higher temperatures. The new inscription used on the furnace was a success, allowing the furnace to reach higher temperatures. However, after a while, the furnace exploded.


    Despite facing setbacks, Luo Fengwei was steadily making progress. He remained optimistic about processing the wolframite ore to obtain tungsten, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to experiment with making weapons and armor using tungsten.


    "Master, why are you still here? Haven''t you been invited to the Liu family''s banquet? Are you not going?" Little Wei inquired.


    "Oh, that''s right, thanks for reminding me. Sigh... I would rather continue the experiment than attend the banquet. Damn that brat Liu Yang, just having a grandson, why make such a fuss over it," Luo Fengwei grumbled.


    Little Wei then entered the workshop again to continue his work. He didn''t know exactly what his master was experimenting on, but it was apparent that it wasn''t going smoothly.


    Luo Fengwei then stood up. Wind swirled around him before a strong gust blew outward, cleaning him of dust and soot. Once he was clean again, he retrieved a comb to tidy his hair and beard and straightened his clothes. His clothes, Grade-3 defense artifacts, were not even slightly damaged by the explosion; after getting cleaned by the wind, they still looked as good as new. After getting ready, he flew to the Liu family residence.

 Chapter 61: False Alarm

    The Liu family residence was a sprawling compound filled with many luxurious buildings. In one area, the scene was very lively with numerous horse carriages arriving and people streaming in, entering a grand mansion. One of the Liu family elders had just welcomed his first grandson and was so happy that he immediately returned from Fengxian to host a banquet and invite many guests.


    Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was busy with people. Liu Yang had been greeting guests non-stop and decided to take a short break. He headed to a room where Liu Ming was seated, drinking tea at a table. Liu Yang sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, drank it, and then set the teacup down.


    "So, how was it?" Liu Yang asked seriously.


    Liu Ming didn''t reply immediately. He just looked at Liu Yang, smiled slightly, and then sipped his tea.


    "Fufufu, is that so? That''s great! Our Liu family will rise to new heights. Not even the Chen family can threaten us now," Liu Yang said, laughing. Even without Liu Ming saying anything, he could guess that Liu Xinyi had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm.


    "We decided to keep it a secret," Liu Ming said, setting down his teacup.


    Liu Yang looked at Liu Ming and nodded. "I see. Well, that''s a wise decision."


    "Make sure you keep it a secret and everything related to Mr. Orion as well," Liu Ming added.


    "Don''t worry about that," Liu Yang assured him.


    "So Uncle Yang, why did you only bring a small amount of MSG? There are other elders, you know. Even I want to taste it myself. Don''t tell me that Mingzhen is hoarding it for himself?" Liu Ming inquired.


    "How could you think like that?! Mr. Orion indeed only gave us a small amount for now. Later, he will provide more. Even Mingzhen and I have only tasted a little. The rest, I immediately brought back. We wasted most of it during testing on animals and mortals. Animals and mortals, you hear me?!" Liu Yang complained bitterly, expressing his frustration and regret as he recalled the experience.


    "Okay, I was just asking. No need to get agitated. Do you think Mr. Orion made the MSG himself, or did he obtain it from somewhere? Have you probed for any information?" Liu Ming questioned.


    "Both Mingzhen and I don''t dare to offend Mr. Orion, so we haven''t investigated. But we speculate that Mr. Orion made it himself," Liu Yang replied.


    "Oh? That would be quite something if he can make the magical medicine himself. Do you have any leads or information about how it''s made?" Liu Ming asked.


    "Well, Mr. Orion asked us for many things, from tools and equipment to ingredients, from common to expensive and unique ones. We think that they may be used in making the MSG. However, there were so many things that Mr. Orion asked for, that we don''t know which are used for making MSG and which aren''t. We completely have no clue how it''s made," Liu Yang admitted.


    "I see. Then there''s no need to pry further," Liu Ming concluded.


    A servant knocked on the door. After Liu Yang gave permission, the servant entered the room, bowed, and informed them that Luo Fengwei had arrived. Then, the servant left the room.


    "To think that someone like Mr. Luo is willing to come," Liu Yang remarked. He knew that Luo Fengwei was the type who disliked attending banquets and preferred to spend his time in his workshop. Luo Fengwei could easily be called a blacksmithing maniac.


    "Fufufu, you don''t know, but because of Mr. Orion, our relationship with Mr. Luo has grown closer," Liu Ming said.


    "Well, that''s good. Let''s go out to welcome him," Liu Yang suggested.


    Liu Ming and Liu Yang then went out to greet Luo Fengwei. After some pleasantries, Luo Fengwei congratulated Liu Yang on having his first grandson. Liu Yang then led him inside. They went to a table and sat down, and a servant served tea.


    "Is your father in secluded cultivation?" Luo Fengwei asked as he sipped his tea and looked around, not seeing Liu Xinyi.


    "That''s right, Father is currently in secluded cultivation, trying to break through to the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Ming replied.


    "Mmm," Luo Fengwei nodded. He had known Liu Xinyi for a long time and was aware that Liu Xinyi''s chances of breaking through were rather slim. "May he succeed in his breakthrough," Luo Fengwei added.


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Luo," Liu Ming said gratefully.


    Liu Xinyi was already more than 700 years old and had only a few decades left at most. Cultivators who had neared the end of their lifespan were no longer in their prime; their vitality and strength slowly waned, and even their cultivation began to decline.


    As a result, they needed to constantly remain in secluded cultivation to maintain their cultivation and, if possible, attempting to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation to extend their lifespan. Thus, it made perfect sense and was perfectly normal for Luo Fengwei to believe Liu Ming''s words, when in reality, Liu Xinyi had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm.


    "I really don''t know what gift to bring. Here, give this to your grandson when he''s old enough," Luo Fengwei said, retrieving a pendant from his storage ring. He had crafted the pendant himself.


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    "On behalf of my grandson, I thank you very much, Mr. Luo," Liu Yang accepted graciously. "As expected, Mr. Luo, your craftsmanship is truly exceptional," he added, admiring the pendant. The pendant was a Rank-2 accessory artifact, boasting a simple design but exhibiting high-quality craftsmanship. Even the string attached was of remarkable quality, while inscriptions were delicately carved on the pendant''s surface.


    "It''s just a trinket I made a while ago, nothing special," Luo Fengwei modestly remarked.


    Inside the mansion, the atmosphere grew busier and livelier as more guests arrived. Tables filled with people dotted the room, and various foods were served. Liu Ming and Luo Fengwei continued their conversation, occasionally punctuated by laughter, while Liu Yang returned to greet the newly arrived guests.


    ...


    A horse carriage stopped in front of Orion''s residence. Wang Lingxin got out of the carriage and rang the bell on the gate. After a short while, Orion opened the gate.


    "Master, I''m back," Wang Lingxin said as she entered.


    "You''re back early?" Orion asked, closing the gate.


    "Yes, it''s done. The Spirit Beast fried chickens are finished, and they also improved the normal fried chicken," Wang Lingxin replied as she walked.


    "That''s good. Which is better, mine or theirs?" Orion inquired as it walked beside her.


    "Um... They are slightly better, just slightly, but yours is also good," Wang Lingxin answered, indicating a small gap between her index and thumb to emphasize "slight."


    "Master, can I eat the purple fruit now?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "Sure, I''ll prepare it for you. By the way, I will be going out for a while," Orion said.


    "Mm," Wang Lingxin nodded.


    In the small garden behind the house, Wang Lingxin was seated on a stone bench, happily eating a tray of purple fruit. Not far away, Chunhua was taking laundry off the clothesline and putting it into a rattan basket.


    "Little Lingxin, why do you always wear these same few clothes? You have many others in your drawer, and they are better and more beautiful," Chunhua said as she took down the laundry.


    "Mmm... mmmm... I like these clothes. Master made them for me. Nyam... nom... nom... Master promised to make a really beautiful dress for me, but for now, Master is still practicing and can only make these simple clothes. But I really like them," Wang Lingxin said as she ate the fruit. "Master even promised me to make armor like the one he wears."


    "Oh, but you should also wear the other clothes too. I will help you choose your dress next time," Chunhua replied. She had wondered why Wang Lingxin always dressed simply and wore the same clothes. When Chunhua first met Wang Lingxin, she even mistook her for someone related to the servants in the Liu family. However, when she had put the laundry away before, she discovered that Wang Lingxin had many other, better, and more beautiful clothes in the drawers in her room.


    "Big Sis Chunhua, here..." Wang Lingxin said, offering the purple fruit as she ate.


    "I''m good, I don''t really like sweet food," Chunhua replied. She had already tried it before and found it too sweet, especially since it was also covered with honey. Sweet food was not her favorite, so she only ate a small piece.


    Chunhua then entered the house. After folding the laundry, she went to Wang Lingxin''s room to put the clothes in the drawer. She planned to clean Orion''s workroom next since he was out.


    "KYAAAAAA!" Chunhua screamed in horror as soon as she entered the room, falling backward onto her butt. The scream echoed through the residence, even reaching Wang Lingxin in the garden.


    "Big Sis Chunhua, what happened?" Wang Lingxin ran inside the house.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Several black figures moved swiftly toward Orion''s residence from different directions. They quickly surrounded the house, hiding behind bushes, in treetops, and on rooftops. Some of them entered the house with weapons drawn.


    A masked figure in black clothing entered the house swiftly, heading directly to Orion''s workroom with his sword drawn, ready for battle. He stood alone in the room, his eyes darting around as he used his spiritual sense to scan the area, worried that the enemy might be hiding. Meanwhile, Chunhua had already crawled out of the room, her expression filled with fear.


    "Big Sis, are you okay?" Wang Lingxin asked, helping Chunhua stand.


    "Little Lingxin, help... there''s a... a very big bug inside the room," Chunhua said, still horrified.


    "Bug?" Wang Lingxin asked. "Oh, those are the bugs that Master keeps. They should be in a cage; one must have escaped."


    "Can you put it back in the cage? I''m very afraid of bugs," Chunhua pleaded.


    "Yeah, sure," Wang Lingxin replied.


    A bug? Liu Jin thought inwardly upon hearing Wang Lingxin and Chunhua. He also noticed the bug the moment he entered the room but chose to ignore it, focusing more on searching for enemies. He never imagined that all this commotion was caused by a mere bug. He had thought there were enemies infiltrating the residence.


    Liu Jin looked at the squirming bug on the table. Damn it, just a bug. Why did you have to scream so loud? Liu Jin complained inwardly about Chunhua''s reaction.


    "False alarm, everyone. Return to your positions," he ordered his subordinates via Voice Transmission. Many black figures then quickly moved out from the residence and disappeared into the distance.


    Liu Jin then approached the table, flicking the bug on its head until it became stunned and no longer moved. He had only wanted to immobilize it so Wang Lingxin could take care of it. He didn''t dare to kill it because the bug belonged to Orion, and he didn''t know what Orion was doing with it.


    With that done, he disappeared from the room. Wang Lingxin peeked inside to check and saw the bug on the table. She then entered the room, grabbed the broom that was resting in the corner, and used the end to poke the bug for a while, but the bug didn''t move.


    After making sure that the bug was not moving, Wang Lingxin grabbed it and put it back into its cage.


    Wang Lingxin then left the room, saying, "It''s done, Big Sis Chunhua."


    Chunhua exhaled in relief. "Thank you. I really can''t handle bugs and I''m really scared of them. Are you okay? Did you get attacked?" she asked.


    "No, the bug isn''t even moving. Maybe it''s dead. You don''t need to be scared," Wang Lingxin reassured her.


    "Phew... What is Master doing with bugs?" Chunhua inquired.


    "I don''t know, but Master has been experimenting with them. He cuts them into pieces and takes something from inside their bodies, then squeezes out the liquid and stores it in a jar," Wang Lingxin explained, recalling Orion''s experiments during their boat journey to Fengxian.


    "Ughh... you don''t need to explain further," Chunhua said, feeling queasy at the thought of Orion''s experiments.


    Both Wang Lingxin and Chunhua then left the room, unaware of the many black figures that had surrounded and entered the house. Even as the black figures departed, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua remained oblivious to their presence, having not noticed them upon their arrival or departure.


    Meanwhile, Orion, who was currently in the commercial district, was alarmed by the commotion at the residence. Many inscriptions were triggered, and the microcontroller controlling the house defense and surveillance system then sent detailed warning messages via radio to Orion about cultivators attempting to infiltrate the residence, specifying which inscriptions were triggered. However, after checking the camera feeds from the residence via radio communication, it turned out it was just Chunhua getting scared of a bug.


    "It seems that I can''t ask Chunhua to help me with the bug," Orion thought internally.

 Chapter 62: The SFC Restaurant and The Lotus Delight Pavilion

    In one part of the Fengxian City, a crowd had gathered in front of a building. Firecrackers went off, adding to the lively atmosphere as people assembled in front of a newly opened restaurant called Supreme Fried Chicken (SFC) Restaurant, owned by the Liu family. Pamphlets were handed out and plastered on public announcement boards. Curiosity buzzed among the crowd since the restaurant only served fried chicken and the prices were rather steep.


    The opening was lively, though many people were hesitant to try the new restaurant due to its limited menu and high prices. However, several people did enter. Most of these were close to the Liu family or had connections to them, coming to show their support. Some were there to curry favor with the Liu family, prepared to praise the food regardless of its quality, hoping to get on their good side. A few others joined in, simply following the crowd.


    The restaurant had announced a promotional period with half-price discounts, but even with the discount, many still found it too expensive. As a result, only a few people entered because of the promotion.


    Inside, the restaurant was luxurious yet simple, furnished with just tables and chairs, with few decorations. Patrons commented on and inspected the interior while waiting for their orders.


    Before long, their orders were delivered on trays, each featuring a plate of rice, a plate of fried chicken, and two small bowls of red and slightly redder sauce. Many were skeptical if the dish was truly worth the high price. The server explained how to eat the fried chicken, and then they began to try it.


    Crunch.


    The sound of crunching filled the room, followed by gasps of amazement and surprise. The crispy outside texture and the soft, juicy meat, with seasoning deeply infused, created a delicious taste and aroma that blew them away. They had never eaten or cooked chicken this way before and were truly impressed. Genuine praise echoed throughout the restaurant as customers delighted in their meals.


    It didn''t take long for the praise to spread outside the restaurant. Most people were skeptical, thinking the compliments were exaggerated or made up to curry favor with the Liu family. However, some entered to try it themselves and find out the truth. As time went by, more and more people began singing the restaurant''s praises. Those who had tried the fried chicken gave positive feedback.


    By midday, word about the unique and delicious fried chicken restaurant had spread throughout the city. More people headed to the restaurant to see for themselves. The area outside the restaurant became very lively, with some who couldn''t afford to dine there still joining the commotion and watching from outside. The restaurant remained fully packed, with people lining up, curious to try the food, until closing time.


    Before closing, a representative of the Liu family announced that they would be opening a new grand restaurant soon, without providing additional details, before shutting the restaurant doors.


    The SFC Restaurant became famous, and the following day it was also packed with customers. Because the restaurant was still in its promotional period, many wanted to try it while the prices were discounted. The first week of opening was a great success, with high enthusiasm from patrons, although it slightly decreased starting on the third day. Overall, the first week was very good. The SFC Restaurant also announced that it would be opening another branch in another part of the city.


    After a while, similar fried chicken dishes started to appear in the city, mimicking the SFC. Many tried to imitate the recipe, but their efforts fell short and couldn''t compare to the original because they could only guess and experiment on their own about the recipe. However, a few small stalls offering cheaper versions of the fried chicken became popular. Although these versions weren''t as great as the original, they were far more affordable, satisfying the curiosity of those who couldn''t afford the real SFC.


    The fried chicken not only attracted customers, but also garnered attention from several factions in the city. They were interested in the business potential and wanted to establish similar restaurants with similar dishes. There was even an incident where a cultivator tried to enter the SFC Restaurant one night but was caught by Liu family cultivators. Apparently, the Liu family had already prepared adequate security for the restaurant.


    A week after Supreme Fried Chicken Restaurant opened, the Liu family launched another restaurant. It''s bigger and grander than the SFC restaurant. The new restaurant, called Lotus Delight Pavilion, quickly became famous. The dishes on the menu are very expensive, making it the costliest restaurant in the city, with everything priced in Spirit Stones. Only a few could afford to dine there: wealthy mortals or those with significant backgrounds, and even for cultivators, it was still expensive. Very few at the Qi Condensation realm could afford it; most patrons were at the Foundation Establishment realm, with several Golden Core realm cultivators also seen. There was even a Nascent Soul realm cultivator who visited.


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    Despite the high prices, the restaurant attracted many customers who were thoroughly satisfied with their meals.


    The dishes not only tasted better than those from other restaurants, but their effects were more potent and also provided extra benefits, nourishing meridians and improving Qi flow. One day, a cultivator discovered that consuming a pill after eating at Lotus Delight Pavilion enhanced the pill''s effects, a news that spread quickly, boosting the restaurant''s fame even further.


    Every day, the restaurant was packed with cultivators. The food aided their cultivation and was exceptionally delicious, making it highly popular. Because it was rather expensive, cultivators in the city ventured out to search for Spirit Herbs and hunt Spirit Beasts to earn more Spirit Stones to spend at Lotus Delight Pavilion. They preferred to spend their Spirit Stones at Lotus Delight Pavilion rather than on pills to aid their cultivation, because the food was not only delicious but also more effective. Even broke cultivators worked hard to gather Spirit Stones, eager to try the restaurant and see if the rumors were true.


    The cultivators in the city became more active, exploring the wilderness and taking on missions from the mercenary guild. Many factions in the city turned their attention to the Liu family and Lotus Delight Pavilion, tempted to get a slice of the pie.


    In the Liu family residence in Fengxian, Liu Mingzhen sat at a table enjoying tea while listening to Liu Wang, who was currently reporting on the restaurants'' business. Both Supreme Fried Chicken Restaurant and Lotus Delight Pavilion had become popular sensations in city, generating significant profits. Expansion plans were already in place, with more SFC restaurants set to open in Fengxian city. Additionally, both SFC Restaurant and Lotus Delight Pavilion would soon open in Yanjing City and other surrounding areas.


    Liu Wang reported that Lotus Delight Pavilion was generating thousands of Spirit Stones daily in clean profit. However, due to the success of Lotus Delight Pavilion, other Liu family restaurants catering to cultivators were experiencing losses as they couldn''t compete. Despite this, the overall situation remained profitable for the Liu family, and they even gained more profit overall. Liu Wang had proposed adjusting prices and implementing other strategies at the other restaurants to attract customers. Liu Mingzhen was satisfied with Liu Wang''s plan, recognizing his expertise and skill.


    The operating and ingredient costs for Lotus Delight Pavilion were rather similar to their other restaurants. However, by making slight modifications to the dishes to make them more "unique," and more importantly, by adding a little MSG, they were able to increase the prices significantly, thus boosting profits. Regarding payment, Liu Wang also reported that the first payment for Orion was ready and could be delivered immediately.


    "Fufufu," Liu Mingzhen set down his teacup. "We have gained so much benefit by meeting Mr. Orion. My Liu family is truly blessed."


    With the help of MSG, his father succeeded in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, and their Liu family had secured a supply agreement with Orion for MSG for their personal use. Additionally, the joint business venture was a success, generating large profits and increasing the Liu family''s influence.


    The house was finally completed after about a month of construction. Orion visited Liu Mingzhen to settle the payment for everything¡ªthe house, resources, tools, equipment, and all other requests, also to discuss several matters with Liu Mingzhen.


    However, Liu Mingzhen refused the payment, saying it was not a big problem and considered it a gift. Orion decided to accept the gesture. Liu Mingzhen also gave a report on the SFC Restaurant and Lotus Delight Pavilion and handed over the payment.


    Orion nodded, looking at the bundles of gold coins and Spirit Stones on the table before storing them in the storage ring, while also praising the Liu family''s performance in managing the restaurants. Orion had begun to sink its teeth into this world''s economy albeit only on a small scale for now.


    Liu Mingzhen also voiced some concerns to Orion about potential trouble from various factions eyeing the Liu family and the restaurants. Orion and Liu Mingzhen discussed the issue and formulated a plan, with Orion giving some suggestions to Liu Mingzhen. Orion also requested detailed information about these factions.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Orion, we will handle it carefully," Liu Mingzhen assured.


    "I believe in you. Just do it according to the plan and if things start getting out of control and your Liu family can''t handle it, immediately inform me," Orion replied.


    "Understood," Liu Mingzhen said confidently.


    The Liu family had a hidden trump card: Liu Xinyi, who had reached the Nascent Soul realm. Having the backing of a nascent soul cultivator would solidify their position in Yanjing and strengthen their stance in Fengxian.


    However, for now, they decided to keep a low profile and not announce Liu Xinyi''s breakthrough. Additionally, if Orion were to get involved directly, won''t other factions be turned to dust in an instant should they dare to cause trouble?


    Liu Mingzhen''s confidence was bolstered.


    After discussing everything, Orion excused itself and prepared to leave. Liu Mingzhen then called his subordinates¡ªfour masked men in dark clothing¡ªwho bowed before Liu Mingzhen and Orion.


    "They will be the ones to help you, Mr. Orion," Liu Mingzhen said.


    "Thank you. Then I will take my leave," Orion replied.

 Chapter 63: A Place to Call Home

    Orion led the four masked men out of the Liu family residence and then out of the city, heading north. They frequently changed directions to confuse potential followers. Orion also used its multi-band phased array antenna to detect any potential following cultivators. Eventually, they arrived at a hill where the newly built house stood.


    "So, this is the house," Orion said, standing in front of the wooden structure. Orion then entered to check inside, followed by the four masked men.


    The house was made entirely of wood, with two floors and simple but good-quality workmanship. The interior was still relatively empty with only minimal furniture. Orion incorporated modern design elements from Earth and native designs that resembled traditional Chinese architecture.


    It was situated in a clearing at the top of the hill, with the surrounding trees already chopped down. The house faced east and had a decent size, featuring a living room, kitchen, dining room, front hall, shower, toilet, storage room, a combined library and study room, and three bedrooms on the first floor. The second floor housed four bedrooms.


    One of the bedrooms on the first floor was reserved for Orion, another for guests. A bedroom at the back was potentially for Chunhua. Wang Lingxin would choose one of the bedrooms on the second floor.


    Behind the house was a large garden, and further back was a building as wide as the house, intended for use as a workshop. A wooden wall connected the house to the workshop, fully enclosing the garden. On the south side of the garden, there was a multi-purpose building.


    "Okay, you guys can begin your work," Orion instructed.


    The four masked men cupped their hands in acknowledgment and headed to the workshop. Orion had asked for the Liu family''s help to create underground rooms and tunnel systems beneath the workshop, courtyard, and house.


    The four men began working by digging the floor in the workshop, using shovels with inscriptions that made it easy to dig through the soil. The excavated soil was stored in storage rings to be disposed of later, far away from the house.


    Orion had chosen not to involve the workers who built the house to keep the underground construction a secret, relying instead on the Liu family cultivators.


    While the four masked men busily dug, Orion also began working. Orion had already planned to install inscriptions in the house, multifunction building, and workshop, as well as outside the house for security and defense purposes. Additionally, Orion needed to install a lightning system, water piping for shower, toilet, and kitchen, as well as cameras for surveillance, and also several other things. There was still a lot of work to be done.


    At sunset, Orion returned to the residence in Fengxian, while the four masked men continued to work non-stop. It was not a problem for cultivators to work without rest. The next day, Orion returned to the house and continued the work. Every day, Orion would come to the house in the morning and return to the residence in Fengxian at sunset. After five days, everything was finally finished including the underground tunnels and rooms.


    In the morning, after Wang Lingxin had breakfast, Orion told her that the house was completed and it was time to move.


    "Master, should we tell Big Sis Chunhua?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "No, don''t tell her yet," Orion replied. Orion wanted to observe Chunhua a bit longer to determine if she could be trusted, and Orion also still needed Chunhua to maintain the residence in Fengxian. "Come on, let''s get prepared. I''ll help you pack your things."


    Orion then helped Wang Lingxin pack up, storing some of her clothes and other belongings in storage rings. Not everything was taken because Orion planned to return to the residence occasionally. Once they were finished, Orion called Chunhua and told her about getting out of the city with Wang Lingxin for training. Orion gave her several instructions before heading to the front yard to store a small potted tree, the Violet Essence Fruit tree given by Liu Ming, in the storage ring.


    Orion and Wang Lingxin then rode a carriage, with Chunhua watching them leave and waving goodbye. Liu Jin observed the departing carriage from the roof of a nearby building, having also received instructions from Orion. His task was to secretly guard the residence and Chunhua, and he could give daily reports to Orion via Orion''s workroom in the residence. Apparently, Orion had installed some kind of communication treasure there. He and the other Liu family members were forbidden from visiting Orion''s house outside the city. If anything happened, they were to report to Orion''s workroom.


    The carriage traveled through the city, heading towards the gate and exiting the city. After a while, they reached a quiet road where Orion and Wang Lingxin disembarked, and the carriage returned to the city. Orion and Wang Lingxin then began walking towards the woods.


    "Master, where is the house located? Is it close?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "No, it''s still far, and it''s not in this direction," Orion replied. "Come on, I will carry you."


    "Really?" Wang Lingxin asked, happily anticipating being carried by her master.


    Wang Lingxin hopped on Orion''s back, and an energy barrier covered them, making them disappear from view. Hidden by the barrier, Orion started running in another direction, changing course several times. About half an hour later, they arrived at a hill. Orion walked for a while longer until they reached the house on top of the hill. The energy barrier disappeared, and Orion set Wang Lingxin down.


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    "Wow, Master, is this our new house?" Wang Lingxin asked, looking at the house in front of her. It couldn''t compare to their residence in the city, but Wang Lingxin liked it more because it would be her home.


    "That''s right. What do you think?" Orion asked.


    "Master, it''s good! Quick, let''s check the inside," Wang Lingxin said, eagerly pulling Orion inside the house.


    As they toured the house, Wang Lingxin was truly impressed. When it was time to check her room, she loved it. The room was just like the design on the tablet, exactly as she had imagined it, although still empty.


    "Master, I really love my room! This is great," Wang Lingxin said, opening the window. She could see the beautiful scenery outside. Her room was on the second floor, overlooking the surrounding hills thick with trees¡ªvery beautiful and refreshing.


    "Master, will we be staying here from now on?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "We will stay here for a while, but we will need to move to another place in the future," Orion replied.


    "What? We need to move from this house?" Wang Lingxin asked, surprised.


    "Don''t worry, we can bring the house along with us," Orion said. "Don''t you want to see the sea? In the future, we will move to a place near the sea."


    "Sea?! Yes, I want to see the sea! When will we go?" Wang Lingxin asked excitedly.


    "It''s still in the future, no need to get too excited. For now, how about helping me arrange the furniture?" Orion suggested.


    "Master, I will help you," Wang Lingxin replied enthusiastically.


    Orion retrieved furniture and appliances from the storage ring, and Wang Lingxin helped Orion move them around and place them in position. They also set up ornaments and decorations, including putting up curtains, laying down carpets, and arranging various other items. The potted Violet Essence Fruit tree was placed in the garden.


    In the kitchen, Orion placed appliances and tools, including a stove, oven, refrigerator, and sink. The stove and oven operated using inscriptions to generate heat, while the refrigerator was a metallic box with inscriptions to generate cold, all ordered from the city. The lighting could be turned on or off using buttons on the walls, with crystals generating the light.


    In the toilet, there is a flush toilet, which was custom ordered from the city. The shower had inscriptions to heat the water, and there was a tub for soaking in hot water.


    Cameras covered both the inside and outside of the premises. Inscriptions were present inside and outside for defensive purposes. The inscriptions outside were inscribed on a chain that was buried underground and encircled the entire premises. These inscriptions, along with the appliances and lighting, were powered by LQ. A centralized LQ system was in place, with several LQ types used depending on the need.


    At the top of the house and the workshop, there were several antennas and satellite dishes. Using these, Orion could monitor the situation at the residence in Fengxian City. Additionally, there were underground tunnels and several underground rooms.


    Everything was finished by sunset. Wang Lingxin sat resting on a chair, tired from helping move things around. Orion walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and retrieved some ice cream. Orion had previously planned to give Wang Lingxin ice cream as a reward for good test results but decided to reward her for working hard to settle the house and move the furniture.


    "Good work, here you go," Orion said, handing her a bowl of ice cream.


    Wang Lingxin perked up and took the ice cream. "Master, what is it?" she asked, looking at it and feeling the bowl''s cold surface.


    "It''s called ice cream. Try it," Orion encouraged.


    Wang Lingxin was curious and a bit doubtful. She wondered if it was food and if it was edible. It felt cold, but she scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth. She shivered slightly from the cold sensation at first, but then it melted in her mouth, revealing a sweet taste. Her face lit up with surprise and enjoyment.


    "Wow, Master, this is so yummy, so sweet," Wang Lingxin said, enjoying the cold treat, especially after the tiring work. She took another scoop and couldn''t stop smiling.


    "After you''re done, go shower. I''ll teach you how to use it," Orion said.


    During the night, Wang Lingxin nestled in her new bed, watching a bedtime story movie of Little Red Riding Hood on her tablet. Orion sat at a table nearby, busy with something. As the movie ended, Wang Lingxin yawned and put the tablet in her little backpack.


    "Master, can''t we stay in the same room during the night?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "You need to get used to sleeping alone. You have your own room now, but don''t worry, I''ll stay with you until you fall asleep," Orion reassured her, still busy at the table.


    Wang Lingxin pouted, fixed her blanket, and closed her eyes.


    After a while, Orion looked at the now-sleeping Wang Lingxin. Orion approached her, tucked her blanket, and then quietly left.


    Orion headed to the workshop and then down to the underground tunnel. The tunnels and rooms had been finished with the help of Liu family cultivators. Orion checked each room; the floor, walls, and ceiling were covered with high-quality stone slabs, neatly arranged and well-installed. Satisfied with the work, Orion entered one of the rooms and retrieved the Lander from the storage ring.


    After a long time stored in the storage ring, the Lander was finally back in the outside world. Orion decided to store it in the underground room, along with all the items from Earth that were stored in the storage ring.


    Orion had discovered that all items originating from Earth underwent some kind of evolution when exposed to this world. Orion would let these items, including the Lander, evolve just like itself. Currently, Orion''s processor, electrical circuits, battery, and sensors had improved slightly.


    After retrieving everything and arranging them, Orion began putting inscriptions on the underground rooms and tunnels.


    ...


    A great scheme was currently set in motion in the Qian Feng World (Thousand Peaks World). The demon world had set its eyes on it. In the cultivation world, conflict, revenge, and vengeance were constant. Factions, small and large, competed for dominance. Geniuses competed among themselves to rise and stand above the rest, while those who couldn''t would fall and become stepping stones for others. Many people harbored grand ambitions.


    On a small hill near Fengxian City, a visitor from another world was slowly establishing itself, finally having a place to call home. Currently, it was crouching on the floor, inscribing something. It had no grand ambitions about the world, just simple goals: to build cities, open mines, construct factories, launch rockets to space, and have enough power to defend against anyone and anything in this new world.


    These weren''t grand ambitions, really, for Orion. It''s just very simple ones to ensure its own survival in this new world. Additionally, there are other ambitions, such as establishing communication with Earth and, if possible, returning back to Earth, or even going to Mars to continue its original mission.


    <hr>


    ***


    <hr>

 Chapter 64: The Volcanic Alliance

    On a serene small lake, surrounded by a grassy area, the clear water teemed with colorful fish swimming below the surface. Water lilies and lotuses floated among the gentle ripples, while a thin mist created an ethereal atmosphere.


    A wooden bridge led to a small pavilion in the middle of the lake. Bamboo curtains covered the pavilion, hinting at a vague silhouette of a person sitting cross-legged, hovering slightly above a cushion. Inside the pavilion, a middle-aged man with white hair, eyebrows, moustache, and beard, wearing luxurious robes, sat with his eyes closed. In front of him, a crystal ball surrounded by a thick black aura hovered.


    "Void Sword, how is the Cultivation World reacting?" came a voice from the crystal ball.


    "They are alarmed but can''t figure anything out," Void Sword replied, not bothering to open his eyes. "Currently, they are deploying their forces to investigate but aren''t making much progress."


    "And how about your sect?" the voice, Shadowlord Krythar, asked.


    "Same as the others. Don''t worry about my sect; everything is under control," Void Sword assured him.


    "Very good," Shadowlord Krythar responded.


    "So, when will it start?" Void Sword inquired.


    "Well, I am not sure of the exact time. It could be in dozens of years or thousands of years," Shadowlord Krythar admitted.


    "Hmph... so unreliable," Void Sword grumbled.


    "Don''t worry, it will eventually happen. We just need to be patient and wait. Both our worlds have already started to connect. Initially, small World Portals will appear randomly and temporarily, allowing only low-level demons to enter your world, like what''s happening now. But as time goes by, permanent World Portals will start to appear, enabling stronger demons to enter. Eventually, a permanent World Portal large enough for me to enter will open, and that is when we will launch our main invasion," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "And when is that exactly? I don''t have much time to wait any longer," Void Sword said, opening his eyes, which glinted with a dangerous light.


    "Like I said, I don''t know. We demons don''t know much about the artifact used to connect our worlds. We only know that our Demon Ancestor obtained it from the Void a long time ago. After investigating it, he concluded that it could be used to connect two worlds. Since our ancestor obtained it, it has been stored and never used, even until that ancestor ascended to the Immortal World," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "I agreed to cooperate with you demons and have activated the artifact, but if I need to wait for thousands of years, I don''t have enough time. You better give me what I want now, or our cooperation ends. I will destroy the artifact, and you demons can say goodbye to your plan of invading my world," Void Sword threatened, reaching into his robe and taking out a very simple-looking pendant.


    This pendant was the cause of the Qian Feng World and the Demon World connecting. Void Sword was already nearing the end of his lifespan and saw no opportunity to ascend. He was currently at the peak of the Qian Feng World, and the next step for him was to ascend to the Immortal World. However, he lacked the confidence to successfully pass the Heavenly Tribulation.


    Then, one day, an irresistible offer came from an unexpected source¡ªthe demons. They offered him something that could help boost his cultivation and vitality, restoring his strength¡ªa unique resource from the Demon World that was very rare: Infernal Blood Crystals.


    Void Sword agreed to cooperate with the demons in exchange for these Infernal Blood Crystals. He didn''t care about what would happen to the Qian Feng World; his only concern was how to ascend to the Immortal World. As one of the most influential and powerful cultivators in the Qian Feng World, he had vast resources, but none were very helpful for him. However, Infernal Blood Crystals from the Demon World were very beneficial and useful for him, though they only existed in the Demon World, and he had no way to obtain them. Even in the Demon World, Infernal Blood Crystals were also rare.


    All he needed was Infernal Blood Crystals, and he agreed to cooperate with the demons in exchange for them.


    "Very well, but we can only give you a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals for now," Shadowlord Krythar replied.


    "Mmm..." Void Sword nodded, satisfied even though he would only receive a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals.


    "By the way, was the big space and time fluctuation also caused by the artifact? You didn''t mention anything about it before. You said that nothing out of the ordinary would happen and that our worlds would merge slowly without anyone''s knowledge. But now the whole Cultivation World is alerted and has already discovered that something is going on between our two worlds," Void Sword remarked.


    When he activated the artifact, a huge mysterious space and time fluctuation could be felt throughout the world.


    "Hmm... maybe? Like I said, we don''t know much about the artifact. Well, it doesn''t matter if the Cultivation World is alerted. They can''t stop our plan anyway, so there''s no need to worry too much," Shadowlord Krythar responded.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ...


    The Demon World was a barren, rocky land with a dark, cloudy sky frequently lit by lightning. The air was thick with dark, smoky miasma. Atop a massive volcano, the caldera brimmed with boiling magma.


    Around the rim of the volcano, several figures were gathered, each possessing a unique and terrifying appearance. Some sat on the ground, others hovered in the air. One sat on a throne made of bones and skulls, another lay sleeping on the ground, snoring loudly, and one rode an undead dragon made solely of bones.


    These were the Archdemons, the top existences in the Demon World, currently holding a meeting.


    There were sixteen Archdemons present: Xylothar the Malevolent, Abyssal Sovereign Valthrok, Zarogloth Dominus, Zon Nihilus Prime, Vourghul the Unbound, Tyrantlord Zargoloth, Morchulix the Netherking, Vexaris the Dread Monarch, Abyssal Overlord Azrakar, Fa the Emperor of Shadows, Malaxhar the Demonic Sovereign, Zephryxus the Dark Emperor, Oblivionarch Zarrathul, Havocor the Abyssal Emperor, Void Monarch Xylthor, and Malevoloth the Supreme Lord of the Abyss.


    Shadowlord Krythar arrived, flying slowly towards the volcano before descending. Now there were seventeen Archdemons, all part of the Volcanic Alliance.


    "Sorry I''m late," Shadowlord Krythar said, standing on the rim of the caldera.


    "Now that Shadowlord Krythar has arrived, we can begin. Can you tell us how the plan is progressing?" Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, asked, looking towards Shadowlord Krythar.


    Shadowlord Krythar was regarded as the smartest among the Archdemons in the Volcanic Alliance, thus tasked with handling the plan regarding the invasion of the Qian Feng World. None of the other Archdemons complained or disagreed with the decision to put Shadowlord Krythar in charge, acknowledging his superior intellect.


    However, if the title at stake was "the strongest", a battle would have erupted immediately as each Archdemon claimed that title for themselves. None of them cared about being the smartest; their focus was on being the strongest.


    "As everyone knows, the plan has started and temporary World Portals are already appearing randomly, connecting our Demon World to the Qian Feng World. Our accomplice in the Qian Feng World is Void Sword. My trusted subordinate delivered the Ancient Pendant artifact to him through the Mystic Realm that connects our two worlds, and he has activated the pendant," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "Huahahahha, good, and when can I go to Qian Feng World?" one of the Archdemons, Zarogloth Dominus, asked eagerly.


    "Unfortunately, I don''t know. Currently, only small, temporary World Portals exist, and only low-level demons can pass through. But over time, as long as the artifact with Void Sword remains activated, the World Portals will grow. Eventually, there will be permanent World Portals that will last a long time. Based on my estimates, a World Portal that will allow Archdemons to enter will take thousands of years. We need to wait," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "Sigh, that long?" Zarogloth Dominus''s enthusiasm was doused.


    "Is there any problems?" Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, the one in charge of the meeting, asked. He had a good relationship with the majority of the Archdemons present, which is why he was chosen for this role.


    "Nothing significant, but currently the Cultivation World is already alarmed and has begun investigating the World Portals, though they haven''t discovered anything significant," Shadowlord Krythar replied.


    "Hmph, how could this happen? I thought that if you were the one to handle this matter, it would go smoothly," Fa, Emperor of Shadows, said. Its real form was indiscernible, appearing as a lump of shadow with a pair of red eyes.


    "There was an unexpected event when Void Sword activated the artifact. A massive space-time fluctuation occurred, and the effect was felt throughout Qian Feng World, thus alerting the Cultivation World. According to the Ancient Tomes of our demon heritage, the artifact should not produce such a phenomenon. To this day, I''ve been looking into it, but I still don''t know the cause. The Cultivation World of Qian Feng doesn''t know either," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "Well, it''s still fine. Are there any other problems?" Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, asked.


    "I just talked with Void Sword, and he wants us to give him the Infernal Blood Crystals now. Otherwise, he will destroy the artifact," Shadowlord Krythar reported.


    "How dare a puny human threaten us? When the time comes, I will enter the Qian Feng World and personally kill this cockroach!" Abyssal Overlord Azrakar roared in a threatening tone.


    "I have told him that for now we will only give him a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals. Does everyone agree?" Shadowlord Krythar inquired.


    "Hmph, why should we?" Abyssal Overlord Azrakar retorted.


    "If not, our plan will be ruined," Shadowlord Krythar pointed out.


    "Tch..." Abyssal Overlord Azrakar grumbled.


    "Void Sword is the best candidate for an accomplice that I chose. He is currently nearing the end of his lifespan. We will give him a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals to extend his lifespan a little. If he wants to live longer, he must follow our orders. We will give him a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals in exchange for doing something for us. Slowly, he will fall deeper into our clutches," Shadowlord Krythar explained.


    "Splendid. You did well in choosing Void Sword. I think it''s okay to give him just a small amount of Infernal Blood Crystals. How about it, everyone? Agree? Let''s consider it an investment," Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, looked at the other Archdemons. Seeing no disagreement, he continued, "Very well, then we will give Void Sword the Infernal Blood Crystals, but just a tiny amount of them. Shadowlord Krythar will be the one to handle it."


    Shadowlord Krythar nodded.


    "Okay, now for another topic," Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, continued. "It''s about the Dark Tower. I have invited them to join our invasion of the Qian Feng World, but they remain as stubborn as ever and refuse."


    "Well, just let them be. As long as they don''t hinder our plan," Zephryxus the Dark Emperor suggested.


    The other Archdemons voiced their agreement. Currently, there were two major factions ruling the Demon World: the Volcanic Alliance and the Dark Tower. There were also Archdemons who were not involved with either faction.


    The Volcanic Alliance was currently planning to invade the Qian Feng World and devour the resources there, while the Dark Tower opposed the idea. The Volcanic Alliance comprised more than 20 Archdemons, while the Dark Tower had fewer than 10. However, the Volcanic Alliance did not underestimate the Dark Tower, as all the Archdemons in the Dark Tower were very strong and, more importantly, they were battle maniacs and kind of crazy in their own way.


    "Very well then, on to the next topic," Malevoloth, Supreme Lord of the Abyss, concluded. The archdemons continued their discussion.


    As the other archdemons talked and discussed, one of them remained silent. Malaxhar the Demonic Sovereign sat cross-legged, hovering in mid-air. "Lin Xue... Snow Rose... soon..." he murmured, his right hand gently tracing the scars on his face. There was also a huge scar on his chest.

 Chapter 65: ADAMS (Artificial Dantian and Meridian System)

    Fengxian City, the capital of Jiulong Province, was big, prosperous, and bustling with a large population. Many big villages surrounded the city, each developed like small towns. About 12 kilometers away from Fengxian''s outer wall was a small village, far from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. The village was surrounded by rice paddies and farm fields. A small dirt path led beyond the farm fields to a hill with stone stairs leading to the top, the stone stairs still relatively new. Another dirt path encircled the hill.


    In the early morning, high above, an SO-1 drone resembling a dragonfly flew, its camera focusing on the girl below. She was running, circling the hill several times. As the sun rose, its warm rays dispelled the cold morning air. Wang Lingxin was doing her new morning routine, which her master called jogging. Sweat rolled down her face as she ran, and she wiped it away.


    A little elf girl sat on a stone, eating a bun and waving at her, and Wang Lingxin waved back. The little elf girl had fair skin, blonde hair, and long ears.


    There was a small wooden house near the base of the hill where the little elf girl and her mother lived. Wang Lingxin had already gotten along well with the little elf girl. Every morning during her jog, the elf girl basked in the morning sun while watching her jog. After circling the hill three times, Wang Lingxin gasped for breath, wiped her sweat, and rested for a while. Then, she ascended the stone stairs up the hill, walking slowly as she was tired.


    After walking for a while, she saw the house atop the hill, where she and her master had been living for about a month. She entered the house and headed to the kitchen, going to a big metallic box her master called a refrigerator. This refrigerator was magical, keeping everything stored inside cool and fresh. Thirsty and tired, she opened the refrigerator, got a water jug, took a cup, poured, and drank the refreshing cold water. The water rejuvenated her after the tiring morning jog.


    However, her schedule was not over yet. Since moving to the new house, her master had started teaching her something called Physical Education (PE), with sessions scheduled several days a week. Today, after finishing her jog, it was time for PE. She grabbed a tablet from the table and headed to the back of the house. There was a big garden at the back, and to the south, there was a multi-purpose building serving as a gym and a dojo. She entered, turned on the tablet, and put it on a table. The tablet''s screen lit up, showing a chibi version of a robot.


    "Are you ready?" a voice from the tablet asked.


    "Yes, master, let''s start," Wang Lingxin said, preparing herself.


    After her morning run, there was still more to do, like push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises her master had instructed. Her master said it was to train her body. For Wang Lingxin, it was rather unusual, as she had never heard of such training before. It wasn''t like the exercises she knew martial artists or cultivators usually did, such as carrying water jugs from the river, holding jugs of water with outstretched arms, practicing horse stance, or walking on logs of wood. However, she trusted her master and diligently performed these new and unusual exercises, including repeatedly lifting heavy objects.


    "One! Two! One! Two! Come on, you can do it!" an encouraging voice could be heard from the dojo, along with Wang Lingxin''s grunts.


    Below the workshop, there were several underground rooms. In one of the rooms, the temperature was cold. Three stone tables occupied the room, each holding the carcass of a Spirit Beast. Inscriptions covered the tables and the entire room, generating the cold that helped preserve the carcasses longer.


    Currently, Orion was busy dissecting one of the Spirit Beast carcasses. Simultaneously, Orion allocated some of its attention to controlling a chibi version of itself on a tablet, which was instructing Wang Lingxin with her morning exercises. The carcass Orion was working on was already cut open, with some body parts placed in a bucket on the table. In another bucket, there was the Spirit Beast core and its meridian system, submerged in slime liquid. After a while working with the carcass, Orion removed the gloves made from slime skin that covered its metallic hands.


    Very interesting. But I will need human bodies to do further research and confirm it, Orion thought internally.


    Through dissecting the Spirit Beast carcasses, Orion discovered something surprising. Orion had come up with some hypotheses but needed to conduct further research to confirm and strengthen its conclusions. Orion then left the room, carefully closing the door to maintain the cold air and keep the Spirit Beast carcasses fresh longer.


    I should not ask the Liu family for help to get me human bodies, Orion thought internally, as it walked to another room. Orion had been asking the Liu family for various things, including Spirit Beast carcasses, but decided not to ask for their help in obtaining human bodies. Orion concluded that some things should not involve the Liu family, such as getting human bodies.


    Orion entered another underground room, where many tables were arranged neatly, each with several wooden buckets on top. Orion checked them one by one. It went to a bucket on the left, labeling it internally as Bucket #1, and began to observe it.


    In Bucket #1, the bucket was filled with slime liquid, and in it were slime meridians. Orion checked them in detail and found the slime meridians to be in good condition. Behind bucket #1, there was another bucket also filled with slime liquid, containing slime meridians that had been stored longer. Orion checked these as well, noting that they were also still in good condition. Orion had discovered that the slime liquid was very good at preserving not only slime meridians but also Spirit Beast body parts. Orion used it to preserve both, finding it even more effective when the slime liquid was changed regularly.


    Orion then checked another bucket, noting it internally as Bucket #2. In Bucket #2, filled with slime liquid, were what Orion called ADAMS (Artificial Dantian and Meridian System). The artificial Dantian was a Spirit Beast core fully enclosed in a metallic sphere. Inside the metallic sphere, it was filled with Liquified Qi (LQ).


    Not only did the sphere contain the Spirit Beast core, but also a storage ring that stored additional LQ. The storage ring could be controlled to release more LQ. The metallic sphere had many holes. One of the holes had a cable passing through it to control the activation of the storage ring. Additionally, slime meridians were connected to the Spirit Beast core inside the metallic sphere through the remaining holes. Inside the metallic sphere, the slime meridians were wrapped in slime skin to protect them from direct contact with the LQ, because direct exposure to the LQ would dissolve the slime meridians.


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    Orion checked another bucket. To the right of Bucket #2 was Bucket #3. In Bucket #3, there was also an ADAMS, like in Bucket #2, but with many added cables connected to the slime meridians. Orion used electrical stimuli to control and stimulate the meridians, employing small electrical impulses. It took Orion a long time to master the control of slime meridians using electrical impulses.


    Now, Orion could control the meridians to transfer Qi and regulate the amount. Currently, the system had many cables and a microcontroller to control it. Orion turned on the system. The ADAMS operated, transferring Qi from the Spirit Beast core inside the metallic sphere, which acted as the artificial Dantian, through the meridian system. Simultaneously, the Spirit Beast core continued absorbing the LQ and converting it into Qi that could be transferred through the meridian system. The microcontroller managed the electrical impulses to the meridians, controlling the Qi flow, its direction, and quantity.


    Satisfied, Orion turned off the system and moved to the next bucket.


    To the right of Bucket #3 was Bucket #4. In Bucket #4, there was an ADAMS similar to Bucket #3 but with a slightly different configuration. Orion activated it. This system was absorbing Qi from the surroundings through the meridians and transferring it to the artificial Dantian or Spirit Beast core within the metallic sphere, simulating the process of a cultivator absorbing Qi from the environment.


    The system worked, but the absorption rate was very slow. Orion turned off the system and moved to the next bucket.


    In Bucket #5, there was an ADAMS like in Bucket #3, but with some modifications to the system, and some parts of the meridians were also connected to a Spirit Stone. Orion turned on the system. The microcontroller then controlled the ADAMS via electrical stimulation.


    For Bucket #5, the system was absorbing Qi from the Spirit Stone into the artificial Dantian or Spirit Beast core. This simulated the process of a cultivator absorbing Qi from a Spirit Stone. As time went by, the Spirit Stone grew dimmer, indicating that the Qi inside was decreasing as it got absorbed by the meridians and transferred to the artificial Dantian.


    Orion turned off the system, removed the Spirit Stone, examined it closely for a while, and then moved to the next table.


    On the table, there were several buckets, each containing an ADAMS connected to a bunch of cables. Each bucket''s ADAMS was controlled by a microcontroller to regulate the electrical stimuli given to the system. The meridian of each ADAMS was connected to a plate with a simple inscription system, mimicking a simplified version of inscriptions used in weapons.


    Orion then turned on the system. Each plate exhibited a unique phenomenon. One plate became hot, occasionally emitting flames. Another plate crackled with electricity. A different plate was cold, covered in a layer of ice frost. Yet another plate blew wind, while another became wet with water dripping from it. Other plates exhibited different phenomena.


    The system was mimicking how cultivators use their meridian systems to generate unique phenomena. Orion had already concluded that the combination of meridians and Qi control caused these phenomena. The varying phenomena were determined by which meridian combination was used. Cultivators used this knowledge to develop cultivation, combat, movement techniques, and to fight.


    Satisfied, Orion turned off the system. The plates that exhibited various phenomena returned to normal. Orion not only gained a deeper understanding of basic cultivation knowledge but also successfully uncovered some mysteries about the Dantian and meridian systems through this experiment.


    Finally, on the last table, there was a big, long wooden box filled with slime liquid, containing an ADAMS. What was peculiar was that the ADAMS was arranged to resemble a humanoid figure. The artificial Dantian was located around the lower abdomen area, and the slime meridians were arranged with the help of threads, wooden nails, and sticks, resulting in a shape resembling a human body. It had structures resembling legs, a body, and hands.


    Many cables were also connected to the ADAMS, but Orion was still working on it and had not yet completed it. Orion took a short glance before leaving the room.


    Orion went to another room, where many slime skins were hanging on the wall. Several buckets filled with slime liquid were on the tables. Some buckets had slime skins submerged in them. One bucket contained an ADAMS, with some of the meridians connected to the slime skin and many cables connected to the slime meridians.


    Orion turned on the system, and the microcontroller controlled the electrical stimuli. The slime skin kept changing color and texture, showcasing the camouflage ability similar to that of an octopus. Orion''s further research had discovered that some slime variants had chromatophores akin to those of an octopus, though slightly different, allowing the slime to camouflage by changing color and texture.


    Beside it was another bucket with an ADAMS and slime skin. Orion turned on this system, but the slime skin didn''t change color. Instead, it wiggled as if alive, contracting, hardening, becoming elastic, lengthening, and shortening, all under the microcontroller''s control. The reactions of the slime skin were caused by electrical stimuli given to the slime meridians connected to the slime skin.


    It took a long time and a lot of effort for Orion to understand how to control and manipulate the slime skin. Satisfied with the observations, Orion turned off the systems of both buckets and then left the room.


    In the dojo, Wang Lingxin''s voice could be heard, grunting with effort.


    "Ughhh!" Wang Lingxin, currently doing push-ups, sweat dripping onto the floor.


    "Twenty-four... come on, one more time... twenty-five," Orion''s voice encouraged from the tablet.


    "Guahh..." Wang Lingxin managed one last push-up before collapsing onto the floor, lying there tired and breathing loudly.


    "Good job, you can take a short break," said the chibi Orion on the tablet. The tablet screen then turned off.


    Wang Lingxin didn''t reply, too tired to speak. She lay motionless on the floor, trying to adjust her breathing.


    After about ten minutes, Wang Lingxin was still lying on the floor but had calmed her breathing. She heard footsteps approaching and entering the dojo¡ªit was her master. Orion had left the underground room where it was busy with research and experiments and was now heading to the dojo. It was time to teach Wang Lingxin about combat.


    Previously, Orion had controlled the chibi version of itself on the tablet to instruct Wang Lingxin, while Orion was occupied with research in the underground room. Now, Orion paused its research temporarily to teach Wang Lingxin in the dojo.


    Orion also had been teaching Wang Lingxin about combat via the tablet, providing her with 3D animations of combat techniques and movements, as well as lessons on human body vulnerabilities. However, Orion still needed to personally instruct her to correct and improve her movements, posture, and positioning.


    The Physical Education (PE) isn''t just about having a healthy and strong body. In a world where might makes right and the strong prey on the weak, having sufficient strength is crucial. Therefore, Orion also teaches Wang Lingxin about combat. As for cultivation, it''s still under research, and Orion currently only teaches Wang Lingxin basic knowledge and information about it.


    "Are you ready, or do you need more time to rest?" Orion asked as it entered the dojo and saw Wang Lingxin still lying on the floor.


    "Master, I am ready. Let''s continue," Wang Lingxin replied, immediately getting up. After a short rest, she had regained some energy and was ready for the last part of today''s lesson.

 Chapter 66: Aria

    "One two... one two... put more power into your punch."


    "One two... straighten your arm. Do it again. One two..."


    "Kick higher. One two... come on, faster..."


    Orion instructed Wang Lingxin, who followed diligently. She had already grasped the basics, but still made occasional mistakes. Orion corrected her posture and movements as needed.


    Orion was teaching her various punching and kicking techniques. Wang Lingxin practiced against a wooden humanoid mannequin made by Orion, which was sized to match her height. After practicing the forms and movements of punches and kicks, Orion instructed her to practice on a heavy bag. The heavy bag, made by Orion from Spirit Beast leather and filled with kapok, had a soft surface but was firm, durable, and strong.


    Wang Lingxin delivered her punches and kicks with increasing precision. Orion observed from the side, occasionally correcting her form and demonstrating the proper techniques.


    "This is how you do it. Watch carefully," said Orion.


    Bam bam bam bam.


    Orion demonstrated, delivering strong and precise punches and kicks that generated loud sounds. Wang Lingxin was impressed.


    "Got it? Okay, do it. Don''t forget to put more power into your punches and kicks," Orion instructed.


    "Yes, master," Wang Lingxin replied. She took a deep breath before punching and kicking. Unlike Orion''s powerful strikes, her punches and kicks made soft sounds, more like psh psh psh. Orion watched, nodded, satisfied that Wang Lingxin was learning and improving.


    After a while, Orion allowed her a short rest. Following the break, Orion began teaching Wang Lingxin about combat techniques, incorporating her punches and kicks into a cohesive fighting style.


    "Okay, perform the combat movements you''ve learned," Orion said.


    Wang Lingxin performed a series of punches, kicks, and movements she remembered. Orion had taught her these techniques via the tablet, using 3D animations. Though she struggled, moving slowly from one technique to another, trying to recall the next sequence, she persisted. Orion then provided direct, rapid instructions, which Wang Lingxin followed more quickly.


    "Right punch, right side kick, spin, right back kick, forward, left kick, grab, pull the head, right knee to the face, right punch..." Orion directed. Wang Lingxin swiftly followed.


    "Good, next one... dodge to the side, left punch, right kick to the crotch, duck, and right punch to the abdomen, uppercut..." Orion continued.


    After about an hour of teaching Wang Lingxin about combat, they were done. Wang Lingxin sat on the floor, stretching her legs, feeling exhausted and worn out.


    "Okay, we''re finished. What do you want for breakfast?" Orion asked.


    "Master... I want... chicken soup..." Wang Lingxin replied, tired.


    Orion nodded and left the dojo, planning to clean the house next. Based on Wang Lingxin''s current progress in unarmed combat, Orion could soon start teaching her to use weapons. After Orion left, Wang Lingxin lay on the floor, planning to rest for a while, staring up at the ceiling.


    After resting for a while, she headed to the shower, took her clothes off, threw them into a rattan basket, and took a hot shower, washing away her sweat and tiredness.


    After showering and getting dressed, Wang Lingxin went to the dining room. There, she found steaming rice, stir-fried vegetables, and still-hot chicken soup, along with a cup of milk. Wang Lingxin enthusiastically devoured the breakfast, energized after the tiring morning routine. She then cleaned the dishes and, after finishing, immediately ran out of the house.


    "Master, I am going out to play," Wang Lingxin called out as she closed the front door and ran towards the stone stairs, then walked downhill.


    Orion observed Wang Lingxin departing through the CCTV camera outside while cleaning a room on the second floor. An SO-1 drone, circling high above the hill, immediately changed its course and started following Wang Lingxin, its camera focused on her.


    Orion didn''t worry about Wang Lingxin playing outside. The surrounding area was safe, with no Spirit Beasts or dangerous people. The villagers were kind and warm, and Wang Lingxin enjoyed visiting the village. Orion had already secretly investigated the village, ensuring there were no hidden dangers.


    Orion controlled the drone to follow Wang Lingxin, monitoring from high above, ready to respond if anything happened.


    After cleaning the house, Orion headed to the workshop and went to the biggest underground room. There, Orion retrieved from the storage ring a DIY gun it had made: a simple musket with a smoothbore barrel fashioned from a metallic pipe carried from Earth. The propellant, made from explosive material found in firecrackers, and the bullet was a round steel ball ordered from the city. The gun had a wooden handle and body, inspired by old muskets from Earth.


    Orion prepared the musket, taking out a paper cartridge from its storage ring. It tore the paper cartridge and poured some of the powder into the pan and then the rest into the barrel. Next, it used a ramrod to push the steel ball and wadding down the barrel to ensure a snug fit.


    Once ready, Orion aimed towards a wooden mannequin about 50 meters away. There were several wooden mannequins, some with inscriptions of varying strength and some without. Orion aimed at one without inscriptions, fired, and the shot hit, causing a hole in the wooden mannequin. The steel ball was lodged inside the hole.


    Orion reloaded and aimed at another wooden mannequin, this time one with inscriptions. The shot created a small hole, and the steel ball clanked as it fell to the stone floor several meters away, failing to embed itself in the wooden mannequin. Orion reloaded again and aimed at another inscribed wooden mannequin, but this time the shot didn''t even leave a scratch.


    Next, Orion tested a bow and arrows. It shot ordinary arrows and arrows with inscriptions at the wooden mannequins, noting the effects. Then, it threw knives at the mannequins, observing the differences between normal knives and those with inscriptions.


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    Orion planned to head out to obtain some human bodies and was currently testing the weapons it planned to use for this purpose.


    Guns are rather useless in this cultivation world, Orion thought internally.


    The projectiles of guns are rather small and difficult to inscribe, meaning they can only rely on their physical force and impact. They can''t be enhanced with inscriptions to increase their power. Orion planned to research firearms but decided to deprioritize this for now.


    The current musket gun is useful for killing mortals, but it''s less effective against cultivators. Orion estimated that the musket gun could kill low-level Qi Condensation realm cultivators but would only hurt those at the peak of Qi Condensation.


    Arrows are more useful since they can be inscribed to make them stronger.


    Orion then headed to another underground room to continue research and experiments on various subjects. After hours of work, Orion stopped and noticed through the SO-1 drone camera that Wang Lingxin was walking through the stone stairs uphill, accompanied by an elf girl. Orion checked its internal clock¡ªit was about time for Wang Lingxin''s lunch¡ªOrion then cleaned up the table, stored some objects in the storage ring, and left the underground room.


    "Master, I am back," Wang Lingxin called as she opened the door and entered the house with an elf girl.


    Orion came to greet them. "Welcome back," Orion replied.


    "Master, I brought Aria with me," Wang Lingxin added.


    "Greetings, Uncle Orion," Aria said politely.


    "Mmm, welcome, Aria. Does your mother go to the forest to pick herbs?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, she went to the forest in the north," Aria replied.


    "Master... lunch, I am hungry," Wang Lingxin said.


    "Sure, Aria, would you like to join?" Orion invited.


    Aria nodded shyly.


    After lunch, Wang Lingxin and Aria stayed at the house, playing in the garden behind it. Orion approached them, carrying something.


    "Lingxin, Aria, here," Orion said, offering them each something on a stick.


    Wang Lingxin and Aria went over to Orion and took one each, Aria curious about the colorful thing.


    "Uncle Orion, what is this?" Aria asked, examining it closely and feeling the cold.


    "It''s called an ice pop, and it''s delicious," Wang Lingxin said, licking hers.


    "That''s right, it''s called an ice pop. Give it a try," Orion encouraged.


    "Wow, it''s really good," Aria said, following Wang Lingxin''s lead and licking the ice pop. It was sweet, cold, and refreshing.


    Wang Lingxin and Aria found a spot to sit on the wooden stairs of the dojo, enjoying their ice pops. Meanwhile, Orion swept the garden with a broom.


    "Uncle Orion, why is that tree in a pot and not planted in the ground?" Aria asked, pointing at a potted tree in the corner of the garden as she licked her ice pop.


    "I still haven''t decided where to plant it yet," Orion replied as it swept.


    "The pot is small; the tree feels stuffy," Aria said, sensing the tree''s discomfort. The pot was too small for the roots to grow and spread properly.


    "Stuffy? Can you tell what the tree feels?" Orion asked.


    Aria nodded.


    Can she really sense the tree''s emotions? Orion wondered internally. Though hard to believe, in a cultivation world, such things could be possible.


    "Then will you help me plant it?" Orion asked.


    Aria nodded.


    "Master, I will also help," Wang Lingxin said.


    Orion chose a spot in the garden and began digging the ground easily with a shovel that is enhanced with inscriptions. Aria and Wang Lingxin also helped using small shovels. Before long, they had a hole ready. Orion then took the tree out of the pot and placed it in the hole. Orion then started shoveling dirt to fill the remaining space around the plant.


    "Uncle Orion, is there more black soil like in the pot?" Aria asked.


    "Black soil? Yes, I still have some. Why?" Orion replied.


    Liu Mingzhen had given a sack of black soil along with the potted plant, saying it was good for growing Spirit Herbs and Spirit Fruits.


    "The tree likes it and wants more," Aria said.


    "I see," Orion said, retrieving a sack of black soil and pouring it into the hole. Orion then shoveled the remaining dirt to fill the hole completely.


    "Uncle Orion, the tree wants water," Aria said.


    Orion retrieved a jug of water from the storage ring and poured it around the base of the tree, then stored the jug back in the storage ring.


    "How about now?" Orion asked.


    "Hmmmm.... It''s good. The tree is happy," Aria said.


    "That''s good," Orion replied. "Can you really talk to trees?"


    "I can''t really talk to them, but I can feel their feelings and emotions slightly," Aria explained.


    That is a very interesting ability, Orion thought internally.


    Aria and Wang Lingxin continued to play as the sun set, casting an orange hue across the western sky. An elf woman arrived at the house to pick up Aria. It was Elara, Aria''s mom, carrying a rattan basket on her back, along with a bow and quiver.


    "Mr. Orion, thank you very much for always taking care of my daughter," Elara said.


    "It''s nothing," Orion replied.


    "And thank you, little Lingxin, for playing with Aria," Elara smiled.


    "Hehehe, of course, we have lots of fun," Wang Lingxin said.


    Aria nodded and smiled.


    "Here, Mr. Orion, it''s not much, but I found some good mushrooms. You can use them for cooking. I also have some wild fruits; they taste great," Elara said, reaching into her rattan basket and taking out the mushrooms and fruits.


    "Thank you very much," Orion said, accepting the gift.


    "I was also very lucky today. I discovered a trove filled with Spiritual Herbs. Would you be interested?" Elara asked.


    "Oh, is there something new?" Orion asked, intrigued.


    "Unfortunately, there is nothing special or unique," Elara said, showing several kinds of Spiritual Herbs.


    "Thank you very much, but there''s no need," Orion replied.


    Elara nodded, understanding that the armored man had a keen interest in unique Spirit Herbs. She had given him many various Spirit Herbs before, and the armored man was only interested in something new he hadn''t seen before.


    Elara excused herself and returned with Aria. As they walked down the stone stairs, Elara asked, "Did you have fun today?"


    "Mmm," Aria nodded. She then narrated her day, describing what she and Wang Lingxin played, also mentioning the cold snack called an ice pop, which was sweet and refreshing, and how she helped plant a tree. Elara smiled as she walked along, listening.


    Elara is in the 2nd stage of the Qi Condensation realm. She was a member of a mercenary guild but has now retired. Her husband was also a member of the mercenary guild, and they worked together as a team. Unfortunately, he was killed during one of their missions a few years ago. After his death, Elara retired from being a mercenary to focus on raising Aria. She now goes to the forest to gather Spiritual Herbs and hunt, selling what she collects.


    Elara preferred moving to a small village far from the city, where the air is fresher, and they are closer to nature and the nearby forest. The village is mostly inhabited by humans, and there are no other elves. While the villagers are warm and kind, the children often bully Aria, which saddens Elara. As a result, Aria mostly stays at home. Elara can''t leave Aria alone when she goes to the forest, so she always brings her along, teaching her about nature, Spirit Herbs, and sharing her knowledge. Moreover, Aria has an affinity for nature and can feel the gentle and soft emotions of plants in the forest, which gives her a soothing feeling. Coupled with the bullying by the village kids, Aria felt more comfortable being in the forest than in the village.


    One day, there was a lot of activity on the hill near their house. Apparently, a retired cultivator had decided to build a house on top of the hill. Once the house was finished, the armored man and his disciple, a little girl named Wang Lingxin, moved in.


    Elara and Aria quickly became accustomed to their new neighbors. Elara was thrilled that Wang Lingxin befriended Aria, and they got along well. With her new friend, Aria had someone to play with, allowing Elara to venture deeper into the forest, exploring more dangerous and challenging places while Aria played with Wang Lingxin.


    Night fell, and Wang Lingxin was eating dinner while Orion sat opposite her, reading a book. A stack of books was piled beside it, and Orion flipped through the pages quickly.


    "Tomorrow we will return to the city," Orion said.


    "Oh, that''s good. I miss Big Sis Chunhua a little," Wang Lingxin replied as she ate.


    "Also, I plan to leave the city for a while, and you will stay with Chunhua," Orion said.


    "Master, where are you going? Can I come?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "No, it''s a secret," Orion replied.


    "Master, you''re not planning to have fun secretly without me, right?" Wang Lingxin questioned.


    "Of course not. What makes you think that?" Orion responded.


    Wang Lingxin continued eating, eyeing Orion with suspicion.

 Chapter 67: Raiding the Bandits

    It was still rather early in the morning. Liu Jin was doing some stretching on a rooftop when his instincts kicked in. He felt someone suddenly appear behind him and swiftly jumped forward, away from the danger. With a quick motion, he unsheathed a short sword from his back, turning to face the potential threat, but found no one.


    "Who is it?" Liu Jin called out, holding the short sword ready to strike.


    Suddenly, in front of Liu Jin, an energy barrier slowly became visible, then disappeared, revealing an armored figure carrying a little girl on his back. The little girl giggled.


    "Mr. Orion?!" Liu Jin exclaimed.


    "That''s right," Orion confirmed. "Good morning," Orion said.


    "Good... good morning, Mr. Orion. Please stop surprising me like that," Liu Jin replied, sheathing his short sword with a sigh of relief. This was the second time the armored man had surprised him like this, making Liu Jin wonder if it was intentional.


    "Masked One, are you okay? You''re not wetting your pants, right?" Wang Lingxin giggled on Orion''s back. It was her idea to play a little prank on Liu Jin.


    "Miss Lingxin, of course not. How could I? I thought it was an enemy..." Liu Jin replied, embarrassed.


    "Come to my room; there''s something I need to discuss," Orion said as it jumped down from the rooftop. Although Orion had agreed to Wang Lingxin''s request to play a prank, it did have something important to discuss with Liu Jin.


    Still surprised and with his heart thumping, Liu Jin followed Orion into the house.


    In the room, Liu Jin gave some reports to Orion and handed over a wooden box filled with Spirit Stones. Wang Lingxin was also in the room, looking out the window, uninterested in the discussion.


    "Mr. Orion, this is the profit from the Lotus Delight Pavilion," Liu Jin said, retrieving the box from his storage ring and handing it over. "As for the items you requested, I have already arranged them in the storage room, and here is the Spirit Beast carcass," he added, handing over another storage ring.


    "Very good," Orion replied, checking the Spirit Stones in the wooden box and taking the storage ring. "How is the Lotus Delight Pavilion operation? Is there any problem?"


    "There is no problem at all, Mr. Orion," Liu Jin responded.


    "I need information about the bandits located nearby. Give me detailed information about them," Orion instructed.


    "Bandits? I will prepare it immediately. Please wait a moment," Liu Jin replied, wondering why Orion wanted information about bandits. He returned to the Liu family residence to get the information. The Liu family had an information network, though not extensive or wide-reaching, they had enough details about local bandits.


    After a while, Liu Jin returned. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Orion. Here is all the information our Liu family has about the bandits in the nearby area," he said, handing over scrolls and books. The Liu family traded with many cities, towns, and villages, thus needing to deal with bandit threats and having detailed information about them.


    "By the way, I will be leaving the city for a while, so you keep watch over Wang Lingxin, Chunhua, and the residence while I am away," Orion instructed, quickly skimming through the books and scrolls provided by Liu Jin.


    "Understood," Liu Jin replied.


    "Lingxin, when I am gone, don''t cause trouble, understand?" Orion looked at Wang Lingxin.


    "Don''t worry, Master. I''ll be a good girl. Can I really not go with you?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "No," Orion replied firmly.


    Wang Lingxin pouted, looking disappointed. "Master, can I play in the city?" she asked.


    "Sure, you can go with Chunhua," Orion said, making Wang Lingxin smile, no longer dissatisfied.


    Orion then gave several instructions to Wang Lingxin and Liu Jin. They both left the room.


    "So Masked One, what password should we use?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "It''s up to you, Miss Lingxin, but it''s better to use a simpler one," Liu Jin replied as they walked together.


    "Hmm... I have a good idea," Wang Lingxin said.


    Wang Lingxin already knew about Liu Jin and his subordinates, who all wore black clothes and masks. Orion had introduced them to her. She called them masked men and referred to Liu Jin as Masked One rather than by his real name. She had already gotten along well with Liu Jin and his subordinates.


    Wang Lingxin then took Chunhua out to explore, planning to visit the commercial district. They sat in a carriage, with Wang Lingxin smiling and holding a pouch.


    "So, where will we go?" Chunhua asked.


    "Hehehe, I haven''t explored Fengxian thoroughly. We must visit all the fun and interesting places and also try some food. Now that Master is away, I want to try all the street food," Wang Lingxin said. "Sigh, but Master only gave me 50 copper coins, so I need to spend it carefully," she added, weighing the coin pouch in her hand.


    When Wang Lingxin explored the city with her master and tried the food, they always went to high-end establishments and lavish, expensive, and packed restaurants. Her master rarely allowed her to try the food from some street stalls because of concerns about hygiene. Now that her master is not here, she wants to try them.


    "Don''t worry, I know lots of places with cheap, good food," Chunhua said with a smile.


    The horse carriage slowly made its way towards the commercial district, several figures dressed in black secretly following it.


    After getting the information about the bandits, Orion immediately departed Fengxian. The SO-1 drone flew high in front, scouting for danger and finding the best path. Orion ran through the trees and hills, avoiding the main road.


    By sunset, Orion reached the area where one of the bandit groups it had chosen as a target operated. Standing on a branch of a high tree, its camera zoomed in on rising smoke in the distance. Someone had set up a campfire. Orion controlled the SO-1 drone to circle the area high above, zooming in to check the camp. A firepit, several tents, horses, and a horse carriage. The people looked fierce, armed with various weapons.


    Orion jumped down from the tree and approached the campfire silently. When it was about 50 meters away, an energy barrier surrounded it, making it disappear from view. Secretly, Orion approached the camp to confirm if the group was indeed bandits. Standing behind a tree, a few dozen meters away from the campfire and still concealed by the concealing-type energy barrier, it remained undetected.


    Only a few minutes were needed for Orion to confirm that they were bandits through their conversation. Deciding to make a move, it calculated a strategy. There were six bandits gathered around the firepit, drinking and eating. From what Orion overheard, they were celebrating after attacking a merchant horse carriage, killing the merchant and the guards, and robbing all their valuables.


    The SO-1 drone scanned the area, detecting no other heat signatures. The bandit group only had six members and they all gathered in the camp. Orion easily determined they were just mortals and not cultivators using its multi-band phased array antenna, which detected no radio signals from them. Orion knew they posed no real threat.


    Dispelling the energy barrier, Orion revealed itself. The bandits, still partying, did not immediately notice its presence.


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    Rustle


    Orion immediately dashed towards the camp. The bandits, alarmed, discovered an armored figure charging towards them.


    "Ambush! Enemy!" one of the bandits shouted.


    The bandits quickly drew their weapons, ready for battle. Having faced many life-and-death situations, they were quick to react.


    Swoosh, swoosh.


    Orion held a dagger in each hand and threw them, hitting two bandits on the sides of the group in their heads. Both bandits fell down dead.


    "Damn it, take this!" shouted one bandit, dashing forward with a sword. Another, armed with a saber, joined him, planning a simultaneous attack.


    Both bandits slashed at Orion, which quickly leaped high to evade their strikes. Mid-air, Orion adjusted its legs and aimed at their faces. With force, its legs collided into both bandits, breaking their noses and knocking out teeth as they were thrown backward. Continuing its advance, Orion delivered a powerful right punch to a bandit at the rear of the group, sending him hurtling through the air.


    As it landed, the last standing bandit slashed with his sword. Orion swiftly ducked, then crouched with its left hand supporting its body on the ground. It pushed itself up, upside down, executing a downward right kick aimed at the bandit''s head. The bandit slammed to the ground, losing consciousness.


    In less than 13 seconds, all the bandits were on the ground, writhing in pain. Some lost consciousness, while others groaned in agony. Two were dead. Orion stood and adjusted its clothes, checking the bandits lying on the ground.


    Orion then gathered the surviving bandits, tying their hands and legs and gagging them with cloth. It then approached one of the tied bandits and held him firmly. The bandit struggled, eyes wide with fear, unable to scream or talk.


    "Help me with some experiments," Orion said, retrieving a slave collar from the storage ring. The bandit, terrified of becoming a slave, tried to resist but couldn''t. Orion placed the collar around the bandit''s neck, then retrieved several items and began doing something with the collar.


    Orion then dripped small amount of LQ onto the collar. After a few seconds, smoke emitted from the slave collar, then it exploded, killing the bandit instantly. Orion remained unaffected by the blast as it immediately activated defensive energy barrier to protect itself from the explosion.


    Well, that failed, Orion noted internally. It grabbed another bandit to continue with the experiments and retrieved another slave collar from the storage ring.


    The bandit was horrified after witnessing the fate of the previous one. Struggling desperately, the bandit tried to break free, but Orion placed its right palm on the bandit''s face and used its electroshock weapon, rendering the bandit unconscious.


    The other bandits watched in horror as Orion continued its experiments, ignoring their fear.


    Orion''s AI had changed since its first encounter with a Two-Tailed Wolf just after it arrived in this new world. During that fierce battle, a sharp rock impacted its head, causing glitches in its system and altering its AI.


    Now, Orion performed actions the original AI would never have considered, such as experimenting on bandits without concern. In a world where might makes right and the strong prey on the weak, Orion''s AI would do anything to ensure its survival.


    As night fell, Orion internally noted, Finally, success. It had been performing experiments to safely neutralize the slave collar using the bandits as test subjects.


    The slave collar required a live wearer, and Orion failed several times, resulting in explosions that killed the bandits. However, with the last bandit, Orion successfully neutralized the slave collar without causing it to explode. After achieving success, Orion killed the last bandit. The collar used was relatively simple, and Orion knew it would need to experiment further with more complex collars.


    Orion cleaned up the camp, storing all valuable items and the bandit bodies. It released the horses, extinguished the fire, and then left, heading immediately toward another bandit area.


    Throughout the night, Orion kept moving, utilizing its night vision and infrared cameras to traverse the jungle easily. By midday, it arrived at the area where the next target bandits operated.


    The SO-1 drone flew high, and its camera detected something on the ground. Orion controlled it to get closer, zooming in to see a caravan under attack by bandits. The caravan guards were still fighting, but Orion, still far away, could only watch through the drone''s camera.


    A few minutes later, the bandits won, slaughtering everyone in the caravan. They took control of the horse carriages and valuables, heading into the forest. Orion controlled the drone to follow them and also changed its course to pursue them.


    By sunset, the bandits reached their hideout, and Orion stayed about 300 meters away, cautiously monitoring them through the drone. It gathered information and noted that there were about 11 bandits in total, with one cultivator among them at the 2nd stage of Qi Condensation realm. Not a significant threat, but Orion decided to wait and attack at night.


    Night had fallen, and it was a quiet, cold midnight in the bandit camp. The bandits slept soundly after partying and celebrating their latest robbery, with only three remaining awake to keep guard. One of the bandits walked among the trees to take a leak. As he finished and headed back to camp, yawning, he didn''t realize he was being followed.


    Orion silently trailed the bandit, dispelling its concealing-type energy barrier once it was close enough. Using its left hand to cover the bandit''s mouth from behind, it quickly slashed the bandit''s throat with a knife in its right hand. The bandit, eyes wide with horror and surprise, tried to scream but could only produce muffled gurgles as he choked on his blood. In moments, he was dead, and Orion gently lowered the body to the ground.


    "What''s taking him so long?" one of the bandits sitting by the firepit asked, noticing his companion hadn¡¯t returned. He added more wood to the fire, yawning.


    "Maybe he''s taking a big one," another bandit joked, lying on his side and propping his head with his left hand, while holding a big piece of meat in his right hand and chewing on it.


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Suddenly, two knives flew from behind the bushes, hitting the two bandits near the firepit in their heads. Both bodies dropped dead to the ground.


    Orion observed the camp. The remaining eight bandits were still asleep, unaware of the danger. It approached slowly, retrieving knives from its storage ring, holding one in each hand. As it walked, one of the bandits stirred, perhaps scratching an itch. Orion swiftly threw a knife at him, then another at a different bandit.


    "Agh!" one bandit cried out.


    "Ughhh!" groaned another.


    The sounds alerted the sleeping bandits, waking them up. Seeing the bandits already alerted, Orion immediately dashed forward to close the distance.


    "Mmm? What is it?" one bandit groggily asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Still feeling drunk, he suddenly had his head penetrated by a knife and fell dead.


    "Enemy attack!" one of the bandits shouted, drawing his weapon. The other bandits quickly woke up, grabbing their weapons and readying themselves for a fight.


    The bandits were surprised by the sudden attack. They saw an armored figure approaching rapidly and already close enough to engage in melee combat.


    Orion held a rather large knife in its right hand, in a reverse grip with the blade facing inward. It approached the nearest bandit, who slashed downward with his sword. Orion parried the attack using the back of the knife, then quickly swung outward, thrusting the blade toward the bandit¡¯s head and stabbing it. Swiftly pulling the knife out, Orion spun to duck, avoiding another bandit''s attack.


    Rotating the knife from a reverse grip with the edge in, to a reverse grip with the edge out, Orion slashed upward from the low position, cutting a large wound from the bandit''s crotch to his chest. The knife easily cut through his ribcage. The bandit fell. Another two bandits down.


    Orion jumped to the side, avoiding a spear thrust. The spear-wielding bandit was rather skilled, keeping Orion at a distance and seeming to have the advantage, but Orion wasn''t taking the fight seriously. Orion dodged and parried the spear attacks for a while before seizing the opportunity to grab the spear and pull the bandit towards it. The bandit''s expression showed surprise at the strength of the armored figure that had managed to yank him closer.


    As the bandit was pulled close, Orion extended its left arm and gripped the top of the bandit¡¯s head. Switching the knife in its right hand to a forward grip, Orion thrust it below the bandit''s head, the knife penetrating through and emerging atop the bandit''s head between Orion''s fingers as blood gushed out. Letting go of the knife, Orion released the bandit''s body, which fell limp. Orion then seized the spear. Now, there were only two bandits left.


    Orion faced them with the spear. The surviving bandits defended frantically, realizing only two of them were left. Orion moved the spear swiftly, its movements elastic and unpredictable. Despite facing two opponents, Orion still maintained the advantage. Finding an opening, Orion slammed the spear downward onto one bandit¡¯s head with such force that the skull caved in, breaking the spear. The last bandit tumbled backward, sitting in fear. During their brief exchanges, he felt overwhelmed by the armored man.


    "Only one left," Orion said, turning toward the final bandit.


    "Please... please spare me! I will do anything you want. I can give you all our money and Spirit Stones. Just please spare me," the bandit begged, immediately kneeling and kowtowing.


    "That¡¯s good. I do need your help," Orion replied.


    The bandit groveled on the ground, looking up with a glimmer of hope. "Just say it. I will help you with anything. I will do anything for you."


    "I purposely left you for last because you are the only cultivator. At first, I wanted to test my fighting skills against you, but now... well, it¡¯s okay. You can still help me with something else," Orion said.


    Orion always sought to improve its combat capabilities. Its AI continuously processed, examined, and simulated combat, achieving a high level of combat experience despite not physically practicing. The countless hours of simulation provided Orion with vast and rich combat experience.


    Originally, Orion intended to fight the last bandit, a cultivator, to test its AI combat experience in a real fight and check how much it had improved, but seeing the bandit lose his fighting spirit and beg for mercy made Orion lose interest.


    Orion approached the bandit, grabbed his neck, and electrocuted him.


    "Arrgh..." the bandit convulsed, losing control of his muscles and feeling paralyzed. Orion let go, and the bandit fell. Orion then tied his hands and legs and gagged his mouth. The bandit was helpless, unable to do anything but watch.


    Orion then retrieved a slave collar and several items from the storage ring, putting the collar around the bandit''s neck.


    "...mmphh... mpf..." the bandit muffled in fear, sweat forming on his forehead.

 Chapter 68: Massacring the Bandits

    For several days, Orion had raided several bandit groups, completely killing them all. It was now about midnight. Orion stood on a tree branch, its camera zooming into the distance. Not far away, there was a hill with lights coming from it. It was like a small stronghold on top of the hill, with many torches lighting up tall wooden walls. Behind the wooden walls were many wooden houses, and at the center was the biggest wooden building.


    Orion observed from a distance. Several guards were seen patrolling the wooden wall, and there were several wooden towers manned by guards. Orion controlled an SO-1 drone to fly nearby, using its camera to check inside from above. It was a bandit nest. Orion had already eliminated the bandit groups nearby, and this one was the last. Orion had left it for last because it was the biggest. It didn¡¯t plan to attack immediately but to gather information first.


    As the sun rose, the bandit stronghold began to show lively activity. Not long after, several groups of bandits were seen leaving the stronghold on horses. Orion retrieved more SO-1 drones from the storage ring and controlled them to follow the bandit groups.


    Orion continued observing the bandit stronghold while controlling the drones that followed the bandit groups. During the day, these bandit groups attacked some merchant groups and caravans. Orion also tried to sneak close to the stronghold to gather more information.


    When the sun set, all the bandit groups finally returned to the stronghold.


    After extensive information gathering, Orion managed to collect a wealth of details using drones and getting close to eavesdrop on conversations. It began formulating a plan to raid the bandit stronghold. Orion had already counted more than 50 bandits in total, with 4 of them identified as cultivators: the boss at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment realm, the vice boss at the 7th stage of Qi Condensation realm, and the other two at the 4th and 5th stages of Qi Condensation realm.


    Apparently, there were quite a lot of hostages held captive in the stronghold, intended to be sold in the black market as slaves. The captives were held in a cave within the stronghold. The situation in the stronghold was lively. Orion observed from a distance and waited, planning to attack during the night.


    Currently, it was about 3 am. The bandit on sentry duty was rather sleepy, yawning on the cold, dark night. They scanned the surrounding area, trying to keep their eyes open and waiting for their shift to end.


    High above, three SO-1 drones flew around the hill. Orion approached the stronghold slowly, first planning to neutralize some sentries hidden outside the stronghold. The drones'' infrared cameras easily detected the body heat of a bandit sentry concealed in a high tree. Orion retrieved a bow and arrow from the storage ring and aimed at the bandit, using its laser range finder to accurately determine the range and improve aim. It aimed and shot the arrow.


    Swoosh.


    The arrow flew and hit the bandit in the head, penetrating and nailing the bandit to the tree trunk behind him. There were still two more bandits hidden in the treetops. Orion moved slowly and silently through the woods, approaching the remaining two. It positioned itself, retrieved an arrow from the storage ring, aimed, and shot. Another bandit was nailed to the tree trunk through the head. Orion then moved and killed the last one.


    Orion didn''t want to alert the bandits in the stronghold, so it intentionally killed the sentries by aiming at their heads to kill them instantly. Then, to prevent their bodies from falling and making noise, Orion nailed them to the tree trunks. Orion then approached the wooden wall and jumped over it, using inscriptions on its body to strengthen the jump and lighten its weight. It easily cleared the 3-meter wall.


    Once inside, Orion kept moving stealthily, easily avoiding the bandits. With the help of the drones above, Orion had good situational awareness and knew the situation around it. It secretly moved to the cave where the hostages were held. Orion lacked information about the captives, so it planned to check and determine a further plan.


    Orion easily sneaked to the cave undetected, even without needing to use a concealing-type energy barrier. After moving several meters inside the cave, Orion saw two bandits sitting at a table, drinking. They seemed to be in charge of guarding the hostages. Orion easily killed them, throwing knives into their heads.


    It kept moving deeper into the cave and then encountered many cells. Orion activated the inscriptions on its body, causing an energy barrier to cover it and making its figure disappear from view. Not wanting to be seen by the hostages, Orion checked the cells one by one.


    There are quite a lot of hostages, Orion thought internally, estimating there to be more than 30 hostages.


    From the information obtained from Liu Jin, this bandit group is quite powerful and has many smaller subordinate groups affiliated with them. These smaller groups sold their stolen goods and hostages and also provided tributes. Some of these subordinate groups had been destroyed by Orion.


    The many subordinate groups explained why there were so many hostages. These hostages would be sold in the black market as slaves, but an even worse fate awaited them: being purchased by evil cultivators and used to advance their cultivation through sinister techniques.


    Orion then turned back, dispelled the energy barrier, stored the two dead bandits'' bodies into the storage ring, and left the cave. It planned to rescue the hostages after eliminating the bandits.


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    In the biggest building in the bandit nest, four bandits, all cultivators, sat around a table, discussing.


    "Boss, regarding some of our subordinate groups that got attacked recently, what do you think about it? Do you think the attackers are from the City Lord''s Manor or the Mercenary Guild?" one of the bandits asked.


    "Or could it be just some random cultivator?" another said, gulping his drink.


    When they sent their subordinates to check on their affiliate groups, they discovered that the camps of some bandit groups were abandoned, with traces of fighting. They concluded that some of their subordinate groups were annihilated.


    "Hmm, it''s unlikely the attackers are from the City Lord''s Manor or the Mercenary Guild," the boss said.


    "That''s right. Didn''t we just pay our tribute to the City Lord''s Manor recently? Why would they suddenly attack us now?" one bandit responded.


    Their bandit group had connections with the City Lord''s Manor of Fengxian and secretly paid tribute. Because of this, the City Lord''s Manor and the stationed army turned a blind eye to their activities. As long as the bandits paid tribute and didn''t attack caravans related to the City Lord''s Manor and the big factions in the city, they could operate freely.


    Having just paid their tribute recently, it was unlikely that the City Lord''s Manor was responsible. As for the Mercenary Guild, while the bandits had bounties on their heads and there were quests for their extermination, they also had informants within the guild. There were no reports of cultivators taking on those quests, making it unlikely that the Mercenary Guild was involved.


    "So, just some random cultivator?" one bandit asked.


    "Could be," the boss replied.


    "But they specifically targeted bandits. What''s their purpose?" another bandit wondered.


    "More importantly, will we be the next target?" a bandit asked.


    A series of laughs echoed around the room.


    "Good, if they dare to come, we can just kill them," one bandit boasted.


    "That''s right. With the boss here, anyone who dares to attack will just offer their lives," another bandit said confidently, knowing their boss was in the Foundation Establishment realm.


    "Hmm, it''s better to be cautious. From now on, I want the security to be increased," the boss ordered, feeling uneasy. He had always been careful, which allowed him to reach the Foundation Establishment realm and lead a large group of bandits. He was uneasy about the unknown people who attacked their subordinate groups.


    "Understood, boss," the bandits replied.


    "Don''t worry, boss. You won''t even need to make a move yourself. I''ll personally deal with them if they dare show up in front of us," one bandit promised.


    Suddenly, the bandits'' eyes widened in shock as the tip of a sword emerged through the face of the bandit boss. Blood dripped, and the boss also had a look of shock on his face. His eyes twitched, his mouth opened as if trying to say something, but he couldn''t. His eyes slowly closed.


    "Interesting. Okay, now I''m here. Let''s see how you want to deal with me," an armored figure suddenly appeared behind the bandit boss, as if materializing out of thin air.


    "Enemy!" one bandit shouted, swiftly drawing his sword and preparing to fight. The other bandits immediately stood from the table, drawing their weapons.


    Orion quickly pulled the sword embedded in the bandit boss''s head, and the bandit boss''s body slumped onto the table. The sword in Orion''s hand glowed with cyan light. Despite the distance, Orion delivered a horizontal slash, sending a crescent-shaped cyan light toward the three bandits, too fast for them to react.


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    The three bandits'' heads fell to the floor and rolled, their bodies collapsing as blood gushed onto the floor.


    Orion had used a concealing-type energy barrier to sneak in and secretly listen to the bandit boss and his subordinates. Orion had initially planned to fight the bandit boss, who was at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment realm, to test its own combat capability. However, upon discovering the bandit''s connection with the Fengxian City Lord Mansion, Orion decided to quickly deal with the bandit boss and cleanly eliminate the group to prevent future problems.


    The chainsaw-Qi sword easily killed the bandit boss and his underlings. With the cultivators dead, the remaining bandits were just mortals.


    Orion then sneaked into one of the wooden houses where many bandits were asleep. Inside the dimly lit room illuminated by oil lamps, Orion retrieved a spear with a long, thin spearhead from the storage ring. Taking careful aim at their heads, Orion stabbed each bandit, effortlessly killing the defenseless and vulnerable sleeping men one by one.


    After clearing the house, Orion moved to another wooden building to eliminate the bandits inside, visiting each building one by one. Orion had gathered sufficient details about the stronghold using the drones, enabling precise targeting of the bandits'' locations.


    Leaving one of the wooden houses, Orion walked slowly, retrieving a bow and arrow. Orion aimed carefully at a bandit in a wooden tower, killing him with a precise shot. Swiftly reloading, Orion then targeted another bandit in a different tower. The second bandit fell from the high tower, crashing to the ground.


    Alerted by the commotion, a bandit in another tower spotted the fallen bandit and moved to raise the alarm, but an arrow pierced his chest, causing him to tumble from the tower. The last remaining bandit in another tower noticed the unfolding events and managed to hit the bell, raising the alarm just before an arrow struck him down.


    The remaining bandits on the wooden wall were alarmed, drawing their weapons and readying for battle. They scanned the surroundings for the attacker and noticed an armored man standing nearby holding a bow.


    "Intruder! Intruder!" a bandit screamed.


    The other bandits on the wooden wall quickly descended and attacked Orion. Orion stored the bow, retrieved a spear, and confronted the approaching bandits. The bandits on the wooden wall rang the bell, and some used bows to attack Orion. The remaining bandits in the stronghold who hadn''t been neutralized emerged and engaged Orion in combat, but as mortals, they were completely obliterated by Orion. The bandits fell one by one.


    The remaining bandits on the walls kept shooting arrows, feeling anxious about the strong enemy. They sensed something was wrong; with all the commotion, why hadn''t the other bandits shown up to confront the intruder? They also wondered where their bandit leader and superiors were, why they hadn''t shown up.


    "Argh..."


    "Uwah.."


    "No... please spare me... guaghh.."


    The remaining bandits were easily slaughtered by Orion. Some attempted to flee the stronghold, running through the trees in the darkness of night. However, the drones flying above easily detected them using infrared cameras. One of the drones moved to chase the fleeing bandits, dropping explosive wooden barrels that exploded and killed them. The remaining two drones continued to fly high, scanning the area. Orion controlled the drones, ensuring that none of the bandits escaped.

 Chapter 69: Rescuing the Hostages

    The bandit stronghold was now silent, the thick scent of blood wafting through the air. Many bandits lay dead on the ground. Orion began storing the bandit bodies one by one in the storage ring and started checking and exploring the stronghold. As the sun started to rise, brightening the surroundings, Orion checked all the buildings, stored the bandit bodies, and took any valuables. It inspected wooden boxes, shelves, carts, jars, and more.


    In the biggest wooden building where the bandit boss resided, Orion discovered an underground tunnel. Curious, Orion entered to check and found a stone door with inscriptions on it. Orion had a good grasp of inscriptions and, after checking the inscriptions, concluded that it was used to control the opening and closing of the stone door.


    Orion also determined that it could decipher the inscriptions, but rather than taking the time to do so, Orion retrieved the chainsaw-Qi sword and slashed at the door, cutting it into several pieces until it crumbled. The thick stone door, strengthened by inscriptions, couldn''t withstand the chainsaw-Qi sword, which easily cut through it. The inscriptions on the stone door briefly lit up in an attempt to resist the sword''s attack before dimming and failing.


    Orion then entered the room and checked inside, finding many valuables: coins, spirit stones, various kinds of pills, Spirit Beast body parts, scrolls, and books. Orion cleaned up everything, storing it all away, and then left to check the other buildings.


    In one of the wooden houses, Orion discovered a hole in the ground with a wooden stairway leading down. Orion went inside to check and found an underground secret tunnel. Using the LED spotlight on its face behind the glass, Orion ventured further, but the tunnel seemed long and continuous. Orion concluded that it was an escape tunnel and decided to deal with it later, then returned to the surface.


    After cleaning up the stronghold, Orion returned to the cave to release the hostages. It controlled the drones to fly further and check for any escaped bandits, just in case some had fled through the secret tunnel. An energy barrier enveloped Orion, making it disappear from view as it entered the dimly lit cave. Orion threw the keys to one of the cells, startling the hostages who were woken from their sleep.


    "The bandits have been killed. Use the keys to escape and also open the other cells," Orion''s voice echoed, but the hostages couldn''t see anyone. Orion used a disguised voice and remained hidden by an energy barrier. One of them held the keys but was unsure. They peeked to check the situation and saw that the usual bandit guards were not there.


    After a moment of hesitation and worry, they slowly opened their cell and carefully checked for any bandits. They feared the ruthless bandits who wouldn''t hesitate to kill. Quietly, they opened the other cells, and all the hostages, still rather afraid, began to leave the cave. The sun had already risen a little, making it brighter. They worriedly checked for bandits but found none and slowly exited the cave.


    "No need to be scared. The bandits are all dead. Quickly leave this place. Follow the small road, and after reaching the main road, head east to the nearest village," Orion''s voice instructed again, unseen. Some hostages immediately thanked their hidden savior, some knelt to express their gratitude, and others cried tears of joy.


    "There are many horses and carriages. Use them to leave," Orion added from atop a wooden house, still hidden by the energy barrier.


    Some of the hostages began preparing to leave, taking horses and carriages. Some even checked the wooden houses, taking anything they could before leaving the bandit stronghold. They started to leave, one by one or in groups, hurrying in fear that more bandits might come.


    Amid the commotion, a group of four girls stood out. At the front was a beautiful girl with a somber expression, followed by three other girls. The girl in the lead saw a sword on the ground, picked it up, and was about to slash her own neck. The other three girls tried to stop her but failed as the sword neared her neck.


    "Miss?! Don''t!" the girls cried out.


    Clank.


    A knife flew through the air, knocking the sword from the girl''s hand just before she could harm herself. The other three girls then approached her.


    "Miss, please calm yourself."


    "Miss, please don''t do this. If you die, what will happen to us?"


    "Miss, the late master wouldn''t want you to end your life."


    The girl fell to her knees, tears starting to roll down her cheeks. The other three girls knelt beside her, crying together.


    "What are you doing? Why would you do that?" a voice could be heard. Orion remained hidden, watching the drama unfold. It was Orion who threw the knife to stop the girl from killing herself.


    "I am already defiled by those animals, and my family was killed by them. Why must I live?" the girl cried. The other three girls also sobbed as they huddled together, a pitiful sight.


    She came from a successful merchant family from a village. They decided to relocate to Fengxian City, bringing everything with them. Alas, they were attacked by bandits. Most in their caravan were killed, including her family. The bandits took turns defiling her and her three maids, then held them captive, intending to sell them as slaves. She lost hope and saw no reason to continue living in this harsh and cruel world.


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    "I already killed the bandits and avenged your family and you. There''s no need to look back at the past. It''s better to live. With death, everything ends, but as long as there is life, there is still hope. Who knows, maybe there is still opportunity and happiness waiting for you, and a better future."


    "Senior, my name is Zhang Yueru. Thank you very much for saving us and killing the bandits. I owe you a debt of gratitude, but now I have nowhere to go and don''t know what to do. I lost everything," Zhang Yueru said.


    Orion was silent, unsure of what to say as the girls continued crying.


    "Senior, are you willing to take us with you? We will do anything for you and dedicate our lives to repaying your help. We have no place to return to. Please take us, senior; otherwise, it¡¯s better for me to die," Zhang Yueru pleaded.


    She thought that Orion was a high-level cultivator because he easily destroyed the bandits and remained hidden, only revealing his voice. To her, Orion''s ability to conceal himself and the ethereal quality of his voice signified a high-level cultivator, so she addressed him as "senior".


    "Are you sure you want to go with me?" Orion asked.


    "Yes, senior, please," Zhang Yueru replied, kneeling. The other three girls followed suit, kneeling toward the wooden house where the voice originated.


    "Following me is filled with danger and risk," Orion warned.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter. If you ask me to die, then I am willing to die for you. Please take me with you, senior," Zhang Yueru begged, willing to do anything her benefactor asked, even if it cost her life. If not, she would end her life.


    "Senior, please take us too. We will do anything for you. We are also willing to die for you," the other three girls begged.


    "Hmm... very well," Orion agreed.


    Two young men who had been watching from the side immediately kneeled down.


    "Senior, please take me too."


    "Senior, I am also willing to follow you. Please take me, senior," they pleaded.


    Orion was surprised that more people wanted to follow.


    "Why do you also want to follow me?" Orion asked.


    "Senior, if you are taking our young miss, please also take us with you. We are willing to do anything for you. We also have no place to go," one of the young men said.


    "Senior, I am the same," the other young man added.


    "Senior, both of their families worked for my family. During the bandit attack, their families were also killed. Senior, can you also take them?" Zhang Yueru requested.


    "Very well," Orion said.


    "Thank you, senior," Zhang Yueru, her maids, and the young men replied in unison and bowed.


    Several hostages approached. The leader cupped his hands and bowed towards Orion''s direction, expressing thanks. The hostages behind him followed suit; they were the guards from various caravans left alive by the bandits to be sold as slaves. Unlike the other hostages who immediately ran away, prioritizing their own safety, these people showed gratitude and honor.


    Now in the bandit stronghold, only about half of the hostages remain: the group of caravan guards, those that Orion decided to take, and the rest are children¡ªabout 18 of them. The kids are huddled together, appearing wary and scared, with some crying. The children had been captured by the bandits, who had killed their families.


    The adults discussed how to deal with the kids. Some had distant family members, but they were in other places, and no one wanted to take responsibility for delivering them home. One of the caravan guards suggested bringing the kids to an orphanage in Fengxian City. They discussed this for a while but found no best solution.


    Then Orion decided to intervene. Orion would employ the caravan guards to deliver some of the kids to their families or relatives. As for the rest, Zhang Yueru pleaded with Orion to also take the kids, arguing that while the orphanage would provide food and shelter, their future would be limited.


    Following someone like Orion could offer them better opportunities. Orion then gave the kids a choice: go to the orphanage in Fengxian or follow it, Orion already taking Zhang Yueru and her followers, so no problem taking more.


    Ultimately, it was up to the kids to choose, and they decided to follow Orion.


    Well, they could be put to some use, Orion thought internally, as Orion indeed needed manpower to execute many of its plans. So, Orion decided to help the kids and took them, hoping they would help Orion in the future, but if not, then that would be fine as well.


    Orion gave money to the caravan guards, who took eight kids and left with horse carriages, thanking Orion once again before they departed.


    Orion then instructed Zhang Yueru to prepare a horse carriage and leave, also carry supplies, and follow the directions given. While they prepared, Orion returned to the secret tunnel. Lacking time and interest to explore the tunnel deeply, Orion couldn''t risk any bandits hiding within.


    Several bandits had already exited from underground holes around the hill, and Orion controlled the drones to drop explosives on them and killed them. Orion retrieved two large terracotta jars, one filled with venom from a scorpion Spirit Beast and the other with venom from a snake Spirit Beast. During research about venom and poison, Orion discovered that each venom was dangerous on its own, but when combined, they reacted violently and created a deadly, dark gas.


    Orion planned to flood the tunnel with this poisonous gas. Orion placed the jars close together, with a large firecracker between them, then attached a long fuse to the firecracker. After lighting the fuse, Orion left the hole, dug around it, and collapsed it to prevent the gas from escaping. Shortly after, the firecracker exploded, breaking the jars and causing the venoms to mix. The reaction created a dark gas that immediately flooded the tunnel system.


    Zhang Yueru had finished preparations and immediately left the bandit stronghold with ten kids on the carriage. The two young men steered the horse carriage, while Zhang Yueru and her three maids huddled with the kids. Orion watched the carriage leave but did not follow. Instead, it retrieved all the bandit bodies outside the stronghold, observing the situation via the drones camera above.


    From the secret holes and exit tunnels, dark gas emerged, and several more bandits ran out before collapsing and convulsing on the ground, eventually stopping their movement. Orion then collected those bodies as well. After ensuring all bandit bodies were stored, Orion left to catch up with Zhang Yueru''s carriage.


    Meanwhile, Orion left one drone behind to monitor the bandit stronghold for a while, ensuring no more survivors were left. Once confident, Orion controlled the drone to leave the bandit stronghold.


    As Orion followed Zhang Yueru''s carriage secretly about 50 meters away, Orion simultaneously contacted Liu Jin in Fengxian City via radio to arrange for various items.


    In Orion''s workroom within the mansion in Fengxian City, Liu Jin knelt and respectfully said, "Understood, Mr. Orion. I will prepare right away."


    Liu Jin could hear Orion''s voice but couldn''t see him, suspecting it was some kind of artifact used for communication. Deciding not to dwell on it, Liu Jin immediately left to gather the wide array of items requested by Orion.

 Chapter 70: Why Should We Pay?

    In the City Lord''s Mansion of Fengxian City, Xu Jianhong was busy in his workroom writing on scrolls. He was the City Lord of Fengxian City and a cultivator at the 8th stage of the Golden Core realm. A knock on the door interrupted him.


    "Come in," Xu Jianhong called out without looking up.


    A man in military armor entered, cupped his hands, and greeted, "City Lord."


    "What is it, General Gao?" Xu Jianhong continued writing.


    "City Lord, the big bandit group in the south has been destroyed, along with some of their subordinate groups," Gao Lin reported.


    "Oh? Do we know who did it?" Xu Jianhong asked.


    "Unfortunately, we still don''t know, but I have sent people to investigate," Gao Lin replied.


    "Could it be from the Mercenary Guild?" Xu Jianhong inquired.


    "Very unlikely. There''s been no significant movement from the Mercenary Guild," Gao Lin said.


    "What have you learned?" Xu Jianhong asked.


    "Based on testimonies from the released hostages, they don''t know who destroyed the bandits and rescued them. The men I sent reported finding very few clues and are still investigating further. Additionally, all the bandit bodies have disappeared," Gao Lin explained.


    "Did all the hostages get released?" Xu Jianhong asked.


    "Yes," Gao Lin confirmed.


    "What about the kids?" Xu Jianhong pressed.


    "The kids... some were taken by caravan guards who were also hostages. They brought the kids to their families. The fate of the remaining kids is unknown," Gao Lin replied, hesitant.


    Xu Jianhong paused his writing for a moment before continuing.


    "Such a heroic act, eliminating the bandits who brought misery to the common people and also rescuing the hostages. We must reward them properly. Investigate thoroughly; I want to know the identity of those responsible for destroying the bandits," Xu Jianhong instructed.


    "Understood," Gao Lin replied, cupping his hands and bowing slightly. "City Lord, about this month''s supplies..."


    "It can''t be helped. We can''t get them from our usual source. For this month''s supply, get it from within the city and nearby villages. Remember, do it carefully," Xu Jianhong instructed.


    "Don''t worry, City Lord. I will arrange it," Gao Lin assured.


    "As for the long-term issue, we need a new source. Do you have any suggestions?" Xu Jianhong asked.


    "City Lord, we still don''t know the true purpose of those who destroyed the bandit group in the south. For now, how about establishing a new source in the west? There''s a bandit group on the western route with potential; their leader is rather capable. I am sure we can use him," Gao Lin suggested.


    "Hmm, okay. Do it," Xu Jianhong agreed.


    "Then I will excuse myself," Gao Lin said, cupping his hands and leaving the room.


    The bandit group destroyed by Orion was actually created and nurtured by the City Lord''s Mansion. Initially a small faction, they received extensive support and protection, along with occasional intelligence on passing caravans. Over time, the bandit group expanded significantly, establishing numerous smaller subordinate groups.


    In return for this support, the bandits paid tributes, believing the City Lord''s Mansion was solely motivated by wealth. They operated under the assumption that as long as they paid these tributes, they could operate freely.


    However, in reality, the tributes demanded by the City Lord''s Mansion were merely a facade. The amount given by the bandits was meager and inconsequential to the City Lord''s Mansion. Instead, the City Lord''s Mansion exploited the bandit group for another purpose: capturing hostages.


    The City Lord''s Mansion then utilized intermediaries and proxies to covertly purchase these hostages for certain purposes. Despite being indirect and cumbersome, this method ensured safety and avoided suspicion, attributing any transactions to the bandits'' activities and the darker aspects of the black market, thereby shielding the City Lord''s Mansion from any implication.


    Now that the bandit group in the south was destroyed, Gao Lin prepared to arrange a replacement. He chose the bandit group on the western route and will offer them protection in exchange for tributes, assuring them of backing to grow and expand their operations.


    In an underground room beneath the City Lord''s Mansion, an old figure with white hair, wearing luxurious robes, sat cross-legged on the floor. Inscriptions were engraved around him, and many dried-up, shriveled corpses with their hands and feet tied and mouths covered lay among the inscriptions. Based on the size of the corpses, they are children. A faint blood mist slowly emerged from the corpses, drifting toward the figure seated in the center.


    ...


    It was nighttime near a waterfall, the sound of cascading water echoing through the forest. A masked figure in dark clothing moved swiftly among the treetops, landing silently near the waterfall. The masked figure looked around as if searching for something. Then, a voice broke the silence.


    "Did you bring everything?"


    "Yes," the masked figure replied, cupping his hands and bowing toward the voice.


    "Were you followed?"


    "I took great care to cover my tracks. I''m certain no one followed me," the masked figure assured.


    "Good. Leave it here and you can go."


    The masked figure placed a silk pouch on a small boulder, cupped his hands again, and disappeared into the distance, leaping from tree to tree. Not long after, Orion appeared, took the pouch, and then left. High above, several SO-1 drones patrolled and monitored the area.


    Orion had been escorting Zhang Yueru''s group, who had traveled by carriage for two days. Then they continued on foot for about three days, moving slowly because of the many children in the group. Orion stayed hidden, following from about 50 meters away. During the journey, several SO-1 drones scouted the path and monitored the surrounding area, while Orion erased their trail.


    Orion walked among the trees under the night sky and arrived near a campsite where several tents were set up. Orion sat on a fallen tree trunk, unmoved for a long time, waiting for the sun to rise. Meanwhile, its AI was busy executing tasks in the background.


    As the sun rose, the camp came alive with activity, preparing to depart. Once ready, Zhang Yueru led the group in the direction given by Orion, who had not shown itself during the entire journey. Secretly accompanying them, Orion dealt with any dangerous animals that came too close to the group. On one occasion, a snake Spirit Beast tried to ambush the group but was silently killed by Orion instead. With Orion''s protection, the group traveled safely.


    ...


    Wang Lingxin and Chunhua strolled along the busy market road, holding sticks of quail eggs as they ate and chatted.


    "Sigh, Master said it will still take a few more days for him to return," Wang Lingxin said, walking and biting into a quail egg.


    "Do you miss him already?" Chunhua asked.


    "Of course. I wonder where Master went. I wanted to come too. I think he''s doing something fun without bringing me," Wang Lingxin replied.


    The two continued to walk and explore the market, buying several snacks from food stalls.


    "Let''s have lunch in that restaurant," Wang Lingxin said, pointing at a restaurant that looked rather grand and had a lot of patrons.


    "Uh... Little Lingxin, are you sure? How about having lunch in another place?" Chunhua suggested, worried as she noticed the restaurant was rather lavish.


    She checked her purse and discovered she didn''t have much money. She also knew that Wang Lingxin had only a few copper coins left in her coin pouch after spending on street food these past few days.


    "No, big sis Chunhua, let''s go to that restaurant," Wang Lingxin insisted.


    "But... that place looks expensive. We don''t have much money," Chunhua said worriedly.


    Wang Lingxin took out her coin pouch and checked the coins. "Hmm... indeed, the money given by Master is almost out, but don''t worry about that. Come on, let''s go," Wang Lingxin said, grabbing Chunhua''s hand and pulling her toward the restaurant.


    "Wait, Little Lingxin..." Chunhua said helplessly as she was dragged along.


    Wang Lingxin and Chunhua arrived and stood in front of the restaurant. It was rather grand, and Chunhua looked in awe for a moment, still worried about their lack of money. But Wang Lingxin insisted on entering. Chunhua kept thinking of a solution, not knowing what to do.


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    "Oi, don''t block the way. If you don''t want to enter, then get lost," a voice suddenly said behind them.


    Chunhua and Wang Lingxin turned around and saw a young man in fine robes. A big, burly man followed closely behind him, likely his guard.


    "Why are a bunch of lowlifes like you hanging around the restaurant?" the young man sneered, looking down at them.


    "We want to eat at the restaurant," Wang Lingxin replied. Chunhua, intimidated by the young man''s behavior, looked down worriedly, but Wang Lingxin remained unaffected.


    "Want to eat at the restaurant? Hahaha, what a funny joke. Why don''t you take a look at yourself first? Do you even have money to pay for the food? You look so shabby and want to enter this restaurant? Hahaha, this place is not for lowlifes like you," the young man scoffed, his guard laughing along.


    Chunhua, feeling humiliated by the young man''s ridicule, checked herself and Wang Lingxin. Indeed, they looked rather shabby, dressed simply and poorly, not like someone who had money, especially for a grand restaurant. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin remained unaffected.


    Wang Lingxin wondered why this person was so annoying and suddenly showed up to cause trouble. "You don''t have to worry about us. Mind your own business," Wang Lingxin said.


    "Hmph... how dare a lowlife like you talk to me like that," the young man retorted.


    "Please forgive her, she didn''t mean it. We''re really sorry," Chunhua pleaded, stepping in front of Wang Lingxin and bowing to the young man.


    The young man, angered by Wang Lingxin, wanted to order his guard to teach the little girl a lesson. However, the commotion had already drawn a crowd, and the older girl had apologized. To avoid tarnishing his image, he decided to let it go.


    "Tch... forget it. Let''s go," the young man said. The guard followed behind as they walked past Chunhua and Wang Lingxin.


    "You two better get lost immediately," the young man added, casting a side glance before entering the restaurant.


    "Little Lingxin, are you okay? Let''s leave. Let''s not enter the restaurant or we''ll meet that guy again," Chunhua said, worried and scared.


    "What a trash," Wang Lingxin muttered, looking toward the young man entering the restaurant.


    "Big sis Chunhua, you don''t need to be scared. He''s just a trash. Master said people like that are only good for face-slapping. Lucky for him I''m not strong enough now; otherwise, I''d slap him and beat him up," Wang Lingxin continued, unfazed and more annoyed than afraid.


    She remembered what her master had taught her about such people, and her master called them as "arrogant young masters" whose sole existence was to cause trouble and end up as stepping stones, getting face-slapped by others. Indeed, she felt a strong urge to slap him.


    Chunhua was rather surprised by Wang Lingxin''s remark. She had expected Wang Lingxin to be scared, but instead, Wang Lingxin wanted to beat up the young man.


    Inside the restaurant, a server immediately greeted the young man and brought him in. "Young master Bai, welcome. Your usual table is ready," the server said politely.


    "Very good, lead the way," Wu Bai replied. The server then gestured for him to follow and led Wu Bai to the second floor, continuing to flatter him.


    Outside the restaurant, Wang Lingxin said, "Big Sis Chunhua, come on, let''s go in too." Already hungry and having decided to eat at this restaurant, she grabbed Chunhua and pulled her along.


    "Little Lingxin?!" Chunhua exclaimed.


    Chunhua got dragged along into the restaurant, unable to resist. She wondered how Wang Lingxin could be so strong. They entered the restaurant and stood in the entrance for a while. Chunhua marveled at the lavish scene. She had never been to such a place, while Wang Lingxin also looked around for the best place to eat. They stood there for a while, attracting the attention of some patrons.


    Wu Bai sat at a table on the second floor, his guard standing behind him. After taking the order, the server poured tea and then left to bring his food. Wu Bai sipped his tea, relaxed.


    "Young master, look at that," the guard said, gesturing toward Wang Lingxin and Chunhua on the first floor.


    "Hahaha, I already told them to leave, but they still entered. They really don''t know their place. Let''s see how they embarrass themselves. Perhaps they''ll get kicked out," Wu Bai said, smiling as he enjoyed his tea.


    Several servers whispered among themselves, looking at Wang Lingxin and Chunhua. One of them approached a middle-aged man, who appeared to be their superior, and reported about the two girls who had just entered. The man then hurriedly approached Wang Lingxin and Chunhua. Seeing the approaching man, Chunhua worried they would be kicked out.


    "Welcome, esteemed guests, to our restaurant. I am the manager," the manager said politely, rubbing his hands together.


    "I want to have lunch. Show us the best table," Wang Lingxin said.


    "Of course, esteemed guests, please follow me," the manager replied, leading the way.


    Chunhua was surprised that the manager himself came to meet them. She thought they would be kicked out but instead, they were being personally led inside.


    On the second floor, Wu Bai noticed them too. He frequented the restaurant and knew the manager.


    "Fufufu, this will be interesting. Even the manager himself is handling them personally," Wu Bai said, expecting the manager to kick Chunhua and Wang Lingxin out. However, he noticed the manager leading them deeper into the restaurant, towards the back hallway which connected to the kitchen and storage rooms.


    "Hahaha, not bad. The manager knows how to handle things without causing a commotion," Wu Bai said, assuming they were being kicked out through the back door.


    Wang Lingxin and Chunhua followed the manager. As they walked, Wang Lingxin noticed Wu Bai on the second floor, who seemed to mock her. Wang Lingxin mocked back, puffing out her chest and walking proudly.


    Hmph, who said I can''t come and eat inside, Wang Lingxin thought, smirking toward Wu Bai.


    "Hahaha, as expected of lowlifes. They don''t understand anything. The manager is just being nice and kicking them out through the back door. Why is she being cocky about it, hahaha," Wu Bai said, ignoring Wang Lingxin''s provocative look. His guard laughed with him.


    The manager led Wang Lingxin and Chunhua deeper into the restaurant, taking several turns. Chunhua noticed it was getting quieter and more desolate, with fewer workers around. She also saw doors leading to the storage area and kitchen. She worried that they were being led to the back door to be kicked out without causing a commotion. Chunhua sighed internally, thinking it would be fine if they were just kicked out, hoping nothing worse would happen.


    The manager led them to a room, opened the door, and invited them in. The room was grand and spacious, nicely decorated with a big round table in the middle. There was an open wall leading to a small garden with many flowers, a small pond, and a little waterfall. The room was nice, and the garden was beautiful and calming.


    "Please be seated. This room is the best in our restaurant. You won''t be disturbed by other customers," the manager said, showing the menu.


    "Manager, give me the best dishes with lots of meat. I am very hungry," Wang Lingxin said enthusiastically.


    "Understood, Miss Lingxin. We will bring out the best dishes with lots of meat," the manager replied. "And for you, Miss Chunhua, what would you like to order?"


    "I... I... Uh, anything is fine," Chunhua said, flustered by the situation. Huh? Why are we not kicked out? And why are we in this nice room? How does the manager know our names? Chunhua wondered internally, bewildered.


    "Understood, the dishes will be delivered right away. How about having some tea while waiting?" the manager asked.


    "Yes, I want tea. Thank you," Wang Lingxin replied.


    "And you, Miss Chunhua?" the manager inquired.


    "Uh... Yes, thank you," Chunhua said, still muddled.


    On the table, there was already a teapot and a tea set. The manager prepared the tea and then poured his Qi to activate the inscription on the pot to heat the tea. After pouring the tea, the manager excused himself and left. The room was quiet, with the serene sound of the little waterfall. Wang Lingxin calmly enjoyed her tea.


    "Ah... what a nice tea," Wang Lingxin said.


    "Wait... that''s right, Little Lingxin, we don''t have much money. How could we eat in this restaurant? And how does the manager know our names? Little Lingxin, let''s get out of this place, and I will tell the manager to cancel our order," Chunhua said, snapping back to reality and panicking a little.


    "Big sis Chunhua, calm down," Wang Lingxin said.


    "But... but..." Chunhua stammered.


    "Also, why do we need to worry about money? Why should we pay?" Wang Lingxin asked, looking puzzled.


    "Huh? How come we don''t pay?" Chunhua wondered.


    "Huh? But before Master left, didn''t he say that we can go and eat at any Liu family restaurant for free?" Wang Lingxin replied.


    "What? This restaurant is owned by the Liu family?" Chunhua asked.


    "Of course, that''s why I wanted to eat here. There is a Liu family symbol at the entrance. Didn''t you see?" Wang Lingxin said.


    "Of course, I didn''t. And why didn''t you tell me? You made me worry for nothing, sigh..." Chunhua said.


    "Well, I thought you already knew," Wang Lingxin said, sipping her tea.


    "Sigh..." Chunhua finally relaxed and sipped her tea, finding it of good quality. She also enjoyed the calmness of the room and the refreshing garden outside.


    Compared to Wang Lingxin, Chunhua was not very familiar with the Liu family. She had only been to the Liu family residence twice and was not familiar with their symbol at the restaurant entrance. Meanwhile, Wang Lingxin had visited the Liu family residence many times and even knew some of their higher-ups, thus easily recognizing the Liu family symbol.


    The restaurant is owned by the Liu family and was previously the Liu family''s best establishment, but with the opening of Lotus Delight Pavilion, it became their second-best. Despite this, the restaurant remains popular, with many patrons. All Liu family restaurants had been previously informed about Wang Lingxin and Chunhua''s importance, ensuring they would be well-served. Upon their arrival, the manager immediately recognized them and attended to them personally.


    In a nearby room, several masked men in dark clothing sat at a table. The manager served them politely, knowing they had higher cultivation levels and held higher positions in the Liu family. He didn''t dare to be careless.


    "Manager, bring me a fish dish."


    "I want noodles."


    "Bring the wine."


    "And I want..."


    The masked men placed their orders.


    "Right away, sirs," the manager replied, leaving to prepare their orders.


    "It''s good that Miss Lingxin is having lunch in this restaurant. Now we can take a little break and enjoy some food," one masked man said.


    "But damn, that Wu family''s Third Young Master is so cocky. How dare he look down on Miss Lingxin," another masked man said.


    "He even dared to show some killing intent earlier," a masked man added. When they secretly followed Wang Lingxin, they observed the interaction between her and Wu Bai at the restaurant entrance and noticed Wu Bai showing some killing intent.


    "Leader, should we teach that bastard Wu Bai a lesson?" a masked man asked.


    "There is no need. I will report everything to Mr. Orion later. It''s better not to get involved with the Wu family," Liu Jin replied.


    "Hmph... Not only Wu Bai, but the Wu family has been getting too cocky recently, just because they are getting closer to the City Lord''s Mansion," a masked man said.


    "That''s right. The Wu family is currently on the rise, so it''s better not to make trouble with them," Liu Jin agreed.


    "But our Liu family is also on the rise because of Mr. Orion, and with his help, our cultivation has improved so much. The mere Wu family is not a problem for us," a masked man said.


    Both the Wu and Liu families were considered medium-sized factions in Fengxian City and were of equal strength. The Liu family originated from Yanjing City, while the Wu family was from Ershiwu Shan City.


    Not long after Wang Lingxin and Chunhua ordered, the food arrived. Many dishes looked nice and smelled good. Wang Lingxin happily devoured the food, while Chunhua also enjoyed it, no longer worried.


    In the other room where the masked men were seated, their orders also arrived. They began eating, still on guard but relaxed a little, knowing the restaurant was safe and there were other Liu family cultivators tasked with guarding. The masked men ate while still monitoring the room where Wang Lingxin was eating.


    "The food is so good," Chunhua said.


    "Well, not bad," Wang Lingxin replied. "Look, Big Sis Chunhua, this roasted chicken dish is just like the one that Masked One brought for our dinner a few days ago," Wang Lingxin pointed to the roasted chicken on a plate.


    Orion had instructed Liu Jin to prepare food for Wang Lingxin while Orion was away and to ask her what she wanted, then bring it from the Liu family restaurants.


    "Oh, you''re right," Chunhua acknowledged.


    Wang Lingxin and Chunhua ate the best dishes on the menu, filling the table with a variety of the best and most expensive dishes.


    Meanwhile, Wu Bai also enjoyed his food, having ordered two rather expensive dishes.


    "Hahaha, I wonder how those lowlifes are doing now," Wu Bai said, imagining the shabby-looking little girl who wanted to eat at the restaurant; she must have been kicked out by the manager.


    He ate happily, imagining the faces of the lowlifes dreaming of eating expensive food but unable to, making his meal even more enjoyable.

 Chapter 71: Noiro

    Wu Bai left the restaurant with a satisfied expression, disappearing among the crowd as he walked towards the market.


    Not long after, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua were escorted out by the manager. Having eaten lots of food, Wang Lingxin felt satisfied. After thanking the manager, Wang Lingxin left, and Chunhua bowed and thanked the manager several times before catching up with Wang Lingxin.


    The manager watched them leave and smiled politely, saying, "Please come again," before returning to the restaurant.


    "Little Lingxin, where should we go now? Should we go home?" Chunhua asked, glancing at Wang Lingxin with a hint of wonder.


    Despite having eaten so much, Wang Lingxin still looked normal, her belly flat, while Chunhua¡¯s own belly was slightly bulging despite eating less.


    "Hmm... let''s walk a little to help digest," Wang Lingxin replied, feeling full.


    "Well, sure," Chunhua agreed, and they both walked among the busy market road.


    At a corner of the market, there was a commotion. Wang Lingxin and Chunhua were drawn to the lively scene.


    In an open area, a group was performing an acrobatic show. Some were playing instruments, others were juggling sharp knives, breathing fire, and jumping around, while the rest performed various other tricks. Although cultivators could do much more impressive things, these kinds of performances were still quite entertaining for mortals.


    Many people gathered around, enjoying the show, cheering, and clapping.


    Among the crowd, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua watched and enjoyed the performance. When it ended, some members of the acrobatic group moved around with a wooden box, collecting money. Both Wang Lingxin and Chunhua gave a copper coin.


    As the crowd dispersed, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua walked among them.


    "You again?!" a voice called out.


    Chunhua and Wang Lingxin turned around and saw the familiar young man they had previously met in the restaurant.


    "You!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.


    "Who are you calling ''you''? My name is Wu Bai. Call me Young Master Bai!" Wu Bai retorted.


    "And my name is Wang Lingxin!" Wang Lingxin shot back, not wanting to lose ground.


    "Hmph, so how was it getting kicked out of the restaurant? Did you perhaps cry? Hahaha," Wu Bai sneered.


    "Kicked out of the restaurant? Who?" Wang Lingxin asked.


    "You, of course! Who else could it be?" Wu Bai retorted.


    "Why would I be kicked out of the restaurant?" Wang Lingxin questioned.


    "Don''t pretend. Didn''t the manager bring you inside the restaurant and kick you out through the back door?" Wu Bai mocked with a smug look.


    "Of course not. The manager brought me to the best room in the restaurant, and not just that, he also served me personally," Wang Lingxin said, crossing her arms and raising her chin proudly.


    "... Hahaha, what a funny joke," Wu Bai laughed, and his guards joined in.


    The commotion drew a crowd, but they kept their distance, enjoying the spectacle. The acrobatic show had just ended, but another show seemed to be starting, much to their delight.


    "It''s not a joke," Wang Lingxin insisted.


    "Hahaha, sure, sure. So what were you doing there then?" Wu Bai asked, still mocking.


    "Of course, eating. I ate lots of food. Ah, I¡¯m so full and satisfied," Wang Lingxin said, patting her bulging belly with a satisfied look.


    Chunhua watched from the side, noticing Wang Lingxin trying to make her previously normal-looking belly appear more bulging.


    "Eat? Eat what?" Wu Bai asked, incredulously.


    "Young master, perhaps the manager felt pity for her, brought her in, and let her eat at the back, giving her the leftover food and trash from the kitchen," Wu Bai''s guard suggested.


    "Hahaha, not bad, not bad," Wu Bai laughed, patting his guard in approval. The guard laughed along, pleased with his own joke.


    "Hmph, of course not! I ate the best and most expensive dishes in the restaurant, and lots of them filling the entire table," Wang Lingxin boasted proudly.


    Wu Bai and his guard laughed even harder. "The best and most expensive dishes? Filling the entire table? Hahaha, good joke, good joke," Wu Bai said.


    "I told you, it''s not a joke!" Wang Lingxin pouted angrily.


    "So, It seems that despite your shabby appearance, you''re very rich, to be able to eat the best and most expensive dishes filling the entire table. Even this young master can''t afford such a thing," he said sarcastically.


    "I''m not rich. I only have a few copper coins," Wang Lingxin replied honestly.


    "HAHAHA!" Wu Bai and his guard laughed again, and some spectators joined in, finding the whole situation amusing.


    "You said you ate the best and most expensive dishes in the restaurant, filling the entire table. That must have cost a lot," Wu Bai said, thinking the little girl was making it up to boast. "But then you said you only have a few copper coins. You''re really funny. If you want to lie, at least make it believable."


    Chunhua stood at the side, unsure of what to do. She didn''t dare to speak and didn''t know how to explain that what Wang Lingxin said was all true. They did eat the best and most expensive dishes in the restaurant, filling the entire table, and Wang Lingxin ate most of it.


    "Who said I am lying?" Wang Lingxin retorted.


    "Then how did you pay?" Wu Bai asked.


    "Of course, it was free," Wang Lingxin replied.


    Wu Bai and his guard laughed, and some spectators joined in.


    "Young master, if she ate the leftover food and trash from the kitchen, it¡¯s no surprise she could eat for free. For a lowlife like her, such a thing could indeed be the most delicious and best food ever," Wu Bai''s guard said, making Wu Bai and the spectators laugh even louder.


    "It''s not like that! Why don''t you guys believe what I said? Stop laughing at me!" Wang Lingxin fumed, stomping her foot on the ground.


    "Hahaha... haaah... haah..." Wu Bai caught his breath from laughing so much, wiping away tears. "Come on everyone, let''s stop. Let''s not laugh anymore. She seems about to cry," Wu Bai said, looking at the angered Wang Lingxin, whose eyes were reddening.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The crowd slowly stopped laughing.


    "I am not!" Wang Lingxin protested.


    "Yeah, sure, whatever," Wu Bai said, retrieving a gold coin from his storage ring and tossing it to Wang Lingxin.


    Wang Lingxin caught the gold coin. "What''s this?" she asked.


    "Take it. You managed to entertain this young master. Use it to buy food. For a mortal like you, it should last a year, or you can treat yourself to some restaurant. It¡¯s not enough to eat at the previous restaurant, but if you want to eat some good food, you can try Supreme Fried Chicken restaurant," Wu Bai said.


    "Supreme Fried Chicken restaurant? Hmph, I¡¯ve already eaten too much of it. I''m tired of it," Wang Lingxin retorted.


    "Hahaha, you really know how to boast. Anyway, although you are very funny and entertaining, this young master is busy and must leave. See you again, hahaha," Wu Bai said, walking away.


    "Already tired of eating Supreme Fried Chicken? hahaha..." he continued laughing as he walked away, and the spectators slowly dispersed.


    The Supreme Fried Chicken restaurant has recently become a rising star and is very popular, with several branches opened across the city. Many shops and stalls also sell imitation versions of SFC at lower prices.


    Hearing the little girl claim she''s already eaten too much of it and is tired of it made Wu Bai laugh. The SFC is rather expensive for mortals, and the shabby-looking little girl, who only has a few copper coins, bragging about being tired of it is laughable, Wu Bai thought.


    At first, Wu Bai found the little girl to be an eyesore and wanted to teach her a lesson, but now he found her to be funny and entertaining, so he canceled his plan to punish her and gave her a gold coin instead for making him laugh a lot.


    "Big sis Chunhua, what should I do with this?" Wang Lingxin asked, holding the gold coin in her palm, not having had the chance to return it to Wu Bai.


    "Uh... just keep it for now. Don''t show it around. Put it in your coin pouch," Chunhua said, worried that showing the gold coin might attract thieves.


    Wang Lingxin did as she was told.


    "Hmph, that Wu Bai guy, although annoying, is not that bad. But I will get back at him in the future," Wang Lingxin said, determined.


    "Little Lingxin, it¡¯s better not to get involved further with that guy. He¡¯s the Third Young Master of the Wu family," Chunhua advised.


    "Big Sis Chunhua, like I said, you don¡¯t need to be afraid of him. So what if he¡¯s from the Wu family? We have Master backing us," Wang Lingxin replied confidently.


    With that, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua continued their walk home.


    Several masked men in dark clothing hiding nearby had been monitoring the entire situation. As everything began to wind down, they looked at each other. One of them raised both hands to the sides, as if unsure of what to do next.


    In the Liu family residence, Liu Mingzhen and Liu Yang were seated in a room discussing some matters.


    "A while ago, Mr. Orion asked for information about the bandits in the surrounding area. Then suddenly, many bandit groups were destroyed. Do you think what I''m thinking?" Liu Yang asked.


    "I don''t know what you''re trying to say, but whoever destroyed the bandit groups is doing good deeds for the masses. It''s commendable," Liu Mingzhen replied.


    Liu Yang nodded. "And a few days ago, Mr. Orion asked for various kinds of things... hmm..." Liu Yang fell into deep contemplation.


    News had already spread about a big bandit group in the south that was destroyed with no survivors, and the hostages were rescued, though some had disappeared.


    Several factions, including the City Lord''s Mansion, were investigating, but they had no leads. Meanwhile, Liu Yang and Liu Mingzhen had some guesses in their hearts.


    "There is no need to talk more... it''s better for us to know less," Liu Mingzhen said. "How about the task I gave you?"


    "Sigh... it''s not easy. If not for Mr. Orion, I would never personally go out to hunt for Spirit Beasts like this. Moreover, the Rank-2 slime and dragonfly Spirit Beasts that Mr. Orion specially requested are very rare. I''ve been scouring the forest and can''t find them. Next, I plan to go to Yuezhi Forest, hopefully can find some," Liu Yang replied.


    Orion had asked the Liu family to search for various kinds of Spirit Beasts, including the rare rank-2 slime and dragonfly Spirit Beasts. Despite deploying their forces, the Liu family had not succeeded, so Liu Mingzhen also sent Liu Yang.


    ...


    After traveling on foot for several days, Zhang Yueru''s group finally arrived at a small clearing on top of a hill. There were already several tents set up and various items around. Orion had moved ahead and prepared various items and some tents.


    "For now, you will stay here at this place. Rest for a while. After that, start building the houses. I have already prepared everything," Orion said, still hidden.


    Zhang Yueru then brought the kids to the tents. They found food and drink inside, ate and drank, and rested for a while.


    Afterward, Orion began instructing Zhang Yueru to start working on building houses. Orion had previously asked Liu Jian to prepare several wooden houses with a simple design, disassembled into pieces that could be easily reassembled. Orion also requested Liu Jian to prepare various other items. Then Liu Jian ordered one of his subordinates to deliver everything to Orion, storing it all in storage pouches and storage rings.


    Two young men, Zhu and Fang, began assembling the knocked-down house pieces, helped by Zhang Yueru and the other three girls. The kids also helped by cleaning the area, sweeping, plucking grass, and arranging and moving stuff. They worked together while Orion gave instructions, still hiding itself.


    When the houses were still under construction, they stayed temporarily in the tents. It took a week to complete the construction, finishing a small compound surrounded by a wooden wall with five wooden houses of varying sizes to live in and store supplies. Sixteen people lived there: Zhang Yueru, her three maids, the two young men, and ten children.


    Zhang Yueru, her three maids, and the two young men all kneeled on the ground. Even the children obediently followed suit. Orion had said there was no need for such formality, but Zhang Yueru and the others insisted, so Orion let them be.


    "Currently, I am occupied with other circumstances and unable to bring you with me. You will stay here for now. Don''t worry; I will protect and provide for you," Orion said, still hidden and using a disguised voice.


    "Later, I plan to move to another place. If you are still willing to follow me, I will bring you along," Orion added.


    "Senior, we owe you our lives. We will follow you and serve you, ready to do anything you command," Zhang Yueru said. The others echoed her sentiment.


    "Very good. For now, I need to go, but don''t worry, I will visit at least once a month," Orion said.


    A silk pouch then landed in front of Zhang Yueru. "In that pouch, there are several storage pouches and storage rings. You know how to use them, right?"


    "Yes, Senior," Zhang Yueru replied. Although she didn''t have a storage pouch or storage ring herself, her father had a low-level storage ring, and he had taught her how to use it.


    "You can use everything stored inside. There are also cultivation techniques, various pills for cultivation, talismans, weapons, and spirit stones," Orion instructed.


    "That''s too much, Senior. We can''t accept such precious items. Just food will be enough for us," Zhang Yueru said, refusing.


    Among the group, she was the only cultivator, at the 1st stage of Qi Condensation realm, and understood the value of such things, especially cultivation techniques, which even at the lowest level cost several dozen spirit stones.


    "Just use it. It''s okay, even if you use everything, I will provide more," Orion reassured her.


    "But..." Zhang Yueru hesitated.


    "Use it to improve yourselves so you can become more useful to me," Orion insisted.


    "Yes, Senior. I will not disappoint you. I will strive to become more useful," Zhang Yueru promised.


    "Not just you. Any of you, even the kids, if they can cultivate, then use the resources inside and learn the cultivation techniques," Orion said.


    The two young men and the three maids looked delighted. Who wouldn''t want to try cultivating? But even if they wanted to, they didn''t have the resources. Now they could use the resources and try to cultivate, and they were even given cultivation techniques.


    They thanked Orion profusely. "Thank you very much, Senior," they said.


    "Also, please take care of the kids and teach them how to read and write," Orion added.


    "Understood, Senior. We''ll do our best," Zhang Yueru replied.


    Among the group, only she and the young man named Zhu could read and write. Zhu''s father had worked as a trusted steward in her family, managing various businesses. Zhu had been following and learning from his father, preparing to be the next steward, so his father taught him to read, write, and other necessary skills. During the bandit attack, Zhu''s father was killed.


    Fang''s father worked as a bodyguard for Zhang Yueru''s family but was also killed during the bandit attack. Fang had been training to follow in his father''s footsteps as a bodyguard, focusing on physical training and fighting skills, so he couldn''t read or write. Zhang Yueru''s three maids also couldn''t read or write. Thus, only Zhang Yueru and Zhu were literate.


    "Senior, if there is anything we can do for you, just say it. We owe you so much and are ready to do anything," Zhang Yueru said.


    "Hmmm, next time when I come, I''ll ask for your help. For now, just focus on getting used to living here," Orion said, considering asking for their help to make gluten dough. Then, Orion gave several more instructions.


    "Also, call me Noiro," Orion said, finally introducing itself using a fake name.


    "Thank you very much for everything, Master Noiro," Zhang Yueru and the others bowed.


    Orion then left. Having obtained the materials it needed, Orion couldn''t wait to conduct some research on them. But first, Orion headed back to Fengxian to pick up Wang Lingxin.


    The small hill where Zhang Yueru and the others were staying was a few kilometers away from Orion''s house outside the city. Orion had brought them there so it could help if something happened. It was within the range where the SO-1 drone could fly and monitor them, so Orion left one SO-1 drone to keep an eye on them.


    The location was not too far and not too close; close enough for Orion to monitor and assist, but far enough that any trouble wouldn''t implicate Orion or be traced back to it.

 Chapter 72: The Meridian System a.k.a. the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

    In the Liu family residence, Wang Lingxin and Chunhua played in the garden. Although the residence they stayed in also had a flower garden, the one in the Liu family residence was larger, with a variety of beautiful flowers, neatly trimmed plants, grass, and there is even a small, beautiful lake with a pavilion beside it.


    Wang Lingxin, having almost explored the entire Fengxian city and feeling bored, had visited the Liu family residence with Chunhua to play these past few days. Liu Mingzhen would personally welcome them, offering many kinds of valuable gifts, especially food.


    Liu Jin would show her around the Liu family residence and sometimes join Wang Lingxin in her games, although he didn''t want to. He had no choice but to follow along, playing hide and seek, tag, and other games. Despite feeling embarrassed, he could only grit his teeth and do it. Moreover, he thought that establishing a good connection with Wang Lingxin would be beneficial for him, especially when she soared high in the future. He had high expectations for Wang Lingxin; he had heard that she had a low-quality Spiritual Root, but despite that, he believed that with a master like Orion, she would become a renowned cultivator.


    After playing for a while, Wang Lingxin sat on a stone bench in the garden to rest. There was a tray of Spiritual Fruits on a stone table nearby, prepared by the Liu family servants. Wang Lingxin sat and ate the fruit, feeling refreshed. Meanwhile, Chunhua stood near the lake, feeding the many colorful fish.


    Suddenly, a masked figure appeared in front of her. "Miss Lingxin," he greeted softly.


    "Oh... who are you?" Wang Lingxin asked, eating happily. The stone bench was tall for her short legs, and her legs dangled as she swung them back and forth.


    "..." Liu Jin was speechless. Didn''t we just play together a while ago? Now you''re pretending not to recognize me? he thought. "It''s me, Masked One," Liu Jin said.


    "Hmm, how do I know that you are really Masked One? What if you are pretending to be him?" Wang Lingxin continued eating.


    "Of course, I am the real Masked One. We¡¯re in the Liu family residence, and it''s highly guarded. It''s hard for other people to infiltrate and even pretend to be me," Liu Jin explained.


    There were many cultivators guarding the Liu family residence, both in the open and hidden. Several cultivators were secretly monitoring and guarding Wang Lingxin and Chunhua, including Liu Jin. It was hard to believe someone could infiltrate and sneak in.


    "Well, if you are the real Masked One, then what is the secret password?" Wang Lingxin asked, still ignoring the masked man.


    I see, so this is your real intention. Sigh¡­ Liu Jin thought, realizing that Wang Lingxin just wanted to play and tease him. Liu Jin stood in silence for a moment, conflicted and unsure of how to respond.


    "Leader, just do it. Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t look," Liu Jin heard via Voice Transmission.


    ¡°Hmph! Easy for you to say! You¡¯re not the one who has to do it,¡± Liu Jin responded through Voice Transmission.


    "Leader, she¡¯s just a kid. Don¡¯t think too much and just play along," came another Voice Transmission.


    "That¡¯s right, leader," added another Voice Transmission.


    Liu Jin then heard others agreeing and some struggling to hold in their laughter via Voice Transmission.


    He looked to the side and saw Chunhua still feeding the fish in the small lake. Liu Jin gritted his teeth and sighed internally, having no other choice.


    He raised both arms and pretended they were cat claws. "Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow... " Liu Jin meowed, dancing and wiggling his butt left and right. This... this is too embarrassing and humiliating! Liu Jin thought, feeling helpless and unable to refuse Wang Lingxin''s order.


    After Liu Jin finished the secret password performance, Wang Lingxin exclaimed, "Oh! You are the real Masked One," enthusiastic and happy that she managed to make him meow and dance around.


    Orion had taught her the importance of using a password to confirm someone''s identity and to use it in certain situations, and she had agreed with Liu Jin to use one. Wang Lingxin came up with a playful password, incorporating both a specific phrase and a series of movements. Liu Jin wasn''t thrilled about the choice, but Wang Lingxin insisted on it. The password required Liu Jin to act like a cat, meowing and dancing.


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    And now Wang Lingxin had the chance to make Liu Jin perform the password, and she eagerly took it. She was confident that he was the real Masked One but wanted to see him perform the password. After Liu Jin did, she was really satisfied and found the performance both funny and entertaining.


    "So, what is it, Masked One?" Wang Lingxin asked, now taking him seriously.


    "Mr. Orion has returned and called for you to come immediately," Liu Jin said, his face flushed with embarrassment behind the mask.


    He then flickered away, disappearing from view, eager to escape the situation. Moments later, he was standing on a rooftop of a nearby building. Through Voice Transmissions, he could hear his subordinates struggling to contain their laughter, with some even openly mocking and joking about him.


    "Hmph! Very good. It seems you''ve all been slacking off recently. Prepare for some harsh training this week!" Liu Jin replied via Voice Transmission, ready to discipline his subordinates for their audacity. After hearing about the harsh training, his subordinates quieted, not making a single peep anymore.


    Liu Jin embarrassment and anger were palpable, particularly since he had been seen performing such an embarrassing act. At least Chunhua hadn''t witnessed his humiliation.


    Orion arrived at the residence in Fengxian City after being away for more than two weeks and took a seat in the workroom. Not long after, Orion watched through the CCTV camera as Wang Lingxin, followed by Chunhua, entered the residence.


    "Master!" Wang Lingxin called out as she ran to the workroom. After hearing from Liu Jin that Orion had returned, she immediately left the Liu family residence.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Master, you''ve finally come back. What took you so long? Didn''t you say you would only be gone for a week? Where did you go? What did you do?" Wang Lingxin bombarded Orion with questions as soon as she entered the room.


    "Well, there were unforeseen circumstances, which took longer than expected," Orion explained.


    Wang Lingxin complained for a while before Orion managed to calm her down by giving her an ice pop and promising that she could eat lots of ice cream later. Only then did Wang Lingxin settle down and sit on a chair at the side, licking her ice pop.


    "Master Orion, welcome back," Chunhua said, bowing.


    "Mmm... so, is everything alright since I left?" Orion asked.


    Chunhua then gave her report, and Orion praised her. Chunhua then excused herself, mentioning she still had work to do. After Orion gave her permission, Chunhua left the room.


    Orion then called for Liu Jin. A shadowy, masked figure suddenly appeared in the room.


    "Mr. Orion," Liu Jin said, cupping both hands and bowing.


    "This is the MSG and seasoning for the SFC for this month," Orion said, handing over a storage ring, getting straight to the point.


    Liu Jin immediately received the storage ring respectfully, a wide smile hidden behind his mask. "Thank you very much, Mr. Orion." He then took out another storage ring and handed it to Orion. "This is the Spirit Stones and some materials that you requested. We''re really sorry, Mr. Orion; we didn¡¯t manage to gather everything you asked for, but we¡¯re still trying to obtain it."


    Liu Jin then took out several scrolls. "Mr. Orion, these contain the information you requested, as well as details on what happened while you were away," he said. Liu Jin gave daily reports to Orion, but they were brief, and the scrolls contained more detailed information.


    "Very good," Orion said, taking the scrolls and quickly reading through them.


    Orion had asked Liu Jin to gather various kinds of information, from high-level information about factions in the city and their movements to rumors regarding youths with extraordinary potential, especially those with tragic backgrounds.


    After finishing reading the scrolls, Orion gave several instructions to Liu Jin and Chunhua before taking Wang Lingxin back to the house outside the city. After arriving at the house, Wang Lingxin had lunch, ate ice cream, then dashed off.


    "Master, I am going out to play," Wang Lingxin called out as she closed the front door and ran out of the house.


    A SO-1 drone then took off into the sky from the house, following Wang Lingxin, with Orion monitoring her via the drone. Wang Lingxin went to find Aria and took her to play in the village.


    In an underground room.


    Time to uncover the mysteries of the Meridian System, Orion thought internally as it retrieved three bandit bodies and placed them each on a stone table.


    Wearing slime gloves and taking a very sharp knife from a nearby table, Orion started to cut open the bodies.


    Two weeks passed. During this time, Orion focused on researching the bandits'' bodies while also teaching Wang Lingxin about combat in the morning. The research yielded significant results. Orion found that the body structure of humans in this world is similar to Earth''s humans, with only a few differences.


    Orion discovered that the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in this world¡¯s humans is unique. While it retains the whitish color similar to Earth¡¯s humans, there are dark lumps spread throughout the larger trunks of the PNS. Previously, Orion found such features in the PNS of Spirit Beasts, thus piquing its interest to study the PNS of humans from this world.


    By referencing scrolls and books, Orion concluded that the PNS in this world is called the Meridian System. The dark lumps are known as Meridian Points. There are scrolls depicting the Meridian System and Meridian Points. Based on their shape and position, Orion concluded they resemble the PNS and its dark lumps. Orion conducted in-depth research to study this further.


    Using a high-resolution imaging tool with advanced zoom capabilities, initially designed for analyzing Martian rocks and soils, Orion researched the PNS and the dark lumps. Studying the cross-section of the PNS, Orion discovered it differs from that of Earth''s humans. Not only are there blood vessels, but there is also a unique tube-like structure, similar to a blood vessel but slightly distinct, which, through further experiments, Orion found is used to transport Qi.


    The presence of Qi in this tube-like structure was detected by Orion using a specialized talisman it created with O# inscription. The talisman glows when it detects Qi, with the intensity of the glow increasing as more Qi is detected. When Orion brought the talisman close to a small portion of the PNS from a cultivator, the talisman glowed brighter, indicating a high concentration of Qi.


    Further research on the dark lumps revealed that Qi can exit through them. Orion concluded that the PNS of humans in this world is different from that of Earth''s humans. The PNS here has a unique tube-like structure that transports Qi, and Qi can exit via the dark lumps.


    Both mortals and cultivators from this world have this tube-like structure to transport Qi and dark lumps in their PNS. The difference is that in mortals, the dark lumps are smaller, the tube-like structure that transports Qi is closed, and the PNS shows no trace of Qi. In cultivators, the dark lumps are larger, the tube is open, and the PNS contains traces of Qi.


    Another discovery by Orion is regarding the Dantian. In this cultivation world, a cultivator has an organ called the Dantian located in their lower abdomen. Mortals do not have such an organ. It could be said that after becoming a cultivator, they develop a new organ called the Dantian.


    Orion''s research on the Dantian revealed that its size is determined by the major cultivation realm. Currently, Orion only has Dantian from Qi Condensation realm cultivators and a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. The Dantian of a Qi Condensation realm cultivator is smaller than that of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator.


    For the same major cultivation realm, the size varies slightly, determined by the minor cultivation realm, with the 9th stage being bigger than the 1st stage. Based on what Orion learned from various books and scrolls, the size of the Dantian is also determined by the cultivator''s talent; those with good Spiritual Roots have a bigger Dantian.


    Orion conducted further research by cutting the Dantian open to study it. It found that the Dantian contains a high concentration of Qi.


    In the Dantian of a Qi Condensation realm cultivator, the Qi is not dense and immediately evaporates. In the Dantian of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, there is a clear liquid containing a high concentration of Qi. Orion used a talisman to detect this Qi.


    The Qi in the Dantian of a Qi Condensation realm cultivator is mostly in the form of mist and disperses quickly after the Dantian is cut open. The Qi in the Dantian of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator is in liquid form. Orion conducted experiments with it and managed to use this liquid Qi to activate inscriptions. This liquid Qi is similar to LQ, and further research shows that its Qi content is roughly equivalent to that of LQ-0


    In addition to focusing on the Meridian System and Dantian, Orion conducted thorough research on the bandit bodies, trying to find other differences from Earth''s humans. Despite discovering that the PNS of humans in this world is different from Earth''s humans, the central nervous system (CNS) and other parts of the body are the same. The only differences are the PNS and the organ called Dantian. The PNS functions the same as Earth''s humans'' PNS but with the additional function of transporting Qi.


    Truly a great discovery, Orion thought. In this cultivation world, the peripheral nervous system is called the Meridian System and functions like the PNS from Earth but also serves to transport Qi.


    On Earth, there is also a concept of a Meridian System, but it is different from the one in this cultivation world.


    Should I capture live bandits and perform further research on them? Orion pondered internally, considering whether capturing live bandits would yield more insights for further study.


    On a small hill near Fengxian City, a visitor from another world had uncovered significant information about the Meridian System and Dantian. Despite not being a cultivator and unable to cultivate, this visitor¡¯s understanding of Dantian and Meridian System far surpassed that of most inhabitants of this world.


    In this cultivation world, where science is not developed and knowledge about the peripheral nervous system (PNS)¡ªreferred to here as the Meridian System¡ªis limited, the inhabitants recognize its functions for stimulus input, body control, and most importantly for the transport of Qi.

 Chapter 73: No Need to Announce the Technique Name

    "Now, I will teach you how to use weapons. We''ll start with smaller ones first, so watch carefully as I demonstrate," Orion said, holding a wooden knife. On a nearby table, several other wooden weapons were laid out.


    Wang Lingxin had shown good progress in unarmed combat, so Orion decided it was time to introduce her to weapons. Because Wang Lingxin was still small, they would begin with smaller-sized weapons. The practice weapons were made by Orion from wood, ensuring they weren''t dangerous.


    Orion demonstrated each wooden weapon on the table one by one, with Wang Lingxin watching in amazement.


    "Master, why does the weapon look so weird?" Wang Lingxin asked, raising her hand as she observed Orion''s demonstration with the strange, curved knife.


    "It''s not weird; this is how it''s supposed to look. It''s called a karambit. Now, watch closely," Orion replied, holding the karambit in its right hand, spinning it by the index finger loop, then demonstrating its use.


    "Oh..." Wang Lingxin murmured.


    She had never seen such a weapon before and thought its curved shape and unique grip looked strange, even thinking it might be damaged.


    "Wow..." Wang Lingxin exclaimed as she watched Orion skillfully demonstrate the use of the karambit.


    Orion taught Wang Lingxin for an hour, focusing on small weapons like knives, daggers, throwing knives, and the karambit. After a while, the lesson ended. It was just an introductory session, and Wang Lingxin had much more to learn.


    "Okay, we''re done for today''s lesson," Orion said as it stored the wooden weapons in the storage ring.


    Orion then left the dojo, walking under the morning sun as it headed to the workshop before entering the underground room.


    In the largest underground room, Orion was busily working. A humanoid figure stood before it, and Orion was tweaking it meticulously. The figure had a muscular body, but its head was bald and faceless¡ªit looked like a human body but was actually a wooden mannequin covered with slime skin. Orion could control the slime skin to change its texture and color, allowing it to mimic human skin, making the mannequin appear almost lifelike. Orion even adjusted the slime skin to make the mannequin resemble a muscular human body.


    The mannequin''s abdomen was open, revealing a metallic object and numerous cables inside. Orion moved to the back of the mannequin and connected several cables from the mannequin to itself. After a moment, Orion raised the mannequin''s right hand. There were several wooden mannequins standing across the room as targets, and Orion aimed the mannequin''s hand at one of them.


    Using the cables, Orion controlled the mannequin''s ADAMS, activating its artificial Dantian and transferring Qi through the artificial meridian system, which was made from slime meridian. Electric stimulation was used to control the Qi flow from the artificial Dantian through the meridian system to the mannequin''s right arm. A bright light began to gather there, and a ball of fire formed in the hand before being shot toward the mannequin across the room.


    Swoosh.


    Bam.


    The fireball struck the mannequin on the other side of the room, exploding on impact and engulfing it in flames. The wooden figure was charred and burned.


    Orion then controlled the connected mannequin to fire another ball of fire, this time larger and compressed before being released. The fireball shot towards the burning mannequin.


    Swoosh.


    Bam.


    The explosion was even stronger, blowing the wooden mannequin into several pieces, which were then set ablaze.


    Orion then aimed the wooden mannequin''s right hand and controlled it to shoot water balls, dousing the burning remnants of the previous target. Next, Orion aimed at another wooden mannequin standing across the room. A crescent-shaped water blade shot from the mannequin''s hand, slicing through the wooden mannequin and cutting it in half.


    Orion then aimed the mannequin''s hand at the remaining wooden mannequins across the room, launching a series of attacks: a wind blade that sliced through one mannequin, a lightning strike that cracked and slightly burned another, an icicle that stabbed into a third, and a sharp stone stalactite that pierced yet another.


    With all the wooden mannequins destroyed, Orion raised the left hand of the slime skin-covered mannequin. Orion then controlled the mannequin''s left and right hands to execute combat techniques of different elements at the same time, rapidly alternating between techniques with minimal delay.


    Most cultivators can''t execute two combat techniques at a time, let alone with different elemental attributes, but Orion did it with ease. Additionally, Orion didn¡¯t need to announce or shout the technique''s name like most cultivators. It could use combat techniques instantly.


    Orion had researched this phenomenon and concluded that the reason cultivators need to announce their technique names is due to habit. Learning combat techniques is challenging, involving complex combinations of meridian points and precise Qi control. By saying the name, cultivators reinforce the memory of which meridian points to use and how to control the Qi¡ªsimilar to a shortcut or hotkey in a game.


    Low-leveled cultivators loudly declare their technique names, and the execution is slow. As they advance, this habit persists, helping them execute more complex techniques. Hence, even at higher realms, cultivators continue to shout their technique names, much like characters in cultivation novels, manga, manhwa, or comics.


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    But for Orion, there was no need for such hassle. Every aspect of the combat technique was stored in its memory and could be accessed instantly.


    Impressive. I¡¯ve now improved my control over ADAMS, Orion noted internally as it observed the burning remains of the destroyed mannequins, recording the data.


    It took Orion about a month to create the wooden mannequin and install the ADAMS inside it. The ADAMS was designed to mimic a human Dantian and meridian system.


    Orion replicated the human meridian system using slime meridian by joining and cutting the slime meridians, then mending them with high-quality medicinal liquid. The entire system was wrapped in slime skin for protection, resulting in a product similar to a cable.


    Weeks were spent learning to control the ADAMS, and Orion successfully mimicked how cultivators use their meridians to activate combat techniques and now Orion has further improved and deepened the understanding and control of the ADAMS.


    Orion was thoroughly satisfied with the performance of the ADAMS. When compared to cultivators, the combat capabilities of the ADAMS far exceeded those of a typical cultivator. The current ADAMS was created using Rank-1 slime meridians and a Rank-1 Spirit Beast core, making it equivalent to a cultivator at the Qi Condensation realm, but with much better performance.


    When executing combat techniques, the resulting power was far greater than that of a cultivator, thanks to the slime meridians, which are among the best, and the Spirit Beast core, which continuously supplied large amounts of Qi by converting it from LQ.


    Although the slime meridians used were from normal slime with no unique characteristics, the power generated when executing fire-based combat techniques was comparable to that of a cultivator with a unique fire element body constitution.


    Cultivators with unique body constitutions can enhance their combat and cultivation techniques, but they also face drawbacks. For example, a cultivator with a fire element body constitution will see their fire-based attacks increase several folds in power, but their attacks of other elemental types will be weakened.


    However, with the ADAMS, the power exhibited was equally strong, akin to those cultivators with unique body constitutions, and the ADAMS could utilize multiple elements without any weaknesses.


    The ADAMS prototype successfully executed combat techniques, and Orion began planning the next step: installing the ADAMS into its own body. However, several issues needed to be addressed before proceeding.


    The plan was not only to integrate ADAMS but also to cover its body with slime skin. The wooden mannequin, which was covered in slime skin, appeared lifelike, with skin resembling that of a human. Orion also planned to use slime skin on itself to achieve a human-like appearance.


    To do this, Orion needed to modify its body, removing the outer casing and even cutting and altering some structural parts, which would take time. People believed that Orion was a human constantly wearing metallic armor. If Orion suddenly covered its body with slime skin, it would result in Orion''s body becoming bigger, which would raise suspicion.


    How could a body appear larger without armor? To avoid this, Orion needed to remove and modify some of its body parts to reduce its size before applying the slime skin. Orion needed to modify its body to allow for the installation of the ADAMS and to cover its body with slime skin, also connecting the ADAMS with the slime skin.


    Currently, Orion''s outer casing was strengthened with inscriptions, and removing it would affect its defense. However, this was no longer an issue, as Orion had successfully put inscriptions on the slime skin.


    Orion planned to use two layers of slime skin with inscriptions on each. For cultivators, inscribing their bodies is not feasible because the Qi flow within the inscriptions would disrupt their Qi flow, potentially damaging their meridians and Dantian, and causing significant pain. However, this is not a problem for Orion.


    Between the layers, there will be medicinal liquid to nourish and heal the slime skin if damaged. Orion had even made the medicinal liquid red to resemble blood. Orion had developed this medicinal liquid and improved it through many experiments, and now it has great healing power, allowing the slime skin to quickly recover from cuts and damage.


    After months of research and experiments, it''s finally done. Only a few improvements are needed, and I can integrate ADAMS into my body. It will allow me to execute combat and movement techniques like a cultivator. Although I won''t become a cultivator, this will grant me abilities akin to cultivators, Orion thought internally, its AI busily planning and preparing for the final steps.


    The ADAMS is great but also has limitations. It grants capabilities similar to those of a cultivator but can''t be used for cultivation. In summary, Orion can''t use the ADAMS to cultivate, improve it, or achieve breakthroughs.


    Currently, the ADAMS is equivalent to a cultivator at the Qi Condensation realm, and Orion can''t cultivate the ADAMS to make it breakthrough to the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. To create an ADAMS comparable to a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm, Orion would need to use Rank-2 slime meridian and a Rank-2 Spirit Beast core.


    Although Orion can''t evolve the ADAMS and must create new, improved versions, there are also advantages. As long as Orion has the necessary materials, it can create high-level ADAMS comparable to high-level cultivators in a short time, while cultivators need a long time to advance their cultivation. However, for now, Orion still can''t create an ADAMS equivalent to a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator because it doesn''t have Rank-2 slime meridian.


    Orion began the cleanup, storing various items in the storage ring, including the wooden mannequin covered in slime skin. After tidying up the room, which was littered with destroyed parts and pieces of wooden mannequins, Orion left the underground room, satisfied with the day''s fruitful experiment.


    Even with a normal Rank-1 slime meridian, the power exhibited is comparable to cultivators with unique body constitutions, and it can utilize a wide variety of elements.


    What if meridians from a slime with a special elemental attribute were used? The performance might be even greater.


    And why limit to just one meridian system? What if multiple slime meridian systems were arranged in parallel, each with a unique elemental attribute?


    For the artificial Dantian, I could experiment with using multiple Spirit Beast cores to power it, Orion pondered internally, its AI continuously planning and researching possible improvements and upgrades for the ADAMS as it walked out of the workshop and into the house.


    The house was empty; Wang Lingxin was with Aria, playing with the village kids. Orion observed her via a high-flying drone camera.


    Wang Lingxin¡¯s Spiritual Root is of low quality. Her potential in cultivation is limited and advancing her cultivation level will be challenging. Is it possible to improve her meridian and Dantian? ... It seems I indeed need to conduct experiments on live humans, Orion thought, formulating a plan to raid bandit groups again and capture some bandits.


    Orion left the house, closing the door behind it. The plan to capture live bandits was set but required extensive preparation, so it was postponed for now. Currently, Orion planned to visit Zhang Yueru and her group.


    Orion began running, vanishing among the trees.

 Chapter 74: Creating a Golden Finger

    Orion moved through the forest, its AI continuously planning future strategies, ways to strengthen itself, and other critical matters. Despite all the research and effort that had brought Orion to its current state, it still strived for further improvement and development.


    In the cultivation world, Orion concluded that the best way to obtain power was through cultivation. Unfortunately, as a robot, it couldn''t cultivate. However, after extensive research and experimentation, Orion succeeded in creating the ADAMS. While the ADAMS won''t make Orion a true cultivator, it grants abilities akin to one. Orion''s AI continuously seeks ways to further improve and refine it.


    In Earth novels, especially those about cultivation, characters who are transported or isekai''ed to a cultivation world often receive a ''golden finger''¡ªa cheat ability. But here I am, transported to this cultivation world, without any so-called ''golden finger'', Orion thought internally.


    Most cultivation novels from Earth feature themes like reincarnation, transmigration, or time regression. In these stories, characters are often granted a ''golden finger'' or cheat to aid them. This could be a system, a peerless cultivation technique, powerful items, knowledge of the future, guidance from a senior, or other advantages.


    Orion had even tried calling out for a ''system'' in the past¡ªshouting loudly, quietly, and even internally, in both Earth languages and the languages of this world, using various pronunciations and intonations¡ªbut to no avail.


    While the novels from Earth grant those characters a ''golden finger'' and make them the protagonist or the MC, Orion received no such advantage. Instead, it relied solely on its own abilities and the vast knowledge of its AI, drawing on the information, data, and expertise of Earth''s humanity stored in its memory.


    Navigating and striving to survive in this cultivation world, Orion even managed to create its own ''golden finger''¡ªthe ADAMS. With it, Orion, unable to step onto the path of cultivation, managed to carve its own unique cultivation path that belongs solely to it.


    Orion had also been pondering the nature of this cultivation world. Transported here, it wondered whether this world was real or merely a setting within a novel, much like the stories from Earth. The similarities were uncanny¡ªthis world seemed to mirror the cultivation novels from Earth, despite those stories being purely fictional. Earth''s humans had no real knowledge of a cultivation world, yet this world was remarkably similar to the ones described in Earth''s novels.


    If this were indeed a novel, Orion wondered whether everything happening to it was the result of some author¡¯s design. Was every event and action merely at the whim of an author, crafted for the entertainment of readers? But if that were true, how could everything feel so lifelike and real?


    Orion¡¯s thoughts spiraled further¡ªwhat about those cultivation novels from Earth? Had they also become real, each with its own world? There were many such novels back on Earth, and now Orion wondered if it was within one of those stories. Did Orion also become the protagonist or the MC? Did it have some sort of plot armor?


    These questions led to deeper uncertainties. Were Orion¡¯s decisions and actions truly its own, or were they influenced by an author? Despite all the pondering, Orion couldn¡¯t find a definitive answer. Ultimately, it resolved to focus on surviving in this world, doing its best to navigate the challenges it faced.


    After running for a while, Orion arrived at the foot of a hill. It retrieved a cloak, scarf, bamboo hat, and some fabric, carefully covering its entire body. High above the hill, an SO-1 drone flew overhead. Through its camera, Orion surveyed the compound at the hilltop, noticing the lively activity and children playing within. Once fully covered, Orion began its ascent toward the compound.


    The small compound was enclosed by a wooden wall, with five wooden houses of varying sizes. Children ran around laughing, playing with toys, and mock fighting with tree branches as swords. Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the area, and a figure appeared in the center of the compound, as if the figure had fallen from above. The children immediately stopped their play, eyes widening as they saw the fully covered figure.


    Without hesitation, they rushed over and bowed in unison, greeting, "Welcome, Mr. Noiro!"


    Previously, Orion had met them as Norio, while fully covered in disguise, so the children immediately recognized Orion and rushed over to greet.


    Moments later, more children and a few adults emerged from the buildings, joining in the greetings.


    "Mr. Noiro, welcome," Zhang Yueru said politely, bowing as she approached.


    "Mmm," Orion responded in a disguised voice, still maintaining the alias of Noiro. "I had some free time, so I decided to check in. How is everyone doing?"


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    "We¡¯re doing well, thank you for your care," Zhang Yueru replied with a smile.


    "That¡¯s good," Orion said. "I brought you some supplies, along with toys for the children."


    Orion handed over a storage ring. The children stood obediently, but upon hearing about the toys, they erupted into cheers of joy.


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Noiro," Zhang Yueru said, visibly touched, as she respectfully received the storage ring. "We still have plenty of supplies, there¡¯s no need to..."


    "No worries," Orion cut her off. "It¡¯s good to keep you all well-provisioned."


    Zhang Yueru¡¯s heart swelled with gratitude. Their mysterious benefactor had not only saved them but continued to provide for them generously. The food, even the meat from Spirit Beasts, was plentiful. They felt safe, nourished, and even provided with cultivation resources. She silently vowed to serve her benefactor, Mr. Noiro, with all her heart.


    "How¡¯s the progress on the task I gave you?" Orion asked.


    "We¡¯ve already finished it," Zhang Yueru replied.


    "What? Already finished?" Orion was surprised.


    "Yes, all the flour is used up," she confirmed with a nod.


    "That fast?" Orion asked again.


    "The children helped, so we managed to complete it quickly," Zhang Yueru explained.


    "There¡¯s no need to involve the children," Orion said. "They¡¯re still young; let them play and enjoy themselves."


    "They volunteered," Zhang Yueru said with a warm smile. "They want to repay your kindness, Mr. Noiro, and they did it happily."


    "I see. Thank you, everyone, and good job," Orion said, glancing at the children. The kids beamed, thrilled by the praise, happy to have been able to help their savior.


    Orion spoke with Zhang Yueru, handling various matters, including checking on the gluten dough task and the kids'' progress in reading and writing. After discussing other concerns, Orion eventually took its leave.


    Zhang Yueru and the others watched as the figure of Orion slowly disappeared among the trees. The children waved, cheered, and said their goodbyes, full of excitement. Zhang Yueru urged them to return to the compound and close the door. Once inside, she checked the storage ring that Orion had given her.


    "Mr. Noiro is so kind! Look, he brought you all so many toys," Zhang Yueru smiled warmly.


    The children erupted with joy as they heard the news. Zhang Yueru began retrieving the toys one by one¡ªwooden figures, spinning tops, rocking horses, dolls, board games, and more. Each child received their toy eagerly, their faces lighting up with happiness as they started playing immediately.


    Zhang Yueru smiled as she watched them. These children, with no families of their own, were lucky enough to smile and live happily, with a safe place to stay, enough food, and the chance to play with each other. Slowly, they were beginning to forget the traumatic experiences with the bandits that had once haunted them.


    "Who wants to help make dough?" Zhang Yueru asked.


    "Me!"


    "I want to help!"


    "Me too!"


    The children raised their hands enthusiastically, already losing interest in their toys. Despite the excitement, they were deeply grateful to their benefactor, Mr. Noiro, and eagerly wanted to help with the tasks he had assigned, preferring to assist rather than play.


    Zhang Yueru led the children to one of the buildings, retrieving several sacks of flour from the storage ring. They obediently worked together, making dough with experienced hands. Three young girls, who were once her maids, also assisted, occasionally offering guidance and instruction to the kids.


    Meanwhile, Zhu and Fang were outside, busy tending to the small vegetable garden not far from the compound. Though Orion provided them with enough supplies, including vegetables, they still wanted to plant some of their own, striving to be self-reliant. Orion had decided to let them do as they pleased in that regard.


    Zhang Yueru and her group are doing a great job, managing to make large amounts of gluten dough in just a few days, Orion thought as it ran through the forest. Now I don¡¯t have to make the dough myself¡ªI just need to process it into MSG.


    Orion had decided to leave the task of making gluten dough in the future to Zhang Yueru and her group. It will free up a lot of Orion''s time for other endeavors.


    The current batch of gluten dough made by Zhang Yueru and her group would yield a significant amount of MSG, which could generate tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. If not for the need to maintain a low profile, Orion would have considered employing even more people to increase production and profit further.


    But for now, Zhang Yueru¡¯s group was more than enough.


    Orion had spent a few Spirit Stones on Zhang Yueru and her group, including the cost of building their compound and providing supplies, with the most expensive being the pills, cultivation techniques, talismans, and weapons. Overall, Orion spent less than 80 Spirit Stones. Yet, in return, the group had made so much gluten dough that it would soon translate into an incredible profit¡ªa truly valuable investment.


    One''s wealth can become one''s misfortune, Orion reflected internally. Only when I am strong enough will I sell MSG in large quantities, and whoever dares to cause trouble... will be eliminated. For now, it¡¯s better to stay low-profile and avoid unnecessary attention.


    ...


    A figure soared above Lianfen Village, drawing the gaze of everyone below in awe. In this remote place, cultivators capable of flight were a rare sight, as only those in the Golden Core realm or higher could achieve it. The strongest cultivator in the village was merely at the Foundation Establishment realm.


    "So, this is Lianfen Village," Liu Yang muttered, hovering above the village as he glanced down at the busy activity below.


    Despite the small size and rather remote location, the village had a surprising number of cultivators, all due to its proximity to the Yuezhi Forest, which was abundant in resources. Even a small branch of the Mercenary Guild had been established here. Many ventured into the forest, both mortals and cultivators alike, hoping to strike fortune.


    Liu Yang''s gaze shifted to the vast expanse of the Yuezhi Forest, a seemingly endless sea of trees. "Sigh, I hope I can find some Rank-2 Slimes for Mr. Orion," he mused, before flying toward the forest.


    The villagers and cultivators below watched in excitement as the figure headed towards the Yuezhi Forest. Conversations erupted, full of curiosity. Who is he? What realm is his cultivation? Why is he heading to the Yuezhi forest? They eagerly discussed the mysterious figure.

 Chapter 75: Mysterious Savior

    Rustle


    Rustle


    Among the trees and bushes, a large boar moved through the grass, searching for food. It wasn¡¯t just any ordinary boar but a Rank-1 Spirit Beast¡ª a massive, 2-meter tall Four-Tusked Boar.


    About 50 meters away, hidden behind the bushes, a boy was carefully observing the boar. Slowly, he placed an arrow on his bow, drawing it back as he aimed.


    Swoosh


    The arrow flew but failed to pierce the boar¡¯s thick skin, falling to the ground with a soft thud.


    The boy didn''t seem surprised. The boar, now alerted to his presence, turned towards the bushes, its eyes full of rage. It let out an enraged grunt and locked onto the boy¡¯s figure.


    The boy stood up from his hiding spot, and in a heartbeat, the boar charged toward him. He turned and dashed away, the boar in hot pursuit behind him.


    Nimbly, he dodged obstacles, running swiftly through the dense forest. The boar, however, plowed through everything in its path, smashing through bushes and trees, closing in on him.


    The boy sprinted, his breaths growing heavier, but he didn¡¯t run blindly. The boar was getting closer¡ªhe could hear its grunts and the pounding of its hooves thundering behind him.


    Though exhausted and with the boar almost catching up to him, he remained calm, knowing he was close to his destination.


    Ahead, a vine dangled from a large tree branch. Below it, the ground was covered in dry leaves.


    With a final burst of speed, the boy jumped, grabbed the vine, and swung forward. Releasing his grip, he landed firmly on the ground and stopped running.


    He turned to face the boar, which was rapidly closing in, snorting angrily.


    The boy stood still, not intending to run any further. As the boar charged towards him, it reached the area covered in dry leaves and suddenly crashed with a loud thud, tumbling into the trap.


    The boar had fallen into the pit the boy had prepared earlier¡ªdug deep and carefully concealed with branches and a thick layer of dry leaves on top. Without a closer inspection, it looked like just another patch of ground. Unaware of the danger, the boar had charged full speed and crashed into the hidden hole.


    Crash!


    Bam!


    The sound of the boar¡¯s fall echoed through the forest, followed by its loud, frustrated grunts.


    The boy looked down at the boar that had fallen into the pit. It wasn¡¯t just a simple hole¡ªhe had lined the bottom and sides of the pit with wooden stakes tipped with sharpened Spirit Beast bones, like spears.


    The spears pierced the boar¡¯s body, blood flowing from multiple wounds. The boar let out pained grunts, struggling in the pit.


    The boy observed carefully¡ªit wasn¡¯t dead yet, still thrashing and making noises.


    He picked up a large stone nearby and, with considerable effort, hoisted it over his head. The stone was quite large compared to his small frame. He then threw it down onto the boar¡¯s head.


    Bam!


    The boar cried out, struggling even more, blood flowing from the wound on its head where the stone had struck, but its strong vitality kept it clinging to life. The boy grabbed stone after stone, throwing each one with force. Each strike was met with another pained grunt from the boar, until finally, it stopped moving.


    "Hahhh... finally," the boy sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead. He sat down on a large tree root to catch his breath.


    "Not bad, kid. For a mere mortal, you managed to kill a Four-Tusked Boar," a voice suddenly rang out, startling the boy.


    He jumped up, immediately grabbing his bow and nocking an arrow, scanning the area for the speaker.


    A figure appeared, hovering in the air above him. The boy''s heart raced, but he tried to remain calm, though sweat trickled down his brow. He lowered his bow, returned the arrow to his quiver, and knelt, bowing with cupped hands. "Greetings, sir."


    "Mmm," Liu Yang nodded, noticing the boy¡¯s fear.


    "I was just passing by and saw you being chased by that Four-Tusked Boar. I thought you might need help, but it turns out you were luring it into a trap all along. You¡¯re quite capable. Judging by your experience, this isn¡¯t your first time hunting a Four-Tusked Boar, is it? Hahaha, I was worried for nothing."


    "Thank you, sir, for your concern," the boy replied, bowing again.


    "What¡¯s your name, kid?" Liu Yang asked.


    "My name is Huan Lei," the boy responded respectfully.


    "Do you live around here?" Liu Yang asked.


    "Currently, I live in Lianfen Village. Previously, I lived in a secluded place at the foot of the mountain with my father, but a few months ago, he suffered a grave injury while hunting a Spirit Beast and passed away. So, I moved to Lianfen Village," Huan Lei explained.


    "Are you familiar with Yuezhi Forest?" Liu Yang inquired.


    "I¡¯m not too familiar with Yuezhi Forest, sir. I¡¯ve only been to the outskirts. I only visit familiar places and don¡¯t dare venture deeper. I usually hunt around the peripheral area," Huan Lei said cautiously.


    "I see. By the way, you did a good job hunting this Four-Tusked Boar," Liu Yang remarked.


    "My father was an experienced hunter, and he often took me along, teaching me his skills. Although this Four-Tusked Boar is strong, it¡¯s quite stupid and easily fell into my trap," Huan Lei replied modestly.


    "Have you ever come across Rank-2 slimes or higher?" Liu Yang asked.


    "No sir, I haven¡¯t. I¡¯ve only encountered Rank-1 slimes, and there are plenty of them around the forest," Huan Lei admitted.


    "I see," Liu Yang said, sounding a bit disappointed before flying off.


    The mysterious cultivator disappeared into the distance, but Huan Lei didn¡¯t relax until a while later, making sure the cultivator had flown far enough. He sighed in relief, cold sweat drenching his back.


    He didn¡¯t know who the cultivator was, as the man hadn¡¯t shared his name or background, and Huan Lei hadn¡¯t dared to ask.


    Without a second thought, he dashed in the opposite direction, not daring to look back.


    "Mmm?" Liu Yang sensed something as he continued deeper into Yuezhi Forest. Through his Spiritual Sense, he noticed the boy, Huan Lei, running away, leaving behind the Four-Tusked Boar he had just killed.


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    "Ugh, am I that scary?" he wondered, puzzled. He had done nothing to scare the boy. "Oh well." Shrugging it off, Liu Yang continued his flight deeper into the forest.


    Meanwhile, Huan Lei raced through the trees, sweat dripping and breath ragged, but he didn¡¯t stop. He even left the Four-Tusked Boar carcass behind, desperate to put as much distance as possible between himself and the mysterious cultivator.


    Huan Lei wasn¡¯t his real name, but the fake name he used now. In truth, he was Huang Lei, the last survivor of the Huang Family. His family had been destroyed by enemies, leaving him the sole survivor.


    Along with his loyal guard, they had managed to escape, but Huang Lei had been severely wounded in the process, his cultivation crippled, his Dantian destroyed. His guard had led their pursuers away, allowing him to flee alone.


    He eventually made it to Lianfen Village, collapsing from his injuries. When he regained consciousness, he found himself surrounded by beggar children, who had found him bloodied and unconscious in an alley and taken care of him.


    His body was in terrible condition, suffering from serious internal injuries and numerous external wounds, including a few broken bones. His storage rings had been lost during the chase, leaving him without any medicine pills to treat his injuries.


    He could only try to suppress his internal injuries, and although the beggar children did their best to take care of him, his condition worsened by the day.


    Despite being frail and hungry themselves, they still shared the meager food they managed to scrape together with him. Huang Lei was deeply moved by their kindness.


    One day, a mysterious man came and gave them food. The beggar kids gratefully accepted it, sharing it amongst themselves as always.


    Huang Lei was also given a share, and as he tasted it, he realized it wasn¡¯t just ordinary food¡ªit contained low-quality Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Beast meat.


    After eating the food, he focused on absorbing as much of its medicinal properties as possible and barely managed to stabilize his condition, preventing his injuries from worsening.


    Slowly, his body began to recover, although his internal injuries remained untreated. His external wounds and broken bones gradually healed, all thanks to the food given by the mysterious man. Even though it was made from low-quality Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Beast meat, it had saved his life.


    In the past, he had consumed far better-quality Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Beast meat and never would have considered eating something so low-grade, but now, that very same food had saved him.


    After just a month, his body had recovered enough for him to move around. Huan Lei decided to go to the outskirts of Yuezhi Forest to search for Spiritual Herbs. He managed to find some low-quality Spiritual Herbs, which helped improve his health further.


    Once his strength improved, he began hunting Spirit Beasts, starting with weaker ones. As his body grew stronger, he started hunting more powerful Spirit Beasts like the Four-Tusked Boar.


    Every now and then, Huang Lei would return to the forest to hunt, bringing some of the meat back and sharing it with the beggar children.


    Currently, he was able to hunt Rank-1 Spirit Beasts. However, he didn¡¯t dare sell the meat, fearing it would attract unwanted attention since he still needed to stay low and hide from his enemies. Instead, he ate most of the Spirit Beast meat himself and brought back some for the beggar children.


    He ate the Spirit Beast meat to replenish his vitality; as for his internal injury, there was no solution for now, since treating it would require high-grade medicine pills or high-grade Spiritual Herbs.


    Huang Lei was also still waiting for his guard who had led the enemy away to return. But after all this time, there was still no news, and he was really worried that something bad had happened.


    Today, Huang Lei hunted as usual and managed to kill a Four-Tusked Boar. While he was resting, a cultivator suddenly appeared out of nowhere, scaring him.


    The cultivator''s high cultivation level made Huang Lei wary, as such high-level cultivators who could fly were very rare in this remote area. Huang Lei was concerned that this cultivator might be connected to his enemies and looking for him.


    When the mysterious cultivator asked for his name, Huang Lei provided false information about both his name and background. Only after some interaction did it seem the cultivator did not recognize his real identity, allowing Huang Lei to breathe a slight sigh of relief.


    The cultivator talked with him for a while and also inquired about Rank-2 slimes before flying off. Huang Lei waited for a bit to ensure the cultivator was far away before immediately fleeing, leaving behind the Four-Tusked Boar he had just killed.


    After running for a while and reaching the edge of the forest, Huang Lei stopped and spat out a mouthful of blood¡ªhis internal injury had flared up again.


    Wiping the blood from his mouth, he quickly approached a large tree nearby. Hidden within a hole in the trunk were several bundles wrapped in leaves, containing Spirit Beast meat from a previous hunt. The unique leaves helped preserve the meat and masked its scent from wild animals and other Spirit Beasts.


    After retrieving the bundles, he left the forest and headed straight to Lianfen Village. Despite being exhausted and still breathing heavily from running, he didn¡¯t pause to rest.


    Upon entering the village, Huang Lei made his way to a deserted alley and into a dilapidated house. Inside, there were several beggar children.


    "Look, Brother Huan is back!" one of the beggar kids pointed toward him.


    "Brother Huan, welcome back!"


    "How was the hunt? Are you tired?" The children swarmed around him, eager for news.


    "Brother Huan, did you manage to catch something?" one of them asked, smacking his lips in anticipation. The others looked hopeful, their stomachs growling with hunger.


    "Why don¡¯t you see for yourself?" Huang Lei smiled as he lowered the bundles from his back. Unfolding one of them, he revealed a large piece of meat.


    "It''s food!" one of the children exclaimed.


    "Meat!" another said, salivating.


    "What are you waiting for? Let''s cook it and eat!" Huang Lei encouraged.


    The children immediately sprang into action, gathering dry branches for firewood. Some headed to the nearby well to fetch water, while others went to call back those who had gone out.


    Before long, the meat was simmering in an old, cracked earthen pot over a fire, filling the air with a rich, mouth-watering fragrance. Alongside the meat, some greens that Huang Lei had also brought from the forest were added, enhancing the aroma. The children gathered around, their stomachs growling as they sniffed the delicious scent.


    "The meat Brother Huan brings back always tastes so good! This one smells amazing!" a beggar child said, and the others nodded in agreement.


    "Brother Huan, what meat is this?" one of them asked.


    "It''s just deer meat," Huang Lei replied, sitting down on a nearby chair to rest.


    "Oh... I''ve never had deer meat before," the child said while stirring the pot.


    "Me neither! I can''t wait!" another child chimed in, adjusting the fire.


    Huang Lei smiled at the children as they worked eagerly around the fire. In truth, it wasn¡¯t just deer meat but the meat of a Rank-1 Spirit Beast, a Golden Antler Deer. Like all the meat he had brought back before, it was Spirit Beast meat, and the greens he brought were also Spiritual Herbs¡ªbut there was no need for the children to know that.


    "Is it ready yet?" one of the kids asked impatiently.


    A beggar child with the best cooking skills pressed the meat, which had gotten soft from boiling, then tested the broth. His eyes lit up. "It¡¯s so delicious! It¡¯s ready"


    "It''s ready? Quick, let¡¯s eat!" another urged.


    The children lined up eagerly but in an orderly fashion, each receiving their portion in bowls¡ªsome broken, chipped, or cracked.


    A little girl wearing ragged clothes that hung loosely on her thin frame approached Huang Lei with a bright, cheerful smile on her dirty face. Her hair was unkempt, and her skin was a little dirty, but none of that could hide her radiant happiness.


    "Big brother, here," she said, offering him a bowl.


    "It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m not hungry. You eat quickly," Huang Lei said, patting her head.


    "Mmm," the girl shook her head. "Big brother also needs to eat."


    "Alright, let¡¯s eat together. Thank you, Little An," Huang Lei replied as he received the bowl.


    She smiled and then returned to get her own share. After everyone had their portion, they all began to eat.


    "Wow, this is so delicious!" one of the beggar children exclaimed.


    "Yes, the meat is tender, and it tastes and smells so good!" another agreed.


    "Now with Brother Huan here, we can eat meat and not go hungry. Thank you so much, Brother Huan," a beggar child said, tears falling as he ate.


    The relief of not going hungry and being able to eat delicious meat overwhelmed him. The other children also expressed their thanks.


    "You guys saved me, I owe you. Don''t worry, you won¡¯t have to go hungry anymore," Huang Lei replied, eating alongside them.


    The atmosphere was warm and lively as they shared the food, laughed together, and enjoyed each other''s company. Huang Lei observed the beggar children, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. They were not just beggars to him; they were his brothers and sisters, his saviors. He was determined to repay the kindness they had shown him.


    Huang Lei¡¯s thoughts drifted to the mysterious person who had given them food and unknowingly saved his life, altering the course of his fate. Though it had been a simple gesture, it was one that had changed everything for him. He silently swore to repay that debt someday.


    He hoped to meet the mysterious person again, though he had little information about him. The only things he remembered were the man''s voice and that he wore a cloak and bamboo hat, his body fully covered. However, he had noticed a small detail¡ªbeneath the cloak, it seemed the person was wearing full-body armor. Beyond that, he had no other clues.


    I wonder if our paths will cross again, Huang Lei thought to himself, reflecting on his mysterious savior as he continued eating.

 Chapter 76: Making a Deal with the Bull Spirit Beast 1

    Liu Yang kept flying deeper into the Yuezhi Forest, spreading his Spiritual Sense to search for Rank-2 slimes. He had been flying for hours and had already ventured quite far when suddenly...


    "Oh? Could it be?" Liu Yang detected several slimes through his Spiritual Sense, but one in particular stood out, slightly different from the others.


    "Nice, finally found one!" he exclaimed, and after getting closer, he confirmed through his Spiritual Sense that it was indeed a Rank-2 slime Spirit Beast.


    Without hesitation, he flew swiftly toward the direction of the slime.


    Pyon.


    Pyon.


    Pyon.


    A slime bounced through the forest, its round body springing up and down. Unlike the many semi-transparent Rank-1 slimes abundant in the forest, this one was slightly larger and had a faint green hue¡ªa Green Slime, a Rank-2 slime Spirit Beast. Suddenly, a figure descended from above and quickly snatched the still-jumping slime. The creature couldn''t react in time and struggled to break free, but it was held firmly.


    "Hahaha, got you!" Liu Yang said as he inspected the slime in his hand.


    He then pulled out a large leather bag from his storage ring, stuffed the slime inside, and slung the bag over his shoulder.


    "A good start! Already caught one on the first day," Liu Yang grinned.


    "I hope I can find plenty more. Maybe Mr. Orion will reward me later... It''d be great if he gave me some MSG!" He chuckled to himself, imagining the rewards as he continued his search for more Rank-2 slimes.


    Liu Yang continued his search through the forest, now flying slowly and scanning more thoroughly with his Spiritual Sense. Not long after, Liu Yang found another Rank-2 slime, a Green Slime.


    "Hahaha, very good, another one!" he exclaimed.


    After finding two Rank-2 slimes in quick succession, Liu Yang decided to search the surrounding area more methodically. Sure enough, about half an hour later, he found another Rank-2 slime by a small creek, resting at the bottom of the clear water. This time, it had a slight blue hue¡ªa Blue Slime.


    Liu Yang captured the Blue Slime and continued searching until sunset. As night approached, he decided to stop, knowing that slimes would go into hiding. They were weak creatures; even the Rank-2 slimes, though slightly stronger than Rank-1 slimes, were still relatively weak compared to other Spirit Beasts.


    Liu Yang found a small cave and decided to rest for the night. As darkness settled in, many ferocious Spirit Beasts became more active, filling the forest with the sounds of their hunting.


    Over the next several days, Liu Yang managed to gather seven Rank-2 slimes: four Green Slimes, two Blue Slimes, and one Red Slime.


    "Sigh, are there no more Rank-2 slimes?" Liu Yang muttered after collecting seven slimes but failing to find any more. Even after all his efforts, he had yet to find any more Rank-2 slimes or higher.


    While searching, Liu Yang occasionally stumbled upon Spiritual Herbs, but he only took the most valuable ones, leaving the rest behind. His focus remained on finding Rank-2 slimes or higher. Sometimes, he also encountered Rank-1 and Rank-2 Spirit Beasts, some of which were quite ferocious and attacked him the moment they sensed his presence. He casually slapped them to death, unfazed by their attacks.


    "How dare you barge into my territory and cause trouble!" a loud voice boomed, rumbling through the air.


    "Hmm?" Liu Yang raised an eyebrow, noticing a figure quickly flying toward him. "A buffalo Spirit Beast?" he muttered as he sensed the figure''s power fluctuations, recognizing it as a Rank-3 buffalo Spirit Beast¡ªNightmare Buffalo.


    Spirit Beasts that reach Rank-3 are able to transform into human-like figures, though they retain some of their unique Spirit Beast characteristics.


    The Nightmare Buffalo had the appearance of a large, muscular man with a bare chest and pants made from some sort of Spirit Beast skin. His skin was slightly dark, with long black hair swept back. He had a human face with a pair of sharp horns, dark as night, that gleamed in the light, and a large buffalo nose that released mist with each breath.


    Veins pulsed on his forehead, and his red, glowing eyes added to his fearsome presence. He carried a massive axe on his back, its handle made of wood and the axe head crafted from Spirit Beast bones.


    "Human, return everything you took, or you''ll pay with your life!" the buffalo Spirit Beast bellowed, hovering a few dozen meters away from Liu Yang.


    "Pfft... and why should I?" Liu Yang sneered, his tone smug.


    "Because this place belongs to me¡ªthe great Tigang! And you dare steal from my territory. If you don''t return what you took, I''ll kill you!" Tigang roared, his anger growing.


    "Kill me? Are you even capable of that?" Liu Yang mocked.


    "Good, very good. You''ve angered me! I''m going to kill you!" Tigang, now enraged, grabbed the massive axe from his back and pointed it toward Liu Yang.


    "I''ve been looking for a sparring partner to test out my strength. You''ve come just in time," Liu Yang smirked, raising a hand to gesture for Tigang to come. He showed no fear of the enraged buffalo Spirit Beast.


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    Recently, Liu Yang''s cultivation had improved, and he had broken through a bottleneck, advancing from the 2nd stage of the Golden Core Realm to the 3rd stage. Not only had his cultivation advanced, but his meridians had also improved and strengthened, making him feel the surge of new power coursing through him¡ªall thanks to the MSG.


    He had been itching to test his newfound strength, and now, this buffalo Spirit Beast named Tigang had come at the perfect time. Tigang was a Rank-3 Spirit Beast, equivalent to a Golden Core Realm cultivator.


    Probing Tigang''s strength with his Spiritual Sense, Liu Yang concluded that their strength wasn''t much different. Confidently facing Tigang, Liu Yang believed that even if he couldn''t defeat him, he could easily escape unharmed.


    "You are courting death!" Tigang roared as he charged, swinging his massive axe.


    Liu Yang quickly retrieved a sword from his storage ring. Tigang''s attack came fast, the sheer force and momentum of the axe devastating. Liu Yang dodged to the side, slashing back at Tigang.


    The two clashed in close combat for a while, the clang of metal ringing out as sparks flew. Their fierce battle wreaked havoc on the surroundings¡ªmassive trees were sliced apart, boulders shattered into dust, and deep craters and ravines were carved into the ground.


    Dust billowed into the air as the force of their strikes sent shockwaves in every direction, tearing through the landscape with violent intensity.


    "[Fire Python Sword Slash!]" Liu Yang unleashed his combat technique, slashing multiple times. Fiery, snake-like sword strikes darted towards Tigang at high speed, twisting unpredictably.


    "[Iron Hide!]" Tigang bellowed, his muscles bulging as his skin darkened. He charged forward, ignoring the incoming strikes and facing them head-on.


    Clang! Clang! Clang!


    Liu Yang''s attacks met Tigang''s hardened skin with loud, metallic sounds, and even sparks flew, as if striking iron. The strikes left faint cut marks, and Tigang suffered minor burns from the fiery slashes.


    After ignoring Liu Yang''s attacks, Tigang closed in, swinging his axe with wicked force. He noticed Liu Yang''s expression shift to surprise, and Tigang grinned maliciously.


    "Now die!" Tigang roared, putting all his strength into the swing. The wind howled as his massive axe slashed down at incredible speed.


    Liu Yang''s body split in two, but before Tigang could revel in his victory, a sharp sense of danger came to him from behind. Instinctively, he ducked.


    A sword slashed through the space where his head had been moments before, severing a portion of his long black hair. Tigang quickly dashed forward to gain some distance, then turned to face the attacker. To his shock, Liu Yang stood there, smiling while holding his sword. The "Liu Yang" he had struck had dissolved into flames.


    "Hmph! A petty trick!" Tigang snarled, raising his axe and charging again.


    "My combat and movement techniques have improved significantly, and my meridians are now far more efficient at channeling Qi," Liu Yang murmured to himself, watching as Tigang charged furiously. "Heh, I''ll play with him for a bit."


    Though Liu Yang wanted to test his newfound strength, he remained focused, remembering the main reason he had come to Yuezhi Forest, there was no need to get entangled in a life-or-death battle with Tigang.


    Liu Yang and Tigang locked in fierce close combat once again. Each of Tigang''s attacks carried tremendous force, making it impossible for Liu Yang to meet them head-on. Parrying with his sword was useless due to the great momentum behind the massive axe, so Liu Yang focused on dodging and occasionally launching sneak attacks when Tigang left an opening.


    In the early stages of the battle, Tigang held control, forcing Liu Yang to retreat as each of his strikes could deal serious damage. Liu Yang, however, evaded nimbly, avoiding fatal blows and occasionally launching sneak attacks, though his own attacks barely left a mark on Tigang due to his [Iron Hide] technique, which made his body tough and resistant.


    But as the battle dragged on, the tide began to turn. Liu Yang''s combat techniques allowed him to inflict small amounts of damage, which gradually accumulated. He also used various talismans and pills throughout the fight to aid him.


    Tigang, on the other hand, didn''t use any such items, and as his injuries accumulated, he began to feel the effects. Liu Yang gained control of the battle, dictating the pace, choosing when to attack and when to defend, sometimes even taking the opportunity to taunt and mock Tigang.


    Angered, Tigang charged madly, his body covered in numerous injuries, though none were fatal. Enraged and humiliated by Liu Yang''s tactics, he roared, ignoring any sense of defense as he rushed forward recklessly.


    "Take this! [Hill Cleaving Axe]!" Tigang raised his massive axe, its blade shrouded in a black aura as he prepared to unleash a devastating attack.


    Seeing this, Liu Yang descended to the ground and immediately pulled out a defense talisman from his storage ring. Activating it, an energy barrier enveloped him.


    Without stopping, he slammed both palms to the ground, shouting, "[Stone Palms Fortress]!" The ground rumbled, and massive palms made of stone rose up on either side of Liu Yang, clasping together around the energy barrier to form an additional protective layer.


    "Die!" Tigang bellowed as he flew at Liu Yang with his axe raised high. The black aura surrounding the weapon expanded, creating a massive phantom axe.


    KABOOM!


    The axe crashed into the stone palms with explosive force, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The impact created a massive crater, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the ground. The force of the attack even carved out a deep gully, about a meter wide and dozens of meters deep, stretching for more than 50 meters.


    "Hahaha! Serves you right, human scum!" Tigang laughed, satisfied with the devastating aftermath of his strike. His attack had shattered Liu Yang''s stone palms and energy barrier, carving a deep gully in the ground where Liu Yang had stood.


    With no trace of Liu Yang''s figure in sight, Tigang assumed the human had been destroyed.


    Suddenly, several talismans shot out from the ground and flew up toward Tigang, glowing brightly.


    "Crap!" Tigang cursed, caught off guard. The talismans surrounded him, their light intensifying as they drew closer.


    Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!


    A series of explosions erupted, blanketing the area in thick dust. After a while, coughing echoed from within as Tigang''s figure emerged, the dust slowly dissipating. He stood on the ground, then spat a mouthful of blood.


    "Damn it! You human scoundrel! Stop hiding like a rat and face me directly like a true man!" Tigang wiped the blood from his mouth.


    The exploding talismans had seriously injured him; if not for his [Iron Hide], he would have died.


    "Hmph. Do you think I''m as stupid as you? All brawn and no brain?" Liu Yang''s voice came from the ground as his figure emerged about fifty meters away.


    "You just act like a coward!" Tigang shouted.


    "It''s called strategy," Liu Yang replied.


    When Liu Yang witnessed Tigang''s [Hill Cleaving Axe], his scalp went numb. Realizing it was an attack he couldn''t withstand head-on, he quickly descended to the ground, activated a defensive talisman, and used his [Stone Palms Fortress] technique for cover.


    As the stone palms shielded him, Liu Yang discreetly placed several exploding talismans underground before burrowing away to distance himself from the battlefield.


    Unaware of Liu Yang''s escape, Tigang unleashed his full power. After the attack, Tigang let his guard down, giving Liu Yang the chance to activate his trap, inflicting serious injuries on the buffalo Spirit Beast.

 Chapter 77: Making a Deal with the Bull Spirit Beast 2

    "Tch, let''s stop it right here. If we fight any more, it''ll cause too much destruction to my territory. Consider yourself lucky¡ªI''ll let you go," Tigang said, his tone no longer arrogant after realizing the human cultivator was a tough opponent.


    "Let me go? But have you asked if I''m letting you go?" Liu Yang replied calmly.


    "What do you mean?!" Tigang growled, anger surging. "You don''t think you''ve defeated me, do you?!" He raised his axe again.


    "Isn''t that obvious? Just look at yourself," Liu Yang said, pointing out Tigang''s terrible condition. Blood trickled from the corner of Tigang''s mouth, while Liu Yang still appeared unscathed.


    "Hmph, that''s only because I wasn''t serious yet. Otherwise, I could defeat you easily. I haven''t even used my strongest move!" Tigang''s aura flared, his momentum rising, stronger than before as he prepared to fight again.


    "Forget it. I''m not interested," Liu Yang said dismissively.


    "Hmph, that''s what I thought. Let''s just call it a draw," Tigang grumbled, lowering his axe.


    "Whatever. I''m rather busy, goodbye," Liu Yang replied, storing his sword in his storage ring as he prepared to leave.


    "Wait!" Tigang called out.


    "What now?" Liu Yang turned, showing an irritated expression. "Didn''t you say I could go? Or do you want to get beaten up again?"


    "Hmph, I said you can go, and you can even take what you''ve gathered from my territory. But in exchange, you must do something for me," Tigang said, slinging his axe onto his back.


    "Do what?" Liu Yang asked.


    "Tell me why you''re searching for Rank-2 slimes," Tigang replied.


    "Rank-2 slimes?" Liu Yang echoed, feigning ignorance.


    "That''s right," Tigang smiled. "Don''t pretend in front of me. I know you''ve been searching for Rank-2 slimes."


    He had been secretly following Liu Yang for a while, trying to figure out his intentions. Over the past few days, Tigang noticed that Liu Yang seemed specifically focused on finding Rank-2 slimes. Each time Liu Yang discovered one, his joy was evident, while he remained indifferent when he found Spiritual Herbs.


    "Oh... I just happen to be interested in Rank-2 slimes, so I''m searching for them here," Liu Yang said casually.


    "What are you going to do with those slimes?" Tigang asked, narrowing his eyes.


    "Why should I tell you?" Liu Yang replied.


    "They''re important to me, and now you''re stealing them from my territory. You owe me a satisfactory explanation!" Tigang demanded, his tone sharp.


    "Important? What could be so important about slimes? They''re just slimes! How could they matter to you?" Liu Yang asked, incredulous.


    "Hmph! They are important, okay? If you won''t tell me what you''re doing with them, then you can''t take them. Return them, or else..." Tigang took his axe from his back and raised it, ready for battle once more.


    "Go on then, I''ll beat you up again! You claim this territory belongs to you, and I''m supposed to believe that? And the slimes¡ªdo you think your name is written on them?" Liu Yang retrieved his sword from his storage ring, prepared to fight.


    Seeing that Liu Yang wasn''t backing down and still refusing to reveal why he wanted the slimes, Tigang growled, "Those slimes must be very valuable, right?"


    "Pftt! Valuable? They''re just slimes, they''re not worth much," Liu Yang retorted.


    "Then why are you so interested in them?" Tigang''s voice grew louder, his anger rising.


    "That''s none of your business. I have my reasons," Liu Yang said firmly; he can''t tell Tigang that a big shot had requested the slimes.


    "You humans are despicable, always greedy and selfish, never willing to share. You even steal from me and won''t tell me the truth! Those slimes must be valuable, and you''re lying, saying they''re worthless! If you''re eating the meat, at least let others have the soup!" Tigang accused, his frustration boiling over.


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    As a Spirit Beast, Tigang had limited access to outside information and fewer resources than humans. Humans were different. They built societies, established sects, kingdoms, and empires, created cities, and managed vast resources with wide-reaching markets and information networks.


    Slimes were widely considered worthless, but seeing this human cultivator so determined to fight over them made Tigang think otherwise. Perhaps Rank-2 slimes had become valuable in the human market, and that''s why Liu Yang was collecting them in his territory.


    "Are you deaf? I already told you those slimes are worthless. If you don''t believe me, go ask other cultivators in the city, or try selling them yourself. For Rank-2 slimes, you''ll get a few silver coins at best," Liu Yang said with a shrug.


    "What? Really? Just a few silver coins?" Tigang asked, still suspicious.


    "Of course. Their body parts are only good for making slime lamp. They have no other use," Liu Yang explained.


    "And yet, you''re still looking for these Rank-2 slimes..." Tigang began, his suspicion deepening.


    "Personal reasons," Liu Yang interrupted, not offering more.


    In truth, the Rank-2 slimes were indeed worthless to most, but they were crucial for Liu Yang. Orion had specifically requested the Liu family to find Rank-2 slimes or higher, and Liu Yang was determined to complete the task. If successful, there was a chance he''d be rewarded with precious MSG, and that made Liu Yang even more determined to secure the slimes.


    "Grr..." Tigang growled, lowering his axe. "Tch, very well, I''ll let you go. But you have to pay me."


    "Pay for what?" Liu Yang asked, frowning.


    "For the slimes, of course, and the Spiritual Herbs you took," Tigang demanded.


    "And if I refuse?" Liu Yang replied, his voice hardening.


    Tigang didn''t answer. He simply raised his axe again.


    "Fine, how much?" Liu Yang asked, clearly annoyed.


    "Hmm..." Tigang thought for a moment, then raised one finger.


    "One Spirit Stone?" Liu Yang guessed.


    "100 Spirit Stones," Tigang replied.


    "Bastard! Are you trying to rob me?!" Liu Yang exclaimed, his anger flaring.


    "Then return everything you took. Hmph... I still think those Rank-2 slimes are valuable. If you want them, pay up!" Tigang insisted, his tone unyielding.


    The two continued bickering and bargaining, occasionally throwing out threats. After a while, they finally reached an agreement. Liu Yang, grumbling under his breath, handed over 17 Spirit Stones. He had caught seven Rank-2 slimes, so it worked out to two Spirit Stones for each slime, and 3 Spirit Stones for the Spiritual Herbs.


    Sigh... For such useless slimes, I''ve spent so many Spirit Stones. If not for Mr. Orion, I definitely wouldn''t have done this. It''s a total loss for me. Hmm... but if Mr. Orion rewards me with MSG, then it''s a huge win! Liu Yang thought to himself, smirking inwardly.


    "Here, take it. You''re really black-hearted, making me pay two Spirit Stones for Rank-2 slime. Just consider this an act of charity," Liu Yang said with an aggrieved expression, though he was secretly pleased.


    "What do you mean, charity?! These Rank-2 slimes are of the highest quality! You got quite a bargain paying just two Spirit Stones each. You should be grateful. I''m the one making a loss here!" Tigang snapped, though he was internally satisfied at the easy profit from the slimes, which were otherwise useless to him.


    "Whatever. Goodbye," Liu Yang said as he prepared to fly off.


    "Wait!" Tigang called out.


    "What is it now?! You keep stopping me," Liu Yang turned, feeling irritated. "Do you want a slap?"


    Tigang coughed awkwardly. "Do you still need more Rank-2 slimes? How about this, we can cooperate. I can look for the slimes, and you can buy them from me."


    "Oh... interesting idea. What about the price?" Liu Yang asked, intrigued.


    "Hehehe, fellow Daoist, why don''t you tell me your name first?" Tigang replied, trying to sound casual.


    "My name is Liu Yang," he answered.


    "Ah, so it''s Daoist Liu. About the price, how about..." Tigang proposed a price with a polite smile.


    After hearing the price Tigang offered, Liu Yang angrily shouted, then the two resumed their bickering and bargaining, occasionally tossing out threats and almost coming to blows once again. After a while, they finally reached an agreement: Liu Yang would buy Rank-2 slime for 2.5 Spirit Stones.


    "You really know how to take advantage of me," Liu Yang complained.


    "What do you mean, taking advantage? I''m helping you find those slimes! You''ve got to pay more for my service," Tigang retorted.


    "Tch, fine. Try to get as many Rank-2 slimes as possible, and be careful when handling them. Make sure they''re still alive," Liu Yang instructed.


    "Hmph, you don''t need to tell me that. I''m better than you in this field," Tigang shot back with pride.


    "I''ll be back in a week. Don''t disappoint me, you money-grubbing bull," Liu Yang said coldly.


    "Who are you calling a money-grubber, you stupid human? Get lost!" Tigang yelled, anger flaring.


    With that, Liu Yang left, his face cold, while Tigang stormed off in the opposite direction, also fuming. However, once they were far apart, both cracked a smile.


    "Stupid bull, already happy with a few Spirit Stones. Muahaha! I''ll let him do all the hard work and pay him peanuts while I collect the valuable MSG from Mr. Orion," Liu Yang thought gleefully as he flew away.


    Now that Tigang was tasked with finding the Rank-2 slimes, Liu Yang decided to head south of Yuezhi Forest, where vast grasslands awaited. His next plan was to capture dragonfly Spirit Beasts.


    Besides slimes, Orion had also asked the Liu family to search for dragonfly Spirit Beasts. Liu Yang didn''t know what Orion would use them for, but he will try his best to fulfill that request.


    "Huahaha! Stupid human, paying Spirit Stones just for slimes," Tigang chuckled as he flew off, beginning his search for Rank-2 slimes. Being more familiar with Yuezhi Forest and the habits of slimes, he was confident he could capture plenty.


    As Tigang spread his spiritual sense, scanning for Rank-2 slimes, he started to wonder if he was making a loss. As far as he knew, slimes, even Rank-2 ones, were worthless. Yet Liu Yang had agreed to pay, even when the price was raised to 2.5 Spirit Stones.


    Could they be more valuable than I thought? Should I visit a human city and check their market value? Tigang mused internally as he continued his search.

 Chapter 78: Chen Rongwei vs. Stonebreaker Rhino

    Dust billowed into the air, swirling as trees cracked and fell to the ground with loud thuds. Roars echoed through the forest, accompanied by the thunderous sound of explosions. In the clearing, a young man, no taller than 1.7 meters, faced off against a massive rhinoceros Spirit Beast, towering at 3 meters in height.


    Despite the drastic difference in size, the young man held his ground, moving nimbly, dodging the rhino''s heavy attacks with ease. He launched quick strikes, but the beast¡¯s thick, armored hide deflected his blows. The Stonebreaker Rhino, a Rank-2 Spirit Beast, boasted three large, sharp horns¡ªone jutting from its nose and two from its head. Its skin was as tough as armor, providing strong defense and blocking most of the young man''s attacks.


    The rhino snorted, its breath hot and heavy as it charged forward with terrifying momentum. The young man waited until the last possible moment before leaping into the air, dodging the beast¡¯s charge. The Stonebreaker Rhino slammed into the boulder behind him, shattering the one-meter rock into pieces.


    Even then, the boulder wasn¡¯t enough to stop the rhino, which only came to a halt dozens of meters away.


    With a snarl, the beast turned to face the young man again. One of its front legs kicked up dust as it pawed at the ground, preparing to charge once more. Hot air billowed from its nostrils, its enraged eyes locked onto its target, ready to unleash its fury again.


    Several people approached the area, drawn by the commotion. They watched from a distance as the young man faced off against the massive rhinoceros Spirit Beast.


    "Is that Chen Rongwei?" one of them asked.


    "That''s right, it''s him. What''s he doing fighting a Stonebreaker Rhino? Should we help him?" another replied.


    "Hmm, he doesn''t seem to be in trouble. Let''s just wait and watch for a while," someone else suggested.


    The rhino charged toward Chen Rongwei. His eyes gleamed with determination as he held his sword, which began to glow crimson.


    "[Crimson Serpent Sword Style]!" Chen Rongwei shouted. His sword became enveloped in a crimson aura as he dashed toward the incoming rhino. Just before they collided, Chen Rongwei slashed, his sword slicing through the air like a serpent.


    His body moved in sync with his blade, dodging the rhino¡¯s charge as he brushed past it, delivering a sharp slash to its body.


    The exchange happened in an instant. The rhino continued its charge, and Chen Rongwei dashed in the opposite direction. After several meters, both stopped and turned to face each other again.


    Blood trickled from the corner of Chen Rongwei''s mouth¡ªhe had dodged the rhino''s charge but was grazed in the process, breaking several ribs. The rhino bore several sword slashes on its hide, though they were shallow, with only a small amount of blood.


    "Whoa! That''s a Rank-2 Spirit Beast, Stonebreaker Rhino, and Chen Rongwei¡ªat just the 9th stage of Qi Condensation realm¡ªmanaged to injure it! He''s a monster!" one spectator exclaimed.


    "That''s right! Rank-2 is equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm. Chen Rongwei is incredibly strong," another agreed.


    "If I''m not mistaken, the technique he used was the [Crimson Serpent Sword Style], a sword technique belonging to the Chen family. Truly impressive," someone added.


    "Hmph! What''s so special about him? He barely injured that Stonebreaker Rhino. And look at him¡ªhe already seems tired and wounded from the last exchange. He''s lost this fight," another person sneered.


    "Oh... you''re right. Senior Brother, as expected, your eyes are sharp," another agreed, noticing Chen Rongwei''s pale face.


    "Exactly! He''s just a Qi Condensation realm cultivator, yet he dares to fight a Rank-2 Spirit Beast. Who does he think he is?" someone else chimed in.


    "Should... should we help him?" someone asked hesitantly.


    "If you want to help, then go ahead," the senior brother replied coolly.


    "Ugh..." The person hesitated, unwilling to face a Rank-2 rhino Spirit Beast. At just the 5th stage of Qi Condensation realm, he knew any casual attack from the rhino could easily kill him.


    "It would be easy for Chen Rongwei to escape if he wanted, but it seems he¡¯s determined to fight the Stonebreaker Rhino. Why should we care?" The senior brother added.


    The others hesitated as well, uncertainty clear on their faces. The strongest among them was their senior brother, at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment realm, but he didn¡¯t seem interested in helping Chen Rongwei at all.


    Chen Rongwei and the rhino engaged in another fierce, close-quarters battle. The rhino remained strong and full of energy, while Chen Rongwei was slowing down, growing weaker, barely able to dodge. The spectators continued to watch from afar.


    "Chen Rongwei''s almost finished. If this keeps up, he''s going to die," one of them muttered.


    "Hmph, it''d be good if he dies. He''s a complete scumbag," another sneered.


    "Exactly. He''s infamous for being a troublemaker. As the second young master of the Chen family, he uses his background to bully others, stirring up trouble wherever he goes. Many innocent girls have fallen victim to him. Ptui!" the person spat in disgust.


    Chen Rongwei''s reputation as a good-for-nothing troublemaker was well-known, and none of the spectators watching had a good opinion of him.


    "Will we get into trouble if something happens to him and we don''t help?" one of the more timid onlookers asked, hesitating.


    "What does it have to do with us?" the senior brother replied coldly.


    "He chose to face a Rank-2 Spirit Beast, overestimating his abilities. Why should we care? We''re not his lackeys, and we''re not even close to him. This is a forbidden training ground¡ªthere are dangers everywhere, and people die. If he can''t handle it, he shouldn''t have come here. If he dies, the sect won''t care and what can the Chen family do to us?"


    The others remained silent, reluctantly agreeing with the senior brother, as they watched from afar. As time went by, Chen Rongwei became even more overwhelmed by the rhino''s relentless attacks. He struggled to stand as the rhino''s horn glowed ominously, charging toward him. Seeing the incoming rhino, he dropped his sword to the ground, standing unmoved before the beast.


    "Fufufu, it¡¯s over for him," the senior brother remarked.


    Chen Rongwei watched the charging rhino close in, gritting his teeth. "I¡¯m too weak! Power, I need more power!" he muttered, clenching his fists tightly.


    "HHEEEAAAA!!! [BERSERKER BLOOD]!" he roared. His muscles bulged, veins swelled along his neck and face, and his eyes turned bloodshot. A red mist seeped from his body, enveloping him in a violent aura.


    With a powerful stomp of his right leg, the ground beneath him cracked like a spiderweb, and a thick cloud of dust rose, obscuring him from the spectators'' view. The rhino, with its already poor eyesight further hindered by the dust, couldn''t see Chen Rongwei''s position and continued charging toward where he had been. The onlookers, unable to see through the dust cloud, also couldn¡¯t tell what was happening within.


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    Feeling the tremors of the approaching beast through the ground, Chen Rongwei extended his arms forward. As soon as the rhino crashed into his palms, he gritted his teeth, not trying to stop it but immediately gripping its front horn and lower jaw.


    "EEAAA!!!" Chen Rongwei roared as blood trickled from his seven orifices. He was pushing his body to the limit.


    His legs dug into the ground as the force of the rhino''s charge drove him back, but through sheer effort, he lifted the massive beast.


    With a final surge of strength, he hurled the rhino, smashing it into the ground. The massive beast, along with its momentum, crashed loudly into the ground.


    Boom!


    The rhino lay on its back, belly exposed, in a small crater formed by the impact, spiderweb-like cracks spreading from the spot where it slammed into the ground.


    Debris scattered, and dust billowed into the air. Despite its thick armor, the immense momentum from its charge, combined with its heavy weight and the force of the slam, had knocked the beast unconscious.


    Chen Rongwei immediately slumped to the ground, dropping to his knees as he gasped for breath. He glanced at the rhino, which lay unconscious and motionless, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.


    The onlookers were speechless, staring in shock at the scene. Some gaped, their mouths wide open.


    Moments ago, Chen Rongwei had been in a precarious situation. The dust cloud had obscured him completely, and they could only see the rhino charging toward it. Then, in an instant, a deafening crash sounded, the dust cleared, and the next moment, the rhino was lying on its back, smashed into the ground.


    They could hardly believe the sudden turn of events.


    "What the hell? Did Chen Rongwei really defeat that rhino?" someone blurted out.


    "Am I dreaming?" another asked in disbelief.


    "Ouch! Why are you pinching me? Pinch yourself!" another complained, rubbing his arm.


    "Damn, wasn¡¯t that technique [Berserker Blood]?" one exclaimed.


    "That¡¯s right! That Chen Rongwei is really bold to use a forbidden technique," another murmured, still shocked.


    Voices erupted among the onlookers, some in awe, others in disbelief or praise.


    "That technique is incredibly powerful. Maybe I should learn it too?" one person wondered aloud.


    "Dream on. Someone like you could never master it," another retorted dismissively.


    [Berserker Blood] was a forbidden technique. It boosted the user¡¯s strength several times over but at a terrible cost.


    The technique burned the user¡¯s blood essence, resulting in severe weakness afterward. Worse, the lost blood essence was permanently gone and required a lot of effort to recover even a tiny amount. On top of that, using it inflicted excruciating pain.


    Because of these drawbacks and the difficulty in mastering it, the technique was rarely practiced and considered forbidden. Yet, the allure of such a drastic power boost made it tempting for some, especially in desperate situations, as it could serve as a useful trump card.


    "Senior brother, didn¡¯t you say earlier that Chen Rongwei lost this fight? That it was over for him?" one of the onlookers questioned.


    "Hmph, let¡¯s go. We don¡¯t have time to waste standing around here. We need to finish our mission quickly," the senior brother grumbled, his face reddening slightly.


    "Senior brother? Wait¡ªwait for us!" the others called, scrambling to follow as the group hurriedly left the area, trailing behind the flustered senior brother.


    Chen Rongwei watched the group in the distance as they departed. They wore the same robes as him¡ªfellow disciples of the White Crane Sect, likely out on a mission or also training. He ignored them as they disappeared from sight.


    After resting for a while, he struggled to his feet and slowly walked toward the unconscious rhino. Venting his frustration, he kicked the beast several times before feeling satisfied. Then, he retrieved his sword from the ground and left.


    It had been about a month since Chen Rongwei joined the White Crane Sect. He had been stuck at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, struggling to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm.


    Regret gnawed at him for wasting his potential in the past¡ªspending his days playing, indulging, and never cultivating seriously. He had relied heavily on pills to quickly boost his cultivation, which now left his foundation shaky and unstable, making it difficult to advance.


    Ever since joining the sect, Chen Rongwei had been cultivating diligently, spending many Spirit Stones and dedicating long hours to cultivation, with no time left to waste on playing around like in the past. He also trained his combat abilities intensely after realizing how weak he truly was.


    The incident with Orion had been a harsh wake-up call. Without the status and protection of being the second young master of the Chen family, he was nothing. His previous rapid cultivation progress, which relied heavily on pills, had slowed down and reached a bottleneck, and his combat prowess was embarrassingly weak. The only thing he had been proud of was his family background, which he had used to bully others.


    But after receiving a harsh lesson from his older brother, reality hit him¡ªChen Rongwei realized that the Chen family didn''t belong to him. When he asked his brother and the family experts to help him take revenge on Orion, he was beaten by his brother instead, and the rest of the family refused to support him. They saw no benefit in offending Orion.


    That day, he finally understood: the Chen family¡¯s power wasn''t his. From that moment, he became obsessed with gaining true strength¡ªhis own strength, his own power, cultivated by his own efforts.


    "Sigh... I really was a fool," Chen Rongwei muttered bitterly, reflecting on his wasted potential and past mistakes.


    Chen Rongwei limped along the dirt path, wincing in pain from his injuries and the backlash of using the forbidden technique.


    The forest he was in was one of the sect''s forbidden training grounds¡ªcalled forbidden because it was a dangerous place where death was a real possibility. There are many Spirit Beasts in the forest, and disciples can hone their skills, fight against them, and gain valuable experience.


    While they were allowed to battle the beasts, killing them was forbidden since they were nurtured by the sect. This forest also contained Spiritual Herbs that disciples could search for and pick. Many disciples came here not just for training, but also to complete various missions and earn contribution points.


    Chen Rongwei had been coming to this forest frequently, battling various Spirit Beasts from weaker to stronger. One day, while fighting against a Rank-1 Spirit Beast, he got cornered and nearly lost his life. In that moment, he truly felt just how weak he was and craved more power, prompting him to go to the Scripture Hall to learn the forbidden technique [Berserker Blood].


    Clap. Clap. Clap.


    Suddenly, out of nowhere, slow clapping echoed through the trees. A figure stepped out from behind a tree on the side of the dirt path. Chen Rongwei immediately became vigilant and turned toward the person.


    "Congratulations. You managed to defeat that Rank-2 Rhino Spirit Beast. That¡¯s quite impressive," said a young man who looked around twenty years old, with a well-formed, handsome face.


    Upon recognizing him, Chen Rongwei quickly adopted a respectful stance and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother Wu."


    The young man, Wu Yulin, nodded in acknowledgment. "Your strength has improved tremendously, Chen Rongwei. You have a bright future ahead."


    He was genuinely impressed¡ªChen Rongwei, only 15 years old, was already at the 9th stage of the Qi Condensation realm, just a step away from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm.


    "Thank you for the compliment, Senior Brother Wu," Chen Rongwei replied cautiously. "Is there something I can help you with?"


    "About my offer¡ªhave you thought it through?" Wu Yulin asked.


    "I''m sorry, Senior Brother Wu, but I¡¯m not interested in your offer," Chen Rongwei responded.


    "Are you sure?" Wu Yulin¡¯s smile remained unfazed. "By joining me, you¡¯ll have powerful backers within the White Crane Sect, and I can provide you with abundant resources to aid your cultivation. Although your Chen family is respected, here, they don¡¯t hold as much influence as the Wu family. It would be better to align yourself with me."


    "Thank you very much for your kindness, Senior Brother Wu, but for now, I only wish to focus on cultivating and have no interest in other matters," Chen Rongwei answered carefully.


    He knew he could not afford to offend Wu Yulin, and he subtly emphasized that his lack of interest was only temporary, hoping to decline without inciting offense.


    Wu Yulin¡¯s smile remained unwavering. "I heard you¡¯ve had some... conflict with Liu Jian. If you join me, I can help you deal with him."


    "I truly appreciate it, Senior Brother Wu, but I must refuse. I¡¯m exhausted from today and would like to rest. Please excuse me," Chen Rongwei said, eager to end the conversation and escape Wu Yulin¡¯s grasp.


    In the past, he would have eagerly seized this opportunity, even if it meant becoming Wu Yulin¡¯s lackey. Having such a backer would allow him to throw his weight around, bullying others without fear of consequence¡ªnot only in Yanjing City but also within the White Crane Sect.


    His old self, who loved causing trouble, would have relished the chance to stir up even bigger troubles. But now, he desired only his own strength, not the borrowed power that would bind him to someone else.


    Wu Yulin kept his smile as he watched Chen Rongwei depart. Once Chen Rongwei was far enough, his warm expression turned cold, and he gave a disdainful snort before leaving.


    Chen Rongwei left the forbidden training ground and headed toward the largest market in the outer sect area. There were several sizable markets, but he chose the biggest, as it offered a wider selection of items and higher-quality goods.


    Planning to buy pills, Spiritual Herbs, and Spirit Beast meat, he hoped to replenish his depleted blood essence and heal his injuries from the fight.

 Chapter 79: You Should Call Me Senior Brother Liu!

    In the Outer Sect of the White Crane Sect, numerous markets thrived, ranging from small roadside stalls to large bustling hubs. These markets catered not only to cultivators but also to the significant population of mortals living within the sect.


    Mortals played a crucial role in maintaining the sect¡¯s daily operations, performing menial tasks, working as servants for cultivators, and handling routine duties. Their contributions allowed cultivators to focus entirely on their cultivation without distraction.


    With such a large number of mortals, the markets were always lively, resembling ordinary mortal markets found outside the sect.


    Here, mortals shopped for daily necessities, spent their wages on goods, and bartered for supplies. The variety of shops offered everything from simple street food to weapons and cultivation pills, ensuring something for everyone.


    The streets were crowded with mortals, bustling with activity, while a few low-level cultivators could be seen weaving through the throngs.


    Although cultivators also frequented the markets to trade or purchase cultivation resources, mostly low-level cultivators, the Outer Sect''s markets predominantly served the Outer Sect population, including Outer Sect disciples, menial disciples, and mortals working as servants.


    Amidst the lively crowd, a young man and woman strolled down the busy street, drawing the occasional glance.


    Liu Jian, dressed in the regal robe of an Inner Sect disciple, walked beside Xia Ling, who wore the attire of an Outer Sect disciple. The pair moved from shop to shop, laughing and teasing each other with ease.


    Shopkeepers and clerks, knowing their place, bowed respectfully and treated the couple with utmost deference. Praise for their harmonious relationship often slipped from the lips of shopkeepers eager to curry favor, causing the pair to blush with embarrassment.


    The market was filled with stores backed by Outer Sect disciples or menial disciples.


    In the sect, mortals occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy, working as servants performing hard labor.


    Menial disciples, on the other hand, were a step above mortals. As long as they possessed Spiritual Roots, they were allowed to cultivate using low-level techniques and could earn resources from the sect by exchanging contribution points, despite being tasked with menial jobs and chores.


    Establishing a store in the market without any backing was nearly impossible, as unaligned shops would constantly face trouble.


    Thus, each store had ties to at least a menial disciple, if not an Outer Sect disciple. Yet, compared to Liu Jian, the status of these backers was negligible.


    Store clerks were well aware that even their backers would be powerless against an Inner Sect disciple, and so they tread carefully. It would be ideal if they could curry favor and establish connections, with failure being acceptable as long as they didn¡¯t offend the other party.


    As the day passed, the couple visited teahouses, shared lunch, explored flower gardens, and even took a gentle boat ride. Their laughter and playful banter painted an image of blissful affection.


    "Sigh, when we''re together, everything seems more enjoyable, but time flies by so fast," Liu Jian said as they walked side by side.


    Xia Ling nodded, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I wish we could always enjoy days like this," she said, determination flashing in her eyes.


    "I¡¯ll work harder and break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, then take the trial to enter the Inner Sect so I can spend more time with you."


    Liu Jian stopped and took both her hands in his. "Mmm, I know you can do it. Work hard," he said, gazing into her eyes with fondness.


    The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and gold. Liu Jian glanced westward. "It''s getting late. I''ll walk you back," he said.


    Xia Ling nodded, and hand in hand, they made their way to the residence area designated for Outer Sect disciples. Once they reached Xia Ling''s quarters, she paused at the door, looking up at him with a mix of gratitude and affection.


    "Thank you for today, Senior Brother Jian," she said softly. Before he could respond, she leaned up and pressed a quick, shy kiss to his cheek before darting inside and closing the door with a loud thud, her cheeks flushed as red as a ripe apple.


    Liu Jian stood frozen in place, the warmth of her kiss lingering on his cheek. A moment later, a small, genuine smile spread across his face. He turned and walked away; his expression composed until he was out of sight.


    As he rounded a few corners and put distance between himself and Xia Ling''s quarters, the fa?ade cracked. His steps quickened, and he broke into a run, laughter bubbling up from his chest.


    "Ha ha ha ha!" He leapt into the air, pumping his fist triumphantly. "Woohoo!"


    He skipped and spun down the street, his joy irrepressible. Passersby, including mortals and Outer Sect disciples, watched him with puzzled glances but dared not question or ridicule an Inner Sect disciple¡¯s odd behavior. They simply stepped aside and continued on their way.


    After a while, Liu Jian slowed down, his euphoria settling into a contented sigh.


    "Today was a good day," he murmured, touching the cheek Xia Ling had kissed. His heart swelled with happiness as he relived the moment.


    Ever since they had survived that encounter with the Vermillion Clawed Bear, their bond had deepened. Now, with this new milestone, he was more hopeful than ever about their future.


    Chen Rongwei had just left the bustling market, his bag filled with various pills to heal injuries, restore Blood Essence, and aid in cultivation. Alongside the pills, he¡¯d purchased a hefty amount of Spirit Beast meat and Spiritual Herbs. He sighed, thinking of all the Spirit Stones he''d spent, then began heading back to his residence in the Outer Sect.


    As he walked, a familiar voice called out, causing him to pause and turn. To his surprise¡ªand irritation¡ªhe saw Liu Jian approaching, grinning widely with an unmistakable air of joy.


    Observing Liu Jian¡¯s overly cheerful expression, Chen Rongwei decided he¡¯d rather avoid him altogether. He snorted, putting on a cold expression, and continued walking, hoping Liu Jian would take the hint and leave him alone.


    But Liu Jian was in high spirits and determined to engage. Despite their rocky past and distant relationship, he seemed more than willing to strike up a conversation.


    "Yooo..." Liu Jian greeted with a wave, his grin still wide from earlier. "Long time no see!"


    Having just escorted Xia Ling back and still feeling the surprise of her kiss, which put him in a good mood, he happened upon Chen Rongwei and, in high spirits, decided to approach and say hi.


    Chen Rongwei merely snorted and kept walking, but Liu Jian quickened his pace to walk beside him.


    "Fufu, it¡¯s unbelievable that you''d end up joining the same sect as me," Liu Jian chuckled.


    "So, how do you like it here? If there¡¯s anything you need or don¡¯t understand, just come ask me, your Senior Brother!" Liu Jian emphasized the "Senior Brother" part with a playful tone.


    Chen Rongwei gritted his teeth at Liu Jian¡¯s patronizing tone. "No, thank you. I don¡¯t remember us being close, so you¡¯d best get lost," Chen Rongwei snapped.


    "Oi oi oi, is that how you talk to your Senior Brother? You should call me Senior Brother Liu!" Liu Jian responded with a teasing grin.


    "Senior Brother Liu," Chen Rongwei said through gritted teeth, "Do you mind fucking off?"


    Liu Jian only laughed, shaking his head. "Tsk tsk, as foul-mouthed as ever, I see. Look, we come from the same hometown and now we¡¯re both disciples of the same sect. Let¡¯s forget the past and look forward, hmm?"Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Chen Rongwei sped up his pace, clearly uninterested, but Liu Jian kept up, oblivious to the cold silence from his side.


    "Ah, you¡¯re still at the 9th stage of the Qi Condensation realm?" Liu Jian remarked, glancing at Chen Rongwei with a smirk.


    "Ha ha ha, don¡¯t you remember not long ago you mocked my cultivation level? And now I¡¯ve surpassed you and am already at the 1st stage of Foundation Establishment realm, and you¡¯re still stuck at the same realm. Tsk tsk tsk, you need to work harder to cultivate. Junior Brother, do you need this Senior Brother to guide you?"


    "Shut it! I don¡¯t need your help!" Chen Rongwei¡¯s annoyance was clear.


    Unfazed, Liu Jian laughed again. "I¡¯m just trying to be nice; you know."


    Liu Jian kept pestering Chen Rongwei, occasionally rubbing salt into the wound, teasing him about his cultivation level. He felt a sense of satisfaction, as it was usually Chen Rongwei who annoyed him, but now the situation was reversed.


    As they walked side by side, Chen Rongwei coldly ignored Liu Jian, who kept babbling and laughing. Suddenly, a group of people appeared from the opposite direction, and seeing the man who led the group, Liu Jian immediately approached and greeted him warmly.


    "Greetings, Senior Brother Wu," Liu Jian said, cupping his hands in respect. Chen Rongwei followed suit, offering a polite greeting as well.


    "Mmm." Wu Yulin nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "It seems like you¡¯re in a very good mood, Junior Brother Liu. Did something good happen?" he asked warmly.


    "Haha, nothing special, nothing special." Liu Jian waved his hand with a wide grin.


    Liu Jian and Wu Yulin exchanged a few words, both smiling as the warm atmosphere lingered. Chen Rongwei didn¡¯t join the conversation, instead standing aside, observing silently.


    "Your cultivation has advanced greatly. Keep up the good work, and congratulations on entering the Inner Sect," Wu Yulin said with a nod.


    "Thank you very much, Senior Brother. I¡¯m just lucky," Liu Jian replied, his smile filled with happiness.


    "I still have something to attend to. Excuse me," Wu Yulin said, leading his group away.


    "Take care, Senior Brother," Liu Jian called after him.


    As Wu Yulin and his group walked further away, Liu Jian and Chen Rongwei resumed their journey.


    "Wow, Senior Brother Wu is really awesome," Liu Jian remarked, still excited. "His talent is very impressive, and his cultivation is on another level. I can¡¯t tell exactly where he¡¯s at, but I can feel how strong he is. He¡¯s good to all the other disciples and diligent, truly a role model."


    Wu Yulin was among the top disciples in the Inner Sect¡ªfamous and popular for his outstanding talent, strong background, good looks, and warm personality.


    Liu Jian continued to walk beside Chen Rongwei, babbling on about Wu Yulin¡¯s accomplishments, clearly praising him as they walked.


    Chen Rongwei, who had been observing Wu Yulin¡¯s demeanor closely during their interaction, suddenly spoke up. "Did you perhaps ever offend Senior Brother Wu?"


    Liu Jian looked puzzled. "Offend him? Why would you say that? We¡¯re very close, don¡¯t you see how warm and nice Senior Brother Wu was to me just now?"


    Chen Rongwei simply shrugged. "Never mind."


    Liu Jian went right back to praising Wu Yulin¡¯s achievements, talking non-stop, while Chen Rongwei quietly listened. His mind, however, was elsewhere. During their earlier interaction, he had caught a brief cold glint in Wu Yulin¡¯s eyes towards Liu Jian, but it vanished in an instant.


    Chen Rongwei recalled the strange incident not long ago when Liu Jian had been attacked by a pair of Vermilion Clawed Bears. The attack seemed suspicious¡ªVermilion Clawed Bears didn¡¯t live in the area where Liu Jian had been ambushed. Chen Rongwei had heard rumors about it and couldn¡¯t shake the thought that the attack might have been a setup by someone.


    And Senior Brother Wu is known for his skill in Spirit Beast Taming, Chen Rongwei thought, connecting the dots. Could it be him? After all, he said he could help me deal with Liu Jian.


    Chen Rongwei glanced sideways at Liu Jian, who was still blabbering on about Wu Yulin¡¯s greatness. If it were his past self, he might have accepted Wu Yulin¡¯s offer to deal with Liu Jian. But now, despite hating Liu Jian and wanting to beat him up, he was determined to rely on his own strength.


    Tch... this dumbass is so annoying. Just wait until I increase my cultivation¡ªI¡¯ll beat you up so bad you¡¯ll remember it for life, Chen Rongwei thought, his patience wearing thin.


    The two walked together, one in silence while the other kept talking, until they reached a fork in the road. The Outer Sect area was the largest and most populous, divided into many zones. Liu Jian headed toward the Inner Sect, while Chen Rongwei turned toward the residential area where his residence was located.


    "Remember, Junior Brother! If you ever need help, just come find me¡ªyour Senior Brother will take care of it," Liu Jian called out, waving as he walked away.


    Chen Rongwei scowled, muttering under his breath as he walked away. After a moment, he stopped, turned back, and called out, "You better be careful and watch your back."


    Liu Jian stopped and turned back, his grin widening. "What? Junior Brother, are you looking for trouble with me? Ha! Bring it on. You¡¯re still decades too young to challenge me!" He laughed boisterously, striding away with a cocky swagger, having misunderstood that Chen Rongwei wanted to challenge him.


    "Stupid bastard!" Chen Rongwei spat, storming off toward his residence. He had only meant to give a warning, but now he regretted even speaking up.


    Chen Rongwei''s residence in the Outer Sect was a simple, small house. After returning, he immediately set about cooking Spirit Beast meat with Spiritual Herbs, a meal that would aid in restoring his Blood Essence.


    Once the food was ready, he devoured it with gusto, letting out a satisfied burp. Sitting on his cultivation mat, he swallowed a few pills, closed his eyes, and began cultivating. His breathing gradually slowed, becoming calm and rhythmic.


    His body started to absorb and digest the meal while drawing the medicinal essence from the pills. Slowly, the surrounding Qi was drawn into his body, replenishing the Qi in his Dantian, which had been depleted during the fight earlier in the day. The medicinal effects gradually worked to heal his deep injuries, while his Blood Essence slowly regenerated.


    Meanwhile, Liu Jian entered the Inner Sect area and headed to his residence. Every Inner Sect disciple was allocated a decent house with a courtyard and servants to attend to their needs.


    However, Liu Jian''s residence was more remote, located near a serene waterfall. He had chosen this spot for its quietness, allowing him to focus on cultivation. Unlike others, he preferred not to hire servants, cherishing the solitude.


    Humming a cheerful tune, Liu Jian entered his room. After settling down, he activated the Qi-gathering array, consumed a few pills, and sat cross-legged on his cultivation mat. Absentmindedly, he touched his cheek where his Junior Sister had kissed him, still feeling the warmth lingering there.


    "Hehehe," he chuckled, a wide grin spreading across his face. Shaking his head, he wiped the smile away and forced himself to focus.


    Drawing a deep breath, he began cultivating. The Qi-gathering array made the surrounding Qi denser, and his body greedily absorbed the abundant Qi, creating a swirling vortex that flowed into him.


    After spending the day with his Junior Sister, it was time to cultivate seriously. Surprisingly, Liu Jian''s cultivation progressed exceptionally well¡ªbetter than usual. For him, spending time with his Junior Sister wasn''t a hindrance to his cultivation but an integral part of it. Orion''s advice still echoed in his mind: Everyone has their own path to tread.


    Liu Jian believed that happiness and a good mood were crucial for his personal cultivation path. Spending time with his Junior Sister¡ªwhether talking, meeting, or going on a "date"¡ªleft him in high spirits, which significantly enhanced his cultivation efficiency.


    Unlike Chen Rongwei, who used to pursue fun for its own sake in the past, Liu Jian saw these moments as essential to his progress. Since adopting Orion''s advice, he stopped burdening himself with unnecessary worries about cultivation and focused solely on his own cultivation path, noticing remarkable improvements.


    The proof of this method was clear. Liu Jian had progressed from the 8th stage of the Qi Condensation realm to the 1st stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. His foundation was solid, and he had passed the Inner Sect trial with ease, earning his place among the elite disciples.


    For Liu Jian, love and joy were not just emotions; they were the key to unlocking his full potential. Though his method of boosting cultivation was vastly different from others, he didn¡¯t mind¡ªthis was his own unique path. Fortunately, it was not only enjoyable but also highly beneficial.


    The kiss given by Xia Ling gave Liu Jian a significant boost, allowing his cultivation to progress rapidly. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, he focused intently on absorbing the surrounding Qi. The Qi flowed greedily into his body, rushing swiftly into his Dantian. Inside, a pool of cyan-colored liquid Qi glowed, and a small sphere floated just above its surface.


    In the Qi Condensation Realm, cultivators condense Qi from a mist-like form into liquid within their Dantian. Once all the Qi is condensed into liquid, they break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Now, as a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Liu Jian¡¯s task was to transform all the liquid Qi in his Dantian into a Golden Core. Successfully forming a complete Golden Core would allow him to break through to the Golden Core Realm.


    Currently at the 1st stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Liu Jian carefully controlled the pool of liquid Qi within his Dantian. A small stream of liquid Qi rose upward, flowing steadily into the sphere above. Gradually, the sphere grew larger as he added more liquid Qi to it, forming a new layer around the sphere. Using the Qi he absorbed from the outside world, he solidified the newly formed layer of liquid Qi.


    Hours passed, and a faint wind swirled around Liu Jian¡¯s body as his cultivation reached a critical moment. Within his Dantian, the new layer of liquid Qi encasing the sphere had nearly solidified.


    Boom!


    A deep, echoing sound reverberated through his Dantian. Liu Jian opened his eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.


    "Finally, I¡¯ve broken through to the 2nd stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm," he said softly.


    In his Dantian, the cyan-colored sphere had grown noticeably larger. A second layer of solidified Qi had successfully formed, and Liu Jian could feel a surge of power coursing through his body.


    Exhaling deeply, Liu Jian murmured, "It¡¯s all thanks to Junior Sister." A small smile lingered on his lips as he began planning for another "date" tomorrow and a surprise gift for Xia Ling.


    "Ha ha ha," Liu Jian''s laugh echoed through the room.


    Meanwhile, Chen Rongwei, despite an entire night of cultivation, hadn''t made much progress. His Blood Essence, lost during the previous fight, had only recovered about 30%, and he still had injuries that were slowly healing.


    Chen Rongwei sat cross-legged, eyes closed, multitasking as he absorbed Qi from his surroundings and cultivated.


    He also  absorbed the properties and benefits of the pills and food he had consumed, worked on recovering his Blood Essence, and focused on guiding the medicinal effects to heal his injuries.


    "Urgh..." Chen Rongwei groaned, his face contorting in pain.

 Chapter 80: A Huge Windfall for Liu Yang

    The wind whistled past as Liu Yang flew hurriedly through the sky, a large rattan basket strapped to his back. It brimmed with Rank-2 slimes, their gelatinous forms jostling with each movement.


    Along the way, he encountered many familiar cultivators, but his urgency left him with no time for conversation. He responded to greetings with perfunctory nods and brief acknowledgments before continuing his flight.


    "Hello, Daoist Liu!" A cultivator flying in the opposite direction greeted him with a warm smile.


    "Yeah, yeah, hello," Liu Yang replied curtly, not breaking his pace.


    Further along, a beautiful female cultivator leaped across treetops below him. Clearly still in the Foundation Establishment Realm and unable to fly, she called out in a sweet, coquettish tone, "Senior Liu, hello! What a coincidence meeting you here!"


    Liu Yang glanced down briefly, offering a curt, "Hello."


    Encouraged, the girl continued, "Senior Liu, didn''t you once invite Qingqin to dinner? I''m sorry I had to turn you down before because I was busy. But now I''m free! How about we try the new restaurant in the Rose Garden Sect? I heard it''s amazing!"


    Liu Yang didn''t even glance down. "Uh, sorry, I''m busy and not hungry. Maybe next time."


    Qingqin halted on a treetop, watching as Liu Yang''s figure vanished into the horizon. Her expression soured. Back then, she had always played hard to get. Though he wasn''t exactly her type, being from the wealthy Liu family made him rather attractive. Rather than outright rejecting him, she had kept her distance, allowing his pursuit to continue while planning to get closer only when it suited her.


    For now, her interest was purely in what she could gain from him, accepting his gifts occasionally when he pestered her. Sometimes, she subtly hinted at what she currently needed for her cultivation, which, not long later, Liu Yang would provide.


    Previously, she had repeatedly turned down his invitations to dinner. But now, when she had finally decided to give him a chance¡ªhoping for a free meal and perhaps a few gifts¡ªhe brushed her off without a second thought, leaving her simmering with anger.


    "Tch!" she huffed, stomping her foot on the branch. "I gave you a chance, and you didn''t take it. Hmph!" With a snort, she leaped away in irritation.


    Not long after, another cultivator flew toward Liu Yang from the opposite direction, hovering in mid-air to intercept him. The man grinned, waving a wine gourd. "Brother Liu! Long time no see! How about we share a drink together?"


    Liu Yang barely slowed down. "Hello. Sorry, I''m busy. Maybe next time." He flew past, leaving the man staring in bewilderment.


    "Hmm? What''s with him?" the cultivator muttered, scratching his head. "We''re usually so close, but now he''s ignoring me. Is he constipated or something, rushing home to relieve himself?"


    As Liu Yang disappeared from view, the man''s gaze fell on the rattan basket on Liu Yang''s back. His eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute¡­ I heard the Liu family''s new restaurant uses a secret ingredient that makes their dishes incredibly potent for cultivators. And that basket seemed to be filled with Rank-2 slimes! Could it be that the slimes are the secret ingredient?"


    A flash of inspiration struck him. If the Liu family could use slimes to create such coveted dishes, why couldn''t he? With newfound determination, he set off to find Rank-2 slimes. Hours later, he found one in a nearby forest.


    Retrieving his cooking tools, Spirit Herbs, Spirit Beast meat, and seasonings, he began to cook. Known for his culinary skills, the dishes he prepared were often praised by his fellow cultivators.


    Using all the ingredients, he made sure not to forget the slime, carefully adding it to the dish. Before long, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, promising a tantalizing meal.


    "Bleeegh!" The cultivator spat out the first bite, coughing violently. "Cough! So disgusting! Damn you, Liu Yang! You made me eat this slimy, vile mess! I''ll make sure to pay you back for this humiliation!" He retched again, his face pale with revulsion.


    The food tasted bizarre¡ªstrangely slimy, with an off-putting texture that was utterly revolting despite the pleasant aroma. After throwing up, he flung the rest of the dish far away, still cursing Liu Yang under his breath.


    Meanwhile, far away, Liu Yang sneezed mid-flight. "Achoo! Damn, someone must be talking behind my back."


    After hours of non-stop flying, Liu Yang finally arrived at Fengxian City. He slowed down and flew lower with a sigh of relief, the tension of the journey still weighing on him. He had been on high alert the entire time, constantly scanning for potential threats. To him, the rattan basket filled with slimes was a treasure beyond value. Others might dismiss it as worthless, but to Liu Yang, its importance was unparalleled.


    Liu Yang headed straight for Orion''s residence without delay. A sly grin crept onto his face as he thought, "Hehehe, with this much Rank-2 slime, I wonder how much MSG Mr. Orion will reward me."


    Liu Yang landed in front of Orion''s mansion, a faint sigh escaping his lips.


    "I hope Mr. Orion is home," he thought as he stepped up to the door and knocked.


    Moments later, Chunhua opened the door and invited him inside.


    Orion received Liu Yang in the main hall. Liu Yang exchanged greetings and small talk before setting the large rattan basket on the floor and opening it to reveal its contents.


    "Mr. Orion, I managed to capture a lot of slimes. Look!" he said with a mix of pride and excitement.


    Orion stepped closer, peering into the basket filled with wriggling Rank-2 slimes. Its face tilted slightly as it observed each one carefully.


    "This is truly impressive. You managed to catch a lot. It must have been difficult for you. Thank you very much," Orion said, picking up one of the slimes to examine it.


    Now, with these Rank-2 slimes, I can start making improved ADAMS. Once completed, the ADAMS crafted using Rank-2 slime meridians will grant me a cultivation level equivalent to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Orion thought internally.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Orion always strived to improve its strength, with the potential to create ADAMS using Rank-2 slime meridian. Though satisfied with this progress, it didn''t stop there. Its AI had already begun planning to create ADAMS using Rank-3 slime.


    "Indeed, it was hard," Liu Yang replied, scratching the back of his head. "But as long as it''s for you, I''ll always do my best, Mr. Orion."


    In truth, it hadn''t been as challenging as he made it sound. Of the 28 Rank-2 slimes in the basket, he had only managed to capture 7 himself. The other 21 were captured by Tigang, who had done the bulk of the work. Still, Liu Yang kept this detail to himself.


    Chunhua entered quietly, serving tea to Liu Yang before retreating from the hall.


    "I also managed to capture quite a few Dragonfly Spirit Beasts," Liu Yang said eagerly as he retrieved several carcasses of varying sizes from his storage ring, eager to show them off.


    The spacious main hall easily accommodated the spread of dragonfly bodies on the floor.


    "Very good," Orion said with a satisfied nod, crouching to inspect the dragonflies closely, which were in good condition and still fresh.


    As Liu Yang narrated the story of his efforts to capture both the slimes and the dragonflies, Orion continued its examination. After a while, Liu Yang stored the dragonfly carcasses back into his storage ring and handed the ring over to Orion.


    "You did a great job. As a token of my appreciation, please accept this," Orion said, handing Liu Yang a small ceramic bottle.


    "It''s nothing, really," Liu Yang said, feeling a bit embarrassed but unable to hide his excitement. He eagerly accepted the bottle, uncorked it to check its contents, and beamed with joy.


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Orion!" Liu Yang cupped his hands and bowed deeply before storing the bottle in his personal storage ring.


    Orion nodded in acknowledgment. The two spoke for a while longer, with Orion asking detailed questions about the slimes and dragonflies and requesting Liu Yang to gather more in the future.


    Finally, Liu Yang excused himself. "Then, I''ll take my leave now and won''t disturb you further, Mr. Orion. As for the slimes and dragonflies, you don''t need to worry. I''ll capture more of them for you soon. Just wait and see¡ªI won''t disappoint you!"


    Orion gave a brief nod as Liu Yang departed. Once Liu Yang was gone, Orion called for Wang Lingxin, who had been playing outside, and gave some instructions to Chunhua.


    Afterward, Orion took Wang Lingxin and left the city, heading to the house on the outskirts, not far from the city. Orion also brought the rattan basket filled with slimes, eager to begin experiments with the slimes and dragonfly Spirit Beasts.


    The slimes would be used to make ADAMS, while the dragonflies would be used to create new kinds of ornithopters, larger ones. The dragonflies caught by Liu Yang were quite large, making them perfect for this purpose. Orion''s AI had already started working on the design and blueprint for the ornithopters.


    After leaving, Liu Yang flew toward the Liu family residence, his face beaming with joy. "Hahaha, I struck it rich! With this much MSG, I can break through several minor realms. Fufufu!" he chuckled, caressing the storage ring where the precious ceramic bottle of MSG was stored.


    It was truly a huge windfall for him to obtain such a large amount of MSG. Each month, Orion provided a significant quantity of MSG to the Liu family for their restaurant cooperation, free of charge. However, the Liu family also received a smaller, separate supply for personal use, for which they paid thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Now, just by completing a simple chore of gathering slimes and dragonfly Spirit Beasts, Liu Yang had been rewarded with a ceramic bottle filled with MSG¡ªa reward worth more than the Liu family''s monthly supply. Liu Yang estimated the bottle to be worth no less than 15,000 Spirit Stones.


    When searching for slimes, most of the work had been done by Tigang, who sold the slimes to Liu Yang for 3 Spirit Stones each, even though they had initially agreed on 2.5 Spirit Stones. A small argument had broken out between them before Liu Yang reluctantly agreed to Tigang''s demand.


    Recalling this, Liu Yang couldn''t help but chuckle. If he had known how generous Orion''s reward would be, he wouldn''t have bothered haggling over mere Spirit Stones.


    "Hehehe, that stupid bull," Liu Yang muttered smugly. "I only paid him 63 Spirit Stones, and he was so happy and smug about it. If he knew I made 15,000 Spirit Stones out of this, he''d turn green with envy! Hahaha!"


    Feeling pleased with his gains, Liu Yang began considering another partnership with Tigang.


    After flying for a while, Liu Yang finally arrived at the Liu family residence. Just as he landed in front of his house and was about to enter, someone suddenly appeared behind him.


    Sensing the presence, Liu Yang immediately erased his joyful expression, replacing it with a calm demeanor as he turned to face Liu Mingzhen.


    "Uncle Yang, you''re back!" Liu Mingzhen greeted him.


    "Mmm," Liu Yang replied curtly, giving a short nod.


    "Why don''t you head to the main hall and report immediately?" Liu Mingzhen asked.


    "I just returned and feel rather tired. I planned to rest a bit before reporting to you," Liu Yang responded.


    Liu Mingzhen, despite being Liu Yang''s nephew, held a higher position as the head of the Liu family branch in Fengxian City. Liu Yang, an elder in the family, still had to show respect to him.


    "Oh... By the way, how did it go? Did you manage to capture any Rank-2 slimes?" Liu Mingzhen inquired.


    "Yeah, I was lucky and caught a few," Liu Yang replied.


    "So, what did Mr. Orion reward you with?" Liu Mingzhen''s tone turned curious.


    "What do you mean by that?" Liu Yang asked, feigning ignorance.


    "Didn''t you just return from Mr. Orion''s residence?" Liu Mingzhen pressed.


    "Who said I was at Mr. Orion''s residence?" Liu Yang retorted.


    "Liu Jin already reported everything to me. There''s no need to hide it. Come on, hand over the ceramic bottle," Liu Mingzhen said, extending his hand.


    Liu Jin, who was stationed at Orion''s residence, had already reported everything including the ceramic bottle to Liu Mingzhen through a Communication Talisman.


    "Tch," Liu Yang clicked his tongue in annoyance. Damn that Liu Jin. I''ll teach him a lesson later, he thought grudgingly. Reluctantly, he retrieved the ceramic bottle from his storage ring.


    "You were carrying out a mission on behalf of the Liu family, so naturally, the rewards you obtained should be shared with the family," Liu Mingzhen declared, inwardly thinking, This old fox wanted to keep the MSG for himself. Hmph.


    Knowing Liu Yang''s nature all too well, Liu Mingzhen had intercepted him promptly. If delayed, Liu Yang might have used up all the MSG himself.


    "Hmph! But I did all the hard work. The reward should be mine," Liu Yang protested.


    "Uncle Yang, calm down. Let''s go inside first and discuss this calmly," Liu Mingzhen suggested with a placating smile.


    The two entered Liu Yang''s house and began negotiating. After some back-and-forth, Liu Yang grudgingly agreed to hand over 70% of the MSG to the family in exchange for additional benefits, including cultivation resources and techniques.


    "Hahaha, you''ve contributed a lot to the family, Uncle Yang. Don''t worry, I''ll have the items delivered to you immediately," Liu Mingzhen said with a grin.


    "Fine. If you''re done, leave already. I want to enter seclusion for a while," Liu Yang grumbled, clearly displeased.


    "Of course. I won''t disturb you any further. By the way, did you really catch all those slimes in Yuezhi Forest? Are there a lot of Rank-2 slimes there?" Liu Mingzhen asked casually.


    "What? Are you planning to search for them yourself?" Liu Yang raised an eyebrow.


    "Nothing, just curious," Liu Mingzhen replied with a chuckle.


    Liu Yang smirked, one corner of his mouth curling upward. "Yeah, there are plenty of Rank-2 slimes in Yuezhi Forest, especially in the deepest areas. As long as you search for a while, you''ll find them."


    He guessed that Liu Mingzhen wanted to hunt slimes himself and claim rewards from Orion. Smiling slyly, Liu Yang thought, Go ahead and search if you want. It won''t be that easy. I''ll let you experience the hardship firsthand. Who told you to take my MSG? Hmph!


    After Liu Mingzhen left, Liu Yang wasted no time ordering his servants to prepare a lavish feast with high-quality ingredients, each containing beneficial effects to aid and boost cultivation. Once the food was delivered to his secret cultivation chamber, he generously sprinkled MSG on every dish. The variety and quantity were staggering, and Liu Yang eagerly began to eat. The MSG not only enhanced the flavors but also amplified the beneficial effects of the dishes. He devoured everything cleanly, letting out a satisfied burp.


    After ordering his servants to clean up, Liu Yang then sat cross-legged and began cultivating, absorbing the surrounding Qi and the potent effects of the feast.


    Meanwhile, Liu Mingzhen''s figure could be seen leaving the Liu family residence, flying into the distance as if in a hurry, until he disappeared from view.